Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• This week… not so good. Everything always seems to hit the fan at the same time.

• Brighter note: I secured a babysitter for Sunday so we can go see Hamilton!!!

• I know it’s only September, but I’m already feeling the reading challenge crunch. Still my reading has been crazy lately!

• Birthday party planning is entering into the final phases. I have a growing pile of supplies that have been delivered. I have a food list created. Working on finalizing our activities and waiting for RSVPs.

• Starting to make October’s spooky reading list. I love Halloween time so much!

• Bought a sparkly pumpkin sign for outdoors and Q has to say hello to it every time we come home.

• Found some great clothing pieces at the Goodwill this week. Can’t wait to wear my new fall clothes.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Title: Uprooted

Author: Naomi Novik

Publisher:

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 

Rating: /5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.

Next up on the TBR pile:

I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

Title: I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

Author: Michelle McNamara

Publisher: Harper 2018

Genre: Nonfiction - True Crime

Pages: 352

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - Published Posthumously; Nonfiction Bingo - Goodreads Winner

A masterful true crime account of the Golden State Killer - the elusive serial rapist turned murderer who terrorized California for over a decade - from Michelle McNamara, the gifted journalist who died tragically while investigating the case. 

"You'll be silent forever, and I'll be gone in the dark."

For more than 10 years, a mysterious and violent predator committed 50 sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated 10 sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area. 

Three decades later Michelle McNamara, a true-crime journalist who created the popular website TrueCrimeDiary.com, was determined to find the violent psychopath she called "the Golden State Killer". Michelle pored over police reports, interviewed victims, and embedded herself in the Online communities that were as obsessed with the case as she was. 

At the time of the crimes, the Golden State Killer was between the ages of 18 and 30, Caucasian, and athletic - capable of vaulting tall fences. He always wore a mask. After choosing a victim - he favored suburban couples - he often entered their home when no one was there, studying family pictures, mastering the layout. He attacked while they slept, using a flashlight to awaken and blind them. Though they could not recognize him, his victims recalled his voice: a guttural whisper through clenched teeth, abrupt and threatening. 

I wouldn’t say that I exactly enjoyed this book. In my mind, it is very similar to Columbine. This is a book that I felt compelled to read, found the subject matter interesting, but derived no joy from the reading itself. However, I think this book is a very well-done example of a modern true crime. McNamara certainly had a way of constructing a narrative that put the reader right there with the terrified public and some of the victims. Even with the obfuscation of names, we connect deeply to the various victims of the Golden State Killer. We get frustrated right along with the various detectives, police, and forensics workers. I was amazing at how concisely McNamara connects all the dots. It is just sad that she did not live long enough to see the police catch the guy who instilled terror into the communities of California.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Title: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

Author: Abbi Waxman

Publisher: Berkley 2019

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 333

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Random TBR; Monthly Keyword - September

Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own...shell.

The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.

When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is?

Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)

It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.

Another recommendation from Anne Bogel and I’m completely in love with this book. Nina might be another version of me. At first, Nina is a great quirky character comfortable in her life. I loved seeing her life get up-ended in many ways forcing Nina outside of the box. In some ways, this book is a romantic comedy, but I see it more like a great character study. Just in a light-hearted way. I love Nina’s interactions with her newly discovered family members, especially brother Archie. I would love to read a sequel to this book focusing on Nina’s growing relationships within her new family. I want to see more of Peter and Millie, even Lydia (will she ever come around to Nina?).

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Motionless in White "Brand New Numb"

They were great in concert! And I’m loving the new music.

Life Right Now #25

On my bedside table: The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin; The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams

On my TV: J and I started S6 of Game of Thrones last night. Getting so close to the end!

Listening to: Mostly podcasts per usual. I did download some old Paramore for car listening. Quentin seems to enjoy it.

On the menu:

• Monday - Chicken n Dumplings

• Tuesday - Leftovers

• Wednesday - Pineapple BBQ Chicken

• Thursday - Udon Teriyaki Noodles

• Friday - Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

• Saturday - Fettuccine Alfredo

• Sunday - Leftovers

On my to do list: Continuing the birthday party planning. We’re getting there! I also need to check with whoever about class party coordinator (I signed up, but not sure if there are more directions, etc). Plus I need to connect with the twin’s accounts, deal with a dentist bill, cleanout my bookmarks/Bloglovin’ subscriptions, inventory the rest of the party supplies (random kitchen box), and start some blog posts.

