Weekly Roundup: July 28, 2023

Happy Friday. It’s been another busy-with-life-stuff week for me. I swear there have been phases when life has felt like it’s on cruise control, but not in a long time. Is this a result of the pandemic? Or something that just happens in your mid-forties? Please advise.

Quote of the week:
“It seems to me, that if we love, we grieve. That’s the deal. That’s the pact. Grief and love are forever intertwined. Grief is the terrible reminder of the depths of our love and, like love, grief is non-negotiable.” –Nick Cave

What I’m reading:
Day by Michael Cunningham. He’s the author of The Hours, which is one of my favorite books (and films!) of all time. I got an advance copy of this latest one and I’m liking it.

What I’m listening to:
I just finished All the Colors Came Out: A Father, A Daughter, and a Lifetime of Lessons by Kate Fagan. She is an amazing writer (if you haven’t read What Made Maddy Run, it’s one of the best nonfiction books I’ve ever read). I loved this latest book and it made me think so much about my own father and the loss of him.

What I’m watching:
I watched a great movie that I’m still thinking about–A Good Person. It’s written, directed, and produced by Zach Braff. It has a less-than-great rating on Rotten Tomatoes and I’m not sure why. I thought it was beautiful and well-done.

I started Season 2 of The Bear last night, and am still making my way through Season 1 of The Morning Show in 15-minute segments over my lunch break (which I’m quite sure is not how it’s intended to be watched, but oh well).

Writing news:
Nothing to report this week.

Interesting things I learned this week:

• The Barbie movie saw the largest-ever North American opening weekend debut from a female director ($155M!). Go Greta Gerwig!
• July is on track to be the hottest month globally since record-keeping began in 1850
• Weather-related disasters in 2022 forced 1.2 million people in the U.S. from their homes for at least a month, and roughly half of them have yet to return, according to census data
• Harvard Health estimates that a 155-lb person can burn about 80 calories an hour sitting down and reading. That’s more than they’d exert when standing (70 calories an hour)!
• Dysania is extreme difficulty getting out of bed
• President Biden’s dog Commander has bitten several Secret Service officers and sent at least one to a hospital
• At American colleges, the most-assigned novels by female authors are Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Beloved by Toni Morrison, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and The Awakening by Kate Chopin
• According to a Gallup poll, women are more likely to do laundry (58% to 13%), prepare meals (51% to 17%), clean house (51% to 9%), grocery shop (45% to 18%), and wash dishes (42% to 18%)
• Hawaii is the most remote island chain in the world and twenty-five percent of the fish are endemic (meaning they only live there)

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Cat ear mites.” At least one of my pets is afflicted with something at any given time.

What I’m grateful for:

• A new car lease. I’ve had the Nissan Leaf for the past two years and just got the Nissan Ariya. Also all-electric, but bigger inside. There are some great lease deals right now if you’re looking for electric
• Quality time with my world-traveling friend who is in town for a brief time before heading to Paraguay!
• Physical therapy for my lower back. I am at the age of needing physical therapy for my lower back
• My thriving basil plant that is making me feel like a successful plant owner
• Summertime playdates with my daughter’s friends (and lots of pool time)
• Lots of cloud cover for my morning runs

Snapshots: