What I’m Into: May 2017

Main Events:

Okay, everybody, gird your loins. May was a big month!

I’ll lead with the biggest news: on April 25, I went for drinks with a guy I knew from Twitter named Taylor. We’ve followed each other for a while, but he just moved back to Memphis recently after several years away. We’ve seen each other almost every day since we met, and decided we were Together by mid-May. He’s wonderful, and I’m really happy, if not quite comprehending how I suddenly have this awesome relationship. Life CAN come at you fast in a good way. ♥

 

Reading:

I finished exactly one book in May, Nothing to Prove: Why We Can Stop Trying So Hard by Jennie Allen. It was good, but honestly I don’t remember much about it!

 

Listening:

To no one’s surprise, I’ve been obsessed with the new Paramore album. I bought an actual CD because I was going out of town on release day and didn’t have time to download, then burn a copy. It’s pretty much perfection. 2017 is shaping up to be a stellar music year for me – there’s a new alt-J album later this week, new HAIM still TBD, and Hanson even has a new single. Celebrate!!

Best of Friends Podcast finally came to the end of Season 10. Last I heard, they’re watching Joey next (should be interesting – I never made it past the first few episodes) and then maybe starting Friends over at Season 1.

 

Watching:

I’m not much of a binge-watcher, but I plowed through 13 Reasons Why in a few days. While it’s excellent and raises a lot of important issues, I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone (and am not sure I would have to myself). Ultimately it’s the unvarnished story of a girl who kills herself, and you know that from minute one. The last few episodes gave me an emotional hangover. On a happier note, I’m psyched about Season 3 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but have only gotten as far as Titus Lemonading (genius).

Taylor and I watched True Grit the other night – I had never seen it. My brother now lives in Fort Smith, where some of the action takes place, so it was good to watch before my next visit there!

 

Travel:

Wes, Kelsey, Clark, and I made our second trek all together to Rocket City Brewfest in Huntsville and had a blast! We stayed in cabins at a nearby state park again, and this time, our friend Bliss hired a yoga teacher to give us a private yoga class in a Japanese garden! One of those IS THIS REAL LIFE moments.

I went away for Memorial Day weekend with Taylor and some of his family! We stayed lakeside at Lake D’Arbonne, Louisiana, and had a relaxing couple of days: sunning, eating, drinking, and bird-watching from the dock.

 

At Home:

A Twitter friend recommended this Lavender Chocolate coffee from Fresh Market, and it’s pretty life-changing.

I mentioned offhandedly to Taylor that I really wanted some Moscow mule mugs (one of my favorite drinks), and he surprised me with a set! Now I can have fancy cocktail hour on my own patio, just in time for summer.

My Julia Child rose and my gardenia had a nice spring!

 

Around Town:

I was here for all three days of Beale Street Music Fest this year, and saw The Strumbellas, Dawes, Jill Scott (Mma Ramotswe herself – she was amazing), Jimmy Eat World, Grouplove, Snoop Dogg, Kings of Leon, X Ambassadors, Death Cab for Cutie, Ani DiFranco, Ben Harper, and Soundgarden! (Yes, I saw Soundgarden less than two weeks before Chris Cornell died. Still kind of in shock. Do we have a security detail on Eddie Vedder yet?)

As a belated Mother’s Day activity, my mom and I did the Cooper-Young Garden Walk and saw lots of beautiful gardens and yards! The day started out rainy, but the weather eventually cleared. When we were done, I took her to Urban Earth to get a banana tree she’s wanted for years. So far it’s doing well in a pot.

New murals this month: a temporary installation made of duct tape at the Brooks, and a lineup of Memphisy images in Barboro Alley downtown. I also experienced Bike Night on Beale Street for the first time. It happens every week, and it’s loud.

I registered for the four-race M-Town Series! Every summer I want to do it and don’t remember in time. Last week was the 4-miler, Zoom Through the Zoo. Most of it was actually through Overton Park, which deteriorated my mojo because I’ve run those paths many times. I don’t know what to do to get excited or motivated about running again. Between two and three miles, I just feel meh and start walking. I tried to get advice from running friends online, but a stranger popped up telling me to “OVERCOME OR QUIT.” #nothelpful

 

Beauty:

Good eye cream is quickly becoming a crucial part of my life. I ran out of the so-so Aveeno stuff I was using, searched by highest reviews on Amazon, and decided to try this OZNaturals eye cream. No exaggeration, I saw a difference the NEXT DAY. It’s natural and still cheaper than most of what’s available at CVS. Yay!

 

Your Monthly Rufus:

Rufus turned three this month! He’s getting into his young adult years. Where does the time go?

 

Quote of the Month:

(One guess whose lyric this is. Also, I want a felt letterboard)

 

Good Reads:

♥ Gabriela Martins at Femsplain: FOMO Burned Me Out

♥ Addie Zierman: Sermon Notes for Cynics

♥ Bethany Suckrow: Skip the Greeting Card, Call Your Senators.

♥ Samantha Field: what Anne Shirley means to me, and surviving trauma