Top Ten Tuesday for July 19!!

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!
Besides the distraction of work this week, 

I carved out some time to spend with my very best friend who is abandoning me!

Yes, you read that right! She. Is. Abandoning. ME!!

But, I'm doing my deep breathing and reminding myself that 

although she will now be living almost 700 miles away, I can do this..

Breathe in. Breathe out. There is email and texting, 

and other social media which she uses very little, 

but we WILL stay in touch...often! Yes! We will!

And when we do see each other face-to-face it will inevitably 

be even more intense and enjoyable! Whooooooo...okay.

I just realized it is Wednesday and I have yet to complete and post this week's 

Top Ten Tuesday meme although I started it about 3 weeks ago! 

For that, you can blame "the BadLynn," as my BFF is known to me! 

Yes, we are both named Lynn. However, for each of us it is our middle name 

but we have used it our whole life as our first/preferred name! 

And...we were born just a bit more than three months apart!

And...the first time we met we talked for hours and hours, nonstop. 

Yep! We have A LOT in common!

So, although it is now Wednesday, I am determined to complete and post this TTT!

This week's meme is the 

Top Ten Eleven Books I Have Read Set Outside the U.S.

Honestly, I am blaming the fact that I am now 60 years old for my inability to count!
Seriously, I thought I had only 10 books listed for this posting, 
and not until I completed it and started counting again, 
did I determine I had included 11 titles! EGAD!!
I particularly enjoy reading books set in other countries than the one in which 

I have lived my whole life. Since I'm unable to travel much, 

this is one way in which I educate myself as much as possible 

about those other cultures and landscapes, etc.

One of the first books I read set in the "Middle East" as many of us in the U.S. mistakenly term it, was Born Under a Million Shadows by Andrea Busfield. I read this years ago while working at Borders and it was one of the first books we read and reviewed for the Book Club I founded there. It was selected as a "Fiction Expert" read by Borders and I am so grateful it was! I have communicated with Andrea through the years sporadically. She is so open and accepting to readers! One thing about this book that most impressed me and made me connect even moreso with it, was the multiculturalism represented among the characters. I felt this demonstrated the thought processes and reactions that I might have if in the same situation. Actually, I really want to reread this one so I can review it thoroughly on this blog. This would be perfect as a re-read to schedule for Bex's Re-Readathon #4, August 10-21! Yay! 'Cause I was wondering what I might read for this event! Problem solved! :) And I'm hopeful Andrea will be willing to complete an author interview for me to post along with my review! YAY!! 

A book I recently read that proved to be truly inspirational and instilled within me hope for ourselves (the human race), was The Hemingway Book Club of Kosovo by Paula Huntley. this is an autobiographical debut and I found it well-written and easily read, though very informative in so many ways. Huntley managed to include much historical information as well as detailing her experience while stationed in Kosovo with her husband. I was reminded of Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriguez, in that both of these women simply put their skills to use while in another country/culture, and succeeded in improving others' lives. Isn't that truly the point of our existence in this world? To help others to the best of our ability? Realistically, most of us are only capable of directly impacting our immediate environment, but still...whatever positive contribution(s) we can make, we should do exactly that. I particularly loved the way Huntley used literature to relate to others and help them relate to their world, each other, and to ponder humanity overall.

The Disobedient Wife by Annika Milisic-Stanley was the 21st book to be reviewed by the Literary Wives Online Book Discussion Group, and it was an excellent read! Very informative on so many levels. It is set in post-SovietTajikistan and was both poignant and philosophical in easily accessible language and organization. All the Literary Wives co-hosting bloggers appreciated it in many ways. This was a close-up view of life in a country with virtually no infrastructure or services and a rigid Islamic belief system. There was evidence of outside agencies helping females escape life-threatening marriages and situations, through no fault of their own, simply because they were female in an extremely patriarchal society/culture. However, it also demonstrated just how unhappy and displaced a female can be made to feel in an unsatisfying marriage relationship that is not based upon any religious foundation, too! There was some balance! 

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King is the second installment in her Russell and Holmes series and is rather intense. Set in the aftermath of World War I in the U.K., it focuses on the social impact of so many males being eliminated from the population and what changes can occur to the females as a result. Of course, I would LOVE this series, since it combines two of my favorite genres, historical fiction and mystery! Must complete a blog post soon! The library book is due back! :)

The Borders Book Club just finished reading and discussing Susanna Kearsley's most recent release, A Desperate Fortune--three of us loved it and one thought it was "okay," with a shrug! :) This was set in France and dealt with a myriad of issues: the Jacobites, the displaced King James, code-breaking, spying, thieving, intrigue, some romance...and autism! This may appear to be a very odd combination, but trust me, it made for a compelling read in so many ways! I loved her novel, The Firebird, which I learned is the second in her Slains series. I really want to read the rest of that series. Time. I just need more reading time! 

Speaking of romance and relationships, Paula McLain's Circling the Sun dealt with so many relationships that were definitely not of the "traditional" variety. But then Africa is basically 'wild,' especially in the early 20th Century! I cannot recall one couple that stood out to me as a 'traditional' couple since so very many of them loved (and even lived with!) someone other than their spouse. These were the most 'faithful' couples of all! Beryl was in love with someone who was the definition of totally independent in his personal life; unmarried and unfettered by any social mores or traditions. Perhaps one thing I came away from this reading experience with was the fact that the largely unsettled landscape seemed to leech into the people living there and create more freedom to be whomever or whatever they wanted to be with few to no boundaries. She was quite a remarkable woman and I am thrilled to have read this book! I do love McLain's writing, having also read and loved The Paris Wife. (Yes, that was my first ever blog posting and oh, boy, you can definitely tell! :) As you know, I love historical fiction, and this was amazing for taking me there! 

Speaking of wild and largely unsettled territory, Enchanted Islands by Allison Amend, was set in the Galapagos Islands located just off the coast of Ecuador, during World War II. This work is historical fiction, based upon Francis Conway's memoirs. I guess you could say that Francis' marriage to Ainslie was one of 'convenience,' though I am stretching the definition of that word in several ways. Suffice it to say that she is an untrained spy except for the few weeks of training she completes just prior to traveling to the Island to LIVE, where there are few people and no shelter, etc. Francis was one of the bravest people I've ever known of in history, in so very many ways, especially settling in a basically uninhabited/uninhabitable environment with a stranger to whom she is now legally married. Let the 'fun' begin! Because she has so very many new discoveries and knowledge to gain! I found this one to be poignant and yet inspiring.

Now that we're among islands and South America, we can move on to The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell, which is also set along the shores of South America. I found this to be a totally delightful read, especially since I love animals and human-animal relationships! The Borders Book Club read and discussed it and we all agreed it was wonderfully uplifting, though there was some sadness. Though not totally unexpected, it was nonetheless, sad. This is all about Tom's relationship with Juan Salvador...but Juan is not human. :) Ah, did you already guess Juan's identity? (You are good! No one's gonna fool you, huh? Ha! Ha!) This one is adorable!


More islands, but this time, in the Caribbean. The Cay by Theodore Taylor is set during World War II. Add one torpedoed vessel, then one boy, one older man, one missing-presumed-dead mother, and one cat on a never-before-seen-by-you raft, and what do you get? An amazing story of survival and love, that's what! Did I mention Phillip is white and Timothy is black? Yep! It is quite an adjustment for them both. I so admire the skills they develop to survive, much as I did Francis' same determination in Enchanted Islands. And the big question? Do they? Survive... I am anxious to read Timothy of the Cay which is a prequel. Time. Just need more time... :)
Still more water settings, and another vessel also torpedoed by the Germans during World War II. But, this disaster is presented through the eyes of various passengers and we learn much about these seemingly very different people, who really all yearn for the same thing in the end, safe passage to another land and a new life. 
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys is technically classified as a YA book, though I take these classifications with a grain of salt. If I enjoy reading a book, I don't care about the supposed 'reading level' as determined by someone else. Hence I read and review children's literature, even picture books on occasion! I love them all! I do not necessarily state that a book is identified as 'YA' vs. 'adult.' I am thrilled because I just purchased a copy of her book, Out of the Easy, at Indy Reads Books which is a non-profit totally staffed by volunteers to support the Indy Reads adult literacy program in Indianapolis, Indiana. And...bonus! While there, I was able to donate the bag and box of books that have been riding in my back seat for months! Yay! :)

