January Recap

It’s a new year, which means I’m revamping my monthly recap post. I loved recapping my year with categories like I did last year (and who knows, maybe I’ll go back to that format again!), but I thought I’d try something new in 2020. This year, I’ll be highlighting some of the biggest moments of my month. Let’s dive into January!

Dog-Sitting Duties

I had the pleasure of dog-sitting for two different dogs in January—my own fur-brother, Chip, and a friend’s dog, the sweetest greyhound named Tessie. My mom and her husband went away for a long weekend at the beginning of the month so I spent two nights with Chip. And then I spent one night with Tessie in the middle of the month. The energy levels of these two dogs couldn’t be more opposite (Tessie is a lazy lady who loves lounging on the couch while Chip is a crazy monster man who rarely ever sits still.) It was nice to get some doggo snuggles in this month!

A New Toilet

I had quite the ordeal in January with a leaking toilet. It started in late December and didn’t get resolved until 10 days into January. Oof! I had maintenance men in and out of my apartment for days, including five hours on a Thursday night. I don’t think I went to bed until after midnight that day, but I felt worse for the maintenance man who had been working all day and then dealing with my toilet all night! (I know it’s his job, but still.) I thought the toilet just needed a simple fix, but the problem ended up being so complex that they ordered me an entirely new toilet! Woop! (Now… how do I get them to order me a new oven so I can cook in something made in this century?!)

Starting PT

In early January (about four weeks post-injury), I had another X-ray done on my ankle that showed no change in the fracture. It’s very likely that my ankle is as healed as it will ever be unless I have elective surgery. I do not want to have surgery (I shudder to think of the medical bills, even with my health insurance), so I opted for a more conservative approach: physical therapy. I started in mid-January and will have my last appointment next Thursday (and then will have my final orthopedic follow-up to see where the ankle stands now). PT involves a mix of manipulation exercises to stabilize my ankle joint and release some of the stiffness as well as working on building up strength in my ankle/leg. The hope is that the next time I do fall, my leg can take the brunt of the motion without my ankle twisting beneath me. Here’s hoping!

Reading Dates

I had a few reading dates with a friend this month, and they were wonderful! We met up at our local library on a rainy Saturday (honestly, could there be a more perfect place to have a reading date?) and then at her pool on a sunny Friday afternoon. Reading dates have become my favorite socializing activity, I think. We spend half the time chit-chatting and catching up and the other half of the time, we read silently (typically, for 45 minutes). I definitely want to plan at least two reading dates a month because they are just so lovely.

My First Mazzaro’s Experience

Mazzaro’s is an Italian market that’s a staple in St. Petersburg, and I’ve never been to it! So when my friend recommended we visit Mazzaro’s for our monthly lady date, I was all for it. We went on a Saturday afternoon so it was hella busy, but so much fun. (Also, get you a friend who understands your social anxiety and constantly checks in with you when the crowds are getting hectic. This girl is magic.) First, we toured the space to get a feel for what we wanted to buy and then we ordered lunch at the counter (sandwiches) and ate outside while catching up with each other. After eating, we headed back inside to do some shopping. I left with a portion of chicken parmesan, two types of pasta salad, Mazzaro’s own spaghetti noodles, and half a pound of Italian cookies. Mmm!

Kobe’s Death

Like most of the world, I was shocked and deeply saddened by Kobe Bryant’s death. Is he a complicated figure? Of course he is. But I still mourn his death, the death of his young daughter, and everyone else who died on that helicopter. I am horrified for his wife and his daughters, the grief they must be experiencing to lose two vital members of their family in a freak accident… it’s overwhelmingly sad. It’s a huge loss, one where I think I will always remember where I was when I found out.

Favorites of January

• Favorite book: Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson
• Favorite romance: Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean
• Favorite purchase: Wireless charger ($12) – charges my phone so fast!
• Favorite podcast episode: The Disappearance of Flight MH370 from Stuff You Should Know (part I and part II – fascinating info about the flight and all the conspiracies of what could have happened)
• Favorite post: My therapy series (part I and part II)

What was a highlight of January for you?