Sunday Salon/Sunday Post - May 11, 2025: Mothers' Day Edition

Happy Mothers' Day indeed. My kids left me the sweetest momentos. My daughter printed a picture I LOVE of her and me on our first family trip to Disney, where she was giving me the BIGGEST hug. She matted it and wrote a whole page letter on the back about my awesomeness.  My son made me a card that explained how much more than 'good' I am. His has a pocket that says 'Here is the greatest mom in the world...and the little one,' and holds a picture of him and me at the Detroit Pistons basketball game last month (he's a couple inches taller than me, for reference).

Anyway, I took Friday off of work originally to go to the Lavender Labrynthe, but then decided I'm just too beat to put much effort into anything right now. So I stayed home, and got my nails done, finished mailing graduation open house invites, paid the bills, and grocery shopped. And a three-day weekend is always a win.

I'm wrapping up the long (for me) weekend before brunch at my brother's, by joining in with Sunday Salon (does anyone else accidentally type a 'g' at the end of Salon almost every time?) and Sunday Post. Check out some other blogs! We all appreciate the love :)

What I'm reading this week:

Still finishing up The Woke and the Dead in print, but reviewed January Thaw yesterday on my blog. 

The giveaway on my review of See How They Fall ends today! Interesting surprise ending to that one.

Next up, I'll be starting When Canaries Die by Luis Figueredo in print, and maybe Dear Writer by Maggie Smith on kindle. We'll see.

Three Good Things:

1. We finally have some warmer weather! My brother says they opened the pool, so the kids are invited to bring their suits and dive in (not sure if it's actually 'adult' warm yet. LOL). I'll wear shorts, anyway. 
2. I have an appointment to get my 'real ID' on Wednesday. My drivers' license is expiring anyway, so I'll bring my birth certificate, marriage license to support my name change, and two bills/statements addressed to me at our Michigan address to prove my residency. Seems like a lot, but I'm a rule follower, so I'll do it.
3. Hubs stopped home to surprise us today! He was originally using his day off to go to a race and drive with friends, but the race teams blew up both cars yesterday. 

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. Actually progress being made on the office, so I'll keep going with that.
   
2. Next LEGO set is the Lucky Bamboo, so I'll probably get started on that this afternoon. 
3. Still striving to be as quiet as possible at work. Funny story - a couple weeks ago my manager pulled me in and said, "You've been really quiet - everything okay?" Fast forward to last week when she pulled me in to say that someone complained about my singing. So I'm striving to be less. I suppose the good news portion is that I just have a few more years. Retirement is closer than when I started working, right?

January Thaw - Book Review

January Thaw (Murder by Month RomCom Mystery #9) by Jess Lourey
Publication:  January 1, 2014
Pages: 267 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Mira James is a magnet for criminal activity, but she and Mrs. Berns are always up for justice!

While I haven't read all the books in this fun series, and certainly not in order, what I've read have been great, quick moving cozy mysteries in an engaging voice. I know I've still got more in my TBR list, and I look forward to them.

In this book, Mira and Mrs. Berns are back home in Battle Lake and are attacked in an alley after a strange noise lures Mira to check it out. They avoid harm when the attackers are re-directed by another newcomer to town who has been hanging out in the library sometimes while Mira is at work there. Suspension of disbelief will serve readers well, as this sounds like a crime unlikely to occur in their exceptionally small town, but I digress.

When Mira recognizes their would-be rescuer the next day, it's unfortunately by finding the man - dead - under the ice while skating. Of course she now feels compelled to solve this heinous crime!

In Mira's world, weird things happen in multiples, so she soon finds herself trying to solve the murder of the victim she saw in the lake and chasing down a returned local for a local private investigator. Could the two be related? To wrap them up in just a few hours of reading, undoubtedly. 

This was an intriguing story that earned 4 out of 5 stars. It would be recommended to those who enjoy midwest U.S. contemporary stories and small-town quirky mysteries.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review.

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - May 4, 2025: Quatro de Mayo!

Wow. Why is every week, 'what a week!' - am I doing something to bring this all on myself? Granted, I'm trying to lay low, as it really is an amazing spring/summer for our daughter. The musical is done, and this week is her last day anchoring the school news show. Guys, she was awarded/named BEST ANCHOR in the state at a competition for broadcasting programs. AH-MAZING! I am so proud of this girl every single day. I've watched some of her broadcasts as they're available streaming after they're broadcast, but for her last day, their excellent teacher invites families in to watch from behind the scenes. And daughter-who-is-thoughtful-of-everyone said their class likes to eat, so I'm baking Tollhouse chocolate chip and oatmeal scotchies cookies today to take in on Tuesday.

Welcome to my Sunday weekly re-cap/planning post, in which I link up and read as many other posts as I can with Sunday Post and Sunday Salon (does anyone else always try to type an extra 'g' on the end of Salon?). And while I may have some regulars' attention, I'll be in Toronto in early July - sort of alone when hubs works during the day. Anyone nearby to meet up? I know there's some Canadian posters. Or previous visitors with recommendations? He said I'm in the middle of the city somewhere, so if I don't hear otherwise, I'll walk around and see what there is to see, bring a book, sit down where it's comfy, and enjoy some me time.

What I'm reading this week:

Working on reviews now! Books I Think You Should Read has two giveaways ending early this week on books I've reviewed. Glory Daze ends 5/7/25, and At the Island's Edge ends 5/8/25.

Now I'm reading January Thaw by Jess Lourey on my kindle, and The Woke and the Dead in print. The Jess Lourey gook is part of a fun series, 'Murder by Month,' about Mira James and her sidekick, the octagenarian Mrs. Berns. While some of Jess Lourey's other books are kind of heavy nostalgic 1980s thrillers, this series has fun with solving murders. The print book is a somewhat accidental read, as I usually don't accept anything that isn't a stand alone or the first in a series. But I'm not lost and enjoying this murder mystery based in a theme park type city based on the 1970s or so, Nostalgia City.

Three Good Things:

1. Well, my team reportedly picked me as one of the best drafters (writing the actual text of a complaint response). I should hope so; my favorite part of this job is actual writing. Anyway, the 'prize' apparently is being able to train four team members who need to start drafting. There are three people training, and I'm fine with one of the others, but the third is a vindictive know-it-all who actually doesn't know very much, and writes lousy drafts. I'm tempted to say, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' but I'll stick it out for now. Wait, was that really good news? The part about people appreciating my writing, anyway.
2. In follow-up to last weeks' anticipation of getting a bid for the house repairs we need, a little contemplation let me to the conclusion that I just can't afford that now. Which means instead of tightening my belt past recognition, I will continue getting my nails done, and ordered a couple cool shirts for summer. I decided I deserve a few splurges, and a life without disposable income isn't worth an intact house. LOL
   
3. I got a new phone! And an adorable dinosaur case! My phone was a few years old, and locking  up a few times a day. Hubs said it was the oldest in the family, so he switched me over to the Google Fi account they're on and got me a Google Pixel 9 PRO. So far, so good, but I'm sure you all know the level of inconvenience of suddenly having to verify again everything in my life. Hubs and our daughter have been so helpful in getting me all set up again. But, I got a phone call on Friday and was unable to get it off speaker phone (luckily the guy called back after I hung up on him), and the brightness keeps turning itself down (why is there not an 'old' setting that just leaves everything bright and silent for me?).
   

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. Make the cookies referenced above, duh. I went down to the kitchen first thing this morning and got the butter and eggs out to be room temperature when I start (cuz baking is science). 
2. Keep working on my home office. There's a full bag of trash leaving at the door! Go, me!
3. Start cross-stitching! I'm following a couple cross-stitch pages on Facebook and feeling inspired. I was always pretty good at it, and look forward to doing it again.

Sunday Salon/Sunday Post - April 27, 2025: April Showers

Wow. The high school thespian troupe finished their run of Chicago: Teen Edition last night. There are vases of fresh flowers around our house (and one wooden rose bouquet) that represent at least seven different different gifts/presentations to our daughter from people who appreciated her and her performance. Wow. And over the course of the same three show days, she got a callback to possibly deliver a speech at graduation (our school doesn't have a valedictorian give a speech), found out about a list of awards for her broadcasting class, and had to send in her video auditions for her fall shows at college next school year. It's a lot.

