Saturday, February 28, 2015

February 2015 in Review


The weather has been: Much like last month, there have been sunny days and overcast and rainy days. In fact, we will be getting rain off and on the next few days.  One of the trees in our yard has purple blooms all over the branches. The bees are having a field day. The rain has come in spurts today, luckily the big downpour waited until after Mouse's soccer class. We didn't spend much time at the park afterward though.

I am listening to: I am still listening to Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. I know, I know, what's taking me so long?! It's the same as always; hardly any time to listen. Those of you who have long commutes and can listen while you clean house or exercise are lucky. Because of the February holidays, I did have extra reading time, but instead of listening to an audio book, I decided I would rather use that time to read my e-books and print books. 

I am watching: The Walking Dead came back this month. Oh, how I love that show! I am still watching Scandal. Is anyone else annoyed with the whole kidnapping story line too? I'm so glad it's over. I saw the finale of How to Get Away With Murder. I heard there were a couple versions of the end filmed to avoid spoilers getting out. Now I want to know what the alternate ending was.  The Voice started again this week. I watched it for the first time last season and enjoyed it. It's one of the few shows I like to watch that I can watch in the presence of my daughter.  I don't know why, but The Voice always leaves me feeling happy. I love how supportive the coaches are.  So different from American Idol, which I haven't seen in years.

I am reading: February shaped into the month of fantasy, whether it be paranormal romance or urban fantasy, interspersed with a crime fiction novels. I finished reading Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop last night, the second in her Others series. This book has a bit more humor in it than the first in the series, Written in Red, which I had read just before it, but it is still very dark. It will be hard to top this series as my new favorite series this year, I think.  I also started re-reading Jane Eyre this month, which I am reading alongside my husband.  Sort of.  He's ahead of me right now. 

I am thinking/feeling: February always feels like it's only a couple weeks long, maybe in part because there are two holidays smack dab in the middle. Early in the month, I had my second post-op appointment and got a clean bill of health. The doctor did advise me to go easy on myself still and warned me against running any marathons (like that would happen).  I do not have to go back for another year. I am feeling so much better physically than I was the beginning of January.

Work has been extremely busy, as it always is this time of year. If January and February are anything to go by, the last week of each month are going to be drama filled this year--and not in a good way. This week wasn't even close to being as bad as the last week of January though, and for that I am grateful.

The child this week: I cannot believe my little girl will be four in just over a week.  It seems impossible.  She's both ready and not. Some days she tells me she cannot wait to be a big girl and other days she cries because she does not want to get any older. She's starting to question her mortality, asking me about death, telling me she does not want to die and asking me to point out Heaven on a map.  I think she finally understands what it means to die, at least in terms of not being able to see a person or animal again.  I never expected to be asked such questions by her at such a young age, especially given the losses she often refers to happened last year--or in the case of her grandfather, 3 1/2 years ago). She gets very sad when she talks about Heaven and death. I do not know if any of the answers I give her are the right ones. It's so easy to make light of them, but she's so serious and that would not be fair.

On a lighter note, Mouse's teacher told me the other day that it is obvious Mouse is read to a lot at home because of how much she knows. I guess they were learning about sea life one week and Mouse was able to name the fish and whales before anyone else, even the teacher. I did not tell the teacher Mouse likely learned those names via Octonauts, a cartoon show, she watches on television. 

Plans for March: In a week from now, Mouse will be celebrating her fourth birthday with her family and friends. It's not possible she is already four, is it? It seems like yesterday when I was taken to the hospital to give birth to her.

I haven't thought much farther than having a house full of family visiting next weekend and into the following week. I think once everyone is gone and I will breath a huge sigh of relief and need at least the rest of the month to recover. I'm an introvert through and through.

How did February turn out for you?  Does anything in particular stand out?  

What was your favorite February read?


February In Reading Mews:

At the beginning of February, I completed the Goodreads Reading Challenge! 


Number of Books Completed in February: 8

Favorite Book of the Month: Written in Red by Anne Bishop (review pending)


Currently Reading:
  • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
  • Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Next Up:
  • Vision in Silver (Others, #3) by Anne Bishop

Reviews Posted:

Posts of Interest This Week:

© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

31 comments:

  1. I keep buying the books in Anne Bishop's series but haven't actually read them. haha, oops! I have the first two books on my 'hopefully read in March' pile because I pre-ordered book 3 in the series. lol

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    1. Kelly - I don't remember having heard about the Others series before recently. Although I'm not sure how that could be . . . I'm really enjoying the series so far.

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  2. Mouse sounds like such a delightful girl. I'm glad you're not making light of her concerns - she's going to be very compassionate.

