Tag Archives: Bookish Chatter

Chatter about books, reading and anything related to either one.

Sunday Matters: Winding Down

Sunday Matters

I always struggle with the title for these posts. Each week it seems like the days drag but then here we are, it’s Sunday again. How are you? As the world starts to ramp up again, we are finally winding down here. My daughter is taking a breather before in-person classes start. They are shooting for March 29th.

I just heard that we are moving out of the red tier, which is pretty restrictive so indoor dining, museums and the like may be opening up again soon. I have been dying to go to the museum. I never realized how much art played a role in my happiness. I kind of did but not really. Isn’t that how it is? We don’t really know until it’s gone.

Right Now:

As you read this, I am at church attending the big service and then youth group follows right after. I am double-masking. Last week seemed to go pretty well. I am actually really glad about youth group going back to mornings. My Sunday evenings are free again!

This Week:

Not a whole lot going on this week. Work, as usual but then mid-week there is a virtual publishing conference I signed-up for. I am eager to see which books they discuss.

One thing I need to do this week is shop for towels. It’s such a domestic thing to look for but I like a good towel and ours are on their last leg. Let’s just say they have served their purpose. Fun! I already went to look at towels last week and was not impressed. Funny how I expect to be impressed by towels. I like the Turkish towels I have seen around but they would get destroyed in this house. One swipe of mascara and they’d be done for.

Reading:

I just finished Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. I should have the review up next week. I liked it better than her other book, The Nest.

I have two reviews coming up this week that you won’t want to miss. BRAT: An 80’s Story and The Beauty of What Remains.

Now that those reviews are scheduled, I am diving into When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain.

When the Stars Go Dark

Watching:

I fear the end of Schitt’s Creek might happen this week. We have just a few episodes left. It will be a sad, sad day when that series ends for us.

The Walking Dead has gone rogue again. Starts off good. Falls apart. This season is only six episodes due to their COVID shooting scheduled and it’s not going anywhere.

I did catch the Oprah interview after-the-fact. I don’t doubt that they have had a tough run of it and that Meghan has been treated differently but why, why sign-up for such a high-profile interview AND a reality TV show? I am not hinting at the money aspect. I just feel that if they want out, get out. Out of the spotlight. Out of the public eye as much as possible anyway.

I got sidetracked.

My son wants me to watch WandaVision. It doesn’t seem to be my kind of show but I told him I would watch so I will start this week.

Grateful for:

  • I’m glad that double-masking doesn’t add more fog to my glasses. Ha! I feared it would but it actually prevents it! I am using a paper mask and then a fabric one and it seems to cut down on the fog.
  • Happy scents. I am such a scent person. The smell of citrus or a really good candle puts me in the best mood. I just repurchased a perfume that I often wear and just one spritz takes me away from this working-at-home vortex I am in. Before, I was like, why bother? But now, I am more of the school of why not.
  • Soon we get to visit with my son. We will meet in Solvang. It’s known as a “little slice of Denmark” and touristy as heck but it’s fun. I will try to take a photo of the pup in a wooden shoe.

On a special note:

Remember that news that I said I could not discuss? Well, my daughter entered a competition through Spotlight (The Music Center) and was chosen as a semi-finalist for the Non-Classical Voice category!

Sadly, she did not move forward to finals but what an experience. We are so proud of her. She did this in the middle of college auditions so it was just one more thing added to her plate but she ought to be very proud. Here is a snap of the semi-finalists:

Spotlight

Tell me what you are doing this weekend or what you are looking forward to. Or, if you have a great book that I have to read!

Sunday Matters: My Reading Is On Fire

Sunday Matters

My reading pace continues to be good and I am really happy about it. Just keep those books coming. Review writing has been good too but mostly because I have to write my reviews right after I finish a book. For those who review, do you do that too?

Why do the weekends fly by? Here it is, Sunday and I am already thinking about work.

Right Now:

Not a lot happening. I am just easing into my day. I will try to get a walk in and then later a short meet-up with my youth group. With masks, outside in the cold, distanced. All the safety stuff in place.

My daughter has another audition later but this one is kind of fun. I will hold off on details for now.

This Week:

Nothing on the schedule besides work stuff. Nice!

Reading:

This week my reviews for The Wife Upstairs and Interior Chinatown will post on the blog. I liked them both very much. I will be writing up my review of Are We There Yet? to post next week. So that leaves me with two new books to read, both are review copies.

I am super excited about both of them. The first comes out in March and the second in April but I can’t wait until then to read them.

And… King is coming out with a new book!

Billy Summers
Photo Credit: Stephen King’s Newsletter

Watching:

When the show 9-1-1 first came out, I thought it was cheesy and poorly done. But these past two weeks, the show has centered around a dam break in the Hollywood Hills. Given that Hollywood was my stomping ground as a kid, I had to watch. Not bad. It’s better now since they added some different actors. Not sure I will watch it regularly but I do have next week’s episode set to record because it’s a crossover with 9-1-1 Lone Star with Rob Lowe! Might as well watch that one too.

Grateful for:

  • The rain we’ve gotten. If you don’t live in California or the desert it’s hard to comprehend just how dry we are. We didn’t get as much as they predicated, at least not where I live but I could literally hear the ground drinking it in. It’s like every plant went, “ahhhh”.
  • I am still grateful for being able to work from home. It’s been a really good thing. I’m not sure what the pup will do when I have to go back. She’s become so used to me being here and follows me everywhere.
  • Comfy sweats. I clearly need more.

Tell me how you are. Are you keeping busy? Have you added any new hobbies? I keep seeing people do embroidery and it looks interesting.

Between you and I, I am obsessing over the Little Free Library down the street. My old neighbors kept it looking pretty nice but they sold their house and the new people have let it go. I am tempted to reorganize it like a total creeper. I would really like one of my own but don’t want to spend the money. They are spendy.