I’m giddy—like a squirrel in a wind tunnel of nuts, grinning in blissful reverence at his unexpected jackpot. That’s me with TikTok right now. I like having a broader audience. I can talk about being adopted, attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, show a dolphin leaping out of the water, and ramble about the joy of being a loner—and the algorithm just drops it off to the people who like those sorts of things.
Also, I want pizza. Which means, yes, advertisements work. The high-tension Mariners game has my attention swinging every time the bat cracks, but one good commercial with a slice of cheesy, droopy pizza and my craving is through the roof. That’s the painful thing about cravings: the push-pull with yourself. Too many little “nos” turning into “yeses” and suddenly you’re riding first class to Unhealthy & Unhappy City.
Technically, I do have bagels and pepperoni at home. But no sauce, no mozzarella. Which is tragic, because an adjacent meal is never as good as the real thing. It reminds me of Eddie Murphy’s stand-up bit where he begs his mom for a McDonald’s burger and she insists on making him “something better.” Except what he gets is a giant bun, oversized onions, and a patty that makes him say with crushing disappointment, “That’s not McDonald’s.” Exactly. It’s Chuck E. Cheese when you asked for Disney.
On repeat in my head tonight: We’re going to finish it. Kind of like Dorothy’s There’s no place like home. I’m talking about What We Do in the Shadows. Six seasons, and at our pace of one to four episodes a month, we’re snailing our way into the finale.
And yes—I’m still running. Only ten minutes today, followed by sit-ups, a few pushups, and some stretching. Not every day has to be a 20–30 minute run. I’m trusting myself that this is my new norm, and that giving myself breaks doesn’t derail me. As long as I keep getting back on the horse. Though, technically, a horse could buck me off and break my leg, which would force me into a cast for 4–6 months… but you know what I mean.
Alrighty, friends—that’s better than “kids,” which sounded weird coming out of my mouth just now. I’m off to finish the finale. Take care, and I’ll see you here tomorrow.
Love, Jaclynn
PS Tonight’s photo is credited to my friend Alli. It’s a beaut, ay?
Going On 40 