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    1. Mouse is delightful, I agree. :-) You should see the photo my husband took of her outrage at having to go to school one day last week though . . . Not so delightful then. LOL I can already see that compassionate side of her coming out with her friends.

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  3. LOL, Octonauts! Way to take the credit, mama :) Heaven is tricky isn't it? Gage's conversational skills are not up to Mouse's (some due to spectrum stuff, some due to him being a boy. boys are so behind at this age. I go to his class and all the girls are running the show and all the boys still need help from theor moms, LOL) but even he is asking lots of questions and making assumptions about Heaven. After a long car conversation I left it with him thinking he could indeed take a special plane to Heaven. sigh.

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    1. Stacy - I don't want to look bad in front of the teacher. LOL

      I am glad to hear that Gage is asking questions about it too. Not glad that you have to deal with it, but that it at least it's not something unusual at their age. I like the special plane to Heaven idea. :-) Mouse has asked me and her dad several times if she is going to die, followed by "I don't want to die." I may have changed the subject a couple times to avoid answering . . . Most of the time though, I tell her she isn't going to die any time soon, that she has a long life ahead of her. I'm not sure how to calm her fears. :-(

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  4. I've been wanting to try Anne Bishop lately. I've read some great reviews for her books. The Tornado has gotten obsessed with Octonauts lately. I have Creature Reports on repeat in my head lately! The mortality issue is a tough one. Hope she gets less upset by it soon. It's scary enough for adults to think about it! It's got to be rough for little ones.

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    1. Katherine - Anne Bishop writes different types of fantasy, and so you have a variety to choose from. Written in Red is so good. And so is Murder of Crows.

      Another Octonauts fan! Even I like the show, which is saying something these days. :-)

      I hope Mouse will become less upset about her mortality soon too. Or at least trade that fear for something her parents will better be able to address. :-S

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  5. How time really flies! It's wonderful that Mouse reads a lot and know many things ahead. It is indeed hard to explain about mortality and death to a child; and right now I'm at a stage where I've to explain puberty to my eldest one. I'm glad her school has such topic covered, too.

    Speaking of Jane Eyre, I've yet to read it; the same goes to Wuthering Heights. I know I need to get to reading them, but the new releases and those long to-read books can be a distraction. ;-)

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    1. Melody - Or at least remembers what she learns from television. ;-)

      Explaining puberty is not a conversation I look forward to having with my daughter either. It is nice that schools help with some of that discussion, I agree. I wish you luck.

      I didn't care for Wuthering Heights, but Jane Eyre is one of my all time favorites. :-) I know what you mean though--it's hard to find time to visit the classics with so many newer books catching your attention. I have the same problem.

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  6. I can't believe that Mouse will be 4 already. Wow! Good luck with your birthday week and all that entails.

    And as to the mortality questions - I honestly can't remember what I said. Obviously we got through it without too much trauma. I'm sure you guys are doing a great job and I do recall that the questions never ended about every kind of topic. LOL

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    1. Kay - You and me both! How did she get to be 4 already?! Thank you for the good luck wishes. :-)

      I was completely taken surprise when she began asking me about death. All of you parents out there should have warned me. LOL Only kidding. She seems to have moved past that, thankfully. At least until the next time.

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  7. awww...cute bookish pic :)
    I have heard great things about Rainbow Rowell, I have Attachments on my TBR pile.
    How awesome is The Walking Dead?? I love it too. My son and I have been watching it for years, it's our little tradition that we watch it together every Sunday night.
    Glad you are feeling better, and happy birthday to your little one. Doesn't it surprise you when they come up with questions like that? Little ones can be very perceptive.
    Enjoy your books and happy weekend!

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    1. Naida - I've been waiting forever for one of my cats to discover that prime resting spot. :-) I'm glad Gracie finally did.

      I am really enjoying Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park. I wasn't sure I would from just reading the description of it. I really need to try to make more time to listen to it so I can finish it.

      I am all caught up with Walking Dead right now. Whew. This week's episode was good, wasn't it? I'm the only one in my house who watches it. My husband lost interest about mid-way through the first season.

      Mouse surprises me just about every day with her observations. She really does take everything around her in. Thank you for the birthday wishes. :-)

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  8. I'm going to try to hold out on the new Walking Dead episodes and have a marathon. Don't know if I have the will power, but I'm going to try.

    Isn't it wonderful how much children learn from both being read to and from watching educational television? I'm always amazed at what my grandchildren know and surprised at the sources of their knowledge.

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    1. Jenclair - A Walking Dead marathon sounds like a good idea. That's how I watched the second, third and first half of the fourth season. I am always a little behind since I don't watch the show live, but my coworkers like to discuss the show, and so I try to stay somewhat on top of it.

