WEEKLY UPDATES: COUNTING DOWN TO 2021…

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.

 

How is it almost September already?  I am definitely ready for 2020 to be over, since it has been the worst year ever, but slow it down, please!  There are things we need to fix before it is done.  Then we will happily greet 2021!

My reading this week has not been the greatest, but I did enjoy both books I read and reviewed.  No DNFs this week! 

This week took us back to the dining room on alternate days, and we are also now offered, starting next week, a chance to socialize with others who live here!  Masked and socially distanced, of course, but I can deal with that.

A hair stylist has been brought in to offer outdoor hair cutting, with safety precautions in place.  I am reluctant to trust my hair to someone whose work I don’t know…but I will watch what she does to the other brave people who step up.  LOL.

Now…let’s grab some more coffee and take a closer look at my week.

LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:

Tuesday Excerpts:  “Don’t Look for Me”

Tuesday Potpourri:  Changing Things Up…

Coffee Chat:  Reshaping My Routines…

Bookish Wednesday…

Backlog Books to BriHng Forward…

Bookish Friday:  “Little Disasters”

Saturday Potpourri:  Restless Energy…

Review:  He Started It, by Samantha DowningReview:  The Switch, by Beth O’Leary

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INCOMING BOOKS:

One book arrived in my physical mailbox…and I downloaded two e-books.

Always Young and Restless, by Melody Thomas Scott

The renowned actress behind the character Nikki Newman of The Young and the Restless tells all in this scintillating memoir, divulging the insider details of her dramatic life and sixty-year career.

Downloads:

Heart Bones, by Colleen Hoover

Final Cut, by S.J. Watson

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CURRENTLY READING:  Home Before Dark, by Riley Sager

In the latest thriller from New York Times bestseller Riley Sager, a woman returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir. Is the place really haunted by evil forces, as her father claimed? Or are there more earthbound—and dangerous—secrets hidden within its walls?

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That was my week.  What did yours look like? In the absence of any good food photos to show, here are some memories from the past:  corn chowder and a margarita from Mimi’s.

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64 thoughts on “WEEKLY UPDATES: COUNTING DOWN TO 2021…”

  3. That corn chowder looks delicious! 😋 Your posts make me hungry.
    I’ve been seeing Colleen Hoover’s book, Heart Bones, around the blogosphere a lot lately. I’m wondering what it’s about. I haven’t looked it up. Looks a little scary.

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    1. Oh, I know! Every little bit helps. As for the hair styling, I asked if my daughter could come and cut my hair outside, like their hair stylist is allowed to do, but they said no. Their hairstylist is an employee and has gone through the process of “being safe.” Grrrr.

      Thanks for visiting, Kathryn, and sometimes I get very frustrated by how this place is controlling everything in my life! Of course, they’re also keeping me safe. Sigh.

      Have a great week.

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  5. Haha good luck with the hair stylist! Hopefully they do a good job. And glad to hear you can visit the dining room again. That must be a good feeling. Glad too that your books turned out well.

    Mmm that looks like yummy corn chowder from the past lol.

    Have a good week! 🙂

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Greg, and I can almost taste that delicious corn chowder when I look at the photo…not quite. LOL.

      I am glad to have more outings finally, although they are all just around the residence and restricted, of course.

      Enjoy your week.

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  6. A haircut was the first thing I sought when it was available. My longtime stylist retired during the lockdown so I found a new salon. I just took the first person available and I’m happy with the choice. I’m looking forward to my second cut in a couple of weeks. Glad to hear things are loosening up a bit at your place. Be well and enjoy your reading this week (btw, I read only one book last week – a slow week for me).

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Mary, and even when the salons finally open, I won’t be allowed to leave here to go to one! Oh, I could go, but then they would lock me down for fourteen days of quarantine!

      I am reluctant to use their so-called stylist here, since she was not the one they used to have and, from what I hear, she is inexperienced.

      I used to trim my own hair back in the day…probably not a good idea! LOL.

