New bio/tagline: “mothering, researching, reading, writing, playing, making, always learning”
Testing my commitment to embracing radical uncertainty
This week is really asking me to live my commitment to embracing radical uncertainty. I’ve had a hypothyroidism flare due to the cold weather, which has impacted my sleep habits and energy levels. We had a big winter storm and while it hasn’t been a huge problem, it shifted some childcare plans away from what we usually have. The kid is home today for a school holiday, which is expected but different than normal, and due to the winter storm he’ll have a two-hour delay tomorrow. (Guess who won’t? His dad. Which means I’m in charge of all the dealing with the delay, I think.)
This has been a test, too, of my ability to do my job while living the life I live. Last week, I was able to get a lot done, even in the face of brain fog. I have hopes that I’ll be able to do likewise this week, and it’s nice that my next real deadline isn’t until next week or the week after anyway.
It’s hard to be a person who craves system and consistency and also live with the built-in uncertainty of chronic illness and parenting, and of course a pandemic adds another layer. I think it would serve me well to build some resilient, flexible systems. Sort of like menus as Dr. Katy Peplin and Dr. Katie Linder have written about, maybe. I’m going to keep thinking about this. I’ll let you know where I land.
Finished reading: The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo 📚
I definitely want to write a longer review of this one, but I need some time to sit with it first. I love it.
What gave her strength then? We cannot know for sure. That contrary thing inside her? The hard stone of rage that all lonely girls possess? - Leigh Bardugo, THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS 💬📚
Okay, I’ll do the 10 year challenge.
Easy magic is pretty. Great magic asks that you trouble the waters. It requires a disruption, something new.Leigh Bardugo, THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS
💬📚
Yesterday I interrupted my kid’s marathon viewing of BLIPPI and transformed it into a marathon viewing of PHINEAS AND FERB, I am the best at parenting, AMA
My reading life 📚
Since the Micro.blog community is starting a reading group in the near future, I thought it would be a good time to talk about my reading habits and tastes.
My favorite books I’ve read in recent years are Tamsyn Muir’s GIDEON THE NINTH, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s MEXICAN GOTHIC, and Tracy Deonn’s LEGENDBORN. My favorite book of all time is Piers Anthony’s ON A PALE HORSE. (I’m aware my fave is problematic. I love his books anyway.) I first read it in seventh grade. It was the first urban fantasy book I had ever read and I loved that it combined an interesting world, cool philosophical and metaphysical ideas, and characters I loved.
I read widely and enjoy many popular genres. My default fiction genre of choice is fantasy. I also really enjoy soft science fiction, cozy mystery, and Regency romance. I rarely like realistic or literary fiction, but sometimes an author or book in those categories will catch my interest. I read a lot of nonfiction, too, usually focused on my latest obsession or professional needs.
Right now I’m reading Leigh Bardugo’s THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS, Caitlin Doughty’s SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES AND OTHER LESSONS FROM THE CREMATORY, and Kelly J. Baker’s SEXISM ED.
I read physical books, ebooks, audiobooks, and sequential art (comics/graphic novels).
I tend to read books marketed as young adult or adult books that crossover well to a teen audience. This is partly because of my professional history as a high school teacher and middle school librarian and partly because I love a good bildungsroman. I love the possibility and promise of the teen years. Also, I think reading should be fun.
I’m really impressed by authors who can create an evocative sense of place, like Erin Morgenstern or Alicia Jasinka.
I love to chat books and recommend reads, so please feel free to get in touch if you’d like to talk about books!
Currently reading: The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo 📚
I have so much respect for how dark Bardugo is willing to go with these fairytales. The twist is consistent but shocks me each time.
My workplace harassment training is promoting person-first language, but ends with “Ultimately, it is important to treat everyone as an individual and respect the words with which they define themselves.” Wish that part was up front. Person-first v. identity-first is so fraught.