Good morning! My post is late today because I once again forgot what day it was. Actually, it was just a really busy work day yesterday so I didn’t do my normal blog prep. So instead of breakfast reading, some of you will read this over lunch. 

Next week is THE week that we leave for college move-in. We leave on Tuesday. I will not be posting on the blog that week unless I manage to get some reviews scheduled. To follow along on the adventure, follow me on Instagram @TiBookChatter. I plan to post updates there and will post one big update once I return. Good thoughts, prayers, all of that is appreciated. It’s supposed to rain on her actual move-in day. 

I finished King’s new book, Billy Summers. It was SO not what I was expecting and I will include a trigger warning for rape in my review but it was very good. I am now reading Bloodless by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I love this duo. I have been reading them since Relic. I am about 25% into the story and it’s delivering on all counts. 

I was very surprised at the line of cars at the elementary school and high school for drop off yesterday. It appears that they are fully back in the classroom. On the one hand, it was so nice to see those littles heading back to the classroom. Most had masks and I do believe our districts up here are requiring them. It feels weird to not be a part of the high school back-to-school stuff but it also feels kind of nice. The first weeks of school were always a blur with choir, theatre and everything else ramping up. Hope they all have a good year. 

Today is a little gloomy and the news said there is a possibility of thunderstorms. That would be nice if we got a little rain out of it. Dry lightning? Not so much. Not with how dry it’s been. The photo I included in this post is my neighbor’s fence. I took it the other day while on our walk. I think they are Morning Glories, right? As we stood there admiring them, the owner came out with her pup, Tiggy so The Otter Pup got to meet a new friend. Tiggy is young and Chloe wasn’t having it but she knows most of the pups in the neighborhood now. 

Hope you all have a lovely week filled with some excellent reading. I will be taking Apples Never Fall with me on the plane next week. I also have a long layover in Colorado on my way back so my Kindle is stocked and ready. Check out this swag I received from Henry Holt:

Talk to you all soon. 

It’s been warm. About 104. Not horrible if you can get most of your errands and walks done early. The pup and I try to take our walk at 7:30 a.m. As you can see from the photo, it’s nice and shady for a good chunk of our walk. She tends to dawdle though so sometimes it’s quite warm by the time we return. 

I have quite a bit going on this week. Two in-person meetings in the evening which in and of itself is not much but more than I am used to these days. Plus, my daughter and I share a car right now so I will have to figure out the ride situation since she will still be at work by the time I need to leave. 

I am surprised at how early some schools are starting this year. I have two friends whose kids have started already! I mean, they started in July! That is unheard of. I started to see first day of school pics and my brain imploded. I know it’s a stressful time too because some states are not requiring masks for those young students and of course they are unvaccinated. This has caused a lot of anxiety for some of my friends. I pray that these littles stay safe!

As for me. I got that memo about a return to work but never any details so I suppose I will be back in some form in September. I hope PJs and yoga pants are acceptable. I kid you, but I am also dead serious. I lost the Covid-19 (pounds) that I gained over the past year and a half but I do not care to go shopping for clothes and it would be weird to wear the same things I had when I left work so long ago. Like, time stopping. Anyone else in the same boat? Does anyone even care what I look like?

This past Monday I reviewed The Paper Palace. It is a Reese pick and once again, a solid pick it was. It was very good but a very tough subject. I included a trigger warning for sexual abuse so be aware of that going in.  I am now almost done with Where The Truth Lies and hope to have the review up by this Friday. 

I keep putting it off but I really need to have a list of dorm essentials by the end of this week. I know lists exists and the school even sent one but I want to keep it trim since the idea of moving all her stuff out and back every semester gives me hives. Not easy to do from afar. 

I hope you are all doing well and that your reading is great. I am getting excited for fall and crossing all my fingers that the R.I.P. Challenge happens.