5 Obsessions of the Week 9/22/24

It’s no secret that I have difficulty keeping up with posting on the Blog at times. There are obviously large gaps of time in between posts. The reality is that I am a disabled person, living with several disabilities & conditions to include a traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, vestibular issues, nerve damage, and more. I of course have other responsibilities in life (single mom, virtual support group leader, advisory council member, speaker, advocate…), & as a “spoonie,” there’s just not always enough spoons to get everything done that I want to.

I saw in the Arts & Leisure section of this Sunday’s New York Times (thank you to my mom and dad for the subscription!) that Zachary Small, a culture reporter, listed his five current obsessions in “The Queue”. A lightbulb went off for me because I thought, “hey, that’s probably doable for me!” It was a short list of highlights, things he was currently interested, or obsessed with. So here’s mine for this week as a chic & elegant disability advocate/speaker/writer/artist/content creator.

1. Dirty Martinis

I think this was probably the first “grown-up drink” that I started drinking once I graduated from “Sex on the Beaches” and “Long Island Iced Teas”-if you don’t count Cosmopolitans-more on that later. At 39, it’s probably my favorite cocktail. Always with gin, never vodka, extra olives & extra dirty. I feel sophisticated drinking this even though I often feel like I’m still cosplaying as an adult.

2. Sex and the City

I had a lot of reservations about watching this show. I had caught an episode here or there in the past & besides the fashion, I just wasn’t really feeling it. I couldn’t get past the fact that these four beautiful, intelligent, successful women were so obsessed with getting men! I still feel this way but recognize it was a show for it’s time, & I can suspend my annoyance at the ridiculousness of the Big & Carrie storyline, as well as the fact that Carrie so far is actually really not the most likable character given her traits & actions. There’s also the painfully obvious lack of diversity, although I wonder if based on who and where they were, that was probably somewhat realistic. I do like the two movies & SATC is for sure the reason why I tried a “Cosmopolitan” for the first time (spoiler alert: I liked them!) One thing’s for sure, watching the series is driving home how much I hate the fact that my disabilities prevent me from spending time with my friends as much as I’d like to. I’d love to have a group of lady-friends like on SATC to hang out with, go out with, & most importantly to have that awesome bond of friendship where you can talk about what’s going on in your life.

3. Ice Bath Facials

I recently tried the ice bath facial, where you dunk your face in a bowl of ice water for the skin benefits. According to Healthline.com these benefits include: eliminating puffiness (especially around the eyes), reducing oiliness, easing acne, soothing sunburn, reducing swelling & inflammation (including rashes and insect bites), reducing signs of aging (such as wrinkles), and boosting the skin's healthy glow. I hate being cold but have noticed the benefits-especially the swelling reduction & glowiness immediately afterwards, & who doesn’t need that in the morning??? I boost the benefits of mine by adding some of a strong tea that I made from a mixture of green tea & jasmine flower to the water.

4. Houseplants

Aloe, monsterra & lemons…oh, my! I was raised gardening & it’s an elegant & enjoyable hobby that I enjoy to this day. It’s taken some adjustment given my conditions to make it accessible, but I believe those adjustments also make them easier for people who are busy or believe they don’t have “great thumbs” to be able to grow plants. Right now all of my plants are grown inside in containers, & I have a mixture of ornamentals & edibles. The most recent addition is a pineapple plant from Trader Joe’s. Plants add oxygen, beauty & a life-giving aesthetic to my environment. I can’t imagine ever having a home with no plants.

5. Classic Bossa Nova

Normally I have jazz playing from Spotify 24/7, but lately I’ve mixed it up with the “Classic Bossa Nova” playlist. I love the bouncy, emotive, mostly Portuguese in language, fun, flowy tunes. It is reminiscent of times past where people got dressed nicely even if they weren’t going anywhere, and where visions of the Riviera dance in your head like a Joao Gilberto guitar riff. It’s also great music for a cocktail or dinner party.

I hope you enjoyed my list of five obsessions for the week! God-willing, I’ll post them every week…maybe every other week, or as often as I’m able to given my symptoms-we’ll see. What are you into this week?

XOXO,

Cazoshay💋

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