We lost another high-profile person to suicide this week and this one hit me hard. Mostly because I’ve read everything he’s written and lived vicariously through his travel/food shows. Anthony Bourdain will be sorely missed. I had so many favorite episodes I can’t even pick just one but he was so full of life.

National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255

Right Now:

We are actually on the road to a volleyball tournament. Our last club tournament. After the game we will have a meal as a team and then be on our way. It’s not been the greatest season for wins but very nice girls, coaches and parents.

This Week:

Production week starts tomorrow and ends on June 24th. This time she has a part that requires special makeup and the like so adding time in for that will be interesting and new to us. I’ve reviewed the schedule carefully and think I have it covered but things change once you get into the theater. We are seeing the show on Saturday and then again the following week.

Reading:

I am down to the last 100 pages of The Outsider by Stephen King and boy, is it good. Next up, The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy.

I reviewed two books this past week. Go Ask Fannie and Other People’s Houses.

Watching:

All I am watching is Fear the Walking Dead. If I’m not wrong, the finale is tonight.

My husband is very excited about the new season of Better Call Saul that was announced last week. However, I haven’t watched the show yet so my plan is to binge watch all the seasons so I can watch the premiere of season 4 on August 6th.

Making:

Unfortunately, the treatment my doc has me on has caused me to gain a lot of weight in a very short amount of time. It’s very depressing and is making me a little crazy so what I am making these days are organic, plant-based, protein shakes. I am not on a liquid diet because it’s not the 80s anymore but I am using them just to switch it up and gain some additional nutrition while I’m at it.

Grateful for:

Anthony Bourdain’s body of work.

Here is a clip of him and his best friend, Chef Eric Ripert preparing for a meal. Eric was the one to find Bourdain in his room so it’s especially tragic. I pray for all those affected including Bourdain’s young daughter who is only eleven years old.

And this was probably one of his most memorable meals.

School is out. It’s a good feeling. The Girl will be taking some classes for independent study but they won’t start until after production week for Oliver. There’s volleyball camp sprinkled in there too but doable.

Summer session started at the university. It’s a much slower pace here at work than say fall or spring semester but we really don’t get a break like the professors do. I’m okay with it though. The campus is pretty empty and very pretty this time of year.

Right Now:

Coffee. Church. In that order.

This Week:

We have to figure out drop off and pick up for volleyball camp but it will all work out. I’ve got life group on Tuesday and book club on Thursday. Production week for Oliver doesn’t start until June 11th so we’ve got a little more time to prep for that. I love it when they are actually in the theatre.

Reading:

My book club pick, A Truck Full of Money was a DNF for me. It just didn’t pull me in. Right after it I picked up Go Ask Fannie which did pull me in. The review should post this week. I just started Other People’s Houses. I wasn’t all that into it at first but it’s growing on me.

Watching:

Fear the Walking Dead took a break last week so I will be watching it tonight.

It’s been shared by several media sources that Andy Lincoln (Rick) from The Walking Dead will not finish out season 9. I don’t see how the show can continue without him! Do you?

Roseanne. Ugh. I kept watching the reboot because of how much I loved the old shows but this season has been so painful to watch. I tuned in, hoping to see some of what made the show popular years ago but this season has been nothing but politics on parade. And then the Tweet and the cancellation that followed. She has a lot of supporters and plenty of critics. Not sure what this will all mean since another TV personality just pulled a “Roseanne” and still has her show on the air.

Making:

I’ve been craving spaghetti and meatballs. I still haven’t figured out a good gluten-free alternative for the breadcrumbs. Sometimes I use potato flakes and sometimes toasted GF bread but the texture is off. Maybe I will make a batch and hope for the best.

Grateful for:

Great books. This week I was surprised by two books I picked up. I figured they would be kind of light and fluffy based on their covers but they were surprisingly meaty. As they say… don’t judge a book by its cover.

On that note, what book has surprised you recently? In a good way, or bad?