I hosted Christmas Eve, and I kicked ass. Appetizers were ready by the time the guests arrived, table was set, garland hung, lights lit, eggplant parmesan made the day before and just needed to be heated, cannolis chilled—I mean what else do you want?
As I’ve said on X, I would make a great housewife.
But the prep kicked my ass. In addition to the hosting preparation, I also wrote Christmas cards where I made each card and envelope myself (like an insane person). I handwrote them and sealed them with wax (like an insane person). Of the five Christmas cards I received this year, all were Shutterfly printouts. I miss handwritten cards. I mean, what—am I going to send out a photo of just me and my cats? Like an insane person? No, I’m not doing that.
Anyway, I was rushing around getting everything I needed for Christmas Eve, writing out those damn cards, doing last minute shopping, cooking until 11pm the night before, and eating a bunch of sweets. The day after Christmas I woke up with a cold that I had hoped was allergies, but was not.
I’ve spent the last week watching season 11 of Knots Landing on Tubi and proofing Synth Noir Book 2 on my couch, surrounded by tissues, cough drops, and hot tea. I’m finally feeling back to normal. I was supposed to go to a New Year’s Eve party last night, but I was not up to it.
No, instead I started season 12 of Knots Landing and tried to figure out my life. Why I’ve turned into an avoidant and don't have a boyfriend, how to market my books, which book I’m working on next, etc. I ended my evening listening to weird YouTube videos about abandoned malls, realtor ghost stories, the GATE conspiracy, and Los Angeles cults. For some reason, listening to uncanny stories brings me great peace right before bed.
I’ve learned not to get excited about New Year’s. I mean, I remember when I was so pumped for 2020, and we all know how that turned out. It’s just another year, another day. And 2025 had been pretty good. Tough in some aspects, but one of the better years out of this godforsaken decade so far.
My goals or resolutions will not be shared on here. No, they’re my little secrets, and we’ll see what happens. It’s between me and God. Maybe God will send me a miracle this year. You know what I want…
Shamelessly Shilling
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Music Rec
Yacht rock meets M83. Meet “Walkaway Blues” (feat. J Laser). A song I’m extremely horny for. Imagine the bounce of yacht rock, ultra smooth vocals by the very cute J Laser who sounds right out of the 1981 deep cut “Keep on Running” by Byrne & Barnes, fused with that signature M83 synth-pop sound—I mean, this is Phoenix Ryder core.
I’m a huge M83 fan, but somehow skipped their Junk album in the last fifteen years and just got into it recently. I know it was a commercial disappointment at the time and I don’t think the cover with the Jim Henson-esque-looking puppets helped, but damn, I’m kicking myself for bypassing it when it came out. I’ve seen them on tour three times, and would have loved to hear this one with its French synths and ‘80s sitcom-y theme song feel. Other faves on the album are “Go!” (feat. Mai Lan), “Solitude”, and “Road Blaster.” Enjoy…