For What It's Worth


Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Tell Me Something Tuesday: Mid-Year Hump Update

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general.

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Question: Mid-year Update: What have you been up to?

Answer: It feels like nothing lol but I guess I've just been doing other things (than blogging) so it just seems that way.

BOOKS:

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge
Karen has completed her goal of reading 12 books in 2021!
hide


I'm actually doing far better than I thought I was with reading - although far shy of my - used to be - average of 200 books a year.

I got off to a rough start, reading anywhere from 0-2 books a month but I seem to be picking up steam.

More importantly though, I'm finding books that I'm really enjoying! I'm also reading a bit more out of my comfort zone thanks to audiobooks. I seem to be able to read more angsty/tough things in that format.

A few standouts...


The House Plant was unique and fantastic, heartfelt novella. 

The Cemetery Boys & The Firekeeper's Daughter were excellent story driven YA with excellent diverse representation & character development.

I can't say I loved either Caul Baby or Black Buck but both were very thought provoking and stayed with me long after finishing.

The House in the Cerulean Sea was just the sweetest book I've read in a long, long time.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown was my favorite of the Brown sisters trilogy by Talia Hibbert.

Float Plan, The Soulmate Equation and People We Meet on Vacation gave me all the feels and finally brought me back to enjoying romance. Between misleading synopsis, false rom-com labels and being too heavy at times to feel like an escape - the genre wasn't the comforting read that it used to be. All three of these books balanced serious topics, love and a few laughs brilliantly.

I just finished the arc of The Love Hypothesis and...speaking of rom-coms...this was actually a rom-com and so freaking adorable! 

TV/MOVIES:

I've been watching SO much tv this past year. A few highlights...

WandaVision - LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Disney+

Lupin S2 (but please go back and watch the brilliant S1 too!)

Invincible - an animated - very dark twist on the superhero genre. Amazon Prime

Raised by Wolves - really wacky and original but great. HBOMax

Sweet Tooth - Loved this one too! Netflix

We Are Lady Parts - what a fun show about a all girl British Muslim punk rock band. Free on the peacock app

Good Girls - I've been binge watching the past 4 seasons with a friend. The girls make me want to *grrrr strangle them* they can be SO stupid! but it's been a fun buddy watch. Netflix & NBC

LIFE:

Well, of course, I got these two and everything got turned upside down despite them looking very sweet and calm here lol


I never expected to get a puppy again. never mind TWO. They have slowly patched up my broken heart after losing Fonzi last year. I've lost a lot of pets over the years but none hurt as much as losing him. It could have been because he was the last one from my little (original) sheltie crew or because he was with me for the BIG move when I felt all alone, or maybe it was made tougher because of the pandemic or just because he was seriously the bestest dog ever and always by my side - but that one crushed me. 

Ripley & Kai have no time for any of that though and have kept me on my toes and got me back outside enjoying life again. They are totally different personalities but compliment each other perfectly. 

I've really got back into gardening too. That used to be my all consuming hobby before blogging and moving gave me the opportunity to start over from scratch. I miss my FL butterfly garden SO MUCH. Like an irrational amount of missing lol but I'm slowly building the new one out here in the PNW. I've had 2 butterflies so far woo-hoo! lol 

I've been playing around with cooking more and bought a bread machine that I actually use! The fresh farmed and local food is too amazing not to experiment with. 

I've also been out exploring our new digs a lot. We're really lucky to live in an area where could get out the past year but stay distanced and safe. The outdoor opportunities are endless and we went to Portland (Oregon) a lot for the the food carts and it was so easy to pick up fresh, delicious food but still be no contact. 

BLOGGING:

This is probably my biggest 2021 fail but I always feel like I either have nothing or too much (not knowing where to start) to say. 

I keep saying this but I do plan a sort of a reboot where I shift to talking about a variety of things instead of being a book blog. I know I do talk about other things at times but it would be even more so. I just need to get the urge to blog at all 😂

Welp, I think that covers everything!

What does your mid-year look like?

39 comments:

  1. Your babies are too cute! Of the books I read from your standouts, they were standouts for me too. I am happy to see that so many books worked so well for you.

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    1. Me too! It's not a lot of books in # but to be enjoying reading again is everything!!

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  2. At least the books you're reading are good, even if you're not reading as many! Yay butterflies and bread! 😁 Aww the puppies are adorable.

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    1. Yes! I'm really happy to just be enjoying what I'm reading.

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  3. I've had my hands full with just one puppy, so I can't even begin to imagine two!

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    1. In some ways they keep each other busy and it's easier but trying to train two at the same time is a nightmare lol

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  4. Aww puppies <3
    I'm so sorry.. my two are 7 & 6 and although dachshunds can live up to 20+ years; Iknow i'm gonna hit a depression when they'll eventually leave me. I did lost other family's pet before, but they're the first ones that are actually mine -- and I do feel like our souls are tied together. Happy though that you finally felt ready to give your love again & have an animal's love back ❤️

    Kristina @ books-and-dachshunds.com

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    1. Awww here's to long lives with our fur babies!

      I had never been without a dog before - at least for a few decades. It was really hard.

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  5. WOW! You really have been through a lot these past few months. I love your stories and photos of the pups and I'm so happy they are bringing you joy. You are also doing great with reading - getting in some high-caliber stories, which is more important than volume, especially now.

