Reading Time - December

Sooo ... it appears I last book-posted in August. Since then, I’ve been a little busy and haven’t been able to focus on reading as much as I’d like. I’m still reading every day, but by the time I can get to my book ... I’m already exhausted and lucky to get a chapter read and sometimes it ends up being a paragraph or two. Always thankful for Steph and Jana hosting this linkup - check out the other posts and add to your TBR.

So since August when I posted I was then-currently reading “Hope Rides Again”, I can say I finished that one! It’s a sequel to Hope Never Dies, and I preferred Book 1 to this one. It could be a stand alone book, but I recommend Hope Never Dies first anyway. It was a good introduction to what they were doing after they left office. I’m still curious if President Obama and/or Vice President Biden have read either of these and what they think. Book 2 seemed to be rushing the story line - it was a solid 2.75 stars for me.

According to Goodreads, it took me 2 months to finish that one and I didn’t start my next book for another two weeks. It seems like I was slacking, but in my defense I was also finishing up training runs for marathon #5 and sleep was a priority for me. Then I made the mistake of starting two books at the same time. That’s normally not an issue for me but these were too similar to each other: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell and When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal. Well, they were similar at the beginning - and I don’t think I’m giving away any spoilers by saying both involved a missing daughter who died in one book and was presumed dead in the other. One was set in London and the other was set in California and New Zealand and there I was trying to figure out 'am I reading the one where the daughter really died or only they thought she died?' Anyway, I set the Mermaids one aside to finish Then She Was Gone.

This one was good once I was able to differentiate between did this daughter really die and the location. All good now - I'm easily confused these days. 4 stars, though I did kind of guess where it was going. I thought I had read others by this author but that's a no - I have most of her books in the Want To Read category. Those who have read her, which one should I read next?

Currently reading: 

I thought I would have finished this one by now, but then the house situation happened (in the process of selling). It's very good so far (about 75% done) and I can see myself in both sisters - aloof and analytical but also a pro at compartmentalizing (is that a word?). 

Not sure if I'll get much reading done after this one for the rest of the year - I have to go through my hundreds of books to sort through what I want to keep and what I want to donate. I guess that's a benefit of Kindle/e-books, but I still very much prefer real books I can see on the shelves and hold in my hands. 

So, there you have it. About 2 books in 3 1/2 months. It's been worse and I know it'll get better. Again, check out the other posts in the linkup and feel free to leave a comment on if you've read these and what tips you have for selecting books to keep forever or anything else. 

When suddenly ... December

There's nothing like the passage of time to make one ... freak out.

I have been meaning to post something non-book related this year and failed miserably. But this has been a year for the memory books and I at least want to post something year-endy so I have something to remember. Looking at all my posts still in draft mode, I'll try to consolidate some of the highlights of the year. Keep in mind though - I'm still going to be wordy so TL;DR - it was a good year and looking forward to 2020.

Click here: Linking up with Kristen

Home - excitement awaits as I close the final chapter on this house and we prepare to move to a new one. All of this was so random, so unplanned, yet happened so quickly that I still am not sure this is real. Recap: we purchased current home between kids. In fact, in one week our toddler son had surgery, the next day we closed on purchasing this house, and the day after that I find out I'm pregnant with #2. Sixteen years later and I. am. done. Too many unfinished projects, too many rooms (5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms -- just ridiculous for one person there full-time), not enough know-how or funds to pay someone with know-how ... and far too many false/tainted memories that I want to escape from. I really just want to escape it all and the kids are right there with me on that. A neighbor who is a realtor posted on Next Door in the spring that she had a client looking to move to our neighborhood. I commented that it's too bad my house needs a lot of work. That was all I said but that was all it took. Next thing I know, she was bringing her clients around to see just what needs to be done -- they came by twice but then decided it was far too much work for them. I was resigned to staying in this dump till I died. It led to some depression and trying to keep everything together on the face of things but I'll admit it - it was rough. I kid you not, during a particularly bad evening when I was ready to just pack a few things for the three of us and just leave with the dogs, I got a text from the realtor that someone wanted to make an offer. It was enough to cover my mortgage, cover the down payment on another place, and a small cushion to help with moving costs ... truly a Godsend and I still get weepy thinking of how it transpired. (Also, not sure why the font is so small ... technology confuses me)

Family - my mom is still physically doing well at her nursing home; mentally, not so good. Her long term memory is shot and her short term memory is non-existent. And with everything that's been going on, it's been difficult to get over to visit with her as often as a good daughter should. Kids are now young adults and it's freaking me out. Son is getting ready to graduate and daughter isn't far behind. Gah!! I've been able to spend time with my new niece - which is especially nice since I don't get to see the others (sad about that after reaching out to my former SIL and realizing that no response is still a response).

