COFFEE CHAT: BOOKS, BLOGGING, ETC.

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

As I sit here in my apartment waiting for the breakfast tray, I am busy blogging.  I already wrote a post about how I Found Another Neglected Book, in the backlog event.  I have been doing this event for a few weeks and have read a few of them already.  I have brought the others back to the Kindle from where they had been “hiding” in the Cloud!  So that’s a start.

• This week I have read and reviewed The Request, by David Bell, and I loved it!  I’ve also read my NetGalley ARC that will be released on 8/4/20:  The Night Swim, by Megan Goldin.  I have one more August ARC to read!
• Currently I am enjoying Friends & Strangers, by J. Courtney Sullivan.
• I was just scrolling on Facebook and saw a post from my granddaughter Fiona, expressing outrage about Woody Allen being married to someone who had been like a daughter to him, and she wondered why there are no “memes” about it.  I had to remind her that it happened before social media took off…but that there were books and movies about it.
• I referenced a memoir written by Mia Farrow, which I have on my shelf.  What Falls Away.
• At the time, I saw a couple of movies about Woody and Mia, too.  I haven’t thought about any of that in years!
• Perhaps I have thought about it more than I realized, since I have a book on my shelf written by Woody and Mia’s son, Ronan Farrow, a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist, in which he exposes a conspiracy to protect predators: Catch and Kill.
• I plan to read it soon.  These events are troubling for many of us, as we look around at the world today and see how many people in power are “protected” by their enablers.  Don’t even get me started!
• Meanwhile, I am trying to enjoy my fiction books, mostly thrillers, and fix attractive meal trays for myself, like this one from yesterday.  The scones were pretty good, and the mimosa, which came from my own grocery supplies, was delicious!  LOL.

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What events/books/etc. are keeping you engaged today?  Or keeping you up at night?

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COFFEE CHAT: ONE STEP FORWARD, ANOTHER STEP BACK…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

 

Another week is behind us, with some books read and some changes afoot.  Yes, we are now in Lockdown 2, although we never left the first one.  We did have socially distanced days in the dining room on alternate days…but those are over.  Five staff members have tested positive since June…odd how we find out significantly after the fact.  So we are restricted to our apartments again.

• I was talking on the phone yesterday with another resident, one who shared a table back in “normal” times.  We agreed that it is ironic how we are punished when staff, who go home every night and aren’t under scrutiny, are the ones who didn’t follow the rules.  Or perhaps they were just unlucky.  Much harder to control their behavior, however.
• I definitely feel for them, but we are still locked away.
• I was so pissed off at first and had a mimosa to soothe me, especially since they didn’t bring the French toast…and then called a couple of friends.  One who is living “outside,” and the resident mentioned above.  I felt better afterwards.  The mimosa helped.

• Funny thing, though, letting off steam did remind me that I am glad to be safely tucked away, despite the fact that the dining room is now off limits again.  The worst part about that:  the food has slipped into the inferior category again.  They don’t bring what we’ve ordered, or they just change the order at will.
• The bread and cream cheese you see above on that tray came from my fridge, my groceries.
• Another annoying aspect:  we now have to wear masks in our apartments when staff come in to “provide care,” is how they put it.  I immediately jumped on that one, since all they do is deliver things, change the trash, and just interrupt whatever we’re doing.  I finally settled with the administrators that since they come in so often, I will simply put the mask on when they are closer than six feet from me.  That is working so far.
• I have read two books so far this week.  The Girl from Widow Hills, by Megan Miranda; and The Safe Place, by Anna Downes.
• Both books were engaging, although a little slower than I like.  Next I plan to read a NetGalley ARC, Playing Nice, by J.P. Delaney – Released on 7/28.  I have also added more hardcover/paperback books to my nightstand (below).

• That stack is certainly growing, and so is the TBR shelf in my entry way.  My regular bookshelf is also providing great comfort to this bookworm.

• I didn’t have much of an opportunity to enjoy my new handbag and tops, now that we are stuck in our apartments.  Should I dress up and carry the handbag in the corridor for our one scheduled walk each day?

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In case you note the bitter tone in my post, I apologize; sometimes I can remain positive and cheery…and at other times, not so much.  But I am trying to focus on each day…and my books!

Stay safe!

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COFFEE CHAT: READING, SHOPPING, ETC.

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

 

Good morning, bloggers!  Hair salons have shut down again, but even before that happened, we were still locked down here, so no such outings were allowed.  I changed my Avatar to reflect the absence of styling.  LOL.

I have ordered groceries again through Instacart.  It is amazing how quickly I go through everything, mostly because the fridge is tiny, so I have to keep that in mind.

 

• Reading has been pretty good.  I read and reviewed Stranger in the Lake, by Kimberly Belle; and Nomadland, by Jessica Bruder.
• Last night I started reading the Mary Trump book:  Too Much and Never Enough.
• This morning was a day of eating in the apartment.  Yes, every other day is in the dining room still.  Here is what I ordered:  French toast, oatmeal, coffee, and I made myself a Cranberry Mimosa with ingredients in my fridge.

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That is my day so far.  What has your week brought?  Are you hanging in there and staying safe?

