Meghan Kowalski
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  • Resume
  • Presentations & Publications
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Kid Reads: November 30, 2023

11/30/2023

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I read a lot of books with my kiddo. Kid Reads is a biweekly look at what we've enjoyed recently. ​
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Angelina at the Fair
Katharine Holabird, Helen Craig (illustrator)

Our kiddo is into all things glitzy and girly at the moment. That includes reading books in the Angelina Ballerina series. In this particular title, she visits a fair with her cousin. What I love about these books is that Angelina usually does something naughty and learns from the consequences. In this one, she learns to take care of someone smaller than her.
*Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org
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The Now: November 29, 2023

11/29/2023

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Some private high schoolers in Michigan were assigned an essay on evaluating websites. Apparently, their teacher referred to a page on our website as a resource for them. This is great! The downside is that they are abusing our online chat support service. We get one or two actual questions and then it devolves in to juvenile antics. Today was not the first time this has happened. It's a mix of fun and aggravating.

On top of dealing with teenagers, here's what I'm working on:
  1. Finals Week Social Media: Classes end Saturday and final exams kick off Tuesday. I've spent a lot of this week putting together motivational and study break social media content. My usual material was feeling a bit stale so I used ChatGPT to help spur some post ideas. (It's a good tool when you use it right!) I also made a bunch of graphics. My favorite one uses a photo of my colleague in a high visibility vest. Canva's background removal feature is my best friend.
  2. Research Assignment Design: We're on to draft three of our article! For this version, we're just going through and commenting. For this round, we are trying to focus on content things and, as my colleague put it, thinking like a peer-reviewer. It's soooooo hard not to line edit.
  3. Holiday Prep: Tis the season! We're doing a countdown calendar for our kiddo this year. We made a list of things (treats, small toys, and activities) to put in there but will adjust on the fly as necessary. We also sent out her present list to the families. Santa also jumped on things and we ordered her gifts. Now I just need to decide what to buy everyone else. Part of my family is opting to do no gifts, but I may get everyone a book anyway. I can't help myself!

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The Weekly Wrap: November 26, 2023

11/26/2023

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I was out of town with my family and yesterday was a travel day. This is going to be a short issue. Have a great Sunday!

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  • Techniques for mindful productivity. [Ness Labs]
  • A key factor for leadership. [Inc.]
  • What generation do you communicate in at work? [WaPo - gift link]
  • This looks like fun! [enJOY]
  • Who profits from incarcerated reality shows? [Anti-Racism Daily]
  • Write a meaningful thank you note. [HBR - may be paywalled]
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  • A look inside Gaza. [The Daily]
  • Miners' black lung disease is not a thing of the past. [Up First]
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  • Does seeing my kiddo scream, "Chiiiickkkken!" every time she saw a chicken or rooster in Key West count? It should, cause it was adorable. [Florida Rambler]
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  • While in Key West, we went to dinner at First Flight. This microbrewery is in the building where Pan-Am airlines got it's start. The food was great, but we really enjoyed the Nuts & Bolts amber ale. It had a delightfully creamy mouthfeel and hints of chocolate and pecan. If we didn't fly home, some of this would have come with us.  [First Flight]
  • For Thanksgiving to feel like Thanksgiving, I need turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. I also need orange glazed carrots. These started to grace our table when I was a kid and quickly became my favorite vegetable side. Carrots on their own are good, but the citrus kick elevates them while also bringing a fresh note to a heavy plate of food. [My Evernote]
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Out of Office

11/20/2023

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I will be on scattered hiatus until after the Thanksgiving holiday. I will share the usual Weekly Wrap, but all other posting will be paused.

Our normal schedule will resume on Monday, November 27.
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The Weekly Wrap: November 19, 2023

11/19/2023

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On Tuesday, we received the last delivery from our farm share. It was our first time doing this and it turned out to be a rather tasty experience. It also was an education. 

This week, I wanted to share some things we learned over the past few months:

  • Be flexible with meal planning. In the past, I used to plan our entire menu on Friday. I could not do that when we didn't know what would be in our bag each Tuesday. Thus, I adopted the "pick a protein, cook a veggie on the fly" method. It worked quite well and we rarely had to compost an item from our share.
  • My lunch meal prep did the heavy lifting with using veggies the other people in my family do not enjoy. I would search my recipe archive based on these ingredients to decide what to make. That led to some great finds - like marinated cauliflower salad.
  • It was important to process each bag the day we received it. On Tuesday night, I would inventory the contents, bag greens with paper towels, separate root veggies from their tops, remove rubber bands, and freeze anything we knew we could use later.
  • Subscribing to The Farm Share Newsletter was a great help. So many menu and how to ideas.
  • It's really fun to try new foods! I've never had an Asian pear before. They are delightfully sweet and crisp.
  • Roasting and pickling are your friend. Roasting works for almost every veggie and proved an easy way to make a side to our protein. Pickling items was a convenient way to use items we would not eat right away but could not freeze. We've got some pickled radishes in our fridge right now and I like to add them to sandwiches or on top of other entrees.

