October has felt like a summer month with very little autumn yet. There is a general dusty draining of color – so far, not a lot of vibrancy. The temperatures are still well above normal.
Head down in the busy season of calendar appointments and activities, planning and budgeting and the day to day work that builds a life, it’s easy to miss these things. So I am trying to remember to notice.
Sometimes I look out my bedroom window and notice the maple turning orange. And on my way out to my car after work, past the retaining pond, the crows watch me from their ragged line in the reeds. They talk amongst themselves and in their voices I hear the slate grey sky and the hard frost and the black bare branches.
“Odd as it may seem, I am my remembering self, and the experiencing self, who does my living, is like a stranger to me.” – Daniel Kahneman
Seeking the snow last weekend, our first stop was my mom’s house – almost 4 hours north, on the west side of the state. Snow was knee-high (conservative estimate). Brandon and I woke up Saturday morning to run the Betsie Bay Frozen 5k, which is one of my favorite events. It hasn’t been run since 2020, before the world shut down. In the olden days I would have posted a full separate race recap with my time but in today’s world, post-50 years old, having survived a pandemic, menopause, teenage kid years, the Orange Menace and his Nazi cohorts attempting to ruin democracy as we know it, and various other life events, just getting out there and running it is enough.
We then drove 2 hours further north, to the village of Walloon Lake, which is most famous for being young Hemingway’s Michigan playground. We found a historical marker, and there’s a statue of him somewhere around, but the wind was blowing fine snow into whiteout conditions everywhere so we gave up looking. Instead, we skied at Boyne Mountain (the kid snowboarded) and enjoyed our perfect little Vrbo. As we get older, my ability to stay in a hotel has decreased significantly. I hate being cheek to jowl with mass humanity, having to either pay for every meal and snack or rely on hotel coffee and crumpled snack bags. Give me an AirBnB or a Vrbo every time. I know they’re wreaking havoc on small communities but selfishly I want exactly what we had this weekend. Which was a cozy cottage on a private lot with a fireplace, hot tub, separate bedrooms for us and the kid, a beautiful living space and kitchen, fully appointed. We cooked, we had good coffee, we had a fire, we watched movies, read books, I knitted, and we had privacy. I threw caution to the wind and ate what I wanted to eat, drank Horny Monk from the Petoskey Brewing Company, and made a fool out of myself on the slopes. (I fell. A lot.) The snow was almost claustrophobic – piled higher than street signs and just continually sifting down. The drifts outside the Vrbo were up to the windows with paths cut into them to access doors and the driveway – if you don’t have a snowplow or a snowblower running constantly, you would have big trouble.
All in all, it was a perfect swift getaway with my two favorite people. The world is hard right now and being away for a bit is a luxury. We don’t have a lot of travel planned for the year, so the times we do have together will be all the more important.
Inauguration. The Trump train rolled noisily into Washington with their toots and whistles and backfiring pickup trucks and a predictably low class display of capering. Like a carnival of the bizarre and deeply stupid, in its wake it trailed a dribble of toadie weirdos running the gamut from Proud Boys to Nazi tech bro oligarchs glitching out from their boutique drugs to MAGA fembots wearing lingerie to the Rotunda. The yokels outside with faces pressed against the glass were festively adorned with their cult leader’s name and face on their polyester (made in China) shirts and hats and waving their lil flags. God Bless GW, Bill and Hillary for a few unguarded moments of uncontrollable merriment over some of the more gauche and ludicrous aspects of this spectacle (never in a million years pre-MAGA did I think that I would ever have cause to utter the words “God bless GW” but here we are). It’s going to be a long four years watching this gang of thieves mugging for the cameras while they grab all they can with both grubby fists. Luckily, if the Orange One’s prior administration is any indication, they’ll start turning on each other sooner rather than later and then there will be something to see besides bullies and tackiness.
2. Seems like a good time to pull this out of the archives.
3. To round out my political content, it feels like there are a lot of folks out there who could use a reminder about what throwing a Nazi salute actually means.
4. Moving on. In other news. Polar vortex – the beginning of the week was pretty freaking cold. The kid didn’t have school for two days due to wind chills (what do they do in Alaska, I wonder? Or Minnesota?). I got my office days out of the way early in the week and it was really good to stay in my shearling slippers and fleece leggings the remainder of the week. I usually feed the wild birds and squirrels once a day (and keep a heated bird bath full of clean water available) but when the weather is this cold I fill the feeders as often during the day as they empty, and throw out lots of peanuts. The little guys can use as much help as they can get.
