Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Theresa wrote: "Today is my birthday! Happy Birthday to me!"

Happy Birthday Theresa- your celebration sounds lovely!!

Happy Saturday everyone!

Full Moon tonight, and this past week was definitely reeling with the influence. Way too much work, way too much pressure, way too crazy people ~~ first world problems, though, right? Half the world is reeling from tougher situations.

Finished:
Murder on the Orient Express. Best. Ending. Ever.
*Mic drop.*

A book it seems everyone has read but you

The Last Single Girl. I had set this extra sweet romance aside late last year, only because all my library holds came in at once. Even though it was predictable in every possible way, it was fun brain candy with great characters; plus, it was a nice palette cleanser from heavier reads for work, and…. well, life. And now I don’t have torment myself with trying to slog through No Exit, which I DNFd for good reasons 3 times before. And … Christmas in August.

DNF on your TBR

The Bracelet. I finally read a 1.5 in a series! More brain candy. Short cute mystery in the Piper Donovan series. A very lite mystery series, but I’m hooked because I love reading about the MC baking and decorating wedding cakes. This was a nice little 1.5 to learn more about her family. And …more Christmas in August.

Book that has been on your TBR longest

QOTW:

I don’t read a lot of series that are *not* composed of standalone books. So, I am rarely looking for a sequel, although a visit with favorite character is always good.
The one book I can think of that I’d like a sequel for would be The God Game. Oh, the ending was completely satisfying. But just as I learned a leetle bit more about 1 character in particular, I could totally see the possibility of a second book. Plus, I really enjoyed the characters and would love to see how they are faring now.

Nadine wrote: "Happy Thursday! 

On Saturday we take my daughter to college, so I'm all verklempt.  She's still packing and is a stressed out mess, so it's fun times!  It's very weird that suddenly she won't be ..."

I hope all goes well for you and your family! From what I remember, you'll definitely feel the range of emotions, so be gentle with yourself. But it's wonderful that you could make the trip and visit, if either of you need to, or just want to. :)

Harmke wrote: "Thanks for all the good wishes last week. My leg heals quite fast so I plan a bike ride to the hairdresser in the city tomorrow. It’s a 20 minutes ride. Yeah! I do a bunch of exercises every day an..."

Glad to hear you are healing so quickly!

Theresa wrote: "Today is my birthday! Happy Birthday to me!

I do have to work but the way the week shook out, today is a quiet day, no zooms or conferences, unlike every other day this week. So slept in, am clos..."

Happy birthday, Theresa!

Kendra wrote: "Happy Thursday. Well, it looks like Fall has come again. The leaves have begun to turn and the weather went from being unbearably hot to cool and rainy. The smoke from the various fires is not help..."

I am so envious of your Fall- I'm so over heat and humidity.

Theresa wrote: "poshpenny wrote: "Holy cow, I forgot it was Thursday. Well I knew it was Thursday, but I forgot it was Thursday. Work, man. Ugh. No idea how I did this week. Let's find out.

ooooh , thanks for the reminder about Eight Perfect Murders!

I'm trying to read the mysteries I haven't read yet before I begin this book. The link is wonderful.

Lynn wrote: "Happy Thursday!!

Time to check-in with all you beautiful people!

I am starting my day with an early doctor’s appointment followed by a very long day at work.
."

Lynn, I hope you are feeling better from the side effects of the vaccine! Those of us who are immunocompromised are grateful!

I did get the Moderna shots, and I think it was worth it. But I also didn't have the scary hallucinatory effect either- yikes!

Britany wrote: "Good Luck with all the emotions Nadine! I'm sure it will be all the feelings afterwards. ..."


she's all moved in! It was an extremely chaotic & sweaty day. I did not cry!

