It’s been a crazy time. Work has been very busy but reading has been good. I catch you here and there, mostly on social media but I am here and doing well, just inundated with work. The work/life balance thing got completely overturned awhile back and I can’t say it’s improving. I make the best of it.

Both kids are good. Emma is thriving in NYC. It really suits her. She continues to audition and has some work here and there. Evan’s non-profit has been going well as well as his job with the City of Bellevue. He loves Seattle.

The Otter Pup is still here!! 16 years old. I have said a least a handful of times in the past six months that the time is near and every single time she proves me wrong. The other day she tried to run out the door! Running is not something she does anymore so that was a surprise! She’s also taken to hiding kibble in her cheek like a hamster to dump into her bed so she can have a late night snack without getting up.

Right Now:

Still volunteering at church. Three services back to back covering 5th-8th grade. Love those students but at the end of the day, I am exhausted. I usually enter my attendance, grab a quick bite and pass out until dinner time. I am about to head there now.

This Week:

On Monday, I have a followup brain MRI. Everything has been good but I always get a little nervous since two small tumors remain. I feel great and have been able to up my fitness quite a bit. By outward appearances and energy levels, I am good. Much better than I was before my brain surgery. Strength is back, which feels great and also foreign. Gotta chuckle. It’s been two years!

I really don’t have much else going on this week. I am trying to line up my books accordingly so that I am never at a point where I don’t know what to read. One book that is on my radar for October:

Of course, this prompts me to reread the other books in the series because it’s been so long since I visited The Talisman. Kind of exciting though.

Reading:

• King Sorrow by Joe Hill
• I Am the Ghost Here by Kim Samek
• Wellness by Nathan Hill

Watching:

In typically Ti fashion, not a thing. These days curling up with a book is so much more inviting than gazing at a TV screen.

Grateful for:

• My health
• Still loving my ability to work remotely two days a week
• The rain we’ve had. California is out of the drought. First time ever.

I just want to say that although I have not been bouncing around blogs too much, I still see and read your posts. I hope you have a fabulous week.

YOU GUYS! Oh, sorry to yell. You’ve all been posting your summer reading lists and I seriously have not even thought about my summer reading. You know me. I love a good list but work has been very busy and my brain has been occupied, like by a face hugger from Alien just sucking the life out of me.

I’m learning all sorts of cool things but there is a lot of it and different components that haven’t quite come together yet. Oh, and there is a little dispute with the union over the reclassification of my job. All in all, it will get dealt with, it’s just requiring more justification on my part to make it happen. That means, effort.

Right Now:

My Sunday routines are pretty static. Host a service, hang with students. Get something to eat and then sometimes a nap but lately helping people out with stuff. If I am lucky, I will work some reading in somewhere. Sometimes, not until I go to bed!

This Week:

This is a short week for me. Monday is a holiday and then I am taking Thursday and Friday off to visit my son in Seattle for the weekend. He has all sorts of things planned including me helping him at the Boys and Girls Club, where he is a director. He’s short staffed and I work with kids so he background checked me (ahem) and I get to meet all the characters he talks about.

Other than that, I am looking forward to a visit to one of my fave bookstores, Elliot Bay.

Reading:

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang (review coming soon)
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Abigail & Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan

Watching:

I did finish Cobra Kai but the last season was such a dud.

Grateful for:

Fitness apps (tracking steps and distance)

Long weekends (no kidding)

Long-time friends

Hope you all have a wonderful week. Maybe I’ll come up with a summer reading list! Maybe not. Probably will. 🙂