This morning’s book editing accompanied by some appropriate Pete Seeger.
Pushing to hit my imposed deadline of Thursday to hand this manuscript back to my publisher. If not this week, then next.

I think 2023 might be the year I fully take up birding. I also want to visit the Sandhill cranes when they arrive here in Nebraska during their migration.
$11,914,892,503 has been lost to web3 hacks, scams, and fraud since January 1, 2021.
Currently reading: The Overstory: A Novel by Richard Powers 📚
Finished reading: The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth by Ben Rawlence 📚
Just a month ago I wrote about a rudimentary node script I wrote to handle my reading log on my website. But @manton’s latest update to Epilogue is so good it might be time to go all-in with it. Nice work!
Sourdough cinnamon roll dough rising overnight. Roast duck prepped and refrigerated. Stockings stuffed. Glass of aquavit in hand. Ready for a nice Christmas Day 🎄
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Library has around 3,800 watercolor paintings, lithographs, and drawings of different apple varieties.

The National Weather Service is saying it will feel nearly 70°F / 21°C colder on Thursday than an average December day.
Yearly Theme
I’ve been thinking over things I want to focus on during 2023 and coming up with a few names for what I might call this. There are some high-level things I’m capturing: health, wrapping up my book to get on to the next project, planning and career stuff over the next five years, more focus on writing, pursuing some newer interests (or, reading widely and deeply as possible in certain areas), and building on learning I’ve been doing for a few years (for example, going beyond what Duolingo can do for me in learning Norwegian).
Last year was the Year of Lagom: a Swedish word meaning “just enough” that evokes ideas of “moderation,” “in balance,” and “suitable.” I feel like I did pretty well this year. So, I’ve been toying with the following labels for this year:
- Year of Release
- Year of Learning
- Year of Less
- Year of Festina Lente (I’m currently leaning heavily towards this one.)
- Year of Momentum
Lagom will continue to be a big part of my life and approach to things, but I like taking the moment during this time of year to think about what’s next. Festina Lente may just be it.