Really Not How You Want To Kick Off The New Year

 

Yes, I'm heading over to the funeral home with my husband today to go over a few details for his Mom's funeral. Hopefully, this will be the only funeral we will have occasion to attend this year. My mother-in-law was adamant that there be no wake. We will just have the funeral at the church and then a luncheon.

I didn't think too much of the no-wake situation at the time she decided it, but now that we are in the midst of the preparations, I'm grateful! She has made her send-off so much easier on everyone mourning her. While it is sad, I know that her family will have plenty of smiles and laughs when we celebrate her in a little over a week. We should all be lucky to live into our nineties without needing help until the very end. 

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This month I'm participating in a JaNoWriMo. (January Novel Writing Month) My goal is to write thirty thousand words. What they are going to be about is up in the air. I have some vague ideas about my next book, but I don't have an outline put together. I usually start my writing process by brainstorming ideas with someone, so this time I will start by brainstorming in a document. Wish me luck! 

I hope your year is off to a funeral-free start! 

Long time no see--and Unf*uck Your Brain review

 Happy New Year's Eve Eve! I'm having a heck of a time trying to type because I'm wearing a wrist brace. Right before Christmas, I fell while running and injured my wrist. On the plus side it's not my writing hand but I definitely need it for typing. I have to keep the brace on until 1/9.

This has really crushed my plan to do lots of blogging while I'm on break from school. I go back to work the same day I have a follow up appt and should most likely get the OK to stop wearing the brace.

How are you? Did you get any new books for Christmas?

Recently I saw that this book was free with my Audible subscription, I downloaded it and listened to it in one afternoon.

This is written and told in a very casual and swear word filled style. Obviously the title of the book is your first clue on that. I didn't find the language off-putting and I found some beneficial information and advice.  Below are my key takeaways-

1.  Anger is a secondary emotion. 

2. Our brains have a story telling mode, which is great but can lead to trouble if you are  reliving a trauma. 

3. Grouding helps if you are having PTSD, anyone can have PTSD and it doesn't always last long term.

4. You don't have to keep going back over traumatic events. You can let it go.

5. Journaling is a very helpful way to work through your trauma.

I appreciated the broad definitely of trauma used by Faith Harper. What is a difficult time for one person  may not be for someone else.

I would recommend this book as a good starting point or a refresher for anyone that feels stuck or is looking to change their behaviors.

4 stars!

Reading Challenges- Do You Participate? I'm Joining The Coyer Challenge Again!

 To review, I did a great job participating in the Winter and Spring Seasons of COYER and then as the Summer went along I really fell off with posting my books read, but I did really enjoy being part of the challenge, so I am definitely in for 2022! 

This should help me to get some of the many, many books in my Kindle app and Apple Books app read! Hopefully! 

What do you think?  Would you like to maybe join in?  Here is the link to know more about how the challenge works: It's Happening Again! COYER Season!

Some of the books I'm planning to read:

The Accidental Alchemist 

Blacktop Wasteland

Christmas Key: There's Always A Catch

And of course, there will be many more books I hope to read! 

The First Sunday of 2021 is Here!

I am kicking off the new year by participating in The Sunday Post:  

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

To recap, I have a lovely pile of new books to start my new year-

Look at that literary goodness! 

The first book I will be reading is Killer Chardonnay by Kate Lansing.  It's a Cozy Mystery that takes place at a winery in Colorado.  This book is the January reading selection for The Cozy Mystery Book Club and there will be a live stream discussion of the book on the last Tuesday of January at 7pm EST. 

Because one book club is not enough, I will also be reading The Midnight Library I am trying to decide if I am going to read this or listen to it.  I listened to a sample of the audiobook and the audio didn't grab me, so I'm not sure if I want to use my Audible credit on the book. Decisions, decisions.  

Speaking of Audible, I recently listened to one of the Audible Originals.  It's called After the Fairy Tale and is a great listen for anyone who has watched a season or more of The Bachelor franchise.  This story is a fictional account of what happens after the final rose when the happy couple is separated for several months. If you have a membership this title is free.  This is different than a standard audiobook written by one reader this is a full audio production with sound effects and a full cast of characters.  Think of this as a lifetime movie for your ears.  The story and the acting are very engaging.  If you are looking for a distraction this is it! 

Coming up this week:

A review of Scones & Scofflaws by Jane Gorman 

I'll be sharing a recipe that went over very well at my house from Real Simple Magazine. 

Celebrating National Bubble Bath Day

Welcome New Year! Be Better Than the Last Two PLEASE!

I have decided that approaching the new year with cautious optimism is my only choice. 

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."- Anne Bradstreet from Meditations Divine and Moral.

Looking at the world through my cautiously optimistic lens, I am planning to find the beauty in the cold of winter, keep all my fingers and toes crossed for health for myself and my family, and that maybe just maybe we can manage the pandemic and soon than later live music will return. 

I'll also be hoping that we'll be able to see my parents, that the kids will have those social interactions that make school fun, and that I'll run the Chicago Marathon in October. 

The new year is here, and the days are getting longer!

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Today's book review: 

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The first book in what is--thankfully-- a long series! Nalini Singh creates a world where Archangels are at the top of the pyramid followed by 'regular angels' then vampires, then humans. Humans who want immortality can petition to be 'made' Angels into vampires. It's interesting how Nalina Singh takes angels and makes them into a mafia.

Elena is a vampire hunter, she doesn't kill them Buffy style, she's more like a skip tracer. New Vampires are indentured for a hundred years to their makers and some of them try to run in. Elena is born with hunting skills and she is the best hunter around. Just this plotline and Nalini Singh mix of modern life and myths in the world-building was enough for me to devour this book, but then you add in the archangel Raphael, Elena's past, the Cadre of Ten and now we have the beginning of an epic tale with just the right amount of romance.

If you like reading Ilona Andrews & Patricia Briggs, you'll love this series

View all my reviews