Greetings, Internet! I hope everyone is staying as safe and sane as possible. This week, I hung out with my sister! Other things happened, but mostly I hung out with my sister! Yay! Daily summaries below!

May 26, 2023

• My sister’s here!!
• YAAAAAYYYYY!!!
• I ordered doughnuts. And then a family friend stopped by with more doughnuts.
• We are so full of doughnuts.
• Worked out with an SCI trainer! And gave him doughnuts.
• Went to a fancy dinner with my sister. So full of dinner.
• And then came back to watch the Mets win!
• Currently feeling: MY SISTER’S HERE!!! ALL OF THE YAY!!
• Currently looping: Mostly caught up on podcasts today.

May 27, 2023

• Did the FES cycle.
• My sister and I went to afternoon tea, and we are very full of scones. [Featured picture!]
• Then we went shoe shopping and I finally got a pair of sensible neutral flats.
• Only took like, years of being an adult to get said shoes. The best part is that, because I don’t walk (apart from Push to Walk locomotor activity), it takes a ridiculously long time to wear out a pair of shoes.
• And then we went to a wine bar for some pre-karaoke snacks.
• AND THEN. KARAOKE!!!
• My voice is completely shot, but dang, it was all worth it.
• Currently feeling: It’s so late at night, but three hours of karaoke with people who love karaoke was amazing. I miss doing this with my sister.
• Currently looping: ALL OF THE KARAOKE MUSIC.

May 28, 2023

• Family brunch with my boyfriend!
• Followed by eating hella blueberry pie that my mother baked.
• My sister went to the airport. It was such a short trip, but dang, it was packed.
• My boyfriend and I watched another episode of “The Dropout” and I am so excited for the finale.
• Currently feeling: So happy that I got to spend time with my sister ^_^
• Currently looping: Not much music today.

May 29, 2023

• My boyfriend and I decided to go on an adventure, and I had never been to the Highline or Hudson Yards, so we went there.
• My boyfriend (and many people I’ve complained to about this) knows that I’m not a fan of engagement rings. I think the idea of one is antiquated, and I think it’s silly that the woman (in a hetero relationship) has to wear one, but not the man. I also find it silly that the engagement ring is a ridiculously expensive item, and the amount spent could go towards literally anything else (e.g. a car, the wedding venue, any part of the wedding, getting a dog and furnishing your apartment for said dog).
• That said, I saw this gorgeous and ridiculous ring at one of the shops at Hudson Yards. It doesn’t look like an engagement ring (but in theory, couldn’t any ring be an engagement ring?).
• But, I maintain my position that it’s completely unnecessary. Because where the heck would I wear something that gorgeous? I’m a hermit who occasionally goes to Whole Foods. There’s no point for something that glamorous.
• And yet, dang, it looked good.
• (Also, to be clear, if you’re a fan of engagement rings, do your thing. I don’t judge people who are fans of the tradition. I just don’t wish to partake.)
• My boyfriend is relieved that I do not require an engagement ring. But he is not relieved that I have a thing for $3 macarons (there was a Ladurée at Hudson Yards).
• We then went out to eat, and returned to finish watching “The Dropout.” Holy cow, what a show. Highly recommend.
• Currently feeling: Wow, what a packed Memorial Day weekend.
• Currently looping: Not much music today.

May 30, 2023

• Went to Push to Walk!
• Got bubble tea afterwards, and witnessed the immediate aftermath of a cyclist getting hit by a car. It’s one of those things that isn’t surprising in NYC (because many cyclists (and a number of motorists) regularly disobey traffic laws), but it’s still terrifying to see. I hope he wasn’t too hurt.
• Clipped the stems of flowers in an effort to keep the flowers my boyfriend bought me alive. We shall see if this works.
• The Mets won! Huzzah!
• Because of all the Memorial Day events, I feel like I haven’t watched enough baseball over the past week.
• Wordle: In four!
• Currently feeling: It’s kind of funny that the day after finishing “The Dropout,” Elizabeth Holmes started her 11-year prison sentence. I’m sure she’ll get out early on good behavior. Not sure how to feel about that except, “Well, finally.”
• Currently looping: Oodles of metal.

May 31, 2023

• Went for an MRI. The staff was super friendly, so if you’re in the NYC area and need a recommendation for a medical imaging center, leave a comment!
• Got lunch with my mother, which was lovely.
• My doctor wanted a copy of the disk that had the MRI images, so we drove up to his office and dropped them off.
• And then we got bubble tea, because we’re predictable like that.
• A long overdue writing workshop was had! Writing is awesome.
• Speaking of which, I need to translate stuff so that I can get back to dissertationing. Well, not translate, but read a book in a language I don’t exactly understand.
• Currently feeling: Why is it so much easier to write things that aren’t my dissertation?
• Currently looping: Not much music today, but a bit of Sarah Jarosz as I got ready for bed.

June 1, 2023

• Did the FES cycle.
• Well, the company that supplies my catheters claims that my doctor never sent them sufficient evidence that I actually need the quantity of catheters that they ship every month, so they’re threatening to slash my shipment by 20%.
• WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL.
• My doctor keeps faxing them chart notes and the catheter supplier keeps claiming they never arrived. This is some BS. Also, WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP USING FAX MACHINES? WE HAVE EMAIL.
• And this is all because Medicare is trying to save money. Or maybe Medicare wasn’t paying for all of the catheters? I don’t know. Effing greedy and inefficient government agencies. Why do I even pay taxes?
• Dissertation? When?
• My friend came over to take a photo of blueberry pie, and my blueberry pie tattoo.
• I should send her the photos, but I accidentally placed my camera under a stack of things.
• Currently feeling: I just want my catheter situation sorted. The administrative jerks at Medicare have no idea how much I need these.
• Currently looping: Death Cab for Cutie and the Magik*Magik Orchestra’s live performance. I saw them live about ten years ago, and dang, it’s one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.

Thanks so much for reading! Stay safe, stay sane, and check out “The Dropout”!