Welcome Back! How Are You?

*Where, generally, do you live?
Northeast
* Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately?
Jill Mansell books- new to me!
* What has brought you joy lately
Our rescue boy has been doing really well with changes💖
* What are you worried about these days
The cost of everything and we aren’t spenders
* What’s something you love about yourself?
I can’t just accept things that I know can be better

1. Where, generally, do you live? North Carolina
2. Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately? Ted Lasso for joy. Lioness for rage and badassery.
3. What has brought you joy lately? Catching glimpses of being (nearly) financially stable, after nearly 20+ years of crippling debt.
4. What are you worried about these days? Finding work (I freelance). Approaching 40 while still single and childless.
5. What’s something you love about yourself? My ability to adapt to situations, and my optimism.

Welcome home, can’t wait to hear about your trip!

After 11 years in Brooklyn, I am back home in Monterey, California where I haven’t lived since I was eleven. It’s pretty much the opposite of living in NYC, but I am surrounded by the ocean, redwood trees, and my family…and that’s exactly what I need for this season of life.

I finally started watching The Pitt and was instantly hooked. It definitely lives up to the hype. And this summer I loved reading The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest — a perfect summer romance novel.

My 2 yo son started saying thank you out of blue last week. But he doesn’t really get it. He stole a potato from my plate while saying “Thank you, mama,”one night. On another, he kept offering me veggie chips and then pulling them back at the last minute saying, “No thank you, mama” with glee.

When and if we should have another baby. We lost a pregnancy at 17 weeks this summer. I really want another member of our family, but I don’t know if I can go through it again…and I’m turning forty next year, so it seems like I have to decide right now.

I love how imaginative and creative I am. I feel like one of the few adults I know that genuinely likes playing pretend with children and am thrilled my son is starting to get to this stage. And I’m working on a novel.

Woohoo! The sisterhood is back!

Western part of Colorado state

Adored Don’t Say Good Luck and My Brilliant Career

The rotating pictures of my kids on my phone Home Screen has been a delight

Worried about starting my new business. Eeek. Good worries.

I love that I keep learning and am brave to try new things.

– Outside of Boston – south shore!
– Whistler was such a delight to read – I didn’t want it to end
– We took our kids (7 and 3) to Santa’s Village in New Hampshire last week and watching them feed Santa’s reindeer was particularly joyful. I feel acutely aware of how fleeting this sweet part of childhood is with my son starting 2nd grade and want to fully enjoy these moments with him while he still lets me :)
– The whole state of the world is beyond worrisome and I am trying to strike the balance of staying informed and engaged while also ignoring it enough to enjoy each day – its tricky!
– I always try to make the most of things and fill my family’s life with as much fun and adventure as possible

*Where, generally, do you live?
Twin Cities, MN
* Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately?
I just started two books that have been really good so far – The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao and Angel Down by Daniel Kraus. I finished Audition for the Fox by Martin Cahill recently and it was excellent.
* What has brought you joy lately?
Soccer – both joy and heartbreak in equal measure I suppose lol. I support MN United on the MLS side and it’s been a rough year but they had an amazing game on Saturday. And we’ve been catching up on as many NWSL games as we can. I don’t have a particular team I support but I love watching Trinity Rodman play.
* What are you worried about these days?
Easier to list what I’m NOT worried about. The state of the US obviously, economy/financial concerns, etc. Also, in the wake of my MIL’s passing, I’m thinking about what it’s going to look like when my FIL passes and then when my partner (who’s 10 years older than me) passes. Not a worry yet, but more on my mind than it used to be.
* What’s something you love about yourself?
That I can make people laugh, and that I can make myself laugh. It’s a balm for the soul.

1. Houston area.
2. My husband and I recently watched Little House on the Prairie (Netflix). Refreshingly wholesome show!
3. My kids. :)
4. Not knowing how certain things in my life will pan out.
5. I am easily adaptable. Moving to a new place is not scary but thrilling.

