Meghan Kowalski
  • Home
  • Resume
  • Presentations & Publications
  • Portfolio
  • Reading List
  • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Me
  • Home
  • Resume
  • Presentations & Publications
  • Portfolio
  • Reading List
  • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Me

The Weekly Wrap: May 30, 2021

5/30/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
I like to travel. Actually, what I like is being someplace new, exploring things, eating great good, seeing the sights - all that good stuff. I actually hate the travel leading up to being in a new place.

I've never been a big fan of flying but even driving has it's downsides... it's just so long. So, whenever we are travelling, I always get stressed out and anxious. I'm worried that I'm going to forget something, that I'm packing too much, that something will go wrong en route... like that one time we ended up in Iceland for a night... unplanned. 

Now that we have a kiddo, all those worries are compounded. As long as I'm doing something, I'm usually able to push my anxiety to a back burner. But I can really be a hot mess if I'm just sitting or even get a whiff that something may be remotely amiss. (My husband is a very patient human and I love him.)

Planning to get out of town this weekend - even though it was only 3ish hours away - had me on the verge of a panic attack for a week. Now that we're here, it's fine. Too bad we leave to go home early tomorrow morning...

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

Picture
  • Goodbye, Internet Explorer. [NPR]
  • There are so many ways to cook a hot dog. Which one do you think is the best? [Food52]
  • The cactus black market. [NYT]
  • Can we just not with dress codes anymore. [All In Her Head]
  • The best weekday to use for a mental health day. [HuffPost]
  • Cicadas for the Smithsonian. [WaPo]
  • The world's rarest pasta. [Atlas Obscura]
Picture
  • What's going on with the NRA? [The Daily]
  • First amendment cases are getting really complicated. [The Daily]
  • Space -of the outer kind - on the sea floor. [Short Wave]
  • Looking at police and policing. [Ear Hustle]
  • The history and science of food in flight. [Gastropod]
  • As the pandemic eases, dog walkers and pet sitters are excited to get back to work. [The Indicator]
Picture
  • I fill out a lot of captchas a day. This video explains why they're getting harder. [Vox]
  • We watched the last two episodes of Away. I am bummed that this show is not getting a second season. Yes, it ends in a place that makes it feel complete, but there are so many open storylines they could explore. Can you reboot a show that's only been off the air for less than a year? [Netflix]
Picture
  • We had a loaf of frozen garlic bread I wanted to use up, so I decided to try Budget Bytes' pesto chicken and vegetables. It was fine. Not sure if our meh attitude is for the meal (could have used more - or better - pesto) or the fact that our kiddo was doing the toddler thing all the way up to dinner time.
  • I tossed together another Budget Bytes recipe, ground turkey stir fry, with some cauliflower rice. This one is quick and tasty.
0 Comments

The Look Up: Words and Images

5/28/2021

0 Comments

 
In a few hours, we're getting on the road to spend the long weekend outside of the city. While we're not going far, I've been doing a bunch of quick checks on the weather, hotel updates, and local attractions. So much more planning needs to be done when you're traveling with a toddler. I'm grateful that we're not going any further than we are. 

Here's what else I found myself looking up this week.
​
  • Pepper steak - A show we were watching mentioned this dish and I had no idea what it is. Now I want to eat it.
  • Poison Ivy - We're going to be spending a lot more time outdoors and I wanted a refresher on what the itchy plant looked like.
  • Pronounce "Nacotchtank"- I'm going to do a land acknowledgement in my webinar next week. I wanted to be sure how to pronounce the local community name.
  • Common first words - I started a list of words our kiddo is saying. Since I was having trouble remembering them all, I wanted to see what other common first words I might have missed.
0 Comments

The Now: May 26, 2021

5/26/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Our upstairs neighbors are currently doing something that involves a lot of banging. It's not all that loud, but it keeps moving and the bangs themselves are intermittent. I am very curious about the project they have going on. It's definitely more than hanging pictures and less than installing new floors. Building furniture, perhaps?

It's weird what we find entertaining when working from home.

​Here's what else has my attention at the moment.

WORK
  • This week is our library consortium's annual conference. I presented my session yesterday. Now, I am simply enjoying my time as an attendee. What's nice about this conference is that it's all local so the issues are VERY applicable to what I do. Also, I get to wave at some of my old colleagues which is nice.
  • I'm finalizing my slides and notes for my Core webinar next week. At some point, I'll have to stop futzing and just turn them in to the host committee.
  • During the summer, I try to write one post a month for our library's blog. I drafted the list of what I want to write, so I am chugging my way through that.

