Books

Last year, I was able to read 21 books.

How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims

Spare, Prince Harry

All Creatures Great and Small, James Herriot

If I Survive You, Jonathan Escoffery

All Things Bright and Beautiful, James Herriot

All Things Wise and Wonderful, James Herriot

Out of My Heart*, Sharon Draper

Poverty, by America, Matthew Desmond

American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang

Sink, Joseph Earl Thomas 

Song of the Cell, Siddhartha Mukherjee

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon*, Grace Lin

Year off the Tiger, Alice Wong

It Wasn’t Me*, Dana Alison Levy

Chasing My Cure, David Fajgenbaum

Born a Crime, Trevor Noah

I Know Who You Are, Barbara Rae-Venter 

Ghost*, Jason Reynolds

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen*, Sarah Kapit

The Conversation, Robert Livingston 

Eve, Cat Bohannon

Bun Bun and I read a few of them together either for school or for her virtual book club (*). I really like reading the James Herriot series and think I would have became a vet if I had read them when I was in high school. The memoirs by Prince Harry, Joseph Earl Thomas, David Fajgenbaum, and Trevor Noah were really fascinating. I think my favorite was "I Know Who You Are" about using genetic ancestry tests to solve crimes.

Goal this year is to read at least one more than last.

It's been a while

 

Quick updates:

Bun Bun is in the 7th grade, in the middle school. She still loves to read and obsesses over really cute babies.

We had our first snow (~5 inches) in over 2 years. The backyard has enough of a slope for some sledding. We had to take down a bunch of large trees which opens up the yard a lot more. If you're wondering, those trees were infested by emerald green borers. These beetles lay eggs into the tree bark which the larvae eat as they crawl their way out. Over time, the tree slowly dies. As those sick trees were removed, we started planting new one, hence the wiring cage you see.

Summer

If Bun Bun was a cartoon character...

X marks the spot and Bun Bun's 10th year.

Savoring the summer at Longwood Gardens

 

Winter 2021

Bun Bun got an adorable haircut.

We've gotten quite a bit of snow this year.

Grateful to be vaccinated.

 

Finger People

When Bun Bun was a toddler, she was shown how to pretend and use her little fingers as legs of a person.  I'd call them her finger people.  She walked them up and down hand rails or when she wanted to stall time.  She'd use them in doll houses or any tiny architecture structures fit for finger people.  When we doubted her imaginary play, we would remember her finger people.

Today, her finger person got a pair of shoes.  These shoes belonged to Ken of Ken and Barbie.  Bun Bun inherited a set of Bride Barbie and Groom Ken dolls recently.  Ken's shoes were lost and recovered a couple of days ago.  So, there you have it...

Books

 Adding these to my book list since April:

• Educated, Tara Westover (Memoir of a scholar, homeschooled in rural Idaho with her survivalist family, bullied by her brother, but determined to seek higher education)
• Yellow House, Sarah M Broom (Memoir of a writer growing up in urban New Orleans)
• Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson (Excellent account of the justice system favoring those who are guilty and  rich over those who are poor and innocent)
• Maid, Stephanie Land (Single mom making ends meet as a maid to support herself and her daughter)
• Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama 
• A Promised Land, Barack Obama (Account of the former president's first term)
• Endurance, Scott Kelly (Astronaut's year-long expedition aboard the ISS)
• Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake (The wood wide web of fungi connecting root systems of trees and plants)

New Year

Happy New Year...

Yes, it is a happy new year.  Proceed with caution.

I think we can all agree that 2020 was a horrible year: SARS-CoV2 pandemic, the world shut down/put on pause, protests, BLM protests, counter-protests, angry voters, angry politicians, defiant politicians...

Are there silver linings?  There are always silver linings.  It's not hard to see them.

I got to spend a lot of quality time with family, watching TV shows & movies, strolling through parks, throwing rocks in the creek at the park, savoring every second of Bun Bun blossoming into a young girl, and baking a lot of bread.

Yes, bread.  Some loaves have been more successful than others.  My latest trials and tribulations have been with sourdough bread.  I'm still getting large air pockets and will need to figure out ways to make airy bubbles more even throughout.  It's tasty nonetheless.  Bun Bun and I smear sweet Nutella on it for breakfast.  Daddy puts his own spin with cream cheese.

Since late spring, people in the US and around the world are starting to reckon with the ugliness of racial and social inequalities, amplified by police brutalities, compounded by irate people already edgy from the pandemic, and the racist rhetorics of the outgoing DC administration.  None of this is new, although I never fully understood it until recently.  Dare I be hopeful that people gaining awareness, speaking out, participating in marches will lead to change for the better.

Barely one week into 2021, the most horrific event in recent American history unveils before the whole world.  Egged on by a defiant president who did not win re-election, his angry followers who believe his lies stormed the Capitol building as Senators and Representations certify the electoral votes and formally name the next President.  What a sad and embarrassing site captured by journalists and rioters' own mobile devices.  Now, there's a call for a second impeachment.  So, for those who have chosen to see, hear, and speak no evil over the last FIVE years, this is the final straw?

Fun from the summer

Bun Bun attended bike camp and was learning how to steer and pedal.

Bun Bun turned 9 years old...

... and started 4th grade.

We discovered a park nearby that had a creek, great for throwing in rocks and making big splashes. 

 

Sour dough bread

 

Thanksgiving 2020

There doesn't seem to be a lot to be thankful this year on the whole.  We are deep in another giant surge in COVID-19 infections.  Many people in this country are not taking it seriously.  Personal freedom overshadows sacrifice for the greater good.

Yet, there is a lot to be thankful for...

Many people are taking this pandemic seriously.  While we wait for the vaccine to be manufactured and distributed, there are those who are careful - wearing masks, staying far away from crowds, remaining at home, and even volunteering for vaccine trials.

There's a sense of community for people helping those in need.  Over the weekend, I dropped off a bag of canned goods at a local church.  The parking lot was filled with volunteers sorting all kinds of food.  You can find kindness everywhere, and it isn't too hard.

In less than 2 months, we'll have a new President.

I still have a job that I love.

I have a warm home.

I have my family, and everyone is well.