Hi December! in These Foolish Things

I re-posted a little quote on Instagram that said, “Hi December! You’re the last one, so be the best one.”

So far it’s been a good December.

The Diary Researchers have come and gone and have moved on to the next diarist. We spent part of Friday evening, Saturday all day and Sunday, most of the day together. We did my city/nature walks with Martini, wandered the farmers market, and talked about everything from dating and love to my health issues to politics. I tried to show them not only some of the things that I like to do, but also things that are unique to this city and this part of the country in this part of the world. They also spent some time at my apartment so that they could see where I am living and how I live my day-to-day.

I know y’all are part of this study by proxy, and I hope I represented you well!

I do not know who the other diarists that they are researching are - I only know that The Diary Researchers are taking an epic road trip across the country, through the South and East and they should have an amazing time! They’ve already been to other parts of the country as well on previous visits.

And to answer your question on what TYPE of researchers they are: they are a combination of psychologists and anthropologists. So they are interested in the individual…their thoughts, emotions, and personal experience, but also interested in the environment surrounding the individual - the people, their communities, how they interact interpersonally and globally. How are small events AND world events affecting the individual, and how does the individual make sense of it all.

I know you have a million more questions, but I feel a little overwhelmed trying to report back. The experience was surreal. Like, this diary, as an entity, is one of my most important relationships. What would I do without it? And who would I be?

And yes, the diary has played a huge role in who I am as a person. Hard to explain, but obviously, YOU understand it too!

Anyway. I’ll let you know when I hear back from them. They will send me any and all reports/papers before they are published to make sure that I agree with what they are reporting. Maybe it will take weeks/months/years?! You know how research goes… it has to go through a lot of checking and refining before it is released.

What else has happened?

Well, back to work - hardly working, heh. Of course, there was the mad dash scramble of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday yada yada, but I didn’t feel any of that stress because I have other things to do. I swear, because I don’t work in an office with other people I just feel so disconnected from it all. So strange.

And then prepping for the Holidays. I enjoyed having a fully decorated apartment when The Diary Researchers came over. It made me want to have another small gathering or at least someone else over before the end of the year!

…not the Bulldog.

I spent wayyyyyy too much $$$ during Cyber Monday. My awesome boots that I bought on Black Friday went on a bigger sale so I had to contact the company to get a price adjustment and it felt like I fell down a rabbit hole of INCREDIBLE sales!

I was able to snag some great gifts for the fam, but I also found some amazing deals for myself - and I justified all of the purchases for myself by telling myself that in 2025, I will not be purchasing any clothing that’s not vintage, thrifted, or otherwise secondhand. And I’m going to try to include home goods as well. PLUS the motherfucking tariffs that ol Trumper Thumper is gonna impose, and consider it just smart shopping before all of the prices go up!

[Side Note: I majorly stocked up on bras/panties and athletic/workout apparel because the thought of buying THAT kind of clothing secondhand gives me massive willies and heebie jeebies]

OK. I’ve lingered in this Starbucks ALL freaking day (with a couple of breaks for walks and my Botox appointment), and now it’s time to pick up the little one (Martini) at doggie daycare, so I’ll end here.

Hope your December is starting out amazing!

xox,
GS