I’ve been traveling back and forth to Seattle this week so my schedule is a complete mess, I’m tired and Thursday feels like it should be Saturday. I’ve also been spending a lot of time in airports and in the air (many on stand by for flights I will never board), which allows me the opportunity to stop thinking about all of the things I should be doing at home (laundry, cooking and…uh…more laundry) and instead catch up on a little reading, watch a TV show or two, listen to some music and get through my list of podcast downloads.

Here are a few things I’ve been enjoying this week:

Book: Daring Greatly, Brene Brown
I don’t read a lot of non-fiction and tend to avoid the self-help section of the bookstore so I surprised even myself when I pre-ordered this book a few months ago. It’s all about embracing vulnerability and how it can help you become engaged with your life. I’m only through the first couple of chapters but I’ve already highlighted many, many paragraphs on my kindle.

TV: The Daily Show
A must-watch during election season, although I often find myself yelling at the TV – not at John Stewart, but rather at the stupidity of others that he highlights most hilariously.

Podcast: Pop Culture Happy Hour
Love this podcast that features a roundtable discussion with NPR entertainment, book and movie editors. The “what’s making me happy” segment at the end of the show is helping me build my Amazon wishlist.

Music: Pink – The Truth About Love
I have loved Pink since she released her first album way back when I used to go to nightclubs, wear hot pants and dance into the wee hours of the morning. While my hot pants wearing days are way WAY behind me, Pink’s music just seems to be getting better.

Movie – New: Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Kei and I both enjoyed this documentary portrait of a Sushi chef in Tokyo who has spent his entire life perfecting his craft from a tiny little sushi shop in the basement of a train station. I’ll never look at a nigiri sushi in the same way again.

Movie – Revisited: The Duchess
I caught this movie on cable the other day and was reminded about why I loved it so much the first time around. I’m not a huge Kiera Knightly fan, but I have to admit that she is perfect in this story about a woman who had the misfortune of being born in a time when women were rarely able to path their own destiny.

Coming soon…
I have more than a few things on my wishlist for the next few months. Musically, my Brit Pop cup (or my ipod) will runneth over, while I’ll also have the opportunity to put a little vampire saga to rest at the movie theater.

• Music: Mika – The Origin of Love
• Music: Robbie Williams – Mind
• Music: George Michael (Title of album unknown)
• Movie: The Twilight saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (don’t judge)
• TV: The Walking Dead (Returning soon. Who knew I’d become such a fan of Zombies)

I’m heading to Seattle again tomorrow so suggestions for podcasts and music most welcome. And because I can’t have a post without a photo, here’s our view from the soccer field last week. Enjoying these beautiful warm almost-autumn evenings while they last.