I didn’t get organized enough to post last week so I decided to give myself a pass. Happens.
Ok well I didn’t do well on my big goal for August. I ended up being much more anxious than usual, so the opposite of grounded. All my routines went out the window and I basically just did what I could to get through the days. So alas we will not call it a win. I did journal a bunch, just not enough.
Progress on the big five:
Y: Ok so I did a bunch here. I have a plan ready for the backyard, i did the front porch too. I love it. The side yard is just likely not going to happen.
G: I did lots of fun stuff for the garage too, love it. I still haven’t unboxed the few things left.
S: done and done!
Sa: we are still making progress the puppy and i. got her appointment too.
D: n/a
Three Medium goals:
Done with front porch. I might still get a few more plants tho.
Did take more naps.
Did not restart the art mbsr book possibly, or some other deeper dive plan.
Chores: did ALL my chores except hanging the lights at work. great job mom!
Start: started! did the toughest one. will try to finish in September.
Stop: did mostly well on this.
Continue: did reading but really crapped out on the yoga.
Brave: did a poor job on this too but i have a plan!
August came with some curveballs too. I kept doing my best. Trying to show up for myself and for my people. I’m proud of how much I’ve done this year so far.
Here’s to another month. Paying attention. Loving my people. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.
This book was so sad. In the beginning I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get into the story of Mei whose childhood friend comes back into her life when she publishes a book about a terrible tragedy that happened to her as a child. Mei is already having such a hard life with her parents’ insurmountable debt and her on again and off again boyfriend who won’t propose and now she feels like she owes it to Mei to solve what happened and it spirals her life even more out of control.
There are some heavy topics and really sad moments in this poignant story. Once I was half an hour into it, I could not stop, I thought about the characters while I wasn’t listening and kept wanting to go back and see what happened to make their life go so off course.
with gratitude to netgalley and HarperAudio Adult for an advanced audio in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this story about a friend’s last wish which is that her two estranged best friends travel to several places around the world to spread her ashes as a plot to get them to reconnect. It was funny and fun and joyful and emotional while reminding us why friendships matter and how they change your life forever and how some friends will be with you even if you haven’t spoken in years.
with gratitude to Bookouture Audio and netgalley for an advanced audio in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very unusual book, not like anything I’ve read before. It takes place in Silicon Valley and focuses on toxic startup culture but then there’s a crime and then there’s Mario who helped them before they were somebody and how he needs to wait the lockup period before he can get the money he so needs. And you’re rooting for him and then you’re not and then you are again. And crazy things are happening. I felt like it lulled in the middle for me a bit but I really enjoyed it in the end. It was a fun ride.
with gratitude to netgalley and Dubious Ventures Press for a great audio and for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Wow what a rollercoaster this one was. I was like he’s bad, oh no he’s good, no wait is he bad? No no i was right all along. or was i? I found myself doubting myself the whole time. Even though it was a disturbing subject matter, this book was a fast and furious read. And it really isn’t what you think! 🙂
the audio was fantastic and completely kept me hooked.
with gratitude to netgalley and Sourcebooks Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This one was full of twists and turns and just when you thought you had it figured out, another twist came. I felt that it was a little repetitive and melodramatic at parts but I didn’t see most of the twists coming, and I didn’t want to stop reading it from the first page onward.
with gratitude to Macmillan Audio and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This one was best read on audio!!
This was both different from and similar to Klune’s other books. It was more serious and I think also a bit more science fiction but also it was still full of heart and deeply felt like this stories are. It made me think a lot and feel a lot. and those books are always great.
Ok so I read this book with my son as it’s his favorite book. But his favorite part is the beginning so he wanted to make sure we read that part together. It was hard and crazy and deeply interesting.
I did end up doing some quality journaling today and am feeling good about some of the work I did around it. Journaling is so good for my soul. I know that it can sometimes be like ruminating but for me that’s not how it feels. I find that I always can see what I am thinking better when I am writing it down. What a gift. This was my kids’ last full week of no school. The little one starts this week and the older one this weekend. Seniors. Life passes by in the blink of an eye.
Progress on the big five:
Y: Done! I got a large container and it fully does the trick. Maybe next weekend i might finally tackle the side?!
G: Bought some light and lanterns and pompoms and the kids helped me hang it all. it looks lovely. we also bought stuff for the porch and that now looks lovely too.
S: letter one down and letter two in progress. thankful.
Sa: grooming done! will call this week for the appointment.
D: n/a
Three Medium goals:
done with this. almost all are here. one more item coming this week.
took fewer naps this week
didn’t restart the book yet. not sure what’s holding me back.
Chores:
dentist appointment- done
A->H appointment – done
finish ply – done
finish boyne
finish margarita – done
finish diaspora
buy return tickets – will do this in sept.
hang up office lights
figure out curtain office – in progress
d doctor – done
a doctor
Start: worked on this! did the hardest part.
Stop: still doing a better job on this
Continue: did less of it this week but still on it.
Brave: working on it so so much and d helps me so so much. took some more steps this week.
So grateful to have the kids here still. Spending a lot of time together and loving every single moment.
Here’s to another good week. Paying attention. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.
So many feelings about this book! This was a slow read with my friend Evelyn who thankfully knew so much about Russian history and literature and her husband Tom who knew about Christianity. Both of these are really helpful in reading the book. The experience of reading this book was quite the journey and I am really glad I read it slowly. The beginning was a drag for me, there was so much going on and I understood so little of it. The middle was the best since I managed to let go and truly enjoy the absurdity and the plot was settling a bit by then. And then the ending went to the next level. Net net, I am still not convinced that this book can stand on its own. That it can be uncoupled from the time and location it was written in. Because in of itself, it is more nonsensical than not. But when coupled with all the texture and politics and history of Russia and Faust and Bulgakov himself, it’s indeed quite the novel. I’m glad I read it.
Meg Mason writes exactly the kinds of books I like to read. They are character driven, soft, quiet and deeply introspective. They hold the tenderness and fragility of what it means to be human. And this one comes with the additional gift of taking place in the world of writers and writing and books. I loved it even as it broke my heart.
Apparently i am in the minority. Others found this book brilliant. It’s definitely an interesting book. It’s likely that I am not a fan of satire. I am definitely not a fan of over the top stories. And this story, in my opinion tried a bit too hard. It was too over the top, too in your face. I know it was all on purpose. But I guess it didn’t work for me. I am in the minority though, many loved it so please don’t let me be the reason you don’t read it.
