I'm in my Swiftie-Minecraft-Volvo-Hunger Games “era” and I’m loving every minute of it.

It’s a new year and maybe it’s the Sagittarius in me, or maybe I was just born with it, but that’s the perfect excuse to reinvent myself, yet again. 😏😏 And for me, that means a whole slew of new fixations that will become my entire personality for an extended period of time. I’ve seen the trend going around online of people making their ins and outs list, and while I feel like that’s a bit played out, I have been thinking about my current ins a lot lately; so much so that some of my current obsessions are legit keeping me awake at night.

I’m a firm believer that people are always changing and for me, when I look back on myself from just a few years ago, I don’t even recognize that person - not her looks, not her likes, and not anything in between. For example, just a few short years ago there were few pop culture things I loathed more than video games and Taylor Swift, but now, as of incredibly recently, I identify with both the gamer and Swiftie communities in a big way. Who could have seen that coming?

So, in honor of my new Queen, let’s talk about the current “era” that I’m in.

I’ve decided that 2024 is going to be the year that I take up reading - not just listen to audiobooks, but truly read the pages of the books I want to experience. As much I love audiobooks - and I do, I’ve listening to them all my life - it’s just time for me to start making my way through the dozens of paperbacks I have sitting on shelves in my apartment. It all started when I ended up on the “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” side of TikTok - which, by the way, if you haven’t seen the film, RUN, don’t walk to do so. I’ve loved the “Hunger Games” stories for years, but inspiration struck and I decided to start reading the series so that I can be in the cool kids club of folks who really know those stories beyond just the screen depictions. I’ve made my Goodreads goal 25 books this year, some of which will be listened, but hopefully a good portion will be read with my own eyes and I’m pretty stoked about it.

Along with my utter obsession with THG, I’ve come down with a bad case of Minecraft madness. A few months back I started watching LazarBeam on YouTube and he peaked my interest of the game. Now, James and I spend nearly all our free time of weekends building our village and domesticating animals - it’s a blast. Last night, we played for so long, that I was dreaming in Minecraft blocks. I know I’m like 10 or 15 years late to this trend, but so-be-it. If you need me, I’ll be busy taming a polar bear for the foreseeable future.

While not necessarily a part of my “era” it felt weird not mentioning the latest additions and subtractions to mine and James’ life as well. We recently purchased our first car together - yes, ladies and gentleman, I guess you could also say I’m now in my Volvo “era”. We needed an additional set of wheels that is, perhaps, more reliable than my MINI, so we’re excited to introduce our beautiful Scandinavian goddess Skaði. She’s going to make our lives much simpler going forward and we are living for this major step into adulthood we’ve just taken.

And, as I mentioned, we’ve had a loss as well… on January 1st, we said goodbye to our beloved Bug. He had been unwell for some time and he finally went to the big dust bath in the sky just after the new year. Truly heartbreaking losing my little fluffy bestie - he was the first pet I had all on my own and I will never forget all the wonderful memories we made together over the last four years. He is missed dearly, now and always. Lots of love to you my sweet angel Bug Bug. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

It’s been an eventful and transformative first week of the year, to say the least. My mind hasn’t shut up for a second (and I’m sure if you ask James, neither has my mouth) about what’s happened and what’s to come. I don’t do resolutions, but I’m making a promise to myself to keep leaning into whatever “era” I’m in while I’m in it. Right now, it’s my Swiftie-Minecraft-Volvo-Hunger Games “era” and I’m loving every minute of it. But I’m sure I’ll have a half-dozen new personalities before the year is done. 😜

So, for now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a book about snakes to finish and an album about snakes (TV) to eagerly anticipate. 🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍

Write on,

Xoxoxox Jami