The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimberly, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week, take a look ahead, and showcase our new treasures—I mean books!
The Past Two Weeks
We celebrated my birthday over at my sister’s house last Sunday (October 16.) My birthday isn’t for another week or two, but we had the party early so I could celebrate with my family in person. My sister made her fabulous chocolate cake, and we had a really great time! My mom was able to come, since she’s feeling fine and testing negative again, but my stepdad was still testing positive even though he feels fine too, so he stayed home.
Because my stepdad kept testing positive, we didn’t see my parents much while we were in New Mexico. We spent some time with my sister, and of course we had lots of time with Robin whenever they weren’t working. But it was weird, not spending time with my mom and stepdad. We hope to go back in a few months, so I’ll visit with them a lot then.
Robin’s adolescent kittens are absolutely adorable; I soaked up lots of kitty cuddles and playtime. One of them plays fetch; you throw his favorite toy (a plastic spring) and he will joyously chase it down and then bring it back to you to throw again. They’re both clever, inquisitive, playful, and impossible to keep off countertops.
We left New Mexico on Friday and headed home to the East Coast; we arrive late Sunday night (Oct. 23.) I have a ton of stuff to in the next few weeks. Besides the usual post-trip unpacking, laundry, housework, and grocery shopping, I’m working on a slide show about the history of our Spinners and Weavers Guild for the guild’s 40th anniversary celebration on Nov. 12. And I decided I’m going to do NaNoWriMo again this year, so I need to cram in a lot of prep before Nov. 1.
I have to admit that I’m really nervous about doing NaNoWriMo. I failed spectacularly when I tried 8 years ago, and I haven’t had the courage to try again. Self-discipline is not one of my strengths, and I struggle a lot with my inner critic, who constantly tells me I’m not good enough. So… I’m trying to give myself permission to write badly. It doesn’t have to be good, or even terribly coherent; I just have to put words on the page. Lots of words. I need to think of it as just practice – like doing vocal scales (something I’m very familiar with.) The main thing is to practice consistency: sit my butt in the chair every day, put my hands on the keyboard, and write.
Recent Posts
- Sunday Post – 10/16/2022
- NaNoWriMo 2022
- Belated Sunday Post – 10/23/2022 (10/24) – this post
Looking Ahead
- The Spare Man, by Mary Robinette Kowal – tentative
- reviews TBD
- Sunday Post – 10/30/2022
What I’ve Been Reading/Watching
Reading: It wasn’t a great reading week, but I finished rereading Point By Point (Celia Lake), a historical fantasy romance featuring the unpartnered main character from In the Cards. I’m currently rereading The Hare and the Oak by the same author, and I dipped into a few writing books I got (see below.)
Listening to: I’m still listening to the Circle of Magic quartet (Tamora Pierce), for the third or fourth time. I’m about halfway through book three, Daja’s Book. We finished listening to Andy Serkis’s reading of The Fellowship of the Ring on our way home, and started The Two Towers. We’ll put that on hold until our next road trip.
Watching: We watched the first three episodes of Pride and Prejudice (BBC, 1995) with Robin. I’m embarrassed to admit that it’s the first time I have seen this version, but I like it very much. I’ll watch the rest here at home.
Added to the Hoard this week
For Review or Consideration
Many thanks to DAW for Shenanigans!
Birthday Gifts
Received as gifts: The Golden Enclaves (hardcover); Empire of Ivory, Victory of Eagles, and Tongues of Serpents (paperback)
Purchased (Kindle, print, or audio)
Print: Ready, Set, Novel! (new); Writing Down the Bones (used.)
Kindle: The Cat Who Saved Books. (Click title for Goodreads page or my review.)
Anne+-+Books+of+My+Heart
You’ll be really busy this week post -trip. I think with writing you just have to do it, get some words and ideas on paper and then edit and polish once you have the ideas. I think I would write in phrases like an outline first of the ideas, then actually writing out those ideas. But that’s what I think would work for me, maybe not anyone else. Trust in yourself.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
Anne+-+Books+of+My+Heart recently posted…Vanishing Hour by Laura Griffin
Wendy
Wow, sounds like you had a wonderful trip. Kitten cuddles are always fun. Happy early birthday. Best of luck to you for NaNoWriMo.
Wendy recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten Books That Feature Magical Realism.
Katherine
Sounds like a busy week! Two bad you weren’t able to spend more time with your mother and stepfather but I bet all the time with Robin made up for it! The kittens sound absolutely adorable. I’m much more of a dog person but there is nothing cuter than a kitten – unless it’s two kittens!