The Chew, Part II

This is a continuation of a mini-series I'm doing about food during June because I don't know what else to talk about right now.

Part I

Have you ever eaten alone? Why or why not?

What a weird question (obviously I got this list of questions on line somewhere, but I can't remember where). Of course I have. I lived alone for many years. I eat breakfast alone most mornings because my husband and I have different morning schedules. I generally eat my lunch alone in my office. If I treat myself to going out to lunch on a workday, I generally eat alone. Is this a trick question?

What’s your earliest memory of homecooked meals?

My parents fighting over what to make for dinner and it would always end up being scrambled eggs and toast. Surely this is universal?

How has your diet changed/not changed over time and why?

When I was young, there was a lot of food insecurity and I never knew if we were going to have food or not. When I got to to college on a scholarship that paid for room and board, I've never had so much bounty. I just ate everything. And I do sometimes call myself a garbage disposal because I will basically eat anything if you put it on my plate. 

And then I met my husband. Because of his dietary restrictions, I now eat a lot less junk and am much more thoughtful about my food choices. The whole way I eat has changed and that's definitely for the better. 

What do your food choices say about your values? 

I think we are limited in the United States about having ethical food choices. I have gnashed my teeth about this a lot. Sure, I eat mostly pescatarian, but I still buy food that has been shipped across seas and countries. Sure, I try to do a lot of shopping at Costco where I think employees are treated well, but who knows about the suppliers to Costco? Maya once said that she resents having to make these decisions herself and that government should regulate more of this and I agree. 

Anyway, I'd love to make more ethical choices about food, but I'm really focused on making sure my husband gets enough food to eat to survive and sometimes that means I don't really do the research on companies I'm buying from. 

If you were to die tomorrow, what would your last meal be?

I guess it would be Indian butter chickpeas because that's what we're having for dinner tonight. 

Are table manners outdated or essential still? 

Good manners are never outdated!

What food would encourage conversations? 

All food encourages conversations, right? I took a qualitative methods class in grad school and we had to do an interview with our classmates. I always asked about food because it would get people talking about food traditions in their families, favorite foods, and what a traditional get together looks like (is it potluck? formal sit-down dinner?). Food is universal. 

In your culture, what do you eat when you’re sick? 

Saltine crackers and 7Up. Sometimes chicken noodle soup or broth. 

How does your culture celebrate birthdays? 

Cake and ice cream! 

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What food do you eat when you're sick? Do you do cake and ice cream for birthdays?

Day In the Life, 6/21/2026

What does a Sunday look like in my world?

7:30am - Wake up without an alarm. Dr. BB has been up for a bit and he was reading his Kindle, so we rolled out of bed, pulled up the covers to "make it" and started our morning.

I went downstairs where I brushed Zelda and then weighed her. She's 10.64 pounds, which is the most she has weighed since her radiation treatment. It has been kind of difficult to get her to eat her dinner recently, but I'm not going to worry about it much if her weight is staying stable.

Then I walked Hannah. We were out for about 45 minutes. I listened to an episode of "Did Furbys Spy on Us?" while we meandered along the riverwalk. 

8:30am - We're back. I feed Hannah and get myself breakfast. By 9, I'm sitting down at my laptop to work on blog posts for the week for an hour. 

10:00am - I tear myself away from the computer to go brush my teeth, wash my face, and get dressed (in workout clothes). I collect and start laundry, iron two items of clothing that I want to wear this week, and wander downstairs. There I ask Dr. BB to assist me with cutting Hannah's nails, and then vacuum/sweep the main level. Then I fill the bird feeders outside. 

11:40am - The part of the day I have been dreading has arrived. I need to give Hannah a bath. She hates it so much. After much running away from me (and some choice words under my breath about dog ownership), she is finally washed. I walk her around the neighborhood in a futile attempt to get her to be a bit more dry before I let her go in the house.

12:15pm - Back inside. I eat lunch. We swap out the laundry. I stare into space for a few minutes wondering how to make my dog hate baths less. I search the house to find the cat because at least I know people on the street won't be reporting me for abuse of the cat. 

1:20pm - I sit back at my computer to work on my blog some more until the last load of laundry is dried.

2:00pm - The dryer buzzed. I head off to fold the last load of clothes.

2:20pm - Start my workout. I do a 30 minute total body (which means more like 45 minutes for me with additional rest and changing weights) and 25 minute yin yoga.

3:40pm- Workout is over. I message my accountability and head downstairs for the best part of the day. It's time to "read" on the couch, which actually means take a nap with Zelda. 

5:35pm - Feeding the girls and training Hannah. It sounds like this should be easy, but Hannah needs her gross medication mixed with pumpkin and Zelda takes ages to eat two tablespoons of food, so this ended up being A Thing.

6:00-7:30pm - Make and eat dinner. After dinner, I make some pistachio date balls as an after work snack for the week. They don't look appetizing here, but I promise they're delicious. 

7:40pm - Shower.

8:05pm - We start the second episode of Silo on AppleTV. 

9:06pm - Hannah and I go around the block before bed. Drippy, dreary night. Hannah is displeased to be outside. 

9:18pm - I take my evening medications and brush my teeth.

9:40pm - Finish the last of this post. After this I'll do my line-a-day and goal journals for the day and then do a final check of the kitchen before heading to bed. Fingers crossed lights out by 10:15.

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Did you have a chore heavy Sunday or was it more fun heavy? What book are you currently reading?

Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

Sarah talked about Into the Blue by Emma Brodie on Sarah's Bookshelves. It has been weeks since I'd read a romance novel and I just needed something.

 AJ lives in a small Massachusetts town, writing fan fiction based off an improv comedy show that starred a reclusive actress who lives in her town where she's working at a video rental store. She dreams of leaving Massachusetts to be a writer. One day her peaceful work life is shattered when Noah Drew of the HOLLYWOOD DREWS walks in and starts working next to her. They have an immediate bond, but one day Noah disappears. When they meet up again as adults, what is going to happen with these two? 

Interesting characters: AJ is interesting. Noah is a dick who won't communicate. I cannot with Noah. Also, I cannot with "woe is me, being famous is so hard."  

But you know what's really not interesting to me? The whole idea that you will just immediately feel a connection. The whole instalove thing? The whole fated to be together thing? It's not interesting. Good relationships are built on way more than how good someone smells. (Although, to be scrupulously honest with you, my husband smells sooooo good. But it was not instalove for us.) I just don't want people out there who haven't fallen in love to think that if it doesn't happen the second you make eye contact, there's no chance. There is a chance! GIVE IT A CHANCE. 

Believable conflict: Yes, there would be conflict if one of the people in the relationship keeps running away whenever tough conversations have to happen. Sometimes you have to get through tough shit to get to the good shit, but HOW WOULD HE EVER KNOW THAT?

Emotional tension: Sure, sure. There's a lot (too much?) of will they or won't they in this book.

Happily ever after: Hm. That's an interesting question and I think it would definitely depend on your definition of happy. I'll say that I would probably categorize this under literary fiction rather than romance if I had to shelve it at the non-existent NGS bookstore. 

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There were a number of tropes here I didn't love, but I did read it all, so that's something, right? 3.5/5 stars

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(Note about page numbers. I accidentally ordered the large print edition of this book from the library. I used to feel terrible when I did that because I was taking it away from someone who really needs it, but let me tell you - the large print is AMAZING. I am officially old. Anyway, I'm going to give chapter numbers instead of page numbers.)

Line of note: 

Most people did not have hidden depths; they had hidden shallows. (Todd's Coverage, Episode 5)

This is so cynical, but I laughed anyway. 

Hat mention (why hats?):

...producing a crochet needle and a hat he was making for baby Claire. (New York, New York January 9, 2012)

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Do you feel guilty if you accidentally order the large print? What does happily ever after mean to you in a romance novel? 

Podcast Roundup June 2026

Do you remember when I used to do podcast roundups every month? That has clearly gone the way of the wooly mammoth because the last one I did was in January! I mentioned a few podcasts last week, but I still have more to talk about. 

Here's what's good in my feed.

