Any sort of calm energy in December is gone, swapped out for the frenetic hustle of a new year. This month really flew by, between deadlines and two trips. But I’ve had two snow days at my home in Atlanta, although a light dusting, so that was fun!
In every monthly post, I like to share the articles I’m reading, the shows I’m watching, and the podcasts I’m listening to. They’ll remain free to read but there will continue to be affiliate links to recommended products to support site upkeep.
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Reading
I didn’t finish my Goodreads challenge for the year and man was A Separate Peace a bummer to be my first completed book of the year. It didn’t get lighter with Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking, a quintessential read on loss. I’m now working my way through a self-help title as well as Cultish, you know, for balance.
There are so many incredible pieces of journalism that came out this month and it’s a reminder of why I became a writer. This behemoth from the Miami Herald details what went wrong at the Champlain Towers collapse.
This Bloomberg profile on Jessica Simpson is really interesting, especially when examined through the Free Britney movement. Simpson was “free” but still heavily controlled.
Speaking of profiles, there were some wild ones! This New York Times feature on Wee Man, aka Jason Acuña of Jackass fame, was a fun read. This Vanity Fair profile on Jerry Falwell Jr. was a wild ride, especially after the many scandals that have plagued Liberty University.
This story led me to another from Politico in 2017 when the author that essentially broke the story stayed at Falwell’s Miami hostel co-owned by his wife’s boyfriend.
And my friend Jodi wrote about her struggles with a spinal fluid leak and how it changed her life of travel for CNN Travel.
To see what else I’m reading, check out my Goodreads Profile here (which is also my author page!).
Listening
After hearing many ads about it, I finally listened to Cover Story, a look at the abuses in the psychedelic therapy world. Power: Hugh Hefner is another look at power dynamics, this time at the famed Playboy magazine and its businesses.
Watching
I am so late to the party for everything. But I am almost done with Yellowjackets. It’s super dark, even for me, so I have to watch it in bursts but I love seeing actors from the 90s. I also started Hacks and Love Life on flights, so I’m finishing those. I finally watched Euphoria and am really enjoying it. If you liked Skins, it’s fairly similar.
Loving
I got a print framed that I got for Christmas through Framebridge and it turned out beautifully! I also caught up with friends for a good ole vision board session and am very pleased with the results. Would love more champagne in my life for 2022!
Working
It’s been a fun month for work. For InsideHook, I wrote about a real-life Huck Finn in the Mississippi Delta. For Simply Buckhead, I wrote a guide to Tallahassee, Florida. For Roadtrippers, I wrote about an artist space in Greensboro, North Carolina.
For Here, I wrote about Savannah‘s best women-owned businesses. My story about my local offbeat landmark, The Big Chicken, is in this month’s issue of Girl Camper. And I started doing hotel reviews for Fifty Grande!
I’ve been commissioned to do a few fun pieces lately, so stay tuned for those. I’ve also placed some stories about a quirky museum in Mississippi, my love of gas station food, road tripping around Mobile, and supporting immigrant-owned businesses in Cleveland.
Traveling
My time in St. Augustine was lovely, with so many ideas percolating in my brain. My time in New York was at a breakneck pace but apart from a disastrous trip home, was a great chance to catch up with old friends and put names to faces. I’ve got a week and change to relax before starting a journey to Virginia for another industry event. The rest of the month is blessedly calm before a truly insane March!
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