CC&P 10: Self-Care Soft Fuzzies for Christmas

[Gentle chiming intro music.]

SAREENA:
Hellooo, my favourite fried potatoes! Welcome to episode 10 of Curried Chips & Poutine! Now, I know I said in the last episode that we would take the Christmas week off, but considering the change of restrictions (especially in the UK) we thought it would be pretty good to get this episode out there because the theme is all about mental health, self care and warm fuzzy feelings, because let’s be honest - we all need them! And the more we talk about it, the more we will realise that actually a lot of us are feeling the exact same way in regards to lockdowns, and just 2020 in general, and so we can take comfort in that.

COVID-19 specialises in isolation, so let’s beat the virus by remaining open and connected to each other. But also by staying home, washing our hands and if we have to go out, wear a mask! This is our last episode of the year and we will conclude our first ever season! That's so exciting! Yaaay!

MELISSA:
Yaaaaaaaaaay!

SAREENA:
[laughing] Yeah! And a big old disclaimer: the things we talk about and the tips that we think are good are just us sharing as your friends! None of us have got any qualifications in anything!

MELISSA:
[laughing too] I'm not a doctor, I just play one on my podcast!

SAREENA:
Yeah. Please don't sue us!
[more laughter from both] How have you been finding 2020?

MELISSA:
Oh my god. Time, as we keep saying, time is not real so it's kind of wild to think that, it's already December, and in like a few months it's gonna be the first anniversary of the first lockdown? So I've just kinda been, 'what has been happening?' It's been like January, February-

SAREENA:
March-April-May.

MELISSA:
-March-April-May-June-July-August-September-October, then November, which was like its own thing, and now this month. It's hard to believe that it's gonna be the new year in like a week. Oh my god, you know that song 'We Didn't Start The Fire'?

SAREENA:
I don't, actually!

MELISSA:
Oh really? The 'we didn't start the fire-' [various do-do-do's to the tune of Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start The Fire'] - no?

SAREENA:
No? [cracking up at that 'performance'] But I love this rendition!

MELISSA:
[laughing] You know what? I'm trying not to get a copyright strike! Fine! But, that song, it's just like Billy Joel and he' listing off all the terrible things that happened in the 60's, kind of?

SAREENA:
Oh, okay!

MELISSA:
Someone's made a 2020 parody of that, and - this made me laugh, but a nerd shop that I follow, they - do you know what d20s are?

SAREENA:
Is that the dice?

MELISSA:
Yeah, the 20-sided dice.

SAREENA:
Yeah, uh-huh.

MELISSA:
They made a D2020, and each side has got like something that happened in 2020 on it-

SAREENA:
Ohhhh my gosh.

MELISSA:
I was like 'ooohhhh noooo', but it's so funny... It's the kind of thing, you know, where it's so weird, this kind of thing might as well happen?

SAREENA:
So like what kind of crazy things did they have on there?

MELISSA:
Oh my god, it was like - 'pandemic', uh - I can't remember because I haven't looked at it in a while, but they had the pandemic, they had Australia being on fire, they had-

SAREENA:
Oh god, yeah...

MELISSA:
-you know, all the terrible things basically. I was like, 'all right, well, that was deeply depressing', so...

SAREENA:
So let's get to the self-care!

MELISSA:
Yes, let's do that! Let's try to make things a little less sucky for everybody.

SAREENA:
Yeah. But before we dive in, because I'm just gonna say this upfront, all my questions are cute and fuzzy, because that's how I feel everyone should be at the moment, so... But I do wanna say that, for anyone who has been going through  lockdown (and obviously this pandemic), I think it really has taken everyone by surprise -

MELISSA:
Oh for sure.

SAREENA:
Like, I feel, earlier in the year, even though it was scarier because it was really unknown, like what is this virus all about, I felt like I kind of handled lockdown and just staying on my own a bit better. But now that it's kind of, it's been a prolonged thing, you know, it's just getting longer and longer, I have been feeling like it has been taking a toll on me - like I know for... almost two weeks I've not felt particularly great? And that has kind of shown itself by me having no motivation to go out for a walk, or do my yoga, or just do the things I was doing at home that did bring me like a little bit of fulfillment and joy, so I know that I'm probably not the only person who feels that way, so...

I know obviously having this podcast every week and arranging to talk to you has been a big help, so I just want to share, as we're obviously doing our questions, just little tips and things that helped me kind of pick myself back up and just keep going. And, I think it's just nice to share that, especially when I know that a lot of people's Christmas plans have had to be rearranged at such short notice - wow, can't speak... [laughing]

MELISSA:
Yeah. It's been the same here too, actually, we only just heard that the prime minister has given us the gift of a Christmas lockdown, so we're going into full lockdown mode when the 24th hits, so... I know a lot of people are disappointed about not being able to see their families, and really and truly, if it's for somebody's safety, like yeah, I'll keep myself sequestered away if it means this will go away faster, if it means people will be safe and I don't have to put anybody at risk because I felt that I'm bored and I want to go out and like, go to a restaurant or something. It ain't about me! It's about everybody!

SAREENA:
Yeah, and I think as difficult as it has been I do take that kind of, pride knowing that, "look, at least I'm not adding to the problem in any way, I am listening the best I can to restrictions", but I think there just needs to be a big acknowledgement for the people who are doing things by the rules and, you know, keeping themselves safe and everything - you ARE saving people's lives, and that's, you know, amazing!

MELISSA:
That's honestly the best thing that we could have asked for, really, and we appreciate that, 'cause doing your effort, staying at home! I heard someone- a phrase someone told me was to 'stay positive and test negative' and I'm like 'that's fantastic'.

SAREENA:
[laughing] That is, yeah that's amazing! So, let's hit you up with some positivity.

MELISSA:
Let's do it!

