tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92151750591564968172024-03-18T19:47:15.494-06:00 Gofita's PagesHeather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.comBlogger1183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-60296545546340243812024-03-17T10:42:00.002-06:002024-03-17T10:42:07.036-06:00February Update...<p>
I had goals and I didn't meet them...So here I am again with a week
already gone for March! Better late than never. February was a good month. I
finished off a few books. My son had his 15th birthday!
</p>
<p>
It's still cold but we are getting more sunny days and the time change is this
weekend which means more sunny hours in the evening which will be a big boost
to my productivity levels...at least in theory.
</p>
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I finally made it up to the mountains with friends for an early morning
snowshoe hike! It was beautiful that day.
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<div>
G turned 15! I can't believe it. He wanted to go bowling with his best friend
and have a sleepover and we also went to the local conveyor belt sushi place.
We went last year as well for his birthday, but this year they updated their
menu and the sushi was fresher with more variety. We loved it!
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This was our first family puzzle finish of the year! So much fun. The fur was
the hardest to figure out. But we put our heads together and finally got it
done. Whew!
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<div><b>Grateful For:</b></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
A great month in February. I did get a bit of the winter blues but overall the
weather cooperated and I had a lot of fun at work celebrating Valentine's Day
with the kids there. Celebrating G's 15th was really exciting. And we had a
last minute Super Bowl party when we invited our friends over and they helped
us eat all the food I had cooked!
</div>
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<div><b>Books:</b></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>I finished <b>6</b> books in February!</div>
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<div><br /></div><div><b><i>Dead Lions</i></b> by Mick Herron. It's the second book in the Slow Horses series. Excellent and I'm looking forward to reading through the rest soon.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Making It So </i></b>by Patrick Stewart. I listened to this one on audio and it was just what I needed! I love me some Patrick. I grew up on Star Trek: TNG and it was fantastic to hear about his childhood and how he grew up very poor, how he got into acting, and all the bumps and succusses along the way. He gives a lot of tidbits about each show or movie he worked on or plays, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Snow</i></b> by Ronald Malfi. I read this one for my 2024 I Read Horror Year-Round Challenge hosted by Michelle at Castle Macabre for the Winter Them or Cover category. It's a new twist on the zombie genre and it was a perfect wintry read in January and February. He is one of my go-to horror authors.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Evolution: A Visual Record </i></b>by Robert Clark. This is one I've had for awhile and have been meaning to read. I had some free time over President's Day weekend and sat down and read through and looked at the whole book. I highly recommend it! Gorgeous pictures and simple explanations. It's a great introduction.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>The Girl Who Drew Butterflies</i></b> by Joyce Sidman. This is a biography for middle schoolers on the life of Marie Merian, who helped figure out how butterflies and moths formed into adults. She painstakingly kept butterflies and moths and drew each stage of life and how they emerged from their cocoons. She also figured out what leaves and plants they needed in order to do so. She also discovered and recorded many insects and other plant life in South America. It's a beautiful book with many of her original drawings and painting as well as some of her translated diary pages. She contributed so much to science and yet most have never heard of her!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class </i></b>by Rob Henderson. Henderson gives an account of his childhood and how that affected him but he also does research and goes into what truly helps kids succeed and how to put that into policy or try to. It was a really eye-opening read.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Movies</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Last week was the Academy Awards and I didn't do too well on getting through a lot of the movies before the broadcast. I saw <b><i>Oppenheimer</i></b>, <b><i>Barbie</i></b>, <i><b>The Society of the Snow</b></i>, <i><b>Maestro</b></i>, <b><i>Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</i></b>. I've caught up on others this past week. <b><i>Poor Things</i></b> was a wild ride! I really enjoyed <i><b>Past Lives</b></i> and <b><i>The Holdovers</i></b>. There were a lot of solid picks this year! And it was one of the better Oscars over the past few years.</div><div><br /></div><div>For DH's birthday last week we went to Dune: Part Two, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. I also finally caught up on seeing Marcel the Shell with Shoes On! Very cute and touching. It was unexpected. It has definitely been a good month for movies.</div><div><br /></div><div>February my favorites were <b><i>Bottoms</i></b>, which I thought was hilarious! <b><i>Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part One</i></b> was highly entertaining, and <b><i>You Hurt My Feelings</i></b>, which was a really quiet take on a couple's marriage and the ups and downs that are inherent.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>TV</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Constellation </i></b>on Apple TV+ has been weird but interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Looking Forward To:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Today is St. Patrick's Day and I'm making beef stew and soda bread and breaking out some Guinness beer. We'll be playing some games after dinner.</div><div><br /></div><div>Easter and Spring break are coming up in a couple of weeks. We have a mini stay-cation planned and we're going to see Clue on the stage as well. And we're hoping to get a few things started for our backyard renovation!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's also March Madness and I'm looking forward to watch both men's and women's NCAA basketball the rest of the month. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieGqn-9ZvjULMhf79mMD6LyY43DuvU9kuD-U6z2smKMlepbNM9tHls0uzmfpkRFizhYXbGUeul4S6Fm5Mff_Y0nwODaehlyUOYv0ETbLjXtyvUKQ_QrJGoqIlvRq5n3we6fnNPOZKSok/s399/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="399" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieGqn-9ZvjULMhf79mMD6LyY43DuvU9kuD-U6z2smKMlepbNM9tHls0uzmfpkRFizhYXbGUeul4S6Fm5Mff_Y0nwODaehlyUOYv0ETbLjXtyvUKQ_QrJGoqIlvRq5n3we6fnNPOZKSok/w400-h209/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Joining up this week with Deb from <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-sunday-salon-i-get-late-start-on.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Reader's Buzz</span></a>.</div>
Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-72403660115436451232024-02-10T08:18:00.002-07:002024-02-10T08:25:21.930-07:00January...and My Reading Challenges...<p>I am super late to the party. I meant to get my 2024 reading challenges
post up a month ago...And January just got away from me.
</p>
<p>
We have had some really weird weather but I think everyone has been having
their own weird weather. Biting cold in early January and then warmish
torrential rains...Part of my job I am outside for an hour or so and I have
had to invest in warmer boots, socks, and a huge umbrella!
</p>
<p>
Moving to our new house has included making friends with some of the local
cats! A neighbor a street over has three cats that roam the neighborhood and
come to say hi from time to time. Duke is a big fluffy grey kitty. He is
so friendly and chill. My cats aren't ecstatic about his presence but
surprisingly they are very tolerant! When it's really stormy he whines at our
door and we let him in to dry off, warm up, get a few cuddles, and some
treats. He's just a big sweetheart. I feel like we are the grandparents who
can love on the kitty and then send him off when he gets too whiny!
</p>
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<div>Here are my two boys shoveling hard during our winter snowstorm!</div>
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<div>
We also hosted a housewarming party with some friends during the winter break.
It helped so much to welcome in friends and finally break in our new house. We
also purchased a brand new fridge; we've been wanting to since we realized
what a crapshoot the previous owners left the fridge in!
</div>
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<div>
I have made a renewed effort in bullet journaling. I found someone who had
some really fun yet simple pages and I'm rolling with it and seeing how they
work for me. I've put all of my reading challenges in there and hoping it'll
help me keep track a bit better this year.
</div><div><br /></div><div>I also attended the Sundance Film Festival, online anyway. I watched 4 films. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Black Box Diaries</i></b>: This is a documentary focuses on Shiori, a journalist and a victim of rape. She fights for her right to get justice after the local police department shuts down the investigation once they hear that the perpetrator is a close friend of then prime minister Shinzo Abe. It's an amazing piece of journalism and she also documents her grief and trauma from this brutal attack. And how hard it is to get justice in Japan's legal system.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><b><i>Never Look Away</i></b>: This is a documentary by Lucy Lawless. She looks into New Zealand war journalist Margaret Moth. Fascinating story. I felt Lawless presented Moth in all her glory and many of her picadilloes. She interviewed old boyfriends and had them share their sides of the tale. They were very contradictory. I really enjoyed learning more about Moth and utterly reckless she was with not only herself but with those she truly cared about.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/joshatthemovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Thelma-Poster_Final.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&ssl=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://i0.wp.com/joshatthemovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Thelma-Poster_Final.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&ssl=1" width="214" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Handling of the Undead:</i></b> This was a book to movie adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist's book of the same name. He wrote Let the Right One in which took on a very different vampire theme. This one takes on the zombie genre and grief. Lights flicker and go out and things stop working but people soon realize their loved ones that recently died have been resurrected. We never find out why or how. But we follow a few families and how they deal with their loved ones coming back. It was probably a bit slow for my taste. But there are some good themes on grief and letting our loved ones go that I enjoyed.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Thelma</i></b>: This movie was an absolute delight! Thelma is a 93 year-old woman is watched by her family like she's four. When she is scammed out of $10,000 it's up to her and an old friend to track the thieves down and get her money back. It's like a Mission: Impossible but if they were 93 instead. It's funny and touching all at once. I highly recommend seeing this one once it gets wider release.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>I finished 3 books in January!</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
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<li>
<b><i>Slow Horses </i></b>by Mark Herron. I first heard of this series
from Apple TV+ with the TV adaptation of the same name starring Gary
Oldman. He is the best thing about the whole series. The adaptation is
phenomenal. And after reading the first book, I am even more impressed by
the series. It truly captures the book and adds to it. I highly recommend
this one.
</li>
<li>
<b><i>To the Bright Edge of the World</i></b> by Eowyn Ivey. I loved
Ivey's The Snow Child, which I also read last winter. This one had been
sitting on my shelves since a library boos sale a couple of years ago.
This one did not disappoint. Fascinating history brought to life through
her vivid settings and lively characters. And once again she adds a hint
of the mystical throughout. Part of my read through history challenge.</li>
<li>
<b><i>The Canceling of the American Mind</i></b> by Greg Lukianoff and
Rikki Schlott. Lukianoff and Schlott break down the various areas of
cancel culture from both sides of the aisle and how this stifles diverse
conversation and stymies real-world solutions.
