I keep feeling like I should preface every self-indulgent complaint here with an acknowledgment about Big Picture Perspective and Gratitude but … oh, let’s just not.

I mean, this is a blog, and it’s not even one of the cool professionally-designed niche-focused modern ones where I get to call myself a content creator. For the eighteen years (!!!) I’ve been writing here it’s been a solace, a place to vent and navel-gaze and try above all else to capture the temporary in some way. Every page in this messy unorganized website is a moment in time; a pause button pressed, a memory held in digital amber.

Which is really to say there has been a shitload of complaining documented here over the years and I’m glad for it. How else would I remember the hilarious Mouthfart toddler stage? Or the heartcrushing details of saying goodbye to Ashley, Dog #1. Or the time our couch developed a vagina?

Maybe I won’t particularly feel like revisiting this lockdown-prompted return to daily blogging, but the act of journaling offers a respite from scrolling the news and being stuck in my own head. If nothing else, it is a thing to do, in a time when reclaiming even a tiny sense of personal productivity feels like a win.

ANYWAY, gosh, that was probably an unnecessary amount of leadup for what I really wanted to write about today, which actually isn’t particularly whiny: what are some of your favorite distractions or mood-boosters right now?

Mine, in no particular order:

• Tiger King on Netflix, of course. As I recommended to a friend who is mostly baffled by the appeal, you should at least see episode 2, because while the first episode sets the stage the next one just throws down forty-nine minutes of solid WTF where you keep thinking each revelation/hairstyle can’t possibly be topped by the next but NOPE.

• The new season of Ozark, which I am really liking although it is as squintingly dark as ever — dark in topic but even darker in terms of lighting, I’m pretty sure the entire set shares one 25-watt bulb.

• Barre3’s online workouts, the free-for-90-days Peloton app, Blogilates on YouTube. My usual workout routine has completely fallen apart and I know there’s no use in beating myself up over that, but I also know that exercise is critical to my mental wellbeing. As it is with so many things right now, some days are better than others in the healthy-coping-mechanisms department.

• Audiobooks in general, because I’ve been having a hard time focusing on reading. I enjoyed listening to Jessica Simpson’s memoir, which encompasses much more than the tea regarding John Mayer but that particular tea is pretty fascinating and will likely solidify your opinions of his utter douchebaggery.

This self tanner. I decided it was the perfect time to try something outside of my cosmetic comfort zone, and you know, I’m not sure why it makes me feel a little better to have the kind of skin tone that implies I’ve actually left the house in weeks but it does. Fake it till we make it, friends.

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
10 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Kim
Kim
3 years ago

EIGHTEEN YEARS, my god. I don’t remember the exact moment I found your blog, but it was definitely in the Diaryland days, long before you became a mom, and you inspired me to start my own, which led to some seriously cool stuff, the best of which is a now 13-year real life friendship with someone I met through my blog. Seriously mind blowing.

We will start episode 3 of Tiger King tonight & I have the perfect casting choice should they ever make a movie (and oh, they really should): David Spade. Joe Exotic/Joe Dirt, same hair. I also just finished Jessica’s book, and enjoyed it but I’m sorry, she and Johnny Knoxville totally did it.

A long-time Stephen King fan, I’ve never read The Dark Tower series so I figured now’s as good a time as any and I’m tentatively enjoying it so far.

Comedy podcasts for my neighborhood walks, because a little levity feels like luxury and necessity at the moment.

Courtney
Courtney
3 years ago

I’m a big news-consumer, but I’ve had to scale waaaaay back to avoid going insane. My favorite podcast for the moment is “Trashy Divorces.” Trashcandy brain relief/ celebrity gossip hosted by two southern lesbians who swear and drink through each episode. My favorite episode is the one titled “Atlanta’a Favorite Children,” about the Trashy Divorces of Margaret Meade (author of Gone with the Wind) and Newt Gingrich (…nothing good to say here). Highly recommend!

Erin
Erin
3 years ago

I think this is my first comment to you Linda! Long time reader.
I’ve been therapy baking. I attempt to box it all up snappy. Then I share it with my favorites. One of them works at a local pizza shop that delivers. 😉
I think I’m going to try this Doris Greenspan recipe next: https://food52.com/recipes/69321-double-ginger-molasses-cookies

Erin
Erin
3 years ago

Dorie.
Woman throttles autocorrect. News at eleven.

Trish
Trish
3 years ago

I’m too old to know what content creator is but of course I have an idea. Clicks!
I love your writing bc it’s just that…writing. You express relatable thoughts, feelings, anecdotes, emotions…there’s so much realness… I look forward to every post, truly. You write, we read and it’s such a wonderful pleasure.

TinaNZ
TinaNZ
3 years ago

I’m with Kim, it can’t be eighteen years can it? Ok only seventeen since I found your blog, that’s…seventeen years, blimey.

There’s no flour in the supermarket so I am saved from comfort-baking until I fit only trackpants.

Am working half days which gives me a bit of get-up-early discipline – and it includes video meetings so I have to be about 70% respectable (above the waist).

Have replaced my commute time with a morning and evening brisk walk with my daughter.

Practicing my ukulele. You can’t be sad or anxious when you are ukulele-ing.

We (NZ) are only five days into the official lockdown so it yet remains to be seen if my many other good intentions (art! learning Maori! that novel!) bear out.

Your daily updates have been a delight. Here’s to the next eighteen years of them! (Eighteen years…. ).

Lee
Lee
3 years ago

Survivor. My daughter had seen some of the competitions on YouTube, naturally, and so we started a season on hulu and binged the whole thing. Was So Great! Husband and I stopped watching this show years ago (it’s been on for 18 years, too!), but really enjoyed revisiting the trashiness, Jeff Probst’s ridiculous narration, and good fun. Recommend Season 30, if anyone’s interested!)

Shawna
3 years ago

Longtime reader, many-time commenter here, and I think I’ve already talked about how you were on Diaryland and the big red lips design you had when I first started reading… Oh, I just mentioned it again. I’m nothing if not repetitive.

Anyway, I’ve got a set of categories of stuff my kids have to do every weekday, with how much time they have to devote to each, and so far it seems to be working enough to give them a loose schedule but with flexibility built in. I’m working 8-hour days from home so it definitely keeps them out of my hair for a lot of the 5-hours worth of time it represents. I might share on FB and I’ll tag you if you’re interested.

I’ve been oddly divided between endlessly haunting FB to read all the covid-19 articles, and avoiding all my usual podcasts that have gone all-covid-19, all the time. For escapism into something light, I burned through all 3 of Abbi Waxman’s audiobooks. Highly recommend.

Scott Hagg
Scott Hagg
3 years ago

I remember when you hosted your first thanksgiving.
And squirrel logs.
Unicorn porn makes me sad

Kristen
Kristen
3 years ago

Seriously. I love Ozark, but damn. Why does it have to be so dark?! I’m squinting all the way through!