#7 - Read 35 Books

I didn't make it, but I read some great ones! * means I recommend them. ** means I HIGHLY recommend them.

1. Cable: Fanning the Flames (37)
2/9/22

**2. What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

2/X/22, audiobook

*3. Dune by Frank Herbert 
3/9/22

**4. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

3/18/22

5. Unfuck Your Brain by Faith G. Harper, PhD

3/X/22, audiobook

6. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

5/15/22, for Bingo Book Club

7. The Guest List by Lucy Foley

6/7/22, audiobook

**8. Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography by Laurie Woolever

7/9/22, gifted to me by Kathleen Krone

9. The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

7/10/22, Bingo Book Club selection

10. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

7/26/22, Bingo Book Club selection

11. A Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda

8/22/22, recommended by Lexi Chaput

12. The Will to Change by bell hooks

8/30/22, recommended by Jessica Dickson

13. The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

8/22, Camp Michigania Book Club

14. Chicago: A Biography by Dominic A. Pacyga 

10/10/22

15. The Shining by Stephen King

10/31/22, for Bingo Book Club, chosen by Zack Sephon

**16. Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party by Joshua Bloom and Waldo E. Martin

12/16/22, recommended by Jessica Dickson

**17. Woman, Girl, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

12/22/22

#50 - See a New Animal in the Wild

I kinda forgot that we're always going to see new animals in Costa Rica. Last year, we saw all these. Three years ago, we so more. On this trip, so far, I've seen these:

Coatimundis: Kind of like a Costa Rican raccoon. Except they also have raccoons.

Way back in there is a Central American gouti. It crossed our path too quickly to get a picture. We've since seen another one, but there was a baby howler monkey on her mama's back crossing a closeline, so... I didn't take a picture of the gouti, which is really just a big rodent.

Fisher spider: This thing is dope. It uses its web like a slingshot to catch prey.

Tiger spider. Very big. Very creepy. Very cool.

I couldn't quite snap a picture of the tarantula. I think she was a tiger rump, as she was black with reddish-orange markings. She was gorgeous and very not into our nonsense.

This toad that I saved from the pool. My Seek app says it's some kind of Beaked Toad, but it wouldn't narrow down the species.

It's also possible we saw a kinkajou and porcupine, as our guide says we did, but it was so dark that I don't feel like I can claim it.

#46 - Pay Something Off

I paid off my Care Credit card, which I'd been using for emergency pet costs. No more interest running on this one!

#32 - See One of My Favorite Bands Live

I cannot explain why, but I really love Panic! at the Disco. I know the band has gone through some controversial changes, but I still enjoy their music. <shrug>

I'm super thankful that Laura and Missy grabbed some last-minute, cheap tickets with me to see them at the United Center and put on some Halloween-ish outfits for the show. 

They played all the hits and only a few from their new album.

It was fun.

#31 - See One of My Favorite Comedians Live

Oh dang! I didn't even realize I did this one! 

I've been a Ben Schwartz fan since Parks & Rec, but my fandom deepened in the pandemic with Middleditch & Schwartz, Space Force, and The Afterparty. Schwartz's work is just wildly fun, playful, and smart. 

Because I became such a fan, I was so excited when Instagram let me know he was coming to Chicago for a show with "friends." I had no idea what that meant (well, I guessed it was probably long-form improv), but I jumped at buying two floor tickets at the Chicago Theater.

It took me longer to find someone to go with me, but eventually, my reliable adventure buddy Stephanie Souvenir agreed to come along.

It was, indeed, long-form improv. Schwartz's friends for the Chicago show were Jessica McKenna, Colton Dunn (of Superstore), and Drew Tarver (of The Other Two, which I love).

One unique part of this show was that they did not allow recording of any kind, even pictures. Ben told us this was a time to be present and witness a show that would be only for us in that room, no one else. I kinda loved that we got to share a unique experience together.

End of the show snap. I promise I didn't break the rules.

Because of that rule, I won't share details of the show itself, but I am going to describe a little bit about how it works (in case you haven't seen Middleditch & Schwartz). For long-form improv, the performers interview people in the audience until they find a "meaty" story with enough fun details to improv a show based on the conversation. They probably talked to 4-6 people in our audience before having a 5-10 minute convo with a small group near the front to hear about a recent experience of theirs in the city.

Then, the performers gave us an hour-long improv show based only on things that came up in that conversation or from the improv itself, just four of them rotating, moving, playing off each other. 

It was a ton of fun, and I would definitely go again with such high-quality performers. Great time!

#15 - Practice Yoga 52 Times (fail)

I really failed at this one!