</li>
</ul><div>I'm hoping to get longer reviews out soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am currently reading...</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><i>Making It So </i></b>by Patrick Stewart. I'm listening to this one on Everland/Scribd. I am loving this! He reads it himself and his stories are fantastic. I have followed him since his TNG days. It's been a fantastic way to get through the January winter blues.</li><li><b><i>Snow</i></b> by Ronald Malfi. This is part of my I Read Horror Year-Round challenge...Malfi is one of my new favorite horror authors. Fantastic storylines that are creepy and well done. This book takes on the zombie genre but different and I've read and watched quite a few zombie stories. I am over halfway through and I have not been disappointed.</li><li><b><i>Mansfield Park</i></b> by Jane Austen. I have started twice but have never finished this classic. I've watched all of the BBC adaptations! I am determined this time to finish. I am about halfway through. I am also reading an annotated edition with very interesting tidbits, which is really helping me get through this one.</li><li><b><i>Moonstone</i></b> by Wilkie Collins. Another classic. This one is part of my 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die challenge. This is basically the first mystery book. It definitely has an Agatha Christie feel without the murder. It's also a lot longer than your typical mystery. I am enjoying it so far.</li><li><b><i>Lone Women</i></b> by Victor LaValle. I just started this one and so far so good. I have enjoyed all his books! He's a fantastic horroresque author!</li></ul><div><b>Reading Challenges 2024</b></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNf0At9H__5waPlOorR-_63V4Iedh7mE4Qk81_4Ch9an4a7lo1J2YJsmNsiP6Woszz0NYKMkIgXqDjalaxRY_gqB4STAXyrkDnFGladqF_-5piAce1JScJcmvHAmOQiXP61p21Cbx4dACvMje6pOyLW_h9RBQLOQ4KblcfnCy4enejUYGIqHZ7jX3aBU/s592/2024%20I%20Read%20Horror.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="592" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNf0At9H__5waPlOorR-_63V4Iedh7mE4Qk81_4Ch9an4a7lo1J2YJsmNsiP6Woszz0NYKMkIgXqDjalaxRY_gqB4STAXyrkDnFGladqF_-5piAce1JScJcmvHAmOQiXP61p21Cbx4dACvMje6pOyLW_h9RBQLOQ4KblcfnCy4enejUYGIqHZ7jX3aBU/w400-h225/2024%20I%20Read%20Horror.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I always try to do Michelle's <a href="https://castlemacabre.blogspot.com/2023/12/2024-i-read-horror-year-round-reading.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">I Read Horror Year-Round challenge</span></a>! She switches up the horror themes each year. I love horror books so it is a great way to read them with friends. When I finish <i>Snow</i> and <i>Lone Women</i> I'll be two down with ten more to go!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdJ9MLu8rkXvgZn7ln-He1MTSYKG4DaEtUAp-fvSlbH67i1BeJYLVoPPk8Q0-6nDpv4opfIpUGzgruBROziGEhssUn7CWb_b1vb4AK7Bp975zLbUri5dteE2ifFOHjc2Lsab3f5RCWwg2-hJY445FxuMhrpIqCpw0P7YufSY5dqBrq12X38Vg8dUkeJ7d/s560/2024%201000%20Books.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdJ9MLu8rkXvgZn7ln-He1MTSYKG4DaEtUAp-fvSlbH67i1BeJYLVoPPk8Q0-6nDpv4opfIpUGzgruBROziGEhssUn7CWb_b1vb4AK7Bp975zLbUri5dteE2ifFOHjc2Lsab3f5RCWwg2-hJY445FxuMhrpIqCpw0P7YufSY5dqBrq12X38Vg8dUkeJ7d/w400-h225/2024%201000%20Books.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Her second challenge I try to do each year is the <a href="https://www.gathertogetherread.com/2023/12/1000-books-project-2024-collinsdickens.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">1000 Book challenge</span></a> from the book <i>1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List</i> by David Mustich. I've read Les Miserables andThe Count of Monte Cristo through her challenge. This year is <i>Moonstone</i> by Wilkie Collins and<i> Nicholas Nickleby</i> by Charles Dickens. So far <i>Moonstone</i> has been a very pleasant surprise!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://buildyourlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BYL-2024-Reading-Challenge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://buildyourlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/BYL-2024-Reading-Challenge.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br />The next challenge is from Emily Cook. She created her own secular homeschooling program called Build Your Library. She has had great ideas for books to read with my son for years. Every year she issues a reading challenge based on educational themes. This year is <a href="https://buildyourlibrary.com/2024-build-your-library-reading-challenge/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #800180;">Read Through History</span></a>. She has 40 categories and you just plug through as many as you can. I don't think I'll get through so many but it's always fun to try!</div><div><br /></div><div>This weekend is my son's birthday! He's 15! I can't believe it. We've been running about having fun. He's got a friend coming over tonight. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's also the Super Bowl Sunday. I've got some snacks planned out. I absolutely do not care who wins. I just want it to be a close game and I hope the ads are funny and interesting and that the halftime show doesn't bomb!</div><div><br /></div><div>All of my books have been hits so far this year and it's really helping my winter blues! </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieGqn-9ZvjULMhf79mMD6LyY43DuvU9kuD-U6z2smKMlepbNM9tHls0uzmfpkRFizhYXbGUeul4S6Fm5Mff_Y0nwODaehlyUOYv0ETbLjXtyvUKQ_QrJGoqIlvRq5n3we6fnNPOZKSok/s399/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="399" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieGqn-9ZvjULMhf79mMD6LyY43DuvU9kuD-U6z2smKMlepbNM9tHls0uzmfpkRFizhYXbGUeul4S6Fm5Mff_Y0nwODaehlyUOYv0ETbLjXtyvUKQ_QrJGoqIlvRq5n3we6fnNPOZKSok/w400-h209/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm joining up with Deb from <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-sunday-salon-month-of-black-history.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Readerbuzz</span></a> for her Sunday Salon.</div>
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Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-5054416758241299562024-02-01T00:00:00.001-07:002024-02-01T00:00:00.147-07:00Cat Thursday-- Failed Resolutions<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/s399/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="399" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/w400-h261/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at <a href="http://www.truebookaddict.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">True Book Addict</span></a>) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats.<p></p><p>One of my resolutions failed after the first week...How are yours holding up?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://yourdost-blog-images.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/28220639/3c7-compressor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="450" height="587" src="https://yourdost-blog-images.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/28220639/3c7-compressor.png" width="450" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/af/98/7b/af987b35a9e8648447daef2146d79c5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/af/98/7b/af987b35a9e8648447daef2146d79c5a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-83764192190167136992024-01-07T19:40:00.005-07:002024-01-07T19:40:51.889-07:002024-The Year of Acceptance<p>
2023 was a really tough year with selling and buying a homes, the death
of my mother, a new job, and the death of my nephew last month. Needless to
say, 2023 was a stressful year. I am welcoming in this new year of 2024 with
acceptance. Life is what it is I want to choose to meet it as it comes. I'm
really hoping to get back into a writing schedule this year. I want to read
more! But I also want to be pragmatic when it comes to any reading challenges.
I'm hoping to post this week about my reading challenges...
</p>
<p>
Celebrated 20 years with DH! Still going strong. We were hoping for a
cruise...hopefully soon. But we still had a fantastic day together. </p><p> We also enjoyed a night out with friends to a local distillery! So much fun. We made some fantastic drinks for everyone at our housewarming party a couple of weeks later.
</p>
<p>
My winter break has been blissfully unaware of everything but family, friends,
and cats. We watched all of the LOTR movies with G. This is the first time he
sat through all of them and loved them! The one and only awful thing was
having to attend my nephew's funeral.</p><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53450364280/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-12-09 18.26.15"><img alt="2023-12-09 18.26.15" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53450364280_ee0f0f366c.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53450072208/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-12-09 18.27.50"><img alt="2023-12-09 18.27.50" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53450072208_420163b42e.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53449954646/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-12-17 22.26.32"><img alt="2023-12-17 22.26.32" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53449954646_c3306391fd.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53450268584/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-12-31 22.49.31"><img alt="2023-12-31 22.49.31" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53450268584_b7397c23ab.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><p></p>
<div><b>Favorites of the year:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I absolutely loved the <b><i>Murderbot Diaries</i></b> by Martha Wells. They had been on my radar for a while now and I decided to give them a go after my mother passed away since they were mostly short stories. The whole series was perfect for what I needed. I can't wait for more!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://movies.universalpictures.com/media/06-opp-dm-mobile-banner-1080x745-now-pl-f01-071223-64bab982784c7-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="800" height="276" src="https://movies.universalpictures.com/media/06-opp-dm-mobile-banner-1080x745-now-pl-f01-071223-64bab982784c7-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer </i></b>by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin was my favorite nonfiction of the year. It took me a few months since I had to put it aside for a few months, but it was an excellent piece of history and character. The movie was also fantastic and so happy I could read and watch both in the same year!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Slow Horses</i></b> is probably my favorite series right now. I just started the first book but the TV series with Gary Oldman is so good. I don't know if it's the fave but it's up there and I honestly can't think of another one that stands out as much but it could be the most recent one I watched so there's that recently seen bias coming in...But it's good!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's to more good things in 2024!</div>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-57529840122417037262023-11-09T00:00:00.001-07:002023-11-09T00:00:00.142-07:00Cat Thursday--Kitty Comics<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/s399/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="399" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/w400-h261/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at <a href="http://www.truebookaddict.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">True Book Addict</span></a>) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/lingstov-cat-comics-22.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/lingstov-cat-comics-22.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>This is my cat Shadow to a T!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.demilked.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/5b1156bd561e9-funny-cat-comics-scott-metzger-cartoons-85-5b0eb2374e507__700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="646" height="400" src="https://static.demilked.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/5b1156bd561e9-funny-cat-comics-scott-metzger-cartoons-85-5b0eb2374e507__700.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><br /><p>Good to know they train to be lovable jerks rather than barbarians!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/58136b77190000ec02c2f996.png?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/58136b77190000ec02c2f996.png?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>This one makes me chuckle!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/warandpeas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/war-and-peas-start-over.jpg?ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://i0.wp.com/warandpeas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/war-and-peas-start-over.jpg?ssl=1" width="350" /></a></div><br /><p>I sure hope my kitties keep getting their lives reset! ha!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-37477966959221084722023-11-02T17:53:00.003-06:002023-11-02T17:53:48.600-06:00Cat Thursday--Happy Late Halloween<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/s399/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="399" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/w400-h261/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at <a href="http://www.truebookaddict.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">True Book Addict</span></a>) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting
a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share
with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!
<p></p>
<p>
Happy belated Halloween! Shadow and Nala in their costumes for two seconds
while I took the pic...
</p>
<p><br /></p>
<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53306304855/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-11-02 17.16.27"><img alt="2023-11-02 17.16.27" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53306304855_e54028fc79.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53304963197/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-11-02 17.18.17"><img alt="2023-11-02 17.18.17" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53304963197_7f2678d93f.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><div><br /></div><div>Don't mind the hair...I had just exercised!</div>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-49028948213206147312023-11-01T22:08:00.004-06:002023-11-05T09:21:53.113-07:00Fall, Death, and New Beginnings<p>
Wow, this has been a tough year. My energy to blog and review books and
participate in book blogosphere at this time of year as slagged. I'm having a
hard time figuring life out right now...lots on the plate this year with
moving, new job, and my mother's death; it's been hard to navigate. I'm just
grateful for family and friends that are helping...but yeah death is hard.
</p>
<p>
I've managed to get a few things in this fall. G and I painted a black
Halloween cat. We made it out on a fall color hike. We even managed a short
trip for fall break this last weekend.
</p>
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Nice fall hike up to Stewart Falls
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We went down south and visited Silver Reef...an old silver mining ghost town.
Ghost towns are really cool. I love hearing about their history and see what
they left behind and why the town went under. Silver Reef is particularly
interesting because it's only one of two sites in the world where silver has
been found in sandstone. The museum curator said Siberia was the other
one.
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Silver Reef even had two separate cemeteries: one for Catholics and the other
for Protestants. There was a huge Chinese population as well but after the
town went under they sent all of the buried back to China so they could be
with their ancestors. Fascinating tidbits.
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Later that evening we headed to the play
<i>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical</i> at the outdoor theater
Tuacahn. It was a fantastic play! The special effects and the stage sets and
all the actors were fantastic.
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The next day we headed to Snow Canyon State Park where we did one hike by the
lava tubes. I loved seeing the old lava river rock everywhere. The white and red
sandstone along with the black lava rock were breathtaking!
