Kim Hooper's Blog, page 6

Weekly Roundup: August 16, 2024

Happy Friday! School starts here next week and I cannot believe it. It feels like June was last week. Pretty soon it’s going to be time for Christmas shopping. I don’t understand. Anyway, here’s the roundup.

Quote of the week:
“We shake with joy, we shake with grief.
What a time they have, these two
housed as they are in the same body.”
–Mary Oliver

What I’m reading:
A Good Enough Mother by Catherine Dunne. She’s an Irish author I hadn’t heard of before. I’m liking the book.

What I’m listening to:
Fi, a memoir by Alexandra Fuller. It’s about the death of her 21-year-old son and it’s so heartbreaking. I started it yesterday and am already almost done. The writing is so beautiful.

What I’m watching:
I finished Season 3 of Hacks (so good) and am now watching Season 3 of The Bear. I also watched the Simone Biles Rising documentary. Can’t wait for new episodes of that one.

Writing news:
I finished up The Big Round of Edits for my novel that comes out next year. I’ll be taking a little break before getting back to working on my new novel (which will come out in 2026). School starts next week and my brain needs some time to adjust to the new routine.

Interesting things I learned this week:

Sturmfrei is a German word that means “storm free” and is used to refer to the freedom of being alone and the ability to do what you wantThe longest road in the world to walk is from Cape Town (South Africa) to Magadan (Russia). It’s nearly 14,000 miles long and would take someone 561 days to travel (walking 8 hours a day). Along the route, you pass through 17 countries, 6 time zones, and all seasons of the yearThe fastest anyone has run is about 27½ miles per hour, a speed reached (briefly) by sprinter Usain Bolt just after the midpoint of his world-record 100-meter dash in 2009 (source)A New Zealand charity accidentally gave away hundreds of chunks of meth. They had been disguised as candiesAround 76% of high-performing women reportedly receive negative feedback from their managers compared to 2% of high-performing men, according to data collected from 23,000 employees across 250 organizationsAmericans spent 25% more on food at the start of 2024 compared to 2020. During that time, the country’s 10 largest grocery and restaurant brands took their profits and collectively spent $77 billion on stock buybacks and dividends (source)

What I’m grateful for:

Going out with a bang this summer. Lots of sleepovers and playdates for my daughter this past week. I took her to see the “Peter Pan” play/musical, which she loved. She’s currently on a fishing trip with her dad and having a blastMy sister is back from Thailand! She took her three boys and it felt like they were gone for a year instead of a couple weeks. It’s been nice to catch upQuality time with family, family friends, girlfriends, and my boyfriend. And the pets, of course! Life is very fullA successful 10-mile run this morning! First double-digit run in a looooong time Summer sunset

Pet photos of the week:

The post Weekly Roundup: August 16, 2024 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: August 9, 2024

Today is National Book Lovers Day, which should be a national holiday so that everyone can just sit and read. Alas, I am in the midst of my usual responsibilities, but looking forward to reading in bed later. On to the roundup!

Quote of the week:
“Maybe it’s good we don’t know what will happen next in our stories, because if we did, we might not turn the page. Or we might skip ahead and never experience the good that comes out of the hard moment we’re living through.” –Simone Biles

What I’m reading:
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. I am loving this book. The story is woven together in such an intricate way and the characters are all really well done.

What I’m listening to:
Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir by Dolly Alderton. It’s entertaining and light.

What I’m watching:
I’m almost done with Season 3 of Hacks and still loving it. I’ll be eagerly awaiting Season 4. Other than that, I’ve been watching a lot of the Olympics. I also watched an old movie that was new to me—Event Horizon. I was on the edge of my seat the whole movie.

Writing news:
I’m still working on edits to my novel that comes out next year. Really enjoying this process. I am antsy to get back to writing my new novel too (the one that will come out in 2026).

