I'm Mean Because I Grew Up in New England

Weekly Roundup #32

Hello hello and welcome to the biweekly roundup. Because it’s the dog days of summer, I thought I’d try something new. Instead of a list of what I’m reading/writing/listening, I thought I’d give you the things that are bringing me joy in those domains instead.

If you like this, let me know! If you hate it, also let me know! I am the Chaotic Reader, after all. Gotta live up to my name every once and a while. Onwards to what has brought me joy these past few weeks.

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1. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

My brother recommended this to me years ago, and I bought it. Years ago. (Like all good books in my library, obviously.) It sat untouched on my shelf because while this is a book it is also a work book, and I just never had the time to do it. Or so I thought.

Like most things in life, it all comes down to what you put your energy and attention to. I recently joined a group that is working through The Artist’s Way for the next 10 weeks, so now I have no excuse not to complete it. And, ipso facto, read it. I’ve heard of morning pages for years, and now I actually have to go do them. Will I do them in the morning? Will I actually write 3 pages? Stay tuned.

2. Bleachers

As I’ve previously stated, music is not my jam. I do love music, but ask me something technical about a pop song and I’m just going to shrug. I do not keep up with the goings on in music as I do with the literary world. So I have no doubt that many people already knew about the band Bleachers and I’m just living under a rock. I got ‘Don’t Take the Money,’ stuck in my head, which then gave the algorithm license to suggest ‘Modern Girl’ to me.

The robots won on this one, and now everyone has to witness me dancing badly while I sit in traffic while I play this on repeat.

3. These PJs

I am a loungewear connoisseur. Meaning: I own a lot of it. And I like to match. The pandemic did something to my brain and that was: make sure I have all matching loungewear/pjs/athleisure. I must be classy if I am to be indoors at all times.

And they have pocketssssssss.

There are so many great things about these PJs. One, they’re from PJ Salvage which is a brand I love. Two, I got them during Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale so they were HALF OFF and three, they are lightweight AND have a long sleeve. Why is this so important, you ask? Well as part of my EDS, I have dysautonomia.¹

Raising Awareness for What?

The TL;DR on dysautonomia is that I have poor autonomic nervous system regulation. Meaning: I do not regulate my body temperature well and can overheat easily, my eyes dilate MUCH more than normal folks, and a whole host of other symptoms including but not limited to: migraines, dizziness, mood swings, chest pain, shortness of breath, vision problems and so much more. Chronic illness is fun guys!

Anyways, the fact that I have a pair of pjs that mostly covers my body in light linen like fabric is perfect. I don’t need a blanket now wrapped around me when I exist in the AC. Because I have been existing in these pjs, not just at bed time. Working from home is fun guys!!

4. A Flowery Mug Moment

This is peak me right here. A new mug (from Owlcrate) with lavender and bookish sayings on it, and a Virgo candle. If only the view out the window was some sort of nice forest or meadow or seaside view instead of parking lot but I’ll take what I can get. The only downside to these less frequent updates is that I won’t have as many opportunities to show off my mug collection. Maybe I’ll do just a mug post. *schemes*

The title of today’s post is in reference to a Noah Kahan song, ‘Homesick.’ Noah Kahan is yet another artist that I have only recently discovered because as I said before, I live under a rock when it comes to music. Literary trends? I’m on it. Music? Ha. And yes, I am mean because I grew up in New England, where sarcasm is a currency.

I’ll be back on Tuesday with a review of North Woods, a book that takes place in Western Mass (aka where I’m from) and honestly that in and of itself is surprising, because truly, I didn’t think anyone wanted to read about Western Mass? but even more so that it was on a multitude of bestseller lists last year. Is it worth it? Or did the wilds of Western Mass devour this book, too? I’ll let you know.

1. No one wants to test me for it, mainly because there’s no point - there’s nothing to fix here. My autonomic nervous system is still going be dysfunctional whether or not I pass a test or not. So I’ve just been told to treat myself as if I already have it and whaddaya know! My symptoms have been decreasing!!