"Costco" from Acquired - In April, Kyria mentioned that she liked this episode. Now, I was hesitant because the last thing I want to listen to is dude bros talk about capitalism as if it is the best thing on earth. I have a deep dislike for all things business school and my eyes glaze over when people start talking about "growth" in "spaces." All of that being said, we have a couple of dude bros talking business concepts. Did I have no idea what they were talking about about 7% of the time? Absolutely. Do I love how much they love Costco, though? Yes, absolutely. Acquired is not going to make it into my regular rotation, but I did enjoy this episode and I learned a lot about Costco that makes me appreciate it more than I ever did before. 

The Walkers: The Real Salt Path - The Salt Path by Raynor Winn was a huge bestseller. It told the story of an indigent couple who take to hiking when the husband becomes diagnosed with a terrible degenerative illness, but they overcome. It's a heartwarming tale of love, grit, and grief. It's also a complete lie. This podcast investigates the Winns and with every episode, you fall deeper and deeper into this literary controversy.

Adrift - Raise your hand if you know that I like a good tale at sea. Raise your hand if you're sick of hearing about Moby-Dick, In the Heart of the Sea, and The Wager. You've come to the wrong place if you don't want to hear about dangerous seafaring. Adrift is an eight-part pod about a family that gets shipwrecked in the Pacific after they sell everything they own (and give away their dogs) to sail around the world. WHY DIDN'T THEY BRING THEIR DOGS WITH THEM? I digress. 

This story is riveting. The storytelling isn't always my jam - the recreations, the sound effects are a bit cheesy - but the story is fascinating. I tell you what. I'm glad I wasn't with them. 

Liar, Liar: Melissa Caddick and the Missing Millions - This is the story of Australia's largest Ponzi scheme. It's also a bit of a mystery as to where the woman who was behind it all ended up. I think what was most affecting about this podcast was the interviews with people who lost all their money. They didn't get a lot of sympathy for losing their life savings because many people just saw them as rich people with money to burn, but some of the people are literally destitute now. Solid reporting.

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Have you listened to a standout episode or series recently?

Alex & Me by Irene M. Pepperberg

Would it surprise anyone reading this to know that Irene Pepperberg, the author of Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process, was on You're the Expert would it? I was very interested in her work, so I grabbed her autobiography from the library.

Irene Pepperberg received a doctorate in chemistry before she decided she was really interested in animal intelligence and communication after seeing a documentary on television. She started doing research with an African Grey parrot named Alex.

Okay. Where do I start? 

First, the organization was...not great. It starts with a chapter about how Alex died and how The New York Times posted his obituary. It was all about how sad Pepperberg was. And you know what? I get it. I don't even want to think about what my reaction is going to be when my girls die (*if* they die - heaven knows Zelda might be immortal). BUT. WHY START THERE? The whole book was just a downer. Instead of starting with a funny bit about Alex bossing around the other parrots in the lab or something, she just starts with "I'm going to tell you about a dead parrot" and the whole book was framed around that.

Also? She's sort of mad that no one would take her seriously at first because she has a PhD in chemistry instead of biology? I mean, can you blame them? Then she gets a job in a biology department and doesn't think she's qualified to teach the introductory classes and gets mad at the department because they don't support her. CAN YOU BLAME THEM? (I think I would probably not be friends with Pepperberg.)

But. It's also a great story about perseverance. When she's bouncing around from fellowship to adjunctship to visiting professorship to whatever, she's applying for grants, she's fundraising, she's doing all the things. I think this would be a great book to give a student who is studying animal biology and wants to do research-oriented work. There are a lot of lessons about how academia sucks balls in there. 

It's also a story about a parrot who learns a lot and teaches the humans around him a lot. If you don't think I'm here for a story about a stubborn animal who *can* do things, but sometimes refuses to, let me reintroduce you to my own personal stubborn menace. 

"Hannah, look at me!" "No."

I have very mixed feelings on this book, but I was generally invested and kept wanting to read more to find out what impish things Alex was going to do next. 4/5 stars

What I looked up:
Pei's Toilet - MIT's Media Lab is housed at 20 Ames St. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Designed by the famous architect I.M. Pei, it is colloquially known as Pei's Toilet to the locals.

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Are you a bird person? What's your preference of animal friends? I'm not sure what my preference is, but I think birds are pretty far down on the list. 

The Chew, Part I

I'm going to do a mini-series about food this month because work is dumb right now and I'm exhausted and out of things to blog about. Surely everyone likes to chat about food. I'll do one food post a week for the next few weeks. 

What’ll you be having for breakfast/lunch/dinner today?

Breakfast: Greek yogurt with homemade granola, grapes, tea

Lunch: A "salad" made of tomatoes, mini peppers, cucumbers, and carrots; tuna; guacamole; pretzels; a LaCroix

Dinner: Indian Butter Chickpeas with rice

Do you usually cook at home, eat out, or get food delivery? Or a mix of all three? 

We cook at home the vast majority of the time. I think I have had lunch/dinner out maybe half a dozen times this year? Because of my husband's food restrictions, eating out just doesn't make sense for us. 

What was your favorite food as a kid?

Ice cream! I mean, if I'm completely honest, it still is.

Do you share your food with others? Why or why not?

No. Get your own.

Do you like to cook? Why or why not?

It's fine. I can listen to a podcast while I cook, so it's not so bad.

Have you ever had an accident while cooking or baking?

I have burned myself a number of times and have cut myself with knives more times than I can count. But I've never set the house on fire or anything like that.

Which foods are you allergic to?

KNOCK ON WOOD I am not allergic to any food. There cannot be another person in the house with food weirdnesses. 

Do you have a gluten, lactose, or other intolerance?

No, but my husband does and it makes a big difference in what I can and cannot eat at home. 

What food reminds you of family? 

Are you familiar with green bean casserole? Canned green beans (shudder), cream of mushroom soup (double shudder), and crispy fried onions. If you're not familiar with it, let me assure that it is as revolting as it sounds and it was served at every family holiday I ever went to with my family of origin.

But I could pound some mandarin orange Jell-O salad, so I'm not judging your family's favorite disgusting side dish. 

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What was your favorite food as a child?

The Wonder State by Sara Flannery Murphy

Why did I read The Wonder State by Sara Flannery Murphy? I don't know. Was it you? Did you recommend it to me? If so, thank you! 

Welcome to Eternal Springs, Arkansas in the heart of the Ozarks. This town has some weird quirks and a group of high school students soon finds that an architect named Theodora Trader had built houses with magical traits: one where people must tell the truth, one where you can hide in plain sight with the help of mirrors, one where time stopped when you were inside, etc. What happens next? Well, you know, the things that happen in thrilling books: kidnapping, murder, a woman no one can find. OF COURSE. 

Look, I sped through this book in a day and I could not wait to read it when I had to, you know, live the rest of my non-book life. The start was sort of confusing because there are six main high school characters and their associated parental units and some teachers to keep track of. BUT. I persevered and the book definitely paid off for me.

I just love the idea that this is OUR world and these houses are just here. It's magical in the very best of ways and I really enjoyed seeing how the magic worked and how the modern characters - with cell phones and computers - dealt with the magic and interacted with it. I loved how the Ozarks were not just the setting, but a fully formed character. 

The characters were maaaaybe a bit weak, but I'll let that slide. If you haven't read this one and it sounds interesting to you, give it a go. 4/5 stars

Things I looked up:

Brundlefly (page 90) - Dr. Seth Brundle, also known as Brundlefly, is a fictional character and the tragic hero in David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of The Fly. He becomes the titular fly.  Damn it all, I hate pop culture references I don't get.

Leonora Carrington (page 102) - Mary Leonora Carrington was a British and Mexican surrealist painter and novelist. She lived most of her adult life in Mexico City and was one of the last surviving participants in the Surrealist movement of the 1930s. Carrington was also a founding member of the women's liberation movement in Mexico during the 1970s.

Hat mention (why hats?):

flourish of an imaginary hat (page 208)

Title spotting:

"You know, I did find something out. Someone at a party told me, when I mentioned where I'm from. Arkansas's state nickname used to be 'the Wonder State.' They nixed it after a decade or two because The Wonder State was too old-fashioned, it didn't draw enough economic growth." (page 358)

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Have you ever been to the Ozarks? If you knew there was a magical house in your town, would you go there?