Welcome to 5 Quick Things that I saw since last month that I thought were interesting enough to share with you. None of them are particularly timely so feel free to just enjoy 🙂

>Number One<

Hear Ye, Adventurers

I couldn’t tell you why but world building has been really on my mind lately. The book I’m working on takes place in the real world, in 2012 so there isn’t actually a particular reason that this has been a thing I’ve been thinking about but maybe it’s because everyone has been in D&D for the past couple of years. If for whatever reason you find yourself needing to create a world from the ground up like your very own Tolkien this is a great resource.

>Number Two<

Climate Changes

At least I know why I’m thinking about climate change in the midst on this heatwave. I’m also sure anyone who has been to the store in the last 3 years has sharply noticed the increase in food prices, especially for things that cannot grow in the US like coffee and chocolate. In this article from a Togolese journalist outlines some of the same problems happening in Togo where foods that were abundant, health, affordable staples are being endangered by climate change and the knock on effects.

>Number Three<

Not Hurting Myself

So I did a 30 Day Workout from Darebee and it didn’t just kick my ass, it caused me to hurt myself – at least 4 times because I was pushing my body waaaaay beyond what it was capable of. I’m not overweight and I’m not even that out of shape but I’ve never been actually fit and for some reason not only is every workout designed for fit people (or people who just fell off the wagon of being super fit) but it’s also designed for people who are tall and can lift heavy weights and maybe that’ll be me one day but until then I’ve been doing this arm work for older ladies every other day and I’m working up to doing the whole thing with 5kg weights and then maybe I’ll switch back over to a regular one. I walk or bike 45 minutes a day and do 10 minutes of yoga or stretching every day so I feel like this is a nice compliment to that.

(Also people stop telling me to use heavier weight challenge. I’m a small woman who just wants to not lose muscle over time and everyone wants to give advice for an average man who is training heavy and I don’t know why.)

>Number Four<

You Have to Find It Yourself

In an ever more AI and curated by algorithm world I think one of the drums I’m going to keep banging on is that if you want to actually use the internet, to fulfill the potential promises we were told about a connected, sharing, intelligent and compassionate world you’re going to have to get away from social media and find real people doing real things on the internet and this directory reminds me of ones from the late 90s/early 00s (like the Anime Turnpike) where you can just find people. It takes longer and it’s uneven and weird but it’s messy like real life and sometimes you find something cool.

>Number Five<

Get Food in Your Face

I think a lot of people believe that because I make food all the time I have no problems getting food into my mouth but the truth is that I’ve gone through periods in my life that included deep depression, time deprivation, poverty, and other things that make getting food into my mouth harder. And that’s where it’s good to know there’s a cookbook for that. It’s also completely free! So if you find yourself having a “bad season” of life, here’s something that I hope helps 🙂

That’s all for this month and hopefully I’ll see you back again next month with some more exciting and cool things!