I’m in a spat of editing, preparing for submission, which is usually when my children get sick. They didn’t disappoint. A week of illness in house, sickness still lingering. We’re slogging through Jello air while the rest of the world asks us to spring forward.

Many wonderful things happening. Some very exciting synchronicity that I want to share in upcoming weeks, but aforementioned deadlines crook a finger and beckon.

For now, here are some links that I’ve enjoyed these last few days.

This article on the Atlantic website  explores introversion and teaching. Good points, especially about the “helping” of new teachers and the forced collaboration. I found a lot of the forced collaboration to be exhausting. I admit there were times during my free periods (not lunch, I was always available at lunch) that I turned off my classroom lights and sat in a corner of the room that couldn’t be seen from the door. I recharged during those times.

We focus a lot on collaboration in education these days. It’s an interesting problem for teachers and students who find the constant push for it enervating, yet as the workforce becomes more group-oriented, it’s a necessary skill.

This clip is fun and genius.

I’m proud to have a face that I don’t feel I need to manipulate into a goofy expression just because I happen to be in public. 

I’m spending a lot of time, as I mop foreheads and wipe noses and catch glimpses of myself in the mirror looking worn, thinking about my whereabouts in life. Geography, career, relationships, age. All sorts of paths that we’re all on and I’m trying to stick “YOU ARE HERE” stars on mine. It’s not always pretty. This sums it up on those gray February days when it feels like the tulips are eons away.

Wishing you all great discoveries this week!

I’m in an editing spiral at the moment. One can only dig so deeply for so long in an attempt to make the messy thought process something uncluttered enough to enter a reader’s brain.

It is when I edit that I most crave inspiration, to be nourished by the brilliance and passion of others.

Here is some of what has sustained me:

A lush dinner with good friends at this terrific find last night. If you’re anywhere near Evanston, IL, please check out this restaurant. Go and sit by the fire, enjoy a chat with a very knowledgeable barkeep, and for goodness sake, try the gnocchi. It’s hygge in a bowl. I’d also suggest bringing my friends along. They are good for laughing-to-tears moments. They also don’t ask to split one dessert among six people.

If you need a laugh and an example of an outstanding pilot episode, watch this. Then watch the following ones.

Between extended David Bowie auditory marathons, I found this. Interesting.

I bought a bread machine. So far, so good. The dough gets nice and sproingy. I’m spending this cold day working through The Bread Lover’s Bread Machine Cookbook. I’ve a thick stack of Post-it Notes at the ready.

The Goldfinch continues to delight. A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again continues to challenge and prod.

What is currently inspiring you?