Sunday Salon/Sunday Post - September 7, 2025: Welcome Fall!

Sometimes, an exceedingly average week is good. While we did have the holiday on Monday (and picked hubs up from the airport), the rest of the week has been pretty dull - work, work, work - for me. Our son had his first week of school and it was pretty average. It was my first week of Labor Day in a few years where my plans did not include working on the high school theater production. Their student-led summer show has its performances the weekend after Labor Day, but this was my one year without a biological student at the high school. Of course we all went to see the show last night (King Lear), and I even volunteered to collect donations and hand out programs on Thursday. But not nearly the level of involvement as last year, when our daughter was the director of Much Ado about Nothing. Next years, our son will be an incoming freshman ( :O ), so I will definitely be to and from every performance in one way or another. Wow, that's a lot for thinking I had nothing to say.

I invite you to join me and some other great bloggers on the Sunday Salon with Readerbuzz, and the Sunday Post with Caffeinated Reviewer. 

What I'm reading this week:

It doesn't happen often, but I'm accidentally reading three books right now. See, I was already reading Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found and Dear Writer, but then I kept seeing posts from one of the authors of I Killed the King. Rebecca Mix is a graduate of the same high school my kids did/will attend, and I went to the launch of one of her previous books. Her excitement has been so contagious, I had to start reading the book I'd gotten from NetGalley before its release next week. So, I'm a little bit into that one and enjoying it so far. 

Three Good Things:

1. 
   
   I really like the nail color I got yesterday. Sometimes it's the little things. I had a light pink with glitter last time, and pink just usually isn't my jam. But I did love the glitter, so I went in this time looking for a dark brown or dark purple...with glitter. 
2. While I admittedly still hate my job (their trying to dumb it down to most of our team members, instead of maintaining quality standards most of them can't attain at all, and no one can attain with our current volume), I'm in the settled phase again. Like, I've only got five more years. Once both kids are in or done with college, I don't have to do this anymore. At least that's what I've told myself. I've applied for so many other jobs, and in a couple years I've gotten as far as one phone screen. But I can do my time. Punch in, punch out, right?
3. I am excited about my advent calendar idea. As our son and I cleaned out some toy bins a couple weeks ago, I found some theoretically cool advent calendars I'd gotten for both kids a few years ago. They were unopened. LOL So I gave them away, and I hope they're being enjoyed. This year, I've got a fantastic family idea that I'll certainly appreciate even if they don't. But I can't tell you yet - secrets are like that.

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. 
   My office is currently at one of the 'gets worse before it gets better' points. You know what I mean. I had to haul a bunch of stuff out of the closet and purge some, and then it will fit back in better. I really want to start my LEGO Sander Sisters' House!!! There's actually a chance I'll make room for the table in here today. Cross your fingers for me!
2. 
   I'm losing motivation on my jigsaw puzzle. It's hard! I finished all the edges, letter, and easy-ish parts. Now it's practically methodical test-a-piece-in-a-bunch-of-spots and get lucky sometimes. Ugh. So my goal is to keep sitting down once a day for at least a few pieces...
3. Review my book emails already. LOL I think this was on the list a few weeks ago. At least I'm still reading and reviewing, but I should look at some of the requests and pitches. Also on the computer, I should do some Yelp reviews. I've visited some new places this year and should share my opinions.

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage - Book Review

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mckay

Publication: January 14, 2025

Pages: 334 pages

Rating: Three out of five stars ☆☆☆

Sweet Spark: Hazel truly does value her marriage, but like many women, she may not be ready to walk away from who she used to be.

"The couple that slays together, stays together." Okay. I can't really argue that one either way, but it certainly sounds reasonable.

Hazel and Fox never planned to stop their vigilante-flavored killing, but when their daughter is born, they want to give her everything, including a typical upbringing. And either parent being locked up for murder would most likely throw a wrench in that. So they agree to hold off on killing and focus on raising a happy, healthy child.

For a while, things appear to be going according to plan. Fox has a banking job, and they have a comfy home where Hazel can take Bibi to all the right toddler classes. Hazel even makes a friend (at Fox's suggestion) to have play dates and live the life she'd previously only heard about.

As the story evolves, it becomes clear that Hazel and Fox both have secrets. They both realize that their marriage is not as happy as the outside world thinks when their only goal is to appear 'normal.' When Fox's parents show up, they remind everyone why there has been no real contact in years. Do Fox and Hazel also want a life just based on appearances?

