march 2023

just links

Really thrilled to be in 20 degree temps in snow watching soccer in Cincinnati :)

Alexandra Stoddard says that “the calendar can’t tell you when the first day of spring is—your heart does,” so happy spring if your heart is feeling it and happy March if it isn’t. The developer we’ve been fighting for the last two years started cutting down trees this month, which has me raging every time I go outside and hear the noise of the machinery and falling trees. I’m not feeling particularly springy quite yet, but I’m hoping it will come.

As mentioned here, this is my monthly round-up post of just links. Check out my recent writing here in case you missed it!

Just raves this month

👍 McFadden’s lifechanging kale salad. I’m sure I’ve shared this before, but we’ve been eating so much of it this month that I couldn’t not add it to my raves. Some of our kale comes back in March, plus our farmers market (Market Wagon if you’re a local) has lots of it this time of year. I make a big batch of the dressing at the beginning of the week, and then, nearly every night, Grant cuts up a big bunch of kale in ribbons, we shred some parmesan on top, and then mix it up with the dressing - and eat every last bit. We have yet to get sick of it despite eating it five+ times a week. We skip the breadcrumbs and don’t miss them in case that seems like extra work.

👍 I waited until I had a few months under my belt to rave about this, but it’s my favorite thing of 2023 thus far: the Stronger by the Day app. I love to lift heavy weights and even love making up programs for myself, but, over the past few years, I’ve fallen into a bit of a rut and just need someone trustworthy to write up programs for me. The team behind SBTD puts together really well-thought out (and safe) programs, and the app makes my gym time effective and efficient. I’m pretty snooty about movement in general and especially when I’m paying for it, and SBTD exceeds my high standards/expectations.

👍 In news that doesn’t matter but makes me happy: I bought some of these leggings for myself for Christmas and get very sad when they’re dirty because I basically just want to wear these 24-7. I might just slowly get rid of other leggings and replace them with these.

👍 I read a ton of fluffy romance this month, none of which is worth sharing to be honest. But I listened to two good books that I can’t stop thinking and talking about:

• Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes by Elizabeth Lesser. At first, when I finished this, I was disappointed that the first part where she delves into various cultural myths from a more feminine perspective wasn’t longer. But, since I finished it, I have found myself reflecting back on the second and third parts more, so I guess Lesser and her editor knew what they were doing.

• The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life by David Quammen. This was very in the weeds about a very recent discovery that has changed our understanding of the origin of life: horizontal gene transfer. Quammen did a great job of making a potentially dry subject exciting, but what really stuck with me is how little we really know about the universe.

Stuff worth sharing around the interwebs

Lisa’s list of things she’s been telling herself lately. All of them are so good, and you probably need them as much as I did. Trust me.

On the friendship crisis. For a different project, I’ve been reading and listening to all of the things about what’s being dubbed our friendship crisis. I think everyone, especially parents of boys, should listen to this Ezra Klein episode. Best friends are a recent phenomenon and why we lose friends as we get older - both from The Atlantic. I’ve really liked Derek Thompson’s new-to-me podcast, Plain English, especially the episodes he has done on this topic: the teens are not ok, secrets to the good life from that giant Harvard study, the consequences of spending so much more time alone. Making a case for bringing back hanging out. P.S. Send any recommended reading along these lines my way!

Why design matters. I read this at least a month ago and have, no exaggeration, thought about at least once a day since.

Reflecting on social media. I gave up social media for Lent, and I’ll have more to say about that at some point. I’ve been reading lots about it since I’m not on it, which I’m not confident is a great use of my time. This newsletter from Alex is full of gems, and I’m halfway through this book that made me question whether to go back or not at all. If and when I do, I’ll at least be taking the advice in this practical article about how to better curate your feed to avoid all of the diet culture BS.

More good stuff breadcrumbs. This spring equinox meditation, especially the root meaning of the word “stupid.” The TikTok-ification of the morning routine really weirded me out. I loved this really honest answer to “how do you read so much?” mostly because I so related and because it speaks so well to how we probably should enjoy the ways in which we spend our time as much as is possible. Rebecca Solnit is always worth reading, and I loved her reflection on what opportunities might come with climate change. A lawyer on TikTok is reviewing who was arrested for pedophilia in the past week; spoiler: it’s pastors and politicians, not drag queens. And in things-that-should-be-obvious no matter your politics:

Halli @iamharaldur

Companies and institutions that need to be bailed out by the government when they fail, should be owned by the government. You can’t privatize the profit and socialize the losses.

What are you ranting/raving/sharing these days that I missed?

Happy end of March,

Sara