5 of My Favorite Things from 2023
Happy New Year Friends!
I hope you’re having a refreshing break doing things that recharge you for the year ahead.
One of my favorite New Year activities is to write a list of 100 memorable things from the year that passed. My list contains lots of personal information that I don’t share it with anyone, but I thought I’d show you all just a few of the things that delighted me this year.
Five of My Favorite Things from 2023:
Great Nintendo Switch games. This year Nintendo FINALLY released Pikmin 4, a game I’ve been waiting for since I first played Pikmin 3 on wii u a decade ago. Pikmin 4 is terrific, expanding on all the cuteness and inventive puzzles from the earlier Pikmin games. (I still prefer Pikmin 3’s 2-player bingo battle mode, though.) I can’t exactly say it was worth the wait, since we waited SO LONG, but I’m glad they got it right. In 2023 we also got Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a fun little game that Nintendo seems to have forgotten to advertise. And, even though technically Two Point Campus was released in 2022, the downloadable content this year built it out into a full length game.
Barbie-mania. How much fun was the summer of Barbie? The movie that was so much artier than it needed to be, Margot Robbie’s press tour costumes and that soundtrack! Forget dancing the night, Barbie danced the whole dang summer.
Strike Force Five. Watching late night tv will never be the same now that we’ve experienced the pleasure of five hosts on one podcast. It was like a perfectly balanced dish – sour Jon Oliver, sweet Jimmy Fallon, bitter Jimmy Kimmel, salty Stephen Colbert, savory Seth Meyers, and just a dash of Ryan Reynolds for brightness. Five egos big enough to keep each other in check. With no writers, and seemingly no editors, they were liable to say anything at any moment, and often did.
Succession’s Final Season. It’s such a relief when a great show nails the ending. Just when Succession’s plot lines were in danger of getting too repetitive, the show’s creators decided to draw it to a close. Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say that it doesn’t shy away from picking winners and losers.
Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts. This album reached right in and grabbed my 90’s teen heart. It was a mix of vulnerability and irony that hasn’t been seen since Reality Bites. She’s got two nearly perfect albums under her belt, now. I can’t wait to see what she does next. Maybe something bluegrass?
What about you? Are you making a 2023 reflection list? What were your highlights from the year?
This Week I’m:
Reading: Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami
Watching: Julia on Max. I love the way this show builds out the world around Julia Child, exploring the growth of WGBH onto the national stage, the politics and personalities at Knopf publishing house, and the Childs’ unusual marriage. I enjoyed this show much more than I thought I would. Definitely check it out if you need something pleasant to watch.
Listening to: The Ancients podcast is excellent for falling asleep to. My favorite episodes are on the Roman gods.
Resolve to…
The easiest way to keep your 2024 resolution is to sign up for a group class to keep yourself accountable. I’d love to see you at one of my upcoming classes!
Write More in 2024:
Jumpstart Your Novel. Meets 6 Wednesdays, Jan. 16–Feb. 20 from 6:00–9:00 pm EST. In-person at Grub Street, Boston Seaport. $375 ($360 Grub Street members) Sign up now! Only 3 spots left!
Writing Fiction from Real Life. Meets 8 Thursdays, Jan. 18–Mar. 14 from 7:00–9:00 pm. In-person at Arlington High School, Arlington MA. $239
The Writing Life: Journaling. Meets 6 Mondays, Jan. 22-Mar. 4 (no class Feb. 19) from 6:00–9:00 pm EST. Meets on Zoom. $375 ($360 members)
Read More in 2024:
Read & Discuss Best American Short Stories 2023. Meets 8 Wednesdays, Jan. 17–Mar. 13 from 7:00–8:30 pm EST. In-person at Gibbs School, Arlington MA. $175
Virtual: Read & Discuss Best American Short Stories 2023. Meets 8 Fridays, Jan. 19–Mar. 15 from 7:00–8:30 pm EST. Meets on Zoom. $125 ($200 per pair)
Thanks for reading!
Kayleigh