(This not so little guy needs not as much help.)
5. In lieu of watching the news (see number 1) we have been diving deep into the DVR. Brandon always has a massive selection of old movies to pick from. Among other things, we watched a silent film from the great Buster Keaton, “Sherlock, Jr.” It was a masterpiece of comedy and the quality of the 2015 restoration was incredible – crystal clear. I am not usually drawn to movies that old but this one was an absolute gem and what he was able to achieve with film at that time is nothing short of genius. And while I know that his path was a difficult one, may I say that in my estimation, young Buster was kind of a hottie.
Onwards. Keep the faith and as my higher power reminded me this week in a moment of meditation, render unto Caesar.
The clocks have been turned back and the days are growing short and dark. I have a lot of appreciation for this quiet, internal season and it doesn’t bother me – I find late winter to early spring much more difficult, and actually dislike the very long days of summer when it doesn’t get dark until 9 or 10 – but this time of year is hard for a lot of people including my kiddo. There’s an inevitable drop in mood and energy once the gloom of deep fall descends and warmer weather activities wind down. I think it’s important to lean into it and find the enjoyment as much as possible.
We stock up on firewood and have frequent small fires even if it’s not super cold outside. We have multiple fuzzy blankets and lots of candles, both traditional and battery-operated pillars on a timer. I deeply enjoy the feeling of flickering warm light and indoor cozy as the dark presses against the windowpane.
I use a “happy lamp” at my work from home desk and encourage the kiddo to use hers, too. Last year she didn’t use it as much as I would have liked so this year I’ll continue to gently coax her.
We stay on top of our vitamin supplements and try to eat healthy, seasonal foods. I love root vegetables and all kinds of squash. I drink much more hot tea and stock up on several favorites. (Special mentions: Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Sunset, Republic of Tea Caramel Apple, Sleepytime, Constant Comment, Yogi Tea Positive Energy Sweet Tangerine, Tazo Glazed Lemon Loaf, Tea Haus Roasted Almond fruit tea, and lots of green tea bags for the afternoon lull.)
We try to clean and organize our spaces before winter arrives so we can have the mental calm of being organized and peacefully orderly in addition to cozy. (This means the kiddo and I have to do a big decluttering of her bedroom.)
Get outside. This is probably the most important one for me. No bad weather, only bad clothes. Going outside even when the weather is blustery or damp – this is medicine. I’ve invested in some great Smartwool outdoor accessories- headband and neck gaiter – and the proper footwear and some cozy mittens I knitted. Sometimes having a nice selection of outerwear can really help motivate me to get outside. I tell myself that I’m just going around the block and usually once I’m out I want to go farther. I love the look of early winter and love the feeling of being a singular small person in a vast landscape of grey sky. I love the dim, flat quality of the light and the smell of leaves and cold wind. I love the wheeling birds and the rain that strips the foliage from the branches. And I love coming home to a warm bright home when I am done.
Get activity. This can go hand in hand with number 5 and running and trail running are my favorite ways to accomplish this, but I’ve also started incorporating more treadmill walks – even short ones – and short kettlebell workouts. I’ve never liked strength training but the kettlebell is fun and I’ve stuck with it for longer than I expected, moving up to a 20-lb for my deadlifts and swings.
I invest way more time into the hobbies I am passionate about. I pick my knitting projects and have several going at once and have also started cross-stitching in recent years. I have lots of books on my library Kindle hold and make regular trips to my brick and mortar library too. I also make candles as Christmas gifts and for our own personal use.
We have traditions to look forward to. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I look forward to running our Turkey Trot that morning. On Black Friday we ice skate at Campus Martius or go to the massive used bookstore in downtown Detroit, John King, followed by greasy fries and cold beverages at Checker Bar. We do Advent calendars during December and have a Christmas Carol movie marathon.
Go on an adventure. I find this time of year to be very well suited for donning a woolen cloak and hood, strapping a silver dagger to my belt, packing a saucepan and bedroll and setting off on a sturdy, shaggy pony over moors, hills, and shire to battle the forces of evil or seek a fine reward.
