Things that happened recently:

The government is currently shut down because our President is a petulant child.

I’m skeptical of A.I. assistants, but how can you not love this commercial for Google Home?

2018, in photos.

Things to do in New York this week:

Tours of New York City’s largest prop house, Eclectic/Encore Props, aren’t usually offered on the weekends but there is one this Saturday via the NY Adventure Club. You can see photos from when I took the tour here.

The only NYE party I’d ever consider paying for is the one at the Olive Garden in Times Square.

It seems like pretty much everyone I know has gone to, and loved, the Hilma af Klint exhibit at the Guggenheim, on display now until February 3rd.

Things I’ve discovered recently:

If I could just sleep until 9am every day I think my life would vastly improve, and I’m not alone—80 percent of people have work schedules that clash with their internal clocks.

I’ve decided that the first thing I’m going to treat myself to in 2019 is my very own squatty potty.

You can catch up on all four seasons of the best show of 2018, Schitt’s Creek, on the PopTV app (including the bonus holiday special), and Vogue recently published this interview with Dan Levy about the show’s incredible fashion. Ew, David.

I recently spent a few days in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois visiting roadside attractions, eating my weight in cinnamon rolls and enjoying that famous MidWestern hospitality. I came back to New York to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my mom, and then I headed back west to Ohio, where I’ll be until the 31st. I’m not looking forward to starting the New Year in a cubicle (RIP my own office), but I do love the beginning of a new year and the feeling that anything can happen. I don’t make resolutions, but I hope my 2019 is filled with more road trips, diner breakfasts, good books and all the whimsy I can find. The world can feel dark and hopeless, but there are bright spots too—I hope you can find and spread some joy in 2019, whatever that means to you!

Happy Friday!