The Weekly Wrap #100

03.05.2023

I was solo parenting for most of the week. All things considered, even with a 1:30AM wake up one night, it was a pretty good week. Kiddo was happy and cooperative. We had a lot of fun riding the metro to and from school, she helped me make dinner, and we both watched a little more Daniel Tiger than normal.

Kids' shows like Daniel Tiger seep into your brain. DT, as it's referred to in our household, is more ear wormy than most. It's designed to be. Daniel and his community sing short songs to help them remember (and teach) lessons. Our kiddo has taken to repeating some of these. While her dad was gone this week, she sang several renditions of "Grown ups come back." When she visits the potty, she sings the song about flushing and washing your hands. At meals, we encourage her to eat by repeating the "try new foods" song.

These ditties are useful for her and us. They are a friendly way to communicate skills we want her to adapt. Plus, they engage her in various processes making them more fun.

But there is peril here as well. This week, a neighbor held the door open for me, I looked her dead in the eye and sang, "Thank you, for everything you do." Kiddo wasn't even with me.  I turned beet red but she just chortled.

I can only hope she's a parent too. Otherwise, we need to move.

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On a final note, thank you (for everything you doooo!) for sticking with me through 100 issues of The Weekly Wrap. I love drafting this every week and hearing back from you about what you liked.

Does this mean I’m now eligible for syndication?

I started reading Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham at 2:00AM this week. Kiddo had a middle of the night wake up and I was finding it difficult to get back to sleep. I thought a dense non-fiction might help me nod off. This is not a dense non-fiction. It reads like a thriller. It's not dull or boring in the least. In fact, you can see exactly why the producers of the miniseries Chernobyl used this as one of their main resources. Higginbotham opens with a look at the entire Soviet system and how it contributed to the disaster. Utterly fascinating! I can't wait to keep reading this one.

*Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org

• There should just be a gender neutral "previous" or "other" name option. [The Audacity]

• The connection between medical debt and credit scores. [WaPo - gift link]

• Communication tips for parents. Probably good for other frustrating situations.  [Lifehacker]

• Finding words in grief. [The Atlantic - may be paywalled]

• Recommendations for cooking with white wine. [Wine Folly]

• When cats inherit. [Planet Money]

• I know visits are important, but I still don't like going to the dentist. [Life Kit]

• The science of awe. [Hidden Brain]

• Breaking down what’s behind the world's biggest brand. [Gastropod]

• The story about RoboUmp is interesting, but I really enjoyed the look at minor league team names. [99% Invisible]

• The true origins of house music. [Throughline]

• While the Husband was out of town, I watched Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo. This is a short series that applies Kondo's techniques to businesses. There's something immensely soothing in watching people tidy their belongings. This series had the extra oomph of looking at the broader impact on peoples' lives. [Netflix]

• I used to adore Jennifer Lopez's early rom-coms. Marry Me is her latest entry and it's... fine. Nothing special here. I feel like this was more of a vehicle for her to sing. That said, I will totally watch this again if I run across it on TV. [Amazon Prime]

• I gave Downton Abbey: A New Era a spin this week. I very much enjoyed the series, but the movies have fallen flat for me. The world just doesn't translate to the big screen. The episodic format kept things more interesting. [Amazon Prime]

• Since I was solo parenting, the meals this week were quick and simple. I whipped up a veggie and egg fried rice that also fed me lunch the next day. I love how endlessly adaptable fried rice is. I tossed in corn, peas, and carrots with a topping of green onions. I flavored things with soy sauce and packet of seasoning because I am too lazy to make my own. [Sunbird]

• You know what never lets you down because you always get exactly what you'd expect? Frozen French bread pizza. It's never "good" but it's always comforting. I ate this on Friday with a salad after kiddo went to bed while I enjoyed a glass of wine. [Stouffer's]

This is just one pretty book cover. It’s so whimsical. I also like the old school, almost Victorian steampunk vibe. [Bookshop.org - affiliate link]

Five Things is one of my favorite newsletters. Each Sunday, Nico shares a curated list of five fascinating articles with some commentary. His thoughts are always insightful. Also, as an American, I appreciate reading a European take on what he shares. I look forward to getting this in my inbox every week.

I love spying a good vanity plate. Someone in our building has “1II11I1".” I know it’s to beat speeding cameras but it amuses me every time. License Plates shares photos of vanity plates from all over. You can search to find something or scroll and be amused.

Short work week for me AND it’s spring break. To bad I’ve got to compile my massive tenure review portfolio before I go on break.