I do not know how we are nearing the end of May, but I feel like I express this type of disbelief often. I will chalk this up to “time flies when you’re having fun.” I am generally having fun. Let’s get into it:
Quote of the week:
“I’m not telling you to make the world better, because I don’t think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I’m just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it. To seize the moment. And if you ask me why you should bother to do that, I could tell you that the grave’s a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace. Nor do they sing there, or write, or argue, or see the tidal bore on the Amazon, or touch their children. And that’s what there is to do and get it while you can.” –Joan Didion
What I’m reading:
I read On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong this past week. So beautiful and sad. I started Wayward by Dana Spiotta. It’s about a woman who leaves her life to move into a rundown old house in Syracuse.
What I’m listening to:
I’ve been listening to Today a Woman Went Mad at the Supermarket by Hilma Wolitzer. It’s a collection of stories, so easy to put aside and then come back. I also started How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu and am loving it so far.
What I’m watching:
Still toggling between The Staircase and Workin’ Moms.
Writing news:
Moms Don’t Have Time to Write published an essay I wrote this week: “Writing a Father-Daughter Story While Grieving My Dad.” I’ve seen Ways the World Could End making the rounds on Instagram and it makes me so happy. Thank you to all you readers for the kind words.
OH, and big news today! I finished the first draft of my new novel! I’ve got it printed out and ready to read through and edit. This is my favorite part. I whited-out the working title because I’m not sold on it.
What I’m talking about:
- Abortion rights. It’s all looking very dire in some states. I don’t know how we have gone back in time 50+ years like this. Actually, I do know how and it’s very unsettling
- The baby formula shortage and how 200 “pro-life” Republicans voted not to do anything about it
- The Buffalo shooting and the shooting near me in Laguna Woods. It’s crossed my mind many times to move to a country with stricter gun laws. The violence here is just so scary, especially for those of us who send children out into the world every day
- Monkeypox. WTF. I do not need another strange virus to worry about. I’m worried enough about Covid. Several people I know have tested positive this week… For those of you sick, I hope your symptoms are mild and short-lasting
Interesting things I learned this week:
- In Vietnamese, the word for missing someone and remembering them is the same: nhớ
- A Swedish study found that when fathers were given flexible paid paternity leave, there was a 26% decrease in prescription anti-anxiety medications for postpartum moms (kind of sad that we need to fund studies to prove that the role of a father is essential, but glad to see this data)
- An estimated $163 billion from pandemic unemployment benefits was stolen or misspent. Holy hell
- 38% of American adults have a bachelor’s degree
- Abibliophobia is the fear of not having enough reading material (while I understand this would be terrifying, I can’t comprehend not having enough reading material because I have hundreds of books on my list and I’m constantly adding more. What is the name for the fear of not having enough time to read as many books as desired? I have that)
- Gas prices have passed $4 per gallon in every US stage for the first time
- New York has 700,000 gallons of hand sanitizer surplus it’s trying to get rid of
- For the first time, FIFA has picked female referees to officiate the men’s World Cup
- The Dow is on its longest weekly losing streak since 1923. Yikes
Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Why are all these crows squawking?” There was a group of at least 50 crows outside my house two days in a row and they were having some kind of riot. Google tells me they were likely jostling for position in a coveted tree. Maybe there was a family reunion. I’ve never seen or heard anything like it.
What I’m grateful for:
- Finishing my new novel!
- A busy work week with lots of interesting projects
- Getting back into running and feeling good (7 miles in morning mist today)
- Looking forward to a trip out of town next weekend
A few snapshots from this week:
