Friday, September 04, 2020

Weekly Mews: August Wrap Up & A Witchy TBR List Poll (Please Vote!)

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where participants discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics. I am linking up to Nicole of Feed Your Addiction's Monthly Wrap-Up Post, where any book bloggers who write monthly wrap-up posts can link up and visit other bloggers to see what they have been reading.   I am linking to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently. 


New to the Shelves:

Irresistible e-book sales . . . 


The Clockwork Scarab (Stoker & Holmes #1) by Colleen Gleason
Mortal Arts (Lady Darby Mystery, #2) by Anna Lee Huber
Something Read, Something Dead (Lighthouse Library Mystery #5) by Eva Gates
Read and Buried (Lighthouse Library Mystery #6) by Eva Gates
Murders and Metaphors (A Magical Bookshop Mystery #3) by Amanda Flower


What I Am Reading: I am nearly finished with In My Attic by Lina Hansen, a quirky and fun paranormal cozy mystery, and am thinking I may dive into Don't Hex and Drive by Juliette Cross next. On my nightstand is A Good Cry: What We Learn From Tears and Laughter by Nikki Giovanni, a book of poetry, that I started reading recently.  

What I Am Watching: My husband and I are working our way through the fourth season of Lucifer. It's completely unbelievable, but utterly entertaining and a nice escape. We are continuing to watch the Star Wars movies. We re-watched Han Solo and Rogue One. Han Solo gets a lot of flack, but taken on its own, it's actually a fun movie. I really like Rogue One. I think it's the third time I have seen it. We also enjoyed seeing the original Star Wars movies, A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, most recently. My favorite of the Star Wars movies have always been Star Wars: A New Hope, and I love how all the other movies support and play into that original film in some way. 

I recently dived back into The Originals, a vampire spin off of Vampire Diaries. I find The Originals less romantic (?) and more violent than its predecessor, but I am enjoying it. I never watched the show when it originally aired, other than the first couple of episodes.

Off the Blog: August was a month of transition as we eased out of summer break and into the new school year. It's hard to believe school has been underway for four weeks already! We are finding our new rhythm. Mouse is all signed up for the new dance season (she's taking fewer classes) and is taking a virtual music theater class through the L.A. School of Music. It's an eight week program. She attended a virtual choir camp through them the end of July, which she enjoyed. 

Virtual school seems to be going well for us. It has its drawbacks, of course. But I cannot tell you how grateful I am given some of the horror stories I am hearing from friends and family--both on the  parent and teacher side of things. We are all doing the best we can. Sometimes I catch snippets of the class and can hear the teacher's frustration at trying to keep all those students on task after he has had to repeat the same instructions again and again to make sure everyone has found their way to whatever program or app they are all using. Our district hasn't run into some of the hacking issues or outages that neighboring districts have had to deal with fortunately (knock on wood).

Mouse was not too thrilled about the video options the teacher offers for her Physical Education (P.E.) requirement, and so I offered to dance with her on her Just Dance game. It gets me up and moving too, which is a plus. We have been having fun with it--even if I am the most uncoordinated person you have ever seen trying to dance. 

Work has picked up for me considerably, and I have been put on a new project along with my usual duties. My new staff person seems to be settling in well. We have two more new staff coming in within the next week or two, and I will be sitting in a couple of interviews for another addition this coming week. The higher ups are discussing what our new normal will be--what the work-from-home/in-office rotation will look like or if it will continue 

Mouse was able to spend time with a couple of her closest friends one weekend this past month. Her dad and I have been so cautious these past five months and her two friends and their parents have been too. The girls had a blast together. Mouse and her two friends are all only children, and I am sure being able to be around other kids for even a short while must have been such a nice change from being stuck at home with just their parents for company. My husband and I enjoyed visiting with our friends in person too. We're back to isolating again for the time being, making sure everyone is healthy and stays that way. 

