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Katy DeCorah

Part of Katy DeCorah

Software engineer and tinkerer from Saratoga Springs, NY.

stories primary
2025/2026 Winter
Katy DeCorah
notes
The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2025/2026 Winter.
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The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2025/2026 Winter.

Books Playlist
  • EVERYTHING TO LOSE - Tei Shi & Nuevos Eyes!
  • Sandcastles - Cable Ties
  • Love Posture - Sorry
  • Joy - Summer of Hate
  • Meaning Business - Wendy Eisenberg
  • Anyway - La Sécurité
  • Dichotomatic - Spoon Benders
  • Gone 2 - Slow Pulp
  • Violet - Pretty Sick
  • The Sky Opened Up - Angel Olsen
  • mandy - she’s green
  • What Fiction Is For - DYAN
  • In the Field - supernowhere
  • Organs (feat. ML Buch) - Molina
  • IF THERE’S NO SEAT IN THE SKY (WILL YOU FORGIVE ME???) - Saya Gray
Recipes
https://katydecorah.com/notes/2026-winter
Extensions
Charmera
Katy DeCorah
notes
J gifted me a KODAK Charmera camera for my birthday this year. I had fun taking wonderfully grainy photos at MASS MoCA.
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J gifted me a KODAK Charmera camera for my birthday this year. I had fun taking wonderfully grainy photos at MASS MoCA.

Large letters MASS MOCA appear on the to of a brick building against a bright blue sky A long room with windows. The ceiling is covered in beautiful white lights. The interior of a brick building with lots of windows along the wall, the sun shines through Two textiles hang from the ceiling in a white brick building A child bends over in front of a large wall installation which is comprised of yellow, red, and blue modern artwork Another interior of a brick building with lots of windows along the wall, the sun shines through A red neon sign with the words: Instead of binge watching netflix or some distraction from the pain face it Three figures, a woman, boy, and man, are reflected in an iridescent wall A textile piece with the words sewn in: All the things that led to this exact moment. The interior of a white brick building, down a hallway with works of art on the opposing side
https://katydecorah.com/notes/charmera
Extensions
2025 Fall
Katy DeCorah
notes
The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2025 Fall.
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The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2025 Fall.

Books Playlist
  • Lazy Love - Tanukichan
  • Junkmail - Daughter
  • The Suburbs - Mr Little Jeans
  • Springboard - Forth Wanderers
  • System - Prewn
  • Float (feat. Jim Adkins) - Jay Som
  • Other Side - NewDad
  • It Just Goes On - Flock of Dimes
  • Again - Girl Tones
  • Bird Parts (feat. Harmony) - Grumpy
  • JIVE - Sorry
  • What You Need - Jay Som & Soft Glas
  • It’s Lovely, Come On In - thredd
  • Individualism - Anna Justen
  • Commotion - Prewn
  • The Drive - Widowspeak
  • Spinning Out - Taraneh
Recipes
https://katydecorah.com/notes/2025-fall
Extensions
Gym tour
Katy DeCorah
notes
I started weightlifting this year and I love it. I followed the LIFTOFF: Couch to Barbell program in my basement gym with a set of dumbbells. Last month, I upgraded to a barbell.
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I started weightlifting this year and I love it. I followed the LIFTOFF: Couch to Barbell program in my basement gym with a set of dumbbells. Last month, I upgraded to a barbell.

The setup Home gym setup featuring a weight bench positioned between black squat rack uprights with safety spotter arms A compact home gym in a basement with exposed wooden ceiling joists and white painted walls. The setup includes a black weight bench positioned under a squat rack with safety bars, rolled yoga mats stored vertically against the wall, and a blue hexagonal sign that reads 'Thank You for Being Here' mounted on the back wall

The gym is in our basement, which has short (82”) ceilings. This meant that a full-sized rack would not fit. From research, Rogue’s squat stand seemed like it would meet my goals and would still be suitable for my (72”) height. And it has.

Equipment List Equipment notes

Given the smaller space and that I’m working on upper body strength, I went with a short bar. The short bar gets its name from its shorter sleeves and weighs in at 25LBs. I’ve been happy with the quality, size, and weight of this bar. It fits me well.

At first, I didn’t get the 1.25LB change plates, but I bought them soon after. They have been instrumental in making sure that “weights go up” with each session. I ended up getting an additional set of 5LB change plates as well.

Before settling on the squat stand, I reviewed a lot of other solutions, including smart home gyms. Overall, I found them to be nearly double the price of traditional equipment and run the risk of turning into a brick if the company is no longer in business.

