For What It's Worth


Monday, December 23, 2019

My Monday Musings…


I'm crossing over the finish line of 2019 like….



In some ways, I’m killing it. I finished my Christmas shopping and wrapping/shipping weeks ago. I’ve unpacked and mostly settled into the new house, baked (successfully!) holiday treats a few times but everything else feels like a struggle. I just have zero motivation for anythiiiiiiiing….

I followed Amber’s advice for her reading slump. She’s reading 50 pages a day so I aimed for 25-50 and it helped! Getting into a routine, even if it wasn’t my usual one book per day speed, helped get me going and I’ve managed to read a few books this past week!

Open House by Ruby Lang (very sweet, soft enemies to lovers romance – I have a review coming up), Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan (BRUTAL - CW: domestic abuse/rape - but great) and I’m listening to Hook Shot right now – also by Ryan.






Girls With Razor Hearts by Suzanne Young arrived for review. I loved book #1 – Girls With Sharp Sticks and I’m curious to see where this one goes with things.


We took a trip down to Cannon Beach in OR and stopped by a local toy store (Voyages Toys Cannon Beach) that also sells a small selection of graphic novels and manga so I picked up a copy of Alex & Ada – I’ve been wanting to try this one for a long time. Kevin is a HUGE fan of Alien(s) and picked up these Alien Titans Blind Box figurines. He was hoping for the Alien or egg but we initially got Hicks. I, for one, love Hicks so I’m stealing him but when back in to grab another & got the alien! Also, they’re showing the original film at an indie movie theater next weekend so we’re going to try to go.


Our little town is near the Columbia River and they have an annual Christmas Boat Parade. They also just added a beach front to the area so we watched the boats go by down by the water and it was a nice way to celebrate the season.


I’m so used to bigger cities with crowds and lines for everything but everything is so chill where I live now. There were a few thousand people but sprawled around the area so that you could find parking and sit without even being on top of each other. The boats all had a holiday theme, one had music and dancers wearing lights and they even splurged for fireworks.

Fonzi update: This isn’t as great, and probably has a lot to do with my lack of motivation. You all know we’ve been trying to find the source of his abnormal bloodwork for months now. Well, after his ultrasound we found an unrelated problem that requires surgery (removing his gallbladder). It’s a surgery that has a high risk of complications (23-35 % mortality rate) – both during surgery and up to 2 weeks post-op (mainly swelling /infections in his bloodstream because they have to cut and reattach bile ducts that are filled with bacteria) so I’m a bundle of stress. He’s having the surgery Thursday so please send some good vibes our way for the next few weeks. 

So I’ll probably be scarce (or even more scarce than I already have been lol) for the next few weeks but wanted to wish you all a happy holiday season. I’ll try to keep up with your blogs when I can!

I want to end on a positive note - what fun things are you doing this week? Are there any good holiday films I should be watching? Tell me something good!


39 comments:

  1. Love the cat giph! :)

    I've got everything crossed for Fonzi's surgery. I hope it goes well and he makes a good recovery. I don't blame you for being a bundle of stress - I would be too.

    Have a good Christmas, Karen!


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you

      I'm thinking of you and your loss too Nicci {hugs}

      Delete
  2. I have been using short story anthologies to cure reading slumps, preferably mixed author anthologies. You can quickly dump a story and go on to the next, or read a story a day. 😊

    I have wanted to go to a Christmas boat parade for a long time. I know there are at least a couple in Upstate NY, but being Upstate and planning a trip in December is always an iffy matter. Ha ha. 🚢,

    I'm sending all the good vibes for Fonzie. This is the third time this year I have heard someone mention that their dog needed gall bladder surgery. Please keep us updated. 🐾✨

    I've been ill so not much has gotten done holiday wise. Thank goodness I got my shopping finished early. I managed to get the lights and the star on the tree and I think that's all that's going to happen. My son likes the tree better with no ornaments, go figure, ha ha. I am looking forward to my stocking because my son always loads it with chocolate. 🍫✨ur

    Have a wonderful Christmas. 🎄

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have ZERo interest in books. None. Zip. lol

      Yeah - we lived in Western NY and got caught in more than one snow squall.

      Have you really heard of that many?? I guess it's begin discovered more now because of ultrasounds. They usually don't have symptoms until it's ruptured but more cases are getting caught while looking for other things. Which is the case for Fonzi.

      I didn't know you haven't been feeling well. Hope you're better by Christmas!

      Delete
  3. Yay for defeating the slump! That's a great idea- 50 pages a day- I should try that. My reading's been kinda non-existent now for months (off and on). And I loved Girls with Sharp Sticks- can't wait to see what you think of the sequel.

    Boat parades are nice. We have one by us in the summertime, but a holiday one sounds fab!

    Good luck to Fonzi!! Sending lots of prayers and good vibes his way.

