Thanks to EVERYONE for the kind words about the announcement of my new book, Change of Plans, coming May 2026 from Simon and Schuster. (If you missed the post, it’s here. ) Your emails, comments and messages meant the world to me, and I’m really excited to share this book with you (even though we have a bit of a wait). Also, in my excitement, I totally forgot to link to the article in Cosmo WITH the cover reveal (so embarrassing). Better late than never?
Meet Ricky. He’s the reason, it turns out, that I was under the impression I had REALLY hungry birds. “Gee,” I’d say every morning when the large amount of seed I’d just added the previous day was totally gone, “you guys sure can eat.” (Yes, I talk to my birds. I’m honest here.) Then, a couple of weeks ago, my husband went out in the early evening to throw something in the recycling and snapped this picture. What you see here is his signature expression. Caught in the act, Ricky does not run off, or even stop pillaging the feeder. He just looks at me, as if I am the one who is being a nuisance. If he does leave, it’s to disappear sulkily (and s-l-o-w-l-y) into the foliage. If there was a door, he’d slam it. If this wasn’t offensive enough, we have also caught him hanging from my hummingbird feeder, sucking out the sugar water. And that’s on the PORCH. I’d be impressed with his boldness if I wasn’t so insulted. Because I am also codependent, I now look for him every night. And I still fill the feeders. Sigh.
I’ve been in a bit of a reading rut lately, if I’m honest. That kind when you think every book you read is not holding your attention before realizing you, um, have very little attention in the first place. I have been reading a lot of of Jojo Moyes (her latest, We All Live Here, is great). I’m in the middle of Nathan Hill’s Wellness, which is somewhat dark but super compelling. And I just picked up another armful of options from the library. Will report back.
My latest coping mechanism: watermelon. Hear me out. As with most stress hacks, it’s all about control and completion. Step one: buy one of those little seedless watermelons (4 bucks, lately, on sale!). Bring it home. Contemplate universe. Then, get out a plastic container and a knife and slice it in half. Then continue cutting until you have a nice, pretty pile of wedges. Put in container, then in fridge. When things get to be too much (often, lately, I know) help yourself to a piece and appreciate your accomplishment. If you’re feeling VERY benevolent, you can also throw the rind into the woods for wildlife. Your own Ricky, he’ll thank you. (Or, not.)
Finally, just a reminder to breathe. I know, I know. When things feel so hard and dark, as they often do now, slowing down and sucking in some air to cope can feel like the equivalent of trying to empty the ocean with a tablespoon. As I typed this, though, I forced myself to do it and I can report I feel better. Does it fix everything? No. Neither does watermelon. But breathing is free and easy and you don’t even have to do any slicing. Just two steps. In, out. In, out. Well done.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
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