For What It's Worth


Monday, April 8, 2019

My Monday Musings…life and a Falling back into a routine (or trying…)






I’m finally settling into the new place. TBH – I don’t like the new area we’ve moved to  - but I do love the all the outdoor activities. There is just SO much variety out here. In one weekend you can go to a farmers market in a vibrant city (Vancouver), go hiking in what feels like a prehistoric forest and then walk along a beach. And we take Fonzi to our local park several days a week and the spring blooms have been nothing short of spectacular.








*I’ve been posting pictures of all this on IG (@teamsheltie) if you’re interested but here is a pic of one of my favorite hikes so far. It's Seaquest Park  in Silver Lake, WA. Mt. Saint Helens is the snow capped mountain in the distance. The roads to that are still closed for now but we’ll be heading up there in a few months to explore.



Figment is FINALLY emerging out from under the bed. Damn, that cat holds a grudge! He does not trust me after that road trip. He’s starting to walk around during the afternoon and evenings and he'll eat breakfast for Kevin in the mornings but not me. He still associates it with me drugging and crating him for the day lol

And in great news! We’re closing on the sale of our FL house next week! That’s a huge relief - although bittersweet. We put so much work, $$$ and love into that house for 20 years. So it's sad for it to be final and not mine anymore but I'm still glad that the sale will be concluded.

So onto the bookish front.

I read ONE book in March and only 10 books so far this year. I usually read 9-12 per month! And I’ve only written one review since the move. I feel very discombobulated in the new place and need to start new routines. But I feel like I’m back on track and headed in the right direction at least.

Here’s the reading plan for April – keep in mind that I’m a mood reader – so I may not end up reading entirely different books lol At this point, I'll just be happy if I read at all.



I am reading The Fever King right now and it’s pretty cool so far, and I’m listening to Becoming by Michelle Obama on audio. Her voice is so and soothing and her story so relatable – even though she’s lived an entirely different life than mine - and inspiring.

As for non-bookish things – we watched The Umbrella Academy on Netflix. I thought the first few episodes were kind of slow but it all came together REALLY well and we loved it. Awesome music too!

Now we’re watching season 3 of Santa Clarita Diet and I’m enjoying it more than S2 so far. It’s such a silly but fun series.

It’s my birthday this month – so I’m hoping to get myself a decent camera so I can take pictures of all these glorious views.

What are you all reading, watching, listening to this month?

I’ll close out with Fonzi weirdness. I woke up to him laying like this and staring at me lol He’s wedged between me and a body pillow I use for my back. It looks very uncomfortable to me.

He's had some abnormal lab work recently and gets an ultrasound on the 16th - so please send good thoughts his way.


55 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear you're not altogether keen on the new area you've moved to but I hope you continue to enjoy the outdoor activities and of course find some good in the location! I hope you enjoy, and get to, the books on your April TBR!

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    1. It's a huge change so hopefully I'll continue to adapt to the new place. There are a lot of things I like so it's not all bad lol

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  2. Aw sorry about not liking the place but at least Figment shows signs of forgiveness in the near future? I'll have to go to IG to check it out. I'm so behind on all my social stuff. One day I may become social. :)

    So sorry about Fonzi's abnormal labs. Hopefully it is just the stress of moving. Tons of loving vibes sent your way. <3!!! ((HUGS))

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    1. The labs are all over the place. Some are concerning then ok with a retest and them the opposite so the ultrasound should help rule things in or out.

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  3. Sending lots of good thoughts Fonzi's way!!

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  4. And the award for the weirdest pets goes to...😉
    Well, poor Figgy DOES have a point. And Fonzi just loves you too much to care about comfortable LOL.

    At least you still have the outdoors. And happy birthday in advance!

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    1. And of course lots of good vibes to Fonzi, though I already had that covered on Twitter - but there can never be enough of them1

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    2. They are weird lol But cute!

      Thank you :-)

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  5. I have been loving your photos on IG! 🌄

    I wouldn't have been able to read much, or review after a long haul move like you had, either. Your April stack looks good. Annemieke loved The Fever King. 👍✨

    Sending all the good energies for Fonzi. 💛

    Maybe the area will grow on you? I hope time will make it feel more like home. 🏡

    Have a wonderful week. 🌞

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    1. I've heard very little about TFK now that it's out - which is weird because it had so much hype.

      I love the surrounding areas where I live so I'm focusing on that!

