A Most Unreliable Narrator Issue #156 woos and woes
let me call to you
Welcome to A Most Unreliable Narrator, the slice-of-life newsletter of GenXer around town, Lisa Rabey. I talk about anything and everything with a bit of swears. I’m glad you’re here.
Dear Internet,
(Not) Sweater Weather
I don’t know what it’s like in your neck of the woods, but here the weather is perfect. It’s been sunny and in the high 70s/low 80s. Light breeze ruffles the tree tops. The temperature at night is perfect for having a fan slowly, well, fan you and have the windows open. It all changes today (Sunday) when it rains and will rain on and off for the next week.
We’ve been to the beach but haven’t dipped our toes into Lake Michigan yet. Last report was the lake was 59F (15C) and while Michiganders are stern and hardy peoples, that’s too cold even for me.
It’s been busy here at the cabin. We’ve had the hot water turned on for the w/d, the painting has finished; we are having new windows installed, and gardening has started. Mr Lisa and I will shop for window blinds, new outside doors, and a gas stove. Hopefully, completion of our renos will happen by the fall of 2024 so we can chance a winter up here. The goal is to move up here in the future and either rent or sell the condo down south. There are a lot of variables in play, so who knows what happens? At least we have a goal in mind.
Summer Festivals
Glastonbury Festival is happening this weekend, and it’s another year that I haven’t gone. It’s a large music and arts fest that’s been happening for decades and typically kicks off the summer music festival in the UK. Everyone from Elton John to local bands play. What makes Glasto so special is that it’s run by a family who started it and everything they do is eco-conscious.
I’ve read getting tickets is nearly impossible. One writer noted that their kid had a few laptops and phones around them trying to score some tickets. Hopefully, one year!
Summer Plans
For us, this weekend kicks off our summer of travel and seeing friends. We’ve got people coming up a few times a month this year and we’re heading down state this summer for our reception. I’m excited about seeing everyone in one place. Only one couple declined the invite which is a pretty good turn out to me!
Speaking down state, I headed there this week to see Steph and get an oil change. Our car is very particular on what parts and services it has and with so few dealers available in the state, we take what we can. I had massive girl time with Steph over lunch and shopping before I headed back north. Mr Lisa and I decided that with the picky needs of the car, our next car is going to be something with lots of dealers available for maintenance and repair.
Clothing Woes and Fat Girl Surgery Update
Steph and I also shopped while I was in town. My trials of getting jeans is turning into a nightmare. I may have mentioned this a few weeks back that I wear X size in shorts from a brand at a chain store. I bought the same brand jeans in the same size and not only did they not fit me, but I could also not bring them up over my thighs. I bought a size up for this very reason and similar issue. I could at least them up to my hips but could not remotely zip up.
At a fat girl’s shop I’ve shopped at before, I asked the staff for their recs for jeans that fit well and added that I wore size X at store Y. The recs they made were way off and I left the dressing room feeling defeated.
I’ve now sworn that I’m dresses/skirts/linen pants/shorts/leggings kind of person. I own and fit into the aforementioned items. Trying on structured pants triggered my body dysmorphia and was also depressing. I cannot go through that again.
I’ve finally hit the 270s which means I’ve got another 50+ pounds to go. I’m excited by the progress so far. It’s slow but steady. I’m hoping adding in swimming and rowing will help not only with the weight loss but also with just being overall stronger. Best Kate is influencing me to take up weightlifting. She doesn’t need to press much; I’m totally onboard with that activity. Our membership at the Y is for the summer and I plan on getting a lot of use out of it.
Accountability Project
Kristin and I put together an accountability project, and we report to each other every week. We had our first meeting this week, and it really helped me. I’m tracking my thoughts and feelings on my goals and talking it out to a friend was beneficial. While my therapist understands, sometimes talking to a friend feels better and I don’t feel so overwhelmed.
