This was going to be a Five for (LAST) Friday post. Then (maybe) a Six for Sunday. Here we are on Thursday – so you’re getting (definitely not) Ten for Thursday. Just a few things that have been happening, that I wanted to share, while I plan out a few upcoming posts.
- I left my apartment! For four days! And took a mini-trip! More to come, but it did involve a) being outside, and b) a FLW house, just for Birchie.
- I made a savory granola and oh, my goodness, it’s addictive. First time for me, and it will not be the last. I can share the recipe that I adapted if others like.
- Contract starts in less than a week (sigh), which means that the emails are ramping up, as is the non-research work. While I said that nothing changes much for me in the summer, well, the truth is, it kind of does. These transitions are always jarring, and the same is true of this year. I am taking on more teaching responsibilities, too, and (gulp) mentoring people? Apparently, they have the idea (or, perhaps misconception is a better word) that I know what to do. This is a change, and it’s a tough one for me.
- My reading life has completely changed, friends. And it’s all because of you. I have always said that audiobooks are “not for me”, particularly for fiction. I’ve tolerated them for a few years for nonfiction, but it wasn’t my favorite option. All of that changed with the CBBC read of My Brilliant Friend. I did not love the book (standard apologies to Julie, Engie, and, I think, Birchie?), but I did love being able to listen to the book while doing mindless things. Think swiffering. Who needs to think while swiffering, really? Ditto chopping veggies, which seems to happen a lot in my world. Then I started to use my library account and take advantage of Libby. While the selection at my library isn’t great, it’s started to flow a lot better thanks to filling up my holds list and holds starting to come in. This is going to have to be its own post, but THANK YOU to all of you who have evangelized about audiobooks these last few years. It took me a while, but I am a convert.
- Question for those of you who use social media: Are you on Threads? I deleted the other app because of the owner, and while I am on Instagram (and follow many of you there), I would like to occasionally check in on a more text-based app. Thoughts? (The algorithmic “preview” of Threads on IG is kind of drawing me in, which is why I am considering this…)
- I thought out my Fall schedule for being on campus vs. being at home, and it is going to be a rough transition. Sarah will appreciate knowing that I was actually demoted from my pay-through-the-nose parking lot to the Flex garage, which a) costs more over the long term, and b) is at the bottom of this long, gradual hill up to my building that is rarely salted/treated in the winter in a timely manner. Like I said, the transition from my preferred balance of more at-home work vs. in-office work is going to be daunting. I’ll stop my griping there, though, because honestly, my situation is pretty darn good. Just… changing.
I hope you are all doing well here in mid (!!!) August. Take care of yourselves, and enjoy the last weeks of summer.
Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time;
~A few lines from Ithaka, by C.P. Cavafy
Yay for taking the trip! I can’t wait to hear all about it (and also I’m getting itchy to get back on the road). And welcome to the world of audiobooks! I’m strictly a non-fiction listener, but they are great for listening while cooking, cleaning, walking a puppy, and of course road trips.
I can’t wait to write about it! I wound up cutting it short by a night (so very me, to do that, LOL), but it was absolutely wonderful. Can’t wait to read about your next adventure. “Where’s Birchie now?” (You should do a podcast!)
I’m listening to a *very long* non-fiction right now, The Spy and the Traitor, which my dad read in his book club. It’s something like 32 hours? But it’s good – learning a lot about Soviet history in the 1970s and 80s – we were alive, obviously, but I was definitely not paying much attention to Soviet politics, ha.
I’m looking forward to hearing more about the trip!
I’m very reluctantly on Threads. I’ve tried it a few times but always deleted the account because it felt so pointless (mainly business people complaining about the IG algorithm, more or less) but then I started getting posts from there on my IG feed and if something caught my interest, I couldn’t read it unless I had an account. So I created a new account using my IG photography account. The Threads algorithm is very reactive to what you do, so if you have a crap feed, just like, comment on things you like and it will change. I also found that the photography community there is quite active so I decided to stay, for the time being. I quite like it. But I must say that a nice and quiet feed without reels is very addictive, I can keep scrolling there way too long and that’s not great.
That is next on my to-be-posted list, because if I don’t do it, it will not get done (see: posts I need to write about 2 blogger meetups, etc.).
Thanks for the insight(s) into Threads. I do like the idea of a text-based app, to be honest. I don’t mind reels as much as you do (I just scroll on by), but it would be nice to get away from the images sometimes. And thanks for the tip about liking to drive the algorithm!
