Week in Review: Week 243
Normally I do a little bit each day of this weekly review post…and by the time of the end of the week rolls around it’s mostly done. And more importantly, I don’t have to try to remember what I did each day! This week was so full I didn’t get one thing written down, so…the recording of actual events may be slightly off.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
OMG has anyone else had the Dunkin Donuts Ghost Pepper Donut?? It’s a strawberry glazed doughnut with a hot cinnamon peppery sugar on top YUM so good. Not exactly on the “no sugar approved list” but…they’re only available for a short time so…slack has been cut.
WEDNESDAY
There are large plants placed randomly around the apartment. We might have frost this week so I brought in my two favorites. I haven’t set up the plant lights yet and I still need a large tray to set them in…and to find out the right way to cut them back. I will probably kill them within a few months, but…perhaps a miracle will befall us.
THURSDAY
Nature decorated my car with this pretty autumn leaf.
And I helped my friend pack up her car and off she went to New Life in Florida š
FRIDAY
A) I’M ON VACATION!!!
B) I GOT MY HAIR CUT!!! Oh hallelujah.
Whatta day.
SATURDAY
Went to Wave Hill Garden in the Bronx. We were a little late for optimal autumn garden season…and a little early for optimal foliage views on the other side of the Hudson River. Still, a nice day out with some walking and fresh air.
SUNDAY
For the life of me, I can’t remember what I did Sun…YESTERDAY. That was YESTERDAY. I think I got a bacon egg and cheese from the deli for breakfast, oh, went to the faraway bank for rent money, straightened and cleaned a bit in the apartment cuz I’m gonna need the landlord to come in soon to take the air conditioner out and turn off the outdoor water (The spigot is on my living room wall. Yes, IN the living room.). Then I think I went east. On the sofa. See below.
WHAT I’M READING
From Psychology Today:Ā The Secret to Happiness and Compassion: Low Expectations
Very interesting read. And as I’ve gotten older…and spent a fair share of my life being disappointed…in others, in myself, in my life, etc., I’ve been acknowledging the significance that expectations have on us.
Author andĀ neuroscientistĀ Robb Rutledge says, āHappinessĀ depends not on how well things are going but whether things are going better or worse than expected.ā
IĀ am struggling a bit with differentiating expectations from “standards.” I don’t think you need to lower your standards to lessen your expectations. I think…a standard is more of a concrete thing: a well-fitting collar, a good Old Fashioned, warm tights. I don’t expect just any old shirt to have a well-fitting collar; I am prepared to hunt and try and wait for just the right one. I think a standard is more in my control. An expectation is…more of a hope. You’re buying one shirt. You’reĀ expecting it to fit well. And it doesn’t. And you’re disappointed. I don’t know. This might just be an exercise in semantics, but they feel different to me.
Anyway, low expectations. It’s something to think about.
The books on my bedside table are mocking me. I dust them off every so often (no I don’t. I’m not that good a housekeeper) but I just haven’t wanted to dedicate time to reading. Especially as there’s so little afternoon reading light these days.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
More Korean dramas. Shocker. And I have nothing against the shows from other Asian countries but I feel like I’m just getting the hang of the Korean language a bit and some of the cultural references…so things that made NO sense to me in the beginning, now do. And I’ve definitely got some actor preferences (She Who Shall Remain Nameless is shaking her head right now). So once I like an actor I then check all the streaming services for ALL his movies and series and YouTubes, etc.
And after watching:
One Night in Spring (9/10)
and
Something in the Rain 9/10Ā (note: the series is great, the trailer is awful)
and
Tune in for Love 9/10…
I am deep deep in love with Korean actor Jung Hae-In.
I haven’t yet broken it to Katie that he is going to be her new daddy, but I think it will all work out in the end š
And THEN I found this whole vlogging travel diary series he did in NYC last fall (WHY OH WHY DIDN’T I RUN INTO HIM ON THE STREET SO HE COULD GAZE ATĀ ME SORROWFULLY AS I WALKED PAST HIM THEN RUN AFTER ME, GRAB MY WRIST, AND PROFESS HIS UNDYING LOVE FOR ME?!) and it is SO charming, I just CAN’T with him.
Okay, this is what he said as he arrived in NY the first day, “Since it’s my dream city, I’ll be happy with everything I experience there.” Come on!!! That is such a positive and appreciative outlook!
I know. You guys are sick of hearing about all this. I need to do ANOTHER blog all about this obsession. If Fashion Schlub disappears* you know where to find me.
* It won’t.
I tried to make myself watch the season premiere of This Is Us and couldn’t do it. It’ll still be there when I’m ready for it.
Hopefully the week ahead will be a little more interesting as I’M ON VACATION. Or I could just lay on the sofa watching tv for the next 6 days straight.
And oh, yeah…VOTE.
Rhonda
āThe secret to happiness is low expectationsā…nope…Iāve learned to accept the secret to happiness is NO expectations! Only wish Iād learned this earlier in life!
As always, your scenic photography is beautiful! ā¤ļø Have a restful, blissful vacation…doing only what pleases you…no expectations š
bettyewp
Wow, NO EXPECTATIONS? What are you, an expectation NINJA? How can you have NO expectations? That sounds like a deal you have to make with the devil š
I did know someone who had no expectations. Whatever came his way, suited him just fine. Whatever DIDN’T come his way, suited him just fine. Which seems lovely, from a sort of philosophical standpoint. But to be in a relationship with someone who really made no effort (cuz he was all que sera sera whatever will be will be), is CHALLENGING. Cuz I had enough expectations for the two of us. And therefore, all the disappointments š Oh, this is making me sad. Time to make the donuts.
jodie filogomo
So is he expressing that we should have lower expectations so we aren’t disappointed?? That’s interesting, and maybe somewhat like counting our blessings? Like feeling grateful that I have wonderful clothing instead of being disappointed that something isn’t perfect about them?? I may have to check out that book.
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
bettyewp
Yes, he’s saying that if you expect *nothing,* and get *something,* you will be pleased. If you expect SOMETHING, and get NOTHING, you will be disappointed.
“Like feeling grateful that I have wonderful clothing instead of being disappointed that something isnāt perfect about them??” LIKE ME!!! Ha ha š
Iris
Oh I don’t think you were too late or too early for a visit to that garden. Those pictures are lovely and look perfect for me. “I” enjoyed your walk.
Grace & Peace, Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
It’s always a lovely visit, but I guess I’m comparing to other times I’ve been there and the gardens have been more autumnal lush and the foliage across the river just on fire.
Comparison is the devil’s work. Just like expectation.