WEEKLY UPDATES: A CHAOTIC WEEK TURNS SERENE…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

 

My week was chaotic and productive at the same time.  I had finished my first book on Monday, eager to write a review and start on the next one.  But best laid plans and all…that day was the beginning of the end of those good plans.  In the midst of my frenzied activity, my laptop died.  But I bought a new one and took it to the Geek Squad for setup and data transfer.  All good, right?  Not so good.  Two days later it was still not finished, and I was in a long line at the DMV for my DL renewal and REAL ID completion.  I came through that within two hours, and successfully, but then that night, my temporary bridge fell out when I wasn’t even chewing on that side!  The next morning, I headed to the dentist, while regularly checking on the status of my new laptop.  Meanwhile, I finished reading book #2.

Thursday night I got my laptop!  Before I went to sleep, I started learning how to navigate it, and wrote one review.  On Friday, I wrote another one…and two blog posts.  So..a minimal amount of progress, but I felt exultant that I had come through the week in one piece.  Sort of.

So…let’s take a closer look…and grab some coffee.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

My Journey Without My Laptop

Bookish Friday:  “Bitter Orange”

Review:  First Flurries, by Joanne DeMaioReview:  They All Fall Down (e-book), by Tammy Cohen

INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty mailbox…but I downloaded two e-books.

A Well-Behaved Woman (e-book), by Therese Anne Fowler

Shell Game (e-book),(A V.I. Warshawski Novel) by Sara Paretsky

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WHAT’S NEXT?

I’m currently reading In Pieces, by Sally Field: an American icon tells her story for the first time, and in her own gorgeous words—about a challenging and lonely childhood, the craft that helped her find her voice, and a powerful emotional legacy that shaped her journey as a daughter and a mother.

Day of the Dead (e-book), by Nicci French

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That was my rather turbulent week, ending on a more serene note. What did your week look like?  Before the week turned completely chaotic, I relaxed with this pumpkin cheesecake pie.  Yes, I had to have it again.

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MY JOURNEY WITHOUT MY LAPTOP…

What a twisted journey I have been on this week!  For starters, this is my first blog post.  Imagine that!

I had finished reading First Flurries, by Joanne DeMaio (click for my review), and was eager to post my review.  My laptop had other ideas. Long story short:  it died.  Feeling a bit flummoxed, as I hadn’t planned on that happening—who does?—I headed to the computer store I had chosen and selected a new one.  Then I brought in the old one so the Geek Squad could transfer data…simple, right?

Two days later, still waiting.  Long story short, I stirred them up a bit, and they finished it yesterday.

Today I’m finding my way around my New Normal, enjoying it, but also feeling as if I have been sent down a Rabbit Hole, with everything strange and new…and maybe even upside down.  I had to relearn what I had previously known…and change a few passwords, too.

Meanwhile, the rest of the week was about renewing my Driver’s License and getting the REAL ID card…so I did all that on Wednesday.

Then, my temporary bridge fell out…and had to be reapplied yesterday.  Sigh. Later today, I’m off to self-soothe with something sweet.  Like this.

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How was your week?  I missed all of you!

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REVIEW: FIRST FLURRIES, BY JOANNE DEMAIO

 

Lindsey Haynes’ father once gave her a snow globe with the note: “Unsure where to go? Give a little shake … and your heart will always know.” On a whim, those words lead her to the quaint New England town of Addison. It’s a place straight out of a storybook with its twinkling town green, decorated Main Street, and secluded lakeside cabin community.

But an encounter with a dejected doctor named Greg Davis turns Lindsey’s days upside down, much like a snow globe in motion. With a little nudge from endearing townsfolk, and a few chance meetings of their own, a magical flurry of emotions suddenly swirls around them.

First Flurries is an enchanting story about finding love and home when you’re not even looking. So cozy up and settle in with a tale that will simply capture your holiday heart.

 

 

My Thoughts: Beginning with the magical flurries that surrounded the characters in First Flurries, I was wrapped up in the setting and the moments with the characters.

As with all books by this author, I felt immediately connected to the characters, watching from close by as Lindsey settled into Addison with her Tiny House hooked up to her SUV, her Vagabond Vintage Shop enclosed within. The first collision occurred while backing up her bulky vehicle, distracted by an announcement on the radio, and as she connected with a sedan, incidentally belonging to Dr. Greg Davis, from that point on, many subsequent collisions would lead the couple to a strange and almost inevitable connection.

But both were fighting their feelings. Greg had an unfortunate history of love connections not quite “getting off the ground,” and Lindsey was constantly moving on to her next destination. Would the magic of the country village during the holidays lead to something more? Or were the two of them destined to hit and miss? This book was one that kept me smiling and wishing for the two of them, and earned 5 stars.

