Share Four Somethings—September 2023
Near the end of each month at Jennifer’s linkup we share four somethings that we’re loving, reading, learning, and eating.
I also share my previous month’s One Second Everyday video . . .
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What I’m Loving
- FUNNY PODCAST
I recently discovered this hilarious podcast: Strike Force Five. It is random conversations by five late-night TV hosts currently unable to broadcast their own shows: Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and Stephen Colbert.
They created this podcast with all proceeds going to support their staffs who had been out of work until today due to the writers’ strike. (And it’s amazing how many people work for each late-night show.)
When I can’t sleep at night but don’t want to read or listen to something too serious, I put this podcast in my ears. And then try not to laugh out loud and wake up my husband.
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What I’m Reading
- I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY
I signed up for an online book club in October to discuss how to talk better with people with different views:
I Never Thought of It That Way
How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times
by Mónica Guzmán
I’m about 80 pages in. So far, it’s been excellent.
Here are a couple of excerpts.
“If there’s one question I want to persuade you to ask more often, it’s ‘What am I missing?’
‘What am I missing?’ is not just any question. It’s the question.”
“To keep our minds open when so much pushes them closed we’re going to have to kick it old-school. We’re going to have to talk—really talk—with actual different people. This is the work.”
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What I’m Learning
- NEW WORD GAMES
Every night for awhile now Jeff and I have played Wordle and Spelling Bee on the New York Times website. (I play Sudoku on my own time.) Then a few months ago we added The Mini Crossword to our routine.
But the past few weeks we’ve added in the new game Connections. It may be the most challenging of the games we do together. We’re finally getting the hang of it (most nights anyway), and love having it in the routine.
All in all, we can finish the four games we play together in less than 15 minutes (although I haven’t timed us), depending on how quickly we get the pangram for Spelling Bee. It’s been so enjoyable!
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What I’m Eating (or Drinking)
- SPARKLING ICE CLASSIC LEMONADE
This has been the year I’ve swapped my daily treat of a Diet Dr. Pepper for a drink without aspartame. I still occasionally drink a Diet Dr. Pepper (or a real Dr. Pepper if I’m indulging myself) but more often I now treat myself to a Sparkling Ice Zero Sugar Classic Lemonade instead. It’s been a much easier trade than I expected.
What is something you are loving, reading, learning, or eating/drinking this month?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
I’m linking at these blog parties
I’ve not explored the online games, but we’re using Duolingo to learn a language—me Spanish and my husband French. It’s helping me to not feel like such a fraud when I sub for the Spanish teacher!
Yay for you doing Duolingo! I used it for quite awhile myself when I was helping teach English to Spanish speakers. I got out of the habit now though so I’m probably losing most of what I gained.
Two of my sons love the Sparkling Ice drinks. One uses lemonade exclusively, but the other likes most of their flavors (he doesn’t like the one with coconut). I should probably look into switching. I’ve reduced my Decaf Diet Coke consumption to about one small bottle a day, but should probably use it even less.
I play Wordle every day and have an app for Penny Dell crosswords. I probably should do Sudoku because I’m weak in dealing with numbers. But because I like word games better than numbers, I haven’t yet. I’ll have to check out Connections.
I’ve tried one or two other flavors of Sparkling Ice and while they were good, lemonade is my very favorite. I can settle into sameness quite easily. 🙂
I think you would like Suduoku, Barbara! Even though it uses numbers as the symbols, it’s not about numbers per se; they could have substituted letters or any other symbols just as easily. I used to love doing Dell Logic Puzzles with a grid; Sudoku reminds me of those puzzles, minus the story that went along with the logic puzzles.
I did just try Connections. Fun!
Oh good! It can be tricky at times, but I like having the process of elimination to help us. 🙂
I haven’t played Wordle for quite some time! To play with word games nightly with your husband is a wonderful way to end the day. I’m going to suggest that to my husband. But not Scrabble…he’s way too good at that game.
I love Scrabble! I need to get out our game some evening when we have more time. I also love Bananagrams; my husband and I are evenly matched with it so it makes it even more fun, because you’re right that when one person is so much better at a game, it’s not as fun. lol.
As always, I love your one-second video, Lisa. Wow! The kids are really growing up, aren’t they?
The book you’re reading does sound interesting, too. The only word game I play is Jumble. Danny’s not a word person, but we play backgammon together every evening that we can.
Blessings!
I enjoyed your one-second video, Lisa. The boys jumping around brings back memories. Ha! Your grandson is a gem. The geese are HUGE! The book sounds interesting, so I look forward to your review when you finish it. I’m not much of a game person, but I’ll pass along the recommendation to my DIL. Thanks for sharing!
It’s fun to do word games with others. I play with my daughter and my two granddaughters. It’s been fun to see our 10YO granddaughter join in! And then I share my score with my son and DIL. Playing with each family has provided much laughter and good competition 🙂
I haven’t seen the podcast, but I love that idea. How wonderful that five successful men choose to give their time to help their employees. Bravo!
I hadn’t heard of that podcast but it does sound fun. I’m definitely going to have to look for that lemonade and see if I wean the rest of the family off the actual lemonade they like to drink.
Lovely review as always ❤️
I am a sudoku addict (logic problems like Dell are my second favourite) and try to ration myself to one (or at most two) a day. My wife isn’t. At all. However we both love crosswords and try to print out the crossword every day (from the newspaper we read, the FT … cue nostalgia for the days when newspapers were newspapers …). Doing a puzzle you both love is a very nice way to spend time together.
My drink discovery this month (when it was still summer) is similar to yours, but more Spartan: just half a lemon squeezed into a glass, lots of ice, and my favourite fizzy water (San Pellegrino).
Reading: for next month really, but Herminia Ibarra is a management guru I really like and she’s bringing out updated editions of two of her books soon.
FT = Financial Times
One of those odd ways people realise they are meant to be together — they read the same newspaper. Sara would buy it for herself as a treat; I have been a staunch daily reader since September 1990. And then we both did the crossword, …
Im a diet Dr Pepper fan too and also been cutting down. I will have to try that lemonade. sounds refreshing.
I love word games! It is so fun that you and your husband do them together. My daughter has been trying to get healthier and she switched from regular sodas to the Sparkling Ice. Before that, I didn’t even know they existed, LOL. Enjoyed your post.
Just downloaded those word games. Not sure I needed a new download but I love words and (really) like word games. Looking forward to some fun! Enjoyed your post and always like those videos! Happy Wednesday to you!