Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - May 24, 2026: Rushing in to Summer

WOW! I feel like I've spent my first full week not on vacation, trying desperately to organize the rest of our summer. But it's okay, since I think I've almost been successful. LOL Things I've added to my calendar for my family for this summer (most added this week): band concert, 8th grade ceremony & celebration, two business trips, Freaky Friday performances, Pride and Prejudice auditions, no-PTO allowed days (per management), a mini bookcase craft class, Blue Lake performing arts camp, almost tickets to Jagged Little Pill (to be finalized this afternoon), leaving to return to college, graduation parties, theatre booster meeting, and payment schedules for so much of the above. Hahahaha.... The mental load is real.

While I'm getting a later start than usual, posting to the Sunday loop today was near the top of my priority list. I'm joining in with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Reviewer, and Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz. I would encourage you as well to poke your head into a few of the other blogs participating in these great linkups.

What I'm reading this week:

Honestly really excited that I got The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler back on Libby. I'm like 70% through the audio book, but my loan ran out months ago. Now I have 14 days to actually finish it. I'm also probably finishing my print copy of The Roaring Ridleys by K.M. Colley and have started Portrait of a Witch Undone by K.S. Shay on my kindle.

(Yes, I am still working through the other two audiobooks from last week, but I don't want this section to be a page on its own.)

Three Good Things:

1. I got another great Stitch Fix box! I ordered one last month for summery stuff to wear on the Maui trip with my husband. This month I asked for a little more business-y stuff so I can have something to wear besides fun graphic tees in case I get an interview or do something remotely professional at some point. I received six items and only returned one pair of slacks. I'm keeping two blouses, another pair of slacks, and two jackets.
2. Hubby is home for a couple weeks! Not gonna lie, there are pros and cons since he travels so much, but when I'm working 40 - 50 hours/week, an extra hand can be nice with all the end-of-middle-school activities this year. Luckily, my college-aged daughter helps out now since she's home, but I'd prefer she not have to schedule things that really are not her responsibility. (She is truly a saint who willingly helps.)
3. I've implemented a new plan to help out with running the house. I suspect I'm in the minority, but I greatly prefer cleaning up to coo
   king. I'm not a big eater (anxiety toys with my digestion a lot), and handling raw food makes me even less hungry. So I've asked everyone else living here to pick a night and what they want to make for dinner, and I'll get the ingredients and then clean up. This week hubs will make schnitzel, and my son is making breakfast for dinner (pancakes). They're also home earlier than me usually, so not having to come home and immediately start making dinner is a huge win for me.

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. I've been encouraged to set up an 'individual development plan' at work. It is intended to focus on one's personal and professional goals, that may not be part of our performance evaluation about company goals. I would like to focus on my writing. Doing more of it, improving it, and potentially finding some sort of market (contests? side gigs?). 
2. I installed a step counter on my phone, to try and focus on my health a bit more. I'm pretty sure menopause is kicking my ass. While I don't usually check my weight, when I got on a scale last week, it read a full 10 pounds heavier than the last time I remember looking. Eek!
3. Now that I've got my new computer up and kicking, I need to get caught up on some book reviews, and hopefully post more here on my blog. Also, more Yelp! reviews.