PERSONAL
  • We're planning and packing for our Memorial Day weekend trip. I need to remember that the car only has so much space...
  • My order of cascatelli finally arrived! Now I'm trying to find a great slow cooker bolognese to use as our first recipe. Open to suggestions!
  • There's a file on my desktop simply labeled "To Review." Once a month I try to go through and rename, sort, read, etc. anything in there. I haven't done it in a few months, so I decided to make some headway in it this week. It's mostly adorable pictures of my kid that I downloaded from our daycare's app that need renaming and archiving. 

0 Comments

Now Reading: The Montessori Toddler

5/25/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Montessori Toddler: A Parent's Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being
Simone Davies

Our kiddo is in full toddlerhood now. That means I need more patience and to understand how her brain works. This book, so far, has done a great job of sharing why toddlers act the way they do and how to capture their innate curiosity and desire to help. It's also just a really pretty book. Lots of white space, beautiful illustrations, and lovely layout. It's designed more like a handbook that you can pick and choose to read as you wish.

0 Comments

Now on My TBR

5/24/2021

0 Comments

 
I finally remembered to add Nikole Hannah-Jones' book to my list.
Y​ou can see my complete TBR list on Pinterest.
0 Comments

The Weekly Wrap: May 23, 2021

5/23/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
This week, I got to prick my finger for science.

Months ago, I signed up to be in the Join the Fight COVID-19 community research project. Every day, I complete a quick survey about symptoms, mask wearing habits, and COVID results. It takes less than 30 seconds to do. The study is a part of a nationwide effort to better understand the symptoms and spread of COVID.

I was lucky enough to be chosen for the cohort of people to complete monthly serology tests. The finger prick I gave myself this week is my third one... but the first one after I was fully vaccinated. I can't wait to see my reactive results go from "negative" to "positive."

I am a firm believer in science - but usually this has meant reading, attending lectures, and watching videos. This is the first time I am an active participant in a scientific study. My contribution is small but I know that it is helping us better understand and get a handle on this pandemic.

It's not to late to join! You can learn more about the DC area study and sign up here.

Picture
  • ​Moms - they are and do lots of things. [WaPo]
  • I might need to try letterlocking my next batch of snail mail. [Atlas Obscura]
  • This manta ray is a rosy shade of pink. [NatGeo]
  • What parking costs cities. [The Atlantic]
  • Always make more bacon. [Lifehacker]
  • Nikole Hannah-Jones - creator of the 1619 project, Pulitzer prize winner, and Genius Grant recipient - was denied tenure. It sets a dangerous precedent... [Slate]
  • ... and a twitter thread exploring how we got here. [@lindsayaellis]
  • Travel pictures to give you wanderlust. [Buzzfeed]
  • Does your family have it's own language? [The Atlantic]
Picture
  • I bet you haven't thought about Weird Al in a while. [The Daily]
  • The business of blood plasma. [Planet Money]
  • The legal procedures and law behind prosecuting the insurrectionists. [The Daily]
  • Why the economy is so weird right now. [The Daily]
  • Exploring BIPOC. [Code Switch]
  • A close - and tasty - look at home delivery of American Chinese food. [Dish City]
Picture
  • I have been a fan of Gerard Butler since I saw him in the Scottish film Dear, Frankie. Since then, he's morphed from an indie actor into a disaster film hero. Kind of a big switch, but I'm still a fan. We watched his latest world destruction flick Greenland. It was exactly what you'd expect out of an end of the world popcorn thriller. 
  • It's playoff hockey time and my Washington Capitals are doing... not great.
Picture
  • Years ago, friends had us over for a BBQ and one of the dishes they served was grilled romaine. It was delicious. This recipe for one-pan roasted salmon with potatoes also includes roasted romaine. It was not quite the grilled deliciousness from the BBQ, but it was close.
  • If you like sheet pan meals, might I suggest teriyaki chicken and pineapple stir fry? It was fantastic. I used canned pineapple so I skipped the honey in the sauce. It was still plenty sweet without being cloying.
0 Comments

The Look Up: Food and Stuff

5/21/2021

0 Comments

 
Our kiddo was home from daycare for a few days with a stomach bug. I am patting myself on the back for not going too down a Google rabbit hole of her symptoms. (Pediatrician said it was just a common stomach bug.)

Here is what I did look up this week.