Animals - we added another bird to the menagerie (Kale, joins Turnip) and lost garage-kitty (Millie). Spade is basically blind (he can see some but he does walk into things, so he'll mark something if it's out of place ... grrrr.) Frannie is my old girl (still don't know how old) - she pulled through her gall bladder/liver issues from 2018 but she's slowing down and doesn't hear well. Belle went from a little fluff ball smaller than the pugs to a 65 pound Tigger who bounces around the house and uses the pugs as her live-action chew toys. The concern with all of them at the new house is that it's considerably smaller (that was one of the reasons for moving!) and the back yard isn't as big for Belle to run around in - I see many more walks in my future and less relying on the backyard for potty breaks.

Reading - another year of likely missing my Goodreads goal and another year of not really caring about it. Tune in next week for the Show Us Your Books link-up, hosted by Steph and Jana. Aahhh ... and another thing about going from monstrous house to cute bungalow ... no built-in bookshelves, not a lot of storage space, and trying to figure out whether to keep all the books or pare down CONSIDERABLY. Sad, really. But the Friends of the Library will be getting the bulk of my collection and that's a good thing. Currently reading: When We Believed in Mermaids

Eating - all the pantry and freezer items so as not to have to move as much stuff. No exciting recipes - pretty much the same stuff, but with different spices. No garden spot at the new place, but that's more than fine with me and my brown thumbs.

Buying - nothing. Christmas presents are done and I have no idea what's in store for the move - I'll need to add a backyard fence and buy a fridge, but other than that? To be determined ...

Selling - everything. It's overdue. Wedding presents, furniture, books, tools, ... it's amazing what sells on eBay, Craigslist, FB marketplace, ... because the more I sell or donate, the less I have to move.

Running - it was a year of Personal Records, a disappointing result that was a learning experience, and more races and mileage than I've ever done.
Here's a list from my Google Keep -- the numbers in parentheses are total race mileage for year:
March 9 - Rodes City 10k (6.2) - PR! 1:06:07 at 10:38 pace
March 23 - Sam Costa half (19.3) 2:25:51 (new to me race but no PR on the distance)
April 7 - Filly Women’s half (32.4) 2:29:13 (no PR)
April 27 - KDF half (45.5) 2:28:23 (still no)
May 4 - Indy Mini (58.6) 2:28:04 (still no)
May 18 - Horse Capital Marathon (Lexington) (84.8) 6:13:20 (new to me race and horrible time)
June 8 - Barnyard Dash 10k (91.0) 1:06:52 (almost a PR and with HILLS)
Sept 8 - Downtown Doubler 30k (109.6) - 2nd year doing this but course was too short last year due to flooding. They moved it to my side of the river and was the full distance.
Sept 28 - Indy Women’s Half (122.7) 2:26:57 - no PR
Oct 5 - Indy Half at Fort Ben (race entry won!) (135.8) 2:24:16 - PR!! Finally!!
Oct 12 - Susan G Komen 5k run/walk (138.9) (new to me course and not chip timed - course was short too)
Nov 9 - Monumental Full  (165.1) PR!! 5:07:09
Nov 17 - Harrods Creek 5k trail race (168.2) - new to me race
Nov 28 - Fast Freddie's Five Miler (173.2) no PR - 51:11.40 (51:03 is PR, dang it)
Dec 21 - 12Ks of Christmas (180.7) - new to me race
Dec 28 - Waverly Park Trail Bash 1/4 marathon (187.25) - new to me race

Each year I say I'll slow down on the races and find another hobby ... and then I'll win an entry or get awesome discounts or FOMO after talking with friends and the next thing I know ... my weekend mornings are booked again. 2020 will bring two different marathons (one in Philadelphia!) and a bunch more new-to-me races (trails!). So very thankful for running friends.

Looks like a midnight run but it was early evening. 

The run was cut short when we spotted 'glowing eyes' in a field along the Greenway ... however, that definitely gave us negative splits on the way back!

               

Church - a bit of a break at church when we called a new minister and the congregation split over whether to be inclusive or not. My God loves all -- why is this so difficult? I spoke with some recently who were of the more vocal against the new minister. They said they miss the people but not the church. In my mind, it's the people who make up the church, not the minister -- it's a community and a family. We don't have to agree on everything, but I don't understand how people leave a community because they didn't get their way on one issue. Sad about how that went but thankful to be in a supporting community accepting of all.

What's ahead for the rest of this month and 2020? Looking forward to finding out! Click on over to see what's going on with others in the link-up. I can assure you their posts most likely aren't as long and tedious as mine.