SAREENA:
So some quick easy things that always help me through, the biggest one is candles! I love candles, every time I go out for my food shop I just pick up a new candle, because-

MELISSA:
Oh my god.

SAREENA:
-if I've got a nice-smelling candle burning, y'know, life's fine. And I think, in the last two weeks, I actually didn't have a candle-

MELISSA:
[GASPS] Oh no!!

SAREENA:
-and that's probably what added to everything. My room doesn't smell nice anymore, there's not that gentle flame, ain't going off! So I bought two, I thought I'd treat myself. [laughing]

MELISSA:
Oh my god, I didn't know! I would've sent you some candles, we have some really great ones from here! Dang it, okay, I will add that to my list of care package things.

SAREENA:
You know, send me candles any time of the year, they will always be welcome in my heart!

MELISSA:
[laughing] I'm gonna! Okay! Hit me! Do it!

SAREENA:
Hit you, boop-ba-doo~ [question time chime] All right, so would you rather, my dearest Melissa-

MELISSA:
[suspiciously] Okay...

SAREENA:
-be surprised with a room full of puppies or kittens?

MELISSA:
Puppies.

SAREENA:
Oh wow, that was so quick -  [cracking up from both] but you know, that's good, that shouldn't have been a hard question, so I'm glad.

MELISSA:
No, I mean- it's funny, because as much as I love cats - that's only been recent, 'cause I was very recently incredibly allergic to them - but I've always, always been a dog person, and like... I remember - oh my god, it sucks because I used to be super allergic to animals growing up, and it would break my heart because my friends would be like, "yay I brought my guinea pig friend in from home, do you want to pet him?" and I'm like, "I'm just gonna stand over here in the corner, 30 feet away", trying to breathe and y'know, just feeling every surface of my face- the entire surface of my face just breaking out in hives.

SAREENA:
[laughing] Oh nooo!

MELISSA:
And to some degree, if there are too many animals in a room I will start doing that, but it's much less severe than it used to be. But yeah, no, give me a room full of puppies, 'cause kittens are also very very cute, but puppies though...

SAREENA:
So a room full of puppies and a dose of antihistamines as well.

MELISSA:
Basically, yeah. I mean, whenever I visit my one friend he's got like 3 cats, and I'm like, 'okay I'm gonna pop this antihistamine, wait for it to kick in, and then I'm gonna go in and say hi'.

SAREENA:
You've gotta take your precautions and, you know, get in with the fluffy, fluffy balls of fur!

MELISSA:
Yeah. Oh my god no, 'cause I remember one time - this was back when we were in Korea, I think we were in Busan? I'm not sure, but we went to a cat cafe-

SAREENA:
Oh, yes!

MELISSA:
- in this cat cafe, there's a dozen cats in there, I'm pretty sure-

SAREENA:
I mean, yeah.

MELISSA:
-and we went in there and I'm like, 'oh, throat's closing up and I'm starting to sneeze!'

SAREENA:
It's fine, drink your cup of tea!

MELISSA:
Yeah... and as much as I enjoyed the cafe experience, I probably would have liked it a lot more if I could have breathed, so....

SAREENA:
Mm, that's usually quite helpful in situations, so.

MELISSA:
Yeah, it'd be nice!

SAREENA:
But this is like, without consequence, you can just get all the snuggles and cuddles and kisses, but yeah,

MELISSA:
Yeah, still puppies.

SAREENA:
I would totally go with kittens, my instagram is just full of cat videos, different cat posts, and every time I see a kitten rescue video I'm like, always crying.

MELISSA:
Just start crying? Yeah. I mean, that's fair, you know, you see the animal being rescued and you're just like [hyperventilating noises].

SAREENA:
'I hope they're gonna be okay!'

MELISSA:
And, spoiler alert - they usually are, so. Yeah, every post you send me on instagram is some variant of cute cat post, and I'm like oh boy.

SAREENA:
That's how I show love! I don't necessarily speak to all of my friends, but I will send them all cute cat memes all the time and be like 'I'm thinking of you and I think you'll like this too, here you are!'

MELISSA:
You're like the human equivalent of that cat hanging off a tree branch and it says "Hang In There!"

SAREENA:
That's me!

MELISSA:
Yeah, my dog passed away a good few years ago, so I haven't had a dog in my house, so.... been a while since I've been able to pet a dog.

SAREENA:
Awww.

MELISSA:
But we have a cat, it's my sister's cat and she's ridiculous, so we've had that so I can scratch that particular cat itch as it were, so.

SAREENA:
Yeah, my two cats live with my parents so I don't have any cats in my immediate vicinity, so any time I look out my window and I see a stray cat, or just a cat that I'm not familiar with - I've got my face squished up against the window, like "do you need a home?" and just heavy breathing there. [heavy breathing indeed]

MELISSA:
Isn't that basically how you got Fudge anyways? Kind of?

SAREENA:
No! Well, so I took in a stray cat when I was in South Korea, so she was always just at the bus stop that I took to get home from the school that I was teaching at, and she was always there, same time, and she didn't look like she had anything wrong with her; she looked pretty healthy, just a bit scruffy, and it was winter time in Korea and that is like, super cold, and I was just like... "if I leave her, she - I don't know if she will make it" and then, basically I got my co-teacher to call us a taxi and I just scooped her up, and Fudge has been with me ever since!

MELISSA:
Yaaay!

SAREENA:
Yaaay! Her plane ticket cost double mine but, you know, what you do for love!

[Laughter from both sides.]

MELISSA:
You're bringing a friend home, of course you're going to pay for her ticket!

SAREENA:
Yeah!

MELISSA:
Yeah, I remember meeting Fudge and just being kinda like - she's the kind of cat who looks perpetually frightened-

SAREENA:
She does!

