Showing posts with label Bookish Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bookish Thoughts. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 07, 2019

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.



Toni Morrison, February 18, 1931 – August 5, 2019
1. 
2. We did it! The yard sale is over. We made *nowhere near enough for the effort in 102 degree weather* about $100. But it was fun, we met a bunch of people and, most importantly, about 10 boxes and several pieces of furniture left the house permanently to the Veteran Association's benefit. Unfortunately, a few larger items were kept with the goal of selling/giving them away on Craigslist (read: no tea or books on the porch). I haven't given up yet...hubby has a saw and those few items can easily disappear!

3. Vacation otherwise was busy (lots of appointments), but restful and much needed. I read some, bought art supplies, drew, and spent a few days with hubby.

Funny story...he and I headed up to Maine for a "Yard Sale/Street Theater community event". When we arrived, the yard sale was pretty much the size of my 1950's ranch-house bathroom. The Street Theater was a sing-along with regular cast members, all of whom were at least 60+ [imagine your grandma singing Castle in a Cloud from Les Miserables]:



We laughed it off and spent the day putzing around the town, had a yummy lunch (two dogs and french fries for $3.39), and had a great day anyway!

5. Another funny story: I was supposed to take both kitties for their annual check up. When Tuesday arrived, I grabbed the larger one thinking she would be the biggest struggle. I then went in search of the little bug...who was happily entombed in the chaos that is my basement. But, she had been warned by the sound of her sister being locked in the carrier. She avoided every trick and treat I offered.

Failure. I'm a failure [or so I told the vet]. I showed up [sweating and swearing] with one kitty only and had to make another appointment and go back a few days later with the little one. But everyone is healthy, so it was worth it!

6. The New York Times' advise for being a better reader in seven days:

https://www.nytimes.com/programs/better-reader

In my opinion, it's all about the book. Find a book you love and the rest falls into place.

7. No news on the carpal tunnel front. But my other arm sustained a likely torn tendon (due to the hospital visit in May). I've been in considerable pain since then (even lifting a glass of water) and the doctor assures me it's likely to last up to a year. "Tennis elbow", as it's referred to (quite ironically as the pain in neither in my elbow, nor have I ever played tennis!), takes a long time to heal. Boo!

8. Things at work are starting to wind down from the summer. Faculty are returning. Fall prep is well under way. We are just about ready for the new students to arrive for orientation. And with that, Thanksgiving break is just around the corner. Haha!

Have a great week everyone!

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.


Reading slumps suck man! But my fall-back is to return to children's books, which are short, easy reads. Thankfully I have a bookcase full of children's books, most of which I have never read. Even though I am no longer teaching, I have been unable to get rid of them. I recently found my way over there and have been able to get through several in the past couple weeks. I am just beginning to feel like, perhaps I could move on to something more fulfilling.

Despite that, I have decided to challenge myself to read my way through the Nancy Drew series. I am about four books in. I don't own them all, but I don't really need to read them in order do I?

I finally got around to starting the backyard clean up. I was aggressive, but it looks much better. There is still more to do. So much cutting back and tons of clean up. I was hoping to finish this weekend, but there is a rainy weekend brewing. Saturday morning may be the only chance I get.

Our yard sale keeps getting pushed back and back... By the time we get to it, the summer will be over and the opportunity to reclaim the side-porch will be over. But I am determined to get it done and eat dinner on the porch at least once this summer!

'Nough said, am I right?!?!














So, the update seems to be...boring, old carpal tunnel. No surprises. I have been using a wrist support and trying to minimize the effects as much as possible to avoid cortisone shots or surgery (which both sound horrible). The long term results aren't promising, but I'm doing what I can.

Wednesday, June 05, 2019

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.


1. Been busy the last few weeks and haven't had a chance to check in...

I spent Mother's Day with a stomach bug, texting my mothers (birth and step) from the ER. All was fine and I was sent home after a strong dose of potassium replenishment. No children myself, but my the kitties gave me a card and flowers!

2. I finished Reese Witherspoon's Whiskey in a Teacup in early May, but haven't had much energy or interest in anything since. I started about four different books in the past few weeks and nothing has stuck. Suggestions?

