The Saturday 5

1. This week I bought an ear wax removal kit that comes with a camera. I've been having a problem with my left ear continually feeling "clogged." I wasn't sure if it was actually an ear wax problem, or something more internal, but I got fed up enough that I decided to spend the $20 on an Amazon special. It was fascinating. After I finished (and replaced the disposable cap on the end of the tool), I made each of my family members try it too. To no one's surprise, Justin's ears were already clean. Lena and Levi were both too squeamish about sticking the tool deep enough in their ears for me to see anything. And Lucy said, "yeah, no." But I greatly enjoyed seeing the inside of my own ears. Also, apparently my blockage problem really was just wax because it hasn't bothered me at all since I scooped out all that grossness. Oops. I'm disgusting. (Title of my memoir)

2. Lena had two games this week - both in Timbuktu and on the same night and time as Levi's soccer practices. 🤦 On Tuesday, her game was in Kalamazoo, and thanks to construction it took almost an hour and a half to get there. We had to leave school 45 minutes early just to make it to the game in time to warm up. On Thursday, her game was in Grand Haven, which was just a quick 45 minute jaunt from school, so we only had to leave 15 minutes early. Justin ended up missing both of her games because 1) He is still working at 2:15 pm and can't leave to drive 1.5 hours to Kalamazoo, and 2) Someone had to take Levi to and from soccer practice. I'm starting to see the appeal of Lucy getting her driver's license . . . Lena's still loving soccer and giving it her all. She's eager to learn, and asked Justin to give her some tips and a little personal training this week. He worked with her for a while yesterday, then today she went outside all on her own, set up the cones, and did the drills he taught her. That's so in line with her personality. She's always been tenacious about learning something that's important to her. She must get that from Justin, because I am quick to give up if something doesn't immediately come naturally to me (and unfortunately, it looks like Lucy and Levi are following in my footsteps.)

I got smart this time and stole Justin's heated sweatshirt to wear under my coat. Don't let that balmy 41* temperature reading fool you. Thanks to the wind, the "feels like" temp was 34!

So far, soccer has forced me to reckon with two of my least favorite things: cold weather and driving long distances. It's a good thing I love that sweet girl.

3. We had our first Soccer Camp meeting of the year on Wednesday, and my brain immediately started buzzing. Haha. I say this every year around this time: I am so overwhelmed. I actually made myself a master list broken down by all my various responsibilities because I'm sick of flipping back and forth between all my documents labeled To Do: Development, To Do: School Library, To Do: Church Library, To Do: Soccer Camp, To Do: Storytime, To Do: Home/Personal Life.

Also, my humble bragging last week about wanting to be helpful came back to bite me at the Soccer Camp meeting when I was explicitly asked to get up in front of church and give the official announcement. I couldn't very well say, "Nope. Not doing that." when I just publicly proclaimed that I want to be willing to help with anything within my power. Lol.

4. My nonfiction book of the week is this controversial bad boy:

The ChatGPT Revolution by Donna McGeorge

I'm intrigued by AI and the ways it will inevitably change the way we live our lives. It's actually kind of exciting to be living in this moment that might be pivotal in the history of technology. But as pioneers of this new advancement, we also have to grapple with the ethics of it, and weigh the costs vs. benefits. As I find myself thrust into the marketing world with absolutely zero formal education, I want to take advantage of any benefits AI can offer me. And as I try to juggle all my various to-do lists, I'm interested in how AI can make my life easier and more productive. But I also have a healthy dose of wariness about the whole thing. I'm only about halfway through the book, so stay tuned.

5. I can't come up with anything else, and I have to go stuff Easter baskets so I can go to bed. Here are a couple pics and memes.