MELISSA:
-and I was like, 'is it because of me or is this just what she looks like?'

SAREENA:
No, it's just her eyes.

MELISSA:
Yeah...and there's Maddie, who just has permanent stank face and I'm like 'all right, I see how this is'.

SAREENA:
Yep. Oh, animals are wonderful.

MELISSA:
They're great. And you know, having a pet is also a really good way to kind of, like - it seems counter-productive to have a pet when you can't- if you're not great at taking care of yourself, but... obviously if you're in a bad place, don't have a pet?

SAREENA:
You can get a plant instead!

MELISSA:
Get a plant, yep! Get a plant at least, 'cause you can just water 'em, talk to them a couple of times a day, you know. Put 'em in the windowsill! Grow an herb garden or something, they're so easy to grow. But y'know, it's been scientifically prohven - proven, excuse me - that pets are good for your mental health, your blood pressure drops so it's good for you, actually, to have pets.

SAREENA:
Yeah, definitely! And if you can't get a pet get some plants, you know, improve the air quality in your room. I have a Su- aha sorry, I have a succulent named Susan-

MELISSA:
Oh, fun! [cracking up]

SAREENA:
-and a rainbow cactus called Rihanna, and they both sit on my windowsill. I used to have an Alan, the aloe vera, but he's no longer with us, so we don't talk about Alan.

MELISSA:
Wow.

SAREENA:
But yeah, get some plants in there, get some better air quality, give them fun names, and I think it really adds to the ambience, especially if you've got candles going, I'd have to say.

MELISSA:
Oh my god, you and your candles!

SAREENA:
It's amazing!

MELISSA:
Actually, that ties into my question actually, which is perfect because I know you're a candle friend.

SAREENA:
Yes.

MELISSA:
All right, so. [question time chime] Would you rather have a candle that smells the way your favourite memory makes you feel, or rather have one that smells like the best meal you've ever had?

SAREENA:
Oh noooo! Noooo!!

MELISSA:
[laughing at Sareena's pain]

SAREENA:
I said warm fuzzy feelings!

MELISSA:
That IS a warm fuzzy feeling!

SAREENA:
[increasingly distressed] But! But!! You're making me choose!

MELISSA:
Okay, so let's say this is the one you're going to have first and for longer.

SAREENA:
That doesn't help! Oh, curse you........

MELISSA:
I know how much you are a fan of candles and beautiful-smelling things, so here we are!

SAREENA:
I know, but you're using it against me, which is the worst thing!

MELISSA:
[still laughing]

SAREENA:
While I think about this, dear listeners, make sure to drink water! Write down your bad feelings! And have a mini-dance in your room some time, get those good feelings going...

MELISSA:
Yup. Or at least get some adrenaline.

SAREENA:
So, have a candle that smells like my best memory, or smells like the best meal I've eaten?

MELISSA:
It smells the way your best memory makes you feel, so warm and fuzzy inside, I guess.

SAREENA:
Yeah... oh gosh. I mean, I have looked at candles that are the smell of freshly baked bread, or coffee, or mint choc chip, and I'm like - as amazing as those sound, I probably don't want to go with them because then I'll be hungry all the time, and I'm hungry all the time anyway! I think I'll probably have to go with the candle that makes me feel however my best memory is, I think that sounds amazing and that's just such a quick way to instantly feel better. It's just like 'yep, here's the candle on, I can sit down, just take a moment, breathe and just remember. Remember the good old days!'

MELISSA:
The good old days... yeah, and that's another thing too, scent is just one of those really strong triggers of memory, so I'll smell something that'll instantly take me back to when I was 10 years old and discovering body sprays and this is the one I wore all the time. Then I remember how much being 10 years old sucked, so...

SAREENA:
Yeah, and how important body spray was as well. [cracking up]

MELISSA:
Yes, oh my goodness, I was a stanky little kid growing up.

SAREENA:
In one of your self-care boxes that you've popped over to me in the years, I still have a perfume- the solid perfume, and-

MELISSA:
Yes!

SAREENA:
-and that's like my favourite  scent, and so when I really just need a pick-me-up, or if I just need a boost of confidence or something I always just put that on and then I'm like, 'yes! I'm ready! I am ready!'

MELISSA:
Oh my god, and I know exactly which one you're talking about too - I don't remember the exact contents of every single gift I've given you (because I've given you so many), but that one I remember exactly, I was like, 'Sareena's - I know Sareena's gonna want to smell like this' ... and here we are.

SAREENA:
Yeah. [laughing] She knows me so well.

MELISSA:
I do!

SAREENA:
And I was saying earlier, that I love having this podcast because it means I just get to talk to Melissa, and before we actually start recording we have a big old catch-up first.

MELISSA:
Yes.

SAREENA:
Usually about, "is it quiet enough to start recording? Or-"

MELISSA:
"Hello? The connection's dying- hello? Can you hear me? Can you hear me now??" Just imagine that for like 20 minutes. There's also a lot more swearing, but, y'know.

SAREENA:
[SHOCK] We don't swear, what do you mean? This is child-friendly!

MELISSA:
[cracking up]

SAREENA:
But yeah. So, you know, arranging voice calls or video chats with friends every now and again is always a great way to just keep yourself happy and feel connected to friends. And if anyone's feeling like 'oh, I don't want to be a burden' or 'I don't want to annoy this person' then - annoy them. Because chances are, they're feeling the exact same way, and if you just want to have a big old rant, just do it! Get it out and just don't be ashamed of it because we all need it, you know?

MELISSA:
Yeah, I think another really important thing to take away is that you're allowed to take up space; you're allowed to exist, you have feelings. As much as we talk about being positive and warm on this podcast a lot, and obviously it's a good thing to do - you're allowed to be angry, you can be sad, and you know, all of these negative, bad feelings... you need to feel them, but it is always easier if you have someone to help.