I am not a toxic positivity person so I also try to realize that it’s okay to have some down days, feel sad, depressed and / or uncomfortable. This is part of being human and the dark and light go hand in hand. I just also try to remind myself (and my kiddo) that we have tools in our toolbox to take care of ourselves and usher ourselves and each other through those times and hopefully make them a little better.
I hope wherever you are, you are looking forward to a safe and peaceful November, in spite of external factors like weather (and the US election if you are in the US). Be well and enjoy this season of hygge.
I bought a cinnamon broom for the den and it smells sooo autumnal.
It has been a very hot and dry month in Michigan yet this evening we are sitting here with the windows open listening to a gentle cool rain.
I just finished a fantastic creepy book – one of the best books I’ve read this year, I think – highly recommend “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It was EXCELLENT. So atmospheric with a heroine you immediately are staunchly behind and the most chilling and fascinating setting. I’ve just picked up another by her (“Gods of Jade and Shadow”).
We spent all day yesterday at the first marching band competition of the year. Unfortunately it was 85 degrees with a blazing sun on a high school football field with zero shadow (and zero parking which meant street parking blocks away). Wool uniforms are still de rigueur and if we parents in the stands were red faced and running with sweat then the kids were truly suffering. But I love a good marching band and so I was deeply satisfied and even more so when our kids won second place in Class A competition, best percussion, best color guard, and best in music!
Next week is Homecoming. Insert happy face emoji surrounded by hearts.
I need a few good things today because I have a case of the Sunday Scaries. My beloved boss has moved up and out of Widget Central and I am left with a mass of complex tasks, exponentially increasing workload, and instability. I keep telling myself it isn’t my first time at this rodeo but – let me bury my nose in a gothic horror novel and a delicious cinnamon broom for a bit longer, okay?
It’s March and 2023 already feels pretty action packed. Our power grid in suburban Elysia is always a matter of heated local commentary and it’s been tested severely over the past couple of weeks. An ice storm knocked out about 500,000 households two weeks ago, and just as the vast majority of those folks were coming back online, we got hit with an unusually intense snowfall on Friday night that delivered another wallop. The snow started showering down at about 3:30 Friday afternoon – it was heavy and wet, and came down so fast that it took more trees, branches, and power lines with it. We made it all the way through our Friday night movie selection (“The ‘Burbs” which Brandon had never seen) and within seconds of the end credits, we heard the familiar sound of blowing transformers and the lights went out. I’ve lived in Michigan almost all my life and I’ve never experienced thunder snow and lightning before. It was amazing and terrifying. Luckily, I had the foresight to blow up our air mattress so we could sleep downstairs near the woodstove, so we were fairly comfortable, but still. It’s a matter of convenience. The rest of the weekend felt like a wash – power going off and on until Sunday mid-afternoon. When it was finally restored, we could start laundry, meal plan for the week ahead, restock the fridge, etc. Pretty much everyone in the neighborhood is just pissed and done with the fact that our power goes out whenever someone sneezes. There will be a long line of generator customers (including us) once tax refund checks are delivered.
Anyway – it’s March and I have some goals!
Firstly – health and self-image – I am getting my teeth fixed. I resisted for a long time but my dentist told me before the holidays that my bite has become so bad that my teeth are actually loose on top and chipping on the bottom. I had braces as a kid, but I didn’t wear my retainers so….cautionary tale. I went in for an ortho consult last week and unfortunately, Invisalign is not an option…I need an extraction to relieve overcrowding and then it’s good old-fashioned brackets and bands for me. Starting soon.
Also in the health and self-image category – I’m back on Weight Watchers. While I’m all about body positivity, and embracing that my peri-menopausal body at 49 and 8 months is never going to look like it did before (and that’s okay) – I would really like to feel a bit better in my clothes than I do currently. I am short, and I gain weight around my belly and as a result I can just look barrel-shaped which makes finding pants that fit almost impossible. So another March goal is tracking and doing better with my food choices and getting back into some of my work pants. It’s also somewhat true that once I do one positive thing for my overall health and well-being (see ortho above) then I feel inspired to do other things. I spontaneously re-upped Weight Watchers a few hours after my ortho consult.
