life

Small Luxuries + A Named Storm

September 25, 2024

It has been a Door Dash kind of week

Things are actually looking up (still uncertainty, but . . . positive outlook!) yet somehow I have not gotten my act together to stock the freezer with my usual work lunch staples, so I just ordered my second Door Dash of the week. This is definitely a luxury expense and comes out of my monthly “personal fun money” where it makes a significant dent.

AND, this week I am fine with it.

My usual work lunches are any of the following:

  • leftovers! If we have them and they are not slotted for the next night’s dinner, I will happily take them.
  • some kind of frozen thing. Amy’s burritos are a staple (served with some string cheese + carrots + generally with some other snacks packed), or I will get the meals from that brand (Indian, pasta, Mexican, whatever, though I have to carefully avoid my nemesis, cilantro.)
  • work cafeteria. But only on Fridays and I will only go with a group. I don’t enjoy it otherwise!
  • Door Dash. Soup/salad or soup/half sandwich usually from Offerdahls (smallish chain near the office). I would drive to get it myself except then I would probably lose my parking spot so . . . not worth it. USUALLY I average once/week max with DD but this week apparently I’m going over.

I can tell this is going to be good already:

The vibe is just right for me right now. I think actually I may make Strout’s back catalog a project next year. I’ve read I think two of the Lucy Barton books but definitely not all of her work.

Helene . . .

Ugh, it’s storm season. Thinking of my FL friends on the west coast!! We are not expected to get any sort of direct hit with this one and yet people are still buzzing about it. School closure *could* happen and if it does . . . well, I’ll just try to be thankful that my kids are at an age where I will be able to get at least most of my work done even with them home (as long as screen time rules are lax, which they would be!). On the upside, if things shut down it would mean a nice slow morning and not having to worry about a super rainy pickup. We will see!

14 Comments

  • Reply Carole Andrina Yu September 25, 2024 at 12:34 pm

    Hi Sarah, I just wanted to check in to see if you’re planning to have a BLP Academy this year? I know that you’ve been busy, and stressed, and don’t want to stress you anymore, just wondering if you have plans for it. Otherwise, please rest and take care of yourself and your family!

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger September 25, 2024 at 12:38 pm

      Hi Carole – there is a BLPA going right now but it’s already midway (was opened in August).

      I do plan on hosting Planning 2025: Home Edition (basically the virtual version of BLP Live – conference dedicated to helping you plan the next year) – this will be open for registration in Oct!

      I don’t know when the next BLPA Round will be – we will see!!

  • Reply Sophie September 25, 2024 at 3:44 pm

    Glad things are looking up, hoping the uncertainty will resolve soon too. I hope Helene doesn’t cause too much disruption. Fun fact- records show female named storms tend to be more severe than male named storms- it’s thought the storm namers must have some internalised misogyny – more destructive? Must be a woman. Ha!

  • Reply jennystancampiano September 26, 2024 at 8:49 am

    Yes, we had school canceled today (I think Broward schools are open though?) Honestly, the kids could have gone- but it was rainy and windy right at the time kids would have been on their way. I know this because I was out running and got caught in a torrential downpour.
    I’m very glad that things are looking up for you. Sounds like there’s light at the end of the tunnel!

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger September 26, 2024 at 9:42 am

      Nope- if it makes you feel better, Broward closed too!

  • Reply Jennifer h. bouriat September 26, 2024 at 9:25 am

    I love Elizabeth Strout! I love her characters and how they appear in different ways throughout all her books. I read Olive, Again recently for the first time and was thinking it would be fun to read all her books in order right in a row to really see and remember the characters. I had no idea this new book was out so thank you for sharing!

  • Reply Miranda September 26, 2024 at 10:33 am

    Hi Sarah,

    Long time reader, and I know you like Aimee Mann, so I thought you would like to know that this exists in the world!

    I saw a production of Poor Judge at the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia last week and it was a dance-theater cabaret inspired by the works of Aimee Mann. The group sang about twelve of her songs while acting out some important parts of her life and going through events in their own lives. It was really interesting and a lot of fun!

    I don’t know if it’ll ever travel to Florida, but I wonder if you could find a production online or something if you’re interested! Here’s more information from the Wilma Theater website: https://wilmatheater.org/event/poor-judge-a-pig-iron-production/.

    I just wanted to share this as I always like hearing about niche things of things I like. 🙂

    Enjoy!
    Miranda

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger September 26, 2024 at 2:27 pm

      I would love this soooooooooooo much. Now I want to go on a pilgrimage to see it!!

      • Reply Miranda September 27, 2024 at 11:42 am

        I hope you can find it near you!! Or find it next time you’re the Philly area!

  • Reply Emily September 26, 2024 at 11:53 am

    I am very excited for the new Elizabeth Strout (it’s on my library holds list now). I also highly recommend her back catalog! Feels like a great back catalog to explore for fall. My favorites are Oh William, Lucy by the Sea, and Olive Kitteridge.

  • Reply Megan September 26, 2024 at 1:27 pm

    So glad things are looking up! And I HATE cilantro too! Yuck! But I love Mexican so I ask a million questions when ordering in hopes of not having to see it on my plate. I cannot eat any food with cilantro in it. 😛

  • Reply Elizabeth September 26, 2024 at 3:27 pm

    I am two chapters in and loving this book as well! I’ve read My Name is Lucy Barton (hated because of the child abuse part; I can’t read about that) as well as Oh, William! and Lucy By The Sea, both of which I LOVED. I may try out the back catalog next year too!!

    Good luck riding out this storm! Hope that where you are in Florida — or really, all of Florida — isn’t hit too hard.

  • Reply Nikki September 27, 2024 at 1:15 pm

    Just finished this book recently, really great and still thinking about it! In addition to the Lucy books, the two Olive books are really good too.

  • Reply San September 27, 2024 at 7:45 pm

    Can you believe I never used Door Dash? LOL

    I hope you weren’t impacted by Helene. She did some pretty good damage. Ugh.

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