I don’t know what it is but I go through these moments where I am super motivated and fired-up to do something BIG and then poof, that motivation leaves me. What a wild roller coaster of a ride that is. Write a book? YES!!! Three days later, nope. Some of it has to do with my health. I feel pretty darn good these days. That’s a good thing. All that good energy just pours out of me and then I am a depleted little slug on the couch.
Right Now:
Student ministry this morning. We start a new message series today . Should be good.
This Week:
I have book club this Wednesday. We will be discussing The Catcher in the Rye. It was a re-read for me. As I mentioned in a previous post, my first time reading it was when I was sixteen. That was a long time ago! I know many readers do not care for it. Holden Caulfield is rather self-centered and whiny at times but I absolutely love him and that book will always hold a special place in my heart. I unfortunately had to miss book club last month due to a previously scheduled engagement so I am looking forward to going this week.
This Saturday we may hit this restaurant I’ve been wanting to try in Pasadena, Pie ‘N Burger. A good burger and a slice of pie sounds like the perfect meal to me.
Reading:
I am deep into The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami, which comes out in November. It was taking me awhile to get into the two main characters but I am there now, and fully in. That is the effect Murakami has on me. His writing sort of seeps into my brain, slowly. I read, then I ponder. The other fun thing is during my hospital recovery, I bought (among many things) a very cool book light so I’ve been reading a few chapters in bed too. This light is cool because it has three brightness settings and three different tone settings and the charge lasts a really long time. Not sponsored at all but I highly recommend it.
My next read will be All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. I am really eager to start it but I am still working through a marathon audio book. I gotta finish that one up.
Watching:
Sadly, I’ve been watching Cops a lot. It’s entertaining and can be watched while I read a book. Unfortunately, my daughter’s college town of Springfield, Missouri is featured regularly!
Grateful for:
Mornings on the patio with my coffee. Yes! Coffee! I can drink it again without it making me hurl! After surgery it tasted like copper pennies. Oh, and it’s sweet that the pup joins me on the patio as well. She is a lot older and struggling in some ways but she is always up for mornings on the patio.
Enjoy the last bit of your weekend. Get outside, drink some lemonade.
Book Chatter 
Glad to hear the Murakami book gets interesting after a while. I tried it and stopped quickly so am willing to give it another go.
I put it down to my age that I’m gung ho especially in the mornings and then start deflating in the afternoons. I have to do little bits and rest inbetween. That works for me.
Have a good week.
Harvee https://bookdilettante.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-lover-of-no-fixed-abode-by-carlo.html
You think it’s an age thing? Could be. It’s weird to be well now when I struggled for so many years. Like I keep thinking, I could have always felt like this???
The Murakami book does get better and more classic Murakami but I am having trouble figuring out what he is trying to say in this one. I did finish it and I am still thinking about it. There are a few “well” moments so if you enjoyed Wind-Up Bird then you will enjoy those bits. He actually works quite a few of his past novels into this one. Kind of like Stephen King and his Easter Eggs.
Um, why is that Missouri town on Cops often?! Quite disturbing.
I am so glad you’re able to enjoy coffee, read, etc more now. That must feel so good to be on the road to full recovery.
Because Missouri and the Ozarks are known for drugs! I watched the show Ozark AFTER moving my daughter to Missouri and ever since then I am like, DO not swim in the lake. When I moved her in, we quickly realized which side of town she had to avoid. Meth heads everywhere. That’s why that town is always on COPS.
I had no idea! So glad you and she are both aware of the areas to avoid.
So happy to hear you are feeling good!
Sorry about the dog. I wish they could find a way to make dogs live longer, like cats.
I haven’t read Catcher for decades. I don’t think I liked it much – too male oriented?
Holden comes off as a little bratty. Kind of like a bratty rich kid but not rich. There’s something about the character that I find relatable though.
Glad to hear you can enjoy coffee again. I hope you enjoy the book club discussion – I bet it will be interesting.
I am really looking forward to the discussion! Just looking forward to the meeting in general since I missed last months. It’s so easy to feel out of touch.
I can imagine you would feel disconnected.
I’m eager to read All the Colors of the Dark, but probably won’t get to it until the end of the year. Glad you’re able to enjoy coffee once again! It’s the little things in life, right?
Well, I did learn that I don’t actually need coffee. I went without for seven months and it didn’t affect me at all. I just like it. Especially iced.
I’ve pretty much done the same with alcohol. 🙂
I’m looking forward to reading the new Murakami book—his books are so magical and odd and disorienting, but they are also wise.
Glad you are able to drink coffee again.
I hope you had a great book club discussion on Catcher in the Rye. I’m a Holden fan. So many try to write like Salinger did but there was only one … who did it first. I’m glad you are feeling good again. That’s wonderful and worth celebrating! And yea for Otter Pup to be there with you.
My club’s overall impression of Holden is that he was a spoiled brat. They didn’t like him at all. I felt badly for him. He was so lonely and wiser than his years.