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WEEKLY UPDATES: AUTUMN MOMENTS…

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

 

Autumn is finally here…I think.  We still have some warm days, but most days are in the 80s.  I’ll take it.

As the days passed quickly this week, with various appointments (flu shot, dental appointment, coffee with a friend), I could tell that my reading was slacking off.  I ended up reading and reviewing only two books, but they were enjoyable ones.  Neither was a thriller, though, which probably explains the slower pace.

I have a long list of what I want to read next…but knowing how things have been going, I will follow my moods and see where they lead.

Now that I’m able to drink coffee again (and eat real food!), let’s grab another cup and talk about the week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Rainy Day Excerpts:  “A Spark of Light”

Rediscovering My Reading Mojo…

Thursday Potpourri:  Celebrating a Major Birthday…

Coffee Chat:  A Week of Soft Foods, Etc.

Tangential Friday Thoughts…

Bookish Friday:  “An Anonymous Girl”

Review:  A Year of Extraordinary Moments (e-book), by Bette Lee Crosby – NG-10/16/18  Review:  The Book Club (e-book), by Mary Alice Monroe

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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Two purchased books came in my mailbox…and I downloaded one book.

Open Your Eyes, by Paula Daly

In Pieces, by Sally Field

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Downloaded:

Bitter Orange (e-book), by Claire Fuller

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WHAT’S NEXT?

I have my list of books from which to choose….I do want to read First Flurries, by Joanne DeMaio; and I also have set up Paige, my Kindle, with They All Fall Down, by Tammy Cohen.

 

 

 

 

 

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That was my mediocre week…but one that brought some lovely moments.  Below, check out the delightful Pumpkin Mousse Pie I enjoyed last night, now that I can eat regular food…although this one could have been devoured when I was on the soft foods diet.

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TANGENTIAL FRIDAY THOUGHTS…

Good morning, and welcome to my Tangential Friday Thoughts…which may or may not be a regular feature.

After the last week-and-a-half, I am grateful for a few things today.  Books, of course, and I’m ready to start reading First Flurries, pictured above.

Some other good things happened this week.  My oral surgery site has healed nicely, and I have graduated to solid food:  as long as I chew on the opposite side, since my bridge is temporary.  I celebrated with this Mini-Shepherd’s Pie lunch at Marie’s yesterday.  I had been waiting for months for the return of this favorite item, which only comes in the Fall/Winter season.  It was tedious chewing only on one side, and I had to be very careful.  But well worth it!

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On the less-enjoyable aspects, I had a few glitches on my laptop…unexpected shut-downs while writing, and strange noises when starting up.  I am getting ready for the possibility that I’ll have to buy a new one!  The worst thing about that:  having to set everything up again, especially since there will be unfamiliar aspects, like moving up to a Windows 10 Operating System.  There was no point in adding it to my current device, since I knew that I would need to replace this one…sooner rather than later.

Even with the weird issues of my older model, I was getting used to them, and managing to work through them.  (Like a keyboard that sticks and letters that are almost invisible!)   It has been five years since I bought this one, and I still recall how long it took to set things up.  Sigh.

Since I’ll probably get it at Best Buy, I wonder if I can persuade the Geek Squad to help with some of this?

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One more less than enjoyable issue:  Google changed g-mail, in a big way, and I’m not loving it.  Nothing works the way it did, and every day I struggle with my inbox.  Scrolling down to find the various folders is frustrating.  Slowly I’m adjusting…but I shout a few curses now and then.  Anyone else dealing with the g-mail changes?

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This week was a busy one.  I also went for my flu shot, and compared to the pain of my Frozen Shoulder, I barely noticed any aches on the other arm.  I think the shoulder is improving, though.    With my stretches, I get through most of the day.  Evenings are still a bit uncomfortable.

So…all in all, not a bad week, but so busy with various appointments, etc., that I’ve only finished reading and reviewing one book, but I’m halfway through The Book Club, by Mary Alice Monroe.

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What are your Friday Thoughts?  Was your week one of random events, excitement, or true escape?

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COFFEE CHAT: A WEEK OF SOFT FOODS, ETC.

Welcome to another Coffee Chat, in which we share bookish and not so bookish thoughts.  Head on over to Bookishly Boisterous to add your link.

Another week bites the dust…almost.  How do the days slip by so quickly?  I have kept busy with appointments, a flu shot, etc., and I’m still recovering from the oral surgery, while managing to keep the temporary bridge intact.  I do love soups and yogurts, but who knew that a steady diet of nothing but soft foods would be so incredibly boring?

• As for bookish things, I’m only on my second book of the week, but I did enjoy my first one, a NetGalley ARC called A Year of Extraordinary Moments, by Bette Lee Crosby.  (Click title for my review). Release Date – 10/16.
• Now I’m reading The Book Club, by Mary Alice Monroe.  I’m enjoying the characters and the story, and I adore the book cover.

• I’m excited that two books I have pre-ordered are on their way to me, and should arrive by the end of the week:  Open Your Eyes, by Paula Daly; and In Pieces, by Sally Field.
• Last weekend, my #2 son was feted in a surprise birthday party, compliments of his fiance Madeline.  As always, he sent some photos.

• Here are Madeline and her two little kids on the beach:  I can’t wait to spend time with these new grandchildren!  Well, technically they’ll be “step-grandchildren,” but that detail doesn’t matter to me.

• My favorite shot of three of my older grandchildren, young twenty-somethings Alec, Aubrey, and Aaron: how fast they all grew up!

• Brett and Madeline just moved into their new house, and I’m told there is a nice guest suite for me…and others, too, of course.  LOL.
• I am eagerly anticipating family moments ahead.

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How are you all spending your week?  What excitement, adventures, or bookish things are keeping you busy?

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WEEKLY UPDATES: DAILY MINUTIAE, ETC.

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

 

My week was full of appointments and the aftermath of oral surgery/dental work.  Sigh.  But I did manage to read two books this week…better than last.  Do you ever find yourself lost in the minutiae amidst the activities that seem to take over?   Most of my time was spent lying on the couch watching TV shows, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.  I am enjoying a show on Netflix that I only watched occasionally when it was on TV:  Friends.  It is kind of silly, but it takes my mind off of real life.  The hatred swirls around us with the political fighting…and I just want to bury my head in the sand…or in what is happening in a show or movie.

But setting all that aside, let’s grab some coffee and take a closer look at the week.  Speaking of coffee, I am grateful to be able to drink it again, since it was forbidden during the first recovery days!

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  Last Day of the Month Scrambling…

September Wrap-Up:  A Month of Lovely Books…

Rainy Day Excerpts:  “First Flurries”

My Hump Day Reading…

Coffee Chat:  Birthdays, Books, Etc.

Bookish Friday:  “The Day of the Dead”

Review:  Watching You, by Lisa JewellReview:  I Know You Know (e-book), by Gilly Macmillan

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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

Empty physical mailbox, but I received one NetGalley review book; and I downloaded two purchases.

In the Blink of an Eye  (e-book), by Jesse Blackadder (NG – 3/19)

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Downloads:

A Spark of Light (e-book), by Jodi Picoult

Under My Skin (e-book), by Lisa Unger

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WHAT’S NEXT? Currently reading two review books:

A Year of Extraordinary Moments (e-book), by Bette Lee Crosby – (NG – 10/16)

First Flurries, by Joanne DeMaio – (Author Review Request)

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That was my week…what did yours look like?  I didn’t go out to eat at all this week…soft foods being my primary diet.  But this flan that I enjoyed a couple of weeks ago looks soft…and I am drooling for it right now.

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COFFEE CHAT: BIRTHDAYS, BOOKS, ETC.

Welcome to another Coffee Chat, in which we share bookish and not so bookish thoughts.  Head on over to Bookishly Boisterous to add your link.

I am not looking forward to this morning:  three hours in the dental chair replacing a bridge that fell out.  After that, I’ll have a temporary one for two weeks.  I will be eating lots of soft foods.  It’s a good thing I love soup. 

• Aside from that, I think I’m finally immersed in a book:  I Know You Know, by Gilly Macmillan.
• On Sunday, I finished Watching You, by Lisa Jewell; (click title for review).
• Before I started my current read, I read bits and pieces of two other books, which I may (or may not) return to before week’s end:  Mr. Flood’s Last Resort and Girl, Wash Your Face.

 

 

 

 

 

• I’m excited about two books I downloaded yesterday:

• Last Friday, I had my hair styled…and enjoyed a massage.  “Enjoyed” is probably the wrong word, since it hurt a little, and the stretches I have to do throughout each day are a little bit painful.  But I’m able to move my left arm more now.  Sigh.  I keep waiting for the bliss of total healing.
• Friday is my #2 son Brett’s birthday…below is a favorite photo from umpteen years ago…yes, infancy.  I snapped an iPhone photo of the framed picture on my office wall:

• Another favorite snapshot of all four of my “kidlets,” back in the early 1990s.  Brett is the one on the lower left:

• I’ve probably told this story before on one of my blogs.  That sculpture is at our local university campus, and we began shooting photos of the family there back in 1979.  It became “our place.”  The first one, below:

• I’m loving This Is Us…and I set the DVR for New Amsterdam…but haven’t watched it yet.
• Thursday favorites:  Grey’s Anatomy; Mom; Murphy Brown; and How To Get Away with Murder.

