So, I’ve made it through all of 2020. I’m still in Chicago. And we are still in the midst of a pandemic due to COVID-19. But on the upside, a vaccine is out in the world and is being distributed to the general population in waves. There’s hope yet for 2021 (and I’m not talking about returning to the life we knew pre-pandemic).

So, here’s what December looked like for me. I hope your’s was good in its own right.

Adventures:

1. NYC – last trip up the year and a chance to soak in the magicalness that is Christmas in New York City.
2. Hanging out with Victor – our last visitor of the year. We hibernated at home when it was just too cold out and then ventured out in the midst of a storm-ish (oops).

Eats Highlights:

1. Ardesia – love this spot in Hell’s Kitchen, all of the menu items are fantastic. You can’t go wrong with anything you order and the prices aren’t ridiculous.
2. MCCB – our favorite spot for hot pot (for takeout we do the dry, for dine in we prefer wet), but it’s just really good in general.
3. Sticky Rice – fast becoming our favorite Thai spot. Their crab fried rice is amazing.
4. Levain Bakery – so love their cookies, their original chocolate chip walnut is always a good idea, but OMG their chocolate with peanut butter.

Media Consumption:

1. Samee สามี (Thai, YouTube) – finished, it’s an older show, but Great’s in it!
2. Game Sanaeha เกมเสน่หา (Thai, YouTube)
3. Trab Fah Me Tawan ตราบฟ้ามีตะวัน (Thai, YouTube) – Loved this one.
4. Paragit Likit Huajai ภารกิจลิขิตหัวใจ (Thai, YouTube)
5. Let’s Eat (Korean, Netflix) – pretty sure I’m here for the food.
6. The Mandolorian (English, Disney+) – So, so, so good. I love Grogu. Next chapter, Boba Fett. I can’t more baby Yoda.
7. Private Lives (Korean, Netflix) – about half way through, took a break
8. Vagabond (Korean, Netflix) – about half way through, took a break
9. Sugar Rush: Christmas (English, Netflix) – filler show, but also…sugar rush
10. Start-Up (Korean, Netflix) – Loved this show
11. Wacko At Law (Chinese, Viki) – Really enjoying this one, but also, I love George Hu.
12. Piang Chai Khon Nee Mai Chai Poo Wised เพียงชายคนนี้ไช่ผู้วิเศษ (Thai, YouTube)
13. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? (Korean, Viki) – a total rewatch
14. True Beauty (Korean, Viki) – enjoying this one
15. Tale of the Nine-Tailed (Korean, Viki) – it took a while, but the ending came together
16. Strongest Delivery Man (Korean, Netflix) – in proress
17. Rak Nakara รากนครา (Thai, YouTube)
18. Neth Mahunnop เนตรมทรรณพ (Thai, YouTube) – 1 episode a week…what?!?!, I like Esther and SonYuke.
19. Lovestruck in the City (Korean, YouTube) – not sure about this one, but the episodes are only half an hour…
20. Uncanny Counter (Korean, YouTube) – really enjoy this one
21. So many Christmas movies (old and new) – and this…every Christmas!

Let’s Talk New Year’s Eve

Rachana and I invited three of our friends over, but it ended up being just the two of us. Which turned out to be a lot of fun anyway. We had some drinks. We watched some TV. We ate some food (we got sushi). We popped a bottom of prosecco at 11:30 and had a mini-photo shoot. After the ball dropped, we had mini dance party and karaoke session. We also called a couple of our friends to wish them a happy new year and responded back to the messages that were sent to us.