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  6. Poor Figgy! I hope he gets adjusted soon. The area you are living in looks beautiful. I thought Death Prefers Blondes was a lot of fun. Good luck adjusting, growing to love your new surroundings, and getting back into your routine.

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  7. Congrats on selling the FL house even though that must be SO bittersweet! I'm sorry you have to give u pa place you love, that's tough. And it sounds like your new area has a lot do do even if you're not super happy with the immediate vicinity... the nature opportunities sound amazing though! Wow you guys are close to Mt St Helens, and Vancouver sounds awesome!

    Good vibes to Fonzi! And hoping Figment comes around soon! :)

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    1. It is hard but on the other hand IT SOLD FAST and that's such a huge burden lifted.

      There are enough good things that it helps override some of the bad.

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  8. You definitely need a camera for all of these beautiful bikes! I'm happy that the sale concluded and I'm happy that you got to make so many memories in FL!

    Have you met your neighbors yet? They cool?

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    1. I've met a few when I walk Fonzi. But they're dogs are crazy so we can't talk long lol

      We thing my immediate neighbor is a serial killer. Ha! He works nights but he's even more introverted than we are. He won't leave his car if we pull in at the same time - until we go in our place. Won't look at us if we happen to pass each other outside.

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  9. I do not like the area but you like the outdoors? Good?

    But yes I want to come and visit that prehistoric forest!

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    1. It's a sad kind of area. A lot of businesses have left, a lot of homelessness, very little to do or places to shop. But the outdoor hiking and scenery is stunning.

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  10. So sorry about the location but the hiking sounds fab! Have a great week!

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    1. It is! And it's enough to make up for anything else.

      Glad you're back!

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  11. Despite your reservations it sounds like your enjoying the move ... or at least the outdoor activities it offers. A farmers market (or any market for that matter) would almost certainly see me suspend reading even if only for a while.

    Here's to routine, reading and Figment emerging from his hiding place.

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    1. The farmers market is a little bit of a drive but t's worth it.

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  12. I really like the picture and it sounds like you have lots of places to visit. Maybe you'll come to love it.

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    1. The area is a bit sad -t he locals keep asking why the heck we would come here lol

      but I do love all the opportunities for outdoor activities and places we could visit.

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  13. Sorry you don't necessarily love the area you're living but glad to hear there are so many things to do around you. That matters a whole lot, really. I think the big change is probably affecting your opinions a little so hopefully you#ll grow to love little things about where you're living even if it's not your favourite. Good luck with your reading, I feel your pain on mood reading will keep my fingers crossed for you managing to finish any book really. Seding good thoughts to Fonzi.

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    1. I didn't really love FL either but this town has even less than where I came from lol

      We're so centrally located though to visit other places. Hiking, Vancouver, Portland, even California for weekend trips.

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  14. Oh no, I am sorry to hear that you aren’t loving the area you moved to. I felt like that when we moved to Portland. It took a long time before I settled in. I felt that same sadness when we closed on our house in Phoenix. Hang in there, over time it will get better. Enjoy the lovely new activities. I will keep my fingers crossed for Fonzi!

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    1. I love the PNW - just not this town. I wish we could live in Portland or the surrounding area but we are close enough to visit. Visit a lot of places really so that's nice.

      It's kind of a run down town with very little shopping or food - other than hamburgers. I think we have every burger place known to man here lol

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  15. Aw poor Fig and poor mama. I have some here who are grudge holders, too. Just gotta wait em out. lol

    I'm sorry to hear you don't love the new area. Hopefully the new town will grow on you as you settle in.

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    1. He is, by far, the weirdest cat I've ever had lol

      I'm happy with the surrounding areas so that will have to do! There's plenty to explore.

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  16. I'm sorry you don't love the area you're in, but yay for lots of fun local events going on! That's always nice. Ahaha I hope Figment gets over his grudge soon. Poor kitty. ;) And omg, that photo of Fonzi is adorable. Fingers crossed and all the prayers for him that everything is okay!! I still need to watch The Umbrella Academy. I've heard the music is great.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. The Umbrella Academy was so much better than I thought it would be. It had a generic/slow start but whoa it was fun!

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  17. I'm sorry you haven't been able to read much, and I hope you grow to like the area you've moved! I have been enjoying your IG pictures and walking adventures!