    Let's see... on a positive note... well I saw the new Star Wars movie and didn't hate it lol (I expected to hate it so that's a big deal- for me anyway haha). Don't know if you're into Star Wars, but I thought it was mostly pretty good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I gave up on a lot of books but at least the 20 pages sort of helped kick start me until I found what did work.

      I'm not a huge SW fan so I don't have a lot invested in it. I just caught up on all the movies last weekend but I am planning on seeing the last one.

      Delete
    2. I think it mostly works, it might be a smidge too long and there's a LOT packed into it, but yeah... if you're a casual fan and not all ga-ga about them getting it "just right" I think you'll enjoy it?!

      Delete
  4. ((HUGS)) I will be thinking of you and Fonzie.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad the reading is steady again and you had a neat trip down the coast. The water parade looks fun. Wish we had something like it on our river.
    Oh poor guy, of course I'm wishing Fonzi and also you guys well through this.

    Merry Christmas, Karen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do it a lot around here because there are so many coastal towns.

      Thank you :-)

      Delete
  6. I feel you on the lack of reading mojo. I just DNF'd another book today. *sigh*
    That Kennedy Ryan Hoops series is stellar. Long Shot was by far the most powerful and my favorite (brutal describes it well) but Block Shot and Hook Shot were both so good. I love all those characters. Sounds like you've made the transition from bigger city to smaller town pretty well. The lack of crowds must be nice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah - I don't know what's going on. It's not even bad books - it's a total lack of interest. Hook Shot is good so far though.

      Delete
  7. Hugs to you and Fonzi!
    Take it easy, and that boat parade looks great

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you :-))

      The parade was cute and more than I was expecting.

      Delete
  8. Oh Karen! First, I love that pug gif at the start of the post, it totally made me giggle! Secondly, I'm sorry for all of the health issues Fonzi has been dealing with! I'll be sending lots of love and positive, healing thoughts for you and Fonzi over the next several weeks!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I hope Fonzi’s surgery goes well.

    Merry Christmas 🌟

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!

      Have a Merry Christmas and happy New Year.

      Delete
  10. Oh poor Fonzi! I'll certainly be thinking about all of you and thinking good thoughts for successful surgery. *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  11. All my good vibes to Fonzi! I hope you all have a relaxing Christmas *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  12. LOL @ that dog! I can see you doing that 🤣.

    I'm sure things will look up once you've gotten used to the new place (since this is your first winter there). Either than with reading, you've done really well!

    You get all the funniest/most original celebrations over there. First the squirrel fest, now the boat parade!

    I hope you have a nice and cozy Christmas (which is probably the kind you vibe with the most). And it goes without saying that I hope all will go well with Fonzi. The little rascal would better have a smooth operation and a fast recovery! All the good vibes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel like that's how I end every day lol

      We're going to take Fonzi to the park in the morning and then just chill for the day. You're right - we don't do a lot.

      Delete
  13. Jesus I didn't know all of that about poor Fonzi. I'll be sending all the positive vibes to you all. Having a miserable animal and not knowing how to help is the absolute worst!

    I haven't read Alex and Ada but I think Matt owns it. Let me know how it is!
    L

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah - it's tough knowing both the problem and the solution are dangerous. I feel like I can't win.

      Delete
  14. I'll be thinking of Fonzi, and I hope that everything goes well! I'm glad that you've been able to read a bit here and there. That Christmas boat parade sounds fantastic. I'm curious about Alex and Ada, so do let us know what you think. I hope you have a great holiday season!

    Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
  15. I hope the surgery for Fonzi goes well.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Praying for positive results for Fonzi---I can imagine how stressful the whole thing must be for you!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sending love for you and Fonzi! He had to be there for Figment to terrorize, because I fear you will become his focus otherwise. ;) I know it's super stressful, and I don't blame you for being scarce. It's a lot to deal with and crazy emotional. Fingers crossed for you both!

    I've been DNFing a lot of books this month! They're getting on my nerves! Haha. It's either a character, or a story's believability, but ugh. I need a win!

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ☃💬

    ReplyDelete
  18. Best wishes to Fonzi and I hope everything works out ok for him. This must be a particularly difficult time for you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thinking of that sweet Fonzi and sending him all the healing vibes!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Girls With Razor Hearts! Sooooo jealous! I have an eARC, but you know how the formatting of those can be!

    SO I am not even embarrassed that as soon as I saw your post, I ran to your Twitter to see how Fonzi was. I am SO glad that the surgery went well, and I am sending you all the healing vibes and good thoughts for a quick recovery!

    Also I hope you love Alex + Ada as much as I did- such a fave!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have one more week before the sutures come out and the risk of complications has passed. So nerve wracking!

      Delete
  21. I hope that Fozni has a speedy recovery. I'll be thinking of him and the family. <3

    ReplyDelete
  22. Really hoping that Fonzi will be better soon and recover from all of the surgeries and works he has going on to improve his health :/ It sounds like you are having quite the peaceful, organised and bookish end to the year.

    ReplyDelete