Summer is zooming by! My kids are done with most of their summer camps, although the Much Ado About Nothing production my daughter is directing doesn't have their performances until the weekend after Labor Day, and I'm chaperoning the Leadership Camp for the high school thespian troupe next weekend (really just means more reading time for me!). I'm back with Readerbuzz and Caffeinated Reviewer for Sunday Salon & Sunday Post.
What I'm reading this week:
As I said, next weekend will be some serious reading time (hopefully). I'm currently building up to our community's adult Battle of the Books on August 15. The four books we'll be challenged on this year are:
Fiction: Recursion by Blake Crouch
Nonfiction: Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby
Graphic Novel: Lore Olympus Volume 1 by Rachel Smythe
Youth: Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
I tried reading Wow, No Thank You and Lore Olympus from July 15 - August 1, and now I'm working on Miss Spitfire and Recursion.
I did not finish either of the two I tried so far. I admittedly did not enjoy what I read of Wow, No Thank You. For personal essays, I just didn't find the author very relatable, and I felt most of the stories were negative and sort of complain-y. But with the relatability being my main point of contention, I'm sure some other readers would really enjoy her style.
Graphic novels are never really my jam, but I still make a point of trying them from time to time. I did really like the Greek mythology storyline, and probably would have enjoyed it even more if I knew the background better so I could keep the story straight more easily.
I've barely started Miss Spitfire, but like it so far. I fully expect to like Recursion best, as I've reviewed at least one other book by the author and really enjoyed it.
Three Good Things:
- I was ready to list not being the theatre booster treasurer again - what a relief! I am excited to set up some stuff as I transition into my new vp of fundraising role. Historically we mostly do dine-to-donate things (where a store or restaurant offers us a percentage of the night's sales for the guests we send in). I've also got plans to generate more donations of some of the stuff we regularly use (you can 'make' money by generating income, or reducing expenses, right?).
- I'm excited to take next Friday off work as I head to theatre leadership camp with our student board. Mondays and Fridays are the worst at work. I'm making a conscious choice to work less overtime (only 10 hours last week), which has made me feel so much better. This week I've got an appointment with my son on Tuesday morning - so I'm working a half day - and Friday off. WIN!
- I also realized that the Starbucks on my way to work if I take the back streets instead of the expressway opens at 4:30am! I thought I was the only fool driving to work by 5:30, so this is a huge win! I stopped on my way in on Friday and got my Melon Burst and a piece of cinnamon coffee cake to start the day off right. Debating how many days a week I can drag myself out a few minutes early for such a day-changing treat...
- Continue to work on my office. I did make some progress, but there is still lots of room for improvement.
- Clean out the fridge and pantry. This was actually one that should have been on the list last time, so I would have had more room for two extra kids and their grocery choices, but better late than never ;) I've been grabbing things I realize are expired and pitching them a little more often (I'm looking at you, unopened 2022 salad dressing in the pantry!).
- Lay out on my deck and get some sun. Weird goal, but I used to lay out regularly and read while listening to some relaxing flute sonatas from Spotify. It may not be this week, since I've already got a day and a half off, but next week I can certainly leave at 2:30 a day or two and spend some sun-worshipping time.
7 comments:
I’m always surprised that people leave time for a Starbucks purchase very early in the morning. My own preference would always be to have something equivalent in the fridge or pantry and save the minutes. But maybe your larder (as you imply, I think) is too easily raided by all the other people around you — and your nice reserve of cinnamon coffee cake would have already been someone else’s bedtime snack?
Enjoy… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Graphic Novels aren't usually my jam either, but I did read one recently. I enjoyed it, but I also really missed my cozy mysteries. Every time I read a different genre, I'm reminded how much I love cozies the most. Have a wonderful week! :)
Summer is going way to fast. I don't know where seven months has gone.
sherry @ fundinmental
The adult Battle of the Books sounds like so much fun! In a way, it's good that the first two books did not work for you; it probably means that the choices were selected for a diverse group of people.
I loved treating myself to a special something when I worked in Houston and I had a long commute.
I am happy that the Sonic on my way to work opens at 6 am, because I have to be at work by 7, which means I have to be on the way by 6:30, which is when the Sonic over by my work opens. I always like supervision duty when it means I have more reading time! I am not a graphic novel person either. But the Lore Olympus books seem to be popular with my students who are into that. I've read one book by Blake Crouch and it was good, so hopefully you'll be able to get into that. Have a good week!
That's too bad that two of the four books didn't work for you. I hope the final two are better!
You seem busy but at least you have some time off work this week ... which is nice. Those book choices seem a bit offbeat for your battle of the books ... but the Blake Crouch should be all right. I read it back in 2019 ... and I liked the first half best ... though the second half gets pretty crazy. Hope you have a good week. And get to lay out on the back deck.
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