3. Hubby and I have spent multiple weekends recently "taking back the house". Last year was so busy for me between work and Purely Vocals prep for Ireland, I literally had maybe one weekend off between June and October. Over the holidays we moved a bunch of junk from the "man-cave" to the rarely-used dining room and, yes, it took him until June to clean it up. But he wanted to have friends over for dinner, so it had to be done. It took about two days, but we did it along with a major dust/vacuum/decluttering effort (I clean weekly, but with two cats and a husband it's never done).

Then, over Memorial Day weekend I motivated and started cutting back and cleaning up the yard (no cutting or leaf removal occurred last year at all, it was a disaster). I got through the front and most of the side yard, but I ran out of time and energy (and yard bags). The backyard still desperately needs attention. The neighbor is literally putting up a fence...

(I think/hope that has more to do with his very young child, haha).

I will get to it as soon as I possibly can, but I've got a few busy weekends to face first.

4. This weekend, I am headed to Connecticut for another girl's/Purely Vocals rehearsal weekend. We've got a gig on Sunday and a few others coming soon, so we want to be sure we are ready. Plus, we've got plans for a big yard sale very soon to complete the declutter process and open up the side-porch. Best laid plans...

5. I've got a neurological study scheduled in a couple of weeks to determine if my carpal tunnel is wrist related, or perhaps connected to neck issues, pinched nerve type of thing. My money is on boring, old carpal tunnel which will require shots or surgery, rather than some nice PT and massages.

6. So have you heard Amazon removed books for sale promoting bleach as a cure for Autism?

Seriously? SERIOUSLY?! I. Just. Can't.

7. After more than a year of using an iPad with a dead battery (read plugged in at all times) I finally bit the proverbial bullet and bought a new tablet. I've had two iPads and both batteries lasted only about two years. So I decided to branch out and bought a Surface Pro 6 (complete with keyboard and fancy pen). I am a diehard Android user, so why I was hanging on to a iPad is beyond me. But the process of the switchover is a long one. The apps are called different things in Windows and the set up is more work than an iPad. But once its done, it should function much the same (minus a few apps)...and has capabilities that an iPad makes much more difficult.

8. I finally found those darned colored pencil books after about three weeks of searching. They were put away safely in a bookcase... Now why didn't I think of that?!?!



Thursday, May 09, 2019

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.





1. I was reading along in Jodi Picoult's Change of Heart and, after realizing I had already read it, a library hold that I have been waiting on for quite a while finally opened to me. So I put Jodi aside and joined Reese for a quick read! Entertaining so far.

2. We were thrilled to get a full price offer on our condo. And the buyer accepted it despite a few small issues the inspector found. Nothing major, so we must have done a good job prepping it. Now we just await the P&S and final closing.

2. R.I.P. Rachel Held Evans.

3. Saturday is Commencement at work. The seniors are excited to graduate. The faculty are thrilled summer is finally here. And the staff...we just continue working hard preparing for next fall. Next time you're buying a present for your child's teacher, buy an extra one for the office secretary or the janitor or the assistant principal. Seriously, there are no months off for the behind-the-scenes folks. And we. work. hard.

4. Carpel tunnel update. I'm headed to the hand surgeon tomorrow. Thinking they will try cortisone first, we'll see. I've been wearing a wrist brace for weeks and it has helped, but not solved the problem totally. So, at least there's that.

5. Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter for Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal, states he wants the book taken out of print, or at minimum recategorized as fiction, after a report in The New York Times that Trump lost over a billion dollars between 1985 and 1994.

6. I don't generally know what I am going to read next. I tend to be a "find it on Overdrive (or on my shelves), it catches my interest, and I delve in" sort of person (whether its on my over 12,000+ TBR or not). But I now have not one, but two books about color pencil drawing that I want to read really, really badly. So I was thinking, maybe I would attack one of those next!

And, of course, now I can't find either of them! Organization fail!




Friday, March 08, 2019

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.




It's Friday y'all!

Tax season is upon us. Hubby and I have an appointment with our new tax-prep person next weekend. We had been using the same guy for years, but as we sold our condo this year we needed someone who handles the more...advanced tax issues, like capital gains. Blah! Oh well, the sooner it's over the better.

Hubby bought a new car this week, used as always. But he bought a Honda with only 40k miles, so we expect it to last him for years (assuming no major accidents). Hoping to pick it up this weekend.

The Nobel Foundation has announced that the Nobel Prize in Literature for both 2018 and 2019 will be awarded later in 2019. 2018's prize, as you likely know, was put on hold due to a sexual assault scandal.

