Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
1. Started cleaning out garage
2. Packed
3. Packed some more
4. Threw away many things
5. Gave 3 bags of toiletries to a friend who’ll pass them on to a local immigrant support group
6. Read Anne of Green Gables
7. Ate turkey leftovers in soup form
8. Saw the Sandy Christmas tree downtown — it’s a Christmas
tree… made of sand. As one does in Florida.
9. Read more Anne of Green Gables
Holiday In Paradise:
Day 299
# 381
Weed out, organize, review lotions and makeup in bathroom
Well, I picked this for today: cleaning out completely under all three sinks. Loads of stuff donated to an immigrant group. Tons tossed out — many outdated toiletries and meds.
Last spring, to list the house, we packed stuff we wanted to keep but wouldnt miss for a few months. Lots of books and games and kitchen gadgets and some furniture. We also threw away/donated a lot.
Now we’re digging deeper, and really throwing out, and a bit more donating, and packing things we can live without for a month.
Hoo whee. New house is nearly the size of this one, so we could just move it all. But ugh… let’s get rid of the crap buried in back of closets we haven’t seen/needed/missed for 10+ years!
Hopefully we can be more intentional with filling the new space. Or even just live with more space!
I still worry about long-term power/internet outages or economic collapse if i am really paranoid. So im not willing to part with too much physical media: CDs, books, games, puzzles. But decorative items, i am letting go of easily. New house, new look…
And anything electronic that doesn't go with an item we currently own — straight to trash.
EDITED TO ADD:
Found a $50 bill, and gift cards totalling $105 when clearing out Peter’s room. Found $50 in movie gift cards while clearing stuff out of garage.
Donated 3 bags of toiletries for an immigrant group with the help of a friend.
Threw out many bags of trash.
Luna likes all the new-found space.
Today was good! Only 17 more days to go!
ADDED LATER
When living in a space, you do a big declutter now and then: say, when painting a room or a kid moves out, or just a big spring cleaning.
But never do you go as deep — obviously — than when moving out. So much deep, deep in closets and attic just looked over for years.
This will be such a refresh.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
1. Read Anne of Green Gables
2. Cashed in coins - $51
3. Did Wordle with hubby
4. Got a manicure
5. Assembled 13 boxes
6. Had dinner date with husband
7. Walked around botanical garden with friends
8. Savored the upcoming fall of Dumbass Hegseth
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
1. Baked
2. Prepped
3. Read Anne of Green Gables
4. Cooked
5. Co-hosted Thanksgiving with 8 guests
6. Taught a game
7. Cleaned
8. Walked around neighborhood and said goodbye to next-door neighbors
9. Made plans
#LifeIsGood
Day 297
#361
Share a memory
Shared two so far — in other posts. And I’m inspired to ask others about their Thanksgiving memories.
I just read this in chapter 14 of Anne of Green Gables:
“Oh, Marilla, I've had a perfectly scrumptious time. Scrumptious is a new word I learned today. I heard Mary Alice Bell use it. Isn't it very expressive?
I literally remember sitting at dinner with my parents, and my father saying that word, and me learning it — I’d have been aged 8 ‘cause I remember the house — and having the same thought that it’s just such a delightful word.
I remember my first thanksgiving with my then boyfriend. No one joined us but we were making a feast, and we were about to put it all into serving dishes. I was like...wait a second, let's skip a step. We served everything in Tupperware so when we finished eating, we put lids on and boom, done.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling:
Day 295
#80
read a Buddhist text
This isn’t as easy as a bible passage, since there is no one book. I tried googling “koans” which are riddles to make you think. I ended up reading a lovely essay by Thich Nhat Hahn , a very wise Vietnamese Buddhist monk (recently passed away).
His essay Finding Our True Home was lovely. Excerpt:
Our true home is life, our true home is the present moment, whatever is happening right here and right now. Our true home is the place without discrimination, the place without hatred. Our true home is the place where we no longer seek, no longer wish, no longer regret. Our true home is not the past; it is not the object of our regrets, our yearning, our longing, or remorse. Our true home is not the future; it is not the object of our worries or fear. Our true home lies right in the present moment. If we can practice according to the teaching of the Buddha and return to the here and now, then the energy of mindfulness will help us to establish our true home in the present moment.
Day 296
#395
Name and get to know my inner voice
I’ve been thinking in this one a few days. I’ve had a hard time naming her. I’m certain she’s a her. In fact, she is me, sometimes a scared me, sometimes a confident me. It’s not my mother’s voice, which is a relief to really discover. I don’t get a lot of “should” or shame from my inner voice; she’s mostly supportive, sometimes uncertain.
I think I’ll name her Eve, I decided as I wrote this. I’ll start being supportive back and maybe we can team up to work together on problems.
I was reading about giving your negative inner voice a name so you can call it out. I can calm Eve and tell her to stop fretting.
How to find your inner voice. A little meditation to see if I can get to know her better.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Sent this to Jon’s mother, while Jon is laid up after knee surgery:
Jon is looking good. I stayed the night last night before heading home (West Palm Beach) for thanksgiving. I’m sure he’s bored with sitting all the time, but healing is hard work. Earlier this week, I had a fun time learning a video game from him and talking music. He’s such a nice guy. Good job, Ruth!
