1- One more day, and I will have made it through my second week back! This week was a normal week (not a lightened patient load) though it wasn’t overly hectic. Overall, I have been happy to be back. When I’m doing my clinical job, I’m really not thinking about anything else and that is a positive. We have a new doctor that just joined our group, which is always fun and exciting, and doesn’t happen very often. (I have now been in my practice the 2nd longest of anyone other than our director who started the group >30 years ago; HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!?)
2- In redesigning my routines, I’ve been back to posting in the morning. I do really like it, and prefer it to mid-day! This was my routine for so many years, until my runs started taking up more time. I have been going for (short) walks at lunch just to get outside for a bit. It’s all different but I am feeling more at peace with it; trying not to see it as a downgrade but just a change. I do miss running though and last night I dreamed about it; I had gotten all dressed ready and headed out and then remembered I wasn’t supposed to do it. Ahh well.
3- I finished Margo’s Got Money Troubles yesterday. LOVED. Huge thanks again to Sarah who mailed it to me!! It was my 3rd 10/10 novel of 2025 so far, joining The Wedding People and Annie Bot. Pretty good for early April!
I am apparently into well-written stories, likable and very smart (but sometimes slightly tragic) female protagonists, and elements of darkness and/or explicit discussions about sex (but not really in a romance kind of way).
It’s tough to follow a book like this, but I have a number of physical books lying around and will choose one of those as my next read. If you can think of another title that “fits” with those 3 . . . please share!
4- There is an online (and real life) conference for patients with ARVD at Johns Hopkins this weekend. I don’t even feel 100% confident that this is my diagnosis (waiting for May appointment to clarify that) so I definitely didn’t want to go in person, but I am hoping listening to the talks and connecting with others will be helpful. (Although – not as helpful as it might be without a layer of “but this might not apply, maybe?” — but here we are! I will lean into the uncertainty and not skip it because things aren’t black and white clear).
5- AAAAAND we are hosting like 6 7th grade girls for a sleepover (!) in honor of A’s bday! I am not going to lie: I am nervous. I am not planning to play cruise director with a bunch of 12/13 year olds, but I hope they don’t get bored or overly antsy (now is one of those rare moments I am sad we don’t have a pool). Mostly, I feel my role is to ensure there is a steady stream of delicious meals / snacks. I anticipate our house loudness level will reach new heights. I HOPE I CAN STILL GET SOME SLEEP. Wish us luck . . .
21 Comments
For the sleepover — Remember to hide any alcohol. 🙂
Yes! I was an extra extra obedient kid, and even still, my best friend and I got into the Baileys almost every time.
I think you might enjoy ‘Madwoman’ and ‘Blue Sisters’. I think they line up with your description of what you liked! I think you would enjoy ‘Broken Country’ too.
I hope the ARVD conference is helpful even though you aren’t positive it’s what you have. It will be nice to interact with people that really understand what you are going through!
Good luck with the sleepover. I think they will be happy to entertain themselves! They would probably roll their eyes if you tried to plan things – or that is what I imagine!
Margo is on my TBR! I guess I should put a library hold on it now- it’ll probably take a while to get it.
Glad you’re getting more comfortable with a new routine. One of my life mantras (which I tend to forget about way too often) is “It’s not bad, it’s just different.”
I think the conference will be helpful. Even if you’re not sure of your diagnosis, right now you’re operating as if that’s what you have. I’ll be interested to hear what you think of it.
Good luck with the sleepover!!! This could be one of those times where a little screen time is your friend : )
That smart/messy intersection is hard to get right but when it works, it works. I’d get Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis. You’ll look at it and think “Eeeks, ISIS brides…” but it is HILARIOUS!
Good luck with the sleepover-I’d love to hear how you handle other kids’ phone usage in your home? Especially for overnight!
Oh I don’t see myself policing that – but planning to check in with A periodically to see what everyone is up to.
We are also hosting our first sleepover this weekend – my older son is turning 9, so there will be a total of six 8-9 year old boys in our basement overnight. (apparently 9 is the age they start doing this in our area? My son has so far been to two 9-year-old birthday sleepovers) I have a feeling the energy and noise (and nerf battles) will exceed that of A’s party but…maybe less drama and gossip?!?!?! Hope all goes well for you and her!! For what it’s worth, I have very fond memories of sleepovers as a tween/early teen – we did them fairly often in my group of friends!
So exciting! I hosted nearly a dozen 11-year-old girls for a sleepover last weekend. It went really well (I was nervous- this was not something I did as a kid), but to your point, it was incredibly loud! Great call on the food plan. I am also nobody’s cruise director. Good luck 🙂
Maybe The Husbands would fit what you’re looking for in a book? I found it a quick but thought-provoking read.
I am rooting for you with the sleepover! I hope it goes well and the kids get SOME sleep. (And I would love a play-by-play of what went well and not as well — my kid is begging for a sleepover for her birthday this summer, and I am super anxious about the idea!)