Along with two kitties, hubby and I have a fish tank. At one time, our 55 gallon tank held quite a few fishies. We are now down to two fairly large babies. Unfortuantely, we discovered Wednesday the tank was leaking. Thankfully we were both working from home due to doctor's appointments. We rushed to get them switched to an emergency tank, but it will take a few days to get another tank we own set up and acclimated (its a bit bigger than this emergency tank). All this to say, my home is currently a freakin' nightmare with fish supplies and tanks laying all over the place. I know what my weekend looks like!

And the cats have finally discovered that we have fish... We had to surround the tank with boxes to keep the kitties short-term memory blank.

We finally got our snow day here in Boston. We got two storms this past weekend. The first was a big 'ole bummer. We barely got two inches. The second was Sunday night into Monday and was supposed to be six inches...we got fourteen. Yipee! Monday was a half day, but I worked from home as I needed to handle snow removal (hubby's still hurting from the accident and is PT bound).

Now that we've had our snow day, I am ready for summer! That's it. I'm good. Let's go with the sunny, warm days and vacation days off. And, of course, after months of abnormal 30-40 degree days, it's now 12-18 degrees EVERY DAY! March is acting like February. Pooh!

Remember this weekend is daylight savings everyone. I hate losing the hour of sleep, but I like the evening sunshine.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.


1. For a short week, this one is dragging a bit...isn't it?! #comeonweekend!


2. RIP Peter Tork.


For those of you who are saying... "Who?" You might remember him as "the blond one".





3. If you work, does your company provide any staff appreciation events? If so...do they do it well? How important is staff morale where you work? How might you handle a substantial cut in support, but still having to serve the same number of people with an event that doesn't negatively effect staff morale (even if the balance of funds is being transferred to a valuable cause)?

Just asking for a friend.

4. The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, in partnership with the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi, announced the winners for the 2019 Ezra Jack Keats Award:


The 2019 Ezra Jack Keats Award winner for Writer is:
John Sullivan , for Kitten and the Night Watchman

Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo 
Published by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books


The 2019 Ezra Jack Keats Award winner for Illustrator is:
Oge Mora , for Thank you, Omu!

Written by Oge Mora 
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

4. Do you listen to the radio/internet radio at work? If so, what station do you use? I am still using Pandora, but wonder how outdated I am.

5. I definitely have to find a way to get more sleep at night. I am a bonafide night owl, who has to get up at 6 a.m. for my work commute five days a week. But even when I am wiped out, I still have trouble getting to sleep before about 11 p.m. Every day I am increasingly more tired until the weekend comes and I can sleep in to catch up. I'd be frustrated...if I wasn't so tired.

6. "Hate groups in US at highest level in 2 decades," according to an organization that tracks white supremacists and other far-right extremists. 'Nough said.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts


Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.


1. Happy Valentine's Day - Hoping your evening is full of dinner out and romantic movies...even if you enjoy those things with your biggest fan, yourself! Hubby and I will do Valentines, and a late celebration of our 7th anniversary, tomorrow night. I much prefer my celebrations over the weekend.

2. Looking forward to the long weekend, how about you?

3. Heading to my parents this weekend so hubby can help with some computer issues. Then, we're all heading to Rio for dinner...

Rio Brazilian Steakhouse that is. Fabulous!!

I gave my parents an IOU for a family dinner and we are going to make it count...definitely wearing my stretchy pants!

4. A faculty member at the Conservatory, a professional in Alexander Technique, has offered to help me learn a few Alexander tricks that may help me alleviate some long-term neck and shoulder pain. I am hoping she has the magic trick as all previous efforts to find relief have failed (including actual physical therapy). I'll keep you updated!

5. I started using a Happy Planner this year and so far have kept up with it (despite my travels). I am still using my Google calendar, but am trying to focus on both creating a snapshot of weeks/months to come and creating a memory book for future years. There are so many planner videos on YouTube it's crazy. But I have quickly learned to filter what is useful, and what is too over-the-top for me, so that my time, effort, and results are in line with what I need and want. Is anyone else a planner person?

6. I find it interesting that some books take me a while to get through, even if I am really enjoying them, while others I just slice through like butter. My current read, Suburban Junkie, is flying by (two days in and I am about halfway done). Strange.

7. After 20-something years, hubby is exploring new work opportunities. His company has...let's be nice and not say "a policy", but rather "a history" of ushering older workers out the door. Recent events have looked uncomfortably familiar, so he is trying to open some doors. Wish him luck!

Friday, July 11, 2014

Bookish (and not so bookish) Thoughts

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.



1. Well, the fourth was a washout here on the east coast, but we made up for it on Saturday the 5th!  Family and friends over. Hamburgers were eaten. Potato salad was consumed. And a few drinks too.


2. Loved the book. Love Reese Witherspoon.  Cannot wait!




3. Only one week left until I am on vacation! My husband actually managed to take the same time off too, so it will be nice to hang out with him some.  No, we are not going anywhere. We've got tons of house projects to do during that time (read: paint the house, ugh), but I am sure I will find some reading time too!

4. I also have a few other items on my list that I've been meaning to do, like visiting the grave of a ex. Yes, he passed young. A bit depressing, but I've felt like this is something I've needed to do for a while now. I think saying goodbye will calm my soul.

5. I'm sure everyone has heard about Louis Zamperini (1936 Olympian and the subject of Laura Hillenbrand's bestselling nonfiction book Unbroken) passing away on July 2nd. What an incredible man he was and Hillenbrand did an exceptional job of relaying his amazing story to the masses. Another movie I am looking forward too. 

6. Sad, but true, after only three years World Book Night looks like it has gone belly-up. Due to funding issues, they are calling it quits. "The expenses of running World Book Night U.S., even given the significant financial and time commitment from publishers, writers, booksellers, librarians, printers, distributors, and shippers, are too high to sustain without additional outside funding, " according to Director Carl Lennertz. What a shame. It was such a wonderful program. Hopefully someone can step in and help out.

7. Garth Brooks... New album. 'Nough said! 

8. So, can someone tell me the benefits of Oyster and Scribd? I mean beyond the sort of obvious, get whatever book you want, whenever you want it? Aren't these services just libraries? And I finacially support my local library already. Yes, they may not have every single book I want, at the time I want them. But rarely do I find a book that I absolutely cannot wait to read. I usually have hundreds (thousands) in line that can fill in until a hold is ready. And, if the library doesn't have that book, most libraries in towns close by do and I can borrow from them too. So, what is the deal with these sites? Do you use them? Why are they worth it? Other thoughts?


Friday, June 27, 2014

Bookish (and not so bookish) Thoughts

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.



1.They switched my computer out at work yesterday as I was still using XP, which was no longer supported by Microsoft as of April. It's an adjustment to use a new computer with a new operating system, isn't it? Not only is it an effort to make the computer work the way your old one did, but the keyboard is always a bkg...bug...bog...not small adjustment!

2. James Patterson is offering to give every sixth grader in public school in New York City (all 45,000 of them) a copy of his book Middle School: The Worst Years of my Life? Apparently, he did the same thing in Chicago earlier this month, donating some 28,000 books to sixth graders in public schools there. Ok, it's not Moby Dick...but whatever keeps kids reading over the summer!

3.  I'm looking forward to the long 4th of July weekend! We are having friends and family over for a cookout and fireworks, which they set off only about two blocks from our house. We get the perfect view from our yard! 

4. Interestingly, a couple years back my town suddenly stopped holding its annual July 4th parade.  Apparently, the committee aged out and no one had stepped up to take over (I don't know if the root cause was actually age and lack of interest, or possibly a long-term committee not openly welcoming "new blood", as is often the case in small towns - I really don't have any way to say).  Regardless, what had become, quite famously, the largest July 4th parade in Massachusetts and the second-largest in New England (http://www.julyparade.org/) just stopped about a year after we moved here. There is now a new committee working to rebuild it, but this year will be another with no parade. Sigh...

5. So, Simon & Schuster has announced that they will finally open its catalog of e-books to all libraries nationwide! Good news!

6.  I've committed to going to a wedding out of state at the end of the summer. I'm excited to see family, but the travel will be tough. Hubby will stay home and care for the kitty and homestead.

7. What does everyone think of the the storm over Kevin Brooks's Carnegie medal win for The Bunker Diary? Word is there's a quite a bit of dissension. While I understand the complaints that the book is more a YA novel, not a children's title, other books that fall into the same situation have won. What about Junk by Burgess? And the indication that it should not have won due to it being "depressing" is ridiculous. If books that evoke such emotions are removed from contention, doesn't that remove a lot of really, really great work?!