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  7. Good to hear you’re able to go back to the dining room again and that there will be a chance to socialise and (possibly) get a hair cut soon. I must admit I have been going to the same hairdresser for over 15 years, so would find it hard to trust someone new, too! Fingers crossed they’ll be good! Take care and happy reading in the coming week. 🙂

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Jessica, and I am very picky about who cuts my hair. I had one stylist for years, and then have been using my daughter after she went to cosmetology school. She is very good and knows just what to do to make my hair behave…LOL.

      Enjoy your week.

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  8. Susan

    Hi Laurel, glad you can finally socialize a bit there. I too am down to my last day of (property) Quarantine after 14 days in total lockdown after travel to the States. We both could use a good Margarita. Can you get one there? I’ve just been drinking Rose wine … at night but wouldn’t mind a great Margarita. On the bright side, the RNC is now Over and the TV is no longer full of that cr*p. We got to get Kamala & Joe on the road. Have a great week.

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    1. Ooh, I would love a margarita, Susan, and no, they don’t make proper drinks here. In their Friday “happy hour,” they offer something sweet and with no buzz at all. Sigh. I stick to wine, and while their wine isn’t very good either, I have my backup wine bottle that I nip into. LOL

      So happy to have the RNC behind us. I didn’t watch it, but they kept showing clips on FB. I was stunned by the outright and bold lying (why, since he’s been doing it consistently?), but it makes me laugh when there are fact checks alongside his remarks.

      I wondered if you would have to be quarantined after coming to the states. Some residents here go on quarantine again if they go out of the residence for any reason.

      Although I am already on lockdown, so a more restrictive quarantine might not seem that bad. LOL.

      Have a great week, and stay safe.

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  9. I’m glad things are looking up for you in your home. Things must be much better for the Powers-that-Be to be lifting some of the restrictions.

    At this point, I’d be happy to let anyone safe do something with my hair. I’ve been trimming it myself. Yes. Scary.

    You read The Switch. And you loved it. Happy news.

    Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks, Deb, and yes, I am sure the stylist will do a better job than I will! LOL.

      We haven’t had any positive test results for a month now, which is why they are lifting the restrictions a little. Everyone is masked and socially distanced, so I am hopeful.

      Enjoy your week.

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  10. Urg! I feel your pain regarding having someone unknown do your hair – I’m not happy with that, either… It must be good news that they are letting you socialise, but I understand how frustrating it must be to find you are so confined. Thank goodness for wonderful books and some decent stuff on TV. Have a peaceful, happy week, Laurel.

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    1. Thanks, Sarah, if my laptop or Internet failed me, I would be very sad. The TV service is just basic cable with a lot of Hallmark reruns. Sigh.

      But…streaming services give me plenty to pick from.

      I’ve been locked down so long that I almost forgot what “normal” looked like!

      Enjoy your books and your week.

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      1. I’m glad you do have choice of viewing, given how long you have been in lockdown. It seems as if the situation is beginning to ease where you are, however. I hope it isn’t too much longer before you can see visitors and get a chance to go out, Laurel. In the meantime, have a lovely reading week.

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  12. I want to read Final Cut. I need a hair cut. I had an appointment almost scheduled in March but then everything shut down. I want to try the new lady on the square but I’m not sure of her safety protocols and the lady who was cutting my hair is only doing the bare minimum (which in my state is basically everything back to normal).

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    1. I prefer having my daughter do my hair, but her salon opened and then closed, and will open again soon; but I am not allowed to leave this residence at all! I could, legally, of course, but then when I came back, there would be a 14-day quarantine. So I have to weigh those things carefully.

      Thanks for visiting, Donna, and I hope you enjoy Final Cut when you get to it.

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    1. Thanks, Shelleyrae, when I used to have curls I did trim my own hair. The curls are more “forgiving” of little errors. LOL

      So far I haven’t found any residents who like to read the same kinds of books…or any books, in fact. One resident has borrowed some books from my shelves, though, and she seemed to enjoy them. I had introduced her to Elizabeth Berg’s books.. She doesn’t have any for me to borrow.

      It is weird to be around people who don’t read!

      Enjoy your week and your books.

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    1. Thanks, Anne, and it is good to have a little more socializing available. Most of the activities offered do not appeal to me, however, but walking around and meeting up with other residents for a chat while distanced is nice.

      Enjoy your week.

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    1. Thanks, Sophie, I do enjoy the easing of restrictions, although we could lose those privileges just like that…if someone gets sick.

      I guess I need to be more hopeful and positive. Meanwhile, I am enjoying my books.

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    1. Sometimes I would like to erase 2020, Heather, since there hasn’t been much good about it. If we have an election that ousts #45 from the WH, though, that will be time for a happy dance. LOL.

      Enjoy your week, and stay safe.

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  17. I’m glad you can now socialize. And I hope that new hairdresser is a good one, maybe she will introduce you to a funky haircut. At this point, anything to spice up life! LOL

    I see you have the new Hoover book. It looks good. I’ll have to watch out for your review. Have a great reading week.

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    1. We are only allowed outdoor hair cuts with no shampoos….but maybe that will do the trick. I want to see what she does for others before I turn myself over to her, lol.

      Enjoy your week, Laura…and I hope to love my books.

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    1. it is hard to trust our hair to someone new, and especially when you have the perfect stylist that you can’t use right now, as I do. My daughter. Someday I hope to be able to have her style my hair again, but until then, I will stumble through very carefully.

      Enjoy your week, Cheryl.

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  21. I’d have reservations about the hairdresser too but fingers crossed she does a good job of the others! I still need mine cut (hasn’t been done since January) but the local barber reopened so my son got his hair cut on Friday before his return to school – thank goodness!

    Heart Bones sounds like it’ll be a good read. Colleen Hoover has a way with words. 🙂

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  22. Worst year ever, indeed! I’m glad though that you slowly get to do some more normal things (even with a mask and distancing).

    I also received Final Cut this week! I’m looking forward to it. And I enjoyed Home Before Dark, I hope you do it. Have a great week and happy reading!

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  24. I’m glad you get to safely socialize soon! I’m not vain about my hair at all (it’s curly so it does what it wants) but I do try to find stylists who understand that cutting 1/2″ off my hair makes it look like you cut 1″ off because less weight = tighter curls. I got tired of my frizzies but wasn’t brave enough for a hairstylist yet. I told my husband to just use a comb as a guide and cut the last 1/4″ off my hair with his clippers. He argued with me for a bit but he finally did it. It turned out just fine! He also got roped into helping me color it. He’ll have a second career as a hairdresser if the pandemic lasts much longer! 😀

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  25. Kathy Martin

    I haven’t had my hair cut since February 20. I’m getting used to having it longer and don’t plan to get it cut until it is safer out there. I’m still quite content staying home. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Thanks, Yvonne, I have been too busy to socialize today, as my Internet browsers kept crashing and I’ve been working on some things. I have the browsers on my phone in case it crashes again before I can watch GH on Hulu! I tried to call the Geek Squad and spent an hour on the phone waiting.

      Wish me luck! Without the Internet, the lockdown will be impossible!

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  27. Yes please to 2021 ad to putting 2020 behind us. I cannot believe how fast time is flying. I don’t blame you about the hair dresser, I’d wait and see what the others look like first also…lol.
    Happy reading this week.

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  28. I finally went to the hairdresser on Saturday, but just for a cut and style. No more coloring my hair. I was in and out in under 30 minutes! I think it’s already a challenge to do a haircut on someone who’s wearing a mask; I hope the outdoor haircuts aren’t done on a breezy day! I’m glad you had a good reading week! I brought home a thriller from the library to add to my stack of hoarded, unread library books, but I think I need to stick to less-suspenseful reading for a while.

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    1. Thanks, Laurie, and I like how we are reshaping our priorities in these challenging times. Enjoy the haircut and the books.

      I am glad that I stopped coloring mine a year or so before this all happened. I did have a purple streak that wasn’t dye. I may add that again someday.

      Enjoy your week.

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  29. I’m going for eye doctor, hair cutting and nail manicure this week. Everyone practices cleaning and masking.
    I hope you get to enjoy your social visiting even though it is unusual.
    I like the looks of Heart Bones and Final Cut.
    I am glad you are safe from the fires although so much loss is occurring and it doesn’t help your air quality. Stay safe and Happy Reading!

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