Category — Uncategorized

For years, Josh and I have fallen asleep listening to the Shipping Forecast. It goes in cycles — months of listening, and then we abruptly stop, only to start up again whenever life gets stressful. A case in point; we’re in the throes of college applications. Life is stressful. We pulled out the Shipping Forecast again.

I read somewhere once that three makes a habit, and I don’t want to be dependent on the Shipping Forecast to sleep. So we always do two nights on, one night off. Sunday and Monday. Skip Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday. Skip Friday and Saturday.

I don’t know why listening to the weather in another part of the world is so comforting. Why I get so sleepy mentally traveling from point to point through UK waters. I’m happy that it’s there. It’s a small good thing.

I discovered that brown noise is my favourite noise. If you asked me before I encountered that article (warning: that NYT’s article will make noise while you scroll), I would have said that I like white noise for drowning out other noise around me. But that’s because I called all sounds “white noise,” lumping the sound of rain in with the sound of dishwashers. And static.

But there are differences between white noise, pink noise, and brown noise, and my brain likes brown noise. Isn’t life amazing that you can be in your late forties and still learn something new about yourself?

Eater had an article recommending that you become a temporary regular when you go on vacation somewhere. Instead of trying as many new places as possible, go deep with one place. They pose it as a way to cut down on decision fatigue — find one place you like and stick with it — and build deeper relationships with staff that may recognize you if you keep returning.

This is always my impulse when we travel. Back in graduate school, when I went on trips, I would find a cafe or bar, and return there every afternoon. My friend and I would choose one restaurant and eat there every night. Josh likes to try new things, so we do a blend of both. Many times at one restaurant and a single time at many different restaurants.

I like my way better. I may miss out on other things I would have loved, but I like being a regular and deeply knowing one place. Which way to do travel?

Would you start doing something if you knew definitively that you would be the worst at it? Not for a short period of time as you’re learning, but for the entire duration of the time you do it? For instance, would you dedicate hours of time attempting to become an itamae if the sushi you’d make would always be described as inedible? Or would you train for 10Ks if you knew that you’d come in last 100% of the time?

I was thinking about how I tend to try things that I believe I could potentially become good at — at least, not terrible at — but avoid things that I know without a doubt I will always be the worst one in the pack no matter how long I stick with it. Which makes sense when you know something definitively. No matter how many hours I practice, I will not be able to achieve great things on the basketball court. Or even make a basket unless everyone stops moving. And gives me unlimited throws. And even then, it may not be enough.

Do you dedicate yourself to things you know you will never be able to do moderately well? So what does it mean if you do try something? That deep down in your soul you sense that you do have the potential to do well enough one day, correct? Think about that one.

For those playing along from home and wondering how our flu shot/bivavlent COVID-19 booster played out…

I had the first appointment, so I asked the guy what he recommended — one shot in each arm or both shots in one arm. After hemming and hawing (he really didn’t want to give his opinion on one option over the other), he informed me that I didn’t have a thin arm. I had “a lot to work with” so it was fine to do both in one arm. Okay then.

So I had both in one arm, one after the other.

My arm immediately felt sore as I walked back to my car. I was fine all afternoon and walked with the ChickieNob before dinner. I started feeling a little achy in the later evening, and we went to bed early. I did not sleep well that night, and I took Tylenol around 4 am. I was achy and cranky the next day, running a low fever. I didn’t want to do anything, but I prepared for that by downloading a thriller. Josh and the Wolvog ran errands, so they had sore arms but felt fine. I took Tylenol again before bed, and woke up the day after feeling completely fine. I cleaned the house and got work done.

Your mileage may vary, but getting them both in one arm worked for me, as did stacking vaccines so I only ruined one weekend.