I guess the older you get, the more you become that person who can’t believe we’re at the end of another month. Hi, it’s me. Perpetually shocked. I know Fall doesn’t officially start until September 22, but I always consider September 1 to be Fall. I’m ready for it.
Quote of the week:
“We cannot forget that our real power is not necessarily to change the world, but to make a world of change to the people we encounter every day.” –Cory Booker
What I’m reading:
Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. It is taking me a long time to get through this book. I feel like it could be about 100 pages shorter. I want to see what happens, so I’m committed!
What I’m listening to:
Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes by Christine Yu. So interesting. Every female athlete (and every coach of female athletes) should read this.
What I’m watching:
I’ve got a few shows going on right now. My boyfriend and I are in the middle of Fallout. Worth the hype, for sure. After finishing Season 3 of The Bear, I decided to watch the documentary Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter. It’s an interesting glimpse at the restaurant industry and is so heartbreaking at the end. I’m also into the new HBO docuseries, Chimp Crazy, the latest from the director of Tiger King. It’s just as riveting as Tiger King.
Writing news:
I’m back to working on my 2026 novel. Currently in the phase of wondering if this book is any good at all. Fun times!
Interesting things I learned this week:
- On Wednesday, the Surgeon General issued a public health warning saying that “parenting can be harmful for your mental health.” It’s good to see more attention paid to the stresses of modern parenting. It’s a lot!
- Related: 48% of parents report that they experience “completely overwhelming” stress on “most days,” according to an American Psychological Association study
- “Semantic satiation” is the scientific term for what happens when you stare at a word so long that it stops making sense to you
- California has the most McDonald’s stores in the US, with 1233 stores. Related: 20% of all Starbucks stores in the US are in California (a total of 3352 stores)
- 84% of Gen Xers report having regular family meals growing up versus 38% of Gen Zers
- You know the cover of Catcher in the Rye that has the rainbow lines in the upper left corner? Turns out J.D. Salinger designed that cover himself
Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Is baking soda flammable?” I was cleaning my stove with a baking soda mixture and spilled some of it all over the burners. Since it’s a powder, it’s kind of impossible to remove completely and then I was worried that lighting the burners would cause an explosion. Ha. According to google, baking soda is NOT flammable and is actually used as an extinguishing agent in kitchen grease fires. Good to know!
What I’m grateful for:
- A smooth second week of school. Starting to feel like we’re settled into a routine
- Celebrating my boyfriend’s birthday. I’m quite proud of the brownies I made and he loved his gifts
- My first archery lesson. I’ve always wanted to do this and am glad I pulled the trigger (or shot the arrow or whatever)
- The launch of my friend’s wine company, Caleb & Rose. She has a ton of experience and selects only the best wines (that are still wallet-friendly). Join her wine club if you’re curious—it’s very low pressure. I’m in the 3-bottle club
- A surprise bouquet of flowers (see below!) from my other talented friend who has her own flower shop, Story Flower Studio
Snapshots:
From top to bottom: A nice photo of me next to a gross half-dead bush in my yard; my favorite co-worker; cuddling with my boyfriend-cat
