Before we end this first month of the year 2026, I wanted to squeeze in a ‘Currently’ post, because it used to be a monthly feature post on this blog. I enjoy these ‘check-in posts’, so maybe I’ll manage to make it a monthly, and not every-few-months feature post once again.
FEELING | relief that the results of my niece’s spinal tap (lumbar puncture) were negative for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which was a potential concern. There’s still no diagnosis, though. It very much feels like the medical professionals are groping in the dark and have no clue what’s going on with her and why her body is showing inflammation.
My niece has also been working with an osteopath who seems to take this all a bit more seriously and who also looks at everything a little bit more holistically (which doctors typically do not). I am personally a big fan of holistic approaches, because nothing happens in a vacuum. (I guess that is why I studied geography, and not one of the subordinate disciplines. Everything is interconnected.)
READING | Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez. I am not sure how it ended up on my to-read list (did one of you lovely people read and recommend it?). Either way, it’s truly fascinating (and sobering, to say the least). We have a lot of work to do as a society.
EATING | homemade bread. I tried a new yogurt-spelt bread recipe (with sourdough), and it turned out great!
DRINKING | NUUN Electrolytes + Magnesium.
THINKING ABOUT | what I could gift my sister for her birthday (other than my presence and being able to celebrate our BIG birthday together). Any great ideas?
BUYING | new running shoes. I got the same model, Brooks Ghost 16s, again because I like them (Ghosts were my very first pair of fitted running shoes!), and they were on sale, now that the new model, the Ghost 17s, is out. Win-win. I like to snag a frugal deal on running shoes (<$100, compared to $150+ tax for the newest model).
WORRYING ABOUT | this country and the world (what else is new?) The news has just been so awful this last week, another murder by ICE agents in Minnesota. I’ve been thinking about Lisa a lot, who has all of this happening in her city! But I also see a lot of activism and people speaking out, which makes me a little hopeful that this could be a turning point, maybe.
PLANNING | to participate in the National Shutdown tomorrow. I admit, it conveniently coincides with my RDO (regular day off) and I wouldn’t be working anyway, but I usually do my weekly shopping on Fridays, which I will obviously postpone. That’s the least I can do. I hope many people will follow suit.
COUNTING ON |a good number of congressional members with some guts (not the least because of pressure from their constituents!) to not advance the budget that includes more funding for ICE. That’s simply a NO-GO!
EXCITED ABOUT | Green Day opening at the Superbowl. Bold choice, NFL, bold choice (which I fully support)!
LAUGHING | out loud (and also screaming in my pillow, how about you?) at Trae Crowder’s political commentary. It’s delightfully witty and awful at the same time. I am not sure how long I have been following Trae (not long enough, is the correct answer) but he’s a breath of fresh air in this doomsday reality that we live in right now.
OBSERVING | the owlets. Yesterday, I witnessed mama owl feeding the babies what I assumed to be a rat. It was fascinating to watch, but I will also spare you the gory details of “tiny legs sticking in the air, bloody guts, and a long tail hanging over the side of the nest”. The owlets are eager to feast and grow, though.
ENJOYING | my (virtual) lunch time walks with my friend Sherry.
Will you be striking tomorrow? What are you thinking about?
NGS
January 29, 2026 at 2:07 pmInvisible Women is such a great book! I like how it just puts out all of my complaints about how the world is designed for men (who are in the minority of the population!) out there. I heard the author on episode 363 of the podcast 99% Invisible and that’s what made me pick up the book.
I like photo-based presents if people are far away. Maybe a photo of the two of you in a nice frame or on a canvas or as a digital file? That’s a fun gift!
San
January 30, 2026 at 11:58 amSo cool you’ve read Invisible Women (maybe I saw it on one of your book round-ups!) and it really does some up all the complaints we have about the world and why everything is so male-centric.
Thank you for the gift suggestion. I remember I made a little photo-book for my sister when we turned 40 and it was a great hit!
coco
January 30, 2026 at 12:10 amplease share your sourdough recipe! looks so good!
San
January 30, 2026 at 11:58 amThank you. I will post it soon!
Lisa's Yarns
January 30, 2026 at 9:37 amI have not heard of Invisible Women – it sounds fascinating! I’ll add it to my TBR.