Happening this week:

• Monday - Playdate at a park

• Tuesday - Tinkgergarten; Possible Harvey Oaks restaurant night

• Wednesday - Playdate at a park

• Thursday - RnR class; Downtown Abbey movie special screening

• Friday - Early Explorers class at the zoo

• Saturday - Nothing so far… Vala’s is open so maybe…

• Sunday - Hamilton!!!! J and I are finally getting to see Hamilton. I’ve secured a babysitter and everything. I can’t wait!

What I am creating: I dove into Arthur’s 2018 PL album and am hoping to knock out a few spreads this week. I also am finalizing what I’m going to make for the birthday party. And I want to finish my August MP pages.

My simple pleasures: A cool breeze at night (seriously I sleep so much better!), a good aged Gouda, kids not talking for a few minutes, quick RSVPs (thank you awesome people!).

What I’m planning: The birthday party of course! We’ve scheduled it for October 12th and sent out the invites. Now to seriously nailing down all the details. Working on a menu. Got a huge pile of things bought (mostly decor and party supplies). J and I have our costumes mostly down. The boys have their themed shirts coming. I need to finish the menu, goody bags, and activities.

Looking around the house: I feel so much better when the kitchen/dining room is clean. The playroom is fine being a disaster, but crap all over my kitchen drives me batty. Hoping to do a bit of clothing cleanout this coming week.

Looking forward to: Hamilton!!!!! Seriously I’ve been wanting to go for forever, but tickets in the Bay were so difficult to acquire (to say nothing of the cost). I say online a few months back and scored some decent tickets for this coming weekend. The cost was a bit high, but it’s been on our list for so long, we decided to go for it.

From the camera: Riding the train by himself.

The Woman in the Lake by Nicola Cornick

Title: The Woman in the Lake

Author: Nicola Cornick

Publisher: Graydon House 2019

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 310

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Keyword - July; Cloak and Dagger

London, 1765

Lady Isabella Gerard, a respectable member of Georgian society, orders her maid to take her new golden gown and destroy it, its shimmering beauty tainted by the actions of her brutal husband the night before.

Three months later, Lord Gerard stands at the shoreline of the lake, looking down at a woman wearing the golden gown. As the body slowly rolls over to reveal her face, it’s clear this was not his intended victim…

250 Years Later…

When a gown she stole from a historic home as a child is mysteriously returned to Fenella Brightwell, it begins to possess her in exactly the same way that it did as a girl. Soon the fragile new life Fen has created for herself away from her abusive ex-husband is threatened at its foundations by the gown’s power over her until she can't tell what is real and what is imaginary.

As Fen uncovers more about the gown and Isabella’s story, she begins to see the parallels with her own life. When each piece of history is revealed, the gown—and its past—seems to possess her more and more, culminating in a dramatic revelation set to destroy her sanity.

Random pick from the library. I wasn’t quite sure what I was expecting, but was pleasantly surprised by this dual time line story with a twist crossover. I can’t say that I loved any of the characters, but I was intrigued by their stories. I enjoyed watching the three women navigate the trials and tribulations of life. While I wasn’t a huge fame of Hamish’s role in the story, he grew on me over the pages. And I didn’t quite see the twists come, but they were entertaining. I could have done without the very last reveal.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin

Title: The Last Romantics

Author: Tara Conklin

Publisher: William Morrow 2019

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 354

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

When the renowned poet Fiona Skinner is asked about the inspiration behind her iconic work, The Love Poem, she tells her audience a story about her family and a betrayal that reverberates through time.

It begins in a big yellow house with a funeral, an iron poker, and a brief variation forever known as the Pause: a free and feral summer in a middle-class Connecticut town. Caught between the predictable life they once led and an uncertain future that stretches before them, the Skinner siblings—fierce Renee, sensitive Caroline, golden boy Joe and watchful Fiona—emerge from the Pause staunchly loyal and deeply connected.  Two decades later, the siblings find themselves once again confronted with a family crisis that tests the strength of these bonds and forces them to question the life choices they’ve made and ask what, exactly, they will do for love. 

I just couldn’t really find any enjoyment out of this book. This sweeping family saga isn’t my cup of tea at all. I think this is the type of book that just really isn’t for me. I found many of the characters too difficult to connect to and wasn’t really interested in their growth. Just not for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Falling Leaves Videos

Interesting list…

Looks pretty silly, so you know I’ll have to add it my list.

