Weekly Roundup: October 27, 2023

It’s my birthday! I turn 44 today and I’m so grateful for all the good in my life. I had a nice breakfast out this morning, followed by a restorative yoga class. I’m going to my daughter’s class Halloween party in a few minutes, then picking up one of my best friends at the airport. It’s going to be a nice weekend and a good year ahead.

Quote of the week:
“We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves.” –May Lamberton Becker

What I’m reading:
I’ve been engrossed with Nathan Hill’s latest book, Wellness. I LOVED his first book, The Nix, and this new one is also wonderful.

What I’m listening to:
Still making my way through Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll.

What I’m watching:
Nada. I’m in between shows at the moment. I need something good to get into.

Interesting things I learned this week:

Julia Child’s first cookbook was rejected by 21 publishers before going on to sell millions of copiesMovies are getting longer. The average blockbuster now runs 30 minutes more than films did in the 1990s, according to a recent Economist survey Amazon is on track to control 80% of the book market by 2025. Yikes, this is scary! Please buy indie! If you don’t have a local indie shop that’s convenient, shop at Bookshop.org!Nearly half of the population of Gaza is under the age of 18. So many children affected by what’s happening. It’s really heartbreakingCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law allowing for up to five days of time off work for reproductive-related losses. It’s about time. I hope other states follow suitWe’re in for an El Niño winter… and it’s supposed to be a strong one, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The northern part of the US will be drier and warmer, while the south and west will see a lot of rain

Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Is a banana a berry?” I heard this somewhere (likely something kid-related on YouTube) and thought it could not be true, but it is. From the Interwebs: “In botany, a true ‘berry’ is a fruit that grows from a single ovary. It usually has a slightly soft exocarp (outer peel), fleshy pericarp (middle portion), and soft endocarp (area that surrounds the seeds). Typically, berries also have many seeds. They don’t have a stone or pit like, say, peaches or plums… The banana flower contains one ovary, which grows into a single banana. The banana also has a somewhat soft skin, juicy flesh, and many tiny seeds. So, bananas are true berries.” Who knew?

What I’m grateful for:

44 years! I’m healthy, which is winning the lottery in my bookA dinner out on Wednesday to celebrate my dad’s birthday. I like to think he was with us, even if we could not hug himSeeing the Taylor Swift Eras Tour movie with my daughter. She danced so much (and then sat in my lap because it was THREE HOURS LONG). I’m not a Swiftie by any means, but it was a fun experienceMy good friend arriving today. We haven’t seen each other in about a year-and-a-half so it will be nice to have some quality time

Snapshots:

Me at 44. My first run as a 44 year old. And the winner for best card goes to… A beautiful arrangement from my friend’s new florist shop—check it out here! I just love how cats cuddle themselves.

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