But I love to check in, especially with the regulars on Sunday Salon with Deb at Readerbuzz, and Sunday Post with Kimberly at Caffeinated Reviewer. When I'm completely peopled out and want to chill, virtually visiting with these peeps is the best. I read the good and the bad - people like me, and people different - and I'm less alone. Thanks to you all, for being there, even while you're probably doing something else ;)

What I'm reading this week:

While I haven't yet written the reviews for the two books I was reading last week, I'm on to two new ones anyway. Those reviews actually might stand a chance after our family fun today (TopGolf!). In print I'm reading Karma Never Sleeps by R. John Dingle (an exciting plot labeled the first 'Gus Wheeler FBI Thriller,' which published a couple weeks ago), and my kindle is queued up to January Thaw by Jess Lourey (super fun book #9 in the Murder by Month Romcom Mystery series - an easy yet compelling read that I've been able to get a few chapters read of each day, even when I think I'm too tired).

Three Good Things:

1. I get to chaperone my last high school field trip with our daughter on Tuesday. Her photography class is going to the zoo! My boss is super cool, and approved my annual eight hours of 'volunteer time off' with less than a week's notice. Sure to be a fun time, even if it is supposed to be hotter than 80 degrees F, and patchy thunderstorms.
2. I started getting my nails professionally done again! It's been literally years, but last month I got a full gel set, and last week I even got them filled. Definitely planning to keep them up again. For just $100/month or so, it's nice to see my hands and like how they look ;) I had polished them my self for a long time, but it was starting to feel like another responsibility and schedule commitment. While getting them done also takes a couple hours a month, I can just sit there, instead of being so careful for a whole evening. LOL
3. 
   I found the bunny Lego set I wanted for our son for easter. I got both the kids different sets for their easter baskets, but I still wanted the 3-in-1 that people were using to make this hilarious facehugger thing (no, really - check out this reel). Hubs and I were at Meijer yesterday getting concessions, and I took a short cut through the Lego section (just kidding, not a short cut, but LEGO), and there it was!
   

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. You already know the senior year list is long and being worked on all the time. Next up are a couple broadcasting events to attend, and they 'don't mind' if you bring snacks for the group. LOL So probably making and bringing more chicken dip in the crock pot, since it's their favorite.
2. The office, always the office. Hahahaha...
3. I'm really hoping to get some work done on the outside of the house. The wood trim around our windows is dead, and our son said he heard birds in his wall :O. That? Sounds bad. Anyway, a contractor who was recommended by a neighbor for having done the same work on their house came to look at ours a couple weeks ago, then ghosted us. I scheduled another company to come out tomorrow and bid on the job. So far, they're way above the first one in professionalism. It will probably cost more, but actually get done. Fingers crossed!

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - April 20, 2025: Hoppy Easter!

Hoppy Easter indeed! We're not church people, so what I'm feeling today is not necessarily redemption, but another major kid holiday conquered. And trying not to think about the fact that this is likely our last Easter with both kids at home. Next year our oldest will probably be at college, 6 1/2 hours away. But it's fine, we're fine, EVERYTHING is fine.

Getting an early jump to join Caffeinated Reviewer for Sunday Post, and Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon. As befits a major American holiday, the kids (well, kid, since the older one is working to make time-and-a-half toward her upcoming expenses) will be visiting my inlaws for brunch, then heading over to my parents' house for an early dinner. Early, because I still need to get up a lil after 4am for work on Monday. I remember when we first got married, I said I'd rather host holidays than drag kids around. But apparently that's a discussion I lost. Now the kids are big enough that I have no effs to give. Off we go again, right? At least no one thinks I'm a decent enough cook to bring anything. LOL Wine it is!

What I'm reading this week:

Wow - it's been a couple weeks, eh? I'm about halfway through with Zarna Garg's This American Woman on my kindle. It's an amusing memoir by an Indian-American comedian. Her voice is super engaging, and I'm enjoying her story. I'm also pretty close to finishing The Ghostwing's Lie by Rebecca Mix in print. I LOVE this series! This is the second, after The Mossheart's Promise. They're about fairies who first live in a terrarium, then escape to build a new life, free of mold ;)

Three Good Things:

1. I got all my time off (so far) approved! Whoo-wee... this senior year stuff is no joke. With hubs traveling so much, I got time off to help out or support for prom, graduation, broadcasting class celebration, spring musical performances, and broadcasting last anchor day (just kidding - still waiting for that date, but I'll be there, and so will her little brother, who is taller than her...). Love celebrating my kids. I made that!!!
2. The weather is finally warming up! 'Course, this is the in-between, so I'm keeping the sinus meds  handy, but the end is worth the struggles in between.
3. Chicago - Teen Edition!! Our daughter's last high school musical is this upcoming weekend. She's Mary Sunshine, as well as dancing in several other numbers, and twirling her baton during Razzle Dazzle. I cannot wait to see the show!

