Kim Hooper's Blog, page 17

Weekly Roundup: April 22, 2022

Happy Friday! I hope you’re doing something today to celebrate the Mother of all Mothers–Earth! I went for a nice walk with my neighbor this morning and admired some big, puffy clouds. I am still riding a high from running the Boston Marathon this past Monday and am confused that it is already Friday.  Let’s get into it…

Quote of the week:
“Once we’re thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost; but it’s only here that the new and the good begins.” –Leo Tolstoy

What I’m reading:
My daughter was a champ on the plane rides to/from Boston so I was able to read a few books, including a re-read of Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson. I’m currently reading Henry and June, from the journals of Anaїs Nin, who fell in love with Henry Miller’s writing and his wife June’s beauty over the course of a year in Paris. This one has been on my list for years. Such bold, raw writing for the time period.

What I’m listening to:
I’m still listening to Sally Hepworth’s The Younger Wife. I’m taking a post-marathon break from running so I don’t have as much audio book time as I usually do.

What I’m watching:
I started the new season of The Flight Attendant last night.  Not quite into it, but we’ll see.

Writing news:
Just a few weeks until Ways the World Could End is out in the wild! Today’s your last chance to enter the giveaway I’m doing on Instagram—my daughter is picking a winner tonight.

What I’m talking about:

The Boston Marathon! What an experience. I was smiling the whole time, which is quite something for a 26.2-mile endurance event. The weather was beautiful, the crowds were uplifting, and my legs felt great (and still do!)The abrupt end of the mask mandate for planes and public transport. Personally, I’m not that concerned because I am healthy and triple-vaxxed. BUT, I have concerns for the collective. I’m sure people who have underlying conditions felt more protected when the mandate was in place. My daughter and I wore our masks on our plane ride home (the mandate went into effect while we were in Boston). Most people around us did not (and the guy next to me was coughing the whole flight so that was fun)Earth Day! I feel like the tide is finally turning in favor of more sustainability initiatives, which makes me cautiously optimisticMisinformation as a threat to democracy (just listened to Obama’s keynote address at Stanford yesterday)

Interesting things I learned this week:

Chimpanzees don’t have foot arches, causing their midfoot to be very flexible. One in 13 humans have a similar foot structure1 in every 1000 sea turtle hatchlings survive to maturity60-70% of women have longer feet after pregnancy (I have always had big feet so thankfully this did not happen to me)Fig trees can send their roots more than 200 feet deep in search of water they need to survive in the desertElephant trunks have more than 30,000 muscles, allowing them to rip down trees weighing hundreds of poundsGoing one year without beef saves about 3400 treesThe enneagram has been around for 2000-4000 years (I did a pretty comprehensive test a while back and was a tie between a 3 and 4)37% of Americans say they use weedBlack people are 264% more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession (though white people use cannabis just as much)

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Therese name origin.” I do a lot of research when naming characters in my novels!

What I’m grateful for:

Finishing the Boston Marathon and feeling so great after (some snapshots from the trip below)The support of my mom, sister, and daughter in BostonFreed up mental energy (I realize now that the race was occupying a lot of brain space)Some fun upcoming plans—I’ll be on a plane three times in the next couple months!

A few snapshots from this week:

The post Weekly Roundup: April 22, 2022 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: April 15, 2022

This is a particularly happy Friday for me! I did my last training run in preparation for the Boston Marathon on Monday. This training cycle was quite the journey, physically and emotionally. I’m so grateful for my health and for what I’ve learned about myself in this process. Off to Boston tomorrow!

Quote of the week:
“Always go a little further into the water than you feel capable of being in. Get a little out of your depth.” –David Bowie
(Fun fact: One of my cats is named Bowie, after the legendary David)

What I’m reading:
This week, I’ve been making my way through some E.E. Cummings poetry, along with Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader.

What I’m listening to:
I just started listening to Sally Hepworth’s latest, The Younger Wife. I’m a big fan of hers and this one is good so far!

What I’m watching:
Another week when I have had no attention span for shows. The new season of The Flight Attendant is out next week and I’m looking forward to that.

