Drinking: Trader Joe’s cold pressed green juice. I’m feeling animal guilt (and a bit greasy) after eating bacon at both breakfast and dinner yesterday, so I'm detoxing my inner carnivore.
Listening to: “If 6 Was 9” by Jimi Hendrix which leads me to...
Quote of the Week: “I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to.”— Sometimes a little morbidity puts things into perspective. I like to think if Jimi was still with us today, this is how he’d respond to questions of why he’s living on a hillside compound with no internet and like, six Alpacas. Nonetheless, his poetic commands of personal revolution reverberate into eternity. *A stoned 14-year-old Dia smiles knowingly from the ether.*
Just Purchased: 1.) Doc Martens. I finally caved. And with this I must express frustration toward the boot market. I felt forced into Doc Martens after my last two pairs of leather boots broke clear off the sole. I scoured every inch of the King of Prussia Mall (Do you know how many inches that is? About 8 miles worth, according to my Apple Watch.) and found nothing that checks the boxes of affordable, stylish, and sturdy... besides Docs. They’re utilitarian, though, as I still want something with a chunkier platform for play, like these from ASOS. Anywho, wish my thin-skinned ankles luck as I break in these bad boys.
2.) An espresso machine. Andrew’s 28th birthday is Friday, so in addition to his first gift that I gave him a couple weeks ago, I got this for *us*. We’ve already started brewing and tbh, I’m having a tough time getting the flavor right. Soon enough I’ll be hosting dinner parties and offering everyone espresso with dessert.
Thinking: Speaking of my experience at the King of Prussia Mall, I fear I may have encountered a bad omen. I was walking through an empty corridor; no one was around but me and some guy leaning against a rail. He pointed at me and, with the grimmest scowl, proclaimed, “You better watch out.” It didn’t register immediately that this could mean imminent danger for me, a lone woman of slight physique in a desolate public space. But as soon as I headed toward my exit through Nordstrom, his words rang like discordant church bells, a prophecy of evil. They followed me on my drive home and this morning on my walk to work. What should I “watch out” for? For him? For the clutches of materialism? Or for something else… something to come…?
Excited for: We are finally headed to NYC this week! This trip was scheduled for a few weeks ago and we moved it after I caught a gnarly cold. The hotel was cool about it and we made our same restaurant reservations so… andiamo! I’m on the hunt for a few things shopping wise, but mainly a new leather jacket—something oversized and moto style, but still sort of cropped? Kind of like this one from ORO LA, pretty run-of-the-mill. I recently realized I did the leather jacket thing wrong. I bought mine when I only knew of them in form-fitting styles paired with generic ankle booties. Yawn. Tougher and baggier, please!
Loving: Fitness+. As I continue down a toxic path of self-optimization, ponytail swinging, I’ve discovered another instrument of over-exertion! I joined my family’s Apple One, which is some fancy bundle of news, games, etc. that includes Fitness+, Apple’s guided workout system with a wide variety of exercises and trainers. This is helpful for me as someone who prefers to work out alone, but could use a kick in the ass sometimes.
Working on: 1) I’ve spoken openly about my newfound Call Her Daddy fandom. I decided to turn that into a full piece that explores the feminine urge to other oneself with a few examples from pop culture (e.g. Vivian Kensington from Legally Blonde), plus some questions on privileged women in positions of power.
2.) As cuffing season looms, I have not forgotten about the “where dateable guys actually hang out in Philly” piece I promised. The list is ready; I just want to check a few bars out and grab some candid interviews to give it some bones. Blame it on reading Hunter S. Thompson, but I’m feeling brash and reckless and ready to write in that state.
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