Weekly Roundup: August 1, 2025

Whew. I don’t know about the other parents out there, but summer is killing me. I love that there is so much fun to be had, but doing all the fun while also doing all the responsibilities is a lot. This week’s summer camp was only three hours per day, so I felt like I was doing pickup right after doing drop-off. I hosted various playdates in the afternoon to occupy my daughter (#onlychildproblems) so I was supervising those while working while doing copyedits for my 2026 novel. The only good thing about life being this hectic is that I haven’t had much time to follow the news. Please excuse any typos in this roundup. My brain and body are exhausted.

Quote of the week:
“It is no measure of good health to be well adjusted to a sick society.” —Andrea Gibson, who passed away on July 14. I knew she had cancer, but hearing that she was gone took my breath away. Her writing is beautiful. Do yourself a favor and buy one of her books (or all of them).

What I’m reading:
I Don’t: The Case Against Marriage by Clementine Ford. I love her and this book gets it exactly right.

What I’m listening to:
Murderland: Time and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser. If you are mildly obsessed with serial killers, this book is for you. It’s so well-written and raises the question of if toxic smelters in the Pacific Northwest created the notorious monsters of the 1970s.

What I’m watching:
The docuseries 100 Foot Wave, which is so captivating. We also watched American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden. I didn’t know the full story of the US getting bin Laden. Fascinating.

Writing news:
I’m finishing up copyedits on my 2026 novel. I should have a title and cover to share soon! Readers keep reaching out to me about Woman on the Verge, which makes me so happy. I’m so happy it’s resonating!

Interesting things I learned recently:

The Russian earthquake, measured as an 8.8 according to the US Geological Survey, is the 6th largest ever recordedIn a survey of parents conducted by Atomik Research in 2023, nearly half said they find summer more stressful than the school year Related: The phrase “summer ceiling” is used to refer to the collective obstacles faced by working mothers over the summer “as a result of the scarcity (or complete lack) of childcare resources, couple equity and overall gender equality”Off the northeastern coast of Australia, a team of scientists is using machine-generated fog and artificially brightened clouds to cast shade on the water. They want to see if it’s possible to reduce coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef by cooling the surrounding waterChronic pain afflicts nearly 15% of American adults, according to a 2023 report from the CDC; women are 70% of chronic pain patientsThe tallest living tree, Hyperion, is a coast redwood standing 380 feet. Its location is kept secretTree planting in England is now at its highest recorded rate in over 20 years.Trump’s approval rating dropped to its lowest level of his second term—37%!Renewables like solar and wind are now crushing fossil fuels on price. More than 90% of renewable sources are now cheaper than their available carbon-emitting alternativesRelated: New data shows that California was powered by two-thirds clean energy in 2023, a historic firstYoung Americans are increasingly ditching alcohol. Since 2000, young people have been drinking less and less; by 2023, 62% of people aged 18 to 34 said they drank at all, 10% lower than in 2003Magpies are considered some of the world’s most intelligent creatures. They pass the mirror test, where they can recognize themselves in a mirrorThe world’s largest, heaviest, most dense living organism ever found is the pando tree. Scientists think its massive underground root system started at the end of the last ice age. It occupies 106 acres and is thought to weigh about 13 million poundsSeattle is the northernmost city in the United States and is farther north than Toronto (who knew?!)In medieval Europe, cats were sometimes viewed with suspicion and fear, even linked to witchcraft and evil. They were often killed and some historians suggest this may have indirectly contributed to the severity of the bubonic plague, as reduced cat populations could have allowed rat populations to increase, potentially exacerbating the spread

What I’m grateful for:

A quick getaway to Monterey to see the Indycar race and explore. I saw so many sea lions while running along the shorelineMy daughter’s “Wicked” performance today. Theater camp has been awesomeHosting Mom & Me book club at my house, complete with a pool party. I love our community so muchSo. Many. Playdates. Related: I am very grateful for my poolTaking my dogs to the beach together for the first time. Puppy was terrified of the waves

Snapshots from the past couple weeks:
From top to bottom: A little beach walk; pup’s first beach experience; Indycar at Laguna Seca with my guy; a Monterey tree growing out of my head; the most beautiful run on the shoreline; summer daze; best friends.

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