8. Ladies, had my annual mammogram this week (ouch)... Have you had yours?!

Have a  great weekend!

Friday, May 30, 2014

Bookish (and not so bookish) Thoughts

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.



1. Have you heard that LeVar Burton is trying to bring back Reading Rainbow online? Very cool!

2. Enjoyed a weekend away this past week with my singing sisters (PV). There really is nothing quite like sitting by the edge of a beautiful lake, listening to the water lap gently, reading a good book!

3. Yet another heartbreaking and totally horrific school shooting in CA.... Sigh.

4. So Kendall and Kylie Jenner wrote a book... Really?! Ummm, whatever...

5. Despite a replacement mask for my CPAP machine, I still struggle with getting enough sleep. I fall asleep fine, but after three to four hours I wake up. After a potty break, I go down again...but my remaining hours are choppy and interrupted. I suppose its getting better...at least from what I can tell from my Fitbit. But I've got to admit that I am tired (pun intended) of the 3-4 hours sleep and 3-4 hours of "restlessness". Seriously, this lack of sleep thing is NO joke!
 

6. The world's collective heart breaks to hear of this week's passing of Dr. Maya Angelou. She is described as "one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time" and a "warrior for equality, tolerance and peace" (mayaangelou.com/).  And she was.  The memoirist and poet’s landmark book, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is on my TBR list. I must step that one up!

7.  I am currently in love with Ed Sheeran. Ok, I'm behind the times. But, I just love his voice and adore this song...



8. I fully understand wanting to promote British literature in Britain. I get it, I do. But removing classics such as To Kill A Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men? Really?! How about we nix Shakespeare and Austen from American lesson plans?  How does that benefit the children, or anyone for that matter? Of the books I was force fed in school, it was the American literature that sparked my mind, interested me, and motivated me to read more advanced classics. Foolish, I say. Absolutely bull-pucky!

9.  The hubby are at the point where we need to seriously look at buying a new car. We are giving up a *very old* Toyota Corolla and need another small(ish) car. But since I will be driving it, I want something similar to my current Rav4. Not small! I'm thinking a Honda CRV or Nissan Rogue...though they are about the same width, they are shorter. Thoughts, anyone?

10. I'm hoping to spend some time this weekend reading...but whenever I say that I find myself running from responsibility to responsibility. How to break that cycle?!?!?

Have a great weekend all!



Thursday, April 24, 2014

Bookish (and not so bookish) Thoughts

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and not so bookish bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise.

1. Looks like fun, so I figured I'd jump on the bandwagon... I like bands. And wagons.
 
2. Have you heard that they are making Room by Emma Donoghue into a movie? Sounds like fun... I just hope the movie does the book justice, as they rarely do!

3. Last week, we had several amazing, spring days.  Then, two days later, we awoke to...snow! This past weekend was two awesome 70-degree days. Today, its windy and in the 40's. Like a kick to the groin, I tell you. Come on summer!

4. I even know all the words to "Let the Sun Shine In" (by Pebbles Flintstone and Bambam Rubble) and It's a Sunshine Day (by the Brady Bunch kids). I am seriously ready baby!
 
5. I've signed up for this weekend's Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon (heck, if I'm laying awake anyway...). I've got a handful more Netgalleys I've signed up for and have been itching to get back to library reading. And my damned TBR list just keeps growing and growing! Other than housework and reading, I don't currently have much planned for Saturday, hopefully I can put a major dent in my pile.

6. After months of constant exhaustion, the doctor finally decided that, like many Americans, I have sleep apnea. I've always been a snorer and am lucky to sleep four hours a night uninterrupted. I did a home sleep study and learned that I stopped breathing 14 times in one night alone. Fourteen times! Holy-crapoly!!! I picked up the fancy CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine this week and the first night of use, I got even less sleep! I'm told they take a while to get used too, but seriously...I was already exhausted, with this thing I can barely focus! Cut my sleep by another couple hours and I am a reduced to walking-zombie status. I continue my efforts to acclimate, but have decided to wait until the weekend to push the limits.


7. Does every politician now have to write a book?! Seriously?! Nothing against Elizabeth Warren (or any other specific politician), but maybe if they spent less time writing about themselves and more time managing business-at-hand, the country would be a better place!

8. My boss always remembers Administrator's Day, every year. This year he gave me a beautiful orange flower. Not being a plant person, I have no clue what it is...or how to care for it. But man or man is it pretty! #goodboss