I’ve never been so proud to be a Minnesotan. I wish we didn’t have to step up the way we have, but I love that the residents of our city truly care about their neighbors and will stand up for what is right. I was feeling more optimistic about things shifting earlier in the week but I’ve seen more headlines in the last couple of days that make me question when/if things will improve. Sigh. I feel like I”m constantly refreshing my local newspaper to find out what new atrocity has occurred.
San
January 30, 2026 at 11:59 amYeah, I get your skepticism about what is going to happen going forward… Tr*mp and his minions keep changing the narrative on the daily.It’s so very frustrating. I do hope the national shutdown today will garner some attention and create some pressure on the administration.
Rachel
January 30, 2026 at 11:43 pmInvisible women was life changing for me. I hope you find it interesting. I think it’s part of the reason I was so fired up on Gender and why I ended up leaving my last job – the inherent unfairness is truly insane and her data driven book made it so obvious. I should read it again.
Yogurt spelt bread sounds amazing!
Every time you post about Nuun I remember how much I used to love to drink it in the states, I think they actually distribute in the UK now so I’ll need to get myself a bottle…
I did not know about national shutdown, I feel so awful for everyone in the states living through what is happening. It’s terrifying and I am heartened by all the good people coming out to object but it’s so scary it’s gotten to his place at all (and I know I only see/hear about a small fraction of things due to living abroad)
San
February 6, 2026 at 9:19 pmThat makes so much sense that you posted all these blog posts about gender after reading Invisible Women. I have so many thoughts on this book.
I get the NUUN tablets that you dissolve in water.
Do you hear about American politics through your family? How do they feel living through these times?
Lindsay
January 31, 2026 at 6:47 amYogurt spelt sourdough sounds amazing, San! I’ve been really working on my sourdough skills with my starter this past month (I call it my science experiment, haha!) – and I think I’m getting more consistent with it? Every loaf is different, haha, but homemade bread is such a joy!
San
February 6, 2026 at 9:19 pmBaking with sourdough starter is an adventure, but I love that you love it.
J
January 31, 2026 at 7:06 amI didn’t even know about a shutdown until I read it here. I went downtown yesterday and it was pretty quiet. Because of a shutdown, or because it was early in the day, I’m not sure.
Will you be spending your birthday with your twin? I hope so! What about an electronic photo frame with a bunch of pictures of you both loaded in? She could add to it if she wants to.
San
February 6, 2026 at 9:21 pmI think sometimes the communication for certain things is lacking… I only heard about the “national strike” a week or so beforehand. That is too short of a timeframe to actually activate a lot of protesters. I am hoping they’ll get the word out about the next No Kings protest (3/28).
I won’t be back in Germany on my birthday, but I will go and see my twin a few weeks after. The electronic photo frame is a great idea! Thank you.
Michelle G.
January 31, 2026 at 4:54 pmI will have to look into NUUN. I tried LMNT, and I think it tastes weird! (I got Raspberry.) Your bread looks amazing. I’m so relieved that your niece doesn’t have MS, and I sure hope her doctors can figure it out. The owls are certainly a bright spot in the world! What am I thinking about? I’m trying to distract myself, so I don’t think about an upcoming appointment. I’m trying to bargain with my anxiety that it can just go do something else!
San
February 6, 2026 at 9:22 pmI tried a lot of different electrolyte drinks but NUUN is my favorite (specifically the orange flavor).
I get that you have anxiety before doctor’s appointment. My husband also has an elevated A1C and he’s always so anxious before the next blood test. It’s hard to keep things under control.
Sarah
February 2, 2026 at 12:42 amCaroline Criado Perez’s substack is really good too!
San
February 6, 2026 at 9:23 pmAh, thank you. I’ll check it out.
Stephany
February 2, 2026 at 4:59 amInvisible Women sounds right up my alley! Adding it to my TBR.
I’m glad your niece wasn’t diagnosed with MS, but how frustrating it is not have an answer to all of her pain. I hope the osteopath can help.
San
February 6, 2026 at 9:23 pmYes, it’s frustrating to not have a diagnosis, but I am relieved it’s not MS.