Week 3 of 2021: A Picture-a-Day

Monday: It was MLK Day (no work), so John & I went for a walk in the afternoon. We walk by this each time we take a walk and each time, what do I think those grassy mops in the water look like?

Cousin Itt from the Addams Family!

Tuesday: Progress, progress, progress on the built in bookcases in our living room. I married a talented man!

Wednesday: While working on the built ins, John was watching the inauguration on his phone. There were a lot of great moments in the ceremony, but the poetry reading by Amanda Gorman, was amazing. It gave me great hope for the future.

Thursday: For the Boston Bruins home opener, the team honored a 40+ year season ticket holder who passed away from COVID-19 two weeks prior. The anthem was sung outside of his house with his family packed on his porch. A nice tribute.

Friday: Friday was a sing along kind of day. I went from Foreigner to Fleetwood Mac and then to the Pointer Sisters. Listening to this I was thrown back to junior high. We had a talent show and my friends & I did a routine to "I'm So Excited." The big controversy was that we wanted to throw glitter at the end and our principal was against it. Yeah, we went to Catholic school. Apparently glitter is sacrilegious. 😎

Saturday: Woke up to this. Even though it was only an inch or so, it was not welcome.

Sunday: The puzzle is DONE! This was one was tougher than it looks, but it was enjoyable.

BOOK REVIEWS 2021

Book #5: We Came Here to Shine by Susie Orman Schnall

Summary: Set at the iconic 1939 New York World’s Fair, Susie Orman Schnall's We Came Here to Shine is historical fiction featuring two bold and ambitious women who navigate a world of possibility and find out what they're truly made of during a glorious summer of spectacle and potential.

Rating: B+. I specifically gave a short summary to entice you. This is a fast/simple read but the backdrop of the 1939 World's Fair was fascinating- slighty more fascinating to me than the actual characters. It's a fun read.

Book #6: Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

Summary: The ultimate playbook for developing brave leaders and courageous cultures. Daring leadership is a collection of four skill sets that are 100% teachable. It’s learning and practice that requires brave work, tough conversations, and showing up with our whole hearts.

Rating: B-. Admittedly this was not a "for pleasure" read. My supervisor recommended it and I decided to give it a shot. Brown is hilarious and her wit and humor helped me to get through the book. Admittedly, I did take a lot of notes (stickies galore) and want to document them here:

• (page xviii): "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better." WOW- right off the bat this book was speaking to me & my personal experiences.
• (page 8): "Rather than spending a reasonable amount of time proactively acknowledging and addressing the fears and feelings that show up during change & upheaval, we spend an unreasonable amount of time managing problematic behaviors." This is cited as one of the 10 reasons that get in our way of leading bravely. Agree!
• (page 20): In relation to the first bullet above, Brown refers to critics as "cheap-seats feedback." She constantly reminds the reader to avoid the cheap-seats feedback. (I need to work on this!)
• (page 21): "Cruelty is cheap, easy, and chickenshit." Hilarious, but oh so true..
• (page 38): "What does support from me look like?" I really like the way this is framed and will try to use this going forward.
• (page 63): "I am a traveler, not a mapmaker. I am going down this path same as and with you." This is brillliant.
• (page 214): Brown talk a lot about assuming positive intent. I have some work to do this in this area, but I am glad Brown continued to hammer this principle.
• (page 256): Box breathing/tactical breathing- strategies for reckoning with emotion.
• Inhale deeply through your nose; expanding your stomach, for a count of four.
• Hold in that breath for a count of four
• Slowly exhale all the air through your mouth, contracting your stomach, for a count of four.
• Hold the empty break for a count of four
• (page 258): I am going to write these out and put them on my computer monitors:
1. Do I have enough information to freak out about this situation?
2. If I do have enough data, will freaking out help?

Week 2 of 2021: What Do I Love About Sunday?

Usually the answer to that question is "not much." 

I usually have the "Sunday Scaries" and mourn the end of the weekend.

However, on this particular Sunday, I can say I love the following about it:

• It's not really a Sunday- it's a second Saturday! Tomorrow is MLK Jr. Day and I have the day off from work. I am extremely thankful for an extra day!

• Sunday (not just this one, but every one) is "change the sheets on the bed day." I really have to rank sleeping on clean sheets up there as one of my favorites things. So, even though it's only 8:00PM, I already look forward to going to bed!