SAREENA:
Yeah. It's all about balance, if you just keep away all the negative ones and never air them out, they're the ones that are going to bring you down - so you need to give them their time, make peace with them and then move on. That being said, you also deserve takeaways and I think in the last week I've had a takeaway probably every day, because I've just not had the motivation to cook for myself, or I'm really bored with what I'm cooking? So I've had a nice old break, having someone else cook for me, and now I'm ready to maybe make a lasagna, or make a homemade pizza, I'm back into that, so don't feel guilty. Prop up that economy.

MELISSA:
Shop small, help small businesses!

SAREENA:
Yep!

MELISSA:
It's funny, because I am currently living with my parents during lockdown and stuff, but we've been doing- we've been cooking, and I love to cook, I love to bake - and so now that we have the time we've been experimenting. We did the lockdown thing, we made all the bread, we made all the pizza crusts, and we started branching into other things, my mother is making kimchi, which we've never, ever made before. She comes home with like 8 cabbages' worth, and we've just been going at it, it's been fantastic.

SAREENA:
That's amazing. And the good kimchi is hard to come by, so I'm very jealous.

[Laughter from both.]

MELISSA:
We also happen to live in an area where there's a lot of the Asian supermarkets, so getting the ingredients is not difficult at all, and also, heyo- we're Asian, so we already know our way around this stuff.

SAREENA:
Yeah, exactly, always helps, and obviously our time in Korea also adds to that too, so. For anyone who doesn't know, kimchi is fermented cabbage, and it tastes a lot better than it sounds.

MELISSA:
Oh my god, there's so many different types of kimchi too. The kind we're making is actually fairly mild, whereas it can get real fermented, real stinky, but oh my god it'll be the best thing you ever put in your mouth. And it's good for you!

SAREENA:
It is good for you, so, bonus.

MELISSA:
Yes! When you mentioned earlier about candles that smell like fresh baked bread and like, coffee, just to prove just how ridiculously Canadian I am, there is a candle I bought from a small- it was a showcasing-local-artists-type thing? And it's a candle that's called the Double Double, and it smells exactly like a double-double.

SAREENA:
That's amazing, I thought you were going to be like 'oh I've got a maple syrup candle'... I'm sure those exist, right?

MELISSA:
They do, yeah! I was actually gonna send you one!

SAREENA:
Oh my god.

MELISSA:
But yeah! Also, for the listeners who are not Canadian and don't know what a double-double is, it's just what we call a coffee that's got 2 milk and 2 sugar, because it's double and double, so that's what we call 'em!

SAREENA:
Makes sense. [question time chime] I'll move us onto our next question. Would you rather, anytime you feel upset, or just a bit down, or a bit lost, would you rather be transported to a giant bouncy castle kingdom? Or have the ultimate blanket fort materialize next to you?

MELISSA:
Oh no! Once again, this kind of shows that our brains are on the same track, as one of my questions is very similar! [cracking up]

SAREENA:
Oh really??

MELISSA:
Yeah, you'll hear it... Blanket fort, I'm gonna say.

SAREENA:
Really?

MELISSA:
Yeah! Okay, because... all right, so when I was younger, I shared a room with my sister and we had a bunk bed, and we never made a proper proper blanket fort, but what we'd do was, because she had the top bunk she would throw her blanket hanging over the edge there so it was kinda like a curtain almost, and then we would go down and hunker down in the bottom bunk and that was kind of our little clubhouse, sorta.

SAREENA:
Awww. That's sweet.

MELISSA:
Yeah, we would do that. So that's kind of similar to- I'd like to make a proper blanket fort out of pillows 'cause I've never actually done that. I think a bouncy castle might be really hectic 'cause it'd be fun for the first 10 minutes, then I'd get exhausted and I'm like 'please just let me rest' and then like 'No! TIME TO BOUNCE!' [airhorn noises]

SAREENA:
But it's kind of like that thing, sometimes if you're feeling a bit all over the place, and you do a bit of exercise, you dance, jump around-

MELISSA:
That's true.

SAREENA:
-it can be the physical exertion that you need to calm your mind? So that's kind of where I went with the bouncy castle kind of playground. And also the only people that are upset on bouncy castles are like.... little kids, so, y'know, they won't be there-

MELISSA:
[cracking up]

SAREENA:
- it'll just be you and everything around you is bouncy, you can just throw yourself around, I think that'd just be hilarious. [laughing]

MELISSA:
That's so funny! And you know - again, it's been scientifically proven, actually, that you know why kids love to get thrown around and run around and spin around in circles and stuff? For adults too, by the way, but it's actually really good for you.

SAREENA:
Aaaah!

MELISSA:
It's like recalibrating your GPS, as it were; it sets things right again, it realigns something in your ear so it helps with your sense of balance? And it's really good for you!

SAREENA:
Cool!

MELISSA:
So like usually when you are feeling jittery or something and you have nowhere to go, run around! Wrestle somebody!

SAREENA:
Spin around!

MELISSA:
...Maybe don't wrestle somebody, but yeah, you gotta get that energy out going somewhere, and it's really good for you, and especially that's why kids love it so much, like you pick up a child and throw them into a beanbag pile, they love it! My cousins were like that, they would- the bouncy castles are great for them because kids can do that! And it is good for you... but I'm old and squishy and I don't know if I can survive being- staying on one for longer than 5 or 10 minutes, so.

SAREENA:
All right, okay. But I mean it's just, on it long enough to help you not feel upset or the way you were before, so-

MELISSA:
True... oh, okay! So then it goes away once I feel good?

SAREENA:
Yeah!

MELISSA:
Ooohhhh.... oh no...

