Who’s ready for Spring? We are gearing up for a big storm here in California with lots of flood watches and cold temps (I’m supposed to run a half marathon on Sunday and it’s going to be 29 degrees at the start line. I am not built for such temperatures). My daughter has strep (I’m getting tested later today, wish me luck). I’m just over this season. Bring on March!
Quote of the week:
Speaking of storms… “When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” –Haruki Murakami (one of my favorites)
What I’m reading:
Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood. This is her short story collection that comes out on March 7. I’m really liking it so far.
What I’m listening to:
I got Rebecca Makkai’s latest, I Have Some Questions For You, the day it came out. She became one of my favorite writers after I read The Great Believers. So far, the audiobook is great!
What I’m watching:
Ted Lasso. I know I’m very late to this party (’tis my style), but glad I came.
Writing news:
Ways the World Could End came out in paperback this week! Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway on Instagram!
What I’m talking about:
I know there are things going on in the world. Marjorie Taylor Greene is calling for a “national divorce” of red and blue states. Bad news continues to come out of the Ohio train derailment. But all I’ve been talking about this week is how tired every parent is right now. TOO MANY VIRUSES. The burnout is real.
Interesting things I learned this week:
- C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien are known for showing up to a party dressed as polar bears
- Flamingos can lose their pink pigment outside of breeding season: “That’s because the breeding is so intensive and so much of their food is used for their chicks. During this time, their white color basically means ‘Please leave me alone.'” I think every parent can relate
- Time in meetings has more than tripled since Feb 2020. Nearly a third of meetings are unnecessary, wasting $25M a year for every one thousand people (all this per Adam Grant)
- Nine-year-old Adhara Pérez from Mexico City has an IQ of 162, surpassing Einstein and Stephen Hawking. She finished middle school by age 6 and high school by age 8. She’s working on developing a new smart bracelet to help autistic kids communicate emotions (she is on the autism spectrum herself)
- Dr. Marian Croak invented Voice Over Internet Protocol, which allows us to communicate verbally via the Internet. She owns more than 200 US patents and was one of the first two Black women to be inducted to the Inventors Hall of Fame
Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Helena Bonham Carter Tim Burton tunnel.” I remember reading a long time ago that Helena Bonham Carter and her husband, Tim Burton, live in separate dwellings, connected by tunnels. In my mind, they were like hamster habitat tunnels. I investigated and this is not true, but they do live in separate, adjoining residences. She said, “We see as much of each other as any couple, but our relationship is enhanced by knowing we have our personal space to retreat to. It’s not enforced intimacy. It’s chosen, which is quite flattering, if you can afford it.” This sounds pretty ideal to me.
What I’m grateful for:
- Antibiotics. Again. I can’t believe how many times we’ve needed them in the past few months
- Finishing up another round of revisions on my latest manuscript. I’m really happy with it and hope to have good news to share soon
- Making progress on my house renovation/move—ordered flooring, bought a mattress, scouted out some furniture
Snapshots:
