Greetings, Internet! Election week ended (I’m on team #Korsnacki), my stomach is feeling much better, and I’m still figuring out how to use the new DAW. Daily summaries below!

Day Two Hundred and Thirty-Nine (11/6/20)

• Feeling much better. Ate yogurt because my stomach needs the probiotics.
• GEORGIAAAAAA!!!!! Stacey Abrams is the real MVP.
• PENNSYLVANIAAAAA!!!!!
• Took a much-needed shower.
• Tried eating normal food. Am going to be optimistic.
• Thought I had a group meeting at 2pm, because my advisor said it would be at 1pm (c.t.). Turns out c.t. does not mean Central Time. So I missed the whole thing. Gah.
• Had to rewatch this.
• Played around with my keyboard. Pondered a cover, and something else I’m working on that I’d like to make dramatic. Still wishing I had a real piano. <sigh> Someday.
• Currently feeling: Steve Kornacki is on my “imaginary boyfriends” list. And yes, I’m aware that Gay Twitter has already claimed him.
• Currently looping: Ingrid Michaelson’s “Still the One.”

Day Two Hundred and Forty (11/7/20)

• YAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, the footage of people celebrating in NYC and DC is giving me so much joy. Also the cheers outside my building are a delight. Debating whether or not I should go outside and cheer with the people. 
• So, does Steve Kornacki get a break now? Can he go home?
• Can we destroy the Electoral College now? Please?
• <starts to set aside stipend funds for Georgia Senate Runoffs because this isn’t over>
• Went outside and it was gorgeous. The weather was amazing, people were happy, and lots of people were wearing Biden-Harris merch or “Trump/Pence OUT” stickers. And I hear cheers from a mile away in Times Square. I love my city. I also went to get myself celebratory treats that I’ll eat later. Also picked up some focaccia (my stomach should be able to handle it), brought it back to my apartment, and heated it up because I am not playing around with outside food.
• My sister’s here! We drank champagne and ordered in noodles (soup noodles for me, because I am not eating heavy today). I also made popcorn (without butter).
• Those speeches. Kamala’s outfit. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
• Total times outside: Twenty-Five!
• Currently feeling: We came really close to authoritarianism. Really, really close. Heck, Rachel Maddow admitted she thought we were going to get a second term. But it didn’t happen. I mean, we still have 74 days of lame duck administration that could turn into absolute madness, but we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank goodness he was incompetent.
• Currently looping: Van Jones’ take on the election results. If this doesn’t make you tear up, you may not have a soul.

Day Two Hundred and Forty-One (11/8/20)

• My sister and I attempted the crossword this morning while we watched “The Great British Baking Show.” We also had matcha lattes. Oh, I’m going to miss her so much after she moves to California.
• Did the FES cycle.
• Did some recording for this week’s cover. Just have to add the flute part and then I think we’re mostly good? Might have to rerecord some keyboard parts.
• Disney+ and I are continuing to argue with each other. Starting to think my internet speed might be too slow for it. Bah.
• Spent the entire time on my standing frame listening to other people’s covers and leaving comments. Hey, I have pretty darn good engagement given how small my subscriber count is, and this is why (also my covers are good, I guess?). But holy moly, my “No Surprises” cover is almost at 100 views, and it’s been up for about four days. That’s fast.
• Currently feeling: Anyone else feeling inspired from Kamala being Kamala to get into politics? I don’t mean like, run for office, because the idea of having to do smalltalk at a fundraiser gives me anxiety chills. But like, be the person who helps with policy. Or who writes the speeches (I’m 100% confident in my ability to write other people’s speeches). I don’t know, I have hella degrees, know how to research, can speak three languages, and can be efficient AF. Surely, I can use my heavily-padded resume for some good, right? And then spend my nights playing sad acoustic songs at random coffeehouses in DC?
• Currently looping: Vulfpeck’s “Dean Town” live, featuring Chris Thile. Holy cow, Chris Thile is a beast on the mandolin.

Day Two Hundred and Forty-Two (11/9/20)

• I went outside because it was a nice day. Also it was buy one get one free on pastries at the local bakery.
• So there might be a vaccine next year? And then we can has karaoke again? And friends in-person?
• Guitar lesson! Learning how to write silly songs instead of overly dramatic ones. And also learning about proper guitar gear.
• Added the flute recording for this week’s cover.
• Virtually hung out with my bestie. So much to catch up on. And so much scheming for when she’s able to drive out here.
• Total number of times outside: Twenty-Six!
• Currently feeling: When you want to be a night owl and an early bird, but you know that’s physically impossible without passing out in front of your laptop in the afternoon.
• Currently looping: Jaymay’s “Autumn Fallin’” album. I forgot how much I loved this in college.

Day Two Hundred and Forty-Three (11/10/20)

• Overslept an hour and a half. I guess I needed the sleep. Oops.
• Did the FES cycle. Rewatched “Frozen 2.” It’s better than the first “Frozen.” There, I said it.
• Recorded a demo of a fun song I started working on yesterday. Used a different DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), so I still need to figure out how to mix everything together and adjust volumes. Upon a recent listen, the vocals are kind of drowned out. I should fix that.
• Watched some DAW tutorials. Yup, I still don’t know what I’m doing. I might just get Logic Pro X when I get a new laptop.
• Read a bit of Gregory of Tours. There’s a lot of dissertation material here.
• Currently feeling: Sometimes I think, “What am I doing with my life?” and the answer I tell myself sometimes is, “Everything. I’m doing everything with my life.” I guess that’s not so bad? Sure, I feel directionless, but it’s less of, “I have no idea in which direction I’m moving” and more, “I’m going to go over here, and now over there, and then back here, and then, oh hey, this looks shiny, I’m going to go over here!” It’s a lot, but it’s quarantine, so I can get away with doing a lot right now.
• Currently looping: Evan Rachel Wood’s “All is Found” from the “Frozen 2” soundtrack. I’m a sucker for wistful lullabies.

Day Two Hundred and Forty-Four (11/11/20)

• Did arm exercises while watching vapid YouTube videos. I would’ve watched something on Disney+, but we’re still having arguments.
• Recorded the video portion of this week’s cover.
• Still figuring out how to use this new DAW. I would feel guilty for texting my guitar instructor a bunch of questions, but he told me to text him if I had any questions, and so I’m calling his bluff (because YouTube tutorials are not helping and I have so many questions T_T).
• Started my holiday shopping because the sales and store promotions have begun! I mean, they began a while ago, but now I’m figuring out what to shop for and the strategizing has begun.
• Currently feeling: The other day my dad called and I mentioned not really knowing what day it was because my sense of time is off. And then he said, “That’s what happens when you don’t have a job.” Apparently my graduate program isn’t a real job. I mean, nevermind that I get paid to research. Nope. Not a real job. And nevermind that no one knows what day it is because of all the lockdowns. Any other grad students have this problem where a parental figure doesn’t believe you have actual work to do (and thus believes you have all the time in the world)? I’m beyond trying to justify that the work I get paid to do is actually a job. Time will tell if it becomes a career, but for now, it’s a job.
• Currently looping: Kristen Bell’s “The Next Right Thing” from the “Frozen 2” soundtrack. I cannot listen to it without crying, and so of course I repeatedly listened to it and had a good cry session. “You are lost / Hope is gone / But you must go on / And do the next right thing.” And “So I’ll walk through this night / Stumbling blindly toward the light / And do the next right thing.” This hits so hard in the feels. Whenever I feel like garbage, I set tiny goals to snap myself out of it. This whole soundtrack speaks to me.

Day Two Hundred and Forty-Five (11/12/20)

• Posted my cover of Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited.” I forgot how much I love this song.
• Went down to Princeton for a follow-up appointment from that time I went to the ER. It should’ve been two weeks ago, but I had to reschedule.
• Two hours of waiting + a five-minute checkup later, I’m all good to go. Thankfully, my mother (who drove me down to Princeton) opted to do her Target and Whole Foods trips while I was waiting.
• Trips to Princeton are becoming synonymous with eating ramen in parking lots. We just keep ending up going to Princeton during ramen weather.
• My mother is probably the only person (besides me) who will suggest listening to Hans Zimmer film scores (specifically from “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest”) while driving through a foggy downpour on a highway. Terrifying driving conditions? Let’s add a super intense and dramatic film score to set the mood! In case, you know, anyone doubted that we share genetic material.
• FaceTimed my niece because she just turned two years old today!! I’m preparing myself for only seeing her in person once or twice a year after she moves to the west coast, but I know whatever I do won’t be enough preparation. Not at all.
• Hey, remember that medievalist I mentioned who was recording covers? There’s an album now. And they all work at a university!
• Total number of times outside: Twenty-Seven!
• Currently feeling: That feeling when you find out that your maternal grandmother used to sing around the house all the time when your mother was growing up (she had a lovely voice). My mother also learned the piano and guitar back in the day (she also has a lovely singing voice and used to sing all the time growing up). It’s nice to know I’m carrying on a tradition.
• Currently looping: Halsey’s “Without Me.” Dang, it’s catchy.

Thanks so much for reading! Stay safe, wear a mask, and keep the faith.