Here in California, we’ve had a brutal heat wave for what feels like a month now. I’m yearning for more Fall-like temperatures. When I went for a run this morning (it was 87 degrees at 6:30am), I thought about how I sometimes need to wear gloves on winter runs and couldn’t fathom that. Oh seasons, always throwing us for loops.
Quote of the week:
“To share our stories is not only a worthwhile endeavor for the storyteller, but for those who hear our stories and feel less alone because of it.” –Joyce Maynard
What I’m reading:
Aftermath: On Marriage and Separation by Rachel Cusk. Quite honestly, this is a bit too high-brow for me, but I have highlighted some interesting passages. I finished Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard earlier this week and it’s definitely in my top 20 novels of all time.
What I’m listening to:
Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings by Chrysta Bilton. Such a fascinating and well-written memoir.
What I’m watching:
I watched Jim Gaffigan’s latest comedy special, Comedy Monster. Definitely laughed out loud a few times.
Writing news:
I’m about halfway through edits on my new manuscript. I’ll be sending it out in October most likely.
What I’m talking about:
- The “heat dome” that is causing these brutal temperatures in California. We need some relief ASAP!
- The murder of Eliza Fletcher. I am so sad about her death and angry that women cannot go for a run without fearing for their lives. As a mother-runner, this has hit close to home for me. I was very moved by what elite runner Stephanie Rothstein Bruce posted on Instagram: “[Eliza], like so many women, run before sunrise because that’s what their schedule allows…Running is their breath of fresh air, their clarity, their time. And you say: but the world is unsafe, don’t run before dawn. You’re a woman. Well, also try to not ever get off work after dark and walk to your car alone. Or don’t go to the grocery store at night in a dark parking lot. Take self-defense. Carry mace, carry a weapon. Come to think of it, women, maybe don’t leave your house. It’s so fucking exhausting to hear the do’s and don’t’s. To live in fear.” Amen
- The classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Just eating my popcorn over here, waiting for what’s going to happen next
Interesting things I learned this week:
- On average, an American worker puts in 100 more hours per year on the job than a European
- Only 1 in 5 Americans takes a lunch break. Fact: I am that 1 in 5. I have been defending my lunch break since I started working in the corporate world in 2005
- More than 50% of Americans live on less than $30K per year, while Jeff Bezos makes $142K per minute
- As of 2021, 1 in 4 Americans is a woman over 40
- 9 in 10 living humans were born after Elizabeth became Queen
- The average working mom makes 58 cents for every dollar a white dad makes
Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“More car accidents when hot.” I was rear-ended last weekend and the guy who hit me just drove off. Nice! Thankfully, there was no damage to my car (somehow) and everyone in my car was fine. But this did lead me to wonder if heat waves are associated with more car accidents. Turns out, they are!
What I’m grateful for:
- Air conditioning
- A fun Labor Day weekend, complete with a little camping trip, pool time, and my daughter’s first sleepover with a couple of her friends at our house
- Yoga with Adriene on YouTube—I’ve re-committed myself to doing more yoga at home and I love her videos
A few snapshots:
Hi Kim,
Just wanted to thank you for your reading recommendations, which I always read with interest as I think we have similar tastes (and views on the world in general – just saying).
cheers
Marg