For almost a year now, at the beginning of every month, I craft an “ins and outs” list on my instagram story (@lucysugawa if you’re interested). This list denotes what is “in” and what is “out” for that month. If something you like is out, don’t worry, it can be ok again next month. This list is not exhaustive and is largely arbitrary, but it seems to bring many of the people in my life joy. Every month, I get messages of appreciation for this small but thoughtful ritual. I share this tradition with my lovely improviser friends Camille, Julia, and Camilla.
Often, I find myself longing to explain many of my choices, especially the more controversial ones, so here I’ve put my ins and outs list for the month of November and expanded upon the ones I think need elaboration.
In:
Lowercase letters
I think that girls who turn off the auto-capital function on their phones are the coolest people ever. They wear leg warmers and put ribbons on their headphones except they don’t look stupid when they do it. I’m aware that my writing contains proper capitalization, including when I’ve written the words “Lowercase letters,” but I feel that my adherence to grammar conventions has little bearing on whether or not lowercase letters are in.
Hybrid cars
Save the earth!
Vintage soda bottles
I’d like to specify that these are in strictly as decor–especially when they’re empty and full of flowers (dried or not). Whether or not they’re the kind that have some sort of cancer-causing chemical we’ve since discovered to be deadly doesn’t matter a whole lot I think.
Greenwich village
Specifically the corner of Bleecker and Christopher (it has the Whalebone store!).
Goofy dogs
When dogs get excited and jump around all weird or when you pet them and their tongue hangs out the side of their mouths—I’m gonna need like an hour to process and to tamp down my cute aggression (an actual phenomenon).
Donating blood
It’s important! Also my college is doing a blood battle against our biggest rival and whoever donates the most blood wins! I’m 6 gallons in—suck it, OSU!
Squatty potty
Proper posture is important at ALL times.
Built-in bookshelves
The floor-to-ceiling kind. Ladder optional.
Pets with people names
My improv coach growing up had pets with the BEST names. The chickens were Nancy and Marlow, the dogs were Clayton and Lena, the bunnies were Andy and Brian, and the cat was Kevin. I plan on naming every pet (and plant) I have a person name. I got a cute little pothos the other day and named it Seth.
Jazz!
Been listening to a LOT of Miles Davis lately. Anything with a killer trumpet solo is a big YES from me.
Learning to play guitar
This is a self-indulgent one, but I think there’s something so special about learning an instrument. Watching someone poorly pluck out a tune on the guitar and being so proud of what they’ve learned actually makes me so happy. If you’re learning an instrument, I’d love a video of you playing. Last week, a friend of mine picked up the harmonica. She’ll play a song and ask me to guess what it is. I never have a clue, but I love this little ritual nonetheless.
Having hobbies
This is sort of a piggyback of the guitar one, but I think it should be illegal not to have hobbies. What do you do when you get home? What do you look forward to if not your hobby? I personally collect hobbies like pokémon cards, which is a fulfilling albeit expensive way to live.
Bike lanes
I just want to ride my bike everywhere all the time! Is that too much to ask? I live in such a car-centric country that it’s very difficult to actually use my bike as an effective mode of transportation. My city claims to be super bike friendly, but their infrastructure says otherwise.
Teak
ISN’T THIS WOOD SO BEAUTIFUL!?
Connections
I love the New York Times’ new online game connections, and I also hate it. I have always considered myself the kind of person who is good at pattern recognition, but connections has me questioning this aspect of my identity. Well, only on the days where I make a single mistake.
Ambient lighting
The big light is out out out. String some fairy lights, turn on a lamp, I don’t care. It’s warm tones only, baby. Fluorescents can kiss my tuchus.
Writing
By this point in the post, can you tell that I like to write? In particular, I’m enjoying the more collaborative side of writing. My writing buddies are not only my most vital sources of creative juice, but also incredible sounding boards for ideas, snippets, and vibes (thanks Mikala and Camille).
Out:
Caffeine
Every time I think I’m going to be okay drinking caffeine I end up vibrating anxiously—did you hear about that lady that died from drinking a panera charged lemonade? Her tolerance was probably higher than mine.
Traveling
Stay home! Eat a cracker! November is not a time to be transitory. It’s a time to sit in your feetsie pajamas in front of the tv with a cup of tea and a crochet project.
Phone tag
I hate it when I can’t get my favorite people on the phone! Why aren’t they available to me all day every day, huh?
Blood
I’m not one of those blood averse people, but I must be vitamin K deficient or something because I always have a cut and it’s always bleeding. What’s up with that?
Fingerless gloves
These do actually nothing to keep you warm! I mentioned earlier that I’m a bike rider—have you ever tried to ride a bike in fingerless gloves? Your fingers get so cold they start to feel hot. For my screenagers who want access to their precious tik tok, most gloves are touch screen functional. I’d say touch grass, but it’s far too cold to actually TOUCH anything outside. Thanks, michigan.
Face paint
During the summer and for gameday, face paint is okay. But at a certain point, I start to feel like a child and the paint has dried so it’s itchy and tight on my face and I didn’t even really want it in the first place because the paintbrush is so cold and so wet and the teenager doing my face paint smells like the backroom of a bath and body works and I wish I had stayed home today
Duolingo streaks
I feel like the Duolingo Owl is still really scary and we’re not talking about it. I don’t want to be threatened or punished for not practicing my dutch, and yet I allow myself to be pulled in and tempted by my streak freeze reminders. Someone delete this app off my phone. Sooner or later, I’m going to be fluent in Dutch because the Duolingo Owl has kept my family hostage.
Snapchat
This is the most juvenile way to communicate, and yet I am on it every day.
Bicep tattoos
Put them somewhere else! I don’t know why but tattoos here just seem so contrived. Thigh tattoos have the same vibe but are much more refined. Get one of those instead.
Combination locks
PSA: These locks will freeze shut in Michigan in the winter. Get a lock lock. Unless you’re going to lose the key. Then, just keep your bike inside.
Rodents
I’m done being a rat girl, laughing at rat-based humor, or indulging in rodential storylines (Sorry Ratatouille, you great fallen soldier—Stuart Little, on the other hand, can get the hell out).
Paper money
Icky gross cash with icky gross old men on it is out! My credit union debit card with a duck on it is in! I can pay on my watch like a futuristic baddie and YOU’RE still paying in singles? Psh.
Cobwebs
Halloween is over, you look like you don’t keep up with your sweeping.
Earmuffs
May I recommend headphones? A far more practical solution that keeps your ears warm and toasty and pumps those sweet sweet tunes right into your brain.
The big crossword
I don’t have time for this anymore. Do the mini: in and then out! easy peasy, and perfect for an on-the-go college gal like myself.
B vitamins
They’re important, I’m aware, but why do they get names and the rest don’t (Ascorbic Acid aside)? Do they think they’re more important or are they trying to set themselves apart from their brethren? Also, why on my biology exam is it written as B12 half the time and cobalamin the other half?
Hand, foot, and mouth
That’s a baby disease for babies. You’re 20 years old and you got a rash from touching a LEGO!? Grow up. You wish your mom let you eat as much dirt as mine did.
STEM
Science, technology, engineering, and math are all collectively kicking my butt right now. They’ve beaten me to the ground and won’t stop kicking me even though I’m bleeding from every orifice.
Christmas decor
IT’S NOT TIME YET. Wait until Thanksgiving, you greedy greedy gumdrops! There’s a time and a place to be festive and that time and place is December first through December twenty-fifth. I understand the deep, unbridled, Mariah Carey-fueled urge to deck the halls but fall isn’t over yet. I’m holding on to it for dear life.