This is me at my job, which has been really fun lately. I’ve been much busier, not always with important tasks but always with tasks. I barely have any time to read or write substacks while on the clock! I shall have to wait until after work like an honest person. I made a mistake but I caught it and apologized for it and fixed it, which hopefully works out in my favor.
We’ve been receiving unscrupulous amounts of gift baskets in the office from other offices. Seattle sent us a whole smoked salmon since Wicked played there for a bit. One office sent us a cheese board that literally fed me for lunch. I realized about a week too late that I should have been documenting every gift we received to make a ranking, but alas. I will say that at one point, we got like 4 dozen fresh Florida oranges from TWO different offices. I guess they both had the same idea that we would be tired of treats by now. They were right. My personal favorite has been a giant tin of Chicago-style popcorn, which includes 3 compartments: cheddar, butter, and caramel corn. If you didn’t know, I love that shit. I’ve been feeling a lot more useful and like I’m starting to fit in. Like, I can handle some things on my own. And I’m not as afraid to talk to people, especially the big man.
One thing about me is New Year’s is up there with my favorite holidays. I like the spirit of reflection and the new opportunities and beginnings. I’ll save some of my reflections and resolutions for another newsletter, but I am definitely going to take an acting class. I hate the feeling of being passive around things like performing. Like my voice isn’t just gonna magically stay the same if I don’t use it. And I haven’t taken an acting class since high school, basically. So time to hit the books again. I actually signed up for one class that annoyingly switched dates so now I’ll have to find another.
In this first semester of adulthood (do semesters just become “quarters” in the real world??) I have already begun to understand the horrors of the months of Jan-March. I can’t stop talking about it or laughing about it. I am just like everyone else. I spent so much money this holiday season and have been eating so much chocolate that I want January to be sober and frugal. How comical. Why do we do this to ourselves? We stop going out for drinks, we stop going out to eat, we stop shopping, we force ourselves to the gym, we deprive ourselves of all joy ON TOP of the fact that it is dark and cold for the foreseeable future. It’s just funny how things are set up this way. Why do we do this to ourselves??
I took a lovely trip to the pnw with Daniel that helped me touch grass. I saw Our Town which was strikingly bland and Give Me Carmelita Tropicana! which was some great downtown weird theater. I just became a Triangle Trustee! Lots to be grateful for in Q4 2024.
How are people feeling going into Q1- 2025? Reflections on 2024?
It’s kind of weird for it to soon not be 2024. This was a year I had thought about since 2020. I’m not gonna be “class of” anything else any time soon (i think). We’ll be talking about this year every year the last weekend of May dressed in orange for a long time. To quote Sophia, we basically just become a plaque on the ground starting Jan 1, 2025. So that feels a little strange.
I said I wasn’t going to reflect but I’ve already begun reflecting. Basically, I’m grateful for the communities I have and excited to keep building new ones in 2025.
2025 Predictions
Mostly jokes, some real? Thank you to Tali, Reis, Reese, and Sarah for their contributions.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo host the Tony Awards. Maybe Happy Ending wins Best Musical.
Selena Gomez Benny Blanco multicultural/interfaith wedding set in Mexico. Steve Martin and Martin Short officiate. Meryl attends the wedding with Martin and is wearing an engagement ring.
A new country declares independence.
Addison Rae ascension to stardom.
Addison Rae nip slip (on purpose).
Luigi Mangione televised trial continues to shake the nation and maybe reveal some weird political stances from people you thought were based. Subsequent Ryan Murphy show.
Winged eyeliner makes a comeback in a real but subtle way. Think modern Ariana, not old Ariana.
We all wake up and realize AI is actually really scary. I feel like a lot of people write it off cause ChatGPT can’t write an essay but some very public event is gonna spook us and make us realize all of the scary ways it’s already being used.
Real adults with jobs toss their laptops and move towards the iPad and Apple Pencil life.
TikTok banned. Charli D’Amelio dances on the steps of the Supreme Court at the hearing.
Skincare finally flops. We realize the $100 serums aren’t doing shit (Moisturizer and sunscreen do not flop obvi).
Reputation (Taylor’s Version) does not come out. More likely a new album.
“Hot girls play chess” revolution.
Lionsmane mushrooms new health fad.
Eric Adams does not resign and runs for mayor again. He ends up in last place of ranked-choice voting.
Most annoying white guy you know becomes obsessed with Bob Dylan.
Casino construction greenlit in Manhattan.
Hot Ones / Sean Evans expand into media empire.
Golden Bachelor in Paradise
Share your predictions!
Hot girls play chess