January - It's cold and dreary in Pennsylvania (and Maryland), but my favorite thing about it is that it gives you a legitimate excuse to not leave the house, and hunker down on the couch in my sleeping bag (my favorite winter activity). So, I'm into a lot of inside things, and I am okay with that....
Read & Reading:
No surprise: terrible reader here. I like doing it but just don't make the time. This month I read Amy Poehler's "Yes, Please." I liked it, especially her detailed experience as a woman making her way through the world of improv, but I didn't connect with it quite as much as I did with Mindy or Tina's. But still, enjoyable and enlightening.
Most of my "reading" actually gets done in the form of "listening" these days, as I'm in the car for about 2-3 hours per day and audio is the easiest way for me to catch up on books. I went through a real David Sedaris kick in the fall, listening and re-listening to all of his stuff. I'm currently listening to Orange is the New Black, the memoir by Piper Kerman that inspired the Netflix series. It's fascinating.
Really interested in what I'm (minimally) reading? Check out my goodreads...
TV:
Okay, now this is something I make time for.
Current shows include: The Good Wife, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Mindy Project, New Girl, About a Boy, Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, Scandal
This year there are a few new shows I've been trying out.... I haven't been thoroughly convinced of any of them yet, but they come from reputable sources, so I'm giving them the season: Marry Me, Mulaney, The McCarthys, Mom (this is technically in season 2, but I'm still watching it on probation)
January meant the end of a favorite (Parenthood) and the return of some other faves, 2 of which we say goodbye to next month (Parks and Recreation, Cougartown, and The Americans)
And then there is my streaming side projects. January was spent finishing Veronica Mars, watching all of The State (only 20 years late), and am currently working on The Wire, and Burning Love. The latter here is a silly Bachelor-mocking show from the E! network, but is produced by Ken Marino and written/created by his wife. Most of the players from The State make appearances. It's a riot. I'm thinking about keeping better records of my streaming projects.... so you might hear more soon.
Movies:
Seriously don't think I saw any this month.....
Music:
Haven't listened yet, but The Lone Bellow released their 2nd album last week, and I am looking forward to it.
Things I love in January:
- Starting with New Year's Eve, I have participated in about 5 or 6 game nights with various groups of friends. I had forgotten how much I loved playing group games with pals, and had some of the best nights of laughter in a LONG time as a result of these nights. Hope to keep that going in 2015!
- The Golden Globes - in my top 2 for awards shows - is always a good time: watching, keeping up on twitter, and reading reviews. This year I've partnered with a new friend to watch awards shows (this was our 2nd) and it was really fun to share the experience with a friend who loves TV as much as I do.
- I have a new nephew! My sister had her 2nd boy, and it's been fun to see him a few times, and watch my older nephew (2) learn what it means to be a big brother.
- My new couch & old sleeping bag. I have spent most of my January time when I am not at work on my new couch (got in November) in my old sleeping bag (NF Cat's Meow - a classic). It is the greatest and coziest way to spend these cold winter months and I love it.
- #SoftPants. One of 2 words for 2015, they are my favorite things.
- French Press coffee. Bought a french press a few weeks ago and started using it last week. I am obsessed!!
Challenges:
Sometimes celebrating the good means acknowledging the difficult, and I am okay with that. There's the melancholy of January in general (I hate taking down my Christmas decorations), coupled with some hard things with work, friends and family that make you realize that life isn't always easy, but it is still good.
I've also accepted a role on my church council (like elders for your presby friends), and as the chair of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee. My church is in a valley and after only 3 weeks I can see that this will be a challenge (I made a 3 year commitment), but am doing my best to seek good wisdom and be faithful in these challenges.
All in all, not a bad month, considering it's right in the middle of the dumbest of all seasons.
Check out Leigh's post and others' for this month as well!
