I got into my car the other day and the temperature was 105. I am ready for cooler temps and fall reading. Are you? I don’t really read according to the season. We all love summer reading but the books that I chose to read this past summer were not beach reads really. But hey, I actually read ALL the books on my summer list! That hasn’t happened in years.

For fall, I do love the R.I.P reading challenge which normally begins Sept 1st. I have yet to see a kick off post. That challenge involves reading spooky books until Halloween. Books, movies, TV, it all counts. It just puts you in the mood for the season. I am just now looking at my shelves to see what I want to reed this fall. I’ll share as soon as I know.

Right Now:

Coffee, breakfast, student ministry.

This Week:

My week is pretty much wide open. Work stuff, of course but only one personal commitment.

I am going to start tackling the clutter in my house. Anyone want to join me? I am going to de-clutter a drawer a day for the next couple of weeks. I de-clutter daily, there is so much junk mail and now with the election coming, all sorts of throw-aways. But the drawers, they are a catch-all for the weirdest things.

Last week I mentioned hitting a restaurant called the Pie ‘N Burger, here are photos from our meal. It’s a tiny little diner in Pasadena. The food was good. It’s cash only. That was a little bit of a surprise.

Reading:

I am almost finished with Joyce Maynard’s latest, How the Light Gets In. It’s a follow-up to Count the Ways. It’s pretty good. A little sad in places.

My next read was supposed to be All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker but I didn’t have it on my Kindle when I thought I did. It’s on there now and will be next.

Watching:

I have been watching bits and pieces of the DNC. Some of the speeches have been wonderful. Hillary’s for one. Wow. Michelle’s was also awesome. So hopeful and encouraging.

Grateful for:

My flexible work schedule. Still working three days on campus, and two remotely. Just signed a new tele-commuting agreement for the year so my schedule will remain the same for the rest of this academic year.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Get outside if it’s not too hot where you are.

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.