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<center>
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</div><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53286388238/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-10-20 11.12.38"><img alt="2023-10-20 11.12.38" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53286388238_f0b45f4757.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>Currently Reading:</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I started <i><b>Holly</b></i>, the new book by Stephen King. I loved her character from the TV series<i> Outsider</i>. I haven't read any of the <i>Mr. Mercedes</i> series but I did read the short story from<i> If It Bleeds </i>collection, which was fantastic. I'm also reading through <b><i>Book of Accidents</i></b> by Chuck Wendig. It's weird so not sure if I'll stick with it... I'm about halfway through <b><i>Curse of the Reaper</i></b> by Brian McAuley. It's an ode to slashers and horror and Hollywood. It's better than I thought it would be. And With October I slowed down a bit on my non-fiction books. I'm still working on <b><i>American Prometheus </i></b>and the <i><b>John Adams</b></i> biography by David McCullough.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>Recently Read:</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I made it through <b><i>If It Bleeds</i></b> by Stephen King, which is a short-story collection. My favorite was the short story with Holly's character from <i>The Outsider</i>. Most weren't scary, necessarily...but they were interesting. I actually like King's short stories better. Some of his novels need a tighter editor.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91gBHjP2zcL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91gBHjP2zcL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />The Haunting of Maddy Clare</i></b> by Simone St. James...I've really enjoyed her recent horror/mystery novels the last few years so I was excited to read one of her first books into the genre. Clare has also written a lot of romance novels so she combined the two in this one to perfection. It was romantic and scary. I was pleasantly surprised!</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I've been reading through some of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories due to Halloween and the new Netflix TV series by Mike Flanagan, <i>The Fall of the House of Usher.</i> I really liked <i><b>The Fall of the House of Usher.</b></i> It's pretty spooky but makes you think. I also read <i><b>The Goldbug</b></i>...it was not my favorite. I thought something terrifying was always around the corner and it really just ended suddenly, in my opinion. But maybe I just didn't read with enough focus? I did read it right before bed...</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>November Reads:</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I hope to keep working through <i>American Prometheus</i>, <i>John Adams</i>, and finish <i>Curse of the Reaper</i>. I'll read a bit more in <i>Book of Accidents </i>and make the choice to keep going or try again later...I also want to reread Joan Didion's <b><i>Year of Magical Thinking</i></b>. I read it years ago after my brother and friend passed away within a week of each other and found it moving and thought-provoking. I want to revisit it with my mother's passing. Martha Wells' new book in the Murderbot series <i><b>System Collapse</b></i> comes out in a couple of weeks so I will definitely read that as soon as it's in my hands! </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I need to plan a bit more...It's just been so chaotic that I haven't had time to think about what my actual reading plans are now.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Watched:</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://dnm.nflximg.net/api/v6/WNk1mr9x_Cd_2itp6pUM7-lXMJg/AAAABceQDBYEFhHH_g0Z5z7KtFaAyIOW5tykeZm29eeufQgTmxKCUAkQI2yT3bLC8_wpKkzG3T7j6LwJuwJLuImUBqaobd0l0uzrx8dxa9IeXB7Ew85z2yZ8hCZrcHXmNlCroNJ2Ug.jpg?r=7f7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://dnm.nflximg.net/api/v6/WNk1mr9x_Cd_2itp6pUM7-lXMJg/AAAABceQDBYEFhHH_g0Z5z7KtFaAyIOW5tykeZm29eeufQgTmxKCUAkQI2yT3bLC8_wpKkzG3T7j6LwJuwJLuImUBqaobd0l0uzrx8dxa9IeXB7Ew85z2yZ8hCZrcHXmNlCroNJ2Ug.jpg?r=7f7" width="229" /></a></div><br />Lots of horror was watched this last month. <i><b>The Fall of the House of Usher</b></i> on Netflix was really well done. Spooky and terrifying in all the right ways. Plus I loved seeing so many of Poe's short stories and poems used as inspiration for each episode. Thus my inspiration to work through some short stories this Halloween season!</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNWI3ZmY4NmItMGQ4My00ODJlLWJlNTktYjk2NzRkODU3YTNlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="505" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNWI3ZmY4NmItMGQ4My00ODJlLWJlNTktYjk2NzRkODU3YTNlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><br /> I saw the <i><b>Five Nights at Freddy's</b></i> movie with the family on Sunday. I don't follow any of the lore or play any of the video games and I still found it enjoyable. DH said it was too scary but G loved it.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I'm looking forward to <i>All the Light We Cannot See</i> based off the book by Anthony Doerr's award-winning book. It drops on Netflix this week sometime, I think.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>Looking forward to:</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Feeling better soon. I've had one the worst sinus infections in years. I finally made it to the doctor for some antibiotics and hope I'll feel human again soon.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">We plan on getting our Halloween decor down this weekend and I'm looking forward to some Thanksgiving decor for a couple of weeks. I know a lot of people go straight to Christmas decor after Halloween but I need a few weeks to transition! I'm not quite ready right after Halloween.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I'm hoping to get to some crochet projects this month as well...It's been a neglected hobby the last few months.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun9o6i1PBJ3QjlIo3GG49BdLiQXU9dHHAnZ9WLQvytEy-TYmPlEL5uJYH0s_ohtJwlFO4G9_xYrWP29MeZ_sRYpsBys0zBse7JwxKdLEpb3CpgM-lHFAmZT24y6yzUDjSDBC_1TgVRlY/s399/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="399" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun9o6i1PBJ3QjlIo3GG49BdLiQXU9dHHAnZ9WLQvytEy-TYmPlEL5uJYH0s_ohtJwlFO4G9_xYrWP29MeZ_sRYpsBys0zBse7JwxKdLEpb3CpgM-lHFAmZT24y6yzUDjSDBC_1TgVRlY/w400-h209/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><center style="text-align: left;"><div>I'm joining up with Deb from Readerbuzz and her <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-sunday-salon-week-in-which-i-wead.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #800180;">Sunday Salon</span></a>.</div><div><br /></div></center><center><br /></center>
Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-34884027464105714302023-10-26T16:58:00.003-06:002023-10-26T16:58:27.857-06:00Cat Thursday- Halloween Kitties<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9keGn-AVqQhf6jni9IjLnpNgvUQrMUA8bUOtgHIu9ZjdEcR_HGNwNWXamlQD63ZP5mysflVxdYR3wJuoxcYpPYWJafH89H-xmqZzHtWavAut59nt5hKY7RzuvDPLaMDWFfrnkDNdXnuQ/s475/cat+thursday.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="361" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9keGn-AVqQhf6jni9IjLnpNgvUQrMUA8bUOtgHIu9ZjdEcR_HGNwNWXamlQD63ZP5mysflVxdYR3wJuoxcYpPYWJafH89H-xmqZzHtWavAut59nt5hKY7RzuvDPLaMDWFfrnkDNdXnuQ/w304-h400/cat+thursday.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /> Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at <a href="http://www.truebookaddict.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">True Book Addict</span></a>) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!<p></p><p>I thought I'd scour the interwebs for some cute cat Halloween costume pics...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/products/2021/9/30/1/rx_etsy_barista-cat-costume.jpeg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1633037811357.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/products/2021/9/30/1/rx_etsy_barista-cat-costume.jpeg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.suffix/1633037811357.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/halloween-costumes-for-catsat0-75x-64ad658110c72.png?crop=0.412xw:0.824xh;0.535xw,0.0833xh&resize=640:*" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/halloween-costumes-for-catsat0-75x-64ad658110c72.png?crop=0.412xw:0.824xh;0.535xw,0.0833xh&resize=640:*" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.etsystatic.com/18460845/r/il/43ad38/4862610978/il_794xN.4862610978_hrv5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://i.etsystatic.com/18460845/r/il/43ad38/4862610978/il_794xN.4862610978_hrv5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRUmJhJpGbe9d9_uxv_fl39_6wmPHu6K0Dup26oVtDyjOOmosWPM59IOTGdnPEeHs29xOY&usqp=CAU" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="640" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRUmJhJpGbe9d9_uxv_fl39_6wmPHu6K0Dup26oVtDyjOOmosWPM59IOTGdnPEeHs29xOY&usqp=CAU" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSn14XFWU7Vcn5KsmOmgDMNxRaA5wC1GNYOp9CoZ2WcibQLlpr2veqxzcVDp7XEOu-FGVw&usqp=CAU" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="225" height="398" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSn14XFWU7Vcn5KsmOmgDMNxRaA5wC1GNYOp9CoZ2WcibQLlpr2veqxzcVDp7XEOu-FGVw&usqp=CAU" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-20190185139510972192023-10-07T16:21:00.000-06:002023-10-07T16:21:19.796-06:00The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631585309i/32758901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="503" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631585309i/32758901.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /> I read through this series in less than a month and have pre-ordered the next installment. Murderbot forever! This series was a breath of fresh air. Wells introduces us to a world where corporations run the galaxy and robots are their mere servants. It's a world we can fathom but a world so unlike our own.<p></p><p>We begin with Murderbot on assignment with a group of humans on a remote planet. She's the Secbot for the group where she runs security and attempts to keep her humans safe...but they find another group that's been murdered and they barely survive and only with Murderbot's help. The thing that no one realizes is that Murderbot has overridden its governor module, so no one can order it to do anything. And yet it finds itself caring about these humans but does not know how to really socialize or interact with them...I can relate...</p><p>The next books take us on various missions of Murderbot as it tries to hide from the company that will take it back and scrap it for junk, as well as figure out why it became Murderbot in the first place...</p><p>Excellent series and I can't wait for more. Murderbot is anxious, moody, and depressed, yet it cares and keeps going and doing what needs to be done. Should we all be so lucky to have bots like it in our lives.</p>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-52859127468675889002023-09-21T00:00:00.002-06:002023-09-21T00:00:00.145-06:00Cat Thursday-- Back to School<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/s399/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="399" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/w400-h261/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at <a href="http://www.truebookaddict.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">True Book Addict</span></a>) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!<p></p><p>It has been a really really tough month. I started a new job and three days in my mother passed away unexpectedly, and I got Covid from my son that same day. Needless to say, it has been a very tough few weeks and my posting has been non existent. It was light before with other life stuff (moving) and now it jumped off the cliff. I'm tender and sad but I love the book blogosphere and Cat Thursday makes me laugh and gets me out of my funk.</p><p>With the start of a new school year, I figured some cat school memes would be appropriate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.chzbgr.com/full/8603684608/h6DA8888A/naturally" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="641" height="400" src="https://i.chzbgr.com/full/8603684608/h6DA8888A/naturally" width="323" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a8/35/84/a83584fd3a2e73dd05cc6083dfffd651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="320" height="371" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a8/35/84/a83584fd3a2e73dd05cc6083dfffd651.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/10/be/76/10be765dc1b49af917ff4900140746f7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="736" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/10/be/76/10be765dc1b49af917ff4900140746f7.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.redd.it/b3mkyyq3blk51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://i.redd.it/b3mkyyq3blk51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-80347956518002418702023-08-24T16:25:00.005-06:002023-08-24T16:25:50.012-06:00Cat Thursday--Life With Cats...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/s512/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="512" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/w400-h261/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at <a href="http://www.truebookaddict.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">True Book Addict</span></a>) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!</p><p>I've been seeing some funny cat-themed comics floating around the Interwebs, so I thought I'd share a few funny ones today. <a href="https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-cat-comics-catsu" target="_blank"><span style="color: #d9d2e9;">Bored Panda</span></a> has a whole post on them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-one-about-drama-queens-581078e388877__605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="605" height="600" src="https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-one-about-drama-queens-581078e388877__605.jpg" width="605" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-one-about-drama-queens-5810780c2ed3a__605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="605" height="542" src="https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-one-about-drama-queens-5810780c2ed3a__605.jpg" width="605" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-one-about-drama-queens-5810789d46084__605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="605" height="542" src="https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-one-about-drama-queens-5810789d46084__605.jpg" width="605" /></a></div><br /><p>Check them all out! These are so true of my kitties. I'm dying.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-66105203666299264312023-08-12T15:38:00.001-06:002023-08-13T15:07:25.251-06:00It's Still Hot but Summer Is Officially Over...<p>
How time flies...this summer has been a weird one. Moving really messed
with our summer rhythm this year. We have been fixing things up, fixing things
that have broken, figuring out how the sprinklers work, how to best mow our
lawn that's on very big incline...Plus unpacking and decorating...meeting the
neighbors...Our AC unit went out during the big heat wave of over 100 degrees
for a few days. I love hiking during the summer and between the long spring
and moving...yeah, just didn't happen as a family like we usually do.