SAREENA:
[evil laughter]

MELISSA:
That changes things! Damn it! ... Nnnnnnnno, let's go with the bouncy castle then! It's been years since I've been on one.

SAREENA:
Yeah, just be like, have a good bounce around, 'ah, okay, just needed that' and then boink! You're back where you were.

MELISSA:
Yeah! Aw that'd be fun, I think that would help, actually, so many people.

SAREENA:
Yeah, you can punch the bounce, you can bounce the bounce, you can do your forward flips, or, you know, whatever you want, just.... lie in the depths of the bounce as well.

MELISSA:
[cracking up] Just, other people bounce you around, just bonking around?

SAREENA:
Yeah, you know, you can contemplate life's greatest questions as you're being thrown in the air.

[Laughter from both.]

MELISSA:
Hey, if it helps I'd be happy to do it.

SAREENA:
Yeah!

MELISSA:
Aw, man! Yeah, it's like going on a trampoline except it's- you can bounce on everything and not just, y'know, the trampoline.

SAREENA:
Yeah, exactly. Unlimited Bounce!

MELISSA:
Bounce for days! Okay, so of my next two questions I'll ask the one that was more similar, I suppose?

SAREENA:
Okay, sure.

MELISSA:
Yeah, it's fine. [question time chime] Okay, so you're upset, and you really need to scream it out, so would you rather sink into a pile of all of your favourite stuffed animals, or sink into the Perfect (tm) mattress?

SAREENA:
[laughing] Oooh... a giant pile of soft toys, or a big ol' mattress...

MELISSA:
But not just any big old mattress, the Perfect mattress, you know? Like whatever you like that makes it a fantastic mattress, that's what it is.

SAREENA:
Aw. Yeah, I think I'm gonna go with mattress because when you move around, just either moving houses or countries or wherever your nomadic self takes you, you test out a fair few kinds of mattresses or beds, and if it isn't good it makes a difference because obviously being able to sleep helps balance yourself out with a lot of things as well-

MELISSA:
Oh yeah.

SAREENA:
-so just having that perfect mattress, that means that would be the best sleep ever.

MELISSA:
Yup!

SAREENA:
I would have to go with that, I have my soft toys that travel with me, like they're fine to cuddle, but I don't need to sleep on them! Sareena would like to be on the mattress!

MELISSA:
That's funny, I'm happy to sleep on the floor 'cause it's not about the level of softness for me, it's about the space that I have to roll around. I've chosen to sleep on floors in lieu of sharing mattresses with people because I need that space.

SAREENA:
Yeah.

MELISSA:
But the perfect mattress? Aw man, just lie facedown on that sucker and scream till my lungs are sore!

SAREENA:
Yeah. Oh right, yeah, we're supposed to be screaming.

[Both cracking up.]

MELISSA:
Yes you are!

SAREENA:
I forgot that, I just heard 'perfect mattress' and I was just like 'yes, whatever! That one!'

MELISSA:
It's a good screaming mattress.

SAREENA:
Mmhmm, yeah. I'll still take the mattress.

MELISSA:
Oh, me too.

SAREENA:
That was fun!

MELISSA:
Yeah!

SAREENA:
But yeah, when times where I felt like 'oh, it'd be great to have a big old scream', have you ever heard of anger rooms?

MELISSA:
Yes.

SAREENA:
I would love to go into one, you know, just smash plates and break stuff, I'd just be like 'BLAGHHH'!

MELISSA:
That would be mad cathartic. I don't know if they have them here in Canada at least, I don't know, but that sounds super fun.

SAREENA:
It does, and just being allowed to break things? That'd also just be really liberating.

MELISSA:
Yeah. It's like I'm gonna throw this cup on the floor, what's next? A plate? [shattering sound effect] I'm a wild woman and I can't be stopped!

SAREENA:
Yeah. [laughing]

MELISSA:
I know that they have like, axe-throwing apparently is very very cathartic also.

SAREENA:
Yes, and we have that here and it was one of the things that I was totally gonna do this year and... did not get the chance, so...

MELISSA:
Yeah...

SAREENA:
Whenever we move forward into a better normal, that's definitely one of the things I'm going to just do immediately, is throw axes. [swooshing sound effect] Hopefully at the targets and not at anybody else.   

MELISSA:
Oh my god, I mean, please don't. Please don't perfect your aim and be like, 'I can take off a head from 30 feet away!'

SAREENA:
[making 'sssswoom' sound effects]

MELISSA:
Don't!

SAREENA:
I've seen a video of someone axe-throwing, but the axe like, bounces back at them, I'm like 'oh my god!'

MELISSA:
Oh my god!! How hard are they throwing it? Like how far away are they throwing it from?

SAREENA:
You know, a good distance but I think if it doesn't stick, it can just bounce back, so-

MELISSA:
[horrified] Oh my god!

SAREENA:
-be ready to catch as well! It's a boomeraxe! [SHHHING sound effect]

MELISSA:
[cracking up] No! That sounds awful! Oh, a boomeraxe, oh lord no... It's like a knife strapped to a gun, you think it's one of those cool weapons but no, it's a hazard to anyone who picks it up.

SAREENA:
Yeah. But the aesthetic!

MELISSA:
Make that the next weapon for your video game protagonist!

SAREENA:
Well, I was looking at- in Cyberpunk I was looking at the katanas somebody had dropped, and the handle was all spiky - I'm like 'I don't want this!'

MELISSA:
On the handle?

SAREENA:
Yeah! I'm like, how? How? The blade seems safer to hold, like no!

MELISSA:
I mean, don't, but yeah, that's weird, that seems really counter-intuitive.

SAREENA:
Yeah, but a lot of things in Cyberpunk are, just kind of like that, bit wacky. And you know, with what you can interchange with your cybernetics and things, there are some creepy looking people out there. But we're here for the warm fuzzies, so I'm going to move onto my next question-

MELISSA:
This is your last question, actually!

SAREENA:
It is, yeah! So, as we've mentioned before, candles - [question time chime] so, would you rather have your favourite candle be never ending, or your favourite skincare product neverending as well?

MELISSA:
Oooh. Skincare product, oh my goodness.

SAREENA:
Oooooh!

MELISSA:
Look, skincare is a tricky business.

SAREENA:
It's true.

MELISSA:
'Cause the thing with the scent, though, right - 'cause my favourite candle, is it just the same scent all the time, ever? And it never ends? Or can I switch it up, 'cause I've got more than one favourite smell.

SAREENA:
No. Choose!

MELISSA:
Ohh...

SAREENA:
This would be like, you know, it would arrange itself like 'yes, this is my favourite candle' and you can burn it as long as you want, but it won't go out until you blow it out, you see, it won't run out.

MELISSA:
Oh, I see. And skincare, if I have a favourite lotion it's a neverending pot of lotion?

SAREENA:
Mmhmm. So it'll still be the same size, but y'know, once you get to the end, it fills back up.

MELISSA:
Oh my god, oh my god, that one, for sure!

[Both crack up]

MELISSA:
Look, like I said, skincare is a tricky business! When you find something you like, you stick with it forever!

SAREENA:
Yeah, that's true.

MELISSA:
And that's the case with me, I have my favourite lotion and I go into withdrawal if I run out, or if I'm closer to running out, so I never have to worry! I could have soft beautiful skin!

SAREENA:
All the time! I guess for me, I don't have a favourite skincare, I'm quite happy to bounce around products-

MELISSA:
Oh my god, yeah.

SAREENA:
-so but I definitely have favourite smells, so I would love to have that all the time, because I can get a new body cream or whatever, like 'yes I wanna smell like coconuts today'!

MELISSA:
[cracking up] That's true, actually. There's lots of really good coconut-scented lotions out there. Change it up - just smell things and be like, 'mm, yes, this is how I want to smell, Sareena!'

SAREENA:
Yes, and it's important! I've got a shower gel at the moment and it's 'Creamy Vanilla and Raspberries', so, you know, I just smell like a pudding when- after I come out the shower. 'Yes, I'm so sweet!'

MELISSA:
That sounds really nice.

SAREENA:
It does, yeah!

MELISSA:
I currently- I'm cycling through, I have a lot of shower gels and also bar soaps; so currently I'm cycling through the Irn-Bru soap that you sent me, which is so funny to me, the fact that it's Irn-Bru - I can't ingest this liquid, by the way, because it makes my stomach- it makes my stomach instantly liquefy, but-

SAREENA:
[stage whisper] Weak!

MELISSA:
-look, I'm not Scottish, I don't have the same Scottish guts that you guys do!

SAREENA:
I know. We're made of iron, IRN-BRU!

MELISSA:
Irn-Bru indeed! I can't- yeah, I can't drink it. But! The soap Sareena sent me, it smells fantastic, it's a really lovely soap and it's cute, it's the orange, blue and white.

SAREENA:
Yes.

MELISSA:
So I've been cycling through that soap and this other one that smells like a delicious fruity slice of heaven. It's so nice, and it feels really creamy on the skin, it's so nice.

SAREENA:
That is nice. Yeah, like my favourite skincare things tend to be, you know, like cucumber, or aloe vera, I like kind of soothing things. But when I do take the time after a shower I do love - not strongly floral scents, but something along that line for like, body butter.

MELISSA:
[various sounds of agreement]

SAREENA:
Yeah, or coconut is always nice. Just give yourself a massage, you know?

MELISSA:
It's funny, 'cause I know some people, they don't like putting on lotion but they want to be smooth, so I'm like- if you, y'know, because it is a real struggle 'cause some people don't like the feel of lotion too, it feels too heavy or something - body washes and soaps are a great way to get that nice feeling, especially if you get a rich, moisturizing body wash or something.

SAREENA:
Oh yeah, for sure. And you can obviously just buy a collection, 'cause I've got the creamy vanilla and raspberry, and my next one is just pure mint. I don't want to feel as cold just yet, so I'll be nice and sweet right now, and then when I'm ready I'll change over to mint and just feel fresh!

MELISSA:
Oh my god, I had one and it was- I think- I tend to go for fruity, really bright smells, so like citrus anything is my love. It was a really bright, like, lime one and it was so energizing. Citrus in particular does help uplift, you know, and vanilla does calm and lavender calms, you know, stuff like that.

SAREENA:
Yeah. But if you're like me and allergic to citrus, then that's all denied to you. Well, I mean I could still get the citrus stuff, but just the smell makes me go on edge, I'm like 'oh no, there's danger around!'

MELISSA:
[cracking up]

SAREENA:
And then my game music starts going and I go 'aha! It's the shampoo!' [low, ominous boss encounter music playing in the background]

[Both cracking up at this absurdity.]

MELISSA:
You see the boss and health meter just popping up, and it's a single lemon. 'Aaaagh!'

SAREENA:
'Aaaaah!'

MELISSA:
Me, I'm invincible! I could slather citrus on all day! Nothing will happen to me! [laughing] Good stuff, good stuff.

SAREENA:
What'd you got for me?

MELISSA:
[question time chime] All right, so my final questioooon! I think all of these questions the basis is that you're stressed out and you need to, like, decompress somewhere.

SAREENA:
Yeah.

MELISSA:
So, would you rather spend an hour in a sensory-deprivation tank?

SAREENA:
Ooooh!

MELISSA:
Or would you rather be at a concert of your favourite artist, but it's super loud?

SAREENA:
[anguish] Aaaaaaaah!

MELISSA:
[cracking up] I'm asking all the really hard questions for you today, huh?

