Category Archives: Bookish Talk

Sunday Matters: Good News to Report

Sunday Matters, a latte on a wooden tray against greenery.

What a week this has been!! Politically charged. We can all use a little good news.

My son’s non-profit Bunker Arts Collective won the 2024 Mayor’s Arts Award by both the mayor and the cultural arts commission for the city of Everett, Wa! He didn’t even know his non-profit was nominated. He will be doing an interview and a video showcasing their work. Very exciting. Hopefully this will give them the visibility they need to really make a difference. Even his cat Root Beer, the CEO was mentioned.

Check out one of the murals that was installed. It was installed in pieces to be portable because the target building, a school is about to be closed.

BAC mural
Art by Mackenzie Colby

Right Now:

Hosting an online ministry service and then I will spend the rest of the morning in student ministry. My normal Sunday routine. Camp registration opened and all the students are so excited!

This Week:

I am having lunch with a friend on Monday to catch-up on stuff. Haven’t been able to meet for a bit so that will be good.

Friday, taking my MIL back to the doctor. Both in-laws are not great health wise. One we knew, a cancer diagnosis that is terminal. The other was not completely unknown to us but the pace in which decline hit was immediate and swift and we did not anticipate caring for both of them at the same time. So anyway, my husband is doing his share, and I am doing mine in the form of doctor’s visits and the like. You do what you have to do. They are in denial which makes care difficult. Our nephew is also helping as well of my FIL’s daughter.

Reading:

Finished The Brothers Karamazov! What a book. It was pretty good, I will work on getting my review up soon but man, did it sidetrack me for other reads. 900+ pages. Oooof.

I am also done with Lucy by the Sea. Review is here. I’ve decided that I really like Elizabeth Strout.

My book club read for February is Trust. I know nothing about the book. It just sounded good to me but I heard it was a doozy!

Watching:

Still watching Lockerbie on Peacock. Very good but heavy. Can only watch an episode here and there. Plane crashes and their aftermath is a tough subject.

Some friends mentioned Severance to me. I’ve heard of it but have not watched it. I looked it up and it sounds like something I’d like. Might check that out.

Grateful for:

  • The little bit of rain we got last weekend. Both of the largest fires are still at 95% containment. Unbelievable that there are still hot spots.
  • Like-minded friends who I can vent to about this political clown show we are calling the President’s office.
  • All the great books coming out this year. I was looking at my review copies and they are just so good. Lots to look forward to.
  • BLTs. The perfect sandwich. Crisp lettuce, the perfect amount of mayo and perfectly cooked bacon atop a slice of tomato. Perfection.

With everything going on around us, do what moms tell their kids, “Find the good people” because they are out there.

Sunday Matters: A Break from the Fires

Sunday Matters, a latte on a wooden tray against greenery.

A couple of days ago I finally unpacked our GO bag after the Hurst fire was completely contained. And then, this past Wednesday the Hughes fire blew up very close to me. We had so many amazing fire crews still here from the Palisades and Eaton fire so they did really quick work getting it under control.

This was my view as I raced home.  We are to the right of that plume. Whew! It wasn’t looking too good.

On the road, plume of thick smoke from the Hughes fire.

Right Now:

I am teaching today in student ministry. Yay!

This Week:

My book club meeting was cancelled last week due to the evacuations so maybe it will be rescheduled for a night this week. Not sure yet.

Reading:

Between reading The Brothers Karamazov and working on my student message, not a whole lot of “other” reading has been going on. Brothers continues to be very good.

Of course, books are always catching my eye no matter what I am doing so I recently shared the last 18 books I added to my TBR pile.

Watching:

One of you suggested Lockerbie on Peacock and I am riveted. Boy, is it heavy though. It’s about the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 back in 1988. It stars Colin Firth. He is so good in it.

Grateful for:

  • The fact that we managed to avoid that Hughes fire which technically was just over the hill from us.
  • That I get to attend summer camp with the students this year! I missed last year, because you  know, BRAIN surgery.
  • Bibles studies that I have been doing with some online church attendees through YouVersion. If any of you would like to do Bible studies with me let me know.
  • Quick lunch catch-ups with friends.

It’s hard to avoid but what a week we’ve had. So much rescinded and lost. We knew this would be the case. I did not truly expect the Constitution to be removed though. Yes, he removed it from the White House website. Um, hello…