Writing news:
I got my hardcover copies of Ways the World Could End in the mail! This means we’re really close to launch (less than a month!). I’m giving away a hardcover copy on Instagram if you want to enter.

What I’m talking about:

The Boston Marathon! I am so excited!Inflation. It’s crazy. The overall cost of gas, food, and other everyday items is increasing at its fastest rate in more than 40 years (inflation hit 8.5% in March). I took AP Economics in high school, but I have no memory of how this situation is supposed to resolve itselfThe refugee crisis in Ukraine. About 90% of refugees to Poland are women and children (Ukraine has banned men between 18 and 60 from leaving the country). It’s heartbreaking to hear about families being separated like this. I’ve also become more aware of other refugee crises, particularly in Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, and other African countries. In the past decade, over 84 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. There is no easy answer. I just hope policies are built around compassion and empathy

Interesting things I learned this week:

Poet E.E. Cummings was also a painterOz Pearlman, known as Oz the Mentalist, ran 19 loops of Central Park (116 miles) in a single day (read here)A group of scientists in Maryland have made a knife out of hardened wood that they say is sharper than steel (read here)There’s a ranch resort in Texas that lets you swim with otters in a hot tub for $300 (read here)Dave Dahl, founder of Dave’s Bread, was incarcerated in the 90s for home burglary. For 15 years, he bounced from one sentence to the next, but in the mid-2000s, he returned to his family bakery and got to work. He started selling loaves in farmer’s market and it took off from there. In 2015, the Dahl family sold the business for $275 million dollars!The difference in time between when Tyrannosaurus Rex and Stegosaurus lived is greater than the difference in time between Tyrannosaurus Rex and now (crazy, right?)

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Parts of the eyeball image.” I have a weird day job.

What I’m grateful for:

Feeling ready for the marathonEaster festivities with my little one (we’ll be in Boston on Easter day so I did a little pre-Easter party for her and her buddies this past weekend)My sister and mom, who are coming to Boston with my daughter and me. The female brigade! Seems fitting since this year’s race is the 50th anniversary of women being allowed to run BostonOngoing growth. Life feels very rich lately

A few snapshots from this week:

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Weekly Roundup: April 8, 2022

Happy Friday! Let’s get right to it.

Quote of the week:
“Everyone writes in a way; that is, each person has a ‘story,’ a personal narrative which is constantly being replayed, revised, taken apart, and put together again. The significant points in this narrative change as a person ages—what may have been tragedy at twenty is seen as comedy or nostalgia at forty. All children write. (And paint, and sing.) I suppose the real question is why do so many people give it up?” –Margaret Atwood (from this book)

What I’m reading:
Well, I finally finished Red Comet, the Sylvia Plath biography. I give it one million stars. I read Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel this week and just started The Art of Receiving and Giving by Betty Martin. I’ve got Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader on my coffee table and read a few entries each day. It’s so great.  

I’ve also been re-reading The Meaning of Wife as part of research for the novel I’m writing, which is where I discovered this accurate quote.

What I’m listening to:
I’m listening to All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir. This isn’t marketed as a YA novel, but it definitely is in my mind. I’m usually not that into YA, but I’m liking it so far.

What I’m watching:
I have watched absolutely nothing this week. One of those weeks when I’ve needed more quiet than usual.

Writing news:
No big news this week, but this message on Instagram made my day. Reminder: Ways the World Could End comes out on May 10.

What I’m talking about:

The Boston Marathon—10 days away!The concept of the “good enough” mother (read here)National Poetry Month! My favorite poet of all-time is Mary Oliver, but I’ve been discovering some more I love. I try to read a little poetry every dayThe confirmation of KBJ—such great news. I’m disturbed that the vote was so close, but trying to just celebrate and move onJon Batiste’s Grammy wins. So well-deserved. I bought his album when it first came out and listen to it often on my runs (if this performance doesn’t make you smile, I cannot help you in this life)The atrocities left behind upon Russian retreat in Kyiv. Horrific. We are definitely in war crimes territory so…now what?

