We’ve got a shorter Wrap this week because I was with family for much of the holidays. I also got a brand new laptop that needed setting up. It’s blue, contains several new buttons/features, and has a lot more hard drive space. Time to digitize all the things!

I want to wish you all a wonderful new year. Whatever your aims for 2023, I hope you enjoy them!

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I’m now on book three of the YA series by Katharine McGee, The Towering Sky. While this has not been the most addictive of YA novels, I’ve rather enjoyed the overall world. I’m intrigued to see where all the characters end up. This feels like the kind of book where everything will be tidied up and presented with a nice, neat bow.

*Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org

• If you have trouble getting rid of books, you’re not alone. [WaPo - gift link] Side note: I’m a librarian telling you that it’s okay to recycle your books. Really. It is. We also don’t want any of your copies of National Geographic or The New Yorker.

• This article on super tall buildings is extra interesting given that book series I’ve been reading. [The Atlantic - may be paywalled]

• What a good dog. [WaPo - gift link]

• A list of things of wonder from 2022. [The Atlantic - may be paywalled]

• The pandemic and our sense of time. [Morning Edition]

• Investigating the drop in sports ticket prices. [Planet Money]

• Modular might be a better way to build housing. [The Indicator]

• A conversation with the NYT restaurant reviewer. [The Daily]

• While most of our family was in town, we chose to watch Glass Onion after the kiddo went to bed. We all loved Knives Out and figured this would be a hit. It was indeed. It had all of what made Knives Out brilliant with, possibly, an even better cast. Janelle Monae is sublime in her role. The ending is a bit much, but it didn’t cause me to like the film any less. [Netflix]

• For our Christmas day entrée, my husband made his usual beef wellington. He sous vides the beef to perfection, makes the duxelles from scratch, and wraps the whole thing in prosciutto and pastry. This meal is only made once a year, and it’s phenomenal. [Giant Savory]

• My brother left some puppy chow behind that a friend of his made. That was rude of him. I ended up eating most of it in one sitting while catching up on email. The risk of getting powdered sugar on my new laptop was outweighed by the tastiness. [Joy Food Sunshine]

• After several heavy meals, most of them beef based, I made something quick, easy, and veggie forward. My Greek salad with pan-seared shrimp used a bag salad mix with an extra dose of veggies leftover from our holidays - namely, cucumber, grape tomatoes, and red pepper. So crunchy and fresh. [Dole]

Just a total brag here. My uncle wins best gift for the kiddo. He made this dump truck by hand. Different woods give it depth and detail. It’s hinged to open! The license plate are her initials! He’s made a lot of gorgeous wood creations for us before, but this one is by far the most awe inspiring.

FutureMe is a web resource that lets you write letters to yourself. Draft something today and then pick a date to receive it in the future. This could be useful as a reminder, motivational maker, or personal history creator. FutureMe is available online or as a mobile app.

I’ve got that uber-energy that comes with a new year. 2023 - come at me!