Meghan Kowalski
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  • Resume
  • Presentations & Publications
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  • Blog
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The Weekly Wrap: February 5, 2023

2/5/2023

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There is a tile floor in my office that is lots of little squares. The little squares are blue and yellow. Each color is clustered together to make larger squares that are each 8x8 tiles big.

When I'm in that room, my brain always tries to make new blocks of patterns. This one will be 4x4 of both colors. That one will be a long row. Another will have a four quadrants. Another will be 75% of one color and 25% of the other. ​My brain can't help but see new shapes.  

I'm not sure if this my brain trying to amuse itself during a quiet period or some weird byproduct of spatial mathematics. I'm not bothered by it; I just think it's interesting that this is how my brain works. I notice it with wall paper and carpet designs too. Something about patterns makes my brain go, "Okay, but what if....?"

Do you ever try to make patterns out of other patterns?

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  • I understand all these idioms. Ergo, I am old. [Lifehacker]
  • We are a closed captions on household because no matter what we try, the dialogue is always too quiet. [The Guardian]
  • The comfort of Kraft mac and cheese. [Catapult]
  • A murmuration of starlings and the destruction they can cause. [WaPo - gift link]
  • Why the Gen Z Shake works. [The Tab]
  • Not so sure I like knowing what viruses keep epidemiologists up at night. [NPR]
  • Impressionists may have been painting air pollution. [WaPo - gift link]
  • Making Dijon mustard. [Atlas Obscura]
  • You know how we solve this problem? Stop degrading and discounting feminized traits like sharing emotions, being vulnerable, and asking for help. The staggering disfunction of toxic masculinity comes down to the fear these kinds of men have of being called "girly." All humans are emotional. It's the engrained socialization of men bottling the hurt and fear up that cause problems. No one should be afraid to cry or show they are in pain. [The Atlantic - may be paywalled]
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  • Why not having a gas stove is no longer a deal breaker for me. [Short Wave]
  • How to get started with meal prep. [Life Kit]
  • The battle for water from the Colorado River. [The Daily]
  • Finding groundbreaking economics on Groundhog Day. [Planet Money]
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  • I love it when I find a movie that has an unexpectedly good cast. We turned on 12 Strong since it was something that looked semi interesting. Every time a new cast member was introduced, I went, "I love that guy!" This is just a generic war movie, but the attention to detail was good. I also appreciated that they did not explain the military lingo. Plus, a constant feeling of unease and anxiety permeated the film which made it far more believable. [Netflix] 
  • The husband is going out of town for work and we didn't want to start a new long series to binge. As an interim fix, we put on Chernobyl which I have been wanting to rewatch. It's just so darn good - rich in detail and (adequately) historically accurate. Always worth a second view. This round, I realized that the accident happened while we were alive. In my mind, it happened "long ago." To me, "long ago" is before my birth, not two years after it. [HBO Max]
  • I feel vindicated that my ears work fine. It's the bad sound in movies that's the problem. [Vox]
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  • We made sheet pan gnocchi with sausage. This is just a slight spin on the other sheet pan gnocchi dishes we've been eating. What made this time great was that we used pork Italian sausage instead of chicken. It's been a long time since we've eaten pork sausage and it felt extra luxurious. I also amped the flavor by tossing everything in Tuscan herb olive instead of plain. Plus, I doubled the red onion because it's a flavor I very much enjoy. [The Seasoned Mom]
  • It's been awhile since we had tofu and I wanted to try something new. Turns out the peanut tofu with rice was just a remixing of flavors I've had in other recipes. Still tasty, but not quiet the new flavor I was looking for. It did reheat well for lunch the next day. [Budget Bytes]
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Just Good Things: February 3, 2023

2/3/2023

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I just finished a packet of cream cheese and chive sandwich crackers. I know the filling is entirely fake, processed cheese but I don't care. I love the salty crunch. They make a great desk snack.

Here's what else made me smile this week:
  • Having wireless computer peripherals at home
  • Watching our kiddo adore her new play sink
  • Polishing off the clean out of my "to review" folder on my desktop
  • Having an umbrella handy when it started to rain
  • Visiting the DC Children's' Museum for the first time
  • Laughing at the kiddo when she told an overly inquisitive squirrel to stay away from her donut
  • Waking up to a polite dusting of snow

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What I've Been Reading: February 7, 2023

2/2/2023

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Murder Lo Mein
Vivien Chien

I started the third book in the Noodle Shop mystery series a few nights ago. In many ways, this feels like something I could write. That makes it seem approachable. I'm only a few pages into this, but it's like catching up on a conversation with a friend you haven't seen in awhile - easy and fun. I do get glimmers that this is following into the cozy mystery trope of the lead not being able to pick a "special someone" to focus on. I do find that aggravating after a few books.

Also, I have been on a reading tear this year. I read Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn in less than a week. (Never good shake the Nazi ick factor on that one.) I read Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur in two nights. A friend and I went to her live show and I want to read everything she's written. This was her first book of poetry and it's a powerful call of womanhood.

*Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org.