The story develops in a quite amusing manner, and some of the resultant plot twists were not expected. The book earned 3 out of 5 stars, with a fun premise and great ending. This contemporary relationship story, compared to the Mr. and Mrs. Smith movie and series adaptation, was a quirky read that wasn't at all as dark as murder may be expected to be. It may also be a fun book club read, to compare where friends think the story could be going.

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

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - August 31, 2025: One Down, One to Go

Yes, in reviewing, she was already away at school when I posted last week, but we had just gotten home again, so she wasn't really gone yet? I don't know; it's too early for me to make much sense, apparently.

Welcome back to another Sunday! I will be posting again within 24 hours for a book review. Also, for what it's worth, I've started writing in an actual journal. Not to journal, per se, but to write. Mostly just letting memories out for now, and sort of following the periodic prompts in Dear Writer, by Maggie Smith. 

I'm joining up as usual with Caffeinated Reviewer and Readerbuzz for Sunday Post and Sunday Salon. I wish I could make more time to comment on more blogs I see through these great link-ups. 

What I'm reading this week:

As predicted last week, I've finished two books later in the day last Sunday, and started something new both in print and on my kindle. I've still got a pile of old books that were hand-me-downs for review, and Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found by Rucker Moses & Theo Gangi is from there. I'm enjoying it so far. It's middle-grade fiction from 2021, and so far I'll be recommending it to my son when I'm done. As mentioned above, I'm also reading Dear Writer by Maggie Smith. I requested this one for myself on Netgalley, after I read You Could Make This Place Beautiful a couple years ago. So far, so good. I frequently feel bitter when reading stuff that is supposed to be inspirational, but her direction on writing is hitting all right so far.

Three Good Things:

1. Thank goodness for a three-day weekend (of sorts). I worked yesterday, wrapping up 17.5 hours of overtime, but I still have today and tomorrow off. So,  yay! Today I'll work on cleaning more of my office, take a bin for donation, work on my jigsaw puzzle, and get groceries for yummy steak dinner tomorrow. Tomorrow, we'll pick up hubs from the airport (haven't seen him since we were all in Marquette last week).
2. Our daughter had a great first week at college! I hope she isn't just saying that, but the posts and conversations I've seen show her having fun with other people and really enjoying her new digs.
3. Our daughter got the classes he wanted for eighth grade. The first look at his schedule was not that way, but he promptly emailed his counselor and got it worked out before we even went in to get his printed schedule and such. He still says he hates school, but it looks like he's got a solid friend group, and things seem to be working out as well as they can.

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. Well, getting through today is sort of the top of the list, so working in my office, getting groceries for tomorrow, and getting school supplies that don't turn up during my office cleaning for my son. Also, laundry for both of us so we don't have to do it tomorrow...
2. I'd like to work on my counted cross stitch. Not sure if I mentioned, but I did do a half hour or so of stitching while in Toronto. So, that's more than last year! LOL My mom got me these new embroidery hoops that are spring-loaded, I guess? I couldn't figure them out, but the old style ones I already have work fine...
3. I do need to post a few reviews. I need one to post that I did it on Netgalley, and I want to post and review the books I read for Battle of the Books for my own remembering. And since I did say reviews and not just books, I'd love to review some more places on Yelp! while I've got my computer up and running.

Sunday Salon/Sunday Post - August 24, 2025: And on with the Last Week

Last week of summer before school starts for our son, and our daughter is settling in at university and starts classes tomorrow. Where does the time go? 

In preparation for the new (fall) year, all four of us drove to daughter's new college town to move her in to her dorm. The university schedules move-in time slots, and provides big ole bins to move the stuff in less trips. We made it with two trips for the one-and-a-half cars of belongings. A mini fridge and shelving unit were in hubby's pick-up, and the rest of her packed belongings were in her car (which she'll keep there). She settled in for the rest of the afternoon/evening and made a few new friends. We went out for dinner without her. The next morning, we all met for breakfast at our favorite breakfast place in town, then our son and I headed home, dropped daughter back at her dorm, and hubs headed in another direction for work. Is that all there is, to a move-in? (credit to Peggy Lee)

Luckily, all that occurred over the course of a Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off of work, so now I'm on bonus weekend time! I'm joining up with Deb at Readerbuzz and Kimberly at Caffeinated Reviewer and for Sunday Salon and Sunday Post.

What I'm reading this week:

I'm going to finish The Lost City of the Monkey God. Probably today. I got to less than a hundred pages last night before bed. So, yeah. I've got about two hours of A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage. So probably today or tomorrow I'll wrap that one up. I also listened to The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich during the drive, and then finished up while I puttered in my office yesterday. I really enjoyed it, and gave it four out of five stars, but honestly would have gotten more from it if I'd read it. I have such a hard time focusing on audio books. 

Three Good Things:

1. Would you believe some of my organizational stuff is falling into place a wee bit? The shelf that daughter took to her dorm used to be in our dining room, so I replace that with the one from the middle of my bedroom (while looking for a space) that used to be in son's bedroom. Win! Except the bins that go in the squares are a lil bigger than they can be in the new space. So new bins are on the porch, and son promised to help get all that in the right places/purged/reorganized today. I love when a plan falls into place.
2. Shout out to right-sized packing! It definitely felt like daughter had mostly the right stuff. I promise to putter in her room and straighten/purge/organize before the holidays, but she got what she needed and the move-in was so smooth! We visit in October, so should probably bring her some of the cold weather stuff she'll need before she needs to schedule a trip home.
3. I'm excited to start my Lake Superior jigsaw puzzle today! There's a table which isn't the one we eat at, and it has a view of the family room/tv, so I think that will be my 'for me' task this afternoon. This probably could have been a good thing or a to-do. LOL

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. This week we get to go pick up son's eighth grade schedule. His counselor did email me that she got the classes he wanted, but now he can start comparing to friends' schedules. Several of his close friends are a grade ahead of him, since his birthday is close to the cut-off. He did well enough on a computer test last year to be able to skip the computer class the district has eighth graders take, so that opened up some space for choices. Yay!
2. I don't think I actually went through all of my review request emails last week. Whoops! Still gotta do that. 
3. I think at the end of this week (I get paid Friday), I need to update my calendar (I think a co-worker's baby shower and a pub crawl are not on my calendar yet), and I need to order my 2026 planner. I still love having a paper planner, even if I don't get it out every day. I hate trying to really 'participate' in things and review my life on something as small as my phone....

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - August 10, 2025: Dog Days of Summer

This is it. The home stretch of summer before fall and the new school year arrive. I don't remember anyone warning me about the summer between high school and college for a parent. I can't even recall for sure what happened the last three Sunday mornings, but I wasn't home or near my computer to post. I still haven't called my own mother for her birthday on July 30 - I was busy that day at work, and then she left for vacation. Daughter of the year, eh? (I did make a Facebook post for her at 4:30am before I went to work...). I'm trying to squeeze in a quick post and some blog visits this morning, and later this evening, around starting school shopping for the middle schooler, and dorm shopping for the college freshman.

Happy Weekend! I'm joining up with Kimberly at Caffeinated Reviewer and Deb at Readerbuzz for Sunday Post and Sunday Salon. I've missed you all, and I'm so happy to spend part of my weekend with you again.

What I'm reading this week:

Our local Battle of the Books is this week, and I'm desperately trying to get through my print copy of The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story. Should not have saved the non-fiction book on the list for last, but here we are. Way to go, past Becki. On my kindle, I just started A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage, and I'm finding it really amusing so far. 

Planning to finish up my reviews for Six Weeks by the Sea (3 stars) and Sycorax: A Novel (4 stars) later today, so watch for those later this month on Books I Think You Should Read.

Three Good Things:

1. Yesterday was the performance for the Young Americans Summer Camp! My kids have done it many times and loved it every time. It's a great performing arts one-week day camp for kids aged third grade - high school graduation year. So this was the last camp my kids will do together as campers. My daughter did audition to be part of the cast (college kids run the camp), so we'll evaluate that option if an offer comes through next winter/spring. Yesterday, both kids had singing solos, and they were exhausted every evening from so much fun and dancing at camp.
2. Best. Purchase. Ever? Right before the Toronto trip (which was fun!), I got the Beats noise-cancelling wireless headphones (okay, I really don't know what they're called). I wore them at the track in Toronto, and they're what I use for my music and peace every day at work since then. I only have to take breaks cuz they hurt my squished ears after a while. But the 'pro's far outweigh the 'con's. 
3. The last step of college registration is this week. It's time to pay the piper! Student loan advice? We're applying for private loans this afternoon (plenty still due after scholarships and qualified federal aid). 

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. This week is already busy! I'm going to work overtime on Tuesday and Friday, but Monday we're going to get the middle-schoolers first debit card, Wednesday I'm taking the graduate and her girlfriend to a fancy dinner, and Thursday is Battle of the Books!
2. My office! Ugh! I get some done, and then I get busy again and it falls down the list. I've taken a break from my jigsaw puzzles and LEGO til I have a table in here to do it, but I have one of each already waiting! 
3. Computering must happen later today! I need to finish those two book reviews, some Yelp! reviews, and go through emails with new review pitches from publishers to re-stock my TBR list (just kidding, it's still HUGE, but apparently about to grow again).