Kristin really likes the book Atomic Habits with the gist it talks about using small goals to help with the larger goals. The book came out in 2018 and is still so popular the shortest time span I can get from the library is seven weeks. I trust Kristin’s judgement, so I may just splurge and buy the book. What is a factor in my decision is that I’m behind on my library reading and I don’t want to buy a book that will not get read until later so it may be the library book after all.
Woo
One of my book ideas is a supernatural book where the main female character is a latent witch. I asked in a pagan forum what they liked and didn’t like about representation of the craft in fiction/TV/movies and the responses were all over the place and not helpful. There was one helpful suggestion to write what you practice. Which is a great idea, but I don’t really practice.
(When I told Steph about my post, she said be careful because a lot of pagan practitioners believe their path is the only path. I saw that in the comments.)
I’ve stayed on the spiritual edges for years, never committing to one practice over another. I grew up Catholic but left the church, at least in spirit, at a young age. I’ve toyed with joining a progressive Catholic church (yes, contrary to popular belief, they do exist) but I cannot get over the whole God thing. A singular omnipresent being seems crazy to me, but several or a pantheon of gods does not.
What do I believe is a loaded question. I can say that I believe that many find the idea of a higher power to be comforting and help guide them in their decisions. There is also community.
I espouse on spirituality waaayyy back in Issue 137.5 (February 8, 2023 to be exact.).
I said,
I’ve stopped and started this conversation with you so I decided to write about this more later. I put the UU and CUUP meetings in my calendar which will prompt me to go. If it’s not in my calendar, it doesn’t happen.
This is later.
I have done little since I wrote that bit all those months ago. My tarot decks remain unused, and the books remain unread. Not that I haven’t thought about it, I have, but I think the general overwhelmedness I’ve been feeling for the last few years has kept me at bay.
I still think it’s important to work on your spirituality, no matter what that looks like to you. The world is a crazy place, and we need comfort where we can find it.
I bought a deck for the cabin along with crystals to cleanse it. I just need a piece of satin to wrap the deck and a bag to hold it all together.
I’ve also started signing up for woo based newsletters to keep my finger on the world and hoo boy, that may have been a mistake as they send a lot of fucking email.
Mr Lisa teased me when I unwrapped my just arrived crystals. When I explained their purpose, I could see him trying not to laugh. Mr Lisa would best describe himself as agnostic rather than atheist. He doesn’t believe in God or god but he does not want to discount it either. He said through a clenched smile he would support me in whatever I wanted to do. I said, good thing I’m not LARPing. He said, fair point. I also told him what he thinks doesn’t bother me or stop me from doing what I want to do. He said, good thing or else I would be miserable.
This summer is a perfect time to explore my spirituality. Pagans of all shapes and sizes commune with nature and being in the woods is perfect. Another plus is one of my libraries has a ton, and I do mean a ton, of ebooks on wicca and paganism.
Half a million years ago I ran a woo blog where I talked about my woo interests and ideas. It was gaining some traffic, but it was a lot of work. It’s tempting to start over again, but I have an electronic diary I can use instead.
(Plus, how many goddamned blogs/newsletters does one need?)
Other newsletter updates and publications
lisa rabey writes stuff issue #17 stories we tell
chapbook: commercial breaks
Wonderful Thing
Tarot Cards
Tarot cards call to you.
That’s the story at least. Do not buy a deck of tarot cards unless they speak to you.
Many decks have called to me. Now I own five.
When I ran the woo blog, I pulled a card a day and interpreted it. Surprisingly, that was a lot of work to work with the cards and write about it. One thing I did like was how the cards spoke to me. Sure, sure, many say that you can take from what you want from it and bend it to your will, but that to me was the appeal. It comforts me and that is what’s important.
Have a wonderful week!
lisa x
(Fuck fascists and Nazis!)
You've just finished reading A Most Unreliable Narrator: the slice of life newsletter from the GenXer about town, Lisa Rabey. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky if you're so inclined. I am everywhere. Copyright © 1996 - 2025 by Lisa Rabey