Hooked on Books discussion

Hey there,

No worries about the delay. I'm in no rush and I know you have a lot going on! It sounds like a vacation (even a small one) is exactly what you need.

It's so scary hearing abut the evacuations occurring there. I haven't heard much about it on our news down here lately. I try not to turn on the news though because frankly you never know what new absurdity or human atrocity you'll hear about next. I try not to be pessimistic but I'm quite worried about the direction of things here.

Has Patrick been able to return to work? Are you liking your new job? Are you still working both places?

How is your eating going? I find it incredibly difficult to eat well when pressed for time. Convenience foods are so much easier to prepare. I completely understand about the exercise. We are under a heat dome here and the humidity is insane. Like you, I suppose I am just making excuses as I do have an exercise bike and a rower in my basement the I could use.

My husband is good. His recovery is going well and he's glad he had the procedure. He's actually in Canada right now for work. He'll be home Thursday because he now needs an MRI because they think he tore his lateral meniscus. It always seems to be something.

I rolled a 1 again 🤣 - seems to be my favorite number in this game lol. My book is finished. No rush on your next one. Take some time and enjoy your getaway - I hope you have a great time!

Looks like the game is going to continue a bit longer.... I just rolled a 5, which means I'm sliding bacck down to 30.

My vacation was great. We just hung out, met up with patrick's friends, and spent some much needed time togther as a family.

Patrick went bacck to the mine after 3 weeks. his company is trying to get the site service contract extnded to a year. It's currently ending August 31 but that is the 4th 2 month extension. And the supervisors & managers at the mine very much want Patrick's crew to stay on until the mine is totally built. They just have to convince the bean counters & contract signers hanging out in their ccushyy offices in Toronto or vancouver or whatever city they are in to sign the damn contract.

My sugars are back under control for the most part. I'm being a lot more conscience of what I eat and when/what I snacck on. Of course, vaction I wasn't as good. but I still made informed choices...ex. we did a bunch of walking around and pool time the day we went for a big heavy pasta lunch. And I ate the creamy pasta but only had a small slice (= 3 bites) of all yu can eat garlic toast.

I make myself meal prep my lunches every week and I sometimes get the breakfast and the supper in there too when I'm prepping. I can't wait for fall though when the good freezing vegetables are ready. then I can do a bunch of different soups and stews and other freezer type meals. Right now, I'm eating the same thing monday to friday and by thrusday I want to toss it all and get takeoout...but I'm even being realitively smart with the take out too.

the evacuations suck. We have a few more fires since I last checked and a few more places on evacuation alert. Most of our fires are under control but the big one they are watcching now is just one wind cchange away from evacuating the townsite in Prince Albert National Park. they are only on alert right now and they are tellinig people to think twice if they need to be in the park. Not that many people change their minds once they decide they are going.

I'm right there with you with the direction things are going. I just keep hoping and praying, and I have steadfast belief, that there is still more good in the world than evil and yes, it might get darker for a while yet, but we will come out the other side...I hope. 😢

I'm glad his recovery is going well, but what the heck meniscus?? My grade 7 teacher tore his skiing when I was in 7th grade. When he came back after surgery, our science unit was his MRI and xrays and 🤢It was not my favourite unit.

I'm so proud of myself. I finished my first book over the weekend. It was quite entertaining. About an AI who finds themself in the middle of a war between augmented federalists and humanist rebels. promising to help/protect some innocent bystanders he struggles to relate to the human emotions. Very funny and satirical observations about humans, war, and AI. Mal Goes to War

That was quite a slide!!!

I'm so glad you enjoyed your vacation. It's always nice to take a minute to reset and relax! We haven't really made a plan for a vacation this year. We usually go in September or October. Now with my husband needing surgery, I'm not sure when they will schedule it or what the recovery time is.

It sounds like you are doing great with eating. I think meal prep is the way to go. I always say I'm going to do it and have yet to really try it. I agree with you though. Fall is simply the best time for stews and soups.

I've not heard of the book you read but it sounds interesting. Was it something you specifically picked to meet the task?

I got read a book with a character who has your dream job. I have to think what my dream job is...
Librarian, writer, bookstore owner, .... choices!

My book is finished.

Hey Carrie, You want a slide? Ask me how my eating is going LOL...kinda fell off the wagon a bit but still making better choices more times than I was before and I havne't had the physcial ailments tht i was dealing with.

That sucks that your husband's surgery is complicating your vacation plans. Hopefully yall can still get away for a bit. Have you had any word when his surgery is going to be?

I chose my book simply because the libary had it available and it met the task. I love it when the book I choose is actually worth reading.

I rolled and got "secret" in text. I had a heavy data entry day at work so I actually listened to a whole book today, meaning I'm finished. I'd read that one before but it's been almost ten years. I coudn't remember anytihng about it other than I'd read it before and I didn't remember hating it. I was very pleasently surprised that the review I wanted to give it today basically matched the review I had done in 2016. (I didn't read the origianl review/nor look at my rating prior to reading it this time around)

OH OH, also, I finally, finally, FINALLY opened that Monkees puzzle over the weekend, sorted edge and inside pieces and got the outside edge put together....I then promptly knocked the bottom edge off the coffee table 🤦‍♀️, so I slid the whole edge (mostly in tact) into the lid of the box and it's currently on the shelf waiting for my niece and nephew to go home so I can put it on my kitchen table and work at the insides. My son is coming home next weekend for a week...I think I'll "let" (read beg) him help me put it together.