</p>
<p>
But we did make it down to the Shakespearean Festival a few hours south of us
with some friends. G performed a shortened version of "A Midsummer Night's
Dream" in his drama class in May so he was excited to see the full
Shakespearean version at the Festival. It was so good. It's the first time any
of had been and we weren't disappointed. And we did manage a hike or two while
we were down there for the weekend! So one little getaway before G goes back
to school...on Monday! He starts high school! 9th grade...how did that happen?!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53111892964/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2023-07-29 08.59.38"><img alt="2023-07-29 08.59.38" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53111892964_0afcfbd11f.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail to Thor's Hideout</td></tr></tbody></table><center><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53112188913/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2023-07-29 08.46.33"><img alt="2023-07-29 08.46.33" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53112188913_bf2cf3bf05.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thor's throne at the end!</td></tr></tbody></table><center><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53112188953/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-07-29 08.16.12"><img alt="2023-07-29 08.16.12" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53112188953_623bc26d64.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53111688166/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2023-07-29 19.50.09"><img alt="2023-07-29 19.50.09" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53111688166_aa4dd7f59a.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Globe Theater where we saw A Midsummer Night's Dream</td></tr></tbody></table><center><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53112106770/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2023-07-29 13.53.57"><img alt="2023-07-29 13.53.57" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53112106770_ca435a89e1.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cedar Breaks National Monument in Southern Utah</td></tr></tbody></table><center><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53112205248/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-07-29 13.54.39"><img alt="2023-07-29 13.54.39" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53112205248_a999da0081.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53112192278/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-07-29 14.08.36"><img alt="2023-07-29 14.08.36" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53112192278_01bc8986da.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53112217973/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-07-29 16.11.08"><img alt="2023-07-29 16.11.08" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53112217973_0d4425f59c.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53112217963/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-07-29 16.11.11"><img alt="2023-07-29 16.11.11" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53112217963_7660dcaaa4.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53111921429/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-07-29 16.14.23"><img alt="2023-07-29 16.14.23" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53111921429_86d9d38e5a.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br />
<div>We went for a morning hike by our AirBnb called Thor's Hideout. We went early so the heat wasn't too bad. Then we went to see Cedar Breaks National Monument that was just a bit up the road as well. Gorgeous mountain views! We also saw some local Paiute petroglyphs. There were a ton all along the mountain side. I put up the interpretations from the archaeological side as well as from the Paiute side. Super fascinating to read through these. It was lovely to get away for even a small amount of time this summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Books</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53111758021/in/dateposted-public/" title="Books read in July"><img alt="Books read in July" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53111758021_19252eaf05.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><b>I read:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><i>The Creeping Shadow</i></b> by Jonathan Stroud (Lockwood & Co. #4)</li><li><b><i>The Empty Grave</i></b> by Jonathan Stroud (Lockwood & Co. #5)</li><li><b><i>A House With Good Bones</i></b> by T. Kingfisher</li><li><b><i>Remarkably Bright Creatures</i></b> by Shelby Van Pelt</li><li><b><i>Phantoms</i></b> by Dean Koontz</li><li><b><i>Little Eve</i></b> by Catriona Ward</li></ul><div>I really enjoyed finishing off the <i>Lockwood & Co.</i> series. G finished it off right before I did so once I was done we were able to discuss and wish for more one day! I'm sad Netflix canceled the series. I thought they did a really great job with it.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTg0ODc5OTAyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTUzMjAyMQ@@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="263" height="475" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTg0ODc5OTAyNV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTUzMjAyMQ@@._V1_.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br />My neighbor across the street from me loves to read (bonus) and loves horror movies (extra bonus) so we read Dean Koontz' <i>Phantoms</i> together and we discovered a movie was made based off this book in the late 90s! What?! With Ben Affleck!? Peter O'Toole? Why had I never heard of it before? Well, the book was fun and different but the movie was silly...but hey we had fun watching a super young Ben Affleck and Liev Schreiber!</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been reading mostly horror and mysteries this summer...it's been really good for me. "Little Eve" was great and creepy and weird. T. Kingfisher's books never disappoint. Always funny with some weird creepy bits to keep things interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Remarkably Bright Creatures</i> was one that took me a few months to finish. I listened to it and some of the voices didn't quite jive but it was cute and I loved Maurice the Octopus! I wanted more of his story and voice but alas it was a bit trite overall. Not sure why I disagreed with so many who just raved about this book. I didn't particularly like Cameron who was written like he was 16...I kept forgetting how old he actually was in the book. It was really off-putting. Seems like other people who didn't like it as much complained about the same thing. Oh well. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Reading</b></div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><i>American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer </i></b>by Kai Bird. I've been wanting to read this for awhile but especially once the movie came out. It's really really interesting. Bird is a great writer who keeps us engaged and keeps Oppenheimer's story going.</li><li><b><i>John Adams </i></b>by David McCullough. Who knew John Adams was so down-to-earth? I had no clue. McCullough brings his story to life. It's huge. Hopefully I can get it done before September is over...</li><li><b><i>The Mistress of Bhatia House</i></b> (Perveen Mistry #4) by Sujata Massey.</li><li><b><i>Fire</i></b> (Graceling #2) by Kristin Cashore. Reading this one with G at night...it's weird. It's not our favorite, especially since Graceling was so fantastic, but we have more books in this series to get to so onward and upward!</li></ul><div><b>Movies</b></div></div><div><br /></div><div>We saw <b><i>Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny</i></b> in the theater...It was fine but the CGI was terrible. But it was a nice send off to the character of Indy.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BM2RjMjU0NDMtMmM2MS00MTRmLWI1YmMtZWQwZjUxNzZhMWEyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQzNTA5MzYz._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BM2RjMjU0NDMtMmM2MS00MTRmLWI1YmMtZWQwZjUxNzZhMWEyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQzNTA5MzYz._V1_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />Polite Society</i></b> was really fun! It premiered at Sundance and I think I saw it on Peacock but it is well worth a watch.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Aftersun</i></b> was a beautiful little film. Also highly recommend seeing that one.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Insidious: The Red Door</i></b>. Saw this one in the theater twice! The first two movies were the best in the series. It then went of the rails a bit but this one brings the first two to a close. Lots of great jump scares, too. Definitely worth it if you have enjoyed the series.</div><div><br /></div><div>We also introduced G to <b><i>Tommy Boy</i></b> for the first time! He really enjoyed it, which makes me happy. It's one of my favorite comedies of the 90s. Win!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>TV</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I've been catching up on <b><i>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds</i></b>, <i><b>Joe Pickett</b></i>, and <b><i>The Lincoln Lawyer</i></b>. <b><i>Only Murders in the Building</i></b>'s new season just started as well. With the writer's and actor's strike, looks like I'll have more time to catch up this Fall... DH and I still need to catch up on <i>Ted Lasso, Barry, What We Do in the Shadows, and The Witcher.</i> </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm joining up with Deb from Readerbuzz and her <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-sunday-salon-at-homeat-last.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #800180;">Sunday Salon</span></a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun9o6i1PBJ3QjlIo3GG49BdLiQXU9dHHAnZ9WLQvytEy-TYmPlEL5uJYH0s_ohtJwlFO4G9_xYrWP29MeZ_sRYpsBys0zBse7JwxKdLEpb3CpgM-lHFAmZT24y6yzUDjSDBC_1TgVRlY/s399/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="399" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun9o6i1PBJ3QjlIo3GG49BdLiQXU9dHHAnZ9WLQvytEy-TYmPlEL5uJYH0s_ohtJwlFO4G9_xYrWP29MeZ_sRYpsBys0zBse7JwxKdLEpb3CpgM-lHFAmZT24y6yzUDjSDBC_1TgVRlY/w400-h209/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-80179264282203882382023-07-10T15:40:00.004-06:002023-07-11T15:31:53.676-06:00Happy 4th!<p>
We had a really great time on the 4th of July. We did some yardwork in
the morning and met some neighbors we hadn't met yet! Dan and Adam showed us
the sweet spot behind our houses in the hills where we could see all the
fireworks across the valley. It was a beautiful sight and we didn't have to
spend a dime!
</p><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53036402257/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-07-04 21.57.38"><img alt="2023-07-04 21.57.38" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53036402257_6bf85d8d4d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><p></p>
<div>I convinced G to go on a little walk behind our house and up the hills! It gets steep fairly quickly but we got some fantastic views.</div><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53036407127/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-07-05 16.49.54"><img alt="2023-07-05 16.49.54" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53036407127_9f5e2e3aa2.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53036407157/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-07-05 16.50.37"><img alt="2023-07-05 16.50.37" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53036407157_600a38627a.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><div>Our weekend was spent on the yard and planning ways to flip our parking strip, getting the sprinkler system figured out, and relaxing with a drink or two. The sun dips behind the mountain a little after 7 PM and that means we can have a little time in the backyard just relaxing without a hot sun on us. After all the craziness of moving in and unpacking, it's been nice enjoying a bit of having our own backyard and relaxing in the evenings.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Books</b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369670906i/13555073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369670906i/13555073.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />I've been reading <i><b>The Lockwood & Co</b></i>. by Jonathan Stroud series with G. I'm two books behind but am catching up quickly. I read <b><i>The Screaming Staircase</i></b>, <b><i>The Whispering Skull</i></b>, and <b><i>The Hollow Boy</i></b>. I'm almost done with <b><i>The Creeping Shadow</i></b> and then on to final book. Netflix made a series out of it and combined the first two books in one season. I think they did a really good job but unfortunately they canceled it after one season.</div><div>Stroud is a British author and the series does read quite a bit different from an American one. Lockwood, Lucy, and George are teens who live in a world where ghosts have broken free and basically terrorize the world at night. The Problem, as it's called, has been around for at least 50 years or so. And only kids and teens can see the ghosts so it's up to them to take care of them. Lockwood is good at Sight, Lucy at Touch and Listening, and George is mediocre in all of them but exceptional at research. They are the only independent agency in London. The other agencies are all run by adults and supervise the children on all jobs.</div><div>It's a very strange world and the first book to a minute to grasp the world and the people in it but it picks up halfway through and we're hooked. We see the world through Lucy but she's a very unreliable narrator since she's a kid and doesn't know how to process the world quite yet. How did the Problem begin, how to reverse it? Who's conspiring with whom? Lots of pieces to the overall mystery get solved through the books and we see the rag-tag team grow with each book.</div><div>Stroud writes a fine line between actually writing a world with kids acting like adults and having the adults feel put upon for having to rely on kids to keep them safe. It almost reminds be a bit of Roald Dahl where the adults are useless and it's up to the kids to get it right!</div><div>Also, there are some genuinely creep parts in the books. So if you're up for some mild horror and mystery this is a great series.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also started <b><i>John Adams</i></b> by David McCullough. I am surprised at how readable it is. I'm really enjoying it so far. I'm hoping to finish it by the end of summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also finished of <b><i>Graceling</i></b> by Kristin Cashore with G. It's my third read with this book. Still holds up. Now we're reading <b><i>Fire</i></b> together. It doesn't quite flow as well as <i>Graceling </i>but it's still interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>TV and Movies</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I've been catching up on <b><i>Yellowjackets</i></b> on Paramount+. <b><i>Star Trek: Strange New Worlds</i></b> is back on for its second season. And I finally caught up on the latest <i><b>Mandalorian</b></i> season on Disney+. DH and I are slowly catching up with the final season of <b><i>Ted Lasso</i></b> as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Movies have been a bit slower. We haven't seen anything in the theaters for a bit. We watched <b><i>Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Last Ark </i></b>with G. That movie is still pretty good even after all these years.</div><div><br /></div><div>We're heading down to a Shakespearian Festival at the end of the month to see <b><i>A Midsummer Night's Dream</i></b>. We've been wanting to go down every year for awhile now but we're actually doing it this summer. Wahoo! G did a shortened version of it for drama class in April so he is excited to see the full version and in the proper Shakespearean English. It'll probably be the only big thing we do this summer so I'm pretty excited.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm linking up with Deb from <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-sunday-salon-2408-pages.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #800180;">Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon</span></a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbtUGx0s08HG-KMY7Jkj5KLUZPVYx3fo2mZMZpjVe6mt5nCsw_I3Yfu43SBq3Pe5l5gJiM-k_h0NrjHRVTZB5jFVEw9l8K1TrcCmARtMdKHbg-E4vdzcRk9wqpQ2-w_E8flr9QLywFjuNvTMPkijsdu36HcjYQ2FMZV4hsN0icfJ9WB1z5SZHQ3Ca/s300/6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="300" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbtUGx0s08HG-KMY7Jkj5KLUZPVYx3fo2mZMZpjVe6mt5nCsw_I3Yfu43SBq3Pe5l5gJiM-k_h0NrjHRVTZB5jFVEw9l8K1TrcCmARtMdKHbg-E4vdzcRk9wqpQ2-w_E8flr9QLywFjuNvTMPkijsdu36HcjYQ2FMZV4hsN0icfJ9WB1z5SZHQ3Ca/w320-h107/6.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-88116586813564719632023-06-29T00:00:00.002-06:002023-06-29T00:00:00.137-06:00Cat Thursday--Kitties in Their New Home<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at <a
href="http://www.truebookaddict.com/"
target="_blank"
><span style="color: red;">True Book Addict</span></a
>) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting
a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share
with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!
<p></p>
<p>
It's been way too long since I did a Cat Thursday. Whew! Since we just moved
we decided to get our cats some new toys. I love watching them play in our new
house!
</p>
<p><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53009066545/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-05-30 18.02.02"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53009066545_fe16d3e80f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="2023-05-30 18.02.02"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center></p>
<p><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/53008687901/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-06-10 19.22.12"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53008687901_1ea6fddc31.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="2023-06-10 19.22.12"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center></p>
Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-87726398376132033802023-06-28T10:56:00.003-06:002023-06-28T10:56:23.714-06:00Life Update! Oh My! We Moved!<p>
It's been a very Spring. Our town home finally sold end of May and we
closed on everything three weeks later. There was also some question of
whether we'd get the home we wanted...and lots of other moving related
craziness. Moving is hard and I never want to do it again! But we had amazing
friends help us get all of our crap moved out and back in and I'm so grateful
for them! I really don't know what we would have done. Some of them even put
their strong male teenagers to the test! Some drops of blood were drawn but
nothing that some ointment and a bandage couldn't fix...whew.
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52979523729/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2023-05-28 19.47.38"><img alt="2023-05-28 19.47.38" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52979523729_6a78cea010.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from my bedroom</td></tr></tbody></table><center><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52979833028/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2023-05-28 19.47.20"><img alt="2023-05-28 19.47.20" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52979833028_99811a335b.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of my backyard (needs work but nature!)</td></tr></tbody></table><center><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
<p>
We are only a few miles away from our old place so we can easily have friends
over and visit our old neighbors. But we have some amazing views of the valley
and mountains. It's so quiet. And our cats love the birds in the backyard and
the space. They were a bit hesitant the first week or so but they're getting
into the groove of the best spots by the windows and the couches, of course.
</p>
<p>
We're also still unboxing everything and patching, retouching paint, figuring
out sprinklers, where to hang our pictures, how to decorate, and where to put
everything....it'll be a work in-progress for awhile. And no HOA here. And a
few of the neighbors dropped by to say hi while we were moving in and they all
seemed very nice and welcoming.
</p>
<p>
I even managed to go on a mini wine trip with some friends right before the
big move. It was a welcome vacation!
</p><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52979743520/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-05-20 11.50.28"><img alt="2023-05-20 11.50.28" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52979743520_7a801d4c93.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52978766747/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-05-20 13.49.19"><img alt="2023-05-20 13.49.19" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52978766747_412bbdf88d.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>
<p>
G finished up grade 8 and middle school officially. He'll technically be in
high school in the fall! What? He'll still attend 9th at his charter, so there
won't be a big difference between last year and this coming year but yeah I
can still call him a high schooler....
</p>
<p>
Oh, and my nephew got married as well! Whew! It was a beautiful ceremony and a
beautiful venue. I'm so happy for him and his new wife.
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52979371681/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2023-05-31 15.17.43"><img alt="2023-05-31 15.17.43" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52979371681_f817182ed4.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally bought G a tie!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><center><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><b>Grateful For:</b><p></p>
<div>1. We are moved and I'm so excited it's happened!</div><div>2. The weather. We've been having thunder storms and lots of rain in our deserty state. We're opening windows well into June which is so unusual. It's been a nice spring and I'm soaking it in.</div><div>3. Meeting a new friend. She's one of my neighbors and we just went to a movie together! She's great!</div><div>4. My cats. I love watching them discover the house and take some trips out back and loving their new spaces. It's been a rough few months on them as well and I am happy they are happy! They are my babies too.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Books</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I have started and am working on so many but I did manage to read 4 books since my last update so I feel that's pretty good considering how busy and no time for reading I've been! Wahoo.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality</i> (Aru Shah #5) by Roshani Chokshi</div><div><br /></div><div>This was the last in the series and me and G really enjoyed it. It was a fitting ending and so much fun.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Gallant</i> by V.E. Schwab</div><div><br /></div><div>This was a stand-a-lone fantasy/horror. I was hoping for a bit more. The plot was a bit lackluster and the world-building wasn't sketched in as fully I was would have liked. But it was entertaining and I read through it relatively quickly.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth</i> by Jonathan Rauch</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd like to go back through this one again and do a full review. He really lays out how important truth and transparency is in all of our institutions and how they have been slowly eaten away and how. And how we can hold our institutions more accountable. It gets a bit repetitive in parts but overall it's a timely and important book.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>How to Sell a Haunted House</i> by Grady Hendrix</div><div><br /></div><div>I actually started this in April but due to my move....it just didn't quite sit well with me. So I actually didn't finish this until we had moved into our new house and I read it really fast. Hendrix is a quirky author and I'm always entertained.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just need to get this up! I finished a couple more books this last week but I'll put those up next time. </div>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-89905369825765175612023-04-20T00:00:00.001-06:002023-04-20T00:00:00.208-06:00Cat Thursday--Welcome to Spring!<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos9vZmw4clT09vG7y6PnvSJxx9SwqtNaJ5X5uBHJH16F-iTmQHJQZxaBlRKxTiDx4ytkYJ1be8NbEScQ_qm_b7FiTQ8xRGPhm5eq4kRWMSuwYqkk-_5BsmDwnxNXDRyYypNsU8s-cYcaOMJ-HW7WaU_4-rKuMVshfxBZxz6_TsaRypbhHp2qzxn7i/s512/Cat%20Thursday%20new.png"
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<br />Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at <a
href="http://www.truebookaddict.com/"
target="_blank"
><span style="color: red;">True Book Addict</span></a
>) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting
a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share
with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!
<p></p>
<p>
Spring is finally in the air here! We took our cats to the park while our we
had our open house on Saturday. I think they enjoyed parts of it but it's
probably not something we want to do that long again. But it was a gorgeous
day and Nala spent most of her time in her tunnel and Shadow enjoyed the tree.
</p>
<p><br /></p><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52830698755/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-04-15 11.00.02"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52830698755_d19bb6ae6b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="2023-04-15 11.00.02"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52830698895/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-04-15 10.53.19"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52830698895_5ecb188671.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="2023-04-15 10.53.19"/></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-48614727523959366752023-04-17T13:21:00.000-06:002023-04-17T13:21:09.709-06:00March Update...and a bit of Spring Break<p>
Spring is officially here but is it really here? I'm not so sure...I
think the groundhog meant 8 weeks more not 6. Snow flurries were seen by me
outside my window this afternoon. At least it's not sticking for very long.
</p>
<p>
We've been busy with house stuff and DH's birthday. I made beef stew and Irish
soda bread for St. Patrick's Day. I hosted an Oscar-viewing party and a
friend's birthday party, all-in-one! Oh and more house stuff...
</p>
<p>
I have not been able to read as much as I would've liked this month. Only two
so far but I'm hoping for one or two more by months' end.
</p>
<p>A MONTH LATER....</p>
<p></p><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52825660683/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-04-08 16.15.08"><img alt="2023-04-08 16.15.08" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52825660683_1864c8f10e.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52825620080/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-04-08 17.04.38"><img alt="2023-04-08 17.04.38" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52825620080_47221e641f.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52824650637/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-04-08 11.30.02"><img alt="2023-04-08 11.30.02" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52824650637_4c81eec87d.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><center><br /></center>
We have been mad people getting our house ready to go on the market! Lots of
cleaning and repairing and moving junk out. We finally got our house up last
week and had an open house Saturday. Nothing came of it yet but it's early
yet...But we have to have our cats out when we do showings and it is so hard
to figure out what to do with them! We went to the park and had them on their
leashes but they were scared by all the noises and people and dogs...so it's
not a permanent solution. I'm hoping our place sells quickly so we won't have
to do too many...
<p></p>
<p>
Spring break was spent cleaning and moving and patching but we did manage to
see a couple of movies together as a family and I took G bowling with a friend
early in the week. Not quite how we wanted to spend it but it is what it
is.
</p>
<p>
G also got visited by the Easter bunny with some cash and jelly beans...plus
we did take the time to decorate a few eggs the night before and G even made the crepes all by himself! Also...Moving is hard!
</p>
<p><b>Books Read:</b></p>
<p>
<b><i>Dawn</i></b> (Night Trilogy #2) by Elie Wiesel
</p>
<p>
<b>Thoughts:</b> All of Wiesel's three books are about the hard truths of
living after surviving the Holocaust and how it isn't really living. There are
no lessons to be learned or easy answers and silver linings. Not easy reads
but very powerful.
</p>
<p>
<b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1620412715i/57800384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1620412715i/57800384.jpg" width="213" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br />Lost & Found</i></b> by Kathryn Schulz
<p></p>
<p>
<b>Thoughts</b>: I loved the way she threaded grief over the death of her
loving father and the finding of the love of her life all around the same
time. It's truly a beautiful book and one I'll return to again.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Upstream: Selected Essays</i></b> by Mary Oliver
</p>
<p>
<b>Thoughts:</b> Mary Oliver has a way with words. You can tell she worships
Nature and she writes to us because she is a disciple and has much to tell and
teach us. I'd like to read one of her books of poetry as well.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>A History of Fear</i></b> by Luke Dumas
</p>
<p>
<b>Thoughts:</b> This was a fun and quick read about a man who kills a fellow
classmate because he says the Devil actually made him do it. It's clever
because he's very much an unreliable narrator and so everything is very
ambiguous. Is it really Satan? Or is he just a severely mentally ill person
who had a psychotic break? And it takes place in Scotland so another bonus.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Don't Fear the Reaper</i></b> by Stephen Graham Jones
</p>
<p>
<b>Thoughts:</b> This is the second book in his horror series. I loved the
first one but had a harder time with the sequel. I listened to it and that may
be why. The narrators jumped around a lot and I think it would have been
easier to follow had I read the hard copy. I'm even unsure about the actual
ending...I'll probably have to reread it before the final books comes out next
year.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Day </i></b>(Night Trilogy #3) by Elie Wiesel. See Dawn above.
</p>
<p><b>Currently Reading:</b></p>
<p>
<b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1650818993i/59414094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1650818993i/59414094.jpg" width="212" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br />The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth</i></b> by Jonathan
Rauch
<p></p>
<p>
<b><i>Gallant</i></b> by V.E. Schwab
</p>
<p>
<b><i>The Revolt of the Public</i></b> by Martin Gurri
</p>
<p>
<b><i>How to Sell a Haunted House</i></b> by Grady Hendrix
</p>
<p><b>TV</b></p>
<p>
<b><i>The Last of Us</i></b>: (HBO) Fascinating look at mushrooms taking us out in their zombie
apocalypse! That finale, whew!
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Poker Face</i></b> (Peacock): Can't wait for season two. Best show for
me in a long time!
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Star Trek: Picard </i></b>(Paramount+): I am loving this season. Best
Star Trek in a very long time.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Star Trek: TNG </i></b>(rewatching. Am on season 7 now.)
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Star Trek: DS9</i></b> (I am watching in tandem with TNG cuz I'm nerding
out.)
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Perry Mason</i></b> (HBO): Started season two which is really good.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Oscars:</i></b> Nothing crazy this year. Pretty nice and mellow.
</p>
<p>
NCAA men's and women's basketball aka March Madness. I didn't see every game
but I saw many and I was not disappointed.
</p>
<p>This month is the NBA Playoffs.</p>
<p><b>Movies</b></p>
<p>
I spent one weekend watching as many of the Oscar movies as I could. The only
two I didn't see for Best Picture were <i>Avatar: Way of the Water</i> and
<i>All Quiet on the Western Front</i>.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Elvis</i></b>: Very weird and Bazzy but that was to be expected. I actually really enjoyed
it.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Triangle of Sadness</i></b>: Not my cup of tea. Meh. Rolling of eyes a lot. And that sea sickness scene
was just too long.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>Women Talking</i></b>: I enjoyed this a lot more that I expected. I had heard it was really boring
or that it felt more like a play. But I didn't feel that way at all while
watching. I was intrigued the whole time and it ended up being one of my
favorites of the year so far.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>The Fabelmans</i></b>: Interesting take on a fictionalized version of Spielberg's childhood. Seth
Rogan was not my favorite in it. I felt he detracted from the story,
unfortunately. Overall, it was just OK for me.
</p>
<p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://mlpnk72yciwc.i.optimole.com/cqhiHLc.IIZS~2ef73/w:auto/h:auto/q:75/https://bleedingcool.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/dungeons_and_dragons_honor_among_thieves_ver10_xxlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://mlpnk72yciwc.i.optimole.com/cqhiHLc.IIZS~2ef73/w:auto/h:auto/q:75/https://bleedingcool.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/dungeons_and_dragons_honor_among_thieves_ver10_xxlg.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />Theater: I saw <b><i>Scream VI</i></b> with a friend,
<b><i>John Wick 4</i></b> with DH, and
<b><i>Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves</i></b> and
<b><i>The Super Mario Bros. Movie </i></b>with G and DH last month and last
week. I think that's the most I've been to a theater in the last 3 years? All
were pretty entertaining and glad I saw them!
<p></p>
<p>
The rest of April will be pretty chaotic. Until our house sells we are on
notice for a showing anytime during the day and evening...G's final weeks of
school are counting down as well....Looking forward to a time when we're in
our new home and we can settle down again!
</p>
<p></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun9o6i1PBJ3QjlIo3GG49BdLiQXU9dHHAnZ9WLQvytEy-TYmPlEL5uJYH0s_ohtJwlFO4G9_xYrWP29MeZ_sRYpsBys0zBse7JwxKdLEpb3CpgM-lHFAmZT24y6yzUDjSDBC_1TgVRlY/s399/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="399" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun9o6i1PBJ3QjlIo3GG49BdLiQXU9dHHAnZ9WLQvytEy-TYmPlEL5uJYH0s_ohtJwlFO4G9_xYrWP29MeZ_sRYpsBys0zBse7JwxKdLEpb3CpgM-lHFAmZT24y6yzUDjSDBC_1TgVRlY/w400-h209/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<br />Joining up with Deb from Readerbuzz and her <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-sunday-salon-in-which-i-realize-i.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Sunday Salon</span></a>.
<p></p>
<p><br /></p>
Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-20056255249871107642023-03-23T00:00:00.001-06:002023-03-23T00:00:00.189-06:00Cat Thursday-Flying with Cats...<p> I'm always amazed at people who can bring their cats places...I know they 'train' or whatever but still I think you need a pretty chill cat who can just give no bleeps about going from one strange place to another...Case in point. We have Brian who started <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/cat-jetblue-flight-cabin-b2304935.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #800180;">wandering the aisle of his flight</span></a> while his staff slept close by. He'd escaped his carrier and wanted the run of the place!</p><p>Soon the flight attendant found the naughty kitty and held him up so his staff could identify him! An author on the same flight woke up to the announcement and took a picture and posted it on Twitter which went viral. </p><p>He was safely reunited with his loving staff!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FrbLs1wWIAQZs7K?format=jpg&name=large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FrbLs1wWIAQZs7K?format=jpg&name=large" width="480" /></a></div><br /><blockquote><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Indy Serif", "Adjusted Indy Serif Fallback", serif; font-size: 19px;">“Attendant’s not-amused-but-a-little-amused face is everything”, wrote one commenter, while another said: “Retired flight attendant here, my dream flight would have been one full of cats and dogs, no humans.”</span></div></blockquote><p>Let me hear some Amens! That's my dream...TSA agents are cats and so are all the passengers.</p><p> </p>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-53858021151640531152023-03-22T16:31:00.001-06:002023-03-22T16:31:06.033-06:00Spring Into Horror 2023!<p> One of the many things I look forward to as spring pushes out the cold and dreary winter...is the <a href="http://seasonsreading.blogspot.com/2023/03/sign-up-for-spring-into-horror-readathon.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Spring Into Horror</span></a> read-a-thon hosted by Michelle at her Seasons of Reading blog! It runs from April 1st til April 30th and you just need to read/listen to one type of horrorish book! It's all to get us excited that we only have six months left until Halloween time. Check it out and join in!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybdLi-lDqt1B_ls1OSh8RkqINGIN3Xsu0EF6QEGA5AiQxGd080JwT4Txc4CBNwTXGmfBW41qrUx6lVDSt5yYyt_enJtadG5QkrNjwB7bb_Hz0uCcjuazASRuDRU2Dw5I8pLHwUwK0NeYK60nx9J6CSV82W87njUc_5jUOaF6sYw9pdWXdHSH6jjpi/s483/Spring%20into%20Horror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="483" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybdLi-lDqt1B_ls1OSh8RkqINGIN3Xsu0EF6QEGA5AiQxGd080JwT4Txc4CBNwTXGmfBW41qrUx6lVDSt5yYyt_enJtadG5QkrNjwB7bb_Hz0uCcjuazASRuDRU2Dw5I8pLHwUwK0NeYK60nx9J6CSV82W87njUc_5jUOaF6sYw9pdWXdHSH6jjpi/w640-h360/Spring%20into%20Horror.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Here are a few I'd like to read:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><i>How to Sell a Haunted House</i></b> by Grady Hendrix. I love his books. Funny, nostalgic, and a little bit spooky.</li><li><b><i>Malice House</i></b> by Megan Shepherd</li><li><b><i>Hide</i></b> by Kiersten White</li><li><b><i>These Silent Woods</i></b> by Kimi Cunningham Grant</li><li><b><i>Craven Manor</i></b> by Darcy Coates</li><li><b><i>The Book of Accidents</i></b> by Chuck Wendig</li></ul><div>I hope at least two? Fingers crossed.</div><p></p><p><br /></p>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-77263756088688356422023-03-01T17:03:00.001-07:002023-03-01T17:03:15.246-07:00February! Where did you go? G's Birthday and Life...<p>
I kind of checked out a bit in February. Between the winter blues,
health issues, life, ugh...whatever. I just didn't get on here. Anyhoo, G had
his 14th birthday last month! What? It is hard to realize how much time has
passed and how little there is before he starts making his way in the world in
one form or another.
</p>
<p>
I just love G and who he is and who he's becoming! We found out about a new
conveyer belt sushi place nearby and G said that is where he wanted to go for
his birthday dinner. We haven't been to a place like this as a family since we
moved back from Japan so it was a real treat!
</p>
<p>
The next weekend we took him and a few of his friends to a trampoline place
and they went crazy for hours!
</p>
<p>
The other big stuff is the storms...wow, and we didn't even get hit like other
states...we have not had this much snow since 2007?!
</p>
<p>
I also attended Sundance online and attended one movie with the family at the
end of January. I am so happy they allow for the hybrid model since the
pandemic.
</p>
<br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52720492395/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-02-09 20.33.13"><img alt="2023-02-09 20.33.13" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52720492395_664bfe0553.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center a="" data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52720338809/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-02-11 14.41.10"><img alt="2023-02-11 14.41.10" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52720338809_3d66041fdc.jpg" width="500" /></center><center a="" data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52720338809/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-02-11 14.41.10"><br /></center><center a="" data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52720338809/in/dateposted-public/" style="text-align: left;" title="2023-02-11 14.41.10">Also got out of the house to snow shoe with my friends! Gorgeous. </center><center a="" data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52720338809/in/dateposted-public/" style="text-align: left;" title="2023-02-11 14.41.10"><br /></center><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52720556363/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-02-04 12.18.18-1"><img alt="2023-02-04 12.18.18-1" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52720556363_02f1e47fd1.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>Movies at Sundance I really liked:</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.texasstandard.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mariachicascabel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="800" height="201" src="https://www.texasstandard.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mariachicascabel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24079640/" target="_blank">Going Varsity in Mariachi:</a></i></b> This was a fantastic documentary on a specific mariachi high school band in Texas. I had no idea this was a thing and it was amazing to watch these extremely talented young adults work hard and love on their mariachi culture. If you get a chance to see it, please do it!</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_af3360de_ed4c_464b_b7d3_49852734371d.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="349" height="320" src="https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_af3360de_ed4c_464b_b7d3_49852734371d.png" width="216" /></a></div><br />The Amazing Maurice:</i></b> We saw this one in-person as a family and with my friend and her family. It's based off of one of the Discworld books <i>The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents</i> by Terry Pratchett. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYjZiY2I1MzYtYzM3Ny00YWZhLTgyNzEtNTY0YmFjZTdlNzllXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTk0NTc5MDM@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="541" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYjZiY2I1MzYtYzM3Ny00YWZhLTgyNzEtNTY0YmFjZTdlNzllXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTk0NTc5MDM@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls</i></b>: Was a weird gem! Kind of a horror-comedy but not scary at all. If you like weird probably soon-to-be cult-classic films this one's for you.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Fancy Dance </i></b>and <b><i>The Persian Version</i></b> are honorable mentions.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>Books Finished in February:</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">G agreed to do Battle of the Books with a group of his friends at school so I've been working through a few of them alongside him.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9780440843160-us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9780440843160-us.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><br />The Devil's Arithmetic</i></b> by Jane Yolen-</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I really liked this simple yet powerful story about Hannah, a modern Jewish girl who is transported back in time during the Passover. What's to remember during the Passover? Turns out a lot. Hannah experiences first-hand what it was like to be captured brutally with her people and thrown into concentration camps. I'm truly amazed how she was able to capture full-fledged characters and the awful history of the Holocaust into such a short book for middle schoolers.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/scholastic/kids/image/books/ANightDivided.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="551" height="320" src="https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/scholastic/kids/image/books/ANightDivided.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br />A Divided Nation</i></b> by Jennifer Nielsen--</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Gerta and her family live in East Berlin, controlled by Russia, in the early 60s. Her father and her brother Dominic are in West Berlin during the night that East Berlin began putting up wired fences and then eventually the Berlin Wall.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Nielsen gives us a peak into what life was like for those who were caught on the wrong side of the wall through Gerta and her brother Fitz. Neighbor turning against neighbor as the Stasi listens in and demands obedience.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">It's a great introduction for kids into what that time was like and hopefully after reading it will want to learn more!</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/610P6xsJfyL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/610P6xsJfyL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational</i></b> by Michael Shermer--</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I really enjoyed the deep-dive into the psychology of conspiracism, how it works, and which conspiracies actually turned out to be true, like the conspiracy that started World War I. He also gives a pretty detailed analysis of some of the common conspiracies of our time like JFK's assassination and 9/11. He also gives us a lesson on common cognitive biases and how we can think through them as much as possible. It's a great book to have on the reference shelf.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WOgfKck%2BL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WOgfKck%2BL.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br />Persuasion</i></b> by Jane Austen--</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This is a reread for me...third time! It's my favorite Austen. It was her last book before she died and it shows. I really feel it's her most mature novel. Harvard Press has released big annotated hardbacks for each of her books over the last few years and I am working my way through them! Pride & Prejudice was last year and this year Persuasion started me off.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Lots of interesting details about archaic English words and phrases. Info on what the different carriages were and looked like. And analysis by various people on why Austen said what she said or what things might mean. A whole new worlds opened up to me about the aristocracy and the Navy. They also talked about her more religious side coming out in particular in this novel...maybe due to her declining health? All stuff I would have had no idea about otherwise.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">It's time to re-watch all the <i>Persuasion</i> BBC versions....</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/518PBXqqh4L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/518PBXqqh4L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Aru Shah and the City of Gold</i></b> by Roshani Chokshi (Aru Shah #4)--</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">I read this one aloud to G. We're now on the final book 5!!!!</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">This is my favorite series. Great character development. Wacky fantasy plots and hijinks. Kids who don't know what they're doing but trying to pretend they do and are so anxious about every choice and action and yet they still get up and try and forgive and laugh and cry. I love it!</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>Currently Reading:</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/onix/cvr9781982186593/dont-fear-the-reaper-9781982186593_hr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="522" height="320" src="https://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/onix/cvr9781982186593/dont-fear-the-reaper-9781982186593_hr.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />I'm listening to <b><i>Don't Fear the Reaper</i></b> (The Lake Witch Trilogy #2) by Stephen Graham Jones. I didn't realize this was going to be a trilogy after I read the first one <i>My Heart Is a Chainsaw</i>. It was so good. So I am lapping this one up. It's an all-star cast! Different voice for each character. It's a slasher series so not for the faint of heart...</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Upstream</i></b> by Mary Oliver. I read her memoir/essays in the mornings to give me a good boost. Can she write or can she write? I can't even imagine having a brain like hers and absorbing all that information and spitting it back out. Wow. This is my first dive into Oliver and it's not going to be my last!</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Fourteen Talks by Fourteen: The Essential Conversations You Need to Have with Your Kids Before They Start High School</i></b> by Michelle Icard. G isn't out of middle school yet so I have time....</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i>The Nineties: A Book</i></b> by Chuck Klosterman. I've been wanting to read this one for awhile. The Nineties were my formative years and it's time for the walking of the memory lane...</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Lost & Found</i></b> by Kathryn Schulz. I'm over halfway now and I'm really enjoying her framing of the death of her beloved father and finding the love of her life, and now her wife.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality</i></b> (Aruh Shah #5) by Roshani Chokshi. Final book, which is awesome and also sad...</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>TV</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">DH and I have jumped on the bandwagon for <b><i>The Last of Us</i></b>. Never played the video game nor DH but everyone says it's pretty true to storyline. I'm loving it!</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Picard</i></b> is in its final season but everybody from <i>TNG</i> is back! Well, except for Wesley...I am loving every second of it. I'm also working my way through <i>TNG</i>. I'm on season six and halfway through the season the first season of <i>DS9</i> premiered so I've challenged myself to rewatch that series alongside <i>TNG</i>. </center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://roost.nbcuni.com/bin/viewasset.html/content/dam/Peacock/Landing-Pages/originals/pokerface/pokerface-trailer1.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://roost.nbcuni.com/bin/viewasset.html/content/dam/Peacock/Landing-Pages/originals/pokerface/pokerface-trailer1.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/original.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Poker Face</i></b> (Peacock)--Natasha Lyonne is so good in this. Murder/mystery solve each week. New locales each week. New people she grows to care about...it's so different and yet familiar. I can't rave enough about this one.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Those are the highlights...whew.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><b>March look ahead...</b></center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">DH's birthday is this month. It's the big 5-0 and he is not looking forward to it but we're celebrating with friends anyway! There's St. Patrick's Day. And let's not forget it's the start of spring!!!! I am so excited to be done with this winter. It'll be miserable and cold for another month or so but still...</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Also...we are planning to move in the next few months or so. We're frantically getting our house ready to put on the market. We're moving up in the world. We've been wanting a house for awhile now and even though we should've done it last year for the best bang for our buck with interest rates and all that...it is what it is. A lot of our time is going towards this goal. No crazy out of state move, thank goodness but we are excited to find something a bit closer to DH's work.</center><center style="text-align: left;"><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;">Bookwise...I hope to read a book or two by an Irish author like maybe <b><i>Small Things Like These</i></b> by Claire Keegan or a murder mystery by Dervla McTiernan...</center>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-42422568042448671862023-02-16T10:46:00.005-07:002023-02-16T10:46:39.712-07:00Cat Thursday-- Bag O'Nails<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLpeENJaY2BdVCufslIZwVeHJFtDhKP92T3DOtJo0IlDzanfVyyyQ8V8wJVVh7j95-bavll6JhBFgxyzke1mUqrDFcUWdD_MJHnv6a0N57bFZL0ejyi6PCKuNFkO3n0bxPx6rk5yjk4Y/s400/Cat+Thursday+new.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="400" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLpeENJaY2BdVCufslIZwVeHJFtDhKP92T3DOtJo0IlDzanfVyyyQ8V8wJVVh7j95-bavll6JhBFgxyzke1mUqrDFcUWdD_MJHnv6a0N57bFZL0ejyi6PCKuNFkO3n0bxPx6rk5yjk4Y/w400-h263/Cat+Thursday+new.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at <a href="http://www.truebookaddict.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">True Book Addict</span></a>) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://whyevolutionistrue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AVN-46-5883-bag-of-nails-bristol.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://whyevolutionistrue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AVN-46-5883-bag-of-nails-bristol.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Bag O'Nails is a tiny pub in Bristol, as old as the 19th century, and tourist attraction for travelers from as far away as Japan and Thailand. Why? It's for the cats! According to the article from <a href="https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/gallery/bristols-world-famous-cat-pub-8079700" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Bristol Post</span></a>:<p></p><div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #2c2c2c;"></span></p><blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #2c2c2c;">When landlord Luke Daniels took over the Bag of Nails pub in Hotwells in 2012, he never thought it would become home to 14 felines, let alone a destination for cat tourists to visit in their droves. Bag of Nails on St George's Road started out as a traditional real ale boozer, and after Luke took in one of his friend's cats, Malcom, the feline residents grew over the years with as many as 24 at one time after the arrival of several litters.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #2c2c2c;">What started as Bristol's best-kept secret exploded with a flurry of national media attention that stemmed from an article in the Bristol Evening Post in 2015. "From that moment onwards my life went completely mental for six months straight," Luke remembered. His phone was ringing non-stop with national papers all hoping to get the story.</span></p></blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #2c2c2c;"></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8080421.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_DR_BRI_20200512-Weather004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8080421.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_DR_BRI_20200512-Weather004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8080419.ece/ALTERNATES/s1227b/0_DR_BRI_20200512-Weather011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8080419.ece/ALTERNATES/s1227b/0_DR_BRI_20200512-Weather011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Luke has been able to keep the pub going during the pandemic when the government allowed pubs to deliver beer door-to-door. It's been a boon to have people coming into see the cats and the half of the customers are there for company, food, and especially the beer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Glad the cats and the pub are doing well! If I ever make it to Bristol, this will be on my list to visit!</div>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-14034316897792861202023-02-02T12:48:00.001-07:002023-02-02T12:48:05.503-07:00Cat Thursday-- Groundhog Day!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLpeENJaY2BdVCufslIZwVeHJFtDhKP92T3DOtJo0IlDzanfVyyyQ8V8wJVVh7j95-bavll6JhBFgxyzke1mUqrDFcUWdD_MJHnv6a0N57bFZL0ejyi6PCKuNFkO3n0bxPx6rk5yjk4Y/s400/Cat+Thursday+new.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="400" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLpeENJaY2BdVCufslIZwVeHJFtDhKP92T3DOtJo0IlDzanfVyyyQ8V8wJVVh7j95-bavll6JhBFgxyzke1mUqrDFcUWdD_MJHnv6a0N57bFZL0ejyi6PCKuNFkO3n0bxPx6rk5yjk4Y/w400-h263/Cat+Thursday+new.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> Welcome to the weekly meme (hosted by Michelle at <a href="http://www.truebookaddict.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">True Book Addict</span></a>) that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite lolcat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgflip.com/3nxx4r.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="506" height="493" src="https://i.imgflip.com/3nxx4r.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgflip.com/3nxx0t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="538" height="500" src="https://i.imgflip.com/3nxx0t.jpg" width="538" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgflip.com/2vlk05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="569" height="500" src="https://i.imgflip.com/2vlk05.jpg" width="569" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6a/12/df/6a12dfc02c0507adf16cef8955db5649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6a/12/df/6a12dfc02c0507adf16cef8955db5649.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-86360211031962962452023-01-08T16:46:00.002-07:002023-01-08T16:46:30.760-07:002023 Reading Challenges<p>
Tis past that time of year to get up my reading challenges...The best
kind of challenge for me is a short month or two with no prompts. I can then
focus on mood reading. But I do like to think about what kinds of books I read
and get some prompts to help me focus and diversify from time to time and
reading challenges with prompts fit that bill.
</p>
<p></p><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52616168625/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-01-08 15.39.58"><img alt="2023-01-08 15.39.58" height="320" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52616168625_fa41487968.jpg" width="320" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookChallengeByErin/permalink/2537808143038091" target="_blank">Book Challenge by Erin 18.0 </a>is a private Facebook bookclub hosted twice a year. Anyone can signup. First
round is January through April. I tried to pick books I own so I can work on
that TBR own pile this year a bit more.
<p></p>
<p></p><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52615973519/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-01-08 15.25.07"><img alt="2023-01-08 15.25.07" height="250" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52615973519_2c113273f3.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br />
1. Prime Number <1000: <b><i>Station Eleven </i></b>by Emily St. John
Mandel<br />
<p></p>
<p>
2. Book with an unusual narrator: <b><i>Watership Down</i></b> by Richard
Adams
</p>
<p>
3. Title with 1st letter of your first name (H): <b><i>Hamnet</i></b> by
Maggie O'Farrell
</p>
<p>
4. Heart or love in the title: <b><i>The Witch's Heart</i></b> by Genevieve
Gornichec
</p>
<p>
5. Set in small town or rural setting:<b><i> The Clan of the Cave Bear</i></b>
by Jean M. Auel
</p>
<p>
6. Goodreads award winner: (history & biography)
<b><i>The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper</i></b>
by Hallie Rubenhold
</p>
<p>
7. Black or white in the title:
<b><i>Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of
Medicine</i></b>
by Olivia Campbell
</p>
<p>
8. Author with 3 names: <b><i>The Wolf in the Whale</i></b> by Jordanna Max
Brodsky
</p>
<p>
9. Book set in Australia or by an Australian author:
<b><i>Burial Rites </i></b>by Hannah Kent
</p>
<p>
10. Freebie: <i><b>The Glass Magician</b> </i>by Charlie N. Holmberg
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://buildyourlibrary.com/2023-build-your-library-reading-challenge/" target="_blank">Build Your Library Reading Challenge 2023</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not sure exactly which books I'm going to read for this....I already know I'll never read 40 books for this. But I'm using it as a good way to diversify and get ideas for some more nonfiction and nature-related fiction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://buildyourlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BYL-2023-Reading-Challenge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="612" height="640" src="https://buildyourlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BYL-2023-Reading-Challenge.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://castlemacabre.blogspot.com/2022/12/2023-i-read-horror-year-round-reading.html" target="_blank">I Read Horror Year-round Challenge 2023</a> hosted by Michelle at Castle Macabre</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3oSfj54sEVwXNuxo7aJu8M9nmgwH_B-oRa_XpCLUBquctxZkeW7hsGMU3PJXJAlDnFv35BC29QjXc80RgvrdQ1xqbPG7djEUg0zmX0GWkHAqpYCIkbKctJuwspNz3C-x4wTFXpxMUOqQa7XHJDlIX5_2whCD1geISgyyaMpzsBPdrIjhmAejhIPz/s576/I%20Read%20Horror%20Year-Round%20Reading%20Challenge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="576" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3oSfj54sEVwXNuxo7aJu8M9nmgwH_B-oRa_XpCLUBquctxZkeW7hsGMU3PJXJAlDnFv35BC29QjXc80RgvrdQ1xqbPG7djEUg0zmX0GWkHAqpYCIkbKctJuwspNz3C-x4wTFXpxMUOqQa7XHJDlIX5_2whCD1geISgyyaMpzsBPdrIjhmAejhIPz/w640-h360/I%20Read%20Horror%20Year-Round%20Reading%20Challenge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not sure on this one quite yet...will update as I pick. There are various levels to pick from but I always go for bucks, even though I rarely complete this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fairy-tale retelling:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Zombies, witches, vampires, or werewolves: Probably <b><i>Interview with a Vampire</i></b> by Anne Rice. I have not yet read this series and I've been meaning to for a long time now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Book by BIPOC author: <b><i>Don't Fear the Reaper</i></b> by Stephen Graham Jones. It has a tentative release date for this year! I'm hoping!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Title with dead, blood, or bone</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Something by Poe</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Set in the past: <b><i>The Daughter of Doctor Moreau</i></b> by Silvia Moreno-Garcia</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Horrific cover</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Folk horror</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Winter theme or cover: <b><i>Snow</i></b> by Ronald Malfi</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Black, red, or white cover: <b><i>Gideon the Ninth</i></b> by Tamsyn Muir</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Written by a woman: <b><i>Darkly: Black History and America's Gothic Soul</i></b> by Leila Taylor</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Debut horror</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.gathertogetherread.com/2022/12/1000-books-project-banned-books-2023.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">1000 Books Before You Die--Banned Books 2023 Challenge</span></a> hosted by Michelle at Gather Together and Read</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKYybKp8IKjyacPM7FceQitTv1itU2B7bj7jg9f9XpoRvw1IhWRupEFLW6UmxKAVspwx1T1mMhnTZzSHaI-jFRhDBOJZqHR--0_DcJnzedWTR9DdYvDNW7JuHK5EpKfwupElQej9PlkTWwVu1_IHGPjv7LBovlX163GxZbDB26zBy28_FUL9DY47NnA/s560/1000%20Books%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKYybKp8IKjyacPM7FceQitTv1itU2B7bj7jg9f9XpoRvw1IhWRupEFLW6UmxKAVspwx1T1mMhnTZzSHaI-jFRhDBOJZqHR--0_DcJnzedWTR9DdYvDNW7JuHK5EpKfwupElQej9PlkTWwVu1_IHGPjv7LBovlX163GxZbDB26zBy28_FUL9DY47NnA/w640-h360/1000%20Books%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First quarter is <i>The Night Trilogy </i>by Elie Wiesel. January will be <b><i>Night</i></b>. February is <b><i>Dawn</i></b> and March will finish with <b><i>The Accident</i></b>.</div>
<div><br /></div>Second quarter will focus on <b><i>Brave New World</i></b> by Aldous Huxley.<div><br /></div><div>Third quarter- <b><i>The House of the Spirits</i></b> by Isabel Allende. I have already read this one. And while I liked it, I didn't love it enough to reread. So I plan on reading another of her books on my TBR.<br /><div><p>Fourth quarter- <b><i>Beloved</i></b> by Toni Morrison. Also read this one a few years ago but I really enjoyed it and it's short so I plan on rereading.</p><p>I joined StoryGraph a couple of years ago. It's a great site to keep track of my personal reading challenges. They also host their own reading challenges every year. The one I joined is <a href="https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/71516847-4d9c-4889-8b18-0b125684fb28" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">StoryGraph Reads the World 2023</span></a>.</p><p>Argentina: <b><i>Tender is the Flesh</i></b> by Agustina Bazterrrica</p><p>Colombia: Either <b><i>Love in the Time of Cholera </i></b>or <b><i>100 Years of Solitude </i></b>by Gabriel Garcia Marquez</p><p>Cuba: <b><i>Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy</i></b> by Carlos Eire</p><p>Italy: <b><i>From Scratch </i></b>by Tembi Locke</p><p>Nigeria: <b><i>Half of a Yellow Sun </i></b>by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie</p><p>Norway: <b><i>Kristin Lavransdatter </i></b>by Sigrid Undset</p><p>Pakistan: Either <b><i>The Bad Muslim Discount</i></b> by Syed M. Masood or <b><i>The Kite Runner </i></b>by Khaled Hosseini</p><p>South Africa: <b><i>Long Walk to Freedom</i></b> by Nelson Mandela</p><p>Syria: <b><i>Others Words for Home </i></b>by Jasmine Warga</p><p>Trinidad & Tobago: <b><i>Trinidad Noir: The Classics</i></b> edited by Earl Lovelace & Robert Antoni</p><p>Whew! Should keep my reading interesting!</p>
<p><br /></p>
</div></div>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-83164926877246960062023-01-08T09:59:00.002-07:002023-01-08T09:59:06.582-07:00Happy New Year! End of Year Faves<p>
It was a lovely Christmas break. We all took time off, enjoyed each
other's company, stayed in and watched movies, played games, put together
puzzles, and ate too much food. It went by too fast but it was lovely.
