Hello!

And welcome to Very Amusing, your one-stop shop for the story, secrets, and shenanigans of a popcorn-fueled theme park journalist.

I'm Carly Waisal, and I've

kind of had a whirlwind of a time since we last spoke. I've been to birthday parties for adults. Then to birthday party for a kid. This kid's birthday party, they had dolewip. They had actual doll-whip at this birthday party. It was so much fun. Like, in LA, birthday parties are so solid. It's probably everywhere. It's just that when I was a kid, birthday parties were roller rink, uh, bowling, or like gymnasium. They were never teaky themed with live music and things to jump off of and also dolewip with toppings. It was wonderful. It was absolutely wonderful. I had a play date at a friend's house.

I went to my brother's house and he made tavern style pizza. He made one that had

roasted eggplant with fresh green curry that he made. It was good. I also recorded a podcast

that many of you listened to that will be out in a few weeks. Wink, wink. I had a horrible

tummy ache from an undercooked veggie burger in Universal

Studios Hollywood. We've done and seen it all. Secret Life of Pets with my child, the bottom of a

peptobismal bottle, just a whole world would, just a whirlwind. And things are kind of ramping up

from there. This week, as I speak to you, I'm kind of having what I'm calling finals week.

And that's because I'm going to be in and out of town a lot, a lot in the next five weeks.

I just got an email actually while I was setting up this recording that was like confirming

you will not see home for many days.

And this week, I'm like, before I leave town on Friday, I'm like juggling workouts and coffee and friends and packing. And I really think I'm going to pull it off this time. Like I really feel confident that I'm going to get it all done. I am flying very close to the sun. And yet I have the, I guess bravado, is that the word? I have the bravado to

believe I can do it all. And that is the energy that I'm entering my week with. And while you will be listening to this on a Wednesday, I hope that that energy carries you through to the rest of the week. I know last week we talked in the Gabstash episode, we talked a lot about like, What would the 2026 version of me do?

I'm trying to reshape my mentality to get things done.

And I really feel like it's worked. about like, what with the 2026 version of me do? I'm trying to reshape my mentality to get things

done. And I really feel like it's working. Last night after I put Pearl down, I made a bunch of

food to put in the freezer for when I come home for my trip so that I like have protein handy.

I made breakfast bars for Pearl. They're like peanut butter oats. They're actually really good.

I'm probably going to eat half of them. I watched half of that new Lena Dunham. Lena. That's not how you say it. Lena Dunham show. I think it's Lena. Yeah? Lena. Half of the new Lena Dunham show. I worked on the podcast. I packed my bag. And I like feel like I'm getting it all done. Like I think the 2026 mindset is really kicking something into gear. And I'm curious if it's working for you too. So if it is, let me know. I mean, I did stay up way past my bedtime. But then today when I'm recording this Monday morning, usually I would block off this whole day to do work. And then I not really feel mentally ready until 10.30, but I started working out on Monday mornings.

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