I’m trying something new here on the blog, using the “currently” prompt. Feel free to play along in the comments, on your own blog or social media. Currently I’m …
Inspired by …
Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the Power of Narrative conference in Boston and it was phenomenal. The mission of the conference — which has been taking place for 19 years — is “helping narrative journalists to strengthen their craft skills, puzzle out the complex ethics of intimate journalism, and impart the down-to-earth humanity that is the genre’s strength.” We heard speakers such as Doris Kearns Goodwin, Sonia Nazario (Enrique’s Journey), Sheri Fink, and so many other talented writers. It was truly inspiring to be in a room full of journalists and writers and people wanting to tell stories and do good work that makes a different in the world. It was all humbling and made me want to do better.
Thinking About …
I’ve been thinking about how spring is in full bloom (no pun intended) here in Indiana . The days are getting longer and the sun is appearing earlier and staying out later. Everything is greener — the trees are coming back to life with leaves; and flowers are blooming, even ones in our yard I’d never seen before. I really love seeing and feeling the seasons change before my eyes.
The weather is warming a bit, and this weekend we had all the windows open and enjoyed a warm (but not too warm) breeze flow through the rooms. And then yesterday, we had heavy rain and a thunder/lightening storm. It’s fascinating really, seeing the weather change so quickly.
Watching …
There’s lots of great television airing right now. I’m so excited “Better Call Saul” season three is on the air. We did a big binge-watch of season two on Netflix this past weekend. I’m also liking “The Good Fight,” which is the spin-off to “The Good Wife” on CBS Access. It’s SO good — much better than the original series. We’re also enjoying “Billions” on Showtime, and I’m struggling to get through the final season of “Bates Motel.” It’s really slow, and they probably could have written the final series in four or five episodes.
Reading …
The best book I’ve read lately is Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance. This book was super interesting and Vance does an amazing job of really shedding light on the Rust Belt rural middle class of America. I found the book even more relevant now that I live in Indiana and what he writes about could be a few streets away from me. It’s also been helpful to understand how President Trump was elected and what made this traditional Democratic Rest Belt community change to Republican country.
Listening to …
I listened to the Making Oprah podcast, which is a limited series about how the “Oprah Winfrey Show” began and its journey. Like so many of you, I used to come home from work and watch the show. It’s fun to revisit some of the topics and hearing Oprah herself. I’m also about to dive into the Reveal podcast, which is a series of mysteries produced by the Center for Investigative Reporting.
On the music front, I continue to listen to Dawes, even more so after I saw them in concert last month. They played for three hours and it was incredible!
Eating/Drinking …
I don’t have anything that exciting to report on the eating/drinking front. I’ve been making lots of meals from Plated and Home Chef. (You can read my reviews of these meal services here.) When I was in Boston, I took advantage of the restaurant selection and ordered a few seafood dishes. I do miss fresh seafood in Indiana. We still eat fish, but it’s not as abundant as it was in San Diego.
What’s currently going on in your life these days?