  • What temperature does salmon need to be cooked to?- Asked Alexa and she gave be a long answer when all I needed to hear was 145 degrees.
  • Is corn a vegetable?- The husband and I were debating. While it's culinarily used as a vegetable, it's botanically a grain.
  • What's the word for when you're really thirsty? - I forgot "parched."
  • When do kids get birthmarks? - I have a café au lait birthmark on my back. I was curious when those usually appear.
  • Fried Rice Spice Mix - No store near us had fried rice seasoning in stock. I looked at a few recipes to make my own.
  • Dino Trail - Someone I follow on Instagram posted about their visit to the Dino Trail. I was curious about how far away it was because I think the kiddo would have fun.
  • Inimitable - I needed the definition. 
0 Comments

The Now: May 19, 2021

5/19/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
The pivot to summer is happening. My meeting and teaching schedule has eased immensely. I'm also looking at which personal projects I want to prioritize over the next few weeks. The transitory periods are always so weird, but they provide a nice break before I dive in to other projects.

Here's what has my attention at the moment.

WORK
  • At the end of last week, I wrapped up my attendance and presentation at LOEX. It was a GREAT conference, but the scheduling (hour on, hour off) made it hard to get any other work done.
  • I spent quite a bit of time working on my outline and slides for my presentation at our library's annual consortial conference. A colleague introduced to SlidesGo, and I had a lot of fun adapting a gorgeous template for my use.
  • I am also working on an outline and slides for my Core Webinar. The outline is mostly done and I hope to have most of the slides done before my test run on Friday.
  • I turned my random list of summer projects into Trello project cards. Now I can get to work on them.

PERSONAL
  • I created and distributed the May issue of our condo's Green Committee newsletter. It focused on reuse and there a few fun ideas I will be trying myself.
  • Our house plants needed some love so I aerated the soil and trimmed out some dead foliage. 
  • I am nearing the end of my 5K training app. I've hit the straight run workouts and they're going okay. I know I am slower than the distance so, when it comes to running the actual 5K, I might need to throw in a few supplemental workouts to get ready.

0 Comments

Now on My TBR

5/17/2021

0 Comments

 
I will forever be on a quest to add quick and easy meals to our repertoire.
Y​ou can see my complete TBR list on Pinterest.
0 Comments

The Weekly Wrap: May 16, 2021

5/16/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
I was told that DC would be inundated with cicadas by now. While I have seen some of the exoskeletons and tons of holes in the ground, I have yet to see one live cicada. I know they’re waiting for warmer weather but I’m getting impatient.

First, I want the swarm to just be over and done with. People have been complaining/scared/excited about this for months now. Let’s just do this already!

Next, I am excited to see if I can get one in my hand to show my kiddo. This will be her first brood and it’s a fun chance to teach and show her new things.

Third, I don’t mind the cicada noises. It reminds me of summer and those long days when the sun sets late.

I know my opinions aren’t shared. These bugs don’t bug me at all… unlike mosquitos. Mosquitos can just get out.

Picture
  • Wine: the outer space vintage. [NYT]
  • Why do we feed animals? [NYT]
  • A better way to talk (and think) about the declining birth rate. [Culture Study]
  • Just a bunch of tasty looking bruschetta recipes. [Pure Wow]
  • Did they actually reach the top? A look at if people really have summited the highest peaks. [NYT]
  • 50 years of Amtrak. [WaPo]
  • Fun things to see and visit in all 50 states. [Buzzfeed]
  • The best ways to reheat leftovers. [Huffpost]
Picture
  • Are your memories real? [Every Little Thing]
  • We need more mud. [Short Wave]
  • Shopping while incarcerated. [Ear Hustle]
  • A look at the history (and problems) of food delivery. [Dish City]
  • There's a lot you don't know about prohibition. [Gastropod]
Picture
  • A beautiful look at watercolor painting during the Renaissance. [Victoria & Albert Museum]
  • We've hit the halfway point on Netflix's Away. Even when things go (super) wrong in space, this is a quieter show. Don't expect explosions.
Picture
  • While my parents were in town for a visit, I made these chicken parm meatballs for the first time. They were a hit with everyone. I served them with pre-made garlic bread (thank you frozen food aisle) and a salad.
  • One of our go to vegetarian dishes are these balsamic caprese paninis. Quick, easy, and go well with roasted potatoes.
Picture
  • I feel for a promoted Tweet and downloaded the mobile game Evony. I signed up because I wanted to play the puzzle games, but you have to do a lot of city construction and war gaming to unlock those levels. I know I won't stick with this forever, but I'm having a lot of fun with it right now.
  • DC has been in a delightful cool snap for a week. We've had our windows open for days. While it's not great for allergies, it's delightful in every other way. 
0 Comments
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021

    Categories

    All
    Blog Update
    Essay
    Just Good Things
    My Work
    Now On My TBR
    Now Reading
    Some Words
    The Look Up
    The Now
    The Weekly Wrap
    Tuesday Tips

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.