Last, but by no means least, we will travel back to Africa (after Circling the Sun listed above) and this time explore Apartheid in South Africa. My Son's Story by Nadine Gordimer was a revealing exposé about the damage that can result when a parent devotes their life to a social cause. Sonny is always 'pushing the limits' during this time. As a black man, he moves his family into a restricted white neighborhood. He also forms an intense romantic relationship with a white woman, also against the law at the time. However, he appears very self-centered and unable to devote the time, love, or energy to his family that he should. He would rather be gone, campaigning/fighting 'for the cause' against Apartheid. That is all well and good, but who truly suffers by his absence? His family, of course, those about whom he should care the most... Doesn't this seem to be the way of it? A social 'crusader' so many times cannot develop and maintain strong monogamous relationships. It is a conundrum... I initially felt I didn't resonate well with Gordimer's writing, though in the aftermath, I believe it might just have been the rather 'depressing' subject matter of this novel that made me feel that way. I intend to read The Conservationist to further explore her writing on a different subject matter. I rarely make a determination about an author based upon only one of their published works. I like to read at least two if the first one doesn't seem super-appealing to me. I like to be as certain as I can be about whether an author's writing style truly resonates for me or not. Though, to be sure, there are those (John Green, Laurie R. King, Erica Bauermeister, Garth Stein, etc., etc., etc.) whom I fell in love with immediately!

Can you recommend yet another title of a book 

you really enjoyed that is set outside the U.S.?

Three survivors, one raft, and one small island..

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

I last read this book when I was about 13. 

I remembered just how much I loved it then and want to send it to my grandchildren.

However, before mailing it off, I wanted to re-read it.
Especially since I'm participating in Bex's Re-Readathon! 
And this one also counts for #ReadMyOwnDamnBooks and Historical Fiction!

So glad I did. This book is so very powerful!

 

The beautiful hardcover I purchased
from my favorite local indie
bookstore for my grandkids!

Though I remembered some of the main points from my initial reading, I certainly did not remember everything! It was virtually impossible to imagine Phillip's predicament in almost every aspect! Poor guy!

One minute you and your mother are traversing the sea on a marine vessel and the next you awake and are drifting aimlessly on a raft, with a strange old man and a cat! Eek!

Although, for me...a CAT!! Yes!! I do love a furry feline! :)

 And all this when only a few days earlier, Phillip had thought

I was not frightened, just terribly excited.

War was something I'd heard a lot about, but had never seen.

The whole world was at war, 

and now it had come to us in the warm, blue Caribbean. (10)

 This rang so true to me as the thought process of an 
 11-year-old child! Just purely curious... Following the initial 
 attack,  Phillip  defies his mother's edict and goes out to the  bridge/water area  which was to be forbidden territory to him. Though I must give him credit for not lying and admitting where he'd been. As so often happens, he just wanted to see what he could see. However...

My mother closed her eyes and pulled me up against her thin body. She was like that.

One minute, shaking me; the next, holding me. (14)

And, oh, isn't that just so true! I know there were times when I did exactly that with my own sons! I get it! And I'm sure they and their wives all do the same thing to their own children on occasion! Phillip wondered why his father hadn't simply ordered his mother to just stay on the island, then realized that he "just wasn't that kind of man." I don't know. Wow, that would be a hard call, but I believe that if my spouse was considering evacuation during wartime when the area had already been attacked...I might have fought very hard for them to stay and keep the family unit together. 
  
Initially, it is very difficult for Phillip to accept the fact that his only companions were Timothy, a very large Negro who appeared to be quite old, and a "big black and gray cat." No sign of his mother. And once he heard Timothy speak he realized he was a native of the West Indies and remembered seeing him work as a member of the deck gang of the Hato, the ship on which he and his mother had sailed. It was very difficult for Phillip to ignore the fact that to him Timothy appeared to be ugly and old, and the fact that he was a Negro didn't help at all, especially when his mother had made it clear that Negroes were "different" and "lived differently," and "That's the way it must be." He had been taught there should always be a separation from the Negroes. And here he was...with no choice! 

Phillip's head hurt mightily and Timothy explained something large and heavy had hit him in the head and it was Timothy who had hoisted him out of the water and onto the raft. A few days later the pain in Phillip's head subsides, but he is left totally blind, with no vision whatsoever. Of course, he panics,

I'll never forget that first hour of knowing I was blind. 

I was so frightened that it was hard for me to breathe. 

I was as if I was put inside something that was all dark and I couldn't get out. 

