The Weekly Wrap: May 16, 2021

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.

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• 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]

• 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]

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.