Egads! Faculty are starting to be on campus (NOT EVEN ACTUAL STUDENTS) and I’m over it already. Over. It. Stop asking me questions! Use Google! (J/K – I love to support our faculty. I just find some of them a bit frustrating.) AND I am teaching two classes in the fall and have only really consider what I will be teaching sort of briefly in a vague “here’s a syllabus” sort of way. Hmmm. I probably should do something about that.
Audiobooks are the only reading I have been doing. I can listen while I’m driving, cooking, walking the dog, working out, etc. I am struggling to actually pick up a book, but I love audiobooks. Unlike you, I prefer non-fiction audiobooks (they’re more like podcasts), but the collection is small at my library, so I listen to a lot of fiction. Like the entire 100 hours of Follett’s Century Trilogy.
I’m only on Facebook and Instagram (not Threads). I am An Old. And mostly I just post Hannah and Zelda on Instagram. But if you read my blog, there’s nothing about my life you will learn from following me on social media.
This reminded me that my husband and I need to figure out the parking permit thing here. I added it to my home calendar to talk to him about it tonight.
Oh, I am a thorn in the side of our entire Academic Affairs office. I was fretting about summer grades and the fact that grades were due on one date on the Registrar’s site but I didn’t yet have a grade roster to, you know, grade. Emails and Teams messages followed, and I am sure they were ready to block me by the end. 😉
I am in AWE that you listened to the Century Trilogy. Wow. I am just about to finish The Spy and the Traitor which is amazing. (I’ll be returning it today or tomorrow if you want to get it from WI Public Library [assuming you use that one]). It’s 30+ hours, but remember, I speed them up. I don’t know how you do the 1x speed…
I’m older than you! So none of this being an Old stuff. Ha. Also, glad I prompted the parking permit discussion. UGH UGH UGH.
OH THE PARKING SITUATION SUCKS. Do you HAVE to be on campus all the time? Maybe flex more since you got screwed in the parking lottery? Also— let’s have coffee/lunch/walk on campus once things settle in.
It’s horrible! and getting worse every year! I will pay as much for this option as I do for the other, be on campus the exact same amount (3 mornings, 4-6 hrs/morning, and 1 afternoon, Fridays, which COME ON, people, change the schedule FTLOG…). And yes yes yes to coffee/lunch/walk. I’d love to come to your ‘side’ of campus since I do that roughly one time/AY, LOL.
So excited that you have hopped on the audiobook train! It took me a long time to get there, too, but I looooooove audiobooks. Especially now that my commute is so lengthy.
The parking situation sounds dreadful. Why is parking such an awful issue all the time?!
I am on Threads and BlueSky, but I haven’t posted at either. Social media intrigues me but stresses me out.
You were another audio inspiration! You and Sarah.
Honestly, I just lurk on IG. I don’t take selfies – really, you do not want me to – and don’t share images of myself online, anyway. No pets, no gorgeous surroundings…= lurk and “like” others’ posts. I figure there have to be those of us who, you know, “support” the other posters, right? 😉
I’m curious about this savory granola! We need more details! Do you eat it plain? Or mixed into something? Do tell!
I’ve done a few informational interview/networking type of meetings recently and it is a bit jarring to be on the other side of the conversation because I don’t feel like a senior person – and yet I am a senior person with a big job titles that has been working for 20 years!
Lisa, it will not surprise you to learn that I am Weird when it comes to granola. I like a few specific things: 1) not sweet, 2) no coconut, for the love of Pete, and 3) I like it overbaked (almost burnt) and crumbly, not with big chunks (that, to me, is a broken-up granola bar). So I do modify recipes to bake at a higher temp (usually ~15-25 degrees) and for longer, until it’s really dried out.
Now that you know how weird I am, here’s the recipe. I got it from Bakerita, whose recipes I’ve not used before, but this one makes me think it will not be the last!
This Vegan Savory Granola is the perfect hiking snack or topping for soups & salads! This savory granola recipe post includes tons of spice options to customize the flavor. Ready in less than 45 minutes.
—
Ingredients
– 2 cups rolled oats, gluten-free if necessary
– 1 cup of your favorite raw nuts such as cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios, walnuts, pecans and/or almonds, roughly chopped
– 1/2 cup raw seeds such as pumpkin and/or sunflower (use all seeds to make this recipe nut-free)
– 2 tablespoons small seeds such as chia or flax
Wet ingredients:
– 4 tablespoons tahini
– 2 tablespoons maple syrup
– 1 tablespoon tamari
– 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
– 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
– 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
– 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
– 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
– 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
– 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
Cook Mode
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix the oats, nuts, and seeds.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, maple syrup, tamari, vinegar, olive oil, nutritional yeast, and spices.
4. Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture and stir until well-coated.
5. Spread the mixture evenly on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Don’t disturb while it’s cooling to help clusters form.
7. Once cool, stir in any mix-ins, like dry sundried tomatoes, kale chips, or crispy chickpeas.
—
Notes
– Storage: Store savory granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. To extend the shelf life, store in the freezer for up to six months.
– Customize The Spices: see the main post for 9 different spice blends you can use to change up the flavor profile!
https://www.bakerita.com/savory-granola/
My minor adaptations:
1. No maple syrup (see above, “not sweet”)
2. Low-sodium soy sauce, instead of tamari
3. No oregano. Blech.
4. I must have pitched my cayenne, so I substituted this random chili-lime seasoning I had on hand, and it was wonderful.
5. No seeds on hand, so used my usual sliced almonds + pistachio pieces.
I am loving it. Will definitely repeat this one!
I am sure you are going to be wildly capable at mentoring!
Yay for audiobooks. Welcome!
I am not on Threads so I am not help there.
Good luck with the back to school transition!
Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I think “wildly capable” might be a bit of a stretch. I’ll go for “not screwing anything (or anyone) up”, LOL.
And thanks for the back to school support. I love it but it’s always a sprint to get started…
Woo hoo on the trip! I hope it was fun.
I am not on Threads or anything like that. I feel like I don’t need another distraction in my life! So it’s just FB and IG for me.
I don’t listen to audiobooks but I do listen to podcasts pretty much all the time when I’m doing jobs around the house or walking the dog. I suppose I could switch over to audiobooks but I do like my pods.
You know, I think that people (well, other than Engie, natch) seem to be audiobook and/or ‘just book’ OR podcast people. I listen to 1 podcast, and it’s a sports-related one that I only listen to while (shockingly) working out. 🙂
And yes, the trip was awesome! I need to get the recap up or it will never, ever happen.
I’ve never tried Threads, so can’t help you there. I’m on Facebook, which I check every day. I’m on Instagram, but I don’t check that often.
I LOVE listening to books. Just as you say, it’s perfect for times when your brain is not busy. Like cleaning. Cooking. Taking a walk. Those are the times I listen.
Ugh on your new parking/in office work. I sympathize, and may soon empathize. (Well, not the parking, I assume that will be fine.) I remember when I worked at Penn, we had to pay for our parking too, and I hated that.
YES on the audiobooks – I got completely lost in mine yesterday while cleaning and cooking and finished it! I was just about 65% through and all of a sudden it picked up to a much faster pace. It was a great book – long, but great.
Oh, gosh – I thought you worked from home? Is that changing? I await the updates. University parking is – for lack of a better word – a crapshoot. Sigh.
You’re right, I work from home, and have my entire time with this company (2016) and also most of my time at my last job (started working from home in 2006). My current company has an empty building and they are not happy about it. They tried to sell it last year, but in the current market could not. So now they’ve decided that anyone who lives within a 90 minute commute needs to come in 2 days a week. UGH. My boss is trying to get us out of it, but we are not sure whether that will happen or not. My car is old, my clothes are not work clothes, and the idea of adding 2 to 3 hours (depending on traffic) to my work day is decidedly unappealing. As is the idea of having to have my shower and makeup and everything first thing in the morning. BLAH. But I like my job, and I hate looking for work, so if I have to do it I will. Perhaps I can carpool with some coworkers, we shall see.
Oh, Julie, that stinks. I am sorry. I hope that your boss gets you out of it. Your department is clearly productive and everyone gets their work done – you will get LESS done if you have to sit in traffic for hours a day. And 90 minutes? I think you should claim that yours is more than that and see what they say. 😉
I also think the back-to-the-office thing is misguided. I feel the pressure ALL THE TIME. I resist as much as I can, but people make judgmental, subtly insulting comments that really get to me. Or, there is phrasing that implies you have to show up (even though there is a Zoom link). For today’s “all school” meeting (aka, my worst nightmare), the email yesterday said, “We look forward to seeing you in person tomorrow!” I mean, really. Is that necessary? Sigh. Sorry to vent.
