Weekly Roundup: November 11, 2022

Weekly Roundup: November 4, 2022 Weekly Roundup: November 18, 2022

Weekly Roundup: November 11, 2022

It’s 11-11-22. How often does the month + the date = the year? Is there a math person who can weigh in on this?

Quote of the week:
“I think everything in life is art. What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone, and how you talk. Your smile and your personality. What you believe in, and all your dreams. The way you drink your tea. How you decorate your home. Or party. Your grocery list. The food you make. How your writing looks. And the way you feel. Life is art.” –Helena Bonham Carter

What I’m reading:
We Are the Light by Matthew Quick. He wrote The Silver Linings Playbook and I loved that one. I’m liking his new one so far.

What I’m listening to:
Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery by Catherine Gildiner. Love me some psychology.

What I’m watching:
Big news–I watched an actual movie this past week! I was out of town to run a race last weekend, meaning I had alone time in a hotel room, which was exquisite. I watched The Good Nurse on Netflix. I thought it was very well done. I read the book it’s based on some years back and I thought they did a good job taking the book to screen.

Writing news:
No news this week! I’m in a waiting phase and hoping to have news to share soon!

What I’m talking about:
Same as last week–THE MIDTERMS! Overall, I’m happy. Many of the Trump-backed politicians were not successful (if Dr. Oz would have won, I think I would have fainted). All five states with abortion on the ballot voted to increase access. Women had some big wins: Aruna Miller made history as the first South Asian woman elected lieutenant governor in the U.S.; Andrea Campbell is Massachusetts’ first Black woman attorney general; Becca Balint is Vermont’s first woman, first LGBTQ+ representative in Congress; Kathy Hochul is the first woman elected NY Governor; Leigh Finke is the first trans person ever elected to the Minnesota State Legislature; Maura Healey is the first woman governor in Massachusetts; Summer Lee is the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania; Zooey Zephyr is the first trans person elected to the Montana State Legislature. It’s also heartening to see so many young, Gen Z voters show up. There’s no way some these backwards policies will survive with the young people who are becoming politically active.

While the “Red Wave” was not the tsunami people predicted, there were still lots of right-wing wins. The Republicans will likely take the House. Senate is too close to call. We will have to see how it all plays out…

I’m not ready to talk about Trump’s plan to run in 2024. I might never be ready to talk about that.

Interesting things I learned this week:

Women have voted more than men in every election since 1980Armadillos nearly always give birth to identical quadruplets Nintendo was founded in 1889 (as a trading card company)A million seconds is about 11 daysParents who have to take off work to take care of sick kids (or otherwise deal with childcare issues) cost American businesses $3 billion a year. On a related note, this country really needs subsidized day care In the U.S., 20-35% of working women who give birth never return to their previous job. Again, subsidized day care would help with this

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“France last guillotine execution.” I had heard that they were still using the guillotine in the 1970s and I thought there was no way that could be true… but IT IS! The last guillotine execution was in 1977.

What I’m grateful for:

A successful half marathon! I ran a race in Ventura this past Sunday and I felt healthy and strong. I finished in 1:37:57 for 3rd woman overall and 1st in my age group!Puppy pee pads. Without them, my house would be way more of a mess than it is. And, yes, we’ve officially adopted Rosie (vet confirmed no microchip). I just ordered a doggie DNA test because I’m a nerd like that. I’m pretty sure she’s a “snorkie” (schnauzer/yorkie mix)A dinner date with my friend, Steph. Between working (a lot) and being a mom (to a 5-year-old and a new puppy), I don’t get out much. It’s such a treat when I do

A few snapshots: