WEEKLY UPDATES: MORE OF THE SAME…

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn weekly updates

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.

This past week has been exhausting, and I’m not sure why.  It has been warmer outside, and I’ve had to use the air conditioning, which is not the best unit I’ve ever had…LOL.  It is also loud!  Despite these issues, I managed to finish reading and reviewing two books, one of which was an ARC that wasn’t supposed to be released until May 19, but suddenly appeared on the Amazon page on 5/5.  Luckily it was a good book that kept me engaged throughout, as did my second book.  I also spent time reading a hardcover book that is slow going, so I’m picking it up and spending bits of time on it.  I’m about halfway finished. 

I’ve spent more time on movies and shows online.  New episodes of The Good Fight, continuing episodes of Mrs. America, and I started Season II of Dead to Me on Netflix.  Today I plan to begin I Know This Much Is True on Prime, based on Wally Lamb’s book.

Last night I went to bed at 7:00 p.m.!  Just to lie there and watch TV for a while, and I finally slept periodically, turning off the TV at 11:30.  Up at 4:30 today!

So…now what?  I think I’ll continue reading the hardcover book today, as I’m eager to finally finish it…and I have some e-books that are calling out to me, both fiction and nonfiction.  I have discovered that my e-books go faster and more smoothly…and I think I like holding the Kindle more than a physical book.  That was surprising to me, but I’ve been realizing this for a while.

Let’s grab some coffee.  I’m sitting right here at my computer, in the chair you see in the photo, and we can take a closer look at my week.

 

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Sunday Potpourri:  Hanging Out…

Tuesday Potpourri:  Expected and Unexpected Treasures…

Tuesday Excerpts:  “The Sweeney Sisters”

From the Backlog:  I Ghosted This One…

Bookish Friday:  “Little Secrets”

Review:  Big Summer, by Jennifer Weiner – (NG – Released on 5/5)Review:  Have You Seen Me?, by Kate White

***

INCOMING BOOKS:

Empty mailbox!  I did download two e-books.

A Good Marriage, by Kimberly McCreight

Killer Deadline, by Lauren Carr

***

CURRENTLY READING: 

I have been periodically reading The Girl in White Gloves, by Kerri Maher…I hope to finish it eventually. 

Then I will grab another e-book or two.  I have my eye on this memoir by Jennifer Weiner: Hungry Heart.  It has been on my Kindle for a while (since October 2016!), and it will count for my nonfiction challenge.

***

So…that was my week.  Not a lot of fun or excitement, but then again, we’re still on lockdown.  Even though parts of the state and this city will slowly reopen, I am still restricted due to being in senior residential living.  However, I am grateful not to have to make that decision on my own.

I do miss my granddaughter Fiona…but she regularly sends updated photos, like this one.  I like how she plays around with hair color.

And to start off Mother’s Day weekend with something beautiful, here’s what Fiona and her mother sent me today:

 

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

78 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: MORE OF THE SAME…”

  1. The furnace is still on at my house. We had snow flurries on Friday! I know the warm temps will get here but I’m getting impatient. I want to put away the down jacket, hat and gloves. I miss my grandchildren too. FaceTime is great but not the same as getting those hugs. I’ll do a window visit with my mom today.
    I hope you love your reading this week.
    Happy Mothers Day 🙂

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  2. Happy Mother’s Day (tomorrow). I hope you receive a special card or a special phone call. Since I am not a mother, and my mother is long gone, I took on a special project which I think I will continue annually for a celebration of Mother’s Day. I picked out one of my students who is a single mom raising two active boys and gave her a card with a check in it to get something specifically for herself. It made me feel so good that I haven’t had my case of the usual grumps I used to have on this holiday. LOL

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  4. Susan

    I hope you have a nice Mother’s Day tomorrow! I think I might need to sign up for Hulu so I can watch Mrs. America … though we already have Netflix, Prime, & HBO …. seems a bit much eh? Crazy to splurge on all these. Stay well. & enjoy your week.

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    1. Thanks, Susan, I used to have numerous channels through my cable TV provider, but I like this better. Adding channels I want when I want them through Prime, and then discontinuing them as needed. It works out great!

      I have really enjoyed Hulu, and I subscribe to the service with no commercials. I like watching some of the shows I miss on TV, like How To Get Away with Murder and Tommy, not to mention soaps like General Hospital.

      Hulu also has a generous offering of movies. Thanks for visiting, Susan, and enjoy!

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    1. Thanks, Carole, and I am happy to have AC, even though mine is very noisy. LOL. I also have allergies, which means I don’t open my windows. Sigh. I love surrounding myself with books, which is why I add hardcover and paperback versions to my shelves.

      I really enjoy the various personas Fiona tries on, with her hairstyles and colors.

      She and her mom sent me flowers and some treats, and my daughter sent over wine, Champagne, and some micorwaveable meals.

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  6. Looks like a cozy spot! And I find that myself lately- sometimes I enjoy my Kindle more than a physical book, which really surprises me. Maybe because I can adjust the font and it’s lighted… not sure. Probably though lol!

    Sometimes it’s nice to go to bed early and just relax with a show! Glad it’s been nice there. Spent some time outside today, the sun was out but the air was still brisk (50’s). We haven’t quite warmed up yet…

    Happy Mother’s Day!!!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Greg, and I think the ability to light the book and change the font figures into my comfort in reading on my Kindle. Plus the device is smaller and easy to hold.

      But I do like having hardcovers and paperbacks lending ambience to my room!

      Enjoy your books and your week.

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  7. Literary Feline

    I hope you are able to get some rest and feel refreshed this week. It did seem like an exhausting week for me as well. The number of calls we are getting into the hotline because schools are closed are down considerably but the cases of suspicious child deaths is up in our county. It’s very emotionally wearing. I know you understand.

    I hope you continue to enjoy your reading. And have a nice Mother’s Day. I was able to send my mother and mother-in-law flowers. I know it’s cliche, but they really don’t need anything and flowers are always nice to receive (I think). I’ll give her a call tomorrow too to wish her a good day.

    I hope you have a good week. Take care of yourself. Stay safe and well.

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    1. Oh, yes, Wendy, doing that job during a Pandemic has to be beyond challenging. Hang in there!

      I got flowers and cherries, with a lovely card thanking me for the “DNA chain from me that gave her lovely Fiona,” from my former daughter-in-law who still feels like a daughter.

      My daughter sent wine and champagne and other foods I’ve been missing.

      Best Mother’s Day ever! So far. There might be more. LOL.

      Sometimes our exhaustion disappears when things happen to pick us right up. Enjoy your week.

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  8. We’ve also enjoyed warm, sunny weather here this week – Thankfully I am able to go out in the garden to enjoy it. Sorry your air-con isn’t the best! But looks like you’ve done some good reading and lots of viewing! I hope you enjoy your Mother’s Day as best you can and happy reading! 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Jessica, I am happy to report that things are turning upward with the treasures I’ve received so far to honor Mother’s Day. The gifts that arrive would be even better if we could hug and see each other, but video chats are good, too.

      Enjoy that garden!

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  9. Maureen Bakker

    It looks like you have a nice spot to blog. 😉
    I’m glad you’ve been having fun reading. Two books in a week are great.
    And Happy Mother’s Day to you. 😉

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  10. Gayathri Lakshminarayanan

    I used to love Jennifer Weiner lighter, older books. I recently read her ‘Mrs Everything’ a while ago, after a long gap from her books and I was surprised. Is her hunger heart any different?

    I need to watch Dead to me S2. I enjoyed the season 1!

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  11. Urg! Sorry you have found it such an exhausting week – I hate it when that happens. We don’t possess aircon and although the weather has been freakily warm and sunny for the last few weeks, we are expecting much colder, northerly winds sweeping through starting today… I hope you are able to get more sleep – I know what you mean about ebooks, I cannot recall the last time I picked up a print version! It’s so much kinder on the eyes… Take care and keep safe.x

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  13. Last night there was a freeze warning. I think it only got to 36 but it will be 90 at the end of this week I have a method since we have 2 full HVAC units. Downstairs is still on heat. Upstairs is on AC. It seems to be working out well, instead of me having to switch it back and forth during this unsettled weather period. You read some amazing books this week! I also prefer my Kindle or audiobooks. Happy Mother’s Day!

    Take care and Happy reading!

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  14. Rachel @Waves of Fiction

    It’s been really hot at my house, but thankfully our air conditioner works well. Happy that the temps will be getting back to mid 80s instead of triple digits. Killer Deadline looks fun. Happy reading and have a great week! 🙂

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  15. It has been warm here, too. That never bodes well for hurricane season. I’m hoping that we wouldn’t have a pandemic and a bad hurricane season in the same year.

    I’ve been surprised to find that I like ebooks fairly well. It’s certainly an easy way to save quotes from the book and share them in my reviews. The bad thing about ebooks for me is remembering that they are on my Kindle. I’ve set aside ebooks for now, though, as my library has started doing curbside delivery.

    I like the look of Girl in the White Gloves and Hungry Heart. I hope you enjoy them both.

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    1. I finally finished The Girl in White Gloves, and the hardcover has taken up its place on my bookshelf.

      I hope to love Hungry Heart.

      A Pandemic and Hurricane…that seems like a brutal overkill!

      Stay safe.

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  16. I’m in Florida, so we’ve been enjoying Sunny hot weather for a while. I find I like to read ebooks rather than have a collection of books that I need to store. Of course, I do have my favorite nonfiction books which I keep and like to re-read, mostly on wellness subjects. My kids and grandkids Face Timed this morning and in an hour we will do a Zoom call with all the siblings for my 95-year-old mother in law. Happy Mother’s Day

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  18. Sophie @BewareOfTheReader

    I hate when books are released earlier than planned and I have to rush to read the ARC! I hope you’ll sleep better tonight Laurel!

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    1. Thanks, Nicole, I miss my purple streak that was a trademark thing in my silver hair. But when the salons closed down, there went that little quirk of mine. LOL.

      Luckily my ARC was the only one left for May, but I had planned to read it next week! I’ve never been late with a review until now. I was done with it the day after release, though, so that wasn’t too bad.

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  20. I can understand your tired feeling, it is tiring being in lockdown. I have got out walking far more now and it has really helped, but you can’t do that. Boo on that air conditioning unit. I wish i viewed more, I like the idea of it, but never get there much!

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    1. Thanks, Kathryn, I am glad for the movies and the books, but I think it is exhausting to be sedentary, reading and viewing. I can’t get excited about scheduled walks for 20 minutes, though!

      The AC is horrible. Not only is it loud, but it blows really cold air so I don’t leave it on long…and then it is hot again in a short time. Sigh.

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    1. Thanks, AJ, I do recall how depressing that book was…it’s been a long time since I read it, though. I guess I’ll try watching to see if it is less depressing than the book, lol.

      Enjoy your week.

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  22. Happy Mother’s Day! It’s been a long, quiet week here, too. We has the windows open for a couple of days, but the temp and humidity both increased and we turned the air on again. I prefer reading a physical book, but holding the kindle is much more comfortable for me. Think I’m developing arthritis in one of my thumbs and it’s getting hard to hold heavier books. 😦 Hope you have a good week!

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    1. Thanks, Erin, and I am glad that it doesn’t take a lot to perk me up. I had nice chats with two of my kids; opened packages that included a bottle of wine and Champagne from my daughter; and flowers and candy from my granddaughter (via her mom, my former daughter-in-law, with a lovely note!).

      I like when “former” in-laws continue to be family.

      Missing them. but I feel the evidence of them in these little gifts and moments.

      Enjoy your week, and I’ll keep that zoom chat in mind!

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  28. These days, it’s more interesting to tell people what we haven’t done, isn’t it? Things are opening up here but we’re not ready for it so we’re sticking with the status quo. I’m glad you’re staying safe. Fiona is such a lovely young lady.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and I am so grateful for the Internet and being able to connect through blogging, chatting, etc. I think you are wise to maintain the status quo. It gives me chills to think of what could happen after reopening too quickly.

      Fiona is the one I miss the most in this area. She and I spent a lot of time together after I moved here. But she is “felt” in her chats and in the gifts she sends.

      Stay safe!

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  29. Are they allowing you to run ACs? I have heard that people are being advised against using it.
    Loved the pictures that you shared of your home. So neat, clean, and tidy. Mine is always in a mess. Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a link. Happy Reading.

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    1. I live in a senior residential community, in my own apartment. Nobody here has been told not to use AC.

      It is California, and it’s hot here. LOL.

      Thanks for visiting, Neeruha, and enjoy your reading. Stay safe.

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  30. Kathy Martin

    I think that I have preferred reading on my Kindle rather than print for more than a year now. I have even bought Kindle copies of print books I already have because I like the Kindle so much better. Mass market paperbacks are really my last choice in format both because I find holding the book open to my page uncomfortable and hate not being able to adjust the font size. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Kathy, and I might have to try getting e copies of some favorites. I completely agree about mass market paperbacks. Not only are they harder to hold, but shelving them is a mess! LOL

      Enjoy your week and stay safe.

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    1. I also love that I can read in the relative dark….but not because anyone else is in the room. It feels more restful. I think I am almost finished buying the print volumes for now…I was filling up my shelf, but it’s almost there!

      I am eager to read Hungry Heart for the Nonfiction Challenge, since it’s a memoir. Yay! That will be my fifth one for the challenge. Thanks, Shelleyrae!

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  33. Oh, I didn’t know season 2 of Dead to Me was out! I guess I know what I’m watching this week.

    I also added A Good Marriage this week, looking forward to reading it. Have a good week!

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  34. I sometimes think our bodies feel tired from stress we don’t even recognize. It is good to be able to escape into engaging books.
    Audios are my easiest reads and then Kindle. I have so many paperbacks that are languishing on my shelves.
    I like your granddaughter’s hair color!
    Killer Deadline looks like a fun read.
    Enjoy your reading and stay safe!

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    1. I agree about stress causing exhaustion and fatigue. When I am able to escape into a book or movie, I feel energized almost immediately.

      I have never been able to enjoy audiobooks. I am too easily distracted when listening to books.

      Thanks for visiting, Martha.

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  36. I’m finding it easier to read books and newspapers digitally. It may have something to do with diminishing eye sight and the ability to control back light and font size! For me, anyway. Stay safe.

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  37. I’m way behind in my blog reading so I hope you had a nice Mother’s Day!

    Dead To Me S2 and I Know This Much Is True are on my TBW lists as well. I ready the Wally Lamb book years ago as I was a faithful Oprah’s BookClub member, but I’m one who forgets a book 2 hours after I finish reading it so I have NO clue what it’s about. I just know I liked the book very much. LOL

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      1. Ps I just grabbed the book off the shelf to hopefully refresh my memory by reading the inside jacket notes (what’s that called???) but nope. I’m going into the series blind. Which is good, actually.

        Liked by 1 person

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