It happens. It's tough to stay on track. Life gets busy and eating right takes time and planning in my opinion. Just keep making as many good choices as you can as often as you can! (I need to follow my own advice - easier said than done!)

It took the surgeon 3 weeks to read the MRI. They actually called today and issues all of the pre op orders. he's traveling until next week so he'll have to do that once he gets back. They'll set the date once that's all done I guess. Recovery time is 6 weeks.

I did something similar. I read a book by Blake Crouch a long time ago (but I did not remember that I read it!). I had almost an identical opinion of it now as when I read it years prior. there are other books that I have reread where that's no longer true though.

Way to go with getting the puzzle started! Honestly knocking the box over would so be something I would do. I'm working on a glow in the dark dog puzzle. It's tough because it's a lot of blue.

I'll put the link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5LC92LW?...

I spun on a 1 ... SHOCKING 🤣

It's read a book with a key on the cover. Going to have to look for that one.

oh my goodness that puzzle is so cute. but yes 1000 pcs AND all that blue 😵‍💫 I thought my puzzle would be easier than it is. it has fairly distinct colour areas, however, it also has wavy, wonky pieces. i pulled out 5 inside pcs thinking they were edge ones because they did have a straight side. I'm looking forward to getting The Monkees done and then I have two 500 pc Strange Planet puzzles to do. This is One of them https://poshmark.ca/listing/Strange-P...

That bites that it took them so long to get back to you. Hopefully once his preop stuff is done, he can be scheduled in and get it over with. How is he making out with his travel with is injury? I'm sure it can't be fun.

Key on the cover hopefully isn't too hard. do you know about https://www.talpasearch.com/ It will search books and covers for certain items. It's not an exhaustive list but it's definitely a starting point.

I love that puzzle! I frequently buy puzzles on poshmark. There can be some good cheap deals to be had.

I HATE when I can't tell what are straight edge pieces. I like (need) to do my border first and it frustrates me when I have a bunch of pieces that may or may not be part of the border!

We found out his surgery will be on the 26th. They are saying 6 weeks to recover but if I know him as well as I think, he'll be itchy to move within days. Preop stuff is done.

Thanks for the link. I've not heard of it but it should be very useful!!! I will admit I didn't even look for a book yet. Tower Teams (do you play?) is on the final couple of days and I'm hurrying to complete 2 books for that.

Any exciting plans for the weekend? I think we are going to an Italian festival in a nearby city (but if it's 95 degrees like they are saying - maybe not lol)

I picked my puzzles up from toys R us and I was terrible and opened the box to check the pieces to make sure they weren't too small or wonkey before I bought it. My son is excited to help me put them together and then I'll puzzle glue them and hang em up.

That is so fast for his surgery. Hopefully your husband will take the time to heal properly. My dad had knee surgery and I told him it was his only chance to get mobility back. If he didn't follow the recovery rules, they wouldn't be able to do his surgery again, he'd end up in a wheelchair, have to sell his house, give me the money so we could buy something wheelchair accessible, and he'd be stuck living with me and eventually one of us was going to commit murder. It was still an uphill battle/fight/constant reminders, but he has 85% range back (much higher than they expected for a 70year old), is still living on his own, and his knee only 'talks' to him occasionally.

I did not play Tower teams this year. I've been super choosy about what I'm joining. I'm so flakey/hit or miss on reading that I don't want to over commit and back out of challenges. All I'm doing for challenges is this one & ghostbusters as well as signing up for Bookopoly. I was tempted by Turf Wars but I struggle with the roving due dates. I was also tempted by The Sinister Toys challenge but again, I'm just too flakey.

As for my weekend, I'm picking my son up tomorrow after work and he will be staying with me until next Friday. We talked about going to the stock car races on Saturday, but we are also contemplating taking my niece and nephew back to my brother's and stopping in Regina. But thats 10hours of driving in one day and I'm not sure if we want to do that. We also talkedf about a hang out on Saturday, just the two of us and the dog, and play video games and puzzles, etc. So we will see. All I know is we are hanging out.

I hope the weather isn't too hot for the festival. that sounds like it would be fun.

Oh and no worries about your book. I like doing this challenge with you because it's so relaxed and no pressure. I hope tower teams is going welll for your team :)

How are things going?

Things are good here. My husband had his surgery Tuesday and it went really well. He's up and moving around. He has to get the stitches out in 2 weeks and he starts physical therapy soon. We really won't know if what the surgeon did will be enough until later on.

How did the time with your son go? Get some fun in?

I can't believe it's September tomorrow. This summer seems to have went so fast.

Still haven't finished a book yet but I didn't forget.

Did you ever try a wooden puzzle? This was new to me. It was okay but really not my thing I've decided. The image was a treehouse and the piece count was 195 so it didn't take long at all. I just hate trying to put the strangely cut pieces together.

The glow in the dark dog puzzle was awesome and looked so cool with the lights turned out!