I know I am a little late but I am squeezing the monthly ‘Link List’ (yesterday) and the ‘Currently’ post for July into this week before we fully enter August. The earlier part of this week just got away from me. And by the way, how in the world is it August already?
SURVIVED | the extended heatwave that we had at the beginning of July. We’re used to getting a few days of triple digits here in the summer, but every single day for almost two weeks was a long stretch! I am so glad we’ve been getting some relief.
SPENDING | some time in SoCal with my mother-in-law and at the beach. It’s always a favorite and also a big relief from the heat.
GUEST-POSTING | on Engie’s blog for her 20th Blogaversary celebrations. I shared my favorite mantras and inspirational quotes, ICYMI.
HOPING | that Biden dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing his VP Kamala Harris will have the expected results come November. Come on, people. Go vote, and consider your vote carefully. Don’t forget it’s a privilege and responsibility that you shouldn’t take lightly. I know Kamala might not be your preferred pick either, but democracy is at stake.
LISTENING TO | a couple of podcasts. I know that comes as a surprise because I am a confessed mostly not-podcast-listener, but I took advantage during plane travel earlier this month and listened to a couple of (political) podcasts right after Biden’s dropping out to get some “professional” assessments of the changed situation.
EXCITED | that I finally got to do some fieldwork again earlier this week. My colleague and I went out on Tuesday for a TLS (Terrestrial Lidar Scanning) survey. I think I explained a little bit about what it is in my post during NaBloPoMo. We surveyed a levee road that is deforming due to land subsidence in the Sacramento Delta. It was a long (hot) day, but it was so much fun to get to do this work again with my colleague. I am already looking forward to stitching the (seven) scans together into a full 3D model.
READING | Outlander #8, “Written in my Own Heart’s Blood” and “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. The latter, I am reading with my mentor right now and it feels like our own little personal book club. It’s fun to discuss a few chapters with him when we meet.
PARTICIPATING IN | my 8th (!) PeloFondo with my Streakers365 team. These weekends are always so much fun. This time, I even got my sister to join and collect miles for our team.
STOKED | that I managed to earn “gold” in all Peloton disciplines in July, except for meditation (which was bronze).
Running (69 mi) | Yoga (22) | Meditation (8)
DRINKING | NUUN. This is my go-to electrolyte drink. I am pretty picky about flavors and ingredients. Do you have a favorite? (I’ll try anything lemon or orange-flavored.)
WATCHING | Red Sox Baseball. We don’t currently subscribe to MLBTV anymore and therefore don’t catch nearly as many baseball games because most Red Sox games are not broadcast on the West Coast (bummer). They did however broadcast the Red Sox vs Yankees games last weekend because of their known rivalry. It was fun to be able to watch not one, but two games… and I realized with shock that I didn’t recognize many of the players. We’ve been loosely following the standings throughout the season, but there are so many players that I just hadn’t seen often enough to know exactly who’s who! It was a little sad, tbh.
EATING | more protein for breakfast (I am not a huge fan of eggs for breakfast., but I’ve been adding more eggs into my diet again lately, and I do occasionally enjoy some breakfast chicken sausages).
PROUD OF | Jon for participating in his third Davis Moo-nlight Run earlier this month (I still owe you the recap!). Jon has been walking regularly and working with a personal trainer for a year now and I am so proud of him for sticking with it!
What are you currently eating? Hoping? Proud of?
NGS
August 2, 2024 at 9:26 amI am just Olympics obsessed right now and that’s sort of a problem because I’m letting all of the other things I need to do fall behind. LOL. I’m hoping that I have better time management in the next week or so!
San
August 9, 2024 at 3:41 pmEnjoy watching the Olympics! It’s only once every 4 years ;)
Lisa's Yarns
August 2, 2024 at 11:37 amI hope you enjoyed the podcasts you listen to. I listen to SO MANY. My favorite political ones are The Ezra Klein show (not all episodes are political but many have been lately) and Pantsuit Politics.
We’ve been trying to grill and eat as much seasonal produce as we can! I’m hoping that Kamala can beat Trump and I have hope that she will. I’m proud of my Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz. He’s really been making the media circuits and has done quite well. He has a total midwest dad vibe, but he’s done great things for our state. I kind of hope she doesn’t pick him for VP because we need him here! But it would be cool to see him on the ticket, I kind of doubt that will happen, though.
San
August 9, 2024 at 3:43 pmYes, it was the Ezra Klein Podcast I listened to! He has some great insights!
You must be so thrilled that Kamala picked Tim Walz, although I can understand that it’s also sad because you’ll lose him as your governor. He’s been well received though and seems like such a genuine guy!
coco
August 2, 2024 at 2:42 pmI love LMNT citrus flavor, the best electrolytes to replenish tons of sweat and avoid headache post head run.
your field trip sounds fun! any work that requires to be outdoor and in the move would be fun for someone that sit in the AC office all day long. I think I would love to be an ecologist or sort of job, to be outdoor.
I am loving papaya lately, so fresh and juicy.
San
August 9, 2024 at 3:43 pmThank you for the recommendation – I’ll be trying different fuel/hydration in the coming weeks!
Melissa
August 2, 2024 at 3:45 pmI’m glad you’ve got some cooler weather. Extended hot weather can be so draining. I usually drink Skratch orange, and I like it. It’s got the right balance to maximise hydration and not coloured.
San
August 9, 2024 at 3:44 pmOh, I’ve heard about Skratch. I am going to try different fuel/hydration in the coming weeks!
J
August 2, 2024 at 8:19 pmI’ve never heard the term land subsidence before. Is that caused by the lowering water tables underground? Or earthquakes? Or something else? When I saw it I thought of the farmers pulling water out during the worst of the drought, but not sure.
Ugh on that heat wave. I’m glad we’re out of it. It’s in the 90s, but not horrible, thank god.
Go Harris!
San
August 9, 2024 at 3:45 pmOh, interesting you hadn’t heard the term “land subsidence” before… It’s all they talk about when it comes to storage loss in the Central Valley aquifer due to pumping! It can also be caused by other things but this is huge in CA.
Elisabeth
August 3, 2024 at 2:01 amThe heat waves this summer! Gah. So hot; I’m so thankful we have AC but yesterday it couldn’t even handle the heat and bring it down to the set temperature.
I’ve been loving cottage cheese lately. I mix in a bit of drippy PB, a sprinkle of cinnamon and raisins and a handful of pumpkin seeds!
San
August 9, 2024 at 3:46 pmDo you have a favorite brand of cottage cheese? I heard there are huge difference… the one from Trader Joe’s is just “ok” in my opinion, so if you have a recommendation, I’ll take it!
Ally Bean
August 3, 2024 at 5:32 am“Atomic Habits” by James Clear is a book I see quotes from but don’t know anyone who has actually read it! I’m eating more protein lately and less fats. I feel better, not that I felt awful, just more energized. And what I’m hoping for is fall, I’m over summer.
San
August 9, 2024 at 3:46 pmYes, protein is supposed to make you feel more energized. Good for you for making these changes in your diet!
And “Atomic Habits” is really interesting IMHO. I recommend it.
Catrina
August 3, 2024 at 5:43 amThat’s interesting that you are reading Atomic Habits with your mentor. Is it a mentor coaching you for a work promotion? It’s definitely a good book for triggering a discussion on efficiency and performance.
A two week heat wave sounds awful. Since I arrived in Switzerland at the end of June, it’s been quite cool and rainy. I’m not complaining, the rain makes everything look lush and beautiful.
San
August 9, 2024 at 3:47 pmYes, the mentorship program is through work – not necessarily for a promotion, although in my case, I do want him to help me with this because I have been in the same position for years and feel like I’ve been passed over a few times.
Stephany
August 5, 2024 at 2:47 pmTriple digits! That sounds pretty awful. It doesn’t usually get that bad here in FL but we have the humidity to deal with, which is its own beast.
Mmm, eggs for breakfast is a fave of mine! Your photo makes me want some eggs right now!
San
August 9, 2024 at 3:48 pmTriple digits ARE awful, but I don’t think I’d want to swap with you – I do not do well with the humidity! ;)
Kyria @ Travel Spot
August 8, 2024 at 5:10 amNice work in the PeloFondo and for getting all those awards! I love sticking with something and seeing the results, although sometimes it takes a while!
I feel the same way about the Giants as you do with the Sox. Now I go to a game and I barely know who’s who. Plus, without Crawford, I’m missing my favorite guy!! It’s just not the same anymore. Funny thing though is that I’ve been a Giants fan for years nad my favorite players are actually all in the 50s and 60s now, so if that doesn’t make me feel old I don’t know what does. (The Olympics do too actually, with most of them being in their teens and twenties).
San
August 9, 2024 at 3:49 pmThank you Kyria. I am sure a PeloFondo would be something you’d enjoy – you like a good challenge ;)
Oh yeah, the Giants – since they’re our “local” team, I follow them loosely and I agree, there are so many players now that I don’t know. Eek.
Anne
August 16, 2024 at 11:09 amLOVED Atomic Habits. I listened but need to get the e-book to have. Glad you are enjoying it!
And isn’t it odd when you’re not in the market for a favorite sports team? For me, it’s college b-ball. I barely know what’s going on anymore, other than the major national news on the program. So strange how those things change, and it takes us a while to realize it.
I’ll be honest – I hear stories about geographic and marine and other environmental research, and sometimes it sounds so, so appealing. I love what I do – but sometimes, working with human (subjects) is… not easy. A day doing measurements and analyzing them? Sounds amazing. Time for a career change? ;)