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How has your week been shaping up?

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WEEKLY UPDATES: BOOKS, ETC.

Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.

**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.

And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.

 

What a week!  Warmer than last week, but today should show a lowering of those numbers.  My reading sucked.  Yeah, there is no other way to describe it!  I read and reviewed ONE book.  I’m currently reading two books.  What did I do with my time?  Well, I didn’t do much housework…nor did I go out, except I met my daughter for drinks on Monday…and yesterday, went to her salon for a massage from the therapist there, and a hairstyling.  Then we went to The Press Box for a snack and drinks.  No photos of those goodies, but I had a Bloody Mary with soup.  Here’s what she did to my hair:

The massage was wonderful!  Apparently my shoulder was frozen, which explains a lot about the pain and decreased mobility.  Now…I am determined to follow the stretches he has prescribed.

Above, you might notice that I have a new cover for Paige, my Kindle Oasis.  I think it is easier to hold the device…it is lighter!

On Thursday, the Senate Confirmation Hearings took over the TV channels…so I watched.  Frustrating and emotionally challenging.  I yelled at the TV a couple of times.

What lies ahead for us?   Well, in October, my #2 son has a significant birthday…and mine is at the end of the month, and all of mine are significant.  LOL.  But as you know, I celebrate for the whole month. 

Let’s grab some coffee and take a closer look at my week:

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  Journeys…

Rainy Day Excerpts:  “I Know You Know”

What Are You Reading This Week?

Coffee Chat:  Books, Movies, & TV Shows…

Bookish Friday:  “We Were Mothers”

Friday Potpourri:  October Birthdays, Etc.

Review:  When Life Gives You Lululemons (e-book), by Lauren Weisberger (A Library Book)

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INCOMING BOOKS: (Titles/Covers Linked to Amazon)

One book came in my physical mailbox!  A review book from Joanne DeMaio.  Then I downloaded a Kindle Prime freebie…and a purchased book.

First Flurries, by Joanne DeMaio (Author Review Request)

Downloads:

In Her Bones (e-book), by Kate Moretti

Freebie:

We Were Mothers (e-book), by Katie Sise

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WHAT’S NEXT?

I’m slowly reading Watching You, by Lisa Jewell, and while I’m loving it, I keep getting distracted.  Hopefully I will sink into the story today and tomorrow:

And I’ve begun reading:

Mr. Flood’s Last Resort (e-book), by Jess Kidd

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That was my week.  What did yours look like?  I had this meal with my daughter a while ago…but I’m craving this food again!

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COFFEE CHAT: BOOKS, MOVIES, & TV SHOWS…

Welcome to another Coffee Chat, in which we share bookish and not so bookish thoughts.  Head on over to Bookishly Boisterous to add your link.

 

The temperatures have risen very close to the triple digits:  98 degrees today!  We’ve almost forgotten the lovely 80s we had a couple of weeks ago.  But by mid-October, I hope we’ll feel a little crispness in the air.  Except for Monday when my daughter and I unexpectedly decided to meet for drinks when she was in this part of town,  I’ve been holed up inside…reading, watching shows, and avoiding housework.  It’s too hot! is my outcry.  Of course the AC works just fine.

• Today I finally finished the book I’ve been reading since the weekend:  When Life Gives You Lululemons, by Lauren Weisberger.  (Click title for my review).  And I’m happy to report that the last two book reviews I tried to post on Amazon worked…with no passcodes needed!
• Now I’m reading (and loving) Watching You, by Lisa Jewell.  My slow reading progress can be blamed on the Lululemons book…I enjoyed it, overall, but there were slow parts and I was easily distracted.  To read fast, I need a good thriller.  I suspect that the pages of my current read will fly by.  Plus, the chapters are short.
• I watched a show called Forever on Amazon Prime, and binged the whole first season…which is all we have so far.

• Next week is my #2 son’s birthday…and his fiancee has created a book of photos from infancy to the present, some of which I provided.  Here is one of my favorites:  Brett, five months of age.

• Then there is this one, with his fiancee:

• Some new fall shows have begun filling up my screen, and some old favorites will be back tomorrow, like Grey’s Anatomy, Mom, and How To Get Away with Murder.  Young Sheldon is also in the line-up.
• Last night, This Is Us was on…and I just now watched it from my DVR.  I love that show!
• So…reading will fall by the wayside for a bit.
• On Friday, I’m going to my daughter’s salon for a massage (my left shoulder is still giving me trouble), and afterwards, she’ll trim my hair.

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What has your week brought you?  Books, movies, adventures?

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