Interesting things I learned this week:

Positive drug tests among US workers have reached their highest levels since 2001The word “picnic” evolved from the French expression pique-nique, which described a group of people who met for dinner at a restaurant and brought their own wineA handful of old mammals, such as the platypus, don’t have nipples, and instead just leak milk from their abdomensAstronomer Carl Sagan and his wife Ann Druyan had a love story fit for a novel (read here)The heart of a blue whale is so big, a human can swim through the arteries
 

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Do animals dream?” I assumed they do (I’ve seen my dogs twitch in the midst of sleep, as if they’re being chased by a mountain lion in a parallel universe). Studies have, in fact, proven that animals have complex dreams (read here). Animals’ brains follow the same series of sleeping states as ours do.

What I’m grateful for:

Feeling strong and healthy as I get ready for the marathonBlue-sky days that feel like summer (see photo below)Conversations that make me feel aliveExcitement about the novel I’m writing

The post Weekly Roundup: April 8, 2022 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: April 1, 2022

I have a big announcement. I am going to pivot away from my usual fiction and start writing romance novels. I feel like this is where the money is at and I need to control my gag reflex and write some really cheesy love scenes. What do you think?

APRIL FOOLS.

My god, I cannot imagine writing a romance novel. Kudos to those who do. I do not have it in me.

Moving on…

Quote of the week:
“Suffering happens when we expect life to be something more and different than what it is in the present moment. When we let go of all expectation, there is peace.” –Kim Eng

What I’m reading:
Per usual, I have a few books going. I have about 100 pages left in Red Comet, the Sylvia Plath biography. I’m making my way through Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader. And I’m still reading Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski.

What I’m watching:
I just started Atlas of the Heart on HBO. I read the book and I love hearing Brené Brown talk.

Writing news:
I can officially say that Ways the World Could End comes out NEXT MONTH!

What I’m talking about:

The weird Will Smith-Chris Rock incident. #toxicmasculinityThe ongoing war in Ukraine. I feel like it’s hard to tell what’s really happening, as the West wants to portray the war as a failure for Russia, while Russia is claiming victories left and right. I’m most saddened by all the refugees fleeing (4 million and counting)My aching back. Seriously, I can’t stop talking about it

Interesting things I learned this week:

Young women earn as much or more than men in 22 cities… BUT the wage gap grows as women get older (and have children in a society that offers zero support for mothers who work)An ice shelf collapsed in eastern Antarctica for the first time since satellites began observing the continent nearly half a century ago (read here)Stephen Wilhite, the inventor of the GIF died. As a side note, he was adamant that GIF be pronounced with a soft G (“jif”), though the Oxford dictionary says it can be pronounced with a hard or soft G (I’ve always used a hard G myself)Costco’s hotdog has been $1.50 since 1985. Founder Jim Senegal once told CEO Craig Jelinek, “If you raise the price of the effing hot dog, I will kill you”Death row executions by firing squad (wtf?) can now be carried out in South CarolinaSince Russia banned Instagram last month, alternatives have started cropping up in the country. The latest is “Grustnogram,” which translates to “Sadgram” in English

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Empathetic vs empathic.” I was curious about the history of these words since they mean the exact same thing. I’m partial to “empathic” because I don’t like that the word “pathetic” is in “empathetic” (yes, I think about these things too much). According to grammarly.com, “empathic” is the older word, first used in 1909 (“empathetic” was first used in 1932). In scientific writing, “empathic” is more common.

What I’m grateful for:

Reducing running mileage leading up to the Boston Marathon. I *only* ran 13 miles this morningAnother mellow work week…except for today, when I had a bunch of work come in right as the Internet went out—FUN!A nice rainstormConnecting with friends I adore

A few snapshots from this week:

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Weekly Roundup: March 25, 2022

I do not know how we are at the end of March. I am envisioning a line graph where the x-axis is “age” and the y-axis is “perceived speed of time.” You catch my drift. Alright, let’s get into the good stuff:

Quote of the week:
“Re-examine all you have been told… dismiss whatever insults your soul.” –Walt Whitman

What I’m reading:
I have a few books going at the moment. I’ve passed the halfway mark on Red Comet, the Sylvia Plath biography. I started reading Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader, edited by Maria Popova of Brain Pickings (which I guess is now called The Marginalian). I’m also reading Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski.