Other nice things

On the opposing wall, we have a TV; that side also has our array of dumbbells and kettlebells, our server rack, and the walking pad. We also installed a yoga hammock on the ceiling (we all love to lay in it). For softer lighting, we added a Kasa Smart LED light strip. For tracking workouts, I use Hevy.

I worked for several years with an amazing personal trainer, Marie, who taught me good form, that practice makes permanent, and that movement is medicine. While we all cannot have a Marie, Casey’s book is a close second. I cannot recommend LIFTOFF: Couch to Barbell enough. It gave me the guidance and confidence to rack a barbell, and to try to lift my husband (76”) off the ground.

While I mainly exercise at home, I do go to a weekly class. One thing that I learned after working from home for over ten years is that there is no replacement for the magic of togetherness.

I’m glad to have found weightlifting, it’s been a balm for my mind and body.

https://katydecorah.com/notes/gym-tour
Extensions
Bermuda
Katy DeCorah
adventures
I just got back from a 5-day cruise to Bermuda with 20 family members and friends to celebrate my mom’s milestone birthday.
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I just got back from a 5-day cruise to Bermuda with 20 family members and friends to celebrate my mom’s milestone birthday.

On our final night, we had a party with a Honey Roast (re: New Girl, season 3, episode 20). Unlike a traditional roast where the guest of honor is often hurled insults, in a honey roast they are showered with sweet memories.

Not a dry eye left the party.

A curved brick pathway winds between a white stucco wall and a white lighthouse. The path features red brick borders along gray brick pavers. Blue ocean waters are visible in the distance through an opening between the white buildings, with puffy white clouds dotting a bright blue sky. A dockyard with lush dense green vegetation including palm fronds in the foreground. Through the foliage, the historic stone walls are visible, with a large cruise ship docked in the harbor beyond. The scene is framed by overhanging tree branches against a partly cloudy blue sky.
https://katydecorah.com/adventures/bermuda
Extensions
2025 Summer
Katy DeCorah
notes
The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2025 Summer.
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The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2025 Summer.

Books Playlist
  • Ocean Swallows Him Whole - Lutalo
  • Opener - Mousey
  • V V V (They Lie) - Pantayo
  • Pink Cheeks - Poppy Jean Crawford
Recipes
https://katydecorah.com/notes/2025-summer
Extensions
2025 Spring
Katy DeCorah
notes
The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2025 Spring.
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The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2025 Spring.

Books Playlist
  • I Dream of Jeannie - With the Light Brown Hair - Stina Nordenstam
  • Love Trap - Bnny
  • Wrong Planet - Ribbon Skirt
  • Keep It - Trophy Wife
  • Alone Tonight - Francis of Delirium
  • Covet - Tanzana
  • Return - No Windows
  • Snare - Mhaol
  • Dumbest Girl Alive - 100 gecs
  • reprogram - Kilo Kish
Recipes
https://katydecorah.com/notes/2025-spring
Extensions
2024/2025 Winter
Katy DeCorah
notes
The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2024/2025 Winter.
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The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2024/2025 Winter.

Books Playlist
  • Two Motorbikes - ShitKid
  • Favourite Thing - ShitKid
  • The Florist - Abby Sage
  • Electrocution - Automatic
  • sol - Dev Lemons
  • Lake Song - Deeper
  • close encounter - NOVA ONE
  • Lovers Only - Love Spells
  • best / worst - NOVA ONE
  • Screw It Up - Grandmas House
Recipes
https://katydecorah.com/notes/2025-winter
Extensions
2024 Fall
Katy DeCorah
notes
The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2024 Fall.
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The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2024 Fall.

Books Playlist
  • Good Living Is Coming for You - Sweeping Promises
  • Dust - Half Waif
  • Witches - Alice Phoebe Lou
  • You Can’t Relate - SNOWMEN
  • Corner - Mike Kota
  • Feast - SPRINTS
Recipes
https://katydecorah.com/notes/2024-fall
Extensions
2024 Summer
Katy DeCorah
notes
The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2024 Summer.
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The books I read, playlist I made, and recipes I saved during 2024 Summer.

Books Playlist
  • Michigan - Tasha
  • Dope Sick - Love Spells, Deb Never, See You Next Year
  • Keep It - Trophy Wife
  • Backup Plan - Robber Robber
  • Don’t Put Anything On the Bible (feat. Buzzy Lee) - JPEGMAFIA, Buzzy Lee
  • Crick - mercury
Recipes
https://katydecorah.com/notes/2024-summer
Extensions