In the snow
We took Zoya sledding a couple of days ago. She loved it. I didn’t grow up with an appreciation for winter. Ever since I was a child, I found it too cold,...
A year ending with nothing left to say
I had a coffee with a friend last week, and he remarked that I hadn’t sent out posted a “weekend reading” post/newsletter in several months. I showed him my...
The change of the seasons
The tree in our front yard starts turning yellow in late August. By the end of September, it has shed almost all of its leaves, leaving a dusting of golden...
Sounds of summer
The blue jays and the cardinals singing to each other as the sun begins to rise. The exuberant “hellos” from neighbors as you pass them on your morning walk...
Tell your friends you love them
Tell your friends you love them when you can. You never know when you may not be able to say it again.
When ChatGPT takes my job
I worry a lot about what will happen when machines take over my job. As someone who does a lot of writing for work, whether that be in briefing notes or...
Looking for delight
If you asked my what my favorite word in the world is, I’d say it’s a toss up between “delight” and “grace.” I’m sure I’ll have a lot more to say about grace...
Forty-one
At this time last week, we were caught in a winter storm. It is the time of year for snow and ice; every February we hope that the winter will pass us by,...
Tennis lesson
During our recent vacation, I decided to take a beginner’s tennis lesson. I had taken a tennis lesson years before, when I was younger and spryer, but everything I learned in that lesson had already left me. I was starting fresh and anew.
I don’t have any hobbies
Growing up, I collected stamps. This probably comes as no surprise to most of you that know me: I’ve long been enthralled by all things related to postal...
New beginnings, new returns
After almost a year away, I return to work next week. Zoya will be starting daycare early in the week, and both L and I start work shortly after that. My...
No ideas to explore
I have nothing to say. No stories to tell, no insights to share, no ideas to explore. I’ve been sitting on this list of links for weeks now, waiting for...
Five nice things
Five nice things that passed through my mind this morning as I sat in front of my iPad and started to type: We have a magnolia tree in our front yard, and...
People are getting vaccinated
People I know are starting to get vaccinated. Depending on where they live, friends and family are starting to receive their COVID vaccines, and I couldn’t...
An inbox of newsletters
My inbox* is filled with newsletters. There was a time in the not-too-distant past when I was able to stay on top of things using my RSS reader, by following...
"The limits to your ambition were thus expected to be settled."
A few words from the pen of James Baldwin: Letter from a Region in My Mind, 1962: There is nothing new in this merciless formulation except the explicitness...
Out too early?
A bevy of the parenting books that I’m reading all refer to a fourth trimester: that a baby would normally stay in the womb for a few extra months if it was...
Forgiving myself for not being able to focus
The Pomodoro technique isn’t working for me anymore. Just a few months ago, I had no problems getting my work done in 25-minute chunks, and was able to do...
Wednesday afternoon coffee breaks
I think I'd like to try something, and need your help in figuring out if it's a good idea. I'd like to host mini "coffee breaks" every Wednesday afternoon at...
The cities and towns we have around us
When people asked me what I missed most about living in the big city, all of my answers involved access to things outside of the house. I would answer that I...