SAREENA:
You are!! Because obviously those are two experiences I would love to have, and I've totally wanted to do that-

MELISSA:
Really?

SAREENA:
Yeah! Gosh, aah! I think it would just be amazing, you know, just to float around for like an hour in the pod, and... do you have the enlightenment moment while you're in there? Or is it just, I'm in the glorified bathtub and I hope someone will let me out afterwards?

MELISSA:
[cracking up] I mean, you're just in there, I mean- the personal revelation, that's on you, that's nothing the sensory deprivation tank but, that's on you!

SAREENA:
Yeah, but I would love to see Pink in concert.

MELISSA:
[laughing]

SAREENA:
Just, yeah, I think that would be amazing because my aunties have both seen her and they're like, 'she's the most amazing performer ever!' and I'm like '[jealous noises] One day, one day!'

MELISSA:
One day!

SAREENA:
So I think, because the sensory bathtub is more achievable in my day-to-day life, if I really wanted to I could go out and find somewhere to do it, but... to have that moment of Pink- because no one's on tour at the moment and she just did one recently, like a world tour, so she'll be taking a break as she deserves! I think I would totally, totally go for a Pink concert. [laughing]

MELISSA:
See, it's funny, because sensory deprivation tanks terrify me, because one of the reasons why- whenever I take a bath or something, I always have to have some sort of like, podcast or music on in the background. Because absolute silence? I can't handle it, 'cause I'm stuck with my own thoughts and that's a lot, it gets really loud in there!

SAREENA:
Yeah.

MELISSA:
But then again, I've been to- so, my favourite artist in the world is Gorillaz, and I've seen their concerts, I've been to like... four of their concerts I think?

SAREENA:
Wow!

MELISSA:
Actually, more recently they had a live showing, but from a stream, we watched that too, that was last week and it was wonderful!

SAREENA:
Oh, amazing!

MELISSA:
Obviously it's not the same as- yeah, it was really cool! It was nice to have a concert sort of  experience, to hear live music and not having to obviously risk being physically there.

SAREENA:
Yeah, of course.

MELISSA:
And it was really fun!

SAREENA:
Aww, that does sound fun and that's great! And yeah, also jealous that you have seen your favourite person- or favourite artist. [laughs]

MELISSA:
Every single time they've come to Toronto I've seen them, so it's been four concerts I think, hang on -

SAREENA:
That's amazing.

MELISSA:
-yeah, yeah it's been four concerts and then the most recent is the digital one. Now that I'm older and have money, 'cause I was into them when I was a teenager and I couldn't see them when they were touring then, but now that I'm older and have money I'm like 'yes! All the things I could have done!'

SAREENA:
Yes! And that's the good thing about getting older as well, you are in a better position to handle things, whether it's emotionally, physically, financially, so... that's great. And in terms of like the sensory bathtub, I think we have maybe not as much time to kind of sit in silence and really listen to yourself? For me, it's not about being scared of my thoughts, but it's actually just the space, it's a whole big old bathtub for me to just lie there and not have to do anything; and I'm pretty sure I'll be antsy and stuff because you know when I try and do that in yoga, I'm really into it some days and then other days I'm itching to get off the mat, so I think it would be the same thing? Just to even have that moment, just be like 'okay, here I am' and I can breathe, that just sounds really lovely....

MELISSA:
That's true.

SAREENA:
...but oh my god, Pink.

[Both cracking up]

MELISSA:
I'm sure your time will come around. But trying to do yoga - 'cause we tried it, my friend and I tried it- but I can't. That mindfulness thing? I cannot - even if when I have silence I feel the need to fill it with something, because thinking - I feel like thinking is super loud, for me. And I'm not the only one who feels this way, I know, 'cause being mindful - people who are neurodivergent, too - it's hard to kind of keep things on track like that.

SAREENA:
For sure.

MELISSA:
So I think a sensory deprivation tank would be too much for me, ironically enough.

SAREENA:
Yeah, and that's good to have that awareness as well, and I think another thing that I've noticed from not having to commute to work for a lot of this year, is actually I use that time to listen to music. And now that I don't have that particular time, I'm not listening to music as often or having it in my day as much, because I'm either video-gaming, or I'm talking to people, or I'm doing my yoga videos, so when I actually go out for a walk, that's the time where I listen to music, but it's definitely not on the same consistency or as long... because my commute was long.

MELISSA:
Yeah, mine was too.

SAREENA:
So yeah, I can see how having music or something on the background running definitely helps.

MELISSA:
Yeah.

SAREENA:
And I'm just gonna say, when I do things I usually have music on (usually rave and dance music 'cause it's amazing), and so like one of the hardest things about editing the podcast is I actually can't have music on! I have to purely listen to our voices, and listen to where I can make things sound better, or clean up, or chop and change, so I can't have the music on to help with my concentration, so that's been a really interesting challenge, actually.

MELISSA:
[laughing] And then there's me, I'll just pop on a movie or something and quote along to it in the background while I'm chugging away at the artwork for this podcast, just like 'yeah! I'll sing along! It's an ABBA kind of day so I'll just put on some Mamma Mia or something and sing along!'

SAREENA:
Yeah.

MELISSA:
And then 'aw, I got stuck around 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!' 'Cause you know, you know how you mentioned when you're on your commute, you listen to music and you can really listen to it; actually I - not to get meta, but I do listen to podcasts and stuff, especially when I'm on transit because there's not much to do except really concentrate and listen to what's going on, right?

SAREENA:
Yeah.

MELISSA:
And that's kind of where I like to listen, and my commutes were long so like longer episodes of podcasts, I would just plug one in and be like, 'all right, that's what's happening'. It gets hard though if I'm trying not to laugh in public.

SAREENA:
Yeah!