Professional goals – Although Widget Central has been fairly lax about hybrid schedule and working from home, I’m conscious that these things are much about perception, too, so in March I will try to be more faithful to 2-3 days a week in the physical office building. I’ve been averaging about 1 office day a week since January. I like work from home, but I also don’t mind time in the office, so this shouldn’t be a major problem for me – the biggest thing is just planning to pack my lunch and snacks (which should also be good because – see above with weight issues).
Miscellaneous goals include keeping up with my 2023 reading challenge, running at least 20 miles, blogging once a week and finishing at least 1 knitting project. I’ll check in on these things at the beginning of April, hopefully in a bit more organized format.
Not really a goal here, but at the end of the month, for the kiddo’s Spring Break, we’ll be taking a trip to Williamsburg, VA – she’s going to be 15 this summer so she has probably already aged out of the ‘educational trip with parents’ bracket, but I still think it will be cool for her to see Williamsburg and Jamestown, the weather should be mild and pleasant, the hotel has an indoor pool and we’ll eat some nice meals. I’m currently trying to decide whether to drive our Subaru Outback (the inexpensive route) or rent a more comfy minivan for the 20ish hour (round trip) drive.
And of course there are the usual tasks of getting taxes done (tomorrow), running the kiddo around to theater rehearsals (Hello, Dolly! in May! she plays the judge!) and marching band and music lessons and scheduling her summer music camp and driver’s education class in June (!!).
And that’s our March.
The title of my post is from William C. Bryant: “The stormy March has come at last, With winds and clouds and changing skies; I hear the rushing of the blast That through the snowy valley flies.”
Two office days this week and they’re starting to feel more normal. It helps that I’ve been busy planning and preparing for our major corporategovernance meetings, which take place this week & next. It’s one of my major work responsibilities and every spring for me is marked with seasonal allergies and board meetings.
Life is busy otherwise, too – the kiddo is in final theater rehearsals for her performances in mid-May, and she’s also running track. Michigan weather hasn’t really cooperated much with this and several practices and her first meet have been canceled due to snow, wind, rain, etc. But still a lot of driving and dropping off and picking up but it’s very exciting to see her trying and enjoying new things.
Brandon went to the Jack White show at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, which kicked off the Supply Chain Issues tour. I didn’t go, even though I love Jack White and the White Stripes – I just needed a quiet night at home with the cats. He went with a buddy and I was kicking myself the next morning when Brandon casually mentioned that Jack proposed to his girlfriend AND THEN MARRIED HER ONSTAGE. I did get a cool t-shirt, but I could have been a wedding guest!
Our Easter was quiet and traditional- one of Brandon’s friends came over, I made ham, green bean casserole, and scalloped potatoes, and there was lamb cake for dessert.
So that’s about it for now – I just wanted to give a quick hello from gloomy wet Michigan spring. Once my meetings are over, I have a couple of posts planned – one to review my wardrobe updates / capsule wardrobe for return to the office, and one crafty update (I hope to have one knitted FO and a fair bit of cross-stitch). Until then! xx
Yesterday started out at almost 50, and pouring rain, and by midnight it was 10 and snowing. We got about 5 inches which is covering a sheet of thick ice. The kiddo has a snow day and Brandon only has one meeting; she’s still sleeping, he’s making cinnamon rolls, I’m taking some vacation time to hang out with them and hit the sled hill when it warms up.
I have a couple of beauty product recommendations for today – although if you saw me lately you may not want to take them. (No affiliations, just products I’ve tried and like.) I am playing chicken with myself about coloring my greys and I’m looking a little feral. But my stylist convinced me to try this brush for my shoulder length, layered cut and it’s a two thumbs up. It’s a very light carbon and heats up with the blow dryer to act almost as a curling iron. The bristles are perfectly spaced. It was pricey – far more than any other brush I’ve ever had – but worth it so far.
Along with coloring my hair, I need to get my eyebrows shaped and tinted. As I age, they have thinned out and I’ve tried probably 20 different drugstore pencils, pomades, and gels. So far, this is the best gel type pomade (my favorite pencil is from Aveda). It also has an amazing dense, soft brush for fluffing.
We always have to try the new Oreo types and the kid says these are pretty good.
What’s everyone up to this weekend? I am making beef stew, the kiddo has a theater rehearsal, and tomorrow I have a day-long basket weaving class at the Michigan Folk School. Just when I think I can’t get any crunchier, I level up. Be well and enjoy. xx
Six Ten 