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COFFEE CHAT: A DAY AT A TIME…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

As I sip a cup of coffee in my apartment today, I am savoring the coziness around me.  All that isolation led to changes in my surroundings, which resulted in this cozy feeling. We continue to eat in the dining room on alternate days, and oddly enough, that is okay with me.  I don’t crave the full dining room and numerous residents around me.  Funny how that worked out!

• Almost every day I receive some kind of package…or even my groceries from the local market, compliments of Instacart on my iPhone.  Today will be another grocery day, and I have my list ready.
• My reading has been enjoyable this week.  Two books read and reviewed so far, and one of them was an ARC for a book that will be released on 7/14/20:  What You Wish For, by Katherine Center, which I loved!
• I also enjoyed reading The Half Sister, by Sandie Jones.
• I am currently reading The Swap,which is really good so far, and my new Kindle cover makes reading more enjoyable.  So does the coffee.

• Of course I miss family and friends…and outings.  But if I stick to my day at a time routines, I manage.  I hope the rest of you are staying safe!
• Some days, however, I want to jump on a Magic Carpet and find a New Normal that almost resembles the old one.  Hang in there!

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Enjoy your week, and stay safe!

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COFFEE CHAT: A COZY BREAKFAST & A LITTLE WHINING…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

As I sit at my laptop, with my new breakfast tray behind me, I am feeling cozy and comfortable.  I have read and reviewed two enjoyable books so far this week.  My rearranging of my stuff is on pause for the moment, as I struggle with other issues.  Okay, something to whine about, but in a minute!  But first, here is my breakfast tray, a new one that arrived yesterday. Simple breakfast of oatmeal, juice, coffee, and French Toast.

• I do love the rustic look of the tray, and while there were several colors, rusty red is a favorite of mine.
• Books read and reviewed so far:  The Golden Cage, by Camilla Lackberg, a NetGalley ARC, release date – 7/7/20; and The House Guest, by Mark Edwards.
• The problem I will share is about Facebook…and my Rainy Days and Mondays blog.  I have had that very blog since 2009, and pretty regularly link my posts on Facebook.  But when I tried to link my Hump Day (WWW post) this week, and then the review of The House Guest, FB removed the posts from my FB site and said the posts were reported as “abusive.”  Of course I am disputing this—because why now?  The content was bookish!  I’ve discovered that others have encountered this problem with FB.  So…what to do?
• So far, I haven’t run into this issue with my other blogs, or even with my FB page for that blog.  Weird, right?
• Now…I have laid it on the table.  Ideas?  Suggestions?  Stop going to Facebook?  LOL
• I am excited about my new Kindle cover.  My old one was getting a little beat up, so this new one arrived yesterday.  What a great day of deliveries I had!

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That was my week so far.  What was yours like?  Enjoy, stay safe, and watch your step on FB, LOL.

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COFFEE CHAT: READING & RESHUFFLING…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

My Coffee Chat is late again this week, but I am eager to talk about what has been happening so far.  This morning I am waiting for my Instacart Order, which is turning into a regular event.  Goodies are headed my way from Save Mart!The dining room continues to serve better food on the days we eat there…which is still every other day.  I am adjusting.

• I am currently reading The Guest List, by Lucy Foley; an enjoyable read so far, but as sometimes happens, I am easily distracted by other events.  Movies, rearranging my space (compulsively!), and enjoying the time in the dining room, socializing six feet apart.
• I am also exercising regularly in the activity room.
• This week I read and loved You Can’t Catch Me, by Catherine McKenzie.
• On Netflix, I discovered a miniseries based on some books I have enjoyed: Tales of the City; books by Armistead Maupin.
• I finally finished changing up my closet, with my cupboard moved into the entry way.  A new curtain covers the opening to my wardrobe space.

• Have I finally finished fiddling around with my stuff?  Probably not, but I think I’ll be okay for a while.  I will add books to my bookshelf as they come in.

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How are you handling the crazy world in which we now live?  Hopeful for the future, or taking things a day at a time?  Stay safe!

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COFFEE CHAT: SIDETRACKED…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

My reading week has been slow.  Instead, I am doing my usual rearranging of my space, and this time, it is a little more drastic.  When I moved in here, I turned the closet into a combination closet/shelf area.  But my clothes outgrew the space, which led to moving the little cupboard out and into the entry way.  Of course, everything else had to reshuffle, too.

• Here is my new look in the entry way, with the jelly cupboard relocated and standing in for the hall tree:

• And the hall tree is opposite the new cupboard placement:

• My closet is now dedicated to clothes…Let’s take a look at how it is progressing.  I will add a curtain and rod to cover the opening:
  

• As I mentioned, my reading has been slow.  I am enjoying Pretty Things, by Janelle Brown, and hope to finish it today…or tomorrow.
• Then I plan to start a new book tonight…Swan Song:  An Odyssey, by Lisa Alther, an author whose books I began reading in the 1980s.  And then didn’t see anything from her again until recently.

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What has your Thursday brought?  What is coming up next?