For reasons I do not understand, the school changed their check in procedures this year, and it resulted in terrible traffic delays, traffic backed up all the way the highways leading to the campus. They clearly did not consult any planning or traffic engineers when they made their dumb changes!! We planned to get there at 8:30 but were running a half hour late, and that difference meant we waited for a really really long time in traffic (as compared with her roommate who got there just before us), over an hour sitting in traffic, but people who arrived later than us had it even worse. Today for returning students the school went back to their old way of check-in and I hear it's running smoothly and I can tell the families arriving today think the families stuck in traffic yesterday were exaggerating.

The house seems so empty now without her!! I think her sister is taking it the worst. I guess we'll adjust eventually.

Some parents were saying "don't go in their room when you get home, you will sob!" and LOL the first thing I did when I got home was go to her room, because she forgot stuff and I have to go find it and an pack it up.

Oh Nadine-- I'm feeling for you, how was it being in her room? Did you release all the held in emotions? Did you find all the stuff she forgot? This will be so good for both her and you. Hopefully the adjustment period won't be too terrible. HUGS!!!!

While my new job is going well, I’m struggling with the volume of work combined with the short deadlines we have. I’m finding it really difficult to turn off in the evening when I’ve been working frantically all day. I haven’t been reading much lately because of it. We are short two people right now so I have to hope it won’t always be like this.

Finished
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hubbert (a book about body positivity). I didn’t really like this book, but I don’t have a definite reason why. I didn’t connect with this one, and I was glad when it was over.

Reading
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (a book by an Indigenous author)

QOTW
Hey, it’s my question!! I’ve enjoyed reading your answers.

I wonder what book I was thinking of when I wrote this question? I think it might have been Beside a Burning Sea. The story takes place over just a couple days after a shipwreck. I would love to find out if the characters are able to find happiness after they’re rescued and WWII ends.

Theresa wrote: "Today is my birthday! Happy Birthday to me!"

Happy birthday!! I hope you had a wonderful day.

Heather wrote: "While my new job is going well, I’m struggling with the volume of work combined with the short deadlines we have. I’m finding it really difficult to turn off in the evening when I’ve been working f..."



New jobs are mentally exhausting!!!

Britany wrote: "Oh Nadine-- I'm feeling for you, how was it being in her room? Did you release all the held in emotions? Did you find all the stuff she forgot? This will be so good for both her and you. Hopefully ..."


It's all just kind of weird. I didn't cry, to my surprise. Her room still feels exactly like her room, so going in there to find stuff for her wasn't upsetting, and it's kind of nice that she still needs me to do stuff for her.

What's most weird is today. Like: my life turned upside down this weekend, but now I'm supposed to go back to doing all my regular things? I have to go to WORK now? (And I started my Monday morning by finding I have a 7am meeting!! I was just lucky that I logged in at 6:40 and found the invite. Curse anyone who sends out last minute meeting invites for 7 am on a Monday!!!!)

I haven't looked in her closet in years, and I was SHOCKED at how many pairs of jeans she owns hahaha! I asked my younger daughter what I'm going to find in her closet when she goes to college, and she deadpan replied: "books" LOL!

Thanks all for the birthday wishes! I have had a spectacular one!

@Nadine - anyone who sets a last minute 7AM Monday meeting deserves to have to clean everyone's bathrooms with a toothbrush!

You also are living that familiar saying "the more it changes, the more it is just the same."

Nadine wrote: " I have to go to WORK now? (And I started my Monday morning by finding I have a 7am meeting!! I was just lucky that I logged in at 6:40 and found the invite. Curse anyone who sends out last minute meeting invites for 7 am on a Monday!!!!).."

I NEVER understand this psychopath behavior!!! WHO does this??

BOOKS hah!! Your younger daughter is hilarious. My parents found some hidden prom alcohol left in my closet and didn't find it until I was in Junior year of college (so of drinking age). It was all the gross stuff that no one wanted to drink.

I'm glad that you're finding small opportunities to process this in your own way. I found that Anne Bogel (modern mrs darcy blog) recently posted about dropping her eldest at college too, it made me think of you. You are not alone, even doing this during one of the strangest times of our history with this pandemic.

Congrats, Nadine! I hope you're all adjusting after a week!