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. I've started working on the icky mold on our bathroom ceiling, but it's a process. It is already looking a lot better, but I need to spray vinegar on the stains to kill the mold, then a few hours later I go back to scrub the spots. It's working, but my hubs is pretty sensitive to smells, so I'll wait til he leaves town again to go another round...
2. I called and met with a home improvement company about the rotted wood trim on our windows, but they never got back with a quote. So I need to start over again on that. I'd love to have it all looking better before we host our daughter's graduation party in a couple months, so I decided to just charge it. LOL I should have known the real challenge will be hiring someone in time to do the work.
3. Start counted cross-stitching again. I've got the fabulous organizer from my mom, and a kit already started. I'm feeling a little closer to getting at it again....

Shows You Don't Want to Miss! - April 2025 - Oakland County, MI

I know sometimes people 'save the best for last,' but this first show is my very favorite, with my daughter's local troupe :) Check out Chicago - Teen Edition. You will love it!! (then I tried to keep them in order of first dates after that)

Chicago - Teen Edition
April 24 - 26
Lake Orion High School
Reserved seating tickets here, or tickets at the door.

Sunday Salon/Sunday Post - April 6, 2025: Will Spring...Spring?

It's starting to look prettier, while still being cold (my phone currently says it's 33° C, which, quite frankly, is some bullshit, excusemyFrench). My dresses and heels really want to be worn! But I'll stay comfy in jeans and hoodies until it warms up.

I admittedly have a couple posts I've been meaning to write, but nothing has happened at my computer since last Sunday. Maybe this will be the week - I'll add it to my goals ;) 

Welcome back to Sunday Salon (with Deb at Readerbuzz), and Sunday Post (with Kimberly at Caffeinated Reviewer). I'm wondering how long they've been doing this, and how many times I've posted along, since it seems to be my most consistent post of late (and 'of late' seems to run quite a while at this point...). They host a great group of bloggers around the world, and there are lots of other fun posts to read! Check some out, or feel free to join in!

What I'm reading this week:

I just started At the Island's Edge by C.I. Jerez a couple nights ago (on my kindle). It's a story about a war veteran, trying to get on with her life after all the trauma she brings home after her service. So far, I'm enjoying it. In print, I'll be finishing up The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill any day now. Love, love, love!!

Three Good Things:

1. Hubs is home this weekend! Because he works with a professional car racing circuit, he is home maybe one weekend per month between now and fall. But it is definitely a fun job for him. He'll miss us, but I daresay there's nothing better to distract him in all the time he's gone. For the weekend home, he and I went out for dinner last night, and today we're taking the kids to see A Minecraft Movie, then meeting family for dinner. 
2. Our son is running track again this year. When I got home from work last Monday, he met me at the door to tell me it was the first day of track practice. Wut??!!? I totally had not noticed it in the school newsletters. Luckily it's the sort of activity that missing the first few days won't ruin for him. We hurried to get his sports physical done, and he made it to practice yesterday. Whew!
3. I've got new ideas for next year's theatre boosters! I'm not saying it all, til after I talk to some people tomorrow, but I've been on the executive board with our theatre boosters for a few years now. I was originally taking next year off (while I won't have any kids at the high school, which is the troupe our boosters primarily support). But then I had a brainstorm. I can't decide if most people love or hate my brainstorms, but they're honestly usually pretty good ideas! I'm excited, and hoping tomorrow goes well, and I can get some other people excited too :)

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. I nEeD to write my post reviewing Little Women (the book - 5 stars), and a monthly post with all the local-ish theatre events! Our high school is doing Chicago - Teen Edition at the end of April, another high school is doing Clue - Teen Edition, I just saw 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at a local community theatre (and it's still running next weekend), and next weekend is one of our middle school's production of Spongebob - The Musical! So many great shows happening - I love to try and get the word out.
2. I'm half-way done with my Hei Hei (the crazy chicken from Moana) Lego set! I want to finish that and probably take it in to work. He makes me smile.
3. We need to design and order the party/open house invites for our daughter's graduation party! We posted it to Facebook, but I'm old fashioned and really want to mail invites too. I'm using Simply to Impress, where I also got our holiday cards. Usually, once our daughter and I are home at the same time, we're burned out and exhausted. I think today is the day we'll get this done (and never mind that I then need to address and mail them!).