• I made Snickerdoodle Chex Mix. I may have extolled the virtues of this sweet treat in previous blog posts, but I'll do it here. Again. I make it for Christmas and we always end up with lots of leftover cereal that we don't eat, so this year I will make batches until there is no more cereal. It's the simplest recipe and if our house is like yours, you'll find if you turn your head, the entire batch will be gone!

• I was able to make serious progress on one of the puzzles I got for Christmas. I love Charles Wysocki's art, so I expect that this will be beautiful once completed. Fun fact about this- the Amazon driver apparently didn't think it mattered if the box was crushed/broken open. Luckily, the pieces are in a plastic bag inside the box, which was NOT ripped. Of course, I say that now- watch, there will be one piece missing at the end.

• I get to watch one of my top five all-time favorite movies, Sweet Home Alabama. Granted, it's the 7,675th time I've seen it, but it still makes me laugh & smile.

Plenty of stuff to love about this Sunday! I hope you've enjoyed yours, as much as I have enjoyed mine!

BOOK REVIEWS 2021

Book #3: The Frangipani Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu

Summary: This mystery is set in Singapore in 1936. The main character, Chen Su Lin, is 16 years of age and had been afflicted by polio. Su Lin no longer has any parents. She becomes the nanny of a disabled girl, Dee-Dee Palin, the daughter of the Governor of Singapore, after dodging attempts to have her married off.  The previous nanny, an Irishwoman, died from a neck injury sustained from falling off of a balcony a possible act of foul play. Therefore Su Lin takes over Charity's job. Su Lin decides to investigate Charity's death herself.

Rating: B+. I read all of the book in Yu's other Singaporean mystery series and really enjoyed them, so thought I'd give this one a try. This is the first book in the series and Su Lin is an endearing character. I will definitely read the next one in the series.

Book #4: The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede

Summary: When 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport in Canada by the closing of U.S. airspace on September 11, the population of this small town on Newfoundland Island swelled from 10,300 to nearly 17,000. The citizens of Gander met the stranded passengers with an overwhelming display of friendship and goodwill.

Rating: A+. This book came to me at just the right time. At a time in this country where there have been no "feel good" stories of late, I was glad to read this one from 19 years ago. While 9/11 was an absolutely horrific tragedy, the residents of Gander, Newfoundland were a bright light in a dark time. I can't stop thinking of the acts of goodwill that they performed, for not only the humans on the planes, but the animals, as well.

Week 1 of 2021: Can We Get a Do-Over?

A new year is generally looked upon as a fresh start- for exercise, organization, attitude, etc... 

However, just six days into this new year, the US Capitol was stormed by insurgents. For me, it had shades of 9/11. I had an online meeting with my group from work and instead of the usual pleasantries we start meetings with, it was extremely somber. We were all in shock (although not thoroughly surprised) and were trying to make some sense of what was happening. Obviously, we couldn't.

I think I've said before that I am not a person that's well-versed in politics and thus I tend to keep my political thoughts to myself. All I can say is that I sincerely hope that this country can start to heal and that people can begin to look beyond themselves. 

::now back to our regularly scheduled inane blog topics::

• We're having Pulled Pork Nachos from Katie's Cucina tonight for dinner. I think I've shared this recipe before, but I really do love it. It's a nice departure from typical Mexican nachos.

• Construction continues in our living room on the built-ins. I've always dreamed of a room in my house with shelves that I could display my favorite books, photos, and knick knacks, and John is making that dream come to life!

• It's freezing in New England. No surprise there, as it is January. I'm sure I'll jinx us, but the snow has been minimal so far, and I'm totally fine with that.

• I think I mentioned in my last post that we're re-watching Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. We've made it to Season Two and I'd forgotten that there are some really dull episodes in this season- specifically the one about the drunken artist that Benjamin wants to buy a painting from. 

• In other TV news, I tried to watch the Call the Midwife Holiday Special on PBS.org, but it buffered every minute or so, so I only made it through the first 30 minutes. Bummer, because I like it so far!

• And we watched The Flight Attendant on HBO MAX. It's based on a book by Chris Bohjalian (whose books I love, but strangely I have not read this one) and stars Kaley Cuoco (from Big Bang Theory). It's a great thriller series and has some good dark humor moments. I highly recommend!