      It is amazing how the brain works, especially in young people. Mouse comes up with the oddest logic sometimes--but I can see exactly how she got there.

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  9. Accidentally deleted (Sorry, Irene!):

    Irene McKenna has left a new comment on your post "February 2015 in Review":

    Mouse is such a bright little girl. It is so tough when they start understanding death! They grasp so much, yet they're still young enough to need concrete answers (which we really don't have). It sounds like you're handling it all beautifully. Glad you're doing well health-wise. Oh, and I definitely need to catch up on The Walking Dead.

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    1. Irene - Thank you. You are so right about why it can be such a challenge to talk about death to a preschooler. Everything is so concrete for them. I sometimes forget just how young Mouse is the way she talks.

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  10. Yes, February went by too quickly, didn't it? Already we are two months into this year. Mouse sounds so adorable and bright! I love that she is asking such questions though I don't remember asking them that early either. I know what you mean by not much audiobook time. I only listen to audiobooks when I drive to/from work, which is just 20 mins away. So I don't make much progress either, especially on weeks when I worked from home because of bad weather.

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    1. Athira - That's about the only time I listen to an audio book too--on my 20 minute commute to work. Since I have my daughter with me on one of those trips, I only can listen one way.

      I love that she asks those types of questions too, even if I haven't a clue how to answer them. :-)

      Congratulations on the news you are having a girl!

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  11. So glad to hear you got a great report from your doctor! Yay for good health! I can't believe February has already flown by. I had a pretty good reading month so hopefully it'll continue this month! You know, I have a long commute but I just can't listen to books while driving. I only seem to be able to do that when I'm working out.

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    1. Iliana - I was relieved too, Iliana. Not that I expected the doctor to say anything different, but one worries anyway. I hope you continue to have a good reading month as well!

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  12. A great way to have a catch up. Its good to hear about your clean bill of health.

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  13. Four in a week! My goodness. It's been so fun to be on this motherhood journey with you and to see what a bright child Mouse is developing into. Wish we lived closer! Octonauts is a current favorite in our house as well and I admit I catch myself watching it more than I'd like to. It's quite the catchy show and informative, too. Creature Report! Even Evie loves to dance a long. :)

    Glad about your health report--and continue to take care of yourself! Sometimes we all need permission to slow down a bit.

    Happy March. Hope it's a great month for you. :)

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    1. Trish - I feel like our girls are growing up together. :-) I wish we lived closer too.

      Octonauts is one of the better shows, I think, my daughter likes. At least it's one I don't mind so much. LOL We all sing the Creature Report song together--Mouse gets such a big kick out of it.

      That is so true, about needing permission to slow down. What's sad is someone has to tell me to do that before I actually well sometimes. I'm sure a lot of us are like that though, aren't we?

      I hope you have a great month too!

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  14. First I'm so glad you got a clean bill of health. Secondly how is that the Mouse is already going to be 4??? How did that happen. It does just seem that she was baby and now she's a little lady. It's fun though watching her grow up.

    Don't even get me started on The Walking Dead. Omg it is so good this year. My eyes are so glued to it when it's in that I don't notice anything else. Lol. I've been watching How to Get Away With Murder too. It's such a good show. I'm sad now that it's over for the season. Have you been watching Stalker? It's really good too.

    So sad that Mouse is having to learn about death but that is the age they start questioning things. I think that's the saddest thing about them having to grow up. They have to start facing the realities of life.

    Hope you have a good week my friend.

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    1. Darlene - Thank you! I am happy about that too. :-) It seems like Mouse was just a baby yesterday and then when I woke up this morning she's nearly four. I'm amazed by her just about every day.

      Yes! I am enjoying The Walking Dead quite a bit this season. I watch that show too-How to Get Away with Murder. I am kind of glad the season is over because I felt like I was watching too much television. LOL I liked the show though. I haven't seen Stalker. I don't think I've heard of it. I'll have to check it out.

      Yes, it makes me sad to think Mouse will lose her innocence. She's so happy and carefree right now. I wish I could protect her from the realities of life forever. That wouldn't help her or me though.

      I hope you have a good week too.

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  15. Congrats on good health for you & a healthy, growing little girl! I hope your family visits go swimmingly and then you can relax in solitude. :)

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    1. Shania - Thank you on all counts! I have tomorrow off work so I can take care of last minute errands and cleaning and such. Everyone starts arriving Friday. :-S

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  16. My kid likes Octonauts too. It's cute, and you won't believe how many species it's introduced me to, that I never knew existed! Like that fish with a transparent skull.

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