I remember that at one point my fear turned to anger. Anger at Timothy for not letting me stay in the water with my mother, and anger at her because I was on the raft. I began hitting him and 

I remember him saying, "If dat will make you bettah, go 'ead." (46)

Timothy was wise in so many ways. And always trying to help Phillip, not just with physical survival, but as true moral support. At this point Timothy tells the story of a man with similar injuries, but that his sight returned within 3 days. Weeks later Timothy states it was months before other man's sight returned. When Phillip questions him about this discrepancy, Timothy admits he can't remember exactly how much time elapsed, but knows his sight did return. At which time Phillips rightfully deduces Timothy is just trying to give him hope, and he appreciates his efforts. 


Timothy does so much more than that, however. He has enough skills to be able to catch fish, make fires, build a make-shift shelter, weave sleeping mats, build a crude containment system for trapping rainwater to drink and cook with. Not only this, but he creates an environment within which Phillip can learn to be sulf-sufficient on his own, just in case he is left to his own devices. Granted, they had the extra advantage of the supplies stored in the compartment in the middle of the raft: 

"We 'ave rare good luck, young bahss. D'wattah kag did not bus' when d'raff was launch, an' we 'ave a few biscuit, 

some choclade, an' d'matches in d'tin is dry. 

So we 'ave rare good luck." He grinned at me then. (32)

As you might imagine, Timothy was only able to view all this as bad luck, at the ship being torpedoed, at his mother's unknown whereabouts, at his father's lack of knowledge that he was abandoned on this raft floating in the water with no sight of land... Timothy was able to think about immediate survival whereas Phillip was grieving all he'd lost, you would expect a child to do. Timothy admits he is uncertain as to his own age, but is aware he is at least 60 years old. Phillip immediately tells him he is almost 12, so that he will stop treating him like a child half his age! :)

Although they have a signal fire all setup on a rise and ready to light at any time, they only hear a plane a few times. There are so many islands similar to this one, it would be virtually impossible to search them all up close. Phillip is able to help Timothy in an area where his knowledge is limited. He is evidently illiterate and Phillip is able to help him form the letters H, E, L, P, with rocks just next to the signal fire. Phillip is kind and wise enough to realize this, but not mention it to Timothy and just help him... As much as I find it very difficult, if not impossible, to imagine being in this situation, I cannot imagine the utter hopelessness that much follow when you hear a plane as it nears the island, and then as it goes further away without showing any signs of having noticed the island or those on it. That would be totally devestating, wouldn't it? 

It made me rather sad to consider this as a possibility, but I could only imagine that Timothy may well have felt responsible for Phillip's well-being due to much more than the fact he was an adult and Timothy a child. Timothy's initial use of the word "bahss" to address Phillip denoted the overt social hierarchy evident in the 1930's/1940's, that white men were bosses of the black men. Although their solitude and skills actually reversed that hierarchy on the island, initially, it was quite evident in both their actions and thoughts. Things progress about as well as they could have. They are able to fish and find enough food to eat, but the weather presents insurmountable challenges at times. A hurricane hits and survival is tenuous at best...regardless of all Timothy's pre-planning and safety precautions.

The first cover image above is a bit misleading, as Timothy made sure Phillip was tied to the with Phillip right behind him, sandwiching Phillip between the tree and the man, protecting him as much as possible. Simply put, Timothy thought of virtually everything! 

Honestly, you should read this book, and if you have children? Definitely! 

It would make a great book to share by reading aloud.

Or they could just read it and discuss it with you. 

I have the sequel, which is actually a prequel, Timothy of the Cay on hold at my library. 

I can't imagine that this book, detailing the Timothy's life prior to the ship going down, 

won't be just as good as The Cay, but I really must know!

And if I like it as much as I suspect I will, then I'll purchase and send it to the grandchildren.

Do you read much "children's literature"?
I find I still love it, and appreciate having 11 grandchildren as a handy excuse to read it! :)

A Day in the Life...

I just discovered this meme and annual event yesterday! (I love this graphic!) 

This is the brain-child of Trish of Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity!

I particularly appreciate the bit of history she provides to the establishment of this event!

It is a rather unique idea and after reading several other bloggers' posts decided I would give it a go this year, too. Although I am a bit tardy, it's okay, right?!? :)

My Thursday, March 24, 2016

5:23AM Although my alarm is set for 5:30AM, I awake and wonder what time it is. It feels

              close to awakening time, but I'm not sure. Usually, I do my best NOT to look at my 

              phone/alarm, since I have found that can sometimes get my mind working and it 

              can be a task to turn it off once again and resume sleeping! (I read this tip

              about 20 years ago and it made sense to me. Once I started noticing, I discovered 

              it did sometimes happen to me! Hence, it is one of the hints I suggest to those 

              friends who may complain about not being able to sleep soundly.) 

