Hi friends,
At the beginning of May, I decided to take an extended break from writing this weekly newsletter. I haven’t sent you a missive in over four months! I paused this project so that I could rest and focus on other endeavors. The break has been amazing and refreshing.
Moving forward, I’ll likely send you a newsletter once a month. I don’t want to quit writing this newsletter, and I don’t have the capacity to publish weekly. If I want to keep this up, publishing less seems like a smart idea.
A few readers asked what I did during my break. In short, lots of fun stuff! Here’s a brief summary of what I’ve been doing:
Work projects
After lots and lots of job searching, I finally have a few stable work projects. This success is thanks to social connections.
First, my working relationship with my friend Courtney Carver expanded. It’s been a delight to work with Courtney and her team. As an aside, you can find my writing on Courtney’s website – Be More with Less.
Second, my friend Shanna introduced me to a group of amazing humans at the Media Arts Center San Diego. I’m part of their grant writing team, and I’m enjoying the work!
Celebrations
Logan and I celebrated 20 years of marriage in July. We took a trip to Mendocino, CA. It was so fun! We booked a room with an epic ocean view, tried to eat all the food, and walked and walked.
Highlights included a trip to the beautiful Mendocino Botanical Gardens, walks by the ocean, and seeing performances at the Mendocino Music Festival. If you’re in the area, I recommend having a coffee and a treat at The Waiting Room, dinner at Luna and the MacCallum House, and visiting the Gallery Bookshop.
In August, I took a quick weekend trip to San Francisco to celebrate a good friend’s birthday. We ate amazing food, walked in Golden Gate Park, and saw Kehinde Wiley’s exhibition – “An Archaeology of Silence” – at the de Young Museum. It’s one of the most moving and solemn exhibitions I’ve ever seen. If you have the opportunity, go see the exhibition. Wiley’s art will be at the de Young Museum through October 15, 2023.
Delight
I’m continuing to celebrate, notice, and savor daily delights. Last week, Ross Gay’s new book – The Book of (MORE) Delights – arrived on my doorstep. I finished it in a few days. His book is lyrical and lovely. Gay’s words reminded me to keep celebrating and sharing my daily delights.
For example, I was at the public library recently and I noticed a sign out front. It said:
YOU BELONG.
This is an important reminder; especially if someone feels lonely.
Before leaving the library, I noticed a guy sitting near the sign talking on a giant red cell phone. His outfit was super cool, too. He had on a purple dress shirt. And then, a gaggle of kids – probably between 5 and 7 years old – walked by. They were heading toward the library entrance with a few adults in tow.
I love the library because it’s a public space – a space where you aren’t required to buy anything. It’s also filled with a cross-section of humanity. For me, going to the library is an ongoing delight.
Reading lots of books
Over the past four months, I didn’t read much online. I also unsubscribed from lots of newsletters and podcasts. My ongoing mantra is: Scroll less, read more. The mantra is working because I’m devouring books.
I follow Austin Kleon’s reading advice and tend to “read promiscuously.” That means I stop reading books that aren’t for me. This gives me the time to fly through books that I enjoy.
Below you’ll find a list of books that I’ve read since May. I hope some of the books on my list pique your interest.
Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time by Sheila Liming
Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Changeless by Gail Carriger
Blameless by Gail Carriger
Heartless by Gail Carriger
Timeless by Gail Carriger
Hot & Bothered: What no one tells you about menopause and how to feel like yourself again by Jancee Dunn
The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander
The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Mist and Furry by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
The Measure by Nikki Erlick
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
What you are looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama
Maureen: A Harold Fry Novel by Rachel Joyce
The Book of (More) Delights by Ross Gay
Consider buying one of the books above at your local bookstore, or take a trip to your local library. Browse the shelves and check out a few good reads.
Thank you for reading!
I know there is plenty to read, watch, and listen to online, and I'm appreciative of your readership and support.
With gratitude,
Tammy Strobel
PS: Ursula the Cat turned 2-years-old in August! She’s a delight!
Your first newsletter since may was such a wonderful and uplifting surprise! This sounds like you had a beautiful screen-reduced Summer. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of it and thereby inspiring us to celebrate the simple pleasures as well. I especially enjoyed the book recommendations.
And what a delight it was to receive a letter from you in my inbox again! 😊
Congratulations on the 20 year anniversary. Wow! What a lifetime to loom back on.
Until next time!