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COFFEE CHAT: READING, PURGING, & LIVING IN THE MOMENT…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

I am a day late for my coffee chat, mostly because I have been reading. And rearranging stuff.  Loving my books this week!  Also, living in small spaces changes up how I do things.  Like clearing out drawers and shelves sooner rather than later because there isn’t room for everything!  I acquired more bins, and while they take up their own space, they can be stacked nicely, like these wicker ones under the bathroom sink.

• My nightstand drawer was full of STUFF, so I spent some time this morning going through things…and yes, tossing some things out!  Do I really still need those brochures the doctors gave me for my surgery, done last November?
• Of course, there is always the possibility that I might toss something that I will need later.  But fortunately, most things can be retrieved online.
• I have also been organizing my photo files on my laptop…and what a task that has turned out to be!  Do I really need to save every photo of food and drinks?  LOL.
• So far, I’ve read and loved two books this week, and I’m almost finished with the third, which is sooo good!  The Closer You Get, by Mary Torjussen.
• I reviewed The Flatshare, by Beth O’Leary; and This Is How I Lied, by Heather Gudenkauf.  Loved them both!
• I am also playing around with Bitmoji and creating new Bitmoji Me enjoying things, like wine.
• I miss the purple in my hair, but salons are a thing of the past nowadays.  Who knows how long it will be for future salon visits?  And have you seen my nails lately?  LOL.
• I am enjoying the alternating days in the dining room, and loving the space between tables…and realize that the Old Dining Room was a bit overcrowded and sometimes conflict-ridden.  Now we are peaceful and happy to be there.
• Today is a day for meals in the apartment, with our food brought on trays; I enjoy those days, too.  Not having to go anywhere.  I will also order some groceries from Instacart, so I can have goodies for the weekend.  And food to supplement the still not-so-great meals they serve here.  Sigh.  One thing about going to the dining room, however; we can ask for substitute items there!

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So…my plan for the weekend and the week ahead:  be more in the moment; stop complaining so much about things I cannot change; and enjoy my books!  What are your weekend plans?

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COFFEE CHAT: HANGING IN THERE…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

Good morning, Blog World!  Let’s grab some coffee and chat.  What a week so far.  Yesterday, I had meals in the dining room all day!  On alternate days, this plan will continue, with one person at a table, six feet away from the next one…but we can still talk!  That works.  I also liked that I could ask for a special item not on the menu, and I got it!  They were in a good mood yesterday.  LOL

• On a dark note, what a horrendous week out in the world, with racism continuing to rear its head, and those “in charge” making all the wrong moves!
• I am trying to calm myself with books and blogging.  And rearranging things, like these shelves.
  

• Today was my post for Books from the Backlog, which I have been enjoying.  Since I started participating, I’ve rediscovered and read a handful of books I had forgotten about.
• I am currently reading one of the books I found a few weeks ago:  A Piece of the World, by Christina Baker Kline.  So far, so good.
• Also this week, I read and reviewed another backlog book:  After Anna, by Alex Lake.
• On Monday, I read and reviewed The Dilemma, by B.A. Paris, the ARC of a book being released on 6/30/20.
• Last week, I received a book for reread, along with the DVD to watch.  I hope to settle in with the movie this weekend: In Her Shoes is a fun movie that I once owned…and had to replace.

• I am missing my family members…sigh.  Even though we are slowly moving out and about (within the community here), the outside world remains “out there.”  But when I notice the places opening up and moving out, and see that infections are on the rise, I curb my impatience…and settle in with my books and movies.
• Meanwhile, I look at this photo of family members gathered together at Thanksgiving.  The last time we were all together.

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How are the rest of you handling the world as we know it now?  Staying safe, I hope.  Enjoy your books and your home.  I am, as usual, rearranging things.

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COFFEE CHAT: A STAGGERING PLAN…

Good morning!  Let’s gather around with our caffeinated beverages to chat about our weeks, our books, and our perspectives.  Join our host at Bookishly Boisterous to see what others are sharing.

It is way past time to gather for another coffee chat.  The weeks have been unfolding, while events around us are still uncertain.  As usual, when I feel everything is out of control, I hunker down in my space and do a little more movie watching…and some redecorating.  Yes, minor things, like a new corner cabinet in the entry way, and a few rearrangements there.

• First I added the new shelf in the corner (left), and then rearranged the rest of the entry way:

 

 

 

 

• I’ve been adding more books to my shelves, both read and unread.  Here is the latest look at my TBR Shelves (new books unread!):

• I’ve been shelving more new books as I read them, and also adding the books that I bought to reread:

• Next week, the residence will gradually be opening up the dining room for us in a staggered fashion, with social distancing.  Alternating days between the dining room and our apartment dining.  We’ll see how that goes.
• This week, I enjoyed reading and reviewing A Good Marriage, by Kimberly McCreight; and today I started reading The Sea of Lost Girls, by Carol Goodman. I’m thoroughly enjoying it so far.
• Yesterday I set up a little snack for myself in my apartment, with mini-quiches and a glass of wine.  The snack had been in my freezer, brought over on Mother’s Day by my daughter, so it seemed appropriate to take time now to enjoy it.

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That was my week…what did yours look like?  Are you gradually experiencing the outside world?  Carefully, slowly?  Stay safe.

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