The running dreams — oh, that’s hard. What a big change you have had to undertake, with no preparation. Of course you would miss an activity that has been such a big part of your life. I hope you are able to find space to grieve the loss of this part of your lifestyle while finding something new that you love.
As far as books go, you may have already read I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai — but if not, I think it fits the bill. It doesn’t have a lot of the snappy wittiness that I liked so much in Margo, but a good thought-provoking read. Lauren Groff’s Fates & Furies is another backlist book that I feel has some similarities. I haven’t read All Fours by Miranda July yet, but that strikes me as book with some possible overlap with Margo.
I originally read that as “67” girls, which, whew.
I loved Margo! What a great book. I enjoy that author so much.
Intermezzo!! I remember thinking Normal People was fine, but this was great.
I’ve hosted a lot of sleepovers of teens and tweens (currently have a 14- and 18-year-old). So, just in case it’s helpful, here’s my take-away: it was important to figure out what my lines in the sand were (e.g. can’t wake up the younger kid) and then let everything else go. I stopped caring if they went to sleep as long as they were quiet; I buy a bunch of snacks that I would normally not buy and let them have at it; I expect that my kid will be semi-wrecked the next day but also that they will have to deal with it (another line in the sand for me). Obviously your lines might be different. I found I could relax into the chaos and enjoy how much fun they were having once I stopped trying to be on top of everything!
I have some not-so-good news: I feel that this comment of mine will be more than 500 words long.
I think, Dr. Sarah Hart-Unger, that by the time the director of your group at the hospital where you work retires, you’ll become the longest of anyone in your practice.
While you’re unable to run right now, I assume that you can still take a walk in the morning.
I wonder, Dr. Sarah Hart-Unger, if you or any of your family members could tell the 12/13 year olds that “She recently had a heart surgery, and that her heart rate can still go up unpredictably at times, and that it is crucial that she gets adequate sleep, and that how noisy – or how quiet – you are determines whether or not she’ll get adequate sleep that night.”
Nowadays, 90% of the books I read are non-fiction. To recommend books that I myself have not finished reading is dangerous in my view. I also know that Ms. Anne Bogel and Ms. Traci Thomas, 2 former BOBW guests, have more books to recommend than I do.
The fictions I read:
The most recent one that I partially read: “DRYP: The Final Pandemic” by Ms. Rachel A. Scheuring.
The most recent one that I finished: I’ll not recommend that book – by Mr. Ray Bradbury – to anyone.
The memoirs I read:
The most recent one that I finished: “Real American: A Memoir” by Ms. Julie Lythcott-Haims – with a link below.
The 2nd most recent one that I finished: The 1st memoir that Ms. Cheryl Strayed wrote.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33898879-real-american
In 2023, I wrote an obituary, which means that I reached out to various authors who can inform me on what to pay attention to when writing obituaries. One of them is Ms. Jessica L. Randall. However, in her replies, she told me very honestly that “The Obituary Society” series of books that she wrote were mere fictions, that she does not have the obituary-writing expertise that I’m looking for, and she pointed to me a few people who do. I must link her profile below. But let’s be honest: I did not read any books that she wrote.
https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Jessica-L.-Randall/author/B00AM93NIK?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
I also assume that you’ve already finished reading “Juliet’s School of Possibilities”, Dr. Sarah Hart-Unger. I’ve just started reading it.
It’s rare that I find myself agreeing with 100% of the viewpoints in the book that I read. So if I reach out to the author, and he/she replies, I’ll discuss with him/her the viewpoints that I don’t agree with. But the fact that I’m still in that discussion phase with the author implies that I’m uncomfortable recommending that book to other people. And so far, the # of books for which I‘ve reached the status where for every viewpoint in the book that I don’t agree with, I’ve already discussed it with the author, is zero. The book that has come closest to that status is “Your Turn: How to Be an Adult”. Again, a non-fiction, written by Ms. Julie Lythcott-Haims. I’ve known her since 4 years ago, and she’s also the author who has exchanged the most conversations with me so far.
And yes, I’ve also registered for the 2025 ARVC Patient and Family Seminar tomorrow that is hosted by Johns Hopkins Hospital. I’ll attend virtually. I’m doubtful that they’ll allow me to switch on my camera, but, I’ll email them to discuss it first.
Have you read The Midnight Library? Surprisingly uplifting book despite premise of suicide attempt. Explores different lives one could have lived. I think it may fit the bill you described. Also, just letting you know that you are such a positive inspiration.
ooh no! that sounds good!!
I thought it was stupid, so you probably will like it. I think you should try it and we can see whether my hypothesis is correct!
I second this book. One of my favorites!
The Lager Queen of Minnesota fits the bill. It’s my all time favorite book.
Oh I did really like that book (and another one I read by that same author about a baking contest!)