1 - 1/1/22 (15 minutes)

2 - 1/4/22 (20 minutes)

3 - 2/18/22 (5 minutes)

4 - 2/25/22 (10 minutes)

5 - 3/6/22 (15 minutes)

6 - 3/25/22 (10 minutes)

7 - 4/17/22 (5 minutes)

8 - 4/23/22 (10 minutes)

9 - 6/18/22 (5 minutes)

10 - 6/21/22 (10 minutes)

11 - 6/28/22 (15 minutes)

12 - 7/10/22 (20 minutes)

13 - 7/13/22 (20 minutes)

14 - 8/27/22 (5 minutes)

15 - 9/6/22 (5 minutes)

16 - 9/10/22 (5 minutes)

17 - 9/25/22 (5 minuts)

#5 - Complete the 2022 Book Riot Reading Challenge (fail)

I really didn't do well on the list this year, only getting 4 done with 3 books. but maybe next year!

1. Read a biography of an author you admire: Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography by Laurie Woolever, 7/9/22, gifted to me by Kathleen Krone

2. Read a book set in a bookstore.

3. Read any book from the Women’s Prize shortlist/longlist/winner list.

4. Read a book in any genre by a POC that’s about joy and not trauma.

5. Read an anthology featuring diverse voices: Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography by Laurie Woolever, 7/9/22, gifted to me by Kathleen Krone

6. Read a nonfiction YA comic.

7. Read a romance where at least one of the protagonists is over 40.

8. Read a classic written by a POC.

9. Read the book that’s been on your TBR the longest.

10. Read a political thriller by a marginalized author (BIPOC, or LGBTQIA+).

11. Read a book with an asexual and/or aromantic main character.

12. Read an entire poetry collection.

13. Read an adventure story by a BIPOC author.

14. Read a book whose movie or TV adaptation you’ve seen (but haven’t read the book): The Shining by Stephen King, 10/31/22, for Bingo Book Club, chosen by Zack Sephon

15. Read a new-to-you literary magazine (print or digital).

16. Read a book recommended by a friend with different reading tastes.

17. Read a memoir written by someone who is trans or nonbinary.

18. Read a “Best _ Writing of the year” book for a topic and year of your choice.

19. Read a horror novel by a BIPOC author.

20. Read an award-winning book from the year you were born.

21. Read a queer retelling of a classic of the canon, fairytale, folklore, or myth.

22. Read a history about a period you know little about.

23. Read a book by a disabled author.

24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! 2021: Read a book set in the Midwest: The Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, 8/22, Camp Michigania Book Club

#13 - Watch 3 More Movies From the AFI List

I'm very thankful for the American Film Institute for putting together this list because it has definitely gotten me to view some films I never would have even considered. That said, from the three I watched this year: 1 meh, 1 great, and 1 wtf. I'm even using the 10th anniversary updated list. I do not understand why some of these films are considered great--the best, even--and I just don't care enough about them to look more into it. These are supposed to be the best films, and I'm not so sure they are.

5. Singing in the Rain (1952)

#5 on the list? Of all time? I don't get it. The dancing is great. The cinematography and effects, considering the year it was made, are incredible. The acting is decent. But the story. Meh. It's literally two successful men, one of their girlfriends--who would like to be an actress, and some other administrators bullying a successful woman because they don't like the sound of her voice. Pass.

11. City Lights (1931)

Honestly, this film was hilarious. The plot was a bit tired and nonsensical, but clearly, the plot was not the purpose of this film. It was all about the physical comedy of Charlie Chaplin. I'm not generally into slapstick, but wow, Chaplin is incredible. My favorite was the boxing scene. Brilliant choreography and performances.

12. The Searchers (1956)

Why? Why is this on the UPDATED list? It's just a Western with renegade cowboy types (including John Wayne himself) chasing super duper stereotypical portrayals of Indigenous people in the Southwest United States. Obvi, the Indigenous people, who are called all kinds of derogatory names in the film, are the bad guys, just raping and murdering and kidnapping and selling women as wives. And the little girl they're trying to find... her perspective was inconsistent and it was completely unclear why she changed her mind--I'm assuming it's because she's a lady person who is completely unreasonable and illogical. And the supposed romance? Girl, ew. Move on. That guy sucks. What do you even like about him? I mean, the other guy sucks too, but at least he's around. And the acting wasn't good either. It was just cheesy
Western and posturing. Ick. 

#23 - Make 3 New Breads

1. The Simplest White Bread Ever

I went to my favorite cooking website, Serious Eats, to find some new bread recipes. Until very, very recently, I didn't have a mixer, which was required by a lot of the recipes I found. Then, I found this one. It's outrageously simple. I did let it rest way longer than the recipe said, and I think that's why it didn't rise enough and stayed very dense. I did love the crisp to the crust and the flavor, so I will definitely try it again!

2 - Baguettes

I used Serious Eats again to make some really simple baguettes. They didn't rise as much as I'd hoped, but they were otherwise quite tasty and crusty. It also recommended putting a pan of water in the over with the bread, and I feel like that limited the crustiness, so if I try these again, I'll try them without that strategy. I may not try them again though because I can't find the recipe to link! I also liked experimenting with the cuts across the top and much prefer the straight, deep cut to get some extra crustiness. 

I like crusty bread.

3- Focaccia

I should make more foccacia. It's so simple and makes for great sandwiches because the bread is so crusty yet thin when sliced in half. This was a very easy recipe, just topped with olive oil and salt. Super tasty and crusty.