New York in November

ERICA MONTHLY. ISSUE NOVEMBER.pdf

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Friends, December is here, and November is officially behind us. We’re somehow already at the end of the year, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. November was a strange month. I had finally picked up a good flow again, but my knee had other plans, so everything paused, shifted, and forced me into a new routine. Still, the month wasn’t without its highs. We completed our 9+1, I fostered sweet Glen, I saw Zulan at Webster Hall, we had a successful mayoral election in NYC, and there were so many small bright moments in between. But if I’m honest, I’ve felt out of sync. Between the knee injury, a job change, and just feeling disconnected from some of my usual hobbies, I found myself in a bit of a rut. As we move into December, I’m really craving a routine again. That’s when I feel most like myself, grounded, motivated, steady. I’m hoping this month brings that back.

My New Friend

One of November’s biggest highs was spending the day with Glen. Glen is a shelter dog currently at the Animal Care Center in Queens, and through their BoroughBreak program I got to foster him for the day. He’s a large mixed breed boy, newly two years old, full of curiosity and chaotic sweetness. I fell for him almost instantly. Our day started with a long because he had way too much energy to get into the car. After a few attempts (and me losing the negotiation), we ended up walking all the way to my house, where he met my brother, George. I couldn’t bring him inside because of Hunter and Zara, so we headed back, where Glen finally decided the car was acceptable. Once he was in, we had ourselves a proper day: a joy ride with his head practically out the window, a pup cup from Starbucks he devoured in seconds, and a trip to Juniper Valley Park where he chased squirrels while I, 5'2 and overwhelmed, chased him. Then came the pet store fiasco, where he discovered the toy aisle and nearly knocked down half the shelves. We made a quick exit. Before returning him, we took one last walk by the park so I could say goodbye. Dropping him off genuinely hurt. I wished I could bring him home. He’s such a good boy who deserves the softest, happiest life. I’m really hoping Glen finds his forever home soon. If anyone reading this is interested in adopting Glen, he’s currently available at the ACC in Queens. I have more information about him, the adoption process, and the BoroughBreak program. Just reach out. He deserves the best home, and I’d love to see him end up with someone who will adore him as much as I did.

Not Running

whole section of running updates every month, but this time I don’t have too much to report. With my knee acting up, I’ve only been able to manage one 5K a week. I could probably push for more, but I really don’t want to risk making things worse. Healing is the priority right now. But I do have one major(and very exciting) update. I officially finished my 9+1! All nine races and my volunteer shift are done, which means I now have guaranteed entry into the 2026 NYC Marathon. I’ve been working toward this all year, so finally completing it feels huge. I’m really excited to see what the next year holds for my running journey, and I’m hoping my knee recovers soon so I can ease back into training with more consistency.

Day by Day

Life Lately November involved a lot of alone time. Shopping, wandering the city, trying new spots, doing anything to shake myself out of the rut I was feeling. I made it a point to leave the house more, even if it was just to walk around or people watching. One of the highlights was seeing Zulan. A friend had extra tickets, and since I haven’t been to one of Zulan's sets, I said why not. I actually had such a good time… minus the fact that we almost got into two fights (we don’t have to talk about that). Overall, November felt like taking things one day at a time and letting small moments be enough. As for work, work has been weird in its own way. It’s been an adjustment going from being a barista, where my biggest responsibility was checking for fake bills, to suddenly being responsible for actual children. Like… little humans! I even had to take EpiPen training because one of my students has a severe peanut allergy. Leading kids has been a challenge. Some days it feels like they can sense that I don’t have everything figured out yet. But I’m learning, I’m adapting, and I’m trying my best to grow into this new version of myself, even when it feels chaotic.

Hasta la Proxima

Guys, I can’t believe we’ve reached the end of November! You’re mostly, emphasize on mostly caught up on my month, and now. December is here full of lights, decorations, hot chocolate, and all the cozy holiday vibes. We’re running one more race this month; it’s a bit longer than what I’ve been doing since my knee injury, but there’s a medal at the finish line, so I’m excited. Overall, I’m looking forward to seeing what December brings. Thank you for tuning in again, sending you all hugs, and I’ll see you next month!

Let’s Talk About Hobbies

As adults, it becomes so easy to get stuck in the usual “work, home, repeat” cycle. Days blur together, and suddenly you realize you haven’t done anything just for you in weeks. That’s why having hobbies, things that enrich your mind, spark creativity, or simply make you feel alive, is so important. A hobby doesn’t need to be something you do every day. It doesn’t have to be a big, aesthetic project. It can be something you participate in periodically. This month, especially, with my routine thrown off, I’ve been thinking a lot about the role hobbies play in my life. I want to pick up new hobbies, get back into yoga and pilates, pick up baking, and even reading more regularly. Hobbies catch us when everything else feels heavy. They make slow months feel meaningful.

Song of The Month

Girl, So Confusing (feat. Lorde) by Charli XCX is the song of the month for November. I’ve been on such a Charli XCX kick lately. This song paired with “Sympathy Is a Knife” is honestly a masterpiece. Together, they capture the messiness of womanhood, the tension we’re taught to feel toward each other, and the weird, unspoken rivalries that don’t actually need to exist. It’s dramatic, vulnerable, petty, and real in the best way. Blasting this song while driving literally anywhere? Truly a 10/10 experience. Highly recommend.