Everyday Stuff | Book Chatter

Sunday Matters

What a week! All I want to do is watch Hallmark Christmas movies, read something really good and just escape from reality for a little while. I have Monday off so this is looking like a plan that could actually happen.

Right Now:

I am trying to make my Sundays a little more relaxing by doing my errands on Friday night or Saturday during the day. That said, my day is pretty open to do what I want.

My church began services again. I have seen some videos of events recently and some people are not wearing masks although my church requires it. I seriously do not know why these people cannot wear the damn mask. I would like to attend a service but not if people are still gallivanting around without one. That means online is my only option at the moment.

This Week:

Monday off. I would like to do something because my daughter is off from school too but many places are still closed down in some way. I’ve not been feeling too great or we’d go to the beach or something but it’s a trek and I have to have supplies. Ha! Books, snacks, the like. When you aren’t feeling great you don’t want to haul all that stuff around.

The rest of the week is pretty wide open. I am going to put in for more vacation time at work, work on setting up my new 2021 planner, and do a little more meal planning in my meal journal.

Also, and I hate this part but I may look into some online exercise routine or begin walking again. I cannot for the life of me lose this pandemic pudge and it’s probably one reason why my stomach is bothering me. Could be an ulcer in the works. I hope not because it took a year to get rid of the last one.

Reading:

I reviewed The Sun Down Motel this past week and loved it. It counted for the R.I.P Challenge too which is nice. Look at your girl and her challenges!! Summer, done. R.I.P., going well.

Right now, I am reading Wendy Walker’s Don’t Look For Me. I am really into it at the moment. Also reading The Testaments for a book discussion. It’s been a long time since I’ve read The Handmaid’s Tale but I really don’t want to read it again before this next book.

Watching:

The Walking Dead finale from last season is tonight. They had to postpone due to COVID and to be honest, I don’t even remember the last episode and actually care little about it. I’ll watch it just to wrap it up but this might be it for me. Poor writing for the past two years does not make a hit show and with everything going on I have no patience for poor writing.

The Haunting of Bly Manor comes out October 9 on Netflix. It’s part of The Haunting of Hill House series but a totally different story and characters from what I can gather. I’ll watch! Hope it’s good.

Grateful for:

Friends who work in financial aid and are happy to answer my FAFSA questions. Filling it out for #2 this year! Those who know, know.
Cool mornings and good coffee, together.
Tacos.

Oh! I was happy to hear that Dolly Parton has a Christmas musical coming out right before Thanksgiving (11/22) on Netflix. I really like her and what she stands for. Something to look forward to, for sure.

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square
Credit: Netflix

I have moments where I feel very hopeful about things and right now is one of them. I hope you have a really good week.

Sunday Matters

The high schools in my city start school this Tuesday. They will be online for the first five weeks and then the district will determine if they can return to campus in a limited capacity. We haven’t gotten too much information yet and no textbooks but as of today schedules are still being finalized so that probably makes sense.

This year “back to school” feels so different, doesn’t it? I was at Walmart the other day and the aisles of back to school supplies are usually packed with parents but those aisles were empty. Totally empty. I’m glad they are starting online though because they weren’t ready to head back to campus.

Right Now:

Not much going on at the moment. We will watch church online and just relax I think. I’d like to grill something later. Grilling always sounds good but then I never know what to make.

This Week:

I took last Friday off to visit the botanical garden and I have this Monday off too. Nothing exciting planned because my daughter has her last driving lesson scheduled for Monday afternoon. I will be very glad to have those lessons done with. We are behind because the driving school closed for nearly two months but they extended us, thankfully and so we are cramming it all in.

School begins on Tuesday. She is a senior. Wow. Some of you remember when she was pretty little.

The rest of the week is filled with virtual dance classes and just random stuff.

Reading:

I read and reviewed The Boy from the Woods. It didn’t work for me. Sadly. I am a huge fan of Coben’s TV shows on Netflix but I don’t know if it was just this book or what but the style didn’t appeal to me.

My next book will be In a Dark, Dark Wood. I lost my library copy on my Kindle because I accidentally turned WiFi on but I found a used copy at the bookstore. Both the Coben book and this one are on my summer reading list so I am doing well this summer with that! I only have two more books to read on that list and although it’s August it still feels very much like summer so I have time.

Is anyone thinking about the R.I.P. Challenge yet? September is coming. I hope it happens.

Watching:

I’ve been watching reruns of things like Seinfeld and Roseanne but I saw a teaser for Ratched and it looks so good. Remember Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest? American Horror Story’s Ryan Murphy is the creator. It comes out 9/18.

Grateful for:

I’ve tasked my husband with cooking at least one meal a week because I am so tired of planning and cooking meals. He cooked his first one and it was really good. BBQd chicken, corn, asparagus. Extremely grateful for the break. He will make Taco Spaghetti next!
My daughter was offered direct admittance into Rider University’s BFA for Musical Theatre. This happened right after the intensive. She is still considering many schools but it’s nice that she is already accepted somewhere without an audition!

I am trying to focus on losing (sadly) the fifteen pounds I’ve gained since March. Trying to eat more whole foods and less wine. Ugh. Anyone else with this problem?

Chatting with friends about books and life…