A couple of days ago I finally unpacked our GO bag after the Hurst fire was completely contained. And then, this past Wednesday the Hughes fire blew up very close to me. We had so many amazing fire crews still here from the Palisades and Eaton fire so they did really quick work getting it under control.

This was my view as I raced home.  We are to the right of that plume. Whew! It wasn’t looking too good.

Right Now:

I am teaching today in student ministry. Yay!

This Week:

My book club meeting was cancelled last week due to the evacuations so maybe it will be rescheduled for a night this week. Not sure yet.

Reading:

Between reading The Brothers Karamazov and working on my student message, not a whole lot of “other” reading has been going on. Brothers continues to be very good.

Of course, books are always catching my eye no matter what I am doing so I recently shared the last 18 books I added to my TBR pile.

Watching:

One of you suggested Lockerbie on Peacock and I am riveted. Boy, is it heavy though. It’s about the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 back in 1988. It stars Colin Firth. He is so good in it.

Grateful for:

• The fact that we managed to avoid that Hughes fire which technically was just over the hill from us.
• That I get to attend summer camp with the students this year! I missed last year, because you  know, BRAIN surgery.
• Bibles studies that I have been doing with some online church attendees through YouVersion. If any of you would like to do Bible studies with me let me know.
• Quick lunch catch-ups with friends.

It’s hard to avoid but what a week we’ve had. So much rescinded and lost. We knew this would be the case. I did not truly expect the Constitution to be removed though. Yes, he removed it from the White House website. Um, hello…

Good morning! I love a big book. A big, doorstopper of a read. The only problem is that the reviews get sidelined until it’s read. This is my only post for the week since I am making my way through one of those doorstopper reads.

My son’s non-profit, Bunker Arts Collective suffered a loss. They have this big yellow van named DOLLY and while in secure storage, it was vandalized! They stole the starter and the battery! His supporters rallied and raised the money to replace them, but what a sad sack you have to be to ruin a vehicle that beautifies the neighborhood.

Right Now:

Online ministry and then student ministry. Man, I am wiped out from being back in the office this week. I will load up on coffee and hope for the best. That post church nap will be fine, fine, fine.

This Week:

Not much going on. Three days in the office, two from home. My book club meets Wednesday to discuss Bright Young Women.

Reading:

I am a little over halfway through with The Brothers Karamazov. It’s quite a read and surprisingly, very readable for a big chunkster (928pp). It is reminding me a lot of another read, Beware of Pity. It’s very similar.

Still reading these but since Brothers is such a chunk, these are slow going.

Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler (comes out 2/11)
Trust by Hernan Diaz (Feb club pick)

Watching:

Not much. I found that old show Emergency on at 5pm each evening and I have fallen back in love with it. It’s such a good, classic show.

Also watching a lot of Seinfeld. It’s just what I am in the mood for.

Grateful for:

• I finally grew my post-surgical hair out enough to cut and it looks normal again! Shorter, but full. I had no idea that the hair fall out would bother me so much.
• Stamina. I had to hike it up a hill recently because parking was a beast and I got up that hill without any trouble. This is huge since the Pulmonary Embolism from last February.
• My daughter booked a film! Her first paid gig. Grateful for that confidence boost. She graduates this year and is feeling all those feels.

That’s about it for me. I find myself deep in thought these days about all things. Like, the media ban that I am imposing on myself this week to avoid, you know. Anyone else?