If there is one thing I have embraced since this quarantine started, it’s that life is too short and nothing is guaranteed. You need to embrace the little enjoyments. Before I kept my guilty pleasures to myself; now I am no longer sorry or embarrassed about the things I like, no matter how silly or crazy they may be. You have nothing to feel guilty of!
Here are just a few of my latest obsessions.
#5 Channeling my inner plant nerd
My good friend Beaux has been into plants since I’ve known him. He has the ultimate green thumb. I, on the other hand, tend to be the complete opposite. Plants actually cringe when they see me in the store walking through the garden section. They sense my lack of talent to keep them alive and, in the past, they were correct.
But now, with more time on my hands, I have become more in tune with nature. Beaux has helped me channel my inner horticulturist. With a little TLC, the plants in front of my house and in my courtyard are thriving. Even my indoor plants seem to be staying alive — yeah. With everything in bloom, I find myself hanging out more in the courtyard reading and just meditating with a glass of wine (ok, bottle).
Also, since I am nothing if not shallow, check out this Facebook group called Boys with Plants. It is a private group so you have to ask to join and answer a few questions, but it is well worth it. They give you lots of plant tips and advice as well as having copious amounts of photos of hot men with plants strategically placed to cover the fun parts. I mean wake me up before you grow grow!
#4 Join a Book Club
I have always been an avid reader but I have never been part of a book club until now. Not only have I joined one, but I seem to be part of the group starting it. NOAGE (New Orleans Advocates for LGBT Elders) had its first book club meeting on August 25, on Facebook. You can find out information about future meetings on their website or on Facebook. I tend to read mostly one type of fiction genre, so I am excited about experiencing new writers and genres. It should be lots of fun and it will definitely be a welcome distraction to all the chaos around us.
#3 Total Wine
OMG, I think I have found my ultimate happy place and it is called Total Wine. Located at 3780 Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, this new store has over 8,000 wines, 3,000 spirits & 2,500 beers. It is literally an alcohol superstore. The prices are fantastic and the staff there is friendly and knowledgeable. Every time I go, I feel like a kid in a candy store. Hell, I reached the platinum level in only three visits. Still afraid of shopping in stores? No problem, they offer delivery or curbside pick-up. However, to get the full overwhelming experience, I highly recommend going into the place. Cheers!
#2 Abbott’s Frozen Custard
I am not a huge dessert person, but there’s a new place in the French Quarter to satisfy your sweet tooth. Abbott’s Frozen Custard has opened at 628 Toulouse Street and it is fabulous. I recently went in for a friend’s birthday and I am hooked. The service was fast and the options were plentiful. I highly recommend their cookie dough. They have milkshakes, flurries, splits, and sundaes with an incredible array of toppings. So beat the heat this summer with something sweet.
#1 Step Counting
I have told all my friends recently that I feel like the gay Forest Gump because I walk everywhere. Since this pandemic started, I have walked throughout the day, to get me out of the house and clear my head. In the morning, I take my dog Magnolia for a one-mile walk. In the afternoon, it is a trek with my friends Adikus and David for a daily two-mile walk. And in the evening, my friend Laura and I do another two miles. Now that my schedule has started to build up again, I can’t do all three walks each day, but on the days I was able to do it, I was getting 25,000 steps. I highly recommend getting back into an exercise routine. Not only will it help you lose weight, but it will build up your immune system. It also helps relieve the stress which surrounds us these days.