              However, I probably should greatly qualify this statement since my husband may 

              read this and comment...the truth is...I rarely have ANY trouble sleeping! Rarely! 

              Even if awakened, I am able to go right back to sleep immediately 99.9% of the 

              time! My comment to him periodically is..."Remember, awaken me only for a 

              natural disaster, 'cause I'll probably not be aware..." I do sleep like a log. And, 

              typically once I'm in bed and the light is out, it is at most only a matter of a 

              few minutes before I'm snoring away. :) And, yes, especially as I get older 
              (approaching 60!) I appreciate this ability more and more!

5:30AM And as it should my alarm on my phone begins to bring me out of my deep sleep 

              over the course of 20 minutes. Yes, you read that right, 20 minutes! As easy as it 

              is for me to fall asleep, it is in turn at least that difficult for me to wake up in the 

              morning!! :) (As both my grandmother and mother could confirm from my youth!) 
              I had been looking at "Zen" alarm clocks throughout the years. These use sounds 
              that gradually bring your mind out of a deep sleep rather than shocking it to 

              wakefulness with loud noises. (Which honestly rarely worked for me!) They were 

              priced at $150 and up--beyond what I was willing or, let's face it, able, to spend for 

              an alarm clock. With my first smart phone purchase I searched through available 

              alarm clock apps and discovered Progressive Alarm Clock. Upon reading about it, 

              I was more than happy to pay the small price of $3.99 to try it. (I see the price is 

              currently $1.99-- a bargain! ;)) And...I love it! Not only does this gently persuade 

              me to full wakefulness, it also ensures I am not ANGRY about having to get up! 

              That was definitely a new experience for me! A very pleasant change, I might add!

              I keep snoozing off and on...until...

5:48AM Okay, alarm off, phone and charging cable in hand and glasses on. I'm ready to 

              exit the bedroom and start my morning routine. (I try to be quiet so as not to wake 

              my husband!) Per the usual, I am escorted out by my beautiful 18-year-old feline 

              housemate, Smokie! (I wonder if she believes I am unable to make my way out on 

              my own! :) Though I love having her 'attend' to me first thing!) I change clothes, 

              start water heating in the tea kettle, and pet and wish a "Good morning!" to all 5 

              felines with whom we share our abode. While my tea steeps I complete five 
              minutes' practice of "five animals." This is a Chi Kung exercise. In the past I would 
              complete a short form of Taichi, then Chi Kung forms, then a hand-held weights 
              workout for a total of 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes of physical exertion. I 

              have not done much of this in my mornings since I began caring for my mother 

              about 4 years ago. And, trust me, I can tell. Having dealt with osteo-arthritis from 

              the age of 18, I can attest to the benefits of working the body's chi and getting the 
              blood pumping with weights. I am at the beginning stages of renewing my efforts in 
              this area of my life. As my new D.O./Primary Care Provider said, "It only takes 5 
              minutes per day of exercise to make a positive change in your fitness level." So 
              true! So rather than think of the 60 minutes or more for me to complete the whole 
              workout, I am simply starting with 5 minutes, and so far it is working! As I feel 
              better I will keep adding to it. Note: I have my husband to thank for Taichi and Chi 
              Kung, as he teaches both (along with Sword Form). Just one of the many many 
              benefits of having this man in my life!

6:05AM All settled in "my chair" with earbuds in, Holosync meditation playing on my 

              phone/in my ears, two kitties in my lap, one on the back of my chair, and one on 

              the arm! I play several games on my phone, then read The Cay by 
              Theodore Taylor. (Part of my Re-Readathon project hosted by Bex of 

               An Armchair by the Sea!) Meditation lasts 60 minutes, so... (NOTE: I also have 
               my husband to thank for the Holosync recommendation. I discover it helps me 
               immensely with remaining calm and more focused throughout the day.)

