Tag Archive: memoir


Review: Worn Stories by Emily Spivack

Filed under: Books, Kindle, Reading, Reviews — 2 Comments
July 25, 2022

Worn StoriesWorn Stories by Emily Spivack
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After watching the Worn Stories on Netflix, I decided to look this up. I found it on Libby as a Kindle version.

I wish I had found it as an Audible version or paper copy. Text-to-Speech doesn’t stop for pictures. I didn’t feel like stopping the stories just to look at the pictures of old clothes that held no meaning for me. It works better as a show as you see the person talking and their story with their memory clothing. The Kindle version makes it a dry story with no personality.

AND I’m not too fond of short stories. Ever. I wanted a lot more depth. I could deal with each story being a book unto itself.

Don’t we all have those favorite bits of clothes that bring us memories and comfort? I sure do.

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Is It Really Thursday

Filed under: Blogging, Happiness, Movies/TV, Technology, Writing — 11 Comments
July 21, 2022

This day has pretended to be anything but Thursday. Thank goodness my brother knew it was the trash is ready for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I’ve been in password hell. My laptop went belly up. A new cell and Fire should help until we can get a new laptop. But every little thing needs a sign-in and new passwords. Maybe others do okay with all of that, but ADD/dyslexia of 2022 with all the two-step verification makes me wish for the simplicity of 1998.

I haven’t talked about the binges lately.

My friend and I between her two visits here and mine to her home, have enjoyed a couple shows. We really got sucked into The Umbrella Academy. I kind of hope there will be more, yet it doesn’t leave you on a cliff.

https://youtu.be/hs6alRuY1UU

Stranger Things is on the edge of your seat exciting.

https://youtu.be/yQEondeGvKo

To calm down I’ve resorted to Bridgerton.

https://youtu.be/qYNCws-a6CQ

It’s kind of a nice change and you can’t take it seriously.

Ah, but as I’m busy with password hell or writing (I have gotten a little done but have no idea how much. I’m not working in yWriter so accurate word count, etc. can’t happen.) It’s back to old trusted noise of Outlander, Jurassic Park, The Walking Dead, etc. I figure I’ve shared them often enough. I can’t wait to get back to the history of  Doctor Who on Amazon. By the way, the others are on Netflix.

I think I’ll get back to my writing and TWD. I’m two weeks behind! Yikes! I’m filling in with trip memories. I’ll put them in the right journal later. I just need to write.

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Review: Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner by Judy Melinek

Filed under: Audible, Reading, Reviews — 4 Comments
July 7, 2022

Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical ExaminerWorking Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner by Judy Melinek
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First of all, don’t read this book before going to sleep. Or you won’t, especially from the part about 9/11 on. Still, it is such an engaging read. And the narrator, Tanya Eby, made the book lively, even though much of it is about death.

If Grey’s Anatomy has taught me anything about the life of a potential surgeon, it is the lack of sleep and how dangerous that lack can be for the doctor and the patient. It is that lack of sleep and trying to be a young mother that the author, Judy Melinek, realized she needed a different path, even though this path was nearly finished for the author. But all that training did lead her to be a Medical Examiner in New York.

We Americans hide from sex and death. We can talk of taxes until the cows come home. But of the two topics, death seems the least discussed. And that is too bad. We need to know about that part of life for ourselves and our loved ones.

If you are a writer, this book can be quite the reference. I can see many ways the book can be used to write a mystery or lend credence to a fatality in the novel.

I highly recommend this book, especially in audio form. I was lucky to pick it up from the library on Libby.

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Review: Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could by Adam Schiff

Filed under: Audible, politics, Reading, Reviews — Leave a comment
June 13, 2022

Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still CouldMidnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could by Adam Schiff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Midnight in Washington was not a good book to read before going to sleep. It was a Libby (library) audio in the author’s voice, so I wanted to neither keep myself awake on reliving the horror of January 6th or miss parts of the story by falling asleep as the recording continued. So I settled on listening while busy with my hobbies, keeping my hands busy but my mind engaged in the reading.

I saw the author, Adam Schiff, on several talk shows and knew I wanted to hear his account of what had happened. I was surprised and pleased to see he included an autobiography. Meaning you were seeing what happened from his point of view.

I felt the book was honest and fair to others as it occurred to the author.

It is interesting having read this before the hearings we are listening to today. I feel more engaged and understand more. I highly recommend this book, especially in Adam Schiff’s calming voice.