Have you ever had a farm share? What did you learn?

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  • A call to savor. [enJOY]
  • College has changed. Students and faculty are still figuring out how to adjust. [The Chronicle of Higher Education - may be paywalled]
  • Narrow traffic lanes are safer. [Greater Greater Washington]
  • If you need a pick me up, look at these funny animal pictures. [Colossal]
  • Break these resume formatting rules. [Career Contessa]
  • Ocean wave energy is intensifying. [WaPo - gift link]
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  • The rising cost of fish and chips. [The Indicator]
  • AI is the very definition of "beg forgiveness later." [Planet Money]
  • School vouchers aren't necessarily better. [The Indicator]
  • Turkey tips. [Life Kit]
  • A look at the history of Hamas. [Throughline]
  • The science behind cutting down on salt. [Short Wave]
  • My new "archival" listen podcast is The Kitchen Sisters Present. These two episodes I found particularly good.
    • Make Coffee Black Again [Kitchen Sisters]
    • Archiving the Underground — Hip Hop at Harvard & Cornell [Kitchen Sisters]
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  • Our kiddo is really into Fancy Nancy at the moment. She adores the books and also enjoys watching the animated show. She clearly sees herself in the main character who is a little girl with crazy, curly hair who likes wearing fancy dresses. I love that there’s a episode that teaches her about collective bargaining and the power of peaceful protest.  [Disney Junior]
  • We never got around to watching the final two seasons of Jack Ryan. Since it's been so long since we watched the show, we opted to restart it from season one. I forgot just how good some of the characters are. I also love the complexity the writers gave to the adversaries. There is a lot more going on here than a straightforward action-thriller. [Amazon Prime]
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  • I am grateful that the last weeks of our farm share came with manageable amounts of kale. At our grocery store, it only comes in HUGE quantities. The farm share had a perfectly sized cluster of leaves that was easy to use. This week, I used it up in Tuscan chicken with white beans and kale. We sous vided our chicken breast and then let it cook off for a few minutes in the bean mix. It was quite good but, I think, would have better with skin on chicken. [Cooking Light via My Evernote]
  • We also made oven roasted autumn medley. This is one of our family favorites but we haven't enjoyed it since last fall. Normally, I bake this in a ceramic casserole dish. This time, I tossed everything on a cookie sheet. Not only did it cook faster but everything got a bit more color. I think I will stick with this method in the future. [Budget Bytes]
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Just Good Things: November 17, 2023

11/17/2023

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I love that our HVAC units are Wi-Fi connected. Today, while in a Zoom meeting, I was able to adjust the temperature without leaving my seat. Plus, this means we can reset temperatures when we're away. Such a little thing but it makes life so much easier.

Here's what else was good this week:
  • Rain boots
  • Going grocery shopping as a family
  • Caught up on all my magazine reading
  • Kiddo played by herself for almost an entire day
  • People I need to talk to for work FINALLY got back to me
  • Walking on to a metro train without having to wait
  • Baking muffins with the kiddo
  • Caught up on my work email
  • Maintaining a permanent packing list

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Kid Reads: November 16, 2023

11/16/2023

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I read a lot of books with my kiddo. Kid Reads is a biweekly look at what we've enjoyed recently. It's just been a lot of Fancy Nancy lately.​
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Fancy Nancy: Saturday Night Sleep Over
​Jane O'Connor, Robin Preisser Glasser (ill.)

I think this book may be why our kiddo keeps asking for various friends to come over to her house. She enjoys the story but is also concerned why the mommy and daddy go away. I love how it shows that kids need a good community beyond their parents.
Fancy Nancy: Fanciest Doll in the Universe
​Jane O'Connor, Robin Preisser Glasser (ill.)
​

Our kiddo cannot stop talking about the Marabelle doll. This story has me searching for a kid friendly high tea. I think she would adore being able to recreate this plot.
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Fancy Nancy: Aspiring Artist
​Jane O'Connor, Robin Preisser Glasser (ill.)

I LOVE that this book includes real life examples of art. The illustrations are in the usual Fancy Nancy, heavily detailed and frothy style, but, superimposed on that, are pictures of real life artwork. This is a great exploration of all the ways we can make and enjoy art.
*Books shared here may be affiliate links for Bookshop.org
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The Now: November 15, 2023

11/15/2023

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At work, I tried something new today. I declared it a "loose ends" day. Instead of working on major projects, I just tackled all the little things I've had lingering on my to do list. It felt so good to finally get those off my plate. I think, if my schedule allows, I will try to do this once a month.