Fire season is well underway throughout California, and as expected, it is a bad one. It's been devastating for the land, animals, and people impacted. The air is smoky just about everywhere you go. Twenty-twenty will go down as the year everyone wished they could forget . . . 

On a lighter note:

My computer needed more personality. What's more fitting than a couple of cats? 




My grandmother celebrated her 103rd birthday this past month. While I couldn't be there (she lives on the other side of the country), several family members who live closer to her were able to celebrate with her, the first time in months she's been allowed in-person visitors (she does have a mask which appears in other pictures, just not this one).




Mouse's Summer Fall Show Costumes for the Grease Musical and Le Corsaire Ballet. This year the shows will look a lot different with no stage or live audience--at least not in-person.



The cats. A rare photo of them together.



My husband brought home a can of Lysol Disinfecting Spray after a grocery run. 
This is what happened next:




Here is what I finished reading in August:
  • Wolf Gone Bad (Stay a Spell, #1) by Juliette Cross
  • How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
  • Ink and Bone (Great Library, #1) by Rachel Caine
  • The Library of the Unwritten (Hell's Library, #1) by A.J. Hackwith
  • Checked Out for Murder (Haunted Library Mystery, #4) by Allison Brook
I did not spend much time blogging the beginning of August, with the exception of my weekend posts. I I took a much needed break the second half of the month; and, towards the end, I actually found time to work on some reviews, polishing up some I never posted, playing catch up with those I never got to, and prepping outlines for future posts. It's still a work in progress, but I feel a like my head is a little more into the game than it has been. 

Reading wise, I still find myself straying too often from books, but I am loving what I am reading. Wolf Gone Wild was a fun and much needed escape. Ink and Bone was every bit as good as all of you said it would be. I got so much out of Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist. Oh, how I wish I could visit the Unwritten Books Wing in The Library of the Unwritten! And I enjoyed my time in Clover Ridge in Checked Out for Murder. 


And In Case You Missed It This Week

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your August? Do you have anything planned for this month?


Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 



It is that time again! Break out those spooky reads and movies and join the Readers Imbibing Peril (R..I.P.) fun! Joining in is simple this year. Follow @PERILREADERS on Instagram and Twitter, post about what you are watching or reading using the hashtags #RIPXV and #PERILREADERS. Or if you want, share what you are reading on your blog.  Are you participating in this year's R.I.P. XV?


This month I am going with a witch theme in honor of R.I.P. XV. Which one of these three books do you think I should read next? 


Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw 
Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.
 [Goodreads Summary]


The Rules of Magic
(Practical Magic Prequel) by Alice Hoffman

For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse.

The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered, and sometimes feared, aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy. [Goodreads Summary]


The Black Witch
(The Black Witch Chronicles #1) by Laurie Forest

Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last prophesied Black Witch, Carnissa Gardner, who drove back the enemy forces and saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. But while she is the absolute spitting image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.

When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University to embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother’s legacy. But she soon realizes that the university, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is a treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.

As evil looms on the horizon and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, everything Elloren thought she knew will be challenged and torn away. Her best hope of survival may be among the most unlikely band of rebels…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to fear.  
[Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!


© 2020, 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.

62 comments:

  1. Lovely catch-up post here, Wendy. What great pics of the Lysol can. Loved the BFF between Lysol and Clorox - who knew? Ha! Cute costumes for Miss Mouse. You guys sound like things are going pretty well. Good to hear and enjoy your dancing and reading. Oh, and great picture of your grandmother. Happy belated birthday to her!

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    1. Kay - Thank you. My husband thought I was only a little crazy for treating our Lysol to a photo shoot. :-) Yes, there is a lot we are grateful for right now--trying to focus on the positives as much as possible. Now if only my brain would go along with that more often than not. Thank you for visiting!