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - July 6, 2025: Happy Independence Day?

Thank goodness for three days off work (plus an extra should-have-been-an-hour-but-at-least-was-40-minutes). My direct managers always try to give us an extra hour of company time on US holiday weekends, but workload. So, in summation, I've been away from work since about 1:50pm on Thursday, which is cool. So I've been HOME (including on my back deck or front porch) since a grocery run for the weekend on Thursday. Another WIN. I'm a bit of a homebody, but will probably leave later today to use my free birthday Emagine theater ticket and see Bride Hard. At least that's the plan. So happy holiday weekend, even if 'Independence' day seems to be a stretch lately (check out the shirt at left
here).

As I think I've stated before, high school graduation season is no joke. I've spent the last several Sunday mornings either preparing for graduation parties or college orientation visit, taking the younger one to camp, recovering from a graduation party at our house, and even sneaking in a breakfast with out of town friends. It's been a month, but now I'm back to post with Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer for Sunday Post, and Deb at Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon. And I need to say that I really missed my slow, reflective Sunday mornings sitting right here, saying what really doesn't feel like a lot, but is a spilling of my words. Even if who I am is often a response to my kids, family, and work. None of them oversee this - it's me.

What I'm reading this week:

As part of this great, at-home, doing me stuff weekend, I finished two books yesterday, reviewed two, and started two more. My reviews for The Athena Protocol (which published years ago, and I finished reading weeks ago) and Into the Leopard's Den (published on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, and apparently the last in the much-loved Bangalore Detectives Club series) were written yesterday and will be publishing to Books I Think You Should Read soon. 

While I finished Reading Into the Leopard's Den yesterday on my kindle, I also finished Funny Story by Emily Henry. That was my first read of the four adult Battle of the Books contest reads for mid-August. Our local library does a super-fun trivia contest on four pre-announced books at a local bar/restaurant. The first one was postponed from April 2020 until summer of 2023, and our team/book club (formed in January 2020 for the purpose of this contest) WON! Last year I think we came in third by just a couple points. This year, 3 out of 5 of our members from our championship year are not available, so the two remaining have added one of my co-workers, and the other team member's sister. The other three books are Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy, Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman, and The Lost City of the Monkey God by Doulas Preston. So I finished the pop fiction, started the kids' book, and still have the graphic novel and non-fiction to go. Wish us luck!

I'm currently reading the print copy of Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini and Fog and Fury by Rachel Howzell Hall on my kindle. 

Three Good Things:

I think Deb started '3 Good Things' during COVID lockdowns, but I'm still all in too. More good news is always good :)

1. We spent a few days at Northern Michigan University, where our daughter will attend in the fall, for new student (and support person) orientation. It was a fabulous event. She stayed in a dorm room with another incoming freshman, learned her way around campus a bit, met her suite-mates and a bunch of other new students, and even got to do an off-campus hike to see the beauty of the area. We're more sure than ever that she's made the right choice and is gonna love the next step in her life. 
2. Actually, this weekend so far has been a good thing :) I love staying home, reading, building LEGO, puttering/cleaning/improving my surroundings, a bit of coloring, watching movies with the kids.... Our son and I even had steak dinner Friday night. It's really been my optimal weekend off.
3. I'm reading more books lately. What that actually means to me is that I'm focusing and checking things off, not just vegging out and sleeping as much as possible. It's a good thing.

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. While our son's closet re-org/design is done and he's working on putting it, and his whole room, in a better place, I've also found the motivation to work on my home office. And I've made noticeable progress! My goal is to have room for a table in here, so I can do my LEGO without stray pieces being at risk of being in someone's way. 
2. Cleaning out part of my office has already unearthed three brand-new water bottles (I think they have company logos, which reminds me I'd rather have an actual RAISE than another 'free' water bottle, but I digress). Anyway, I'd like to clean out a couple kitchen cupboards which will give me a box of similar items to donate. And get them out of my house!
3. The kids and I have been wanting to re-do the curio cabinets. I have two of my grandmother's old curio cabinets in our 'formal' dining room (with an old table where I've been doing LEGO). While there is memorable stuff in them, we'd like to update it with stuff that is currently meaningful to us. It's on the list.

Hope you're having a summer you're enjoying :)

Sunday Salon/Sunday Post - June 1, 2025: Summer, Please?