Interesting things I learned this week—Olympics edition:

I can run 100m in 17 seconds. I was curious how fast I could do this after watching the 100m Olympics final. Those athletes can run 100m in less than 10 seconds. LOL. I literally cannot fathom what it feels like to run that fastThe U.S. pays gold medal winners $38,000. This is pretty low compared to other countries—Hong Kong and China pay $768,000, Spain pays $102,000, France pays $87,000 (read here)With 14 Olympic medals, Katie Ledecky is the most decorated female Olympian of all timeThe Women’s gymnastics floor final led to the first-ever all-Black podium (Rebeca Andrade with the gold, Simone Biles with the silver, Jordan Chiles with the bronze)Noah Lyles won the bronze in the 200m while positive for Covid. Given that I could not even muster the energy to walk my dog when I had Covid recently, I am in awe of this

What I’m grateful for:

Finally feeling 100% better after having Covid. Glad to have that behind meMy daughter’s “Peter Pan” performance at the Boys & Girls Club. She has become really into theater and it’s so fun to see her gain confidence. I was so shy as a kid and don’t think I could have gotten up on a stageSpeaking of theater, we went to a “Bluey” play with two of my daughter’s friends and their moms last weekend. It was such a nice little outingReconnecting with a co-worker/friend I hadn’t seen in years! We were pregnant at the same time and it was so fun to see our 6-year-old daughters hang out togetherDinner with another friend I hadn’t seen in way too long. Grateful to my mom for taking my daughter on a shopping trip so I could get out for this dinnerHanging out with my boyfriend, who is just so loving and so easy to be aroundRunning in beautiful weather (photographic evidence below)

Must end with a pet photo…

The post Weekly Roundup: August 9, 2024 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: August 2, 2024

Umm, where did July go? I’m having a hard time believing we are already in August. I’m still dealing with Covid brain fog so lots of things are not making sense to me this week. On to the roundup!

Quote of the week:
“What I want is to open up. I want to know what’s inside me. I want everybody to open up. I’m like an imbecile with a can opener in his hand, wondering where to begin… to open up the earth. I know that underneath the mess, everything is marvelous. I’m sure of it.” –Henry Miller

What I’m reading:
Liars by Sarah Manguso. This book is INTENSE. From the synopsis: “Liars is a tour de force of wit and rage, telling the blistering story of a marriage as it burns to the ground, and of a woman rising inexorably from its ashes.” Very accurate synopsis.

What I’m listening to:
Heartburn by Nora Ephron. I’m loving Meryl Streep as the narrator, but the actual story is falling a little flat for me so far.

What I’m watching:
Still watching Hacks—I’m into Season 3 now! I’m also watching a lot of the Olympics, specifically the gymnastics and track. My friend and I agree that the Olympics should just happen every year. It’s such a highlight.

Writing news:
I’m knee-deep in edits for my novel that comes out next year. I LOVE my editor and her notes are right on. It’s been months since I worked on this book and it’s been nice to have that space. I feel like I’m approaching it with a totally different mindset than when I wrote it. Such a cool process.

Interesting things I learned this week:

The Matrix was released 25 years ago. Wow, I feel oldThere are more than FIFTY wildfires burning in the western US right now. YikesSimone Biles is 4’8″. I knew she was short, but I had no idea she was THIS shortIn 1900, 2.2% of Olympic athletes were women; in 1928, 9.6%; in 1964, 13.2%; in 1992, 28.9%. At this Olympics, it’s 50%! Yay for equal representation!The “QR” in QR code stands for “quick response”–who knew?!

What I’m grateful for:

A fairly mild case of Covid. I’m at Day 9 and feeling mostly back to normal. This bout wiped me out but it could have been much worseBack to running! With travel and two rounds of illness over the past month, I haven’t been as consistent. I’m happy to get back into it now. I’m starting to think through my race plans for the rest of this year and next year…The Olympics! So captivating and inspiring. Loving itSo much love in my life—my daughter, my boyfriend, my pets, my friends. I had a phone call catchup with one of my best friends yesterday and it was such a spirit-lifter

Aside from a bunch of photos of my daughter, this is the only photo I took this week. I saw this zeppelin-like cloud on my run today. My love affair with clouds continues…

The post Weekly Roundup: August 2, 2024 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: July 26, 2024

Hi! I missed last week’s roundup because of travel and I’m barely getting to it today. I’m in the brain fog that is Covid. My symptoms are relatively mild, but I still feel like I’m in a waking dream. Apologies for any typos or things that make zero sense in this roundup.

Quote of the week:
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. 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 (from Kafka on the Shore)

What I’m reading:
I just finished Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor and thought it was fascinating. Definitely worth the read. I’m starting The Sisters K by Maureen Sun today.

What I’m listening to:
Liliana’s Invincible Summer: A Sister’s Search for Justice by Cristina Rivera Garza. It’s a Pulitzer Prize Winner and has been on my list for a while. I’m not very far into it, but I’m liking it so far.

What I’m watching:
Still watching Hacks—I’m into Season 3 now! My boyfriend has gotten me a little obsessed with Formula 1: Drive to Survive—currently watching the latest season. Also watched a creepy horror movie called Talk to Me.

Writing news:
Some exciting news: The People Who Knew Me podcast, based on my novel, is a nominee for the British Podcast Awards!
On the writing front, I’ll be diving into edits soon for my novel that comes out next year—I should be able to share a title (and cover!) for that one soon. I just got back from an amazing research trip in Seattle and Bainbridge Island for the novel that will come out in 2026—a few photos below.

Interesting things I learned recently:

Researchers found that 13 sharks off the coast of Rio de Janeiro had high levels of cocaine in their systemsAround 600,000 condoms have been distributed to the Paris Olympic Village. The packaging includes messages such as “On the field of love, play fair and ask for consent” and “No need to be a gold medalist to wear it”A stegosaurus fossil sold at a Sotheby’s auction for nearly $45 millionKamala Harris’s campaign set a one-day record for presidential fund-raising ($81 million!) after Biden withdrew from the race. About 60% of donors were making their first contribution to the 2024 electionThe majority of children tell their first lie by age 4Over a lifetime, people spend a total of two full days saying goodbye at parties. This is why I’m a fan of the good ol’ Irish goodbyeBy the law of averages, you will take 670 million breaths in your lifetimeThe blood coursing through our arteries and veins at any one time does a full circuit once a minute, an average of 2,000 gallons of blood a dayUp to 80% of office workers suffer from something called continuous partial attention. “We’ll scan our email, write something down, check Twitter, and do it all over again, never really focusing on any specific task. In this state of perpetual distraction, breathing becomes shallow and erratic. Sometimes we won’t breathe at all for a half minute or longer.” This is also referred to as “email apnea” (Source: Breath)July 21 was the hottest day ever recorded on EarthBy age 30, 95% of ALL men and women will never spring again for the rest of their life. Noooooo!

What I’m grateful for:

My research trip in Washington. It was so beautiful up there and was just the most relaxing, inspiring tripMy good friend who played Tooth Fairy while I was out of town. My daughter was at a sleepover when she lost her first tooth. Such a cute memory for herMy daughter’s “Annie” theater camp. She LOVED it. She has been saying she wants to be a performer since she was 2. I did not have her confidence as a kid. It’s so fun to watchMild Covid symptoms. I mean, it could be much worse. And now I’ll be immune for a while. My boyfriend has it too so at least we can share in the misery. I’ve also been the recipient of lots of pet cuddles. Thankfully, my daughter is negative and she’ll be with her dad until I’m well

The post Weekly Roundup: July 26, 2024 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: July 12, 2024

Happy Friday! I skipped last week because of the 4th of July holiday. Summer is kicking my introverted butt with all that’s going on. I am not surprised that my body gave up this week and succumbed to the summer cold that is going around here. Hope you’re healthy wherever you are.

Quote of the week:
“Life is short, and it is sinful to waste one’s time. They say I’m active…but being active is still wasting one’s time if in doing one loses oneself. Today is a resting time, and my heart goes off in search of itself.” –Albert Camus

What I’m reading:
All Fours by Miranda July. I have book club next week and this is the one we’ll be discussing. I’ve heard mixed opinions on this book, but I’m really enjoying it so far. Fun and outrageous.

What I’m listening to:
I just finished Grief is For People by Sloane Crosley, which was a beautiful book about her friend’s suicide. I’ll start a new book on my next run, whenever my body feels up for that.

What I’m watching:
I saw A Quiet Place: Day One in the theater and really loved it. It might be my favorite of the franchise so far. While sick yesterday, I watched the three-episode docuseries, Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini. Whoa. That’s all I have to say.

Writing news:
I’m still working on my new novel, though it’s been slow-going with all the summer stuff going on right now. I’m taking a little research trip next week and can’t wait for that.

