Sometimes the pandemic feels like a it’s been one long unsettling dream. I don’t know about you, but in many ways my life has been on pause since March 2020. It isn’t that I’m not busy, that’s far from the case, but rather the lack of going places, doing things—I just feel out of touch with whatever reality is right now.

Lately my life has consisted of lots of work, working out (helpful for work stress), and dealing with house issues, kid’s homework issues, and a very finicky Shih Tzu. I was sewing a lot, making my own prairie dresses throughout most of 2021. I’ve actually just started work on a top (which is progressing slowly) and it’s been good to get back into something. I tried to become involved in skating again, but then the COVID numbers spiked in my area and they haven’t yet come down. Similar issue with ballet.

All of this stagnance has been making January, which is usually difficult, seem even more grey and hopeless. The weather has been far below freezing (so cold that my pipes froze) and we have been basically shut in. Other than working (which takes up most of my time) and sewing again (which I’ll have to force myself to do until I get back into it), I’ve been into a few less depressing things.

• The Chiffon Trenches, by the late ledgend André Leon Talley – I listened to this while walking said Shih Tzu and cannot recommend it enough! Mr. Talley was such a treasure trove of fashion history knowledge. I’m not sure the world will ever see his equal.

• And Just Like That and Sex & The City. I have never watched Sex & The City before now but was curious to see what all the hype was about the reboot. While AJLT has been receiving mixed reviews, so far I found it entertaining. I especially enjoyed seeing SJP’s costumes in the reboot and then in the original (they seem much closer to SJP’s personal style in the reboot). However, I would not commend either iteration on its treatment of social justice issues. I think it just got it too wrong the first time (as admittedly most of the shows from that era did).

• Peloton strength and bike workouts. I have really been loving these lately. Especially the Crush Your Core series with Peloton instructer, Emma Lovewell. Workouts have become a great means of stress release and they’re convenient. Since I’ve started working out every day I’ve been sleeping better and have even increased my heartrate variability, something that has taken a nosedive in recent years due to work stress. You don’t need a Peloton bike to do these workouts, just some kind of smart device and a $12.99 monthly subscription. They usually do the first month free as well. I would highly recommend!

Update. So I finished the top (which turned into a short dress) last weekend after a most challanging week (from which I’ve not completely recovered). This post has been sitting in my Drafts for the past few weeks. I have a bad habit of never publishing posts. Publishing this one, even a month later, is an achievement.