We may not have the weather yet, but I've got the vibes. While hubs invited us to hang out at his fancy hotel downtown while he's working at the Grand Prix, I really, really wanted to stay home and do things I enjoy. So I did. Yesterday I woke up before the kids (not a challenge LOL) and went to a flower sale that was donating a portion of proceeds to our high school's marching band. I always wait til after Memorial Day to start buying flowers, so this was it! I got five hanging baskets and some of the lil ones (flats?). Then I even got the lil ones planted in two planters I keep on the back deck. I still have room for four more hanging baskets (three in the front garden, and one outside my kitchen window at the back), and I think I'll get at least one big ole planter for the front porch.

I'm joining in with Deb and Kimber for the Sunday Salon and Sunday Post this morning. I see at a quick glance that a few of the summer read linkys are starting today, but I want to do a post listing the local (to me) summer shows today or tomorrow too. We'll see how my motivation holds out! I am trying Starbucks new canned energy drink this morning (the Watermelon Twist flavor, for reference). I was bummed to find out Friday that our local Starbucks no longer carry my favorite Melonburst energy drink. I think the cans (from the grocery) are supposed to be the substitute.

What I'm reading this week:

I just started The Ashtrays are Full and the Glasses are Empty by Kristen Mickelwait on my kindle last night. So far, so good. It's based starting in the 1920s or so in the U.S. - a favorite setting for me. In print, I started a book I picked at a previous Battle of the Books as a prize - The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller. It's almost like a zomedy (zombie/comedy) in writing (okay, maybe a little more gore than a typical zomedy). It's going pretty quick for me.

Three Good Things:

1. I ordered the organizational layout of my son's closet! My budget isn't thrilled, but we are! LOL We're working with Closets by Design. The woman who came out was so nice and really helped us zone in on what we wanted to do. Delivery/installation is in a couple weeks. 
2. Graduation is this week! We are so proud of our daughter, and since she and I enjoy spending time together, I'm familiar with a lot of other seniors as well. I am a little amused that our favorite school board member said she's going to try to be the one who gives Maggie her diploma. We'll see, but regardless of that, high school is about done for this one, and college is coming up fast on the horizon. I have one year of not having a kid in the high school, then we start our son's four years there in the fall of 2026.
3. My volunteer term with our local theatre boosters is done (for now). I'd looked at joining one of the women's groups who awarded our daughter with a scholarship, but all the pictures - even on their international site - are of old white women. Which I am, but I don't want to end up in a room full of... well, people I don't want to be in a room full of. While some say it's 'just politics,' I feel we have a fundamental disconnect about human rights. I'll keep checking around to find out more about this group and others. Anyone have a women's group (non-religious) that they would recommend?

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. Does it help that I've been having vivid daydreams about how I want my home office to look? Display some of my LEGO, a comfy chair with good light to do counted cross-stitch or read in peace, a little secretary or desk where I can write, in addition to my computer spot, of course.... I have a few days off coming up where I don't have stuff booked all day. We'll see what can happen.
2. I want to start doing my Five Minutes Before Bed journaling again. It's an old goal thing I used to do when I was successful in direct sales. I can't find a good description online anymore, but it was from a group with Dana Wilde. 
3. Prep our son's closet for the reorganization/install! We need to get everything out of there, uninstall the rods/shelves that are already there, and re-paint. We didn't order backs on our organizational units, so we can pick a great color to show through.

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - May 25, 2025: Three-Day Weekend for Memorial Day!

A three-day weekend is always what I need. While we were originally hoping to join hubs at the Indianapolis 500 today, the plan for that didn't work out. I'm not entirely bummed about that, because crowds. Ugh. The next plan was to say home in my PJs all weekend. Hahahaha... Also didn't happen. Yesterday the kids and I went to my parents' house to visit a small bookstore in their town (so cool!) and have lunch with them, before heading to iFly for some indoor skydiving. It was the second time for our son, and the first time for our daughter. They both loved it, and I may get them some private lessons to learn more tricks. Today our daughter picked up a shift at work, so our son wanted to check out a sale at Hot Topic, and then I need to do grocery shopping. Hubs expects to be home late tonight, and tomorrow is the local Memorial Day parade.

I've pulled my usual trick and just gotten out of bed and ready for the day when I first wake up, well before the two teenagers. LOL I'm joining Kimber for this week's Sunday Post, and Deb with the Sunday Salon.

What I'm reading this week:

I'm currently reading When Canaries Die by Luis Figueredo in print. It's got everything - a post-COVID pandemic, immoral politicians, and top-notch brilliant litigators. On my kindle is Dear Future Me by Deborah O'Connor. It's about a woman trying to untangle a crime from school after her best friend commits suicide possibly because of what a letter written in school and mailed to her more than a decade later contains. Especially odd since yesterday our daughter received a letter in the mail that she wrote to herself in school four years ago. But in real life, no one died. Yay!

Three Good Things:

1. While the kiddos did have fun in the pool a couple weeks ago, we're back to hoping for 60 degrees F here. At least the rain seems to have let up. Glad the track season is over for our son. The last meet was 50 degrees and a constant drizzle of rain. Not ideal.
2. I finally did some hardcore adulting last week and went in to get my Real ID so I can make the trip to Toronto with hubs in July. My license was expiring anyway, but you have to go to the Secretary of State with either your passport or a bunch of other proof of existence and pay extra for the driver's license upgrade. I did the things, and now I'm just waiting for it to arrive (sort of bummed they couldn't get a decent picture with my awesome glasses on though - they're kind of my trademark this year).
3. I've gotten really stubborn about working my scheduled eight hour shifts, and taking time off for the kids' things. And while being at work still isn't very pleasant, having more time away is a marked improvement.

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. 
   I finally finished my Lucky Bamboo LEGO yesterday, and went to hubs home office to find his 3-in-1 that I got him for Christmas. I'll be putting that one together probably later today. It's a bird, or a frog, or a fish. I had a similar set and did the bird, so I think I'll do the fish with his set.
2. I was looking at an awesome angel I did in counted cross-stitch for my mom (in 2006) at her house yesterday, and I really want to pack up the super cross-stitch organizer she made for me and get to stitching.
3. I also really want to get pictures of our daughter in her graduation gown (we've got the gown, and graduation is June 4). The goal is to get the pictures ASAP, so we can design and order thank you cards ASAP. She's already gotten one check from someone who said they can't make it to her party!

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....

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!). 

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - March 30, 2025: Yay for Spring Break!

This has been our school district's spring break week! Last Sunday we drove our daughter to the airport, where she flew to join hubs at the end of his work trip in California. Then they visited Disneyland and Six Flags California Adventure, before driving the Pacific Coast Highway in their rented Corvette convertible to visit friends and San Francisco!

Michigan weather was much less cooperative, but after working Monday and Tuesday, I took the rest of the week off for fun plans with our son. Check out my Five Things for Friday post about our trips to iFly for indoor skydiving and Top Golf. After posting, he and I had a great time at the Pistons game for Pride Night (it was just a coincidence, but there were lots of extra activities and fun giveaways!). The Pistons won in a close and exciting game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Now I've got the better part of my last day of break to clean up the house, stock up on some groceries, finish up the laundry so the machines will be available, and post with the Caffeinated Reviewer for Sunday Post and Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon before hubs and our daughter get home from California. All in all, a fabulous spring break!

What I'm reading this week:

I just started See How They Fall by Rachel Parris on my kindle, and it's a real page-turner! The viewpoints alternate between a sick child's mother (with a past that makes her an unreliable narrator - my favorite!) and a detective investigating the death of the child's aunt, and the poisoning that has left the child critically ill.

In print, I'm finishing up The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. I love this charming book about a witch, a magical girl, a tiny dragon, a swamp monster and a sad village so much!!

Three Good Things:

1. So many good things to choose from after such a fun week! I was so happy that a friend visited yesterday. We technically work together, but she's on a different team, and our team's desks were moved a couple months ago. Between the actual distance and my busy-ness all day, we haven't caught up lately. It was so nice to visit for a couple hours, and we also made some more plans in a couple months :)
2. I finished my Disney Villains Lego set! This one was so much fun! There are hidden compartments for the villain mini-figures, a fancy moving spot on the VHS tape to see Little Mermaid scenes, and even the rose in the glass case from Beauty and the Beast. I'm starting Hei Hei next, I think.
3. My mom made me the most ah-mazing carrying case to get started on cross-stitch again, and even a new kit! There's lots of zipper pockets and vinyl pockets to see what you're grabbing next. Now for me to buckle down and get started. I have the kit mom got me (it says 'I could agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong), and owl kit I started a while ago, and a huge grandfather poem that I started when I was a teen...

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. This will be an overtime week again, I think. Which is good for the pocketbook, anyway. I believe I start training another new team member a week or two after this. If he spends some time with company trainers, it will be two weeks, but all of the in-office trainers have quit since our last new team member, so I'm really not sure how all this will work anymore. Ha.
2. I suppose this one is half mine, but I need to start listing chores for our son to do this summer. Part of the summer stuff will just be his job, since he won't have school during the day, but I may offer cash to make time for some before then. I'm excited to have the house in good shape before the graduation party we're hosting here for our daughter, even though the party will only be outside.
3. Perpetually on the list - still working on this blasted home office. It is getting better, a little at a time. I would also like to move some of my finished Lego sets in here....