What I’m listening to:
I listened to Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach this week, and just started I Thought You Said This Would Work by Ann Garvin on my run this morning.

What I’m watching:
Life and Beth on Hulu. I love Amy Schumer.

Writing news:
This past Wednesday was the one-year bookiversary for All the Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss. I’m 7 years out from my own pregnancy losses, but still love to engage with and support this community.

A little more than a month until Ways the World Could End comes out! I’m really enjoying all the Instagram love from early readers. It’s weird to think that “bookstagram” wasn’t even a thing when I started writing books and it’s such a big deal now. The times they are a-changin’.

What I’m talking about:

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s hearing this past week and the ridiculous display by some Republican Senators. I was so embarrassed for them and also infuriated. I can’t help but think of Brett Kavanaugh’s meltdown when he was questioned—a woman would never be allowed such a thingThe passing of Madeleine Albright. I’ve always admired her. Smart, feisty, strong, eloquent—what’s not to love?One month of the Ukraine war. Still feeling helpless and angst-riddenFinding space and stillness in the midst of life’s craziness. I just bought this necklace as a daily reminder to myself

Interesting things I learned this week:

Maya Angelou was the first Black woman to write a script that was made into a Hollywood movieThe French term for someone who reads a lot is Le buveur d’encre, which translates to “ink drinker”The Greek root of the word “crisis” is “to sift,” which seems just rightToday’s single and working moms spend MORE time with their children than married homemaker mothers did back in 1965Today, almost 30% of American households comprise just one personBy 1889, the US had the highest divorce rate in the worldAlbert Einstein couldn’t read until he was 7, Beethoven’s music teacher said he was “hopeless” as a composer, Edison’s teacher labeled him unable to learn, and Winston Churchill failed 6th gradeEvery year, there are 11,000 sex-related deaths (eg, sudden-death heart attacks during the act), on par with deaths from Hepatitis C, brain cancer, and food poisoningThe first women to win a Nobel without a male collaborator were Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier in 2020 (they won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their development of a method for genome editing)

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Lost cat dream.” I had a dream that my cat was lost and it was so emotional. According to certified dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg, “The state of the cat and the behavior of the cat in your dream will be similar to something going on in your waking life. A missing cat could mean you feel something is missing in the intimacy department” (source). Hmmm, interesting.

What I’m grateful for:

My second 20-mile run and my last big week of training before the Boston Marathon next month. I’m feeling strong and healthy! Also, I found a $20 bill on my run today—my first income-generating run!A slower work week, which gave me some time to catch up on lifeMy talented sister, who came by to do some author promo photos for me last weekend (see below!)

A few snapshots from this week:
I posted these on Instagram and everyone is in favor of my dog, Vinny, being in my author photo. I’m on the fence about this. My books are a bit heavy (at times), so not sure a smiling dog matches the vibe.

This might be more appropriate… but we’ll see.

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Weekly Roundup: March 18, 2022

I consider these little weekly roundups a journal of sorts (though I also keep a journal). Maybe one day I’ll want to see what I was thinking about in a given week. Or not. I don’t think I’ve ever gone back and read an old journal. The writing is the point, isn’t it?

Quote of the week:
“Quiet people have the loudest minds.” –Stephen Hawking
(Most people describe me as “quiet,” though I can be quite loud and expressive around certain people. But, yes, my brain is always very loud. I suppose I’m quiet externally to balance the internal cacophony. It’s been particularly loud lately. Too much going on for my liking.)

What I’m reading:
The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap by Stephanie Coontz. I’ve been really into researching why we’ve come to see certain family structures and lifestyles as “normal.” This book is interesting. It sheds light on why certain dynamics have come to be and questions the definitions of “good” and “right.”

I also read a great book of poetry this week— I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy by Hafiz (translated/articulated by Daniel Ladinsky).

