Category Archives: Life

Bookish Talk, Life

Sunday Matters: Thinking About Hosting a Read-Along

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Sunday Matters

Hello, friends! Southern California is experiencing another heatwave. 108 degree temps for September seems so wrong, but we usually get blasts of hot hair through early October so I guess it’s not that unusual but seeing all those Sprit Halloween stores open when it’s so hot is wild.

Also, this past week was a birthday week for me! Having another year after major brain surgery really puts things into perspective.

Right Now:

Coffee, breakfast, student ministry. This is usually on repeat.

This Week:

On Monday I get to bring a meal to new parents!! And over the weekend we have a fun lunch scheduled which our neighbor who is leaving for Reno. What a great neighbor. He will be missed. I mean, you can’t just call anyone when you fall into a planter after brain surgery, thinking that a quick trip to the mailbox was a good idea. Plus we will miss his sweet dog Lucy. Lucy is really the only dog who gets along with my Chloe.  Although Chloe is not able to even take steps these days, she will miss that pup.

Reading:

I am almost finished with  All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. I love Whitaker and I love this book but it’s reminding me a lot of The Return of Ellie Black.

All the Colors of the Dark

I am really loving Catherine Newman’s Sandwich. Is there such a thing as “menopausal” chick lit? I seem to be very attracted to these types of reads these days.

Sandwich

Anyone for a Read-Along?

After brain surgery and trips to the hospital you start to really think about ALL the books you want to read, yet haven’t. One of those books is, Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham. It’s a chunkster at 688 pp. I posted about a possible read-along on Instagram and had some takers. Anyone here interested in reading Of Human Bondage with me in October? 

Of Human Bondage

Watching:

Cops. I’ve been watching Cops. Hahaha. We also watched an old 80’s classic on Labor Day, Better Off Dead. I have to tell you, it didn’t hold up well. It was kind of silly.

Grateful for:

This is dumb but the bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit from Chick-fil-A is a thing to behold. I’ve been enjoying them a bit too much.

Bookish Talk, Life

Sunday Matters: Fall Reading

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Sunday Matters

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.

Hamburgers!      Pies

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.

How The Light Gets In

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.

All the Colors of the Dark

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.