Interesting things I’ve learned in the past couple weeks:

Dogs get a sense of when you are supposed to be home from work based on how much of your scent is left in the houseWomen need about 20 more minutes of sleep on average because they tend to use their brains more than men during the day, according to a study from Loughborough University78% of moms say they are so busy maintaining family stability by being constantly available, mentally and physically, to deal with every detail of home life that they aren’t taking care of themselves In some Native languages, the term for plants translates to “those who take care of us”The literal meaning of tiramisu in Italian is “pick me up” or “cheer me up”The average US marriage lasts 8 years8 million people took psilocybin mushrooms in 2023, with about half of those people microdosingIslands are not getting smaller despite rising oceans: One study that rounded up scientists’ data on 709 islands across the Pacific and Indian Oceans showed that nearly 89% either had increased in area or hadn’t changed much in recent decades. Only 11% had contractedSince Roe v Wade was repealed 2 years ago, 1 in 3 women now live under abortion bans and more than 170,000 women have traveled to have an abortionThe Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will connect the Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills, and will be the biggest wildlife overpass in the world. The hope is that the crossing will reduce collisions between wildlife and vehicles and will allow animals to roam more widely in search of food, shelter and mates. Related: More than 600 mountain lions were killed by vehicles in California between 2016 and 2023

Weirdest thing I’ve googled in the past couple weeks:
“world’s longest hair.” My daughter asked, I delivered. The longest hair belongs to a woman in India whose locks measure 7 feet, 9 inches long.

What I’m grateful for:

Feeling slightly better today after being knocked on my a$$ by this virus yesterday. Health is everythingMy sister’s birthday. We have bonded more in this phase of life than we ever did before. Always happy to celebrate herThe beginning of the sleepovers. My daughter has had two sleepovers with friends in the past couple weeks—one at a friend’s house, one at my house. It’s starting!My neighbor-friend who joined us for dinner the other night. She is so sweet with my daughter and reminds me of how beautiful community can beA beer-and-food date with a new-ish friend of mine. She’s also my massage therapist and my house-sitter. Again, I love my communityA special guy in my life after a very long time thinking that wouldn’t happen for me again

A few pet snapshots:

The post Weekly Roundup: July 12, 2024 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: June 28, 2024

Happy Friday! I didn’t do a roundup last week because I was in Maui! It was a rough re-entry into regular life this week. My nervous system did not need to watch the presidential debate last week. Argh, what a mess that was.

Quote of the week:
“To be great, be whole: don’t exaggerate
or leave out any part of you.
Be complete in each thing. Put all you are
into the least of your acts.”
–Fernando Pessoa, “To Be Great, Be Whole”

What I’m reading:
All the Broken Places by John Boyne. My good friend recommended this one and it is so good. When I was on vacation, I read Days of Wonder by Caroline Leavitt, The Red Grove by Tessa Fontaine, and The Husbands by Holly Gramazio.

What I’m listening to:
Releasing the Mother Load: How to Carry Less and Enjoy Motherhood More by Erica Djossa. Overall, I’d recommend this book to any new-ish mother, with one caveat: It’s really geared toward moms who have partners. As a single mom, I found some of the book a bit frustrating. Some of us don’t have someone to delegate to…

What I’m watching:
Still making my way through Season 1 of “Hacks.” I love it. I’m just very slow with watching shows. I’d have to give up reading time to have more show-watching time…and I’m just not willing to do that haha.

Writing news:
I took a full break while I was on vacation. I’ve been getting back to my new manuscript this week. I’m in the phase of feeling like I have a million puzzle pieces to somehow fit together. It’s a fun kind of stress.

Interesting things I learned this week:

Politicians tend to use shorter words in speeches when the temperature outside is 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter, according to a study that looked at 7 million speeches across eight countriesOnly 7% of Michelin-starred restaurants have female chefs. I learned this in the book I’m listening to, which talks about how when cooking is a paid profession, it’s male-led, while cooking in the unpaid home sphere is largely considered a female dutyThe world broke 1,400 temperature records in a week with the heat wave that just swept the globe60% of Netflix’s most popular shows are based on books and comicsThe real name for a hashtag is an octothorpe

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Do macadamia nuts grow on trees?” My friend, Lauren, came along to Maui and we were feeling dumb that we did not know the answer to this. The answer is yes. They grow on a medium-sized evergreen tree that is native to Australia (who knew?). It wasn’t until the early 1900s that Hawaii started to grow them as a commercial crop.

What I’m grateful for:

A full week in Maui. I got to spend time with my daughter and family (my mom, sister, my sister’s three boys), as well as friends. Lots of beach and pool time, sunbathing, reading, eating at our favorite spotsMy wonderful house/pet sitter who gave me such peace of mind while I was gone. Local friends, hit me up if you need a good person for this!My daughter’s first loose tooth. She will be 7 in October so she is late to the tooth-losing party. She has been waiting for this party for months now. The tooth fairy’s gotta get ready

Snapshots:
From top to bottom: Most of the Maui vacation crew (L-R: Gloria, me, my mom, Rob, and my sister); my sis and me; me and my friend, Lauren; my daughter and a giant sea turtle (!); had to make a stop at the goat farm; the best beaches; doggie yoga; reuniting with my favorite cat

The post Weekly Roundup: June 28, 2024 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: June 14, 2024

Happy Friday! I am tackling a huge to-do list today, so let’s get right to the roundup.

Quote of the week:
My friend shared this quote with me this week and I love it.
In French: “J’accepte la grande aventure d’être moi”
In English: “I accept the great adventure of being me.”
–Simone de Beauvoir

What I’m reading:
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. This book has thousands of good reviews so I had to check it out. I just finished it yesterday and it kept my attention until the end, which got a bit convoluted. Overall, I enjoyed it.

What I’m listening to:
Ambition Monster: A Memoir by Jennifer Romolini. I thought this was going to be more of a commentary on the downsides of overambition, and maybe it will get there, but so far the book is her life story. It’s interesting and the writing is good, so I’m enjoying it; just not what I was expecting.

What I’m watching:
“Hacks.” I started this series after one of the screenwriters I met with in LA basically demanded I watch it. Worth the hype. Loving it so far.

Writing news:
Still plugging away on my new manuscript. I thought up a new storyline, which means revising about one-third of the book. This is how it goes and I love it.

I had meetings in LA last week with my film/TV manager, Carey. A few of my books have some exciting things in progress. Hopefully I’ll have more to share soon.

My third novel, TINY, turned 5 this week! I love this story. Thank you to everyone who’s read it.

Interesting things I learned this week:

Of the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes, ZERO women made the list. Tennis player Iga Świątek was the highest-paid female athlete, earning $23.9 million, but that fell over $20 million short of the $45.2 million cutoff to make the top 50. For reference, the highest-paid male athlete, Cristiano Ronaldo, earns $260 million (about 92% more than the highest-paid female athlete)Calinaga buddha, the freak, is a species of butterfly in the Calinaginae subfamily that is found in parts of Southeast Asia and in India80% of wine consumed in the US is produced by just 1% of wineries, according to Wine Business Analytics and my friend’s amazing wine blogFull-time workers account for 70% of food stamps and Medicaid users. Seems pretty clear our country is behind on paying a living wage“Floor time” is a current trend based on the theory that lying on the floor can make you feel less overwhelmed (read here)There are little bugs called demodex mites that live in our eyelashesWomen perform better and make fewer mistakes when they’re on their period, according to a new study

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“crinkle crankle wall.” I saw a photo on Instagram of a wavy brick wall (like this) and they referred to it as a “crinkle crankle wall” so I had to look this up. According to Wikipedia, this is “an unusual type of structural or garden wall built in a serpentine shape with alternating curves.” It offers “greater strength than a straight wall of the same thickness of bricks without the need for buttresses.” So there ya go.

What I’m grateful for:

My film/TV manager. We have been through a lot together and I’m so lucky to have her on my teamSunshine! We have had some very dreary days here in So Cal. It’s been drizzling in the mornings. Right now, the sun is shining and I’ll have to go sit in it for a bitUpcoming Maui vacation. Cannot wait!

Snapshots:
From top to bottom: Me in traffic on the way to LA (was not smiling on the drive home); me and my film/TV manager, Carey (love her!); me and my soulmate—my cat, Leo; sunbathing with my pup; fancy cat and his fancy eyes.

The post Weekly Roundup: June 14, 2024 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: June 7, 2024

Happy Friday! I have a very packed day, so here’s a somewhat-rushed roundup for you.

Quote of the week:
“A sign of growth is having more tolerance for discomfort. But it’s also having less tolerance for bullshit.” –Cory Muscara

What I’m reading:
Good Material by Dolly Alderton. I am LOVING it. It’s about a guy named Andy going through a breakup—funny and tender and heartwarming. Writer-friend Michelle Gable recommended it a while back and her recommendations are always great.

What I’m listening to:
Love and Trouble: A Midlife Reckoning by Claire Dederer. One of the writers I follow on Instagram (I forget who!) recommended this and it sounded right up my alley. I’m liking it.

What I’m watching:
I started Under the Bridge on Hulu. I’m only a couple episodes in. My daughter and I watched Brave on Disney. Good mother-daughter story. Lots of feels.

Writing news:
I hit 80,000 words in my new novel. Just yesterday, I thought of a new plotline that is going to require a ton of rework. This is how it goes. I’m pleased with the draft so far. Today, I’ll be in Los Angeles for some meetings related to film/TV adaptations for a few of my books!

Interesting things I learned this week:

Fingernails grow faster than toenails19% of recent college graduates brought a parent to their job interview, according to a December 2023 Intelligent.com survey. If this is true…it should not be trueIsrael has dropped more than 70,000 tons of bombs on Gaza since October, far surpassing the combined total for Dresden, Hamburg, and London during WWII62.7% of US workers say they are satisfied with their jobs, according to Conference Board data. Related: Hybrid and remote workers are among the happiest (no surprise there)The moon is drifting about 1.5 inches farther from Earth every year. So, in the future, it will appear slightly smaller in our skyThe world’s largest butterfly, Queen Alexandra’s birdwing, has a wingspan of around 10 inches

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Neil Armstrong hair sale.” I heard that a barber sold Armstrong’s hair trimmings for $3000 years ago and thought this was so bizarre. Turns out it’s true. AND people are still selling strands of his hair (or, at least, they are claiming it’s his hair). See here and here. SO STRANGE.

What I’m grateful for:

My sister’s new kittens (see photos below). They are just adorable. My daughter and I are obsessedThe Boys & Girls Club. Such a great organization. My daughter started summer camp there this week and is loving itNegative Covid tests. We got hit with a cold that I feared was Covid based on how tired I was. But, nope, apparently just a cold and I’m already feeling back to good

A few snapshots:
From top to bottom: New kitten #1 (my sister’s, not mine); new kitten #2; beanie weather in So Cal (#junegloom)

The post Weekly Roundup: June 7, 2024 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: May 31, 2024

Wow, it’s the last day of May? This year is flying by. My daughter wrapped up kindergarten yesterday and we are now into summer mode. Here’s the roundup for this week!

Quote of the week:
“The world asks of us
only the strength we have and we give it.
Then it asks more, and we give it.”
–Jane Hirshfield, “The Weighing”

What I’m reading:
I finished Leaving by Roxana Robinson this week and it’s such a beautiful book. The characters will stay with me a long time. I also zoomed through Michelle Gable’s latest historical fiction book, The Beautiful People, centered around photographer Slim Aarons and his circle.

What I’m listening to:
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. I’m about halfway through and not sure what I think. I was pulled in at first, but it’s getting a bit convoluted for me.

What I’m watching:
I finished Expats on Amazon Prime and really liked it. I also finished The Jinx: Part 2. Robert Durst is quite the character study.

Writing news:
Still working away on a new novel. Awaiting edits on the book that will come out next year.

Interesting things I learned this week:

Bette Nash, who holds the Guinness record as the world’s longest-serving flight attendant, has died at age 88. She started flying in 1957 and never stoppedPresident Theodore Roosevelt had a pet hyenaNew Delhi recorded its highest known temperature this week at 126 degreesThe largest stegosaurus fossil ever found, nicknamed Apex, is heading for auction this summer. The estimated value is $6 millionSpeaking of auctions… After 50 years in an attic, John Lennon’s guitar from “Help!” sold at auction for $2.9 million.Judge Judy has listed her New York City duplex for $9.5 millionBees sleep 5 to 8 hours per day. Related: Old and sick bees don’t return to the hive at the end of their day. They spend the night on flowers and, if they live another day, they bring pollen or nectar to the colonyDeanna Stellato-Dudek, age 40, became the oldest woman to win a world title in any figure skating discipline when she and her partner, Maxine Deschamps, took gold a couple weeks agoBlue whale tongues can weigh as much as an elephant

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Do animals sweat?” My daughter asked. The internet says that horses, monkeys, apes, and hippos sweat. More fun facts: Horse sweat contains a natural detergent called latherin that can function like soap, and hippo sweat is colored pinkish red due to the antibacterial pigments they secrete. Dogs and cats do sweat a little through their paws, but they mostly cool off by panting. Another fun fact: Storks and vultures poop on their own legs as a way to cool off. I’m glad humans do not do this.

What I’m grateful for:

My daughter’s elementary school. We had such a great first year there. I got to volunteer in her class once a week and get to know the kids. I love our little communityMy swimming pool. We have had lots of playdates in the pool lately. It’s a hit! All the cousins. My daughter has TEN cousins and she loves all of them. It’s such a gift. This past weekend, she got to spend time with seven of the 10!Booking a trip to Seattle/Bainbridge Island to do some research for the book I’m writing. I can’t wait!

Snapshots:
From top to bottom: Summer vibes (also, this poetry book is very good); mornings with my girls; cardboard car parade on the second-to-last day of school.

The post Weekly Roundup: May 31, 2024 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.

Weekly Roundup: May 24, 2024

Happy Friday! It’s been a long week and I’m ready for a 3-day weekend. Hope you enjoy yours. Here’s the roundup.

Quote of the week:
“Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.”
–Graham Greene

What I’m reading:
Leaving by Roxana Robinson. It’s about two former lovers who cross paths years later and start to rekindle something. Very sweet and well written.

What I’m listening to:
Sleeping Giants by Rene Denfeld. Character-driven stories are my jam and this one has been very enjoyable so far.

What I’m watching:
I started watching Expats on Amazon Prime this week and realized that it’s based on the book Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee, which I read a few years ago and really liked. The series is great. It’s quite heavy, but very well done. I also watched the Ashley Madison docuseries on Netflix and was captivated. So curious who the hacker was!

Writing news:
Today marks 8 years since my first book, People Who Knew Me, was published. It was re-released with a bonus chapter in 2021. The episodic podcast series based on the book came out last year and I’m so pleased with how it turned out (Apple, Spotify). Below is a photo my sister took at my first launch event at Pages bookstore in Los Angeles—such a memorable time.

Interesting things I learned this week:

The 2024 Gathering of Kyles on May 18 was the City of Kyle’s fifth attempt to break the official Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people with the same first name. This year the attempt fell short of the 2,325-person record, with 706 Kyles gatheringAn early, consistent finding in the field of collective neuroscience is that when people converse or share an experience, their brain waves synchronize. Neurons in corresponding locations of the different brains fire at the same time, creating matching patterns, like dancers moving together. So cool (read more here)There is an evolutionary reason why human beings find birdsong so appealing. The thinking is that because birds stop singing when there are dangerous predators around, our subconscious associates birdsong with safety. Over thousands of years, this connection with safety has made people feel calm and at peace when they hear birdsongOverdose deaths declined in 2023. Experts are saying this is indicative of us being at the tail end of the opioid epidemic (yes, apparently there are usual patterns to these things)A human heart beats an average of 100,000 times per day

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“how high can bees fly.” I read that bees can fly higher than Mt. Everest and that seemed unbelievable. Google to the rescue: “Honeybees can fly at altitudes over 25,000 feet, and in lab experiments, bumblebees have flown as high as 30,000 feet, which is about 2,100 stories. In the wild, researchers have captured male bumblebees at around 10,660 feet, and then simulated higher elevations with reduced oxygen and air density. In these simulations, the average bumblebee could hover at about 26,000 simulated feet, and two bees flew higher than 29,527 simulated feet, which is about 500 feet above the summit of Mount Everest.” So, there you go.

What I’m grateful for:
Mom friends, non-mom friends, the community I’m in, my daughter’s babysitter (we love her so much), my daughter’s kindergarten teacher (can’t believe next week is the last week of school!), the Boys & Girls Club (we are doing summer camp there and can’t wait), cool mornings that make running in 85% humidity somewhat tolerable.

Snapshots:
From top to bottom: Fun 70s music show with my mom; hangin’ with my soulmate cat; attempting to work with a dog in my lap; couch time is the best time (and I am always surrounded by pets…and my daughter haha).

The post Weekly Roundup: May 24, 2024 appeared first on Kim Hooper's Blog.