Here's what else I'm working on:
  1. Email Clean Out: After over a week away from the office, my inboxes are a complete disaster. I didn't get a chance to review anything and I am paying for it. After my initial triage to get to the most important items, I'm making a concerted effort to get through everything else. 
  2. Semester Wrap Up: We're nearing the end of the Fall semester. While we are in the midst of paper writing season, I am working on closing out the semester. I have some final marketing pitches to send, documentation to review, and plans to make for the Spring. A lot of my work from home next week will focus on prepping for the spring.
  3. Travel Planning: We head out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday soon. We're making lists, deciding our ground transportation options, and trying to prepare our kiddo for her first airplane ride. Also, we need to figure out how few toys we can get away with packing. I don't want to show up at the airport with a dozen bags.

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The Weekly Wrap: November 12, 2023

11/12/2023

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I always knew we lived in a wonderful community, but that was never made clearer to me than on Monday evening.

I arrived in Indianapolis for a work conference earlier that day. After FaceTiming with my family, I saw some concerning news come across our building's email list-serv. I alerted my husband since I knew he was doing bedtime routine with the kiddo. It turned out that there was a fire in our condo building. Because of the attention and quick actions of our neighbors, the fire department arrived quickly and was able to extinguish the fire without it spreading too far. (No one was hurt but the building is dealing with the aftermath and mitigation of the impacted area.) 

I called my husband as soon as they evacuated. While I knew my family was physically safe, my mind raced trying to figure out options of where they could stay and what they would need if they were not allowed back in the building. It was agony not to be there in person. I deal with tough situations by focusing on what I can do to resolve the situation. There was literally nothing I could do in this case. I couldn't even get a flight back home that night. My family had to remain outside for two hours while DC Fire ensured the fire was out and the building was safe to reoccupy.

​Our kiddo was nonplussed by the entire event. She got extra time on her tablet, was able to see lots of pets, and even enjoyed a snack. A woman who lives on the street behind us walked around offering pouches and other kid treats to those who wanted them. One of the firefighters talked to our kiddo about Daniel Tiger. Once my family was allowed back in the building, kiddo went to bed as if nothing happened.

I am grateful to live among neighbors who watch out for each other. While I am, admittedly, still dealing with anxiety around this, I know that our community is there to help.

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  • Describing interior design style. [apartment therapy]
  • The searches where Google makes money. [The Verge]
  • When travel brings you charming experiences. [The Deleted Scenes]
  • "You have the power to transform something mundane into something special." [Hedger Humor]
  • We need to expand how we design and test things. [AP News]
  • Star forts are shockingly beautiful. [The Atlantic - may be paywalled]
  • The business of prestige television. [The New Yorker - may be paywalled, reader submission]
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  • Ways to make less waste. [Life Kit]
  • How to protect yourself from scammers wanting your money. [Life Kit]
  • The connection between the economy and your health. [The Indicator]
  • When Reno was the capital of "migratory divorce." [99% Invisible]
  • The racial bias encoded in our AI. [Code Switch]
  • Some charming economics. [The Indicator]
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  • Wow! [@flySFO]
  • I know there are mixed opinions of Kenneth Branagh's Hercule Poirot, but I enjoy his rendition immensely. This week, we watched the latest movie in the series, A Haunting in Venice. Branagh stars and directs again. In this film, the shooting style is quiet different from the first two in the series. There is no symmetry which adds to the eerie feeling of the story. The movie also plays with a few elements borrowed from horror, including jump scares. That amps up the drama. I think I need to rewatch this as I feel like there would be easter eggs to uncover. Also, I love how Venice the city feels like one of the main characters. [Hulu]
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  • Due to my conference, I mostly ate out this week. Luckily, there were plenty of options near my hotel. One evening, I opted to order dinner from P.F. Chang's. The chicken and broccoli were a disappointment. But, the mundanity of that dish was balanced out by the shrimp dumplings. They were tender and fresh with a tangy dipping sauce. I would get them again. [P.F. Chang's]
  • Before I left town, we made Tuscan sausage and white bean ragu in the slow cooker. This was a fairly easy chop and dump dinner. I was a little annoyed that I had to roll the sausage into tiny meatballs but the result was tender mouthfuls of flavor. So, admittedly, that tedious step was worth it. Also, we opted to bake the accompanying gnocchi instead of boiling. We like the texture better. [Half-Baked Harvest]
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Just Good Things: November 10, 2023

11/10/2023

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Kiddo's daycare is closed for Veteran's Day. Luckily, so is my office. I'm always grateful that my holiday schedule generally aligns with hers.

Here's what else was good this week:
  • Both of my flights took off and landed early
  • Panera's bistro French onion soup
  • Feeling chic in my new coat
  • The conference rooms were (mostly) a normal temperature
  • An excellent chocolate chip cookie
  • Kiddo helped make grilled cheese for her dinner
  • Being able to metro to a public library
  • Kind neighbors
  • Fantastic engagement during my conference presentation

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