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The Now: February 1, 2023

2/1/2023

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This was supposed to be our first full week of childcare in the new year. Instead, our kiddo got sick at school yesterday and came home early. We decided to keep her home today as a recovery day. She's napping right now (which she definitely would not have done at school) and I feel vindicated in our decision.

Aside from extra childcare, here's what I've been working on:
  1. Research Assignment Design: We finished the first pass of our joint coding (huzzah!). Now we're working on prep stuff for a second round. My colleague is revising the codebook and I'm reviewing our "interesting" code to see if any trends arise. I'm also going to review our research journal to pull out writing ideas and other to do items. It's kind of nice to have this break from reading transcripts for the umpteenth time.
  2. Faculty Outreach: A few years ago, I emailed the Deans and Chairs at our University to see if a librarian could attend one of their faculty meetings. Exactly one got back to me to schedule something. I tried it again last week and several responded immediately. I set up some meetings, drafted an agenda, and divvyed up assignments. I am so excited that we get to Kool-Aid man our way into this. I've found that these meetings serve as a helpful reminder that the library a) exists and b) has we can offer.
  3. Personal Photo/File Management: I've made time in the evenings to tackle the "To Review" folder on my desktop. I've been naming files and sorting everything. (And making a note to go back and do a deep weed, renaming, and clean up later.) I also managed to share out some pictures to our family's shared album for the first time in 6 months.

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Tuesday Tips: Know When to Stop

1/31/2023

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It can be hard to know when to stop something. When is enough research enough?

Usually, we say it's enough when you keep reading and finding the same things over and over again. When nothing new comes up, that is usually a sign to stop your research or change tactics. What that looks like changes depending on what you are researching.


This is my not so subtle way of saying that knowing when to stop applies to other things as well. I've been debating sunsetting this series for awhile. While there are endless librarian tricks to share, I think there are better ways to do that. I've decided to end the Tuesday Tips series. I'm not sure if that means taking a break and revamping it, or ending it for good. 

If you ever need research support, I am still happy to provide my expertise.

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Something I Noticed

1/30/2023

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The week between Christmas and New Years is a dead zone. As a parent, it's a dead zone with no childcare. I'm fortunate that my university gives us that week off. I don't need to use leave or find childcare coverage. I do, however, need to find ways to entertain a three-year-old for several days which is easier said than done.

One of the moms in our daycare class put together a loose schedule of playdates. Essentially, she said "I'm going to be at this place with my kid at this time. Join us if you want." Since our kiddo loves her friends, we went to a few of the meet ups.

Two of the playdates were at branches of the DC public library system. While our kiddos played, we moms chatted. I noticed that a lot of people were taking advantage of the library to entertain their children. And, by people, I mean moms and grandmas. They were reading books to the kids, helping them with toys, or walking them through the space. Every child was accompanied by a mom or a grandma. There was not a father or a grandfather or any other male caretaker in sight.

This was not at all a surprise. The vast majority of childcare is provided by women. When schools and daycares are closed, the gap in coverage is usually covered by a mom using leave, female relative, or other female caretaker. They are left with the burden (and expense) of how to fill the time with the children.

The massive imbalance of caretaking by gender is not something I am going to diatribe on. Well - not today. While, in the moment, I was grumpy about the visual reminder of the societal burdens of caretaking placed on women, I was also heartened. The library was here to help. 

Filling a full day with kid-friendly activities is hard. Filling a week is even harder. The library made the burden a little less by providing not only a safe space, but also age appropriate things to do. There are story times and activity packs, play spaces and rooms to explore which are designed specifically for children. Librarians are on hand to help with book recommendations or direct activities. And it's free. The library closed the care gap by making it just a little easier for moms and other caretakers to get through a long day. And, it does so without adding any financial burden. 

I've always love libraries. It's why I became a librarian. But I've never before seen them as an oasis of support until I became a parent. They make my life easier and the keep my kiddo happy. I couldn't ask for anything more.

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Now On My TBR

1/30/2023

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I've been slow to add books to my TBR list lately. Nothing has jumped out, but these two coffee table-esque titles did.
Y​ou can see my complete TBR list on Pinterest.
​
*Items featured here are Bookshop.org affiliate links.
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The Weekly Wrap: January 29, 2023

1/29/2023

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We're having a milder winter, but my body doesn't seem to know that. 

Most days, while working, I am freezing. I'll be wearing long pants, a cozy sweater or top, and full coverage shoes or slippers. I still fill chilly. So, I toss on a lap blanket. Still cold. On goes the space heater or up goes the heat. Still cold. So, I throw a coat or extra sweater on top of everything. Only then am I mildly warm. 

If there is  a sun beam available, I will do everything in my power to station myself in it. I'm a cat who moves with the day. It's a good thing I've got office chairs on wheels.

In the evenings, I wear my warmest PJs and practically burrow into a pile of blankets on the couch. I toss my hoodie over my head and hunker down to try to reduce the amount of exposed skin. It's not until right before bed that I feel warm enough to peel off a layer.

My body seems unable to produce and trap body heat. I've been known to cuddle my husband with the sole purpose of stealing his. (He is not a fan of my extremities in the winter because they are ice blocks. Oftentimes, I get swatted away.)

