Category Archives: Life

Life

Whatnot – Week 12

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Hello, friends! Most of my mornings start off with coffee and a walk. Occasionally I have to wait until it warms up a bit. If it’s below 52 degrees then the pup doesn’t want to go. Lately, the mornings have been quite brisk so she has needed a little encouragement to get out the door. We always take a different path. Sometimes up a hill, sometimes around the school. Sometimes wherever her nose takes us. Today it was just around the neighborhood.

The Neighborhood

I never took advantage of morning walks before the pandemic. Sure, I was physically on-campus and not tooling around the neighborhood but my campus is a pretty pleasant place to get your steps in. I hope to continue my morning walks once we return to campus.

CSUN
Cal State Northridge

The weeks keep ticking on by, don’t they? I went to the mall for the first time in a year. I had to get my favorite candle and our new coffee maker melted so we had to get another one. I was in and out because I felt so closed-in and overwhelmed. It was right before Valentine’s Day so there were quite a few people shopping. They all looked so normal. Like they didn’t have a care in the world but so many of the shops have gone out of business so there was this dark cloud looming over the place. Every restaurant with outdoor dining was bustling. I am happy for them. I worry about spread but I also want them to stay open and for their employees to be able to make a living.

I got my Capri Blue candle though. Anything to make the day a little more pleasant.

I am currently reading The Midnight Library and then probably Joshilyn Jackson’s new one, Mother May I. My next two book club reads are books I’ve already read so that frees me up to read other books. Doing well with my review copies too. So many good reads coming out.

How are you all doing? There’s talk of schools opening back up again, at least at the K-5 level. I don’t see how that can happen until the teachers and staff are vaccinated but it’s a hot button topic here for sure. I would just like to know if ANY plans will be made for high school graduation. Even if it’s a drive by like last year. With a high school senior and the other one graduating from university, I need to know if there will be any conflicts.

Anyway, that’s it from me. Check in if you can.

 

Bookish Talk, Life

Sunday Matters: I Heart Books

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Sunday Matters

The title of this post is a well-known fact about me but I’ve never loved books more than I do right now, at this moment. I have been picking up the best reads lately. Not all of them are perfect but they take me through my day and leave me with questions when I finally decide to crawl into bed. A busy mind, one that is not crowded by anxiety and stress is good for the soul.

Right Now:

Happy Valentine’s Day! We do not have anything planned except for picking up some takeout and at this writing, we haven’t figured out what to get yet. I love Indian food and it’s often a friendly vegetarian choice. The Hub likes a good curry but he’s not much into the other dishes.

Sparkle Heart

Later, my youth group will meet on Zoom. Not sure if anyone will show because it’s Valentine’s Day after all.

This Week:

Tomorrow is a holiday for my daughter. No school for her but my campus is still open so I am working from home. She has an audition with Missouri State though and then on Friday and Saturday, auditions for the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Northern Colorado. That should be the end of her audition season unless another walk-in opportunity comes up.

At the end of this week, she has a master class that I can’t really talk about at the moment, but I’ll be able to soon!

Reading:

Oh my word. I finished Anxious People in one day. A lot of you included it in your Best Of lists for 2020 and I can totally see why. What an odd little book. I bawled. I teared-up in many places. The review should post on 2/22.

I think The Midnight Library is my next read. I have the new Murakami but that one doesn’t come out until April so I want to read it a little closer to its publication date.

Watching:

Schitt’s Creek. Still. Almost done with Season 3. I am enjoying it way too much.

Grateful for:

  • My son applied to grad programs as you know. So far, he has gotten into the University of Oregon, Claremont and Seattle. This has bolstered his confidence immensely.
  • My daughter has gotten into some good schools so far but she isn’t done with the process so we wait.
  • I have an old high school friend who just entered hospice. He is completely lucid and he is spending every minute of every day appreciating everything he has. It’s heartbreaking to read but he has found some peace taking this grateful approach. If you are the praying type, please pray for him. Everything seems to hold a little more value these days because of his posts.

I am so happy to hear that many of you have gotten your vaccines. I’m not sure what tier I will end up in but whatever tier that is, it’s not a priority one. I am guessing it will be fall before I get it.

Take care of yourselves!