![]() 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 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:
![]() 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. ![]() 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:
![]() 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. ![]() 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. I've been slow to add books to my TBR list lately. Nothing has jumped out, but these two coffee table-esque titles did. You can see my complete TBR list on Pinterest.
*Items featured here are Bookshop.org affiliate links. ![]() 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.
![]() 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:
![]() 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.
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