 On my way to work this morning, I saw two separate people reading physical books while walking. Not phones. Not e-readers. Books.
Now, I often see people reading their phones. It's a common sight. The phone readers are head down and thumb scrolling. Occasionally, a person will look up to regain their situational awareness. More often, I will have to dodge out of the way as these folks barrel down the sidewalk without looking up. So the book walkers stood out. But I have a question for these book readers. Namely, how do you do it? It's impressive! They were holding their books open with both hands, bags slung over their shoulders. They had their texts at an angle that let them keep an eye on what was in front of them. (Thank you.) But, as I passed, I could see their eyes darting across the page. It was a nice feat of multitasking. I am not this skilled. I would stumble over my own two feet or crash into a sign post. My second question is: why? Why do you read a physical book while walking? I mean this with curiosity and without judgement. I also prefer physical books. But I admit they are unwieldly. E-readers and phone apps make reading on the go so much easier. I genuinely wish I had stopped to ask why they chose this format. Was the book only available in a physical format? Do they prefer reading on a printed page? Is it a battery life thing? One less device to charge? Are they rebelling against an increasingly digital world? I don't have answers. Just admiration. Do you read while on the move? If so, how?
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 I hosted a blackout poetry workshop for my library this week. It was not as well attended as I hoped it would be. (Thank you to the professor who brought her class by in the last hour!) While I waited for people to drop by, I made a few blackout poems for myself. It was a meditative experience. It forces you to focus on the words - just the words - before you find a greater meaning in the text. Then, you have to carefully black out what you don't want. More than once, I had to change course when my sharpie went a bit too far in the text. One of the poems turned out so well I decided to paste it into my bullet journal. Not only did the text speak to me, but I was able to decorate the page with the perfect image clipped from a magazine. Despite the low attendance, I plan to bring the workshop back. It's a great way to engage with a literary form that can be intimidating. 
 I thought, after our week in Florida, I would come back to a city with no more spring blooms. I'm happy to report that I was incorrect. The irises and dogwoods are out, people are planting around their homes, and the phlox are spilling out everywhere. It's lovely.
Here's what else made me happy this week:
 The Enchanted Greenhouse
Sarah Beth Durst This is the second book in Durst's tangentially related cozy fantasy series. Reading this one feels like lounging on a porch swing on a perfect weather day. The details of the world are rich and lovely. I find the vivid descriptions of the magical plants wonderful. It makes me want to visit all of our local botanical gardens. There is conflict in this story, but while it's high stakes for the world, it feels very soft and manageable. *Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org Another short intro this week. Yesterday was a travel day, and today is a reentry day. Coming back from a week away for home always feels like a rude awakening. Since the husband was here all week, my to-do list is not that long, but there are still things I need to prep. Also, I already miss watching the kiddo trying to catch lizards.
Today is the last day of my kiddo's spring break. That means it's also the last day of me "working from home" from my parents place in Florida. While I am stuck during the day, it's been a great trip hanging out with my family. Also, kiddo gets such joy in catching lizards that those moments alone are worth the trip.
Here's what was good about this week:
Keeping this intro short. Kiddo and I flew to Florida for her spring break yesterday. Whilst she galivants with the grandparents, I'll be "working from home." This is our third year of doing it, and it's working out great! I don't know how long we'll be able to maintain this schedule, but I love the balance it provides our family. Kiddo gets grandparent time. I get focused work time. The husband gets his solo week to do whatever the hell he wants.
The coffee felt extra dark this morning. I don't know why, but it fit my taste buds perfectly. Every now and then, I just want a very strong tasting mug to start the day.
Here's what else made me happy this week:
 Brimstone
Callie Hart I'm in the final chapters of this book. While much of the narrative seems to be a set up for the third book, all of that structure makes sense. Also, the marketing summary led me to believe that this story would be different than what it has been. The difference isn't bad, just unexpected. I do love all the tiny world building details that have leant some depth to this. Still too many characters to keep straight though... In other news, I'm reading two work related titles right now: How to Know a Person by David Brooks and Person-Centered Management in Academic Libraries. Both are centered around the idea of working and understand individual persons better. *Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org Our neighborhood is in full bloom. Some of the plants I know. Most of them, I don't. This week, while on the way to school, the kiddo stopped to ask about a random flower growing in someone's yard. Instead of guessing, I pulled out iNaturalist. I recently downloaded it and we figured we'd find out together. After I dropped her off, I logged a few more blooms on my way back home. I also uploaded a picture of a coyote (!!) we saw on our walk to school earlier in the week. That sighting was eventually "confirmed" by another user of the app. When I got the email notification, I ended up exploring some of the community features of the program. What I hope is that, this first week of use, becomes the start of something bigger. I’d love for our walks - whether it’s to school or along our local trails - to turn into little explorations. Not in a big, over-planned way, just in a “let’s see what we notice today” kind of way. Maybe we start keeping track of the things we find. Maybe we try to identify a few new plants each week. Maybe we just get a little more curious together. I like the idea of having something that gently nudges us to pay attention. To stop when we see something interesting. And, maybe, to follow those small questions to learning more together at the library. And, I'm hoping this gets us (really, me) outside more. This app feels like a way to connect with nature, our neighborhood, and each other. And if it helps us slow down and wonder at a few more flowers along the way, that's all the better.
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