Raspberry Iced M

In trying to solidify and/or accept more of who I am, I was challenged to make a list of favorites.

Obligatory lists incoming.

Also, please consider this an invitation to share your own favorites. Maybe we have some common interests, or, alternatively, maybe we can learn something from each other.

Movies:

1. Pretty Woman – I know every word, every Easter egg. Did you all know that in the original script, Julia Roberts was supposed to get shot in the street and Richard Gere was supposed to throw her $3k on the ground next to her and just leave her there? Not very romantic.
2. The Accountant 2. Yes, the second one. I watched them both and the sequel is better.
3. Wicked. Both of them. I never got so many chill bumps listening to a witch sing. (Be on the lookout for a synopsis of this movie. I took thorough mental notes.)
4. Lincoln Lawyer. Matthew McConaughey outdid himself.
5. A Walk to Remember. It’s the second movie I remember watching in theaters, and the first movie I remember seeing with friends only. I was in middle school. I’m showing my age. Cried through the whole thing.

Honorable mentions – Liar, Liar; Legally Blonde.

TV Series:

1. Friends. Watched on repeat.
2. Lincoln Lawyer. Yep, the TV show, too. Doesn’t Neve Campbell get better looking as she ages?
3. The Big Bang Theory. What is not to love about this one? Everybody has that one autistic friend. And if you don’t, you’re probably the autistic one.
4. The Vampire Diaries. Specifically seasons 1 through 4. It’s the only love triangle on which I couldn’t have an opinion because I love both of the brothers so much, for different reasons.
5. Dawson’s Creek. Now this one was easy. Team Pacey forever. How has Joshua Jackson been my type for two decades?

Honorable mentions – Criminal Minds; Whose Line is it Anyway?; Pretty Little Lies.

Bands/Song Artists:

1. Justin Timberlake. Also my type since I was about 13 years old.
2. NSYNC. That’s not cheating.
3. Kelly Clarkson. That woman can sing the phone book.
4. Xania Monet. I found her on TikTok and I’ve been listening to her stuff for a few months. She can blow, too.
5. Mercy Me. When I need a good cry.

Honorable mentions – Israel Houghton (and the New Breed); Backstreet Boys.

Books:

1. The Bible, which truly is the answer key to all of life’s questions. I set a goal to finish it in 6 months, and I’m getting there.
2. The Scarlet Letter. It could be rewritten in 2025 vernacular, as my memoir.
3. The Glass Castle. Jeanette Walls is a word magician. I love – LOVE – this book.
4. Native Son. I read it my junior year of high school and probably need to read it again. But the themes of this novel will be forever relevant.
5. Look for Thee by Moonlight. An easy-to-read vampire book. Notwithstanding some references to what would be considered pedophilia in 2025, it’s a good one. And really – it’s not that different (age gap wise) than Twilight.

Honorable mentions – The Boxcar Children (the nostalgia); The Crucible (give me a group of women blamed for everything any day).

Possessions:

1. Ozzy. To be fair, I don’t consider him a “possession” – he’s my little puppy son, but for the purposes of this post, he is definitely prized.
2. My living room quilt. It was on my bed, and when I upgraded, this quilt became my lovey. When I’m napping on the couch, watching TV, or blogging, like now, I become a quilt burrito.
3. My typewriter’s tray. My mom has had one for years. I didn’t even knew what hers was (the name of it or what it did). I just knew she housed her little knick-knacks on hers. Come to find out, it is a tray that used to hold letter stamps at a printing press. I found one on Etsy and it was gifted to me. Mine isn’t in as good a shape as my mom’s, but I love it.
4. The awesome possum. Someone I love very much bought me this silly rubber possum because she knows rodents aren’t my cup of tea. But I named him Chester and he hangs out at my desk, blocking the webcam. I guess I consider him a favorite because he makes me laugh.
5. My bathtub. Let me tell you something. Baths are my JAM. My tub is huge, the water scalding. I could sit in that thing for hours.

Honorable mentions – My headphones. I am always wearing them. And they hold a charge for weeks – not an exaggeration.

Things I Collect:

1. Miniatures. The aforementioned typewriter’s tray contains tiny things that make me smile.
2. Drinkware. Stanleys and coffee mugs. I have bookoos and there is no end to my impulse buying in sight. I think there are probably a dozen Stanleys in my cupboard and just as many coffee mugs.
3. Sweatshirts. I like keeping my house at a cool 68 degrees, just so I can put on a sweatshirt to stay warm. And that doesn’t even begin to crack the surface of what a walking contradiction I can be.
4. Office supplies. Planners. Pens. Bullet journals. Calendars. I write everything down, usually twice, to try to convince myself that it makes me whole.
5. Nails. I have a laundry hamper full of press-ons. I’m currently sporting a glossy sage color but will likely switch to red toward the middle of the week.

