December - trying to make it somewhat memorable.

 

Reading - It's December 5th, it's very windy and snow has changed to rain.  My reading is all over the place. I've started several books: The Promised Land; Barack Obama, Conversations with RBG, Jeffrey Rosen and Leave the World Behind; Rumaan Alam. I'm really enjoying the (2) NF but, the fiction one not so much but, I do want to finish all of them.

I have about (4) reviews to catch up on. I have this thing about forcing myself to write at least a mini review for any book  I've finished.  Here is what I need to post about: Good Morning, Monster (NF) Gildiner, The Wrong Kind of Woman, Sarah Crow McCraw, The Undoing; Jean Haraff Korelitz, Slow Burner, Laura Lippman (Hush series short story) and Buried, Jeffrey Deaver (Hush series short story).

I'm looking forward to reading some Christmas mysteries and was waiting for my library hold of The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries; Otto Penzler, when I saw the eBook was just $1.99 today so I purchased it instead.  I also purchased the audio of Midwinter Murder Fireside Mysteries; Agatha Christie from Libro.fm.

Christmas Shopping & Get Togethers - The shopping is pretty much done and, except for the grandchildren most of the gifts are gift cards which makes it very easy.  We are hoping for a Christmas Cookies and Hot Chocolate (wine and coffee too LOL) outdoor event here the weekend before Christmas if New England weather will cooperate.  We can wear masks and take time warming up in garage if necessary.  We usually have a mid month brunch with Santa at a nice restaurant for my birthday but, not this year. Christmas dinner is usually here too but, since our numbers are climbing, Christmas will just be the (2) of us much like Thanksgiving.

Where Did the Years Go? Yesterday, I got a card in the mail letting me know the planning for a 50 year high school reunion is in the works for November 2021! How can that be?  

More Flashbacks - Then I flashed back to 1971 once again as I received a Christmas card in the mail the same day from a best friend from high school. Ginny has lived in Texas for 45 years. Other than us exchanging Christmas cards and notes, I haven't seen or spoken to her in all that time. Inside the card was a photo of me from 1971 sitting on her parent's sofa (my dress was so short OMG). Other than the straight long dark hair, nothing about that picture looked familiar to me.  I wanted to talk with her and I was able to find her phone number online and gave her a call - one hour later, still chatting, it was just like old times. I'm so happy we were able to connect!  We caught up on children and grandchildren, family and others we know.  She and her husband (same high school class) have traveled to all 50 states since they retired 10+ years ago. We talked about our trip to France and Switzerland in 1971 and how much we hated the food and how lived on croissants, cheese, coffee and Coke that week, of course, skiing in Switzerland brought fine chocolate as well. 

What will your December and Christmas look like this year?

December Mid month update

It's been such a busy month and still (12) more days to go: new kitties, book group Christmas luncheon, shopping, gift wrapping, aquarium visit, saw a new movie, another birthday for me and some celebrating, annual brunch with Santa, Christmas live performance, and some time for yoga and reading as well.

We saw The Mule which stars Clint Eastwood, 88,  as Earl Stone, a man in his 80s who is broke, alone, and facing foreclosure of his business when he is offered a job that simply requires him to drive—easy enough but, unbeknownst to Earl, he’s just signed on as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel, and also hit the radar of hard-charging DEA agent, Colin Bates. DEA Agent played by Bradley Cooper and other great stars such as, Laurence Fishbone, Andy Garcia, Michael Pena and Alison Eastwood ( as his daughter).  Eastwood's character is that of a flawed man who made plenty of mistakes in his younger days but tries to make it right in the time he has left.  There was humor to be found in this drama as well. Based on a true story. We loved this movie.


Mystic, Connecticut Aquarium Visit 

Front row seats to sea lion performance - so cute.

African Penguins 

December Birthday Brunch with Santa

(my happy place - brunch with granddaughters)

Christmas Home for the Holidays

"Home for the Holidays" is an annual on stage performance at a local theater. It takes place in the living room of the host with a number of guests arriving to celebrate the season and sing some great holiday songs. Just a nice reminder of what simple joys the holiday can bring, being with friends and family. Great production, excellent singers, and a great festive night out. This is our third year attending and every year is somewhat different.

The Kitties - Ricky and Lucy adjusted so fast - both are lap cats, love to wash one another, play together and even sleep in our bed.  Although we forgot just how active kittens can be (these litter mates are 7 months), we are thankful they sleep through the night. We feel so lucky to have adopted this lovable duo - they've so much unto our once quiet home.





















New Books from publishers

December Reading thus far

1. The Story of Arthur Truluv; Elizabeth Berg - library audio - 4.5/5 (Dec/2018)
2. The Christmas Star; Donna Vanliere - eBook - 4/5 (Dec/2018)
3. Christmas on Cape Cod; Nan Rossiter - eBook - 3.5/5 (Dec/2018)
4. Alaskan Holiday; Debbie Macomber - library - 4/5 (Dec/2018)
5. Becoming; Michelle Obama - audio - 5/5 (Dec/2018) (no review yet)

How is your month going?

Mid December Update - 2017

December has been a busy month and about to get busier for many of us.  This month is another milestone birthday month for me - hello Medicare - happy to be another year older and still healthy and feeling great!  I got an early birthday present from my husband, the new iPhone X, I previously had the 6 plus for the last 3 years which I loved, but this is a bit smaller yet just about the same screen display and has awesome camera capabilities. Love it!

Here's a pic from yet another birthday celebration; We are so lucky to have these little cuties in our lives.

We saw the new Denzel Washington movie a few weeks ago ---

Denzel Washington played a very different part as the title character in Roman J. Israel, Esq. Roman is a former activist lawyer who is always sloppily dressed and sometimes appears to be in another world, but is very bright, having spent much of his legal career behind the scenes doing case prep work. However, when the owner of the law firm where he works for dies unexpectedly, his career and life changes in inexplicable ways in a matter of just three weeks.

We enjoyed it!

Christmas Prep - 

• Did a little decorating
• I sent out our cards
• Christmas shopping is done
• We got our first snowstorm of 2017 - 4"
• We saw a fun live performance in the midst of the snowstorm - Crimes of the Heart
• I baked holiday cookies and froze them, then defrosted 6 for us to sample:) delicious
• I attended a book group Christmas lunch at a nearby restaurant which was fun and, we got our 2018 reading list.
• We tried a new to us top rated Italian restaurant a few towns away and we were very pleased.
• We celebrated my birthday with a live production called, Home for the Holidays - it was fantastic.
• Today we gathered family for Brunch with Mr & Mrs Claus, a tradition. 
• Next week we are going away overnight to see friends in another state and out to dinner as well.
• Finally Christmas get-together here on the 25th

Reading - very little of that happening again this month

Have a great week everyone.