Cheers to the new year!

The young couple woke up on a chilly and sunny January morning. They had made it through the night one last time, just the two of them. Thanks to Jimmy Buffet’s Barometer Soup CD and the excitement of the unknown, their lives were about to change. Just before the afternoon, family waiting outside, restless and laughing and hopeful, a man emerged from a hospital room in West Texas. More than a look, the jubilation radiating from him was contagious. He had news to tell. The best news he’d ever been lucky enough to share up to this moment in time. One woman, quick as she was, already knew. The nurse gave it away, poor soul. But she would not be able to spoil this moment. Couldn’t if she tried. For the look on his face, the joy in his voice, was enough to move mountains. She was born, and she was perfect.

Now while I was there, trust me when I tell you these are not first hand memories that I am sharing. I just recently was reminded how happy my father was to start a family with my mother. They wanted me to be a surprise, the crazy kids that I call my parents, and when I was a born I knew I would be loved more fiercely than one deserves. My dad was born to be a girl dad, and I’m so, so lucky.

It’s the new year! Thank gosh I can say it snowed this week, even if it’s all pretty much melted away. That’s the beauty of this place, and that’s what I first saw when I got here, a sunny chilly January day. You all know that I will be covering my book goal in a later post, but trust me when I spoil the ending: We did it!

My other goals you ask? Some of them I have finished, and some of them I have not. I said by 30, and you know what? I’ll be thirty for a while, so I’ve got time. I’m writing more, and have plotted out much for my new series idea. I loved the sunrises I saw, bundled up with tea, watching from the corner of my apartment, pretending the road wasn’t right there because our amenity space on the roof doesn’t open until eight in the morning! I framed half of my art, and I still look at my guitar with a smile on my face. I think it’s nice to have a goal you can count on. A goal that says I’ll always be with you.

That’s what my guitar is there for, right? Right. I thoroughly enjoyed my December Detox. The only trouble is I need to get some new sources of information. Gotta find some trusty news outlets, to stay in the know. Getting back on socials for a bit each day felt like tragedy overload. The world didn’t stop for my detox, in fact people are still oppressed in this country, believe it or not. They are still unhoused, starved, kidnapped, attacked, murdered, you name it. These are still truths we need to know. I need to fight for them and help wherever I can. If that means adding a podcast or a magazine or the like to my routine, so be it. I still want to stay off social media for hours and hours and I think I can find that balance.

There’s a new tradition I’d like to share with you. My girls treated me to a divine dining date on Thursday. We went to Potager, and we were blown away. Check out their menu, we got basically everything they have, and let me know what you think. Apparently they change menus every four to six weeks. They practically begged us to go back and try them all. Not actually, but no one at the table was opposed to the idea. If you find yourself in town any time, let’s get dinner. My review is on Beli, don’t worry, but like I said there, the standouts were (in no particular order):
– The comte soufflé with a tiny yuzu apple sesame taco, fig habanero paint, and a couple radish for vibes.
– A focaccia amuse-bouche with a delectable leek butter that went crazy.
– Cubed koginut with brown butter miso, a cider crema, and a hazelnut+aji criolla crumble topped with scallion.
– Their famous cassoulet…languedoc meat+bean stew {limited amount nightly}.
– Sticky date cake with a toffee sauce and pomegranate cinnamon ice cream.

I think this year will be interesting. I feel like I’m embarking on a new and unknown adventure. I want to be hopeful, I know I should be, but I think I’m more uncertain than ever. There are moments in everyone’s life that change them. However you respond and react doesn’t matter, you are changed. That’s me now, as I enter my thirties. A decade I have been eyeing for quite a while with anticipation and eagerness. I really don’t know where I may find myself as the days go by, but I’ve got faith that it will work out. I think that’s all you really can do is trust the person you’ve become.

Today is going to be so much fun! We’ve got some friends coming over for brunch — bagels and fruit and who knows what else. Then tonight, my friends are throwing me a toga party. We’re going to party like it’s 2016! I’ve heard not everyone had a toga experience in their twenties, so really this is a party for more than just me. We have an idea for a Medusa game that lasts all night, many grapes will be consumed, and who knows what else could happen. I should really get out of bed and get to seizing the day!

I’ve got some time blocked out next week for goal setting and reviewing. The year has just begun. Thank you for your support, and I am glad to have y’all along for the ride.

It’s 2026! Let’s live a little and love a lot.