Happier vignettes today.

  1. I was refilling the coffee grinder hopper and I realized that I love how medium dark roasted coffee beans look so decadent and rich. I find the point where the beans have a sheen of oil slick to be beautiful.
  2. I finished strength benchmark week. I was happy that I've progressed in 5 months from 1-rep max numbers in the single digits (5 and 7) to a 1-rep max in a range 20-35! That's not a crazy big number, but it's progression and I'm happy! I'm now glad I used some of my health insurance reward perks to get an adjustable dumbbell set that goes up to 20 lb each (realistically 15 lb is pushing it for me atm though) Also, I REALLY enjoyed the dumbbell deadlifts. It's the first time I have to integrate my back to complete a move and it felt satisfying. It got so so sore the next day haha, so I know integrating it was the right decision
  3. Our landlord's daughter brought us the beverages we ordered for her ROTC fundraiser. I was really happy when she walked us through all her ribbons and the specs to adorn her uniform with the pins and ribbons that represent her and her unit. I think it was when she said that she had no one so interested in hearing about this thing that mattered so much to her that got me. She gave me a little hug and left smiling and when I said that people sucked and I would always be happy to hear about her interests. I've been feeling bad lately about a lot of things, but I felt joy seeing that she was so excited. I also felt honored that she shared something that means a lot to her. I think I selfishly needed that interaction too. To learn something and to just listen. I think my love language to the world is to listen to special interests. Perhaps it's selfish of me. I do learn a lot just in that listening.
  4. There's a scene on YouTube from Murderbot where SecUnit co-regulates with Dr. Mensah that makes me feel a wave of emotion. To me there were so many layers of beauty to it. Its awkward replies... idk like there's a vulnerability there because this construct is used to being disposable yet protects a human's emotions by sharing the sacred thing it loves the most. By the time it says I am breathing crystal air, I feel better too.
  5. I didn’t realize that Jay Park’s first boy group LNGSHOT makes such good music. Moonwalkinghas been on repeat this week ✨ The IVE is SO GOOD too!
  6. I got a candle this week. It is called Honeyed Pistachio and it actually is almond, wildflower and honey scented and it is utterly glorious. It smells warm and cozy but also fresh and like spring. I am in love with my candle now.
  7. I have a thing. I feel it has to be common, for there is nothing new under the sun. But I love making little kits. Like I have small work tote bag (pens, notebook, extra scrunchies, makeup for pre-meeting retouches) and I just made a personal time tote bag too with some art supplies, my Switch Lite, a small Kindle, a notebook, mini sketchbook, and sock in progress.
  8. People throw so much shade at em dashes lately with generative ai that I inadvertently learned what they are for and am tempted to try them out more.
  9. Current Obsessions: Honeyed Pistachio candle, sparkling water after a workout. Extra toasty cheez-its. Opening the windows again and letting the soft breeze in. Flowers and birdsong and reading about honey. Updating my playlists and enjoying new songs.
8RO8 · Sun Goes Down
The thing with ART is that it isn’t a construct, it has no human neural tissue, and the way it processes its emotions and impulses is completely different from the way I do it, let alone the way the humans do it. That’s why it prefers to watch media with me, because it can understand the emotional context better with me as a filter.
– Martha Wells (System Collapse)