What I’m listening to:
I’m bouncing between two audiobooks right now:

Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger by Rebecca Traister. I’m very interested in female rage lately and the good that can come from it.

Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength by Laurie Helgoe. I’m a sucker for any books about introversion. So validating.

What I’m watching:
Portrait of a Lady on Fire – this is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time, and definitely in my top 5 favorite movies about love. Beautiful.

Writing news:
Promotion for Ways the World Could End is ramping up (I’m not stressed? Do I seem stressed?? DO I?), so I should have some interviews/essays to share soon on that front. I’m really into writing my new novel lately, which is still title-less. I have had so little time, which is making me angsty.

What I’m talking about:

The ongoing Ukraine situation. It breaks my heart to see Zelensky asking the US for more aid. It’s just all terrible and I wish there was more we could do without this becoming World War IIIThe next Covid surge. Europe is in the midst of a surge right now, so we will likely be a few weeks behind. Sigh. One of the experts I follow said to stock up on tests, so I did that (you can get a second set of 4 Covid tests here if you haven’t already)The general strangeness of life and how people come into your orbit just when you need them. I don’t consider myself a very woo-woo person, but this past year has made me more open

Interesting things I learned this week:

This year’s Boston Marathon will be the 50th anniversary of women being able to participateCleopatra lived closer to the invention of the iPhone than she did to the building of the Great PyramidSaudi Arabia imports camels from AustraliaThe percentage of introverts in the population is actually 50%, according to the most robust studies on the subject (people tend to think it’s more like 30%). In the US, there is extraversion bias so extroverts tend to be given greater prominence

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Midori violinist.” I had the opportunity to see her perform this past week and it was amazing. I wanted to learn more about her. Wikipedia tells me she shares a birthday with my dad.

What I’m grateful for:

20-mile run complete. I’m ready to be done with Boston Marathon training. I’m starting to daydream about a significant resting phase after this raceConnecting with people who make me feel alive

A few snapshots from this week:

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Weekly Roundup: March 11, 2022

The news continues to be utterly depressing and I’ve been thinking a lot about overwhelm, and how to reconcile my own relatively petty concerns with the much larger concerns of others in different parts of the world (or next door, for all I know). Basically, #empathproblems.

Quote of the week:
“If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security. It may mean a giving up of familiar but limiting patterns, safe but unrewarding work, values no longer believed in, relationships that have lost their meaning. As Dostoevsky put it, ‘Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.’ The real fear should be of the opposite course.” –Gail Sheehy

What I’m reading:
Emotional Inheritance: A Therapist, Her Patients, and the Legacy of Trauma by Galit Atlas —this wasn’t really the book I was expecting in that it didn’t include much empirical evidence or research. It was mostly just one therapist sharing some client stories that talk about how trauma is imprinted on us and passed down. The concept is interesting, but I would have liked more meat in this book.

I’m also still reading Red Comet, the Sylvia Plath biography. It’s amazing.

What I’m listening to:
In the Shadow of the Mountain: A Memoir of Courage by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado —started this on my run today. It’s about a woman who leads a group of novice climbers to Mt. Everest’s base, all the while coping with her own nerves of summiting. Good so far.

What I’m watching:
I haven’t been able to get into anything this week. I started Downfall: The Case Against Boeing last night but not sure I’ll finish it.

Writing news:
I found out this morning that Ways the World Could End got a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly. You can read the whole review here. A quote: “Hooper offers an insightful and finely crafted look at how a family copes with grief… This memorable and stirring story of survival brings the goods.”

I’m starting to do some interviews for the book. You can read my interview with Book Club Babble here.

