If you feel like January has been about 108 days long, you are not alone. I feel the same. It has been a very emotionally draining month if you, like me, are affected by everything going on in our country and the world. I have a lot of anger and sadness over what’s happening with ICE. And I have a lot of anger and sadness about people who persist in thinking “this will all blow over.” We will all look back on this being a very pivotal point in history. It’s not about politics. It’s about morality and humanity. For those of you participating in today’s national strike, THANK YOU. My daughter and I are headed to a protest later.
Now, on to the roundup.
Quotes I’ve loved this month:
“Understand me… I do not have time for things that have no soul.” —Charles Bukowski
“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” —Fannie Lou Hamer
“Remember, remember, this is now, and now, and now. Live it, feel it, cling to it. I want to become acutely aware of all I’ve taken for granted.” —Sylvia Plath
Books I’ve read:
It was a great start to 2026 reading for me, with a mix of fiction and nonfiction.
Favorites:
*Animal Instinct by Amy Shearn. This was the book I didn’t know I needed. Hilarious look at the dating world, divorce, single parenting, and finding oneself.
*The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. It took me a few sections to get into this, but then I was IN. By the end, I had tears.
*The Ten-Year Affair by Erin Somers. This was a really interesting story about marriage, loyalty (to self and partner), desire, and identity. Very good.
*Fawning by Dr. Ingrid Clayton. I told my therapist that I felt personally attacked by this book (in the very best way). It really hit home. If you’re a recovering people pleaser, this is for you.
*No More Mediocre by Laura Danger. I highlighted so many passages in this book. It’s not just about romantic relationships, but ALL relationships and how we can all take better care of each other.
*Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden. This book was riveting. I was so appalled by her husband’s ice-cold betrayal. Do we ever know people fully? That is the question.
*The Resilience Myth by Soraya Chemaly. I have loved all of Chemaly’s books. She’s such an important voice, especially for women.
What I’ve been watching:
Girl Taken, based on my writer-friend Hollie Overton’s novel, Baby Doll. The series was so well done. Highly recommend!
Train Dreams, based on Denis Johnson’s novella. This movie really got to me. So moving and powerful.
Skyscraper Live, featuring renowned climber Alex Honnold ascending Taipei 101 with no ropes. My brain was screaming “WTF” the whole time, but it was entertaining.
Come See Me in the Good Light, the documentary about poet Andrea Gibson, who passed away in July 2025. The documentary was nominated for an Oscar and if you see it, you’ll know why. If you need to believe in love and goodness right now, watch this.
1883, which is a series prequel to “Yellowstone.” I haven’t even seen “Yellowstone” but one of my best friends said I HAD to watch “1883” anyway. I’m on episode 7!
The Assessment, a very strange and surreal movie set in the near-distant future when parenthood is strictly controlled and couples have to undergo an intense 7-day assessment to see if they are worthy of having a child.
Writing news:
The release of MOTHER IS A VERB is almost here! February 17! For locals, I’m doing a little event at Beach Town Books on February 18 if you want to come out.
Interesting things I’ve learned this month:
- According to a 2025 study out of Australia, women’s overall mental functioning (including reasoning, knowledge, emotional intelligence, judgment, and decision-making) peaks between ages 55 and 60
- Brain scans reveal heightened connectivity in language regions that persists for days after finishing a novel, while a comprehensive meta-analysis of 114 studies found that fiction readers show significantly better empathy, verbal abilities, and general cognitive function compared to non-readers
- Related to above: There’s been a 43% drop over the last two decades in the number of Americans who report they are reading for pleasure on a daily basis. I really think so many social issues would improve if people read. It’s such a quick path to empathy and critical thinking
- A study reports that taking a 12-minute walk with a friend can measurably change brain activity linked to mood, stress regulation, and social connection
- Goodwill announced record sales last year, a sign that consumers were concerned about the economy and that young people see secondhand clothes as more sustainable and fashionable
- For the fifth year in a row, U.S. teen drug and alcohol abuse rates declined, hitting a historic low
- California is officially drought free and reservoirs are at 120% of average levels
- A 2021 study found that people with a strong sense of purpose had a 24% lower likelihood of becoming physically inactive and cut their likelihood of sleep difficulty by one-third, relative to people who did not articulate a sense of purpose
- Amsterdam has approved a €100,000 initiative to install small wooden staircases along canals to help animals climb out if they fall in the water
- In Japan, menopause is called konenki, a term that translates to “renewal years” or “season of energy”
- According to a neuroscience expert, an introvert’s social battery depletes after exactly 2.3 hours of stimulation. This is related to how long the neurotransmitter acetylcholine lasts
- 82% of healthcare appointments booked for men are made by women in their lives. Add it to the list of the load women carry…
- Pandas are no longer considered at risk of extinction, and the green sea turtle is no longer considered endangered
What I’m grateful for:
- A new season of sports—my daughter is playing flag football and softball. It’s so much fun to watch her. I’m helping coach softball and that’s bringing back lots of memories of my dad, who coached me. Very special
- Lots of fun things with my daughter—Mom & Me Book Club, lots of playdates and sleepovers, experimenting with hair dye (blue for her!)
- So many good convos with girlfriends who get it
- My puppy turned 1! Maybe she’s becoming slightly less of a handful?
- I’m almost done with the first draft of a new novel. I’m really liking it. It’s a bit lighter than my usual stuff
- Getting my groove back with running, just in time to start training for a marathon soon. Details to come…
Some favorite snapshots:
From top to bottom: King Tide, a unique opportunity to see what’s usually underwater; protests are better with writer friends (Michelle Gable is the best!); feline supervisors at work; the pup; experiments in hair dye; winter in California; amazing runs; cuddles with my boy; that winter sky; softball begins!
