Weekly Roundup: May 5, 2023

Weekly Roundup: April 28, 2023 Weekly Roundup: May 26, 2023

Weekly Roundup: May 5, 2023

Happy Friday! And Happy May! And Happy Cinco de Mayo! And Happy Birthday to my mama! That was too many exclamation marks, I know. One of my writing teachers once told me to never, ever use an exclamation mark. In novels, I use them sparingly (I think. I should check), but there are no rules with the weekly roundups.

Quote of the week:
“I have woven a parachute out of everything broken.” –William Stafford

What I’m reading:
I finished The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty. It won the 2022 National Book Award, so I feel like I’m just not edgy or hip or smart enough to “get” this book. It wasn’t for me. I’m now reading Maggie Smith’s Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change. After reading her memoir, I am a devoted fan and must read everything she’s written.

What I’m listening to:
Just downloaded What Bravery Looks Like: An Epic Journey Through Loss to Love by Laurel Braitman. I’ve heard good things.

What I’m watching:
I’m back to Bad Sisters on Apple TV. I have a couple more episodes left of Season 1. Love it.

Writing news:
Gemini Magazine announced me as the winner of the 2023 Poetry Open! My poem, “Grief Hour,” will be published online this month. I’ll share the link then.

What I’m talking about:
Not much. I don’t have cable TV at my new house and I quite like it that way. I’m pretty detached from the news for now and enjoying the reprieve.

Interesting things I learned this week:

As of 2021, about 15% of the population runs recreationallyFauja Singh is the oldest marathon finisher at 101 and he has a children’s book about himThe “nost” in “nostalgia” means “homecoming”; the “algia” means “pain”For the third year in a row, the population of California has declinedAccording to research, being a mother is equivalent to working 98 hours per weekMore than 349,000 students have experienced gun violence in a school

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Disney on Ice salary.” Took my daughter to see Disney on Ice and was so curious about this. From my googling, it seems that skaters start at around $550/week and go up from there. The average is about $47K/year. Character performers can earn $184k/year!

What I’m grateful for:

A healthy mom who is starting a new year of life today! Losing my dad was so hard on all of us and I can never take health for granted againA mom who used to be a physical therapist. I messed up my back yesterday (while bending down to put something in a cabinet. Hello, middle age!). I have a race on Sunday so I was super worried, but my mom worked some magic and I’m feeling mobile todayHalf marathon on Sunday! I had to miss my last race due to winter virus madness. I’m feeling healthy and ready for a fun race dayMy happy old dog. The vet found a probably-cancerous tumor while at a routine vet visit this week, so I don’t think we have much time left with him. For now, he is eating well and enjoying his daily walks and naps, and I’m grateful for that, however long it lastsAdjusting to the new house. I’ve never been great with change, and this one has been particularly taxing and emotional, but I’m starting to feel settled. My daughter is liking her new space and seems at home too. The house projects continue, but soon we’ll have a backyard deck we can enjoy all summer

Snapshots:

Selfie while walking from my house to my daughter’s soccer practice at the park, which is a 5-minute walk from her dad’s house. Grateful for all the closeness.