Day 294
#332
Check out a sports score
I really had to think through what sports season we are in — hockey or football. I checked, and the local Tampa Bay Lightning, aka the Bolts were playing against the Philadelphia Flyers. Just checked the score, and the Bolts won 3-nothing. Previously read an article saying Tampa is a stronger team, but the Flyers had proven good comeback team. Not so much tonight I guess.
This didn’t awaken a big new interest in sports. But I know Jon and Nora like the Bolts so I’ll probably pay a teeny bit of attention going forward.
List of things I’ve liked through the years
I had the thought earlier today to write down things I’ve been interested in my life. There seemed to be a reason but now I can’t remember.,
There is this thing with some podcast and Instagram folks (maybe other places, but I don't do Tiktok), where people talk about things "saving their lives" and they mean products or actions or events that are helping them make it through a period of time.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
I can only assume that 2026 will be more insane than 2025. And I’m glad we’ll be settled in, ready to hunker down, near the kids, as needed.
Or! If it’s not too insane, have a cheaper, safer base of operations, near the kids, and do some traveling before the world goes truly insane or we’re too old. It’ll be a race to see which happens first.
I grew my starter, Bertha, for a couple days.
Then this morning, I took out 25 grams to start a new loaf tonight (it’ll actually be two small loaves.)
And I moved 160 grams (an arbitrary amount) to another small jar. And then I fed that. I’m taking that with me back to West Palm for Thanksgiving baking. Sean accidentally killed his starter.
Then , after taking out that 185 grams, I fed Bertha with another 40 grams total of water and flour to keep her happy and flourishing for post Thanksgiving baking.
I think my point of this post is I knew nothing about sourdough before last May, and now I’m all moving starter around, treating it like a pet, planning multiple bakes. Weird how it sorta takes over but also fits into my life. It’s nice to have a project that yields immediate results that makes everyone happy.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Day 292
#165
Write a list of 20 things that made me happy this week
Done! See blog post. Definitely will be a regular thing from now on.
Day 293
#45
pet a dog
Done! I met and petted 20-week-old Hershey, a big puppy who turned her back to be petted. And met an English Spaniel. And saw a cute pug. And I petted Kenji.
And I petted a friendly boxer (?) at Swan Brewing. And a little Australian shepherd puppy with light brown eyes. What a day for dogs!
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
So the entire world was shutting down the week of my birthday in 2020. I made German Chocolate cupcakes and delivered them to friends around town, leaving a cupcake outside their door. We celebrated together but apart as I sat in my car and they stood at their front door.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling:
1. Worked
2. Panicked
3. Reminded self that I can’t do anything until tomorrow so best to get rest
4. Attended a Zoom happy hour with accountants #TaxSky
5. Made sourdough bread
6. Watched yesterday’s Survivor
7. Mailed birthday cards
Day 291
# 77
read a bible passage
This seemed like no big deal. Then I discovered u made a big boo boo: didn’t pay the homeowners insurance, due last week. GAH.
so I chose to read Psalm 121 KJV which is about God taking care of things. This made me feel better:
5The LORD is thy keeper:
The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6The sun shall not smite thee by day,
Nor the moon by night.
Day 290
# 527
Update picture frames
AND 528
Enjoy new music
Sent photos of past couple weeks’ excitement to Nana and to Laurie and to our own frame — which has been unplugged lately.
AND today I hung out with son-in-law Jon, and learned about a cool country-ish band, Cory & the Boys. Which has led to much other good music today on my phone. I told him about Marcia Ball and Nancy Griffith.
Bonded with my son in law over a game of Untitled Goose. That was insane. 😆
Im loving having long hair. But I’m gonna have to give up carrying a purse…
I’ve been on recent cycle of listening to a lot of Elvis Costello, Rolling Stones, Tracy Chapman, Slaid Cleaves… makes for interesting mix for my Apple Music algorithm.
“They ripped me off like false lashes” is a really good line (Taylor Swift song)
John Roberts will go down in history as one of our worst Chief Justices. His legacy.
Giving direction in the South in USA: When you see the giant cross, take that exit. If you see the giant confederate flag, you missed the exit. (I 75, getting into I 4 to go to Lakeland)
And finally:
I’m at a “Japanese” restaurant in Lakeland. I think there might be one Asian person working here.
It’s a counter service place. I ordered Hibachi Chicken, which Jon requested. The very white clerk asked me: do you want fried rice and vegetables with that? I asked: doesn’t it come with those?? She just wanted to know if it was OK. Who the heck is ordering at this restaurant? 😆 The menu states and the photo shows rice and veggies. I guess some people expect only meat? I said yes I wanted the meal as described.
I hear her asking other people the same thing. I guess it’s a point of confusion here.
This is (so far) the most country bumpkin southern Asian food place I’ve ever been.
This may be one of our challenges living here: how to express dismay without being insulting?
I’m sure my face said: what the Fuck are you going on about, woman?
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Today son in law Jon and I reviewed the difference between tendons and ligaments. His new ACL (one of 4 knee ligaments) is healing nicely.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Day 289
#440
Take a break
Been some busy weeks. And the stress of buying/selling and of being apart is wearing on us. Taking a couple days off from Small Joys. They’re fun but a commitment too. I’ve also been trying to take a break from feeling guilty for everything.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Write Recipe for weekend — inspired by Before Breakfast podcast.
Dentist: Ah now they’re going to give me a treatment plan… we’ll see how much all this will cost.
potential crown or crownS, Invisalign, deep cleanings, antibiotic treatment
There’s one tooth that needs a crown sooner than later, it’s next to two other teeth with old silver fillings. It’d be efficient but expensive to get all three done at once. But UGH sounds like horror.
I’m not committing to anything major. Don’t want more big costs or big distractions rest of the year. And i might switch to a Lakeland dentist.
But… something to consider for 2026.
I will go for deep cleaning and antibiotic for now.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
1. A lotta nothing
2. Laundry
3. Several episodes of Shakespeare & Hathaway
4. Working on a holiday art project
5. Grocery shopping
6. Baking bread
7. Finalizing Thanksgiving menu
Dinner: half bottle white wine. Half (small) loaf of blue cheese sourdough pull-apart bread made by me. Good lord.
#LifeIsGood #nomnom
Diet starts… once both of these are done.
AND
Holy shit.
How was Warren Zevon only 56 when he died?
It was 20+ years ago, so I thought he was so “old”. Now I’m older than that.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Day 287
#5
Clean out the car
After a super busy week, things had piled up in the car. Peter helped get trash, clothes, empty bottles and stuff out of car. Joyful to start the week with a tidy car.
My favorite aunt, who’s like a big sister to me, turned 70 this week. She had said she was dreading it.
This past summer I realized someone should do something special for her birthday, and that someone was probably me. She doesn’t have a spouse or kids.
I planned a craft project that involved 30+ relatives and friends. And planned a visit for her to Florida with me and my adult kids who she adores.
She had a blast. A successful visit that filled her heart with joy. And a suitcase filled with fabric hearts from all across the country.
And with her, I got to explore my soon-to-be hometown. Tried out some restaurants, explored a park, fell in love with lemon drop martinis, got a massage & facial, saw a lot of art, had good walks and great talks.
It was a costly, busy week with a crap ton of driving but goal achieved!
This past week was a celebration of my aunt’s birthday. And also I:
* learned my way around my future hometown of Lakeland, seeing some new parts and learning geography of town
* learned to love Lemon Drop martinis after we were given free ones at Cob & Pen in honor of Laurie’s birthday
* had great meals at some new-to-me restaurants: grilled cheese & tomato soup on that super cold night at Cob & Pen; a goat cheese & fig jam burger at Garp & Fuss in Winter Park; basic but amazing turkey & Swiss on sourdough from Born & Bread bakery; teriyaki chicken bowl at Riveters near the Tampa airport. Would absolutely go back to the first three.
* found a lovely spa near the condo, where I had a fantastic facial and massage. Definitely going back there.
* visited the Tampa Art Museum which I’ve been told isn’t very impressive. It is smaller than one might expect for a city as big as Tampa and nowhere near as amazing as the Norton in West Palm Beach. But it was lovely and it has ambitions to grow.
* visited the Charles Morse Museum in Winter Park (north of Orlando) which has the largest collection of stained glass, paintings, pottery, jewelry, furnishings designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Amazing stuff, I learned a lot. I’d love to go back.
* walked around a new large park in Lakeland called Bonnet Springs. Definitely a spot to walk our dog this winter.
* used the annual pass for Busch Gardens for the second time. Only spent 3 hours there, only saw flamingos and kangaroos — plus, more importantly, hang out with friends and enjoy a lovely day. That’s the point of the annual pass for a theme park around the corner: just dropping by!
* appreciated Nora’s baking more than ever — her baked goods are delicious and well made. Putting her science skills to good use!
Now I sleep.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
Day 286
#526
enjoy a new cocktail
Lemon drop martini: my new fave.
Tried a gift one, with grenadine to make it pink, at Cob & Pen in Lakeland. Had another at Riveters in Tampa.
Things I did today instead of Doom Scrolling
1. Lazily spent the morning under the bedcovers, snuggling the cat and playing online board games
2. Vacuumed whole apartment, emptied overstuffed canister, then re-vacuumed living room again with vacuum working much better
3. talked with husband about stresses and excitement of the next 6 weeks
4. Drove to Lakeland and back for 4th day in a row
5. Tried out a fantastic bakery for lunch
6. Had picnic and walk at a lovely city park with my aunt and daughter
7. Tried out an Arabic dessert shop with amazing mint chocolate chip ice cream with son
8. Watched last night’s Survivor
9. Listened to 3 chapters of audio book about President James A Garfield
10. Explained to someone who’s not chronically online who Jeffrey Epstein is and how it affects Trump and why it’s all disgusting even beyond s*x with young teen girls
11. Researched banks and credit unions
12. Called in a panic about our water being turned off — it turned out to be a temp maintenance thing, not me forgetting to pay the bill
13. Made spa reservations for Friday!
