Ten things

Ok. So Dan Levy is handsome and witty. Win and win. He also wrote Schitt’s Creek and I didn’t know? Anyways. We're here for the ten things I can't live without. Because of course we are doing that. It's the end of the year, so I'm into lists. Bear with me.

One.
My MacBook.
Because I need it to write my blog entries on something and I cannot deal with the iPad.. I am a diehard Apple boy and all my gadgets are Apple. Back to that later. So yes, my Mac. I've had it forever and I'm terrified of buying a new one because ALL MY MUSIC is on this thing and I don't want to lose one song. Also, I had to buy an external drive because between the music and the porn, there's no space in this machine for anything else. So yeah. My Mac.

Two

My Coach high tops. Yep. Coach. And high tops. They were a gift from one of my girls. We were in her house and I could not get over the fact that she had high tops that were Coach. And then she said try them on. And I tried them on and they were so cool. And she gave them to me. And I fainted. Not really but you get my drift. Mind you, deep down, I still think Coach is the affordable version of Luis Vuitton for the bored suburban housewife. Yeah, you heard me. I find Coach to be kind of the epitome of conspicuous consumption for bored suburbanites. Kind of the Main Street version of a brand for Mall Rats. And their mothers. Still, because those shoes were a gift from one of my girls, I treat them with special care. I won't wear them in the winter and will only take them out when I go on special trips or to a fun party. They are comfy and because my feet tend to be smallish for a guy and kind of narrow, they fit perfectly. So yeah. Coach. So sue me.

Three
My turntable. My turntable is an old Technics turntable that a friend gave me. You see, I started the whole vinyl thing about three years ago. It started with a little Crosley I got at Target. I just wanted to play some records that I got in a state sale. Yep, I go to state sales and thrift stores and the such. So I got this 1970's Donna Summer record and like, ten seven inches singles (with covers!) because the idea was to use them for decor. I ended up starting a collection and eventually I got the Technics. It was a gift from a friend. We were talking about my having started a vinyl record collection and he told me his mom was cleaning her basement and if I wanted a turntable. I immediately said yes and volia! I had a nice turntable. It's still here. I play records almost every night. It's become kind of a decompressing technique. I lost count of how many records I had when I got to two hundred. That is, not counting the 12 inches and the seven inches singles and maxi-singles. So yeah. My turntable.

Four
Candles. I have a ton of candles. They all smell amazing. They are mostly lavender and vanilla or a mix of those two fragrances. Also, those are my go-to fragrances when I'm stressed or about to freak out. You see, I was an outpatient many years ago in a treatment facility. I had a terrible series of panic attacks after I graduated from college and I ended up going to treatment. Yep, I had group sessions with alkies, sex addicts, depressed housewives and suicidal millenials. One of the things you learn during these sessions, is that you need your support first aid self-care bag. In it, you put things that comfort you and that you can bring with yourself most places. In my first aid self-care bag there were many things but especially, a vanilla candle and a lavender satchel. Those two smells seem to calm me and the process of having to chill in order to light a candle (with matches) makes me focus and forget about whatever the fuck is making me freak out. So yeah, Vanilla or lavender candles.

Five.
I think that some of you may relate: eyeglasses. I have many eyeglasses because I am farsighted. I can read without glasses but to see whatever the fuck is going on the road, I need glasses. I've worn glasses ever since I turned seventeen. So basically eyeglasses are a fact of life for me and I have now kind of a collection. I rotate them every week and even though some I should not wear anymore because the prescription is three years old, I cannot give up on them because I love them. If you are a person who wears eyeglasses, you'll understand the relationship I have with mine. I use them a shield (you know what I mean) and also as a fashion statement: they make my face appear symmetrical, even though it's far from it. Also, when I was in high school it was not 'cool' to have glasses but they made me look studious, so I ran with it and still do. Nowadays I see people who really do not need a prescription wearing glasses just for the Instagram moment of it and I cackle. Morons.

Six
Doc Martens. Like my glasses, I have kind of collection of Doc Martens. I have boots and I have shoes. I have them in leather, in fucking brocade, in patent leather and in blue, black and green. I also have brogues and classic Doc Martens shoes but the boots are my fav. I've worn combat boots ever since high school (I wore a pair for like, ten years, literally) and I have some that are basically fucking bedazzled so I can wear them with tuxedo pants. So yeah. Doc Martens FTW. If you've ever owned a pair, you know how super comfy they are and how well they age. And they're subversive. You should see the looks I get sometimes when I go to meetings and they notice the boots. Oh, and I got a pair of Sex Pistols Docs last year that I wear basically nonstop. Leather. Always on point.

Seven
Beats. I got them as a gift like four years ago and I wear them when I go running. They are kind of bulky, but I prefer them to in-the-ear earphones. In-the-ear earphones give me headaches. Also, the new apple earphones are absolutely dumb and people look like they have two q-tips sticking out of their ears so no. Thank you, but no. I also like to listen to my podcasts when I walk/run (try Defected)  because it helps me keep the pace. And over-the-ear headphones are super useful when it's 29 degrees outside because they cover my ears and I don't even need a hat. So yeah. Also, could I get the man in the GIF to go with the earphones? KTHXBI.

Eight
The Apple extras: watch, phone, iPad. They all kind of circle together. And I never have the latest model. I seem to be prone to get the just about to be before-last model in each of those. I like them for the integration and because they seem to be impervious to hackers and viruses. I still have my first iPhone and my first iPod. Yeah, I have an iPod that I got as gift when I graduated. The classic one, with the little dial. It has my name etched in the back and the date. I treasure it. I think the battery does not hold charge because it's been plugged continuously for the last years (I play music there when I'm getting ready to go to work) and I use a speaker to amplify the sound. So yeah. I'm an Apple fanboy, basically.

Nine.
Skincare. Yes, indeed. I have learned that I need to take care of my skin. After countless videos of yutubers singing the praise of one and a thousand beauty products I broke down and got a tonic and a face wash. Because I still get the occasional pimple (even though adolescence is a far away memory, natch) I have had to learn to take care of my skin. I have not progressed to a ten-step beauty routine but I discovered that my skin looks better when I dedicate some time to taking care of it and not going to bed without washing my face. Yeah, it's that simple. I may cave in and get an after-shave eventually but I do not grow a five o'clock shadow so there's that. It'll be just for the pleasure of having some more ME time.

Ten.
A trimmer. Yep. Manscaping has become a thing. Not doing away with EVERYTHING but keeping things under control. It's an act of self-care and also a courtesy. Especially if you've got a man. Just a quick trim so there are not too many surprises and besides, it's cool in the summer. I discovered it was an advantage when he decided to go to town and it was all in order. Hey, courtesy maketh the man, no? Besides, I enjoy it. So there. Sue me.

And that's about it.
I guess it's going to be an end-of-the-year full of lists. Oh well.

XOXO