• I'll be posting my reviews of my books read in 2021 here on the blog, as I have been doing. So far I've already read two books! (Although, technically I started the first one in 2020). I am trying to be more intentional about shutting electronics/TV down earlier at night and reading longer. Hopefully this will result in more books read and better sleep.

• In an effort to make you smile, I leave you with this.

BOOK REVIEWS 2021

Book #1: Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Summary: New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939 – and then sets its sights on France.

An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.

For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.

The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbruck, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents – from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland – as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

Rating: A. I LOVED this book. And there is no concise way to summarize this book- the above lengthy description is needed. The characters were rich and fascinating and while the backdrop was, as well, it was also extremely sad. My parents went to Auschwitz and said it was extremely moving and somber. I'm not sure I'll make it to Auschwitz, but reading this book gave me insight into what Nazi concentration camps were like.

Book #2: Poppy Redfern & the Fatal Flyers by Tessa Arlen

Summary: It is the late autumn of 1942. Our indomitable heroine Poppy Redfern is thoroughly immersed in her new job as a scriptwriter at the London Crown Film Unit, which produces short films featuring British civilians who perform acts of valor and heroism in wartime. After weeks of typing copy and sharpening pencils, Poppy is thrilled to receive her first solo script project: a fifteen-minute film about the Air Transport Auxiliary, known as Attagirls, a group of female civilians who have been trained to pilot planes from factories to military airfields all over Britain.

Poppy could not be more excited to spend time with these amazing ladies, but she never expects to see one of the best pilots die in what is being labeled an accident. When another Attagirl meets a similar fate, Poppy and her American fighter-pilot boyfriend, Griff, believe foul play may be at work. They soon realize that a murderer with a desire for revenge is dead set on grounding the Attagirls for good...

Rating: A-. This was another great historical fiction piece, although not quite in the same realm as Lilac Girls. This mystery series is fun (this is #2 in the series) and I look forward to the development of Poppy's character in future installments.

"There's Shrimp In the Eggrolls" and Rounding Out My 2020 Books

 

photo credit

If you haven't watched the Amazon Prime series Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, you must. PERIOD. End of story.

My favorite quote from the first episode is when Mrs. Maisel (Miriam/Midge) is addressing her wedding reception (predominantly Jewish) and she shouts out, "There's shrimp in the eggrolls!" I seriously laugh every time I think of this. And it's not even the funniest line. 

We're re-watching the series and we just started season two. The first episode of season two has probably some of the best one-liners. OK- you have your marching orders- watch it. Laughing is good.

Let's see if I can wrap up the reviews for the rest of the books I read in 2020.

Book #57- The Gift of the Magpie by Donna Andrews

Summary: This is the 28th book and the seventh Christmas mystery in the Meg Langslow series. Meg’s running Caerphilly’s Helping Hands for the Holidays project, in which neighbors help each other with things they can’t do and can’t afford to have done. Her hopes for a relatively peaceful (if busy) Christmas vanish when someone murders Harvey the Hoarder, whose house the Helping Hands were decluttering. Was there any truth to the rumor that he had something valuable hidden beneath all his junk? Was one of his friends, neighbors, or relatives greedy enough to murder him for the rumored treasure? And what about the magpie that has been bringing her family bits of tinsel and costume jewelry—does the bird’s latest gift hold a clue to solving the crime?

Rating: B+. This installment of Meg Langslow & her crazy family/circus was good and it had a holiday "feel good" message. I do wonder when Andrews will run out of topics for this series, but she's already got another one in the works...

Book #58- Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

Summary: Born in a bathtub in 1954 to a Cherokee father and white mother, Betty is the sixth of eight siblings. The world they inhabit is one of poverty and violence - both from outside the family and also, devastatingly, from within. When her family's darkest secrets are brought to light, Betty has no choice but to reckon with the brutal history hiding in the hills, as well as the heart-wrenching cruelties and incredible characters she encounters in her rural town of Breathed, Ohio. Despite the hardship she faces, Betty is resilient. Her curiosity about the natural world, her fierce love for her sisters and her father's brilliant stories are kindling for the fire of her own imagination, and in the face of all she bears witness to, Betty discovers an escape: she begins to write.

Rating: A-. This was a really good book but not easy to read. (If you've seen Hillbilly Elegy or read that book, it's very similar.) While I was reading it, I was saying things similar to after I watched Hillbilly Elegy- this is real life but it's so far from my life and how I grew up. It exposed how sheltered my life was, in some respects. Again, it's a hard read and not by any means, "light," but it's excellent.

