(MCT) — Here’s one of my occasional lists of nine things I’ve liked lately.

1. “Dear Life” by Alice Munro — If I had to name a favorite writer, Munro would be it. Widely revered as the living queen of the short story, she’s 81 now. This collection, her most recent, may not be her best, but it’s really good. With strong, clear language, she tells stories of young women navigating the obstacles of adulthood. The final stories, she has said, are not quite stories, but instead, “the first and last — and the closest — things I have to say about my own life.”

2. Open windows — In Chicago, we tend to close the windows in October and leave them shut until May. This winter, no matter what the temperature, I’ve slept with the window open every night. Every now and then I throw the other ones open wide for a few minutes. Fresh air cleans the brain.