What I’m talking about:

The invasion of Ukraine. I’m so sad about what’s happening to the civilians there as Russia continues to expand its attacks. I’m torn about how the rest of the world should respond… We definitely don’t want a world war, but this is just devastatingThe Gender Pay Gap Bot that went to work on International Women’s Day to expose companies who claim support for women but pay them way less than men (read here)Gas prices. So insane. I have an all-electric car and I’ve had several people stop me in parking lots lately to ask if I like it (because they are over paying for gas)

Interesting things I learned this week:

President Volodymyr Zelensky was the voice of Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian version of the animated film. He was also one of the most successful comedians in UkraineRussia has a larger surface area than PlutoAbout 23% of adults in the US have not read a book in whole or in part in the previous year, according to a PEW Research Center survey in 2021 (I choose to look at this as 77% HAVE read a book in whole or in part in the past year)A record 7.1% of US adults self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something other than heterosexual. Among Gen Zers, 21% identify as LGBTQPreet Chandi, a 32-year-old Army officer, is the first woman of color to explore the South Pole solo (read here)The Tibetan name for Mt. Everest is Chomolungma, which means “Mother Goddess of the World”The first half-marathon races in the US took place in 1964Fish eggs can still hatch after being eaten and excreted by ducks (wtf)About half of Americans believe in ghosts, according to a 2019 pollSigmund Freud hated working with patients who were in love. He saw it as an irrational feeling, almost a semi psychosis, and considered it impossible for patients to have any genuine awareness while in this state

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Mongolian mark.” This was mentioned in a book I read a little bit ago and I needed a visual to go with it. It’s basically a blue-ish birthmark that usually appears at the base of the spine.

What I’m grateful for:

Another 18-mile long run in the books—5 weeks until Boston!Connecting with good friends who fill my cupPlugging along on writing my new novel…it keeps taking weird turns

A few snapshots from this week:

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Weekly Roundup: March 4, 2022

Happy Friday! I had an 18-mile run scheduled today and thought about skipping it because the forecast was a bit ominous. I went for it anyway. It rained for the first half, but I’ve learned I like running in the rain (as long as there isn’t wind). Then the sun came out and it was magical. I felt like I could have kept going and going, which gives me some confidence. I can’t believe the Boston Marathon is next month! There are many novelists who are also long-distance runners and I think this makes sense. They are both tests of endurance, journeys in their own way. I promise I will talk less about running when my marathon is over.

Quote of the week:
“I think of the trees and how simply they let go, let fall the riches of a season, how without grief (it seems) they can let go and go deep into their roots for renewal and sleep… Imitate the trees. Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember that nothing stays the same for long, not even pain, psychic pain. Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go.” –May Sarton

What I’m reading:
The Vegetarian by Han Kang—I’m enjoying this one so far. It’s sorta Kafta-esque. It won the Booker Prize and has been on my list for a while.

What I’m listening to:
Open by Rachel Krantz—this is a really raw memoir about one woman’s experience in a nontraditional relationship. Finished it yesterday. I was equal parts intrigued and disturbed.

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka—started this on my run today. I’m a sucker for books with multiple perspectives and flawed characters so this is right up my alley.

What I’m watching:
Language Lessons—super sweet little movie about a Spanish teacher and her student and the friendship they develop while doing online lessons.

Writing news:
Counting down to the release date for Ways the World Could End (May 10!). Just two months. I did the thing I always tell myself not to do and looked at advance reviews on Goodreads. This one made my week:

What I’m talking about:

The UN’s latest climate change report, which says that we are harming the planet faster than we can adapt. This is, of course, incredibly depressing. Many experts agree that we are no longer in a position to prevent damage; we must mitigate as best we can nowThe terrible situation in Ukraine. Putin’s defiance is disgusting. Millions of people are going to be displaced. This makes my heart sickThe civil rights lawsuit against Texas over Governor Abbott’s attempts to criminalize parents of transgender kids. I seriously do not know what the world is coming toSome good news: Biden’s nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. She said, “I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution…will inspire future generations of Americans.” I think that hope will be fulfilled

Interesting things I learned this week:

Vladimir Putin uses shoes with hidden wedge heels to look taller at eventsMaine is the closest US state to AfricaThe name Jessica was created by Shakespeare in the play Merchant of VeniceAnne Frank and Barbara Walters were born in the same year (1929)

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“eyes blurry when tired.” Google basically confirmed I’m fatigued and getting old. I have reading glasses in every room now.