Vent away! Yes, so frustrating. We found out today that our boss is unable to get us out of it. So starting January, it will be 2x a week. I hope to hell it stays at 2x a week. It’s not THAT far, and they know where I live. The rules are either 90 minutes or 50 miles, and I’m less than 50 miles, so it doesn’t matter how long it takes. Sigh. I suspect we will carpool, which will allow us to use the carpool lane and make things faster. My husband used to work near there. With good traffic it was about 35 minutes, but commute time is usually 60 – 90 minutes. I’m coming to terms with it. The only bad part of carpooling is that I would love to listen to an audiobook in the car, or a podcast. Would it be antisocial to sit in the back seat with my headphones on?
Did you end up going in for the all school meeting? I mean, it’s ALL SCHOOL. Don’t you work at a University? How would they know if you weren’t there? If you neglect to pick up your name tag? Or I guess they would know who was there via zoom. Why have a zoom link if you’re not supposed to use it?
I’m sorry to say, I feel like it’s corporate America, but I guess it’s academia too. 🙁
Oh, Julie, that is such a bummer. I’m sorry. 🙁 At least for now, since I am faculty, I need to be there for meetings (yes, I went to the ASF BUT that is just our school of nursing, not the WHOLE university…). No name tags. We are a small school, mostly women (not shocking) and we pretty much all know each other at least by sight. Weird, I know, particularly in academia. But that’s how we get things done. I am lucky – this is one reason it would be so hard to move, even though I know the day will eventually come – because I am <2 miles from work and can get there via back roads and despite my griping, my parking is within walking distance to my building.
Your commute sounds like it will not be pleasant in traffic, even if you can carpool (that would cause me significant anxiety, tbh - relying on other people? eeks...). If you drive yourself, could you work off hours? That is, show up from 7-3 and then head out? Just a thought. That's what I would do but I'm not a typical nine-to-fiver and I'm also a super-early person, so there you go. 😉 Otherwise, I think the audiobook is a great idea. Would you at least know the people you're carpooling with?
It looks like your blog comments won’t let me reply to your latest comment to me, because of the levels you have selected. I only know that because mine used to be the same way. 🙂
Yes, if I carpool, it will be with my coworkers who live locally. And I’m closest to the freeway, so likely we will leave from my house, so I have it best of all of us. Working different hours might work, I did that when my daughter was little and I didn’t want her in after school care too long. I wouldn’t mind 7-3 actually, but traffic starts pretty early both in the morning and in the afternoon, so I’m not sure how much time that would save me. I’m sure we will figure it all out when the time comes. Lots of different options to try!
Ah, weird about the comments. Sorry. I can dig into that…
At least you’d be with local coworkers, and it sounds like you could have some flexibility. I know you’ll adapt; I just dislike change, and it seems like this is a drastic one that will benefit precisely no one. Wish they could just sell the building instead. (Do they have it on the market??) Hang in there.
Hooray! That’s huge that you went on a trip. I’d love to hear more about it. I am also very interested in the savory granola recipe. Please do share!
I hope the transition into the new school year goes well. I can imagine that it’s stressful. (Our end of the fiscal year is coming up (we go by water years which goes from Oct-Sept) and that is always a weird transition period as well.
I am on Threads, technically, but haven’t really posted there since the transition from Twitter (which I used more regularly), but I might take a peek again.
San, see my reply to Lisa for the details on the savory granola and my weirdness about granola. Required for context, trust me. 🙂
Transition is challenging… and I well remember the transitions between fiscal years when I was a Fed. So. Much. (Not.) Fun.
I think I’m going to jump and check in on Threads. Those teaser partial posts on IG are getting to me! I’m such a sucker…
I’m so glad you’re on the audiobook bandwagon. My library system doesn’t have a great audiobook selection either, which is why I have cards at several library systems, LOLZ. There is a library system in FL that’s free for non-residents (not sure if it’s only for FL non-residents, or other states – it’s Broward County if you want to give it a ponder!) and I also paid $35 to get access to the Charlotte, NC-area library system. (It was supposed to be $35 every year but I got it 3-4 years ago and haven’t had to pay them since…!)
I think I have an account on Threads but I never use it. I usually just go on their and lurk when I see something interesting on IG. It’s a weird place, though. I seem to see a lot of Threads from people sharing WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION.