Book #59- The Good, the Bad & the Guacamole by Rebecca Adler

Summary:  This is second in the Josie Callahan/Tex-Mex mystery series. Tourists are pouring into the town of Broken Boot for the annual Homestead Days Music Festival. Opening the celebration at Two Boots dance hall is smooth-talking country singer Jeff Clark, the ex-boyfriend of Josie’s best friend, Patti Perez. When the charming Clark woos Patti onstage in an attempt to rekindle some sparks with his old flame, Josie fears her friend will end up as just one more notch on the singer’s guitar strap. To impress her editor at the Broken Boot Bugle, Josie and her Chihuahua, Lenny, pursue the singer to Patti’s house, hoping for an interview. Instead, they discover Clark facedown in a bowl of guacamole with a bloodied guitar at his side. With Patti suddenly a murder suspect, Josie must use her reporter skills to find out who had a chip on their shoulder—before the killer double dips....

Rating: C+. Meh. I always try to give mystery series two books before I make a decision on whether to continue reading or not. Decision made- done with this mediocre series.

Book #60- The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

Summary:  In an Ireland doubly ravaged by war and disease, Nurse Julia Power works at an understaffed hospital in the city centre, where expectant mothers who have come down with an unfamiliar Flu are quarantined together. Into Julia's regimented world step two outsiders: Doctor Kathleen Lynn, on the run from the police, and a young volunteer helper, Bridie Sweeney. In the darkness and intensity of this tiny ward, over three days, these women change each other's lives in unexpected ways. They lose patients to this baffling pandemic, but they also shepherd new life into a fearful world. 

Rating: C+. This was easily an A+ until the last 20ish pages and then it took an odd turn. The story was extremely well written up until that point and maybe it's just me that thought the ending out of place.

Book #61- Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams

Summary:  In 1947, photographer and war correspondent Janey Everett arrives at a remote surfing village on the Hawaiian island of Kauai to research a planned biography of forgotten aviation pioneer Sam Mallory, who joined the loyalist forces in the Spanish Civil War and never returned. Obsessed with Sam’s fate, Janey has tracked down Irene Lindquist, the owner of a local island-hopping airline, whom she believes might actually be the legendary Irene Foster, Mallory’s onetime student and flying partner. Foster’s disappearance during a round-the-world flight in 1937 remains one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries. 

Rating: A-. The above summary is only a small piece of this story. Williams' historical fiction is always rich and this installment did not disappoint. It provided twists and turns (a few I anticipated, a few I did not). Time period and backdrop are well described by Williams- making you feel like you are there.

Book #62- How to Raise an Elephant by Alexander McCall Smith

Summary:  This is the 21st installment in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series. Mma Ramotswe must balance family obligations with the growing needs of one of Charlie's pet projects in this latest installment in the cherished No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

Rating: B+. This one was "cute" (the elephant portion) and as well written as the preceding ones in the series.

Book #63- The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg

Summary:  When a group of friends in Mason, Missouri, decide to start a monthly supper club, they get more than they bargained for. The plan for congenial evenings—talking, laughing, and sharing recipes, homemade food, and wine—abruptly changes course one night when one of the women reveals something startlingly intimate. The supper club then becomes Confession Club, and the women gather weekly to share not only dinners but embarrassing misdeeds, deep insecurities, and long-held regrets. They invite Iris Winters and Maddy Harris to join, and their timing couldn't be better. Iris is conflicted about her feelings for a charming but troubled man, and Maddy has come back home from New York to escape a problem too big to handle alone. The club offers exactly the kind of support they need to help them make some difficult decisions.

Rating: A. I really loved this book. It's part of a "sort of" series (if that makes any sense.) There are a few preceding books that take place in Mason with some of the characters carrying on throughout the books. Berg does a great job of sharing the homey/small town feeling of Mason and its residents.

Book #64- The Glass Ocean by Lauren Willig, Beatriz Williams, and Karen White

Summary:  A captivating historical mystery, infused with romance, that links the lives of three women across a century—two deep in the past, one in the present—to the doomed passenger liner, RMS Lusitania.

Rating: A. This was another great book. These three authors separately write fantastic books, but joined together, they create masterpieces. I loved the time period and the backdrop of the Lusitania, which in my mind is always overshadowed by the Titanic.

That wraps up my reading for 2020!