I'm counting down the days until warmer temperatures arrive. Tell me I'm not the only one who seems to be cold blooded.

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  • How to schedule your emails. [WaPo - gift link]
  • Terminology matters. [CNN]
  • The defensive recession mindset. [Culture Study]
  • How to apologize better. [NPR]
  • Kids sleep overs can be good. I loved all the ones I went to. [The Atlantic - may be paywalled]
  • A generational meme. [The Atlantic - may be paywalled]
  • "A wealth of research has shown that masculinity is among the most fragile of identities..." [HBR - may be paywalled]
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  • So quiet you can hear a pin drop... and your heart beat. [The Daily]
  • I love octopuses. [Terrestrials]
  • We need to raise taxes. [The Daily]
  • How easily we're persuaded. [Hidden Brain]
  • Long looooong distance running and its meaning for South Africa. [99% Invisible]
  • This look at Empress Anna's ice palace has wonderfully immersive sound editing. [Atlas Obscura]
  • The power of Pemberley. [Hot and Bothered]
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  • I'm not sure if Gamer was weird, stupid, disturbing, or all three. Gerard Butler stars in this thriller about a con who serves as an avatar in a live, first-person shooter video game. He's controlled by a player and, if he survives 30 rounds, earns his freedom. The filming was very art house style and came across as almost manic. I'm still debating what I think about this one. There were attempts to tell allegories but it's all very overwrought. [Amazon Prime]
  • We finally got around to watching Top Gun: Maverick and I can't believe I waited so long. It was the most enjoyment I've felt watching a movie in years! On its own, the script is lackluster and full of trite one liners. But that doesn't matter. There are layers to the acting, shockingly powerful performances (with phenomenal casting - still can't get over Rooster), and thrilling action scenes. This film is entirely fan service and all the better for it. I think it works even better than the first film but that is only because the original existed. This is likely to be one film I rewatch all the time. And, you know what, I think it deserves its Oscar nod. [Amazon Prime]
  • A delightful collection of shorts where a romance novel author argues with her heroine. If you read romance, this will have you cackling. [Jill Bearup - reader submission]
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  • We made grilled portobello, bell pepper, and goat cheese sandwiches for the first time in a looooong while. They were a touch goat cheese forward because we forgot to take the the log out of the fridge to soften. That lead to more mushing the cheese on than spreading. I've also learned, through trial and error, that it's easier to make the sandwiches if you quarter and flatten the pepper as opposed to cutting strips or doing full halves. [Cooking Light]
  • Made a new recipe this week - southwest skillet ragu. It was kind of like a spicier twist on Hamburger Helper. I accidentally bought ground chicken instead of ground beef but it still was tasty. Not as meaty feeling, but tasty nonetheless. Definitely recommend using a larger pan than you think you need. I almost ran out of space. [The Kitchn]
  • For my lunch meal prep, I tossed together this Lebanese lemon-parsley bean salad. It was so hearty that I forewent the pita on the side. Next time, I am going to double the amount of cucumber. I wanted more of that pop of freshness in the mix. [Cookie + Kate]
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Just Good Things #70

1/27/2023

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Our kiddo's daycare is closed today. Right now, I am forever grateful that she loves watching Daniel Tiger. This is a rare day with no screen time limits because it means I can actually get some work done. She's happy, I'm productive. That's what matters.

Here's what was good this week:
  • The husband and I providing running commentary for each other through an awful, low-budget disaster flick
  • Enjoying an afternoon walk alone
  • Top Gun: Maverick
  • My library holds arrived with perfect timing
  • A stash of cookies in our freezer
  • Teaching in person again
  • Clementines
  • Taking the kiddo to an hibachi restaurant for the first time
  • Spending some time with friends

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The Now: January 25, 2023

1/25/2023

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Yesterday, I found out that my proposal to speak at the 2023 CALM conference was accepted. I did a little jig in my cube. The conference is not until June so I have some time to prepare. I'm debating if it's worthwhile to harness some of my excitement to outline my session this week. I probably won't get to it, but I'm at least thinking about it.

Here's what I am working on.
  1. Research Assignment Design: We are [thisclose] to finishing our first pass of joint transcript coding. We should wrap that up in our working session tomorrow. Then we are going to take a break from that coding to analyze and code the syllabi and assignments. Qualitative research is a long slog, but at least we have a lot to work with out of this data set.
  2. Website Updates: I took a break from working on our website because my brain needed it. I'm feeling refreshed and read to tackle this. Today, I put together a survey to gather some "vibe check" data about what people like and don't like about our website. While responses roll in, I'll start working on some of the low-hanging fruit updates like changing our header and updating some links. Then I'm going to tackle updating the nav bar. Once I figure out how to do that, I should be able to roll right through it.
  3. Annual Planning: Last week, the husband and I embarked on a mission to plan out our annual leave for the year. Between our kiddo's daycare closures, work travel, and other happenings, we wanted to get this down on the books early. We finalized our plan and I got approval for all my leave from my boss. That lead to one plane ticket purchase and price tracking on another. It feels real good to have a handle on this so early.

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