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Finishing Friday

Filed under: Blogging, Creativity, Diamond Painting — Leave a comment
June 10, 2022

I’m loving the sunset part of this lighthouse picture. This one is confetti so I work it like this:
I gather little bits of each color represented in the block I’m working. So far it works for me.

Sometimes I pop them on in a row, or by one color at a time. But I love to pop the drills on in checkerboard.

See the sun area? After checkerboarding I fill in the missing bits and find I don’t need to straighten the lines as much.

Now if only I could see the real thing. Diamond Painting does bring a bit of that peace.

A quick summary of everything else. I only skipped Morning Pages one day last week.

My memoir, Moving, is moving along but behind.

Two pairs of socks are growing row by row, much more slowly lately.

My hands found their way to play recorders this week.

My eyes actually made progress in reading real paper books. I do get tired still so I’m looking into ways to train my visual tracking.

Two books are waiting for reviews.

How was your week? Oh, and Have a great weekend!

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Thus Thursday

Filed under: Blogging, Creativity, NaNoWriMo, Writing — 4 Comments
May 26, 2022

I’m still recuperating, not so much from the surgery but so many long trips on so little sleep. My husband noticed I don’t wear glasses while knitting or diamond painting. I still haven’t been brave enough to play piano or recorder for fear of not seeing the music properly.

I’m back to doing Morning Pages and working through both Artist Way and It’s Never Too Late by Julia Cameron.

My Life is still progressing. Five more days in May to meet my goal. I think it’s doable.

Lots getting done. Lots of writing. Still need to rest my eyes a lot while marveling over this miracle.

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Review: Persist by Elizabeth Warren

Filed under: Books, Reading, Reviews — 3 Comments
May 22, 2022

PersistPersist by Elizabeth Warren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this audiobook up on Libby. For a non-fiction memoir, it was a quick ‘read.” I think it was a couple of sessions. Elizabeth Warren read her book, which made it even better. She is so enthusiastic and thorough. I love her take on the world. I wish I felt as optimistic as she is that all this could work. But I’m all for trying.

Ms. Warren brought up every issue facing women. She also gave ideas on how to handle the bigotry in the world. Her voice and energy are contagious. I enjoyed the stories of her life. I highly recommend this book.

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Tidbits Tuesday

Filed under: Blogging, Diamond Painting, Happiness, Knitting, Loom, memory, NaNoWriMo, Writing — Leave a comment
May 3, 2022

I found this interesting about age groups learning languages. I hope those who are not on Duolingo can read it, too.

The dragon is looking like a dragon.

You can see the size of my light pad.
Finally working the cuffs.

My new NaNoWriMo goal to add another 20k to the memoir.

Now I reward myself for doing my tasks Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst.

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Sunday

Filed under: Audible, Blogging, Diamond Painting, Movies/TV — Leave a comment
May 1, 2022

Tomorrow dragon’s face! Outlander 8 is the background story.

Okay, confession time. Since starting Camp NaNo, my memoirs/autobiography/my life, my background show has been Heartland. I figured I have horses to look at and it wouldn’t be distracting. I was scared it would be heavy western music. It has been tolerable. I always skip the intro song, but even it isn’t horrid. It is just boring and doesn’t seem to apply to the show.

Anyway, it worked quite well for the first four seasons. Great background. Then suddenly I found it distracting. I got invested in the characters and story. So I guess I should recommend it to others. I’ve made it to the 13th season! Only one more, then I’ll need another distracting background.

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Stream of Consciousness Saturday

Filed under: Audible, Blogging, Diamond Painting, Knitting, Loom, NaNoWriMo, weather — 5 Comments
April 30, 2022

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “zip, zero, zilch.” Use one, use ’em all, bonus points if you use all three. Have fun!

Zipping through hours of Diamond Painting and loom knitting socks. And I am having so much fun listening to book 8 of Outlander.

When our weather guy gave us the latest news on our drought, we found zero improvement. We are still at “exceptional” status. Worse than anywhere in Oregon. We are in the Outback or desert. But this has been the driest year since we got here. I have to admit to being really afraid of fire season coming up.

Now, I’ve got to confess, I’ve had yWriter7 open since I woke up early this morning. Zilch. But I promise all of us I will meet my 20k goal before bed tonight. Otherwise I count on zero, zip, zilch sleep.

Autobiographies/memoirs are far harder than making it up in you head and playing with imaginary friends!
Whew! 20,100 words! And that only has me to age 21. So many I’ll set the goal for 20k each month to keep it moving

At least I can sleep tonight.

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