1. Podcasts about the documentaries, podcasts, and shows in the true crime universe. After I got hooked on season one of Serial all those years ago, I looked for more. And what did I find but Rebecca Lavoie and her podcast Crime Writers On, where she and husband Kevin Flynn and friends Lara Bricker and Toby Ball talk about the most interesting and exciting things happening in all the true crime media. I have been a fan since back when it was still Crime Writers on Serial. It’s a fantastic show and lots of fun! From there I discovered new best friends Gillian Pensavalle and Patrick Hinds and their True Crime Obsessed podcast. And last year, Patrick started up another pod with Broadway diva and longtime bud Ellyn Marsh, Obsessed with Disappeared. These are three of my favorite podcasts, and these people truly do feel like friends. They keep me sane at work, keep me laughing when I’m sad, and keep me from having to consume all the true crime media that isn’t worth my time. I’m not sure where I’d be without them all! [note: If you’re a Law & Order fan, also try Kevin Flynn’s These Are Their Stories podcast for all the dirt!]
2. Cleaning machines. And also, having used them enough to know what works best for me. I can’t imagine a life without a washing machine and dryer, and the dishwasher is nice too. I love that I don’t have to spend a lot of time thinking about how to use them, because I have a routine down. I have my favorite detergent (Tide, pods, because we are smart enough to know not to eat them) and as someone who has always had long hair, I am a big fan of dryer sheets to help fight static electricity. And while I don’t always use the dishwasher for more than a dish rack when I’m hand washing the dishes, it’s so nice to know that I can just stack the dirty dishes in and throw in a couple of pods of detergent (I don’t know who invented the pod idea for the machines, but thank you so much!), and it’s all taken care of. Machines are good, and I am grateful for their help. And for their ability to warm up my comfy pants before I put them on.
3. It got really cold out all of a sudden. Okay, not Arctic cold, but the numbers are down in the single digits, daily high in the teens, which hasn’t happened for a long time in these parts. But I’m still happy, because it is good for snuggling in with soft blankets and nice thick socks and hot comfort food (chicken pot pie tonight!) and napping like a cat. It kills all the bugs, clears the skies of the pollen, and makes it easy to sleep deeply at night. I’m not saying I want these temperatures to stay around indefinitely (right now it looks like it will be at least a week), but for today, I’m okay with it. It will be a week of cold commutes to and from work (so jealous of everyone working from home!), but I have new tires and a new battery for my car, so I should be able to make it just fine.
4. Tonight is the Superbowl. Go Chiefs!!
*what is making me happy this week