 

Homegrown Magic - Book Review

Homegrown Magic by Jamie Pacton & Rebecca Podos
Publication: March 11, 2025
Pages: 368 pages
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆ 
Sweet Spark: Margot is the sort of character who finds joy and brings comfort to everything in her life.

While the beginning of the book felt like it may be a chore to get through, as we got to know more about Yael and met Margot, they and their relationship became a compelling story that kept me reading, and left me wanting more. 

Yael Clauneck was the heir of a rich and powerful family. There were expectations of them as they matured into adulthood, and they wanted none of it.

Margot Greenwillow was already living out a life dictated by her family. Her parents had essentially lost everything to their landlords, and the only reprieve was for Margot to finish her plant-magic grandmother's most powerful spell - to help those with minimal natural-born magic be able to achieve its greater effects. Her great sense of love and responsibility for the village was what kept her working to meet her goal in time.

When Yael tries to escape their pampered life and hide out from their responsibilities, they find themself in the village with Margot. Yael and Margot were childhood friends, when their parents moved in the same social circles. While they have fond memories of their interactions then, they need to see past their current reputations to see if a friendship (or more?) is salvageable. 

The evolution of the characters and their relationship was so warm and engaging, and I can't wait for the next book. This cozy queer romance earned 5 out of 5 stars and would be recommended for those who enjoy fantasy, romance, and stories about magic.

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

 

Sunday Salon/Sunday Post - March 16, 2025: First Quarter End in Sight

Well, well, well. Here in Michigan, we're into one of our 'fake springs.' It's warm, but rainy. There's still a few snow muck piles around, and not much is actually growing yet. Winter is over (the ski hill closed a day or two ago), but the general misery is still here. Maybe that's just how the U.S. will be from here on out? I digress. It was 70 degrees F yesterday, but there's a day with a high of 40 next week. I'm just trying to enjoy being a bit less cold, and know the real spring should be just around the corner. 

I'm blogging along with Readerbuzz's Sunday Salon, and Caffeinated Reviewer's Sunday Post. We share what we've been up to, what we're reading, and anything else we decide may be worth sharing. And then we check in on a bunch of others. I've been known to reference in conversation 'a book blogger,' and it's usually one of the people in these linkies. C'mon in! The water's fine (just kidding, do NOT get in the actual water yet. Brr...).

What I'm reading this week:

I'm in a bit of a book transition right now. I just finished Homegrown Magic on my kindle (5 stars, review to follow on this page in the next few days), and Goddess Game in the print version (easily recommended 4 star read, review to be posted on BooksIThinkYouShouldRead, where most of my reviews are published).

Last night I started reading Glory Daze as a pdf. It's the second in a southern mystery series, and the first was a really fun read. So far the second is shaping up the same. I haven't gotten as many print books for review lately, so I'm finally starting The Girl Who Drank the Moon this afternoon or tomorrow on my lunch (my usual print book reading time).

Three Good Things:

1. My son was offered some scholarship funds to attend Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp for band! I'm so grateful that our public school district prioritizes the arts, and a Blue Lake representative comes to the middle school to listen to auditions. My son is still deciding whether he wants to attend. He's a pretty chill guy and likes his down time. He's already attending a different band camp with some friends, as well as a couple other summer commitments. I'll be sure to post if he goes or not. If you attended Blue Lake or something similar, what would your advice to my son be?
2. ToDaY is my daughter's high school art show. We attended last year because she had a couple pieces displayed from her jewelry and drawing classes. This year she is in AP art, so her portfolio is being shown! She did a 2D - drawing portfolio, with a theme of retaining childhood playfulness/innocence (she describes it way better, but I love all the drawings and I'm excited to see them shared). I think my niece has some ceramics in the show, and a couple of my son's friends are showing art as well. And I've come to know a few high schoolers in the last few years ;) They also do a silent auction for art club projects, to make it a self-funding club. So maybe I'll pick up some new art for the house.
3. I found out our work 'points' can be spent on LEGOs! We sometimes can get awards that come with points (because who really wants a raise, when you can get points!!?!) and you get some for some anniversaries. Anyway, I spent mine on a Gru and Minions set, and an inspiration building deck (ideas of how they make things). 

