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November Beaver Moon
(★★★★★) Every cell hurt this morning. But it's full moon day! Can't skip.
Nov 16, 20241 min read


On Soloing
I’ve been thinking about how to write this for a while. Solitary souls are often described in the negative: The social situations and...
Nov 3, 20243 min read


Tahoe Winter Wonderland
(★★★★★) I’ve visited the Tahoe area before, but this was my first solo Barb-style trip. I can’t wait to come back.
Nov 2, 20242 min read


Sleep Ear Buds
(★★★★★) Sleep headphones are a thing. When I found out, I had to try them.
Nov 2, 20241 min read


Ten Years Here
(★★★★★) Ten years ago I left Minneapolis for an uncertain future in the Bay Area.
Nov 1, 20242 min read


YoLink moisture detector
If you have leaks… Or are paranoid you might have a leak at some point, get a moisture detector for peace of mind. The YoLink system ...
Oct 27, 20241 min read


Wild Zora soup
This soup meets a very specific need. I’ve been searching for an instant soup that’s more satisfying than veggie broth, but still light...
Oct 26, 20241 min read
Book: Better Faster Farther
Five stars. ( ★★★★★ ) Sports bras did not exist until 19-f-ing-77. I can’t get over this. There are so many mind-blowing facts and enraging/inspiring stories in Maggie Mertens’ book, Better Faster Farther: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women , you should rush to read it. Just don’t run, or your uterus might fall out.
Oct 21, 20241 min read


Yosemite 2024
Another year, another Yosemite pilgrimage! This was a pretty good one. I could have worked less (boo!) and planned some bits better, but overall it was the getaway I needed. The soundtrack to this trip was Better Faster Farther: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women by Maggie Martens – plus the Spooked podcast, for seasonal spirit. See my general guide to visiting Yosemite if you feel inspired! Day 1, Oct. 16 Drove up from Menlo Park , arrived around 2 p.m. a
Oct 20, 20243 min read


Hunter’s Moon, Oct 17-19 2024
Pro tip: The full moon rises over Half Dome, it does not set over Half Dome. You need to go in the evening to see them together. I...
Oct 17, 20241 min read


Harvest Moon, Sep 17 2024
Got it! Moments later the Harvest Moon was eclipsed by a cloud bank. If I’d snoozed for ten more minutes I would have missed it. ...
Sep 18, 20241 min read


Vacation in your own backyard
Renting a VRBO 30 minutes from home: Weird or Awesome? Verdict: AWESOME. The glowing reviews for this charming cottage in the redwoods...
Sep 8, 20241 min read
Dexcom Stelo continuous glucose monitor
The first over-the-counter GCM in the U.S. launched in late August, and I ordered the Dexcom Stelo immediately – I’ve been waiting for...
Sep 6, 20241 min read


Montana, September 2024
Smoked out! My hiking and stargazing ambitions were thwarted. That’s OK, time with the parents is always the main thing – and I got to...
Sep 3, 20241 min read


Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Tote
First use, did great. I wanted something that would work as an airplane carry-on, backpacking pack and potentially a work pack. The...
Sep 3, 20241 min read


Bedrock sandals
Sandals for hiking! Set your toes free! Headquartered in Missoula (❤️), Bedrock makes lightweight sandals with grippy bottoms and...
Sep 3, 20241 min read
Yoga with Adriene
I say NO to Power Yoga. That was another era. Now I go for stretchy, restorative yoga. Adriene and Benji have been my YouTube go-to for...
Sep 2, 20241 min read
Three monthly rituals
I like this idea . Designate one day each month to catch up on life tasks; one day to unplug and relax; one day to review and plan. I...
Aug 25, 20241 min read
Book: Do I Know You?
Five stars. ( ★★★★★ ) I am fascinated by anauralia (lack of an inner voice), aphantasia (lack of visual imagination), and the general diversity of the inner human experience. Do I Know You?: A Faceblind Reporter’s Journey into the Science of Sight, Memory, and Imagination explores a range of neural diversity from faceblindness to super recognition. Sadie Dingfelder describes with great humor how her special brain has presented challenges in life, but also some surprising
Aug 25, 20241 min read
Book: Four Thousand Weeks
Four stars. ( ★★★★ ) Solid takeaways, but could have been shorter. There’s some interesting stuff in Four Thousand Weeks , around a resonant premise that living for a future state or version of oneself is a good way to waste a life. But, like many books of this genre it could have been a podcast or an article. Oliver Burkeman coins two great phrases: cosmic insignificance therapy (experiences that lighten the burdens of life by reminding us how little we matter) and poss
Aug 25, 20241 min read
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