Must see

Alien: Echo by Mira Grant

Title: Alien: Echo

Author: Mira Grant

Publisher: Imprint 2019

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 299

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dancing with Fantasy and Scifi - Another Planet

Olivia and her twin sister Viola have been dragged around the universe for as long as they can remember. Their parents, both xenobiologists, are always in high demand for their research into obscure alien biology.

Just settled on a new colony world, they discover an alien threat unlike anything they’ve ever seen. And suddenly the sisters’ world is ripped apart.

On the run from terrifying aliens, Olivia’s knowledge of xenobiology and determination to protect her sister are her only weapons as the colony collapses into chaos. But then a shocking family secret bursts open—one that’s as horrifying to Olivia as the aliens surrounding them.

The creatures infiltrate the rich wildlife on this untouched colony world—and quickly start adapting. Olivia’s going to have to adapt, too, if she’s going to survive..

I’ve loved all of Mira Grant’s other books (and all her writing under Seanan McGuire), so I had to grab this one from the library. Slight confusion when the story started, but I quickly realized that this story is set in the Alien universe. Should have been clued in my the title and yet I wasn’t. Once I dove into the story, this was a ride from one chapter to the next. It was horrifying to be right along with Olivia figuring out how the aliens operate. Definitely full of terror. I ended up reading this one in less than 24 hours. Definite fun.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Grilled Cheese Adventures: July and August

Part of my 2019 goals is make a different Grilled Cheese recipe each week. I find grilled cheese to be so comforting, but just cheddar or Colby gets boring after awhile. So, I checked a few books out from the library and make a Pinterest Board with lots of options. Here’s what we ate:

Week 27: Chrissy Teigen’s Brie and Peach Grilled Cheese

Back on track… This one was nice (loved the peaches!), but I think I put on too much brie. Next time, I will go a bit easier on that or choose a slightly different cheese.

Week 28: Nacho Grilled Cheese

Decent, but we needed to add some hot sauce after cooking to really make it good!

Week 29: Three Cheese Pesto and Avocado

Kinda lackluster. This definitely needed something to kick it up a bit.

Week 30: Pesto, Artichoke, and Havarti

I used dill havarti and feel like it made a world of difference. Pretty good.

Week 31: Pizza Grilled Cheese

I left off the extra layer on top. Even without this one was good.

Week 32: Kale and Sweet Potato with Dill Havarti

This was different and yet really good.

Weel 33: Spinach and Feta

The addition of red pepper flakes really made this sandwich.

Week 34: Pulled pork and cheddar with green onions

Great way to use up some of the leftover pulled pork .

Let the Right One In by John Lindqvist

Title: Let the Right One In

Author: John Lindqvist

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin 2008

Genre: Horror

Pages: 479

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Horror; Popsugar - Scandanavia; Horror

It is autumn 1981 when the inconceivable comes to Blackeberg, a suburb in Sweden. The body of a teenage boy is found, emptied of blood, the murder rumored to be part of a ritual killing. Twelve-year-old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at long last---revenge for the bullying he endures at school, day after day.

But the murder is not the most important thing on his mind. A new girl has moved in next door---a girl who has never seen a Rubik’s Cube before, but who can solve it at once. There is something wrong with her, though, something odd. And she only comes out at night. . 

I have come to the conclusion that Scandinavian horror is just not for me. I was intrigued by the vampire story that this was billed as. And this was voted onto the NPR Top 100 Horror list. Once I got into the story, I just couldn’t really take it. This story is just too incredibly bleak. I struggled to get through all the terrible, dark things that happened in the book. This was definitely a no for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Music Monday - Cold War Kids "Complainer"

Really digging this song…

September 2019 Life Goals

Let’s check in on August's goals and my progress.

• Have a successful first week of school for Arthur! - Success! We’re still all adjusting, but things are going well.

• Create a schedule for Quentin - I’m going to call it a success… We have some activities lined up and are figuring out our other days.

• Restart our Romp n Roll membership - Success! Q adjusted well to going back to classes. We even added in a few Parent’s Morning Outs.

• Read 15 books - Success! I ended up reading 22 books this month.

• Finish Lucifer S4 - Success! Finally caught up.

September’s Goals:

• Read 15 books - Knocking some more out this month.

• Visit Vala’s - We bought season passes this year and I am going to take advantage.

• Create a rotation of activities/places - I need to stay organized better.

• Plan/prep for the birthday party - We’re thinking the second weekend in October for the actual party so I need to get moving.

• Clean out the kitchen boxes - Seriously they need to go!

Next up on the TBR list: