There’s some me in here, talking about one of my favorite pastimes, contra dancing

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Finished reading: All Join Hands by Thomas Curren 📚Much better written than I had expected, this is non-fiction about one of my favorite pastimes: contra dancing. History and personalities. A few errors of fact but most people won’t notice.

Finished reading: Translation State by Ann Leckie 📚I got to read this pre-release and enjoyed it. Somehow much different from her other novels, though there’s still quite a bit of tea drinking. The sci-fi storyline is mostly a backdrop for a tale about relationships. Recommended.

Finished reading: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler 📚A good read. Thought-provoking, interesting characters. Dystopian near-future science fiction. The second novel I’ve read recently where the Buddhists save the planet.

I’ve been on such a run of work lately, barely time to breathe. Starting tomorrow, I’m unemployed until July. Bliss. The joys (and stresses) of self-employment, 20-year anniversary coming up!

Currently reading: Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond 📚

Currently reading: All Join Hands by Thomas Curren 📚

Currently reading: Translation State by Ann Leckie 📚

Currently reading: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler 📚

Finished reading: The Empress and the English Doctor by Lucy Ward 📚A good read, interesting history of inoculation and vaccination in the smallpox era.

Still reading: Clarissa by Samuel Richardson 📚Perfect “about to fall asleep” reading because nothing ever happens. I’ve been reading it for weeks and still have 80+ hours ahead of me. And I’m enjoying it but am glad I wasn’t a 19th-century female.

Currently reading: The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain 📚

Currently reading: The White Mosque by Sofia Samatar 📚

Finished reading: Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett 📚Such a fun novel! It’s about death, addiction, depression, and a few more dark subjects but somehow the whole is light and life-affirming.

Finished reading: Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder 📚Worth reading, stories of the unhoused. But woefully short on solutions.

I’m planning to do a personal retreat in June. I’m at a crossroads in my work and want to take some time away to think about how I want to spend the next 7 years before retirement. I have some good questions to ponder, but would love to hear what’s worked for others.

Amazing “smorgastarta“ made at our local general store for takeout dinner this week!

The NIH poured $1 billion into long Covid research, with little to show for it

Currently reading: Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder 📚

Currently reading: Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett 📚

Finished reading: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt 📚I didn’t love it. It’s mostly a book about the outcomes of bad parenting.

Finished reading: The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik 📚Occasionally annoying because the writing can be so repetitive, but overall satisfying and fun.

Currently reading: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt 📚 Oops, I may be reading too many books at the same time! It’s still winter where I live so that’s my excuse.

Currently reading: The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik 📚

Finished reading: I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai 📚A murder mystery with social commentary and very well done. Highly recommended.