Journal 37 Bad Internet, Ikea Dresser, Limoncello

Hello there!!! How was your week?

Yesterday, my partner told me that I did a good job with something so I should pat myself on the back. I started slapping my lower back but then I realized that is not how it’s done. Still integrating.

I am reducing my internet exposure. Although I have been cutting back for years, lately I have been trying to spend even less time online, and only using my phone as a phone. (Except for text messages and navigation when necessary.)

I have also been putting thought into the effect that the internet has had on my seniors. Much of the focus of the harms of the internet is on children, teens, and adults. But what about older adults? They can believe anything they see on the internet. And I'm not talking about scams, but something like toxic personalized content. After my adult parent has been on the internet for a long time, they look like a zombie. And their attitude becomes horrible. They get fearful and anxious. They make worse decisions.

And I have to live with it! Ahhh!

On a more fun note, today I started putting together an Ikea Rast dresser.

I love assembling Ikea furniture, but I think this was my first wooden Ikea item. The wood took more feeling to assemble than particleboard. In my opinion, the screws were too large for the thin softwood boards. I tried to be really gentle, but one brace received a small crack. Wiggling the pieces gently in between turns of the wrench helped.

I was disappointed that the bottoms of the drawers were of melamine. I was looking forward to seeing all-pine when opening the drawers. Besides that, it looks very good. I chose this model because it could abut additional units. They would make a lovely bench for my cat.

I am still so happy to finally have a dresser. There are many dressers in this house, so it felt weird to buy one, but I didn’t want to use one of those, and I didn’t know how long we would live here, so I put it off for years. But my new philosophy is to purchase necessary things.

And the limoncello is done! Yaaay! It came out pleasant and gentle. The recipe I used called for less sugar than is customary. I was surprised that I felt it needed more sugar to bring out and complement the lemon. It was not bracing enough. And we still also have the Strega liquor from the attempt at struffoli to enjoy. I have really been liking these Italian digestive liquors. They taste like potions!

New Jersey has been below freezing pretty much every day in January. I am now so acclimated to the cold, I sweat when the weather is above freezing.

Please have a wonderful week!

Asya