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. Clean out the cupboards. See, sometimes I put new things! The top shelves of our cupboards are filled with (especially) cups and things that were gifts, prizes, whatever, that we literally never use. While my husband is still in town for a couple days, I want to clear off a couple shelves and have my family 'claim' what they want to keep, and I'll donate the rest.
2. Pack my lunch. Last week I packed a sandwich and chips for a day or two. I'd like to pack my lunch more consistently. The best plan, of course, is to pack it the night before so I don't run out of time, but just grab it and go. This gives me something to eat without worrying about spending money on food, and it gives me more time to read.
3. Hoping to work some overtime this coming week. Last week I got almost 6 hours of OT in. This week I should be able to squeeze out... 8, or 14 if I can convince some other team members to join me on Saturday. Then I'll get paid on the last day of spring break with my son, which will be nice :)

Hope wherever you are is getting toward spring, and hope you find something to make you happy each day.

Sunday Post/Sunday Salon - February 23, 2025: Early Motivation/Ideas

I'm not sure if it's an actual drawback or benefit to my work schedule, but it's a lil after 5am on Sunday morning, and I'm wide awake. My alarm goes off for work Monday - Friday (and sometimes Saturday) at 4:20am, so even on the days I do fall back to sleep, I usually wake up by 4:30 to go potty (welcome to middle age?). Anyway. Today I woke up, went back to bed, and laid there with my eyes wide open. So I slipped next door to my home office, turned on the space heater, grabbed my vitamins and Red Bull, and decided to get something done. Welcome to my burst of productivity!

This morning I'm once again  joining with Caffeinated Reviewer's Sunday Post, and Readerbuzz's Sunday Salon. Random aside, these ladies are on point. I come and go, but they're both here, posted every week (and plenty in  between!). While I've been blogging quite a long time, they're here regularly for these weekly posts and much, much more. Kudos on a job well done!

What I'm reading this week:

I'm almost up to the last quarter of Little Women - and LOVING it! On my kindle, I'm on the second half of Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis. I love their casual writing style with unique, contemporary stories. This one is a possible 'glitch' (or potential intentional sabotage?) that sends all of the emails from Millie's drafts folder. See, Millie has been writing honest and emotional emails - without ever meaning to send  them - and leaving them in her drafts folder. Overnight, during a server malfunction, they all get sent. To the whole company, to her family, to her friends....everywhere! Ugh! Four stars so far, but I mostly want to find out if it was really a glitch...

Three Good Things:

1. Last week (Monday/Tuesday with my kids) was as awesome as expected. Daughter and her friend got their prom dresses, son has finished the only Fortnite Lego set he didn't have before last week, and I'm on the last bag of my Money Tree from Lego. I was also delighted to realize on Tuesday night that I was happier than I'd been in a while and didn't even think about work for at least those two days.
2. Winter has GOT to be ending soon, right? I'm completely over the cold, and especially the anxiety over driving in fresh snow - repeatedly!
3. I scheduled another week off early this summer to be the 'official' adult on my daughter's college orientation! Participating adults have to be paid for, so while our whole family is going up there, I'm the one going with the college kid. She is actually scheduled to stay in the dorm, but then the other three of us will stay at a hotel or whatever and be able to explore campus and the town as well. Can't wait!

Three Goals for this week/month/whatever:

1. Part of why I wasn't falling back to sleep was worrying about my volunteer fundraising goal with the local theatre boosters. For whatever reason, I'm having a hard time getting businesses to respond/commit with our regular dine-to-donate fundraisers (even restaurants who have participated previously!). So I'm going to pick a few dates and keep trying with a different place for each so I can get some booked. We also do Kroger (register your shopper card and they donate), a local graphic design shop for spirit wear, and a Amazon wish list to get things we need instead of buying. I think I'm finally going to start using my blog Facebook page to post these things, as well as a bunch of different dine to donates in the community, and other theatre performances in our part of the state. I've been meaning to do this for a long time.
2. My office got a lil progress last week. Before my super fun days with the kids on Monday and Tuesday, I was pretty much snowed in on Saturday and Sunday. So both days I spent a lil time sorting out trash, and hanging up some stuff in the closet. While I missed the concert I had a ticket for on Sunday, hubby did take us out for dinner to celebrate our anniversary on Saturday night. So I suppose the 'goal' portion here is to keep going!
3. This week at work I start training a new team member. I'm going to try and talk less/smile more, in general. I plan to tell/show them what they need to know, but try to be positive about it and try to conceal everything I hate about being there every day. LOL If I can teach them to actually complete the investigation summary, that will be one less thing to hate, right? Hahahaha