October 2023 reads

I've been on overload personally and professionally and the state of the world is not conducive to  reading right now. I've been falling asleep exhausted. Many others too, I'm sure. 

What I read in October: 

Engrossing Reads

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young - Really good and hard to put down. I liked this much more than Spells for Forgetting. Netgalley free advanced copy

The Last Lie Told (Finley O'Sullivan #1) by Debra Webb - First in the series because I have three from Netgalley so I had to go back for the first two. Pleasantly surprised to be into it. Kindle, own

The Nature of Secrets (Finley O'Sullivan #2) by Debra Webb - Even more pleased to sink deeper into this one. I sort of hope the third is not the end of this series. Kindle, own

Passed the Time Just Fine

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon - I hemmed and hawed about putting this in this category or not for me, so that's that on that. The Grandmother was fine, the daughter annoying, the granddaughter mildly annoying. OCNJ library hard copy

Deadly Tides (Misty Pines Mystery #2) by Mary Keliikoa - A solid second entry in this series. I still really like the characters, side characters also. Would definitely read more Netgalley free advanced copy

Not For Me

Did Not Finish

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What have you been reading?

Snippets of the weekend 10.30.2023

I was supposed to go to the shore Thursday as Mom & Rich were headed down, but we picked up Mr. Edward Rooney from his foster fam on Thursday. Friday we realized he had an infection and took him to our vet. He did much better after he got some antibiotics. I headed to the shore after work.

Saturday Mom and I walked the boards while Rich was on a bike ride and walked back along Asbury. We waited for him to get back then headed to the beach. Absolutely stunning warm day, and a full moon at night. Just perfect. We  had Durham Deli goods for dinner and sat out on the porch enjoying the weather.

Sunday more hanging and walking - thank God my mom was there because I dropped dog poop bags somewhere and she ran back to the house for replacements LOL - soccer on the telly, MFD arrived in the afternoon, and Mom and Rich took us to dinner at the Anchorage. 

It was a good weekend and a nice visit, much nicer than it would have been if they came down the monsoon weekend in September as originally planned. 

weekending reels on Instagram - current favorite weekend look back mode.

snippets of the weekend 10.23.2023

Cousins weekend! Amazing light on Friday night. Everyone trickled in and got settled, and Stephen & Aub made dinner for everyone. Phillies loss but fun to watch

Saturday we ate Courtney's sausage balls for breakfast that were amazing, and trickled out to the boards for a walk, some arcade, saw Santa and dogs in costumes, Brandon bought everyone pizzas for lunch, and back to the house to eat and relax. 

We went out again, me and Mike to the beach and some folks to the not very good Howloween parade, 

before reconvening for dinner made by Stephen & Aub again, parlay, Phillies win probably due to our superstitions - good vibes helmets, Tommy in the kitchen, etc. 

Sunday everyone was gone by 1 and I lay around with my teeth in my mouth for the rest of the day as I spent all of my social capital and was rendered mute. 

weekending reels on Instagram - current favorite weekend look back mode.

I'm glad we made this weekend happen spread across states and ages! It was nice. Missed Tracy & fam and Gabby!

Snippets of the weekend 10.16.2023

Friday I did school dropoff and pickup for my niece and nephew, with showering and a work trip to Swarthmore in between. I browsed my work BFF's favorite store for a magic pin and some other treasures, and she gave me my birthday gift. After school pickup we went to the Halloween store, and to Friendly's for dinner, back to my house to watch a movie, then on home to theirs. 

Saturday was lounging, laundry, lazy because it was raining. It cleared up in time for Brenna & Nick's wedding sail on the Delaware. Loved the costume party and the super cool skull thing they made themselves! I got zero photos of them aside from one on the table. It was nice to see everyone.

Mrs. Roper era in full effect.

Good times and home by 11!

Sunday I was back in Old City to pick a few things up from my office before heading home to clear surfaces in the kitchen and dining room, cut up veggies, and lounge and read.

weekending reels on Instagram - current favorite weekend look back mode.

snippets of the weekend 10.9.2023

Out of office Friday - nail painting in some fall colors, Asbury shop day and lunch at OC Cafe with Lori and Carrie, a small rest, the Stephanies arrived, boardwalk night for Angelo's and seasonal pumpkin/cinnamon Kohr Bros and The Islander, Melissa arrived. Full and lovely day.