What I’m grateful for:

Time with my sister this past weekend. We live near each other, but rarely get to hang out just the two of usVisiting the local goat farm with my daughterA clean bill of health at my annual physicalHitting 4:56 max pace during my sprints the other day—I felt like an Olympian for approximately 13 secondsDaily meditation—getting back into a routine with thatPet birthdays. This month, one of my doggies turns 8 and both my kitties (they’re from the same litter) turn 9

A few snapshots from this week:

The post Weekly Roundup: March 4, 2022 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: February 25, 2022

Happy Friday! Mine started off with a 16-mile run in beautiful weather, during which I saw a big pod of dolphins—pretty idyllic if you ask me. Here’s to idyllic things for all of us this weekend.

Quote of the week:
“I am a great friend of chaos. It’s all we have. I mean, this whole concept of being able to manage life… life is risk, life is chance, life is being open to chance. The best things in my life, and probably in anybody’s life, come out of being open to being blown off course.” –Tilda Swinton

What I’m reading:
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan—this is such a great book with a really original, haunting concept.

I’m also still reading Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath. This will take me a while. It’s as long as it is good.

What I’m watching:
Space Force on Netflix. The second season just might be funnier than the first. Steve Carell is great, but my favorite character is the one played by Ben Schwartz.

Writing news:
I received another kind review for Ways the World Could End from author Melissa Scholes Young:
“Ways the World Could End by Kim Hooper is a love story about a family with broken hearts who help each other heal. Dave, a dad with Asperger’s, grieves his wife and turns to prepping as a way of coping with the challenges of parenting a teen in a threatening world he can’t control. In Kim Hooper’s capable hands, humor prevails in this touching tale of loss, isolation, and forgiveness.”  
Thank you, Melissa!

I’m hard at work on a new novel and this quote from Kevin Larimer, editor of Poets & Writers magazine, really resonated with me this week: “I’ve reached the point where maybe I want to talk about it, but maybe not; it’s difficult to say. There must be a name for this period of cautious optimism when a project is still in its nascent stage, a kind of fragile embryonic form, and you’re afraid to talk about it for fear the whole thing will disappear if exposed to daylight.”

What I’m talking about:

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. I’m heartbroken thinking of the young kids in Ukraine who are terrified about their future. It’s deeply unsettling to me that one deranged man can just claim another country as his own and launch the biggest attack on a European country since WWII. I’m glad other countries are opposing him and I hope order and peace are restored soonThe passing of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida, which bans certain discussions of LGBTQ+ topics in primary school. This, along with Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s stated intention to report parents of trans kids for abuse, has me really disheartened. Lots of sad and troubling things going onTeaching critical race theory in schools. I really do not understand the opposition to this. Also, slavery is not “Black history”; it’s white historyThe US women’s soccer team’s equal pay settlement. VICTORY! Finally some good news! (read here)Taking back personal time in this crazy-paced world by simply ceasing to be so available (read here). I left my last full-time job because of this. The demands on my availability were just too muchThe need for a 32-hour work week. Spain and Iceland are experimenting with this. Microsoft did a pilot program in Japan in 2019 and saw a 40% increase in productivity. There is currently a bill in Congress here to bring this here

Interesting things I learned this week:

An avocado shortage is looming (read here)—guys, I eat like 10 avocados a week; this is a problemSand is the second most exploited commodity besides water (it’s used in everything from iPhones to wine) and it’s running out (read here)Only 3% of species pair-bond (and that’s usually just for one season)About 52% of all essential workers throughout the pandemic have been women; one in three jobs held by women has been deemed essentialThe last 2-22-22 was in 1622Since 1978, the Diagram Prize has been given to the oddest book title of the year. In 2021, the winner was Roy Schwartz’s Is Superman Circumcised?: The Complete Jewish History of the World’s Greatest Hero. My favorite past winner: People Who Don’t Know They’re Dead: How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do About ItWhen instant cake mixes were introduced in the 1950s, housewives initially rejected them for being too easy, so the manufacturers changed the recipe so you had to add an egg and then they became more popular (and we still have the “add an egg” thing today)A study looked at the happiness levels of people with and without kids in 22 countries and found that the extent to which kids make you happy is influenced by whether there are childcare policies in place (like paid parental leave). Not surprisingly, the country with the greatest happiness drop after kids is the US

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Doofus or dufus.” Apparently, “dufus” is the colloquial spelling and “doofus” is slang. I went with “doofus” for my purposes.

