Friday Bitch & Brag: Double Header
October 27, 2023 AND November 3, 2023
Exclusive for paid subscribers: the Corinne Channel is a roundup of what I’ve been reading, watching, and listening to over the past week. This list will be included at the end of each Friday Bitch and Brag.
In case you missed an older Friday Bitch & Brag, you can check out the index here.
Last week I was worn OUT and did not post a Friday Bitch and Brag, so this week will be a double header, including items from the week ending October 27 as well as this week. Grab your favorite beverage and a snack, then join the circle, kiddies!
October 27, 2023
Bitch: I spent a good part of this week feeling exhausted, likely from all the physical, mental, and emotional labor involved with supporting Rimi and her family, as well as time spent socializing way more than I normally do. I do not consider myself an introvert by any means, but going from minimal in-person interactions to multiple face-to-face conversations over the course of a week is tiring. I like to be around people, and I also get why introverts need time to recharge after social engagements.
Brag: I saw so many old friends at the service, several of whom I hadn’t seen in more than 25 years. It was good to reconnect and briefly catch up, though also bittersweet. There’s a tentative plan to get a small group together over the holidays.
Bitch: My beloved hometown team, the Baltimore Orioles, lost the AL Division Series. It was very disappointing, but it doesn’t change the fact that they had one of their best seasons in many years.
Brag: I got to spend some time with my friend and his dog, Joey, a spoiled, feisty Shih Tzu mix that is now a year old and has fortunately calmed down considerably. She was a sweet little snuggle bug with me and demanded lots of belly rubs.
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Bitch: Desi and I went on a recon mission to figure out whether or not our favorite restaurant in the DC area is permanently closed, but didn’t find anyone we could ask. My assignment is to call the number on a permit we saw posted and see what they will tell me.
Brag: For the past couple weeks, Deena and I have been sending TikToks back and forth to each other, usually the ones that make us laugh really hard. It’s been a fun way to keep myself amused and get her laughing, too.
Bonus Item: Desi took me and HM (who is Desi’s brother) to lunch at Jaleo in Washington DC, a tapas restaurant by Chef José Andrés. Everything was so tasty, from the butternut squash soup to the roasted red pepper filled with goat cheese, and the shrimp sautéed in garlic made me slap Desi (it was a gentle slap, honest) because it was so damn good.
November 3, 2023
Bitch: Trick-or-treater turnout this Halloween was lower than last year. There were also several lazy teen boys who threw on a hoodie and jeans and said they were “an average teenage boy” or “rapper.” I get that you want free candy, son, but you are going to have to WORK FOR IT. I will need to hear a rap or a dramatic monologue about the angst of having your iPhone taken away or being misunderstood by your parents. Next year anyone who does not make an effort at a costume gets Necco wafers or a stale tuna sandwich.
Brag: We had so much Halloween candy left over that I added some Reese’s peanut butter cups on top of a pan of brownie batter before baking them. Extremely decadent and I forbid myself from making these brownies again, because I keep eating them after 8 pm and then I’m too hyped up to fall asleep.
Bitch: I have tried and tried to write with one of my favorite fountain pens, a gift from a pen maker I know, but the ink refuses to flow from the nib. The pen’s nib and feed are now in the time-out corner, aka a distilled water bath, to consider how it has disappointed me. Once the nib and feed are flushed, then dried out, I will reassemble the pen, refill with a different ink, and see if that makes a difference.
Brag: HM gave me permission to reorganize some of the kitchen cabinets, and I spent Halloween morning gathering all the spice jars, digging out expired food, and sorting through other dry goods. The next step is to adjust some shelving, add lazy susans and a spice rack on sliders, and get everything set up. I love organizing so much.
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Bitch: Today I found out that one of my uncles passed away, and that a cousin is dealing with a lot of gastrointestinal pain that has yet to be formally diagnosed. Is November going to be another crappy month? Don’t answer that.
Brag: After dealing with dry skin on my face for a few weeks, I finally made my own toner pads and they are working very well. I’ve mixed up my own facial toner in the past, so I don’t know why I waited so long to make toner again. My recipe: pour 1/2 - 1 T vegetable glycerin, 2 T witch hazel, and 3 T distilled water into a small container with a lid. Secure the lid and shake well. Remove the lid and add cotton pads or rounds into the container to soak up the toner. After washing your face, use a single pad to wipe all over, avoiding eyes, nostrils and mouth.
And now for the two-week media wrap-up on The Corinne Channel: Swiftie stuff, 80s stuff, re-reading a favorite novel (or two) full of magical realism, time warping, and new seasons of thrillers, dramas, and comic relief!
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