Saturday Block Party Day! A great up and back, moving right along, a few purchases, a delicious hotdog, lots of time to chat together. 

Sunday donuts on deck! To share. The Stephanies and Melissa left, and I worked for a few hours. Lori, Carrie, and I took a beach walk later in the day. They left Monday and the house was spic and span for people coming in this week - THANK YOU Lori & Carrie!!

weekending reels on Instagram - current favorite weekend look back mode.

One of my favorite annual weekends to spend time and laugh and chat. 

This week though, this week!

I held many thoughts for Aunt Carrie Saturday, as it was her life celebration. 

Monday was John Bender's sixth birthday. I was missing Mae, we always celebrated their birthdays together. And my forever friend Melissa celebrating her Rocktober birthday Tuesday!

Red October. 

I didn't hear the full brunt of news until later on Monday morning. Just an untenable and unimaginable situation in the Middle East. My head has been down in my neck ever since, and I don't know what to say, just hug emoji'ing my Jewish friends out there and feeling grossly inadequate in my response. The attacks on Jewish people are extremely frightening given the rise of antisemitism globally - and quite shamefully here in our own country where vile people have shown out with Nazi flags and  graffiti and engaging in anti-Jewish hate speech - in recent years. Add to that Holocaust deniers and people who would like to gloss over the real history or rewrite the history of seemingly everything right now in this country and around the globe and what the fuck are we doing here, everyone? What the fuck are we doing. What are we doing. Dehumanization of ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE is not the way and never has been. It never has been. Have Jewish people as a group not suffered enough?

As in all violent acts of terrorism and war, innocent people suffer. Innocent Jewish children. Innocent Palestinian children. To be alive in a time when you can watch the suffering unfold minute by minute is really a mindfuck. The fucking kids! The people parenting and caring for the kids and trying to keep them intact in the face of extreme aggression and violence. I hate feeling helpless as people try to survive unimaginable situations and we sit on screens watching. The naked humanity calls out to the humanity in every one of us as fellow humans. 

War is hell. Terrorism is hell. Oppression is hell. Human suffering is hell. Suffering because of where you happen to be born or live or because of what your government is doing is hell. Our consumption of the human suffering of others on small screens we can watch 24 hours a day is hell. Trying to rationalize shit like this is hell. Sitting with your teeth in your mouth feeling the crushing weight of this violence and instability while your heart breaks for innocent people in the crossfire is hell. 

At this point in our evolution, should we not be past war? Past killing innocent people. Past hating each other because of religious beliefs or culture or looks.  Past oppressing people. It is a deep, deep punch to the gut that leaves me breathless and without any real words when I realize we are not past these things. 

Sending peace and love to everyone who needs it in this world. Stay human. Recognize the humanity in others beyond religion, borders, looks - recognize hearts. Be a soft space when you can and lean into soft spaces when you need to. I'm holding space for the humanity, healing, dignity, liberation, and opportunity for all people to live free from violence and fear. 

snippets of the weekend 10.2.2023

I had a super soul filling up weekend with my BFFs of 30+ years. We ate, drank, made merry, and we even left the house which some years we do not do LOL. That's all about that, because girls' weekend is girls' weekend and it's for us. No one has to be any other role than what they are, and that is just us together for a weekend. And it's glorious.

I wish we had an old old of all of us, but this we think is in 2000 at Melissa's mom's house. There is nothing that replaces someone who has grown with you through all stages of your life. 

All good things must come to an end, including GW. Sunday was out to breakfast and making brownies and the first half of the Eagles game before I said goodbye to the last leavers and headed to the beach to read. 

weekending reels on Instagram - current favorite weekend look back mode.

We did not win the powerball but we certainly won the lottery in the friendship department. 

Happy birthday to my niece Lola Jean! Happy Rocktober to Melissa and Jim!