MELISSA:
Oh my god it's so funny, 'cause I'll listen to something and - my face - I'm just going on a facial journey and I'm just trying really hard not to look like a weirdo.

SAREENA:
Yeah! I'm the same, I'll listen to audiobooks more, and it's the exact same. I'm like 'oh my god this is hilarious, but don't just bark out laughing on the train or something'. [laughing]

MELISSA:
Yeah. Oh my god, I remember - this was really bad, this was a bad decision on my part - but it was a really emotional finale for one of my favourite podcasts, like a lot of stuff was happening - shout out to The Adventure Zone: Balance, 'cause that's what it was - it's a DnD podcast, but. So it was the finale and all the things were happening, and I'm listening to it in the food court at my old workplace and I'm just trying not to cry 'cause so many things were happening and it was really intense. So I'm like, "[sniffle, voice cracking for comedic effect] It's okay! Everything's good!"

SAREENA:
[sympathetically] Noooo!

MELISSA:
Yeah. I failed miserably, so.

SAREENA:
But that's fine, as long as you were enjoying it, that's the main thing.

MELISSA:
And it was amazing! But crying in public.... I'm like 'I'm living my life, but please don't look at me'.

SAREENA:
Yeah, it's nice when you find something that can make you feel that way, and I think that's something we all could use inspiration to find those things; so I hope in this podcast, 1) you were able to smile at some point-

MELISSA:
Oh my god, yeah, of course!

SAREENA:
2) You have found, you know, some ideas that you could try to help you feel a little bit better, and 3) ... oh wow, I didn't realize I could count this high.

MELISSA:
[cracking up]

SAREENA:
3) These are probably things that you all know, but you just needed reminding, and hopefully this is hitting you up on Christmas Day; so if your Christmas plans have been rearranged, or postponed, or changed in any way I do hope that you feel the love, got some warm fuzzies and, you know, feel reassured that we're exactly in the same boats as you are-

MELISSA:
We are.

SAREENA:
We will get there.

MELISSA:
Yeah, we're all riding out the same kind of storm, and everyone's circumstances are different or have been changed because of all of this, so. It's been a really draining year, on so many different levels, but if you have a good support network, it helps. It helps a lot. I don't think anything will get back to any semblance of 'normal' any time soon, but it's the little things that kind of help.

SAREENA:
Yeah, like we just need to pace ourselves and just take every day as it comes. And, you know, we have our instagram page, we have our email, which Melissa will drop to you in a second-

MELISSA:
Yes.

SAREENA:
-but if you ever feel inclined, you can leave a comment on any of our stuff, or private message - there's two of us, so we have four hands between us! We can reply and be like 'hey!'

MELISSA:
Yeah!

SAREENA:
We'd be happy to hear from so yeah, if you just need someone to talk to, we're here too!

MELISSA:
Yeah, just reach out to us! I mean, there's two of us, we are in two different timezones, chances are one of us is gonna be awake!

SAREENA:
That's right, we take shifts so you should be covered.

MELISSA:
Yeah! And now it's time for the Self-Care Sign-Off.
[gentle chiming music throughout]
Now, the whole episode has been self-care, but let's make this a serious Self-Care Sign-Off. You know, it's not always as glamourous as like slapping on a face mask, or eating your favourite food, or, y'know, taking a bubble bath - sometimes self-care just looks like washing those dishes 'cause they've been sitting in there for a week, or sending that email that you really had to send to your professor and that's totally fine. The point is not just to make yourself feel better in the moment, it's also to kind of - in the long run you'll be thankful you did this.

And that's all we could really ask for, 'cause this has been a year where everything has been exhausting, everything's been scary, everything's been horrible; and it's okay to be exhausted, it's okay to kind of let things go a little bit, but it's important and every day is you kind of want to strive to be a little bit better. I know it's hard, and I know things like depression and mental illness, it makes things a lot more difficult, but... no matter how small the steps are, they're still steps and that's what's important, I think. Be kind to yourself! That's all. When we say, 'be kind to everyone', YOU'RE included in that, we WANT you to be kind to yourself.

SAREENA:
Oh yeah, for sure.

MELISSA:
Like Sareena said earlier, if you want to reach out to us, if you just wanna say 'hey, your podcast made me smile' or you know, whatever else you wanna say about us, by all means, give us a shout. We are available on instagram, so it's Curried Chips & Poutine on insta, our email is always the same - it's gonna be curriedchipsandpoutine@gmail.com. Shoot us off a message! It can be a quick little 'hey' or it could be like a giant paragraph telling us what we could be doing different-

[Both cracking up]

SAREENA:
But use kind language, kind language!

MELISSA:
-please be nice! We're just trying our best here.

SAREENA:
We're sensitive.

MELISSA:
We are. I meah, we'd be happy to hear from you, and - you know, we're happy to be sharing the same space on this earth as you.

SAREENA:
Yeah, 100%.

MELISSA:
And we are so, so very thankful. And we're gonna be closing off this year on a nice, positive note - 2021 is literally just around the corner, so we can look forward to that, maybe.

SAREENA:
Yeah. From the bottom of our hearts we really, really wish you as much happiness as you deserve, to follow you from the end of this year to the next year. And we'll be there too, hopefully with some more laughs, some new content-

MELISSA:
-all the questions.

SAREENA:
-and I should really work on a number 3. But yes.

[Both cracking up.]

MELISSA:
It's a 3-step program, Sareena!

SAREENA:
I know! It's about progress, it's about the journey, not the destination!

MELISSA:
All right, yep. But we appreciate every single thing; every comment, every like, we appreciate you. We love you! Have a great Christmas.

SAREENA:
Yeah, merry Christmas!

MELISSA:
Merry Christmas!

['We Wish You A Merry Christmas' begins playing before fading out for the outro.]

BOTH:
Bye!