What I’m grateful for:
Antibiotics! I have been genetically blessed in many ways, but I did inherit terrible sinuses. Whenever I get a cold (however minor), I get a sinus infection. This fate struck again this past week and I’m now on 20 days of antibiotics. FUN! Every time this happens to me, I think about the fact that if this happened 100 years ago, I might… die? That’s insane.

I’m also grateful for beautiful weather, my adorable daughter, my dogs and cats, and text messaging (which often fills my social cup just enough and satisfies my little introvert heart).

A few snapshots from this week:

The post Weekly Roundup: February 25, 2022 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: February 18, 2022

Well, hello there. I missed my post last week because my website was down. After spending a few hours this week live chatting with my website host and learning way too much about SSL certificates and subdomains, it is working again. It’s actually appropriate that I missed last week as I’ve had a lot of big change in my life recently and I’ve been nice and cozy in my turtle shell. I’m ready to stick my head out now. Let’s get into it…

Quote of the week:
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” –Anais Nin

What I’m reading:
The Every by Dave Eggers (I finished this one last week and would like to discuss it with someone. If you’ve read it, holler)
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan (loving it so far, recommended to me by my favorite indie bookstore–hi, Lisa!)
Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath by Heather Clark (Fun fact: Sylvia Plath and I share a birthday–October 27. I’ve always loved her writing and think it’s a shame she’s known mostly for her suicide. This biography of her is fascinating so far)

What I’m listening to:
Classic Krakauer: Essays on Wilderness and Risk by Jon Krakauer (If you like Krakauer, you’ll like this)
I also recently listened to this podcast episode with Elaine Aron, who has written extensively about the trait of high sensitivity. I FEEL SEEN.

What I’m watching:
The Alpinist on Netflix. Wow. Incredible documentary about what we seek in the wilderness. I was not expecting the ending and it continues to haunt me.
14 Peaks on Netflix. Started this one last night. Loving it so far.
I’m really into nature/wilderness documentaries lately. I think all the Mary Oliver poems I’ve been reading are getting to me.

Writing news:
Less than 3 months until Ways the World Could End comes out. I’m excited for this book. I am officially back on the writing train and working on a new novel, aiming to have a draft done by summer.

What I’m talking about:
-The trucker protests in Canada. Come on, Canadians, you’re better than this. I’m also holding out hope that you’ll accept me as one of your own if Trump runs again
-The recent wave of book bans, which disproportionately target books by black and LGBTQ+ authors (good article here). I am, quite obviously, very opposed to this ridiculousness
-The carbon footprint of publishing. I’d never really thought about this until I read this article. It is good to know that many big publishers are working toward carbon neutrality
-Composting. As of the new year, California is requiring residents to dump food waste in a separate bin. This made me look into the benefits of mass composting and they are huge. Organic material like food and yard waste makes up half of everything in California landfills and a fifth of the state’s methane emissions. Many environmentalists say the easiest, best thing you can do for the environment is compost your own stuff or participate in a program like California has

Interesting things I learned this week:
-The state with the highest life expectancy is Hawaii (followed by California). West Virginia came in last
-We misplace, on average, 9 objects a day and spend a total of 6 months of our lives looking for lost things (learned this while listening to this beautiful book)
-Almond milk produces 78% less carbon emissions than dairy milk
-In a recent report, the US was ranked 43 out of 81 countries surveyed about how well their health systems provide for the wellbeing of patients at the end of life
-27 times more men than women joined the labor force last month–yikes

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“llama llama single mama?” I realized that the Llama Llama books I read my daughter never include a dad character. Turns out the author, Anna Dewdney, was a divorced mom of two. Makes sense.

What I’m grateful for:
Health, new beginnings, beautiful runs, cats, my sister, and puzzles.

Snapshots from the week:

The post Weekly Roundup: February 18, 2022 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.