For many reasons, 2023 was simultaneously the most trying and exciting year of my life to date. From earning my Master's degree to spending nearly two whole months on doxycycline, it was truly a year of intense ups and downs. Rather than recount my whole year, I wanted to share some of my favorite things from each month! I love reading yearly wrap-up lists, so I thought I'd make my own.
January
Song: Know That I Know by Lake Street Dive
Book: Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Moment: Printing and preparing my orchestra parts
Meal: Pad See Ew from Noodlehead
Photo:
February
Music: Northern Attitude by Noah Kahan
Book: The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime by Judith Flanders
Moment: 8 hours of Valentine's Day festivities with my best friends.
Meal: Birria tacos at Tocayo
Photo:
March
Music: Ivy by Taylor Swift
Book: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
Moment: Premiering orchestral pieces with my dear colleagues
Meal: Mustard Green and Pork Soup at Everyday Noodle
Photo:
April
Music: Call It What You Want by Taylor Swift
Book: Fool's Errand by Robbin Hobb
Moment: Getting hot chicken sandwiches with my grandfather and best friends
Meal: Easter brunch at Bravo! Italian Kitchen (more for the vibes than anything)
Photo:
May
Music: Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift
Book: Wordslut by Amanda Montell
Moment: Giving a recital AND graduating with my best friends
Meal: Trout Amandine and everything else at Le Diplomat
Photo:
June
Music: The Story of Us by Taylor Swift
Book: Unwell Women: Misdiagnosis and Myth in a Manmade World by Elinor Cleghorn
Moment: Getting The Story of Us and seven at The Eras Tour
Meal: The hot dog I had at The Eras Tour
Photo:
July
Music: Troy by Sinead O'Connor
Book: Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin by Megan Rosenbloom
Moment: Seeing my friend Sarah for the first time in two months (she took me to urgent care bc I was running 103.5 degree fevers)
Meal: Oysters at Oysthers
Photo:
August
Music: History of Man by Maisie Peters
Book: The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World by Virginia Postrel
Moment: Unintentionally visiting the spot my parents got married on their anniversary (Mellon Park 8/8/92).
Meal: Reuben Hot dog and Da Woiks (loaded fries) at Frankie Bunz
Photo:
September
Music: Get Him Back by Olivia Rodrigo
Book: Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
Moment: Climbing then reading The Awakening in Mellon Park with Wallis.
Meal: Schnitzel at Hofbrauhaus
Photo:
October
Music: Now That We Don't Talk by Taylor Swift
Book: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Moment: 5801 Halloween Trivia with friends
Meal: Cheeseburger at Squirrel Hill Cafe
Photo:
November
Music: Guy on a Horse by Maisie Peters
Book: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson (still reading)
Moment: Climbing my first (and so far only) V4.
Meal: Bacon Egg and Cheese on a Spicy Everything Bagel from Bagel Factory
Photo:
Comments