January is usually my LEAST favorite month of the year, but so far so good for this 2026 version. I mean, I still absolutely abhor the weather and gray skies, but otherwise it’s been kind of OK.

After taking Chooch back to school that first weekend of the new year, I expected to be depressed – and I was. We just had such a nice holiday season with him and I know eventually it will be the norm to not have him home, but the adjustment is still on-going (at least on my side – I don’t think he or Henry care much because: men).

The weekdays are all the same, honestly. Work. Quiet evenings at home, exercising and watching brain-rot videos on YouTube. My therapist and I are having discussions of different things I can do to break out of this boring-ass routine and I think I have some ideas.

Last weekend, Henry and I went to Industry Public House because, and this is so pathetic, they have this Christmas beer that I had imprinted on. OK, let me back up: you know that I was doing that whole beer stamp-collecting rigmarole during the last few mths of 2025, right? Well, it burnt me out. It made me realize that I don’t really care about beer all that much, it was just fun to have something to do. But, do I want that “something to do” to revolve around drinking beer? Eh, no, not really. And honestly, there weren’t even any beers that I had during my Pgh Brewery Travels that made me lean back and gasp, “I can’t wait to come back here and drink this again!” I just…don’t care that much.

However! When Henry and I went to the nearly re-opened Hollywood Theater down the street to see The Cure concert film, they had a Breckenridge Christmas ale on tap and I thought, why the hell not, get me a cup of that. And DANG y’all, maybe it’s just because I now associate it with The Cure (my favorite band of all time, natch), I have been on a one-track mission to imbibe that seasonal cheer in liquid form again. It actually FELT like Christmas in my mouth. I haven’t had that happen before with a “Christmas” beer. But this one got the spices right, I guess.

That last Friday that Chooch was home, January 2nd, he and I went to the Hollywood Theater to see Marty Supreme and I will be quite frank here – one of the main reasons I suggested it was because I wanted to get that beer again LOL. But UGH, they lost their liquor license!!! In that span of like 3 weeks, it must have been lapsed when it became 2026 I guess? I didn’t really pay attention to the explanation because after the concession stand person said, “I’m sorry, we’re actually not serving alcohol—” everything after that sounded like it was being projected from under the sea.

This is a very long-winded side-bar to explain why we ended up at a random bar/restaurant in Robinson Twnshp on a Saturday afternoon in January. Bro, I was so happy though. We sat at the bar and Henry the Bitch Boy got a flight but I ordered a full pour of my Breckenridge bae with confidence and was content with that and only that. It was just as I remembered it! Plus, I liked sitting at the bar. The hostess originally sat us at a table but we weren’t planning on eating (I have to plan these things carefully because of my calorie-intake compulsion. Signed, A Blogger with Disordered Eating) plus there was a man across from us who was VIOLENTLY blowing his nose and making sick throat gurgles so I said, “Nope” and we moved to the bar where we enjoyed a peaceful sit with our beers. I was very content in case I have not already mentioned that.

The next morning, we got up early and drove out to Freeport for a cinnamon knot and croissant from Vivienne’s Bakery. Truly so delicious and worth the drive every time though it does make me sad because the first time we went to that area was for a walk during Memorial Day weekend of 2024 and Drew was still alive then so my mind always goes there. I’m trying to push through the pain! Anyway, Henry pointed out that there was fresh sourdough at the bakery so we added a loaf to our order (sourdough bread is my snack every evening after exercising in case you wanted even more detail into my incredibly exciting routine) and I can no longer eat sourdough bread from anywhere else, thank you very much. God, theirs is so good.

My dietician keeps trying to talk me into making my own sourdough which is hilarious to me because she doesn’t know me that well. I mentioned this to my therapist and she started laughing because she DOES know me on that level and knows that the real Erin would NEVER bake her own bread. I mean, maybe HENRY might want to do that but certainly not me, LOL!

Lots of cozy time with Penelope. Henry bought me a heated blanket and Penelope is the biggest fan.

Sunday night, I was watching the Golden Globes red carpet just because I wanted to see Joshua from Seventeen (!!!) but then after sitting through the whole thing, realized I was invested at that point and needed to see the whole thing through so I watched the actual award to the very end and felt like…vintage Erin. I used to eat this shit up and would have to race around town during awards season, making the rounds in an effort to watch all of the nominated movies. It was fun to see some things win that I had actually watched, like Timothee Chalomet for Marty Supreme, Kpop Demon Hunters (save your Negative Nancy comments, they won’t get approved), Adolescence….I can’t remember if there was anything else I actually had seen.