</p><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52615405258/in/dateposted-public/" title="2022-12-24 15.29.49"><img alt="2022-12-24 15.29.49" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52615405258_ec0faa0594.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52615345850/in/dateposted-public/" title="2022-12-24 15.31.30"><img alt="2022-12-24 15.31.30" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52615345850_e34acfc5be.jpg" width="400" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52614928461/in/dateposted-public/" title="2022-12-31 21.52.09"><img alt="2022-12-31 21.52.09" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52614928461_bb6bd6fe88.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52615361880/in/dateposted-public/" title="2023-01-01 11.53.55"><img alt="2023-01-01 11.53.55" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52615361880_7fd0d1a824.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><div><br /></div><div>Shadow and Nala got in on the Christmas spirit. And my friend Bethany stopped by on New Year's Eve for a game and fun times with my little family. We played an escape room game we got for Christmas and we survived and solved the puzzles! Whew. It was a fun way to ring in 2023!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now on to looking back at some of my favorites from 2022. I didn't read as many books as I had hoped for but I still read some great ones last year...let's see...</div><div><br /></div><div>My favorite series was <i><b>The Expanse</b></i> by James S.A. Correy. I'd been meaning to read the whole series for a few years and I finally did it last year! So worth the wait. It'll definitely be a reread eventually.</div><div><br /></div><div>I reread my second favorite Jane Austen book <i><b>Pride and Prejudice</b></i> and it was better than I remembered! I have plans on rereading my favorite Austen this year <i>Persuasion</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I even delved into more romance this year due to <i>Bridgerton</i>'s second season coming out. I listened to the first four books in like two weeks back in April. Pretty fun. I plan to get to the rest eventually probably spring/summer again.</div><div><br /></div><div>I loved reading <b><i>Six Crimson Crowns</i></b> by Elizabeth Lim with G. It was a beautiful retelling that takes place in Japan's past. A love story and a family story all in one.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Immune: A Journey into the Mysterious System </i></b>that Keeps You Alive by Philipp Dettmer was my favorite science read of the year. Simplish enough to grasp some basic concepts and the drawings are amazing and fun.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present</i></b> by Dara Horn was the memoir and culturally critical book that haunted me the most. It's a searing look into our society's narrative around Jews and their history.</div><div><br /></div><div>TV: I loved <b><i>Bridgerton </i></b>season two, <b><i>Wednesday</i></b>, <b><i>The Midnight Club</i></b>, and <b><i>Slow Horses.</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>Movies: So many but <b><i>Fire of Love</i></b> was my favorite documentary. <b><i>Turning Red </i></b>my favorite kid's movie. <b><i>Banshees of Inisherin</i></b> was a beautiful movie on grief and loneliness and friendship in a very small town.<b><i> Everything Everywhere All at Once</i></b> was one of the trippiest movies I've ever seen but also so visually stimulating and heartfelt. I was floored. Definitely my top movie for the year. <b><i>Black Phone</i></b> and <b><i>The Innocents</i></b> were definitely my top horror for the year as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, it was a pretty good year. I can't complain. Looking forward to new books, movies, and travel!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun9o6i1PBJ3QjlIo3GG49BdLiQXU9dHHAnZ9WLQvytEy-TYmPlEL5uJYH0s_ohtJwlFO4G9_xYrWP29MeZ_sRYpsBys0zBse7JwxKdLEpb3CpgM-lHFAmZT24y6yzUDjSDBC_1TgVRlY/s400/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="400" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun9o6i1PBJ3QjlIo3GG49BdLiQXU9dHHAnZ9WLQvytEy-TYmPlEL5uJYH0s_ohtJwlFO4G9_xYrWP29MeZ_sRYpsBys0zBse7JwxKdLEpb3CpgM-lHFAmZT24y6yzUDjSDBC_1TgVRlY/s320/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />Joining up with Deb from Readerbuzz and her <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-sunday-salon-starting-strong-out-of.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Sunday Salon</span></a>.</p><p><br /></p></div>Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9215175059156496817.post-91514552933448991682022-12-24T08:01:00.000-07:002022-12-24T08:01:29.347-07:00Merry, Happy Holidays-ukkah!<p>
December has been super busy but good busy. DH and I celebrated our 19th
anniversary a week or so ago. We spent a night in Salt Lake City and ate
Spanish tapas, drank Spanish wine, crashed an ugly sweater work party at our
hotel's bar, and even met Buddy the Elf and Santa. Good times were had!
</p><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52580286405/in/dateposted-public/" title="2022-12-09 20.06.45"><img alt="2022-12-09 20.06.45" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52580286405_3d19b93498.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br />
<p>
We celebrated the Winter Solstice up at the Red Butte Gardens on Saturday.
</p><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52580113769/in/dateposted-public/" title="2022-12-17 11.27.15"><img alt="2022-12-17 11.27.15" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52580113769_cda98bd64c.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br />
<p>
Wednesday was more Winter Solstice shenanigans to welcome back the Sun! I
cooked up some stew, traditional wassail, G helped me make up solstice
cookies, and we decorated paper lanterns and had them lit all night long on
the longest night of the year. I love that feeling...waking up and knowing
today's light is just a little bit longer than yesterday's! Welcome back, Sun!
</p><br /><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmsgofita/52579383887/in/dateposted-public/" title="2022-12-21 19.11.14"><img alt="2022-12-21 19.11.14" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52579383887_36330ff210.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center><br />
<p><b>Books</b></p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
<br />I'm in the middle of two or three right now but I did manage to finish off
<b><i>I'm Glad My Mom Died</i></b> by Jennette McCurdy. That's a wild ride. I
hope she writes another memoir in ten years and I hope it's full of more hope
and healing.
<p></p>
<p>
I'm almost done with <b><i>Defy the Night</i></b> by Brigid Kemmerer. My niece
just read it and she wanted me to read it as well so we could talk about it.
</p>
<p>
<b><i>The Battle for Christmas</i></b> by Stephen Nissenbaum is an interesting
read on the evolution of Christmas and its traditions in America. He uses a
lot of primary sources from the time so we get a sense of time and place and
people. I don't think I'll finish this one until after the New Year but
finishing it I am.
</p>
<p>
I also randomly picked up <b><i>The Maid</i></b> by Nita Prose. I'm almost
halfway through. Quirky but also painful to see how she's taken advantage
of. </p><p><b>TV</b></p><p>DH and I finally finished of the second season of <b><i>The Witcher</i></b>! I just started the second season of <b><i>Slow Horses</i></b> on Apple TV. Such an excellent show with Gary Oldman.</p><p><b><i>Movies</i></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzUxNzkzMzQtYjIxZC00NzU0LThkYTQtZjNhNTljMTA1MDA1L2ltYWdlL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTMxODk2OTU@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="539" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzUxNzkzMzQtYjIxZC00NzU0LThkYTQtZjNhNTljMTA1MDA1L2ltYWdlL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTMxODk2OTU@._V1_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />We watched <b><i>A Christmas Story</i></b> and <b><i>A Christmas Story: Christmas</i></b>. We just saw <b><i>Spirited</i></b> on Apple with Will Farrell and Ryan Reynolds. Really cute. <b><i>Elf </i></b>was the other night. DH and I watched <b><i>The Holiday</i></b> again. One of our favorites every holiday season. I think we'll watch <b><i>It's a Wonderful Life</i></b> tonight or tomorrow. G has not seen this one yet. I'm hoping he'll appreciate it even if it's a little old school for him. And I've caught quite a few on Hallmark so far. I'm actually pretty impressed with some of them this year. <b><i>Three Wise Men and a Baby</i></b> was really good.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYmQ4M2ZlYjMtMzJhOC00MjRhLWJlMzYtNzQzZDkzNmZiNzYwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTA3MDk2NDg2._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="532" height="320" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYmQ4M2ZlYjMtMzJhOC00MjRhLWJlMzYtNzQzZDkzNmZiNzYwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTA3MDk2NDg2._V1_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />I'm also hoping to get in <b><i>A Muppet Christmas Carol </i></b>and <i><b>A Christmas Carol</b></i> with George C. Scott sometime this weekend! And a couple of holiday horrors too like <b><i>Black Christmas</i></b>, <b><i>Krampus</i></b>, or that new one <b><i>Violent Night</i></b>!<p></p><p>Baking-- I'm hoping to get a Christmas Swiss roll made, peanut butter cookies, more sugar cookies and frosting. Drinks--I've got buttered rum and coquito on the list.</p><p>May your Christmas be a safe and merry one!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun9o6i1PBJ3QjlIo3GG49BdLiQXU9dHHAnZ9WLQvytEy-TYmPlEL5uJYH0s_ohtJwlFO4G9_xYrWP29MeZ_sRYpsBys0zBse7JwxKdLEpb3CpgM-lHFAmZT24y6yzUDjSDBC_1TgVRlY/s400/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="400" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun9o6i1PBJ3QjlIo3GG49BdLiQXU9dHHAnZ9WLQvytEy-TYmPlEL5uJYH0s_ohtJwlFO4G9_xYrWP29MeZ_sRYpsBys0zBse7JwxKdLEpb3CpgM-lHFAmZT24y6yzUDjSDBC_1TgVRlY/s320/Sunday+Salon.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />Joining up with Deb from Readerbuzz and her <a href="https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-sunday-salon-in-which-i-realize-i.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Sunday Salon</span></a>.</p><p><br /></p>
Heather G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/18051840056392247706noreply@blogger.com28