* Live in PNW, in one of the few areas not dealing with wildfires at the moment.
* Watching: Dark Winds; Reading: Dungeon Crawler Carl series
* Sleeping with the windows open. This is the sweet spot when the nights are cooler (but not cold yet) and the crickets are calling.
* Currently worried about one of my kids reaching a goal they set for themselves. They’ve been working so hard all summer but the deadline is this week, they’re running out of steam, and it’s a real nail biter!!! (Plus, ya know, the state of research funding in the US right now.)
* Generally, that I can make people laugh – but currently patting myself on the back for planning a family vacation with the right balance of organization and spontaneity.

* Where, generally, do you live?

Louisville, KY—still here, and still lamenting it every time I answer this question, lol. We’re heading north this fall to scout possible places to move, so I’d love suggestions from folks who live there. We’re open to vibrant, small communities that are relatively affordable. We’ll stop in Ithaca on our way to Bangor and wander through a few small towns. We loved Vermont last year. I realize this covers a lot of area, but would love to find that gem of a town off the beaten path.

* Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately? (I watched Solomamma on the flight.)

My husband and I rewatched Fleabag over the weekend, and yep—it’s still so damn good.

* What has brought you joy lately?

I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Michigan to visit my niece and hold my great-niece for the first time. I don’t have much kid experience, so I was nervous—but it was wonderful, and my heart is so full.

* What are you worried about these days?

Honestly? All the things. Are we truly going to have a free and fair election this fall?

More immediately, I’m worried about starting a new job with my current employer. I’ll be managing a brand-new team and building it from scratch, which is exciting and slightly terrifying. I love my current team and will miss them so much—I took them to lunch last week and bawled my eyes out on the way home. The new team may be tough to crack, and for good reason: they have some trust issues that are very warranted.

* What’s something you love about yourself?

I’m fairly new to management, so the imposter syndrome is real. But my team has told me I’m warm and inviting, and I take real pride in that. I work in tech, where people aren’t always kind, and I want to be the manager who listens, supports, and lifts people up.

Welcome back!
1. Santa Monica
2. Book: Lonesome Dove (so good- didn’t want it to end because I loved the experience of reading it). Movie: The Christophers
3. Joining a choir- it feels so good to sing with a group of people.
4. I own a business and even when it is doing well I still feel the weight of being responsible for so many people’s livelihoods and experiences.
5. I love my sense of humor.

Where, generally, do you live? Northern Nevada (Reno, specifically) And yes, my city is currently on fire.

Any books/shows/movies you’ve enjoyed lately? The Shards. I binged it in about two days and am impatiently waiting for the remaining episodes to drop.

What has brought you joy lately? Knowing I’m going on vacation in three weeks. I can’t wait to escape the heat.

What are you worried about these days? Everything. I quit my very toxic job in December to pursue writing full-time and it hasn’t been going as well as I’d hoped.

1. Montreal
2. Book = Frozen River, show = The Other Bennet Sister
3. Watching my young adults blossom and pickleball (I’m obsessed!)
4. How much more corporate silliness I can take before I retire/are my children going to be ok (I don’t think this one will ever end)
5. I’m an introvert, but have always been willing to push myself to try new things.

Glad to have y’all back!
– Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
– I’m reading ‘Ungodly Rich’ by Katharine McGee– it’s like if Crazy Rich Asians met The Odyssey (just the Greek gods part)
– I’m finding so much joy in music right now! Lots of great albums out!
– I’m worried about my future & making the right decisions. I worry I get apathetic & might miss out on great opportunities because of it.
– I love that I try to find the joy in every day & practice a spirit of gratitude for the most mundane parts of life!

I live at the Jersey Shore, but next Wednesday my husband and I and our kids (10 and 6) are moving to New Zealand!!! Will be checking this post for book and movie recs for the flight. Xoxo

Hudson Valley area of NY
Recently finished Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour, which I really enjoyed. Now am working on The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and his Mother) by Rabih Alameddine.
Loving watching my dog get back to herself bit by bit after a Lyme’s disease diagnosis & a really hard week.
Fall semester is starting & I’m worried about balancing it all and also all the new, tender hearts we’re welcoming to campus (parents, we promise we love them so hard & they’re going to be ok)
I love my resilience

welcome back! :)

* i live in lisbon, portugal :)
* absolutely LOVED the correspondent! i find myself missing sybil!
* what has brought me joy: the beach, the sun, my family, the holidays
* i’m worried about buying a new house and the whole process going wrong!
* one thing i love about myself is that i (almost) always see the glass half full :) i’m a natural optimist and a smiley person and i think that helps in everything!