I realized though that I was getting really excited while watching this, like I used to as a younger version of myself, and maybe I should start going to the theater more often. Even before this, I had planned on going to see Hamnet at the Hollywood Theater on my own this week because I read and loved the book and had made the promise to support my local theater more actively. But maybe instead of sitting here every night watching people scream on YouTube while doing food reactions, or making fun of travel vloggers who mispronounce names of things in South Korea, I could start watching more movies and then also that would give me something to bond with Chooch over since he is so movie-focused that I had to buy him an AMC membership.

My therapist loves this idea. I think so many people fixate on finding “new” interests but isn’t it OK to revisit old ones? Surely that counts.

Penelope dares you to disagree.

Last week, I had to go back to the gum doctor so he could check on the work he did on me last month. I absolutely love that doctor. I mean, I don’t love that I have gum issues that require me going to the dentist extra times a year and the occasional visit to the periodontist, but at least he is a great guy and makes me feel like a person and not just a patient.

Anyway, Henry drove me there and on the way back, we stopped at this newish cafe on Library Road called Pour Johnny’s which has a logo that looks REMARKABLY like the Monopoly guy and I honestly don’t know how they get away with that, but OK.

I don’t know if this lady was the owner – I feel like she was – but the barista on duty that day was SO FRIENDLY. And not even in a fake way, but effortlessly natural. Like, I could have been having the worst day ever and I feel like being in her presence would have healed me at least to some degree.

I got a chai latte (I am HUGLEY picky with these, btw, and there are only approx. 2 places in this city that makes them to my taste) and Henry got an iced caramel latte. As we walked out with our drinks, I said to him, “This can taste like hot dirt and I would still go back because that lady was so fucking delightful.”

Then I took a sip and as expected, it was the kind of chai that I do not like, so I just laughed and said, “I should have started out with a coffee drink, I guess.” But I had already had two cups of coffee at home and wanted something different! I tasted Henry’s latte and it was really good though, so now I know to just avoid the chai latte if/when I return (she gave us a punch card and they sell baked goods from Brown Bear so I think it’s safe to say we will be back).

Penelope says FUCK ICE, thank you very much.

In other weeknight news, Chooch convinced us to start watching The Pitt because he binged it all week long and loves it. I will admit that hearing Lisa (from Blackpink, god forbid that Kpop nonsense bleeding into the mainstream so forcibly that now – GASP – Kpop idols are presenting at the Golden Globes /sarcasm) namedrop our city of Pittsburgh when referencing The Pitt while presenting at the Golden Globes made me feel actually excited (Kpop tours never come to Pgh so I always just assume that no one from that side of the world knows that we exist). “Pittsburgh” coming out of THE Lisa’s mouth! I don’t care for hospital shows but it definitely piqued my interest.

I couldn’t make it through the first 10 minutes of the first episode, LOL. I thought it was so boring and cringey! The writing was….so weird?? So cheesy? But then Chooch was like, “No, you must give it another try” so we have since watched two episodes and it’s OK. I will continue but I’m not totally convinced or captivated. Also, I don’t have hometown pride that much either so the fact that it’s based on a hospital in Pgh doesn’t add much value for me.

One thing I will say is that it extremely graphic. Chooch knows my aversion to gore so warned me. “You’re going to spend a lot of time looking away,” he texted and boy howdy, was he correct. I have to look away so often that I tell Henry to not even pause it and use those moments to get a water refill or take a bathroom break.

Friday night, Henry and I were watching one of my favorite vloggers at the Stray Kids concert – wholesome, pure content – when suddenly it switched over to the scene from 127 Hours where James Franco is AMPUTATING HIS OWN FUCKING ARM. Blood and gore filled the screen alongside screaming and flesh sounds, and I almost passed out. I texted Chooch immediately: DID YOU DO THAT??

Turns out, he was trying to show his friend Mason “the worst scene ever” and somehow connected to my YouTube at home, hijacking my WHOLESOME AND PURE KPOP CONTENT. Oh, it was a whole frenzied episode here at the OHE Headquarters.

Chooch swears he did it accidentally and I actually do believe him, but this is totally something that he would also do ON PURPOSE!!

On Saturday, Henry and I went to see No Other Choice at the theater and it was REALLY GOOD. Always happy when foreign films get screen time in the States.

Later that night, our friends Brittany and Todd came over for a pizza hangout and it was SO GOOD. I keep saying I want to have friends over more often now that we’re empty nesters but then complacency sets in and I don’t do anything about it. But this time, I made the plans and we ordered pizza from Fiori’s (my local favorite that I actually haven’t had in years). It was the first time visiting our house for both of them and it was exciting to show them around!

I have to say, they are on the short list of people that Henry actually effortlessly engages with and I love that. Usually, Henry will just sit in the background and not talk but it’s not like that with Todd and Brittany. I love them and btw they are engaged now so this is all very exciting!

I think that about catches me up on here! I mean, I still have Romanian recaps to write but that’s another story. :/

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