7:15AM I force myself out of the chair to complete the morning routine and head out to the 

              office. :) (I find it tough to put the book down...but that is typical for me!) I feed the 
              fur-babies their first of two 'wet food' feedings for the day, also refilling their bowls 
              of dry food and water. As they eat (I have one I must watch because she will chase 
              others away from their bowls sometimes...), I consume my Isagenix meal-
              replacement shake, and check the weather on my phone so I can know how to 
              dress for the temperature, etc. (BTW, I have used Isagenix about 7 years now and 
              attribute it with keeping me off the anti-inflammatory medications!) I dress, comb 
              my hair (quit wearing make-up about 10 years ago), brush my teeth, get my 
              cooler packed, kiss my husband, and head out the door at... (NOTE: I always have 
              a soft-side cooler with me during the workday because I haul my own super-
              filtered water to drink! Yes, I am THAT picky! I usually drink 1-1 1/2 liters of water 
              during the workday, some of that with green tea. I also haul all our drinking and 
              cooking water into the house! I admitted I am picky!)

7:45AM My commute is roughly 45 minutes and I usually use this time to (1) check my 

              phone for traffic jams as I near the city, (2) listen to NPR on the radio or use my 

              phone to listen to NPR podcasts, Ted Talks, etc. 

8:35AM I clock in at work. Today is a busy day at work as I have much to do to finalize 

              preparations for tomorrow. :) Our students will be here for a day-long finale to their 

              current clinical rotation. Since I am the administrative assistant who coordinates all 

              the details (scheduling, paperwork, certification, etc.) for the rotations, I must be 

              organized and ready! :) I field emails, organize files, complete forms, etc.

10:05AM Time for a cup of green tea and a snack! Plus a bathroom break!

10:20AM Back at it. Finalizing, posting, and emailing Information Sheets, printing and 
                organizing materials for upcoming Accreditation review, entering evaluation data 
                and scheduling information into our electronic tracking system students use while 
                on clinical rotations. Dealing with students' questions, email messages, etc.

12:58AM Hungry, but not too. Another cup of green tea and some crackers and cheese and
                homemade cream of asparagus soup! Yay! Short break. 

1:12PM More of the same work tasks from this morning. (Never done... Job security I 
              guess! :)) More emphasis on pulling reports from the electronic system this 
              afternoon and planning tasks for the student worker to complete next week. (Next 
              week will be quite a break. Only two faculty in, me, and our student worker during 
              her scheduled hours. It is Spring Break so no students to interrupt me! It should be 
              very productive!)

2:30PM Yipes! Meeting with the Clinical Coordinator to update the rotation schedule for the 
              next 5 months! 

3:30PM Return to office and take break to get more tea and eat some cottage cheese! :)

3:50PM Back at it! I feel as if the electronic files are NEVER fully organized, especially my 
              email folders! But that doesn't prevent me from persevering!

5:40PM Time for a restroom break and some more tea. I have about an hour to complete 
              all my tasks.

5:50PM Finishing the final list and emailing students.

7:00PM Done! On my way home. I could stop at the library to pickup a book I had on hold, 
              but I really just want to get home, especially since my husband is teaching this 
              evening and I want to feed the 'feline herd'!

7:45PM The fur-babies greet me at the door. They're ready for that second wet food 
              feeding of the day! I feed them, refill their dry food and water, and eat some yogurt. 
              Then...I have dessert! Ice cream! It is one of our absolute favorite foods! (I fully 
              admit that one of the advantages of an "empty nest" once my three children were 
              out on their own, is that I can eat whatever I want to eat whenever I want to eat it!) 
              I unload the cooler, change, and settle into my chair to read and blog.

8:30PM I finish the children's book I am reading for Bex's Re-Readathon--The Cay by 
              Theodore Taylor, and begin re-reading Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell for my 
              book club meeting this Saturday. This is an awesome book and I'm looking forward 
              to immersing myself in it tomorrow evening so I'll be ready for book club on 
              Saturday afternoon. (I read this at the end of 2014, so must refresh my 
              memory to enable discussion...since I'm old!) I also catch up on games on my 
              phone and complete my blog post/review of Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, which
              is an absolutely amazing book that I believe everyone should read! :)

10:20PM My husband is home and we talk for a bit. I change and get ready for bed. 

10:55PM I am in bed, set my alarm, and snuggle in. 
               (A couple of felines come in to check on me!)

Not so interesting, but it's rather fun to write it all down, isn't it? 

Although our days seem mundane, really, we do accomplish a lot, don't we?

Now I'm anxious to read others' posts!