Greetings, Internet! I hope everyone’s staying as safe and sane as can be. This week, I finally met with my advisor, binged so much “Stranger Things,” and I’m nearly finished with putting together a full band demo for a song I wrote last year. Daily summaries below!

Day Six Hundred and Three (11/5/21)

• Was supposed to meet with my advisor. By the time his internet was functioning, I had to go to Push to Walk. The timing really did not work out this week. 0-3 on advisor meetings. Alas.
• Went to Push to Walk!
• Went to a nearby mall to do some returns. Admittedly, not a fan of the suburbs. But boy am I a fan of having a bunch of stores in the same location.
• Watched a bit of “The Great British Baking Show” with my mother, while eating pie.
• Total Times Outside: One Hundred and Fifty!
• Total videos watched by other YouTubers: 0
• Currently feeling: I think I’ve been outside 25% of the time I’ve started this blog series, so, yay! I’ll consider that an improvement over the first…basically hundred days when I did not leave my apartment?
• Currently looping: Courtney LaPlante posted a live vocal playthrough of Spiritbox’s (her band) “Circle With Me” and OH MY GOSH. In the last part of the song she seamlessly goes from belting to screaming back to belting and I’m just, wow, that’s it, my jaw is on the floor.

Day Six Hundred and Four (11/6/21)

• Did the FES cycle. Finished season one of “Ted Lasso.” I can see why it won so many Emmys.
• Watched some Premier League (darn it, “Ted Lasso”!). Brighton vs. Newcastle. I didn’t really know who to root for, so I just rooted for someone to score a goal. It was quite an exciting game. A friend of mine was really into Arsenal for a time, so I don’t know if I should default to that, or if I should take time to find a team to root for. Or perhaps I should just root for anything but a draw. All I know is that I’m supposed to despise Manchester United for reasons too arbitrary to go into (?).
• Watched a couple of episodes of “Stranger Things.” I am so late to the party on this.
• Did some clean and harsh vocal practicing, followed by some bass practice. Should be ready to (attempt to) record a bassline for “Jackass” tomorrow.
• Did some insurance paperwork. Fun times.
• Total videos watched by other YouTubers: 26.
• Currently feeling: “Stranger Things” might cut into my productivity, but I am determined to do more music-related things over the next few weeks. Oh, and eventually meet with my advisor to talk about this chapter/start planning the next one. Or maybe revise current ones and then work on the next one. I don’t know. I should establish a system of order. This was so much easier when I did a three-chapter thesis and a three-chapter dissertation.
• Currently looping: Billie Eilish’s live performance of “Happier Than Ever.”

Day Six Hundred and Five (11/7/21)

• Daylight Savings! Woke up before my alarm for once.
• And then I watched eight episodes of “Stranger Things.” What can I say? I love a binge. Also season four is coming soon and I should catch up before then.
• Oh, and I finished recording and mixing the full band version of “Jackass”!
• Also, I might have acid reflux. I don’t know. My stomach hasn’t been happy with me lately.
• Total videos watched by other YouTubers: 0.
• Currently feeling: I’ll tell myself that the extra hour went to sleep, but most likely it went to “Stranger Things.” I have slept on this series for far too long. Love the plot, love the friendships, and love the soundtrack! I forgot how many awesome songs are from the ‘80s!
• Currently looping: My “Jackass” full band demo. It’s currently private, but you, dear blog reader, get to listen to it first through that link.

Day Six Hundred and Six (11/8/21)

• Had a meeting with my advisor, at long last. He would’ve liked my chapter if not for my atrocious Latin translations. He said that they didn’t make sense (fair), and that someone with a doctorate would not have translations like that. In other words, “work on your Latin and fix this mess otherwise you’re not going to pass this program.” He made his annoyance quite clear. Even on a choppy zoom call, I could feel his disappointment from across the Atlantic. He then told me to contact him when I wanted to talk about the dissertation. In other words, “Maybe we should talk before you just hand me this work that you clearly did not put enough time into.”
• Guys, I’ve never had a review this harsh from an advisor before. And why did I ever think I could balance adulting with grad school?
• You know, this may be Princeton’s fault. They passed my Latin exam. They said I was proficient. What a joke. If I lacked the skills, you should’ve placed me in remedial Latin.
• Zoom hangout with guitar buddy. He’s giving me feedback on properly mixing “Jackass.” I’ve put so many hours into it, I should finish it.
• Tutored some beginner Latin. Hilarious, now that I think about it.
• Total Times Outside: One Hundred and Fifty-One!
• Total videos watched by other YouTubers: 0. I have no time right now.
• Currently feeling: Like my priorities have been misplaced. Princeton isn’t paying me to watch “Stranger Things.” I need to do 30-60 minutes of Latin per day until I stop being a disappointment.
• Currently looping: Ad Infinitum’s “Haunted.”

Day Six Hundred and Seven (11/9/21)

• My mother stopped by a nearby bakery so I could eat my feelings.
• Went to Push to Walk!
• One of my medieval friends made me feel infinitely less like an idiot, so thank you, medieval friend.
• But still, I should practice my Latin more.
• Watched an episode of “Stranger Things.” Stopped myself before the binge began. It took a lot of willpower.
• Total Times Outside: One Hundred and Fifty-Two!
• Total videos watched by other YouTubers: 0.
• Currently feeling: Still feeling inadequate. I have a lot of emails to send and phone calls to make, and I just feel really behind. I keep telling myself that I’ll catch up tomorrow.
• Currently looping: If you haven’t yet heard Brandi Carlile perform Joni Mitchell’s “Blue,” then you need to listen to it. Because it’s stunning.

Day Six Hundred and Eight (11/10/21)

• Wheeled myself nearly half a mile on an empty stomach late this morning to get to my doctor’s office for a stomach ulcer breath test (I was told to fast). As soon as the test was over, I wolfed down a breakfast bar on a nearby corner.
• Realized that I didn’t have a MetroCard (I needed to take the bus later in the day), so I went to a nearby station with an elevator and, by some random bit of luck, I got to the elevator right after it had been cleaned. A clean elevator!
• Then went to a nearby bakery to see if there was anything savory. Behold, they have a new item called “Sexy Cheese Bread.”
• Went back to my apartment and wolfed down said cheese bread. It was a lot for one person. Oh, how I wish my sister was here.
• Went outside again to meet a friend of a friend of my sister’s at the Morgan Library. Anytime I go to a museum and I see there’s an audio guide option, I always wonder, “Who actually takes the time to listen to that who’s under 50 years old?” Well, we did. Gotta say, it was a neat added element to the exhibit.
• Hey, look, another reminder that airlines don’t care about passengers who use wheelchairs. They literally do not care if we die from their negligence.
• Finished season two of “Stranger Things.” Well, one character’s story arc has wrecked my soul. But the season itself was so cute.
• FaceTimed my niece as she opened up my birthday present to her. She seemed to really like it, which warms my heart.
• Total Times Outside: One Hundred and Fifty-Two and One Hundred and Fifty-Three!
• Total videos watched by other YouTubers: 0.
• Currently feeling: My niece likes what I got her for her birthday! That should really be the headline.
• Currently looping: Sarah Jarosz’s “Come On Up to the House.” 

Day Six Hundred and Nine (11/11/21)

• Did the FES cycle. Caught up on “Legends of Tomorrow.” The plot thickens!
• Watched another episode of “Stranger Things.” Might have to take a break this weekend, just because I have oodles of things scheduled.
• Therapy!
• So many emails. And phone calls. Agreed to do a YouTube collaboration, so I know what I’m doing later this weekend.
• My mother’s here! She brought cranberry walnut orange bread!
• This SNL sketch exists, and it fills me with punk rock joy.
• Total videos watched by other YouTubers: 2.
• Currently feeling: There’s just a lot happening, and there aren’t enough hours in the day. #teamtimeturner
• Currently looping: Brandi Carlile’s “The Joke.” Her voice. Omg.

Thanks so much for reading! Stay safe, get vaccinated, and practice your Latin!