I did download Threads so we’ll see. I miss the curated *** feed that I had, and while IG is great, I don’t post photos of, well, much at all. And I’m not really a meme person – love them but don’t go looking for them myself. So, yeah. I’m definitely a text-based communicator! (You would laugh – Facetime is my nightmare!) We shall see – Susanne said to “like” the posts that I really like to start to curate the feed; hopefully that will work!
And, bummer, Broward county is no longer free. $38 for non-residents but you have to apply in person. Charlotte has gone up to $45 but when I consider that vs. paying for e-books (even if on sale!) that might be the better option. OK, I’ll be honest, it IS the better option, for my budget, for sure! Ponder, ponder. And yes, audiobooks are awesome. Currently listening to The Library Book and not sure what I think. I cannot even imagine burning a book.
I want the savory granola recipe!! Also welcome to the audiobook world! Isn’t it great to be able to chop and read at the same time? I am 100% on board with doing two things at once. Granted, sometimes I don’t fully pay attention to the book, but usually it’s not an issue. It’s also a little hard to follow if the storyline goes back and forth in time, but is great for single plot fiction or one subject non-fiction (if there are too many dates, it gets hard to follow).
I posted it in response to Lisa’s comment, Kyria! but here’s the URL from the recipe I adapted… Bakerita.
I also realized that I forgot to mention in my reply to Lisa that I did not do any mix-ins, but they sound good, so I may try that in the future (crispy chickpeas??? hm…)
You and I are the same with the audiobooks. I love the 15-seconds-back feature. 😉 I saw your response to Elisabeth’s non-fiction post and will probably add some of your non-fiction options to my list – they seem like great ones to listen to!
Hmm! I’m intrigued with the savory granola, and I’m glad you posted the recipe. I think I’ll try it this weekend. I love the taste of sweet granolas, but I don’t want the sugar. I’m always looking for things to snack on. I’ll make it and report back.
I still haven’t been converted to audio books, or ebooks either. I’m still holding my physical books, and you will not be ripping them out of my hands any time soon!!!
I want to hear about this trip. I’m sure Birchie is wanting to know which FLW house you visited!
Jenny, do try it! I love just eating it dry by the spoonful – it’s a bit addictive, though, so I try not to eat too much! RE: sweet granola – I make one that is slightly sweet (my preference – dislike super-sugary foods) with mushy bananas. I have also used canned pumpkin. Again, not super-sweet, but really really good. It’s essentially the same ratio of oats to nuts/seeds as this one, plus 1.5-2 bananas (I just eyeball it), cinnamon, and for me, lots of ground ginger. Let me know if you need/want something more “formal”. Ha.
I cannot wait for the day you eventually embrace an e-book. 😉
I have a draft of the post for the trip but need to heavily revise and add pics – soon!
I am curious about the savory granola and wanted to ask for the recipe but you already shared it. So I will save that and give it a try. I love something warm and filling special with autumn coming up but not always sweet things.
Have a great start into all the new things that happen at work. I am sure once you get the flow and settle it will be great.
You’re right, Tobia – I will get back into the swing of things at work, it’s just the transitions that are hard sometimes. I know I’ll love seeing students in the building again, and (maybe) seeing some of my coworkers more regularly. I just have to stop fussing about the frustrating parts. 😉
I also left Twitter (will not call it X, can’t make me) but enjoyed so much the extra time and lack of bloodpressure-spiking that not being on it caused that I never bothered to look for a replacement. I still do Facebook (I’m so old) for my text-based SM.
I still haven’t made the leap to audiobooks, but I just started actually listening to podcasts instead of just reading books about podcasts. I am sort of wary of the ‘look how much more productive I can be!’ impulse it set off in me, but I’m also six books behind in my reading goal for the year so it could help fill the gap (I also try not to be stressed by my reading goal, sigh).
The parking situation sounds suckariffic. I hope your transition is not too bad. I ramped up my work situation last year hoping I would just somehow rise to the occasion and I…didn’t, really. Looking forward to a chiller fall.
I am now appropriating the term “suckariffic”. Thank you for making my day better than yesterday. And it’s not even 0500! 😉
I am actually enjoying Threads, despite the IG integration and my thoughts about MZ and his recent actions. Trying to make the algorithm work for me, and hoping some of my favorite people start to show up there so I can really make the feed what I want.
The audiobook thing is astonishing me. I was so against them (just ask Engie and Stephany!), but here I am.
I am really hoping I rise to the work stuff, too, but right now I’m just resenting the fact that I have no time for my own work and no margin for error. Sigh. Hang in there, my friend.