Time and Place | About 9 a.m. on my couch.
Reading | I had a very slow reading week. I’m in this mode where I want to READ ALL THE THINGS which inevitably causes me to not read anything at all. I’ve been slowing making my way through three books this week, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, The Lost Landscape by Joyce Carol Oates (September from Ecco Books), and My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. I’m hoping to finish at least one of those today.
Listing | One of the ways I tried to focus is to just make a list of everything that I want to be reading right now. Having it written down seems to settle my brain. Here’s the list: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (egalley), Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (egalley), Blackout by Sarah Hepola (bought), Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed (library), Sally Ride: America’s First Woman in Space by Lynn Sherr (library), I Am Malala by Malala Yousarzai (bought), and Saint Mazie by Jamie Attenberg (bought).
Watching | We’re going to see Spy, Melissa McCarthy’s new movie, this afternoon. Nothing like a cool, dark movie theater in the middle of a hot, humid weekend.
Listening | My current audio book is An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, a YA fantasy right in my audio book wheelhouse. The book has a male and a female narrator for the alternating perspective chapters, which I really like.
Blogging | This week I wrote about my current British fiction reading binge and shared 11 true stories of lady adventurers.
Hating | I think my grocery store has stopped carrying my new favorite yogurt, Chobani Almond Coco Loco (coconut yogurt with salted almonds and dark chocolate). This is very distressing!
Loving | I’ve got a three day work week! Our official company holiday is Friday, and I took Thursday off to see some friends who are vacationing in Minneapolis. After that, we’ll be heading to the cabin for another weekend at the lake. I’m excited.
Planning | I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to save memories and mementos from the trip my sister and I are taking to Europe this fall (we finally finished booking our accommodations, so the trip is feeling VERY real). This post on ways to preserve memories without scrapbooking caught my attention, as did this one on making a photo book. I’d love to get some ideas from others who are frequent travelers or talented memory keepers, as I am neither of those things.
Plotting | Hannah has started sleeping on my pillow after I get up in the morning which is cute but also gross because, ugh, so much cat hair. A friend suggested putting a cat bed there for her to sleep on, which seems like a logical solution.
Anticipating | I skipped taking a walk yesterday, so I need to get my butt moving this morning. I found a new path to take last weekend, out to this gazebo with a lovely view, so I may head that direction after breakfast.
Happy Sunday, everyone! What are you reading today?
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I actually got a lot read last week because I read a graphic memoir and a novel written in verse. We walk 6 days a week – Saturday is our day off. I hope you like Spy more than I did.
Yes, you definitely have more books than time! 🙂 I’ve just started Between the World and Me. You’re going to need a stack of post-its next to you as you read this. I’m still on the fence about Fates and Furies. I’m thinking about reading it. Looking forward to your thoughts.
I hope you love Just Mercy as much as I did! Bryan Stevenson did a great Q&A in the wake of Charleston, if you’re interested/haven’t seen it: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/06/24/bryan-stevenson-on-charleston-and-our-real-problem-with-race
Have a great week trying to tackle all your reads! I too have a larger stack than I could ever hope to get through. Maybe your cabin getaway will bring more reading time for you.
I love how you say “I’m in this mode where I want to READ ALL THE THINGS which inevitably causes me to not read anything at all” because that is exactly what happened to me couple of days ago. I suddenly wanted to read every fantastic book I wanted to read about – right away and quickly – but of course, I didn’t read a page that day. It’s a nice problem to have but oh so depressing.
This post made me laugh! Reading all the things! I’m reading the new Judy Blume, and, sadly, suffering a bit. Half way through and no real plot. I picked it up for something fun, and…it’s not so fun.
I love the idea of wearing a different perfume on each trip! That’s a perfect brain hack to give yourself vivid memories of each place. I’ll have to try it next time I do a big vacation.
So jealous that you’ve got the Coates book. I’m really excited to read it when it comes out in the fall: He’s such a gifted and insightful writer.
Hannah looks so cute on your pillow! I’ll bet it’s partly your warm spot she wants. It might be easier to buy enough pillowcases to have a fresh one each night than to get her to sleep elsewhere.
I’m currently in a reading slump, not really wanting to read anything at all, so it’s kind of funny we’re both in the same place reading-wise even though we’re feeling totally different! How did you like Spy? I don’t go to the theatres to watch a lot of movies, but Spy is definitely something I want to go watch. And your Chobani Almond Coco Loco – oh my! It doesn’t sound like yogurt, more like an awesome dessert!
I totally know the feeling of wanting to read all the books but being so distracted by book lust that you don’t actually read anything. Making a list helps me, as well!
As for preserving travel memories, I always take a journal to write in each night. I also love the idea of making a literal “scrap book” and pasting ticket stubs and receipts etc. into your journal along the way, as described in this blog post.