On days like today you can see clearly that it is the small things that make all the difference.
The small thing I’m referring to today weighted in a little less than 8 pounds, and a head full of hair. I can’t believe it was- um-a long time ago this day. Most of my small things are near or at middle aged. Give a mother a break. Who worked harder that day the birther or birthee? Happy Birthday big guy. Glad we got to talk today
Let’s try an echo from the past. It is Friday. So how about Finishing Friday? Best I could do on short notice.
For a while, I had to do very little as the bottom two knuckles of my left thumb started hurting. It went up my arm, all the joints and into the scapula. So all knitting, crocheting, even violin, and ukulele had to stop. Even the piano hurt when I’d hit notes too hard on the side of the thumb. It made me so sad.
Luckily, it is getting better. But I’m still giving the crochet and the strings a break. Meanwhile, I’m trying morning bed yoga and include hand, arms, and shoulder stretches. That is helping the sciatica stabs, too.
Back to the prompt. I wish I could go somewhere to hear an echo. Somewhere so in Nature and isolated that a whisper would repeat back. It is such a great sensation to live through. I’ve been in caves that had that kind of sound. And the acoustics were so great that when my mom and I sang out it sounded like the most beautiful sound ever.
That’s Carol Burnett singing about my problem.
I can’t even go to town, make phone calls, or answer calls that are not from friends or family. Certainly, even though I took two years of speech, I cannot get up and give a speech. So many things I can’t do because social anxiety can make me all sweaty and shaky. All words leave me.
But I can sing when I have practiced and love the song. I’ve even done some soloing. Just as long as there is a distance between me and the audience, I don’t have to talk to anyone afterward. I’ve loved being in a couple of musicals. Given the chance to exercise my voice and memorize the words, I could work up SHY with gusto. But clap, and I will return to hiding in the corner, reading my books.
Thank you, Linda, for One-Liner Wednesday.
Archangel Down by C. Gockel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a fun space adventure. Most of it is planet-bound, but quick spoiler: there will be space.
Look, this is a fast-paced book. The narrator, Emily Woo Zeller, seamlessly switches characters and emotions. I’m sure the paper book is good, but I have to admit that I can’t imagine not hearing it. But it made a bad bedtime book. I didn’t want to put it away. I probably should have been a book for three nights, but I couldn’t stop.
The main character, Noa, is quite persnickety, but that is required of the movement leader and the spaceship’s pilot. But it gets in her way. She doesn’t know who to trust. All she knows is she needs to save people from being tortured or killed. Noa is flawed but likable. I found myself rooting for her.
If you get the chance to read/listen to the book, I think you will love it, too. It is on Audible. Please give it a try.
Simon Fayter and the Doors of Bone by Austin J. Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
After reading some depressing, serious books, this charmer landed in my Libby to borrow. I read/listened to it in one night.
If you are looking for a fun read, perhaps one you could share with the rest of the family, this is it. The author narrates so you don’t miss any nuance.
Finally, you have got to love a good footnote. I always have!
Don’t you love a good story that? It’s like getting an invigorating cup of coffee. Time to get one. Sorry this was a bit of a cheat.
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The dangers, frustrations, and excitements of being female are explored through the lives of three women. I found myself relating completely to some situations, yet I could not relate to others. What was made clear is that just because we are all women, we are all so different. And honestly, viva that difference! The one sure thing that can be learned here is we are not to judge. Maybe we can learn lessons from the mistakes or the successes of others.
I feel some of my readers may want the warning that the book is sexually explicit, but knowing how closely sex is to a depth of relationships, you learn why the women have such difficult choices in their lives.
I am now interested in watching the series on Starz.
Feminism is clearly seen here, where we can claim our strengths and weaknesses to work on. If you like strong open books about contemporary women, this book is for you. I must admit that listening on the Libby audiobook to the four narrators, one for each of the main characters, helped the reader to feel their story deeper. They are Tara Lynne Barr, Marin Ireland, Mena Suvari, and author/narrator Lisa Taddeo. Great work, all.
I don’t know how other people do it. I am always behind. I rarely get gifts finished or cards sent, yet December gets here and leaves before I’m ready. When I try to get in front of the season, money, illness, depression, etc. jump in and throw me into the deep in making holiday magic the most depressing thought of my life.
This year, Sammie was new and though my brother threw up the trees (and take that however you will), we only donned soft toys and knitted balls. We redecorated every day.
The gift I thought would be ready turned out too small. So I’ll try again. Soon.
What I did enjoy was playing Christmas songs on the piano. It was enlightening and refreshing. And in my style I got a couple of the songs in time for New Year.
Yesterday, ahead of Spring Cleaning, I managed to not only put my Christmas songs away in an orderly fashion, and then, tada! I pulled out a lot of fun songs for this year’s goal: Learn to improvise and compose.
At least two gifts will get to the post office Monday. Yay! Not Easter!!!
A Cream of Passion by Nancy Warren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Once again, the book came to me out of order, so I’ve yet to read the first four novels in the series. Still, the author keeps the reader up-to-date on the main character’s goals and needs.
Hollis McCarthy (Narrator) acts out the characters flawlessly. Between the writing and the audio, the reading went quickly. It is a good book if you want something fast between larger reads.
Between cooking and murder, this book is not nearly as fun as Nancy Warren’s Vampire Knitting Club series. I don’t like cooking. I’m forever on a diet of gluten-free or carbs so that these pastry-rich stories may be invoking a murderous feeling. Still, I like meandering between books of differing subject matters.
I will keep reading the series and other books by Nancy Warren. This just wasn’t a favorite. By the way, I was happy to listen to it on Libby’s audio version.
~~~
My latest binge since the Christmas day special has been Doctor Who. After watching all the specials on Disney+, I meandered to Max. I started with my favorite Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, jumped to the next in my theme, the first of Peter Capaldi with the Tyrannosaurus in London. From there on it’s been a steady binge. Great for background noise as I work on journaling about the past year and future year as we seemingly slingshot around the sun again.
Just to spark intuition and creativity I’ve pulled out Tarot cards or inspirational cards. I’m getting ready to order those writing dice to get the ideas flowing.
Mostly, I can’t wait for this sci-fi couple of weeks with far too many three day weekends and Mondays. For those not following the way my brain works this is how it looked to me:
Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Monday. Friday was a leftover
Then Saturday, Sunday, and another Monday
New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Monday (I know! Thursday!) and another left over Friday.
And look! as if flung from that slingshot another weekend and Monday!
I miss my routine. And boring ordinary weeks.
Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 100 books for the 2013 Reading Challenge! 115 of 100 (115%)
Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 225 books for the 2012 Reading Challenge! 225 of 225 (100%)
Congrats! You have completed your goal of reading 200 books for the 2011 Reading Challenge! 204 of 200 (102%)
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