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    1. I have time - I just get so distracted lol

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  18. Aww I'm sorry you don't love the area and that Figment is still holding a grudge. But I'm glad you're finding some good things and getting back into the swing of things. And don't worry, you're still reading The Fever King before me. I'm just trying to read as many KU books as I can while I have it right now lol, so all ARCs have been put on hold! It's my birthday this month too :-) I hope Fonzi is ok <3

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    1. Figment is FINALLY coming around. His last stand is the morning feeding - he won't come out if it's me - only kevin lol

      I haven't used KU at all and it's driving me crazy but I need to get my books under control a bit before I can go back to that.

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  19. Oh I hope Fonzi is okay! I love seeing his pics on your Instagram! Sorry that you're not keen on the area you live in though. We're trying to get everything lined up so we can move ourselves to Washington or Oregon but man things keep happening!

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    1. I hope it works out for you! I love the PNW - just not this particular town but I love how centrally located it is to everything you could possibly want.

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  20. It would be tough to set up shop again after 20 years in one place and a cross country move. I did it the first year we were together, but I would probably do worse than you if I had to do it now. The view is lovely. I'm a mountain person so your snow-capped peak draws me. Hopefully, you'll get back to your reading and blogging soonish.
    Wishing Fonzi well- and wishing you be forgiven by your kitty. :)

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    1. We moved a lot early in our marriage because Kevin was int he Navy. We always said we would never move again lol And we'll have at least one more move to a permanent place because we're renting now.

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  21. I'm a huge fan of volcanoes and mountains so I'd love to be in that general area! *jealousy* I'd love to be living a more rural life but we can't afford the move!

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    1. I was in a rural place in FL too - that was horse farms though.

      The scenery is just stunning!

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  22. Sounds like the outdoor stuff is awesome there. Glad you are closing on the house and that will be done. Looks like a good line up for April Happy reading!!

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    1. It is. I could go somewhere different every weekend and still not see everything.

      The house closing was this morning. Huge relief!

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  23. I am sorry to hear that you don't like the area but I am happy to know that there is so much to do so it is very unlikely you are going to be getting bored anytime soon. And yay for the cat finally starting to emerge after the trip :P Hope you can read some of the ones on your TBR and fall back into the routine well enough x

    My recent post: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2019/04/march-wrap-up-2019/

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  24. Your photos are stunning - I hope you settle in and can appreciate the natural beauty and maybe get used to the rest. Glad poor Figment is slowly forgiving you.

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    1. Thanks. I'm hoping when I get a real camera (not my phone) I can get even more pics.

      The scenery and central location to everything/variety is what makes the rest worthwhile.

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  25. Sending Fonzi all the good thoughts and vibes!
    I watched The Umbrella Academy this week too! I was very much confused for at least half the show but liked it anyway. Plus, as you said, the soundtrack was awesome.

    Sorry to hear your not liking the new area much. Fingers crossed you all settle into your new rhythms soon.

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    1. Thanks. i'm nervous for im but trying to put off my panic lol

      I had no idea what the point of UA academy was for the longest time lol It comes together well in the end though.

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  26. I am so sorry that the adjustment has been so difficult. Honestly you are so brave for even doing it to begin with, so be extra kind to yourself ♥♥ I assume this helps zero percent but you could go try to stalk The 100 cast in Vancouver when filming starts again? I'll come help! I am really glad you sold your house financially, but I can imagine how hard it must be for you emotionally. None of this is easy, and I am just hoping it starts to feel a little better soon for you.

    You and Fonzi will be in my thoughts, and I am sending ALL the good vibes your way. I am so, so sorry you're dealing with this on top of everything else, and I really hope you get some better news soon. And I absolutely hope you splurge on a camera- you 100% deserve it!

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    1. It is scary to do this at this stage in life. I mean - we're fairly close to retirement lol

      ha! I guess I would need to watch The 100 first I didn't know they filmed nearby though. I'm also near where they filmed Twilight and there are signs up everywhere for it lol I half expect a vampire to come running out of the woods because it looks EXACTLY like in the movies.

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  27. It took us months to find a new routine! We've finally found something that resembles normal, haha. I'm caught up on my reading for once, and now I'm working on my NetGalley average. The kids have found familiarity in the day-to-day at a new place, and they're involved in a ton of activities! All of your pictures have been lovely, so that's a bonus to your move! Wonderful area to walk/hike. I'm happy Figment is warming back up to you, too. <3

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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    1. I think I have a routine down. I haven't finished unpacking the things I don't really need because there's no room lol and we'll probably be gone within the year anyway.

      It is gorgeous out here!

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