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  6. When are you going to mail me some bread?! 🤤

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    1. Also, I LOVED Float Plan! It also gave me all the feels and I really enjoyed the overall story.

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    2. Buy a bread machine! Life changing lol

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  7. Awww puppies! I am so glad you found some lovely pups to help you heal! Also so happy that you loved Firekeeper's Daughter! Such a favorite! I plan on watching Sweet Tooth soon too, so I am glad to hear you enjoyed it, too!

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    1. I'm not quite down with Firekeeper's Daughter. My loan expired with 3 hours to go lol *cries* but I'm still saying it was a highlight of the year so far.

      Loved Sweet Tooth! i think you will too Shannon.

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  8. "MID-YEAR HUMP UPDATE"
    😂

    Not much to say here since we usually talk on Twitter, except I'm glad you have your terrors...ahem, puppies...and outdoor activities to keep you sane - and in good shape! I mean it as in "healthy", since you get out and walk and all that, and also emotionally healthy.

    Again, the new header is awesome! You're ready for a rebrand 😉.

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    1. *terror* meaning one. And you know which one that is lol I kid...sort of...but I love them both so much.

      I guess I'm FINALLY tying into my teamsheltie handles lol

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  9. The dogs are so cute. I'm glad they are helping you.
    I saw you talking about the new header on Twitter and it looks great.
    I haven't been reading as much as I want to either. Some days I can't concentrate. I plan on watching Lupin at some point.

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    1. Thanks Mary.

      It can be hard to concentrate when so many things are going on.

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  10. I'm so glad you have your puppies, even if they are a handful 😂. I have lost family pets but MY first Pet is still with us, so I can only sort of understand the loss (but I dread when we lose Buffy, I know it will be hard).

    Sounds like you've gotten some good TV watching in, I've also watched more TV than ever before lately.

    I hope you have a great 2nd half of the year!

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    1. I'm not a big tv watcher so this is a first for me lol

      And back at ya for a great 2nd half of 2021!

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  11. Arghh damn Disney, but I am curious about Wanda and Loki

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    1. I'd be amazed if you make it past the first episode of Wanda lol It's the weirdest, most boring episode of television but it does set everything up for what comes.

      ig et Disney+ and Hulu free with my phone plan.

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  12. Can't believe it's already July!!!! When I think back those months, all I could think of was how stressed I was because of work! Good thing there's books and anime to accompany or else I would have lost it. I've been meaning to watch Lupin but always get preoccuppied with my anime lol (and with webtoon recently, hahaha). Is that series really good?

    Vanessa @ blushinggeek.com

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    1. I LOVE Lupin!!! There are only 10 eps total so it's very bingeble.

      Welcome back to blogging!

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  13. I was just telling Barb from Booker T's Farm that when life gets rough it's okay to let blogging take a backseat. 💜

    I would have thought that being semi-retired and then retired would mean more books read for me, but I have slowly gone from ten books a month, to eight, and now six most of the time. I think it's maybe because I have more energy for physical things like cooking, baking, and guitar playing. 🍰

    I'm not surprised having TWO puppies has cut into your reading time! 😃

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    1. The move was the first thing that crimped my reading style and I haven't really recovered from it. At first it was bad things like Fonzi and COVID but then the puppies and yeah...you cannot focus on anything else lol Now they're older and calmer but I'm off doing other things that are more enjoyable to me.

      I'm sure it will circle back.

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  14. Aww cute pic! :) I've been watching more and reading less, I blame being sick but I suppose my moods just swing. I've been watching PAnic and a few other shows - black Summer was a trip. what did you guys think of the end?

    I'm glad the new dogs have helped you to heal from your loss. There's no replacing of course but you can love the new family members just in a different way, I suppose. Good for you.

    Hope you had a nice Fourth.

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    1. We haven't got to the end of Black Summer yet. I think we're 1/2 way though but got distracted by animated movies over the holiday weekend lol But I will let you know!

      Yes, they aren't Fonzi but, over time, they have they're own little personalities and quirks and I love them for being so silly.

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    2. Black Summer got weird in the middle (I thought) but then... yikes!!!

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    3. It's been so long since the first season I was a little confused by how it just...started lol But now we have the hang of it again. It's like 120% carnage lol

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    4. It is CRAZY. That last episode... there's like a super long take where Mance has to fight off like tons of zombs. And Rose and her daughter... gah that show.

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  15. With blogging, I think you're doing fine. I always feel like I am failing too when I don't put a post up once a week, but in the end our blog is run by us and we should do as little or as much as we want. You're doing great with reading and yay for picking up steam with it! I really need to read cemetery boys. And yay for the two puppies being so good for you <3

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    1. I think you would really like Cemetery Boys Olivia!

      I'm not doing great with blogging (or maybe I am now lol) but I really don't care or worry about it anymore. It's my hobby again and I get to it when I get to it or have something to say.

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  16. I love your shelties! And I'm glad Ripley and Kai have helped you after losing Fonzi... Sometimes, they just claim a little piece of your soul and you never get it back.

    I love that you're planning on posting more non-bookish posts... I mean, I initially it's all about the book chat but I stay for the bloggers, you know?

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    1. Yeah Fonzi was... Fonzi. Irreplaceable. But I love these two goofballs.

      It's either big about non bookish stuff occasionally or not blog since I'm not reading much lol

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