Friday Faves 1/10: Friends, Milkshakes, Cookies, and Internet Detectives

Best Activity

Catching up with Friends: A few years back, some of my college buddies started trying to meet up on Tuesdays for a drink and to catch up. We thought Tuesday was the most available day (who is doing anything on a Tuesday?) and a bi-monthly gathering would make the most sense.

Needless to say, the bi-monthly part has not worked (even though my Google calendar alerts me that we let another Tuesday slip by without a meeting). However, last week four of us managed to meet and have drinks. We’ve all been friends now for half our lives, considering we met freshman year, which is astounding and a mathematical fact I can’t wrap my head around.

This gathering with friends was the last thing I did before heading to Ohio, sadly, for a funeral. Tiff’s grandmother passed away last week, a day following her 77th birthday. She was a force of nature. A kind matriarch who was always welcoming, asking questions, telling stories, and laughing. At the memorial, I met a couple of her friends, some of whom she had known for more than 50 years. Another mathematical fact that’s tough to wrap my head around. They told some stories about causing a little bit of trouble in their younger days, but ultimately just having a grand old time. It was a tough evening, it’s never easy losing family and friends, but it also made me grateful for the friends and family I have.

Go call someone you love this weekend.

Best Watch

Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs: This is an incredibly fun weekend of football, probably the best of the season. Toss in Monday night’s college football championship between Clemson and LSU, and that’s a great three day stretch. It’s the first time since 2010 that the Patriots aren’t playing, so I am looking forward to stress free viewing (at least that’s what I’m telling myself to feel better about last week’s loss.).

Don’t F**k with Cats: This three part documentary is stranger than fiction. It starts with the posting of a horrendous video online and ends with an international manhunt. In between, a cadre of amateur Facebook investigators keep the flame lit as they communicate and hunt for a horrible man who could be anywhere in the world. It’s tough to watch in some parts, but a fascinating story.

Best Read

8 Ways to be Kinder to Yourself if 2020: The resolution self help stuff is always popular this time of year. I particularly liked this one; it has simple ideas and mindsets that are actionable. NYTimes.com

Best Listen

Ms. Lauren Hill - MTV Unplugged: We were in an Uber this week and Lauren Hill came on the radio. I played her MTV Unplugged album from 2002 the next day. It’s really good. Spotify

Making Sense with Sam Harris: Sam Harris’ podcasts are a very good listen, this one with Megan Phelps-Roper is really interesting. Phelps-Roper was a born into the Westboro Baptist Church. She’s pictured with horrific signs as a child while she and her cult protested whatever pissed them off that week. She recently wrote a book called Unfollow about her experience growing up in the Westboro Baptist Church. Spotify

Best Eat

Peanut Butter Cookie: We were back in Columbus, Ohio this week and headed to a spot called North Star for lunch. It’s a fantastic spot. One of those places where you order at the counter and then grab a seat. They bring the food to you once it’s ready. After a mornings worth of flights and driving, Tiff couldn’t resist one of their massive cookies and ordered a peanut butter cookie. It was delicious, and the most intriguing part of this lunch dessert was that it was covered in peanuts on top.

Best Drink

Chick-Fil-A Milkshake: The Cleveland airport has a Chick-Fil-A and Shake Shack right next to each other. It wasn’t a hard choice, but it’s a great one to have to make. What a time to be alive. I had one of their vanilla milkshakes for the first time in my life. They top if off with whipped cream and a cherry… but be careful, if you’re not careful you might get some of it in your beard and walk around in public for a bit.