Honorable mentions – Leggings/Yoga pants; reading glasses.

Drinks:

1. Dr. Pepper. My nemesis. To be fair, I haven’t had many in the last few months. It’s an addiction I fight daily.
2. Sweet tea. I am a respectable Southerner.
3. Water with lemon. I’ve been drinking a lot of that lately. Hydration is always encouraged.
4. Coffee. Iced on Sunday mornings. Hot otherwise. With Wal-mart brand French vanilla creamer.
5. Purple Powerade Zero. It’s what I’ve been drinking in between waters.

Honorable mentions – Lemonade (yum); Dulcis wine, though I haven’t had any in a while. I am not sure how I feel about drinking alcohol anymore, so I’ve been avoiding it while I figure that out. But I did find it locally after searching for months, as a non-wine lover, I do enjoy it – both the red and the white.

Foods:

1. Steak. Filet. Medium rare.
2. Sushi. Nothing raw, but when is crab and cream cheese not the best combination ever?
3. Caesar salad. My son and I share a love of this one.
4. Pasta. Any kind. Just give me the carbs!
5. Seafood boil. The place I enjoyed going locally burned down. There is a place in New Orleans called Fiery Crab and I can’t wait to go again.

Honorable mentions – French fries.

Dessert (yes, sugar gets its own category):

1. Chocolate milkshakes. To be clear, I like vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup blended into a milkshake. I will drink, but do not prefer chocolate ice cream liquefied.
2. Marshmallow Peeps. I am not sure when I decided I enjoyed them, but I imagine it wasn’t long after I discovered that no one else really does, which means I don’t have to share. More for me.
3. Cheesecake. When in doubt, get the cheesecake.
4. Caramel apples. There’s an ice cream shop about 20 minutes from me that sells them in the fall. Expensive. Worth every penny.
5. Chocolate chip cookies. I’m no snob. I don’t think I’ve tried one I didn’t like. My favorite, though, are the ones from American Cookie Company.

Honorable mentions – Lemon cake; banana pudding (my mom’s is my favorite).

Places:

1. My bed. It’s so comfy. And I’m looking forward to bed time tonight because I just put freshly washed sheets on it. I am unreasonably excited.
2. The mountains. Crisp weather. Front porch. Coffee. A view.
3. The movies. I don’t think popcorn, candy, and a comfy chair require much of an explanation.
4. Church. Enter feeling defeated. Leave with hope. I love our church.
5. My bath. It is worth mentioning again, yes.

Honorable mentions – My car, where I am usually alone. It is a good place to think, to pray, to cry, to process.

Things About Myself:

1. I give more grace to others than I have ever received. I could write an entire post about this, and I might, someday. For now, though, I’ll stand firmly here.
2. My make up routine. I don’t keep up with the newest trends. But I like what I like, and I’ve perfected the ritual that suits me.
3. My handwriting. I receive frequent compliments, which is why I include it.
4. I’m not confrontational. I’ll cry in private later, but I’m not typically one to start a fight. I’ll keep my mouth closed until it hurts.
5. I’m generous. I have been blessed with a really good job, and I’m happy to give even more these days. The downside? People take advantage. But that’s their demon, not mine.

Honorable mentions – My work ethic. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t work my hiney off to get here. I am blessed, yes, but I have also earned my spot.

Bible Verses:

1. Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, leaning not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” A gentle reminder to pray before making any decision.
2. 2 Corinthians 7:9. “Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so you were not harmed in any way by us.” While the Lord does not like for His people to be sad, He can use our sadness to teach us things and draw us closer to Him. I am grateful for that, these days more than ever.
3. Matthew 6:34. “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” The Lord holds the future. It is human nature to be concerned, to make plans, and to think we have things figured out. But ultimate peace is found when we learn to let go…and let God.
4. Judges 16:28-30. “Then Samson prayed to the Lord, ‘Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’ Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.” Samson got himself into quite a bit of trouble. He made a lot of mistakes. But he learned, and he gave God what he had left. I relate to Samson in a lot of ways. The Lord can have what is left of me.
5. Revelation 21:4. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” I look forward to a day with no more pain.

Honorable mentions – 2 Corinthians 5:21. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” It’s just a summation of why we exist and why our Father sacrificed His only Son. This is the verse I use as motivation to keep going.

I have this thickness in the back of my throat that has rendered my voice that of a pre-pubescent boy. I took some Decadron three days ago and I haven’t slept. Fortunately, I feel myself crashing, so off I go to one of my favorite places, for puppy snuggles and hopefully some snoring. I can’t wait to fall asleep.

Thank you for being here.