Minneapolis

JOY: An activist dressed as Spiderman entering a Jake Lang hate rally here on Saturday, pulling the white cross out of Lang’s hands and then thrashing the nasty little fascist wanna be.

Christopher Nolan or Zach Snyder could not have directed it better.
Search for the photos and videos on Threads or IG. They are cinematic! They are not being covered in mainstream media or on X. Hmm…

Spidey’s real name is William Love and he joins our beautiful ones Good Pretti & Love as the Universe’s call to action.

WORRY: That people think cheering things on via social media counts as action

LOVE ABOUT MYSELF: Don’t need much sleep.

Glad to see you and CoJ back!

* the PNW
* Disagreeing Better by Julia Minson is changing my whole world
* My partner, who’s distractingly delightful
* The undermining of democratic values and how many people are suffering in small and large ways
* I’m good at making things, and I like the things I make!

1. Bay Area
2. My Brilliant Career on Netflix. About a lady in 1900s Australia who wants to be a writer but is being pushed to marry for financial stability instead. Has a Love triangle as well. Very good!!
3. When my chemo symptoms wear off (got stage 1 breast cancer this year – boooooo)
4. My writing career not taking off
5. I give zero f$&@ and I got 0 chill in me ;)

Hey welcome back!
– Dresden, German
– I just finished Land by Maggie O’Farrell which was amazing
– cooking! it really is my only true hobby
– my teenagers losing their phones, not doing stuff that needs doing (getting new logins and such), not taking responsibility for the things they are responsible for with me nagging them again and again, it drives me crazy
– I have a very good eye for design and decoration and dare I say just good taste in general? Also, I don’t take any bullshit from men any more (happily single!)

-Live – outside of Denver
-Shows – I’m living for the new season of Bake-off to start. Until then I really enjoyed the simplicity of The Other Bennet Sister
-Joy- My son starting1st grade and being happy. Summer camps were rough on us.
-Worried – Trying to be a good mom to 3 kids 6 and under and not being angry and overwhelmed all the time. It’s just so much to balance everything – worried about work and if I lost my job, raising my kids well but not losing who I am in the process (already feeling like I have), and trying (but failing) to maintain some meaningful semblance of a relationship with my husband
-Love about me – I care a lot about others

* Moved from Texas to near Philly last August. Spent six months battling through my kids’ and spouse’s intense (and valid) feelings regarding the move and a year later, feeling more and more settled.
* Whistler might be my book of the year; I’m on book 50 with a goal of 100 that I’m not likely to hit this year.
* My children adjusting and my garden. I’ve never had the pleasure of growing veggies (S. Tx. is HOT) and it is a joy to see and experience the abundance with my kids.
* Taking a case to trial next week …
* My ability to show up as myself.

Hi! Central North Carolina here. I’m loving Widows Bay and Shrinking right now (Apple TV has been killing it lately). Ramy Youssef’s recent stand up special was also very funny. My almost 3 year old has started copying us, and he has started sighing deeply, then saying OK, just like his Mama before doing any task, haha. I’m debating having a second child but there are some health factors and I’m trying to make the best decision. I love that my soft squishy body is a cozy place for my boy to be held, and that he still finds comfort with me even though I work outside of the home.

So lovely to have you back! Hope it was a restorative time away!

*I live in East London (a Kiwi doing the classic OE)
* I recently read and loved ‘Trash!’ by Simon Paré-Poupart — it’s a memoir by a Montreal-based garbage man and it was eye-opening on so many levels!
* Swimming in Athens yesterday — I trekked out to a beach in Vouliagmeni and it was hands down the most joyful swimming experience of my life.
* I need to move out of my flat and don’t yet know where I’m going to land. I have moved a lot over the years, but I’m always a little anxious before the next right thing comes along.
* I love my smile. Kids and dogs can tell it’s genuine and it leads to so many beautiful interactions!