I was gonna write a lot about all of these and go all in depth, but that feels like too much of a demand. So I’ll just gonna do what feels right. Full disclosure: I haven’t been in that good of a brain space so far this year. I feel like I am bad about sharing the bad times, and I’m gonna do my best to be better about that this year.
Talking about sad or negative things is difficult for me, though. Part of that is because I know what I put out into the universe tends to be what it gives back to me. Not because of any woo-woo stuff really… just, if I’m noticing the negative stuff and focusing on it, then it will be much easier for me to see. So most of the time, I try my best to look at the positives in everything. Sometimes, however, my brain makes that really difficult.
Right now is one of them. Don’t worry. I’m fine. I’ll be fine (this is for D, mostly). The combo of a long, cold winter, horrible pre-menopause/PMS/PMDD symptoms, and some upcoming life upheavals is just compounding in such a way that silly, little things set me off where they normally wouldn’t.
So, after that vague description of depression, here are some of the things I love in January of 2026.
The One and Only Ivan – Book
As part of my lollipop subscriptions, in… November? I sent pre-stamped postcards to my subscribers and asked for suggestions. This book was one of them. I read it in three days and cried, and have the sequel waiting for me. I just have to finish an alternative reality Nazi book first.
Buckeye Dip
I was hungry for peanut butter and chocolate, but had nothing with both mashed together already. I did, however, have Chocolate Chips and Chunky Peanut Butter, and white sugar, because of course I do. I make lollipops afterall.
So I melted the chocolate chips, then separately melted the PB and sugar. I mixed the PB and sugar together and then combined that together with the melted choccy chips. Then I tore off pieces of tortilla and enjoyed the hell out of it.
Mickey did too.
Fried Fish at Scotty Simpson’s Fish and Chips
Some days, I get a hankering for something. The other day, that hankering came in the form of fish and chips. Mickey did a search, and this little piece of Detroit History popped up.
It was, no exaggeration, among the best fried fish of my life. The oil was obviously clean and probably as hot as it could legally go. The fish (and chips) reflected that care.
Plus, there were bottles of Malt Vinegar on the table, which I appreciated.
Saying “gratitude” instead of “thank you.”
Yes, we are watching Spartacus. I really like the way it sounds and, better yet, feels in my mouth! Full disclosure I have been doing terrible at this since deciding this.
Season 1, Episode 9 of “The Other Two”
I wrote a whole dang blog about this.
Also, this episode of The Other Two
The surreal absurdity of this ridiculous final season tickles my brain just right. It’s almost a different show, but still works. I’m sad this didn’t get more seasons. I’d have liked to see where future seasons would have gone.
Heck, The Entirety of Season Three of The Other Two
And the characters and the motivations and actions are so FULL. I understand why Brookie and Cary look for love the way they do. I just hope they do the work on their mental health to work through their traumatic childhood and are able to give and receive the love they deserve.
Baked Potatoes
I cannot get enough of these right now. The oven heats up the house, and the potato heats up my belly. I don’t put much on ’em, just butter and maybe some bacon and parm.
Psych
It’s just comfortable. When there are stressy times, I like a show I know really well. This is one of them. But you know what? Shaun is kind of an asshole… but I think he acknowledges this?
Marty Fucking Surpreme
Odessa D’Azion was the highlight of an excellent movie.
Season 2 of “The Pitt”
So glad to have these bitches back. I love that there is no one that I really don’t like. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sold on the new attending or one of the new med students. I do, however, have sympathy for them because I know it’s not their fault that they are the way they are.
Easy Cookie Cake
Yeah, I wrote a blog. I’ll be doing this again.
Spilling Your Seed with Chloe Troast
My current favorite thing on YouTube. It is criminal that Lorne fired her from SNL after a year.
Heated Rivalry
This show is important in the same way that P-Valley is important. I was not expecting this.
I have been in a period of doing little to no research when it comes to movies and TV lately, so I thought this was gonna be a 30-minute bop of a comedy with some sexy sexy sex.
Only one of these things was true. And if you’ve seen it, you know it is the sexy sexy sex. This show portrayed desire, sexual tension, and romance in a way we (as a people) seem to be starved of. The desire was immediately apparent, easily believable. The tension wasn’t forced; it felt natural. The romance felt healthy, even though the action was closested.
I don’t want to tell y’all too much about the show. It’s short. Six episodes. About an hour east. It’s a bop, and it’s funny, but more than that, it has heart. I genuinely loved every single main character by the end and was rooting for their success.
I dunno. Go watch it and come back here, and let’s gush about it.