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    2. Oh, how are priorities change! Lysol certainly deserves a photo shoot during these times. :)

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  2. so many great looking books. 103...WOW...glad the kids were able to get together and your work is going well. have a safe and happy week...my thoughts go out to those who are under fire
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. Sherry - Thank you. The smoke is so bad. Last I heard the El Dorado Fire, which is closest to us, was only 19% contained and is still raging. So many fires everywhere. My heart goes out to those impacted by them directly and the firefighters who are out there fighting the fires. I hope you have a safe and happy week too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  3. 103 is amazing, she looks incredible! I’d love to know her secret!!

    Just Dance kills me, I bought a second hand copy for the kids and thought I’d have a go, it’s much trickier than it looks!

    Have a lovely week and stay safe.

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    1. Heather - Thank you! I want to know her secret too! :-)

      Yes! Just Dance is not easy. It's very tricky and requires a lot of coordination that I evidently don't have. LOL

      I hope you have a lovely week too. Thank you for visiting!

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  4. 103 That's awesome!

    I love Lucifer!

    My daughter and 7 year old grandson live with us since Ken got sick and I've watched the hell she's gone through for this online learning so far for school. There's nothing but glitches and problems with our online learning here in Vegas. They were not prepared. The first day of school most parents and students couldn't even log on to Canvas or some of the other apps.

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    1. Mary - Tom Ellis makes a great Lucifer. :-) It's a fun show, isn't it?

      I hope things get better for your grandson and daughter in terms of the online learning. I don't know how these teachers do it. I think my daughter is over it now that were are entering the fifth week. How many more weeks to go? It's going to be a long school year . . .

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. Ooh The Clockwork Scarab. I forgot about that series but really enjoyed the first two a while back- I think there's beena third and maybe a fourth, if I remember. And I love those original Star Wars movies! Glad to hear school is going well for the most part. Virtual definitely has its challenges but I prefer it over having my daughter in a class- I'm just not ready for that yet with me hearing about cases popping up already!

    I love your grandmother's choice of movie- White Christmas is one of my faves too! :)

    I voted for Rules of Magic. sounds good!

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    1. Greg - I had forgotten about Gleason's series too. I'd read some of her other books, but not this series. Yes, I feel safer having Mouse at home right now for school. There are too many variables that cannot be controlled that put the kids at risk.

      White Christmas is a great movie. :-)

      Thank you for visiting and voting!

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  6. WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE STICKERS??? Ooooooe, I love them!

    A 103... How wonderful! I'm sure that beautiful smile is what got her to that ripe old age.

    I also loved The Originals, but we haven't watched Lucifer.

    I've voted for The Rules of Magic on your poll. It's a beautiful, magical read!

    Hope you will have a good September! Here's my The Sunday Post #10

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    1. Elza - I found the stickers on Etsy. I just adore them. I got my daughter a mermaid cat for her computer. It had more color than my two. :-) I am glad you enjoyed The Originals too!

      Thank you for voting and for stopping by!

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  7. Happy 103rd birthday to your grandma!!!
    I love the pics of the Lysol arriving in your house, made me smile.
    I haven't caught up on Lucifer - I am somewhere in the first season, and I just don't feel like watching much TV these days.
    I voted for The Rules of Magic - I loved that story so much, and I hope you will, too.
    Have a wonderful week ahead, it sounds like you'll continue to be rather busy.

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    1. Linda - Thank you! She seemed to have a lovely birthday. :-) I couldn't resist the Lysol photo shoot. It seemed fitting somehow. LOL I'm afraid I watch too much television these days. I have such a hard time focusing on anything for long. I look forward to reading The Rules of Magic. I hear there's another prequel coming out soon too--Magic Lessons, I think it's called? Thank you for voting and visiting!

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  8. Book sales are always compelling for me. I love seeing the daily email from Bookbub that offers $1.99 ebooks. Of course I love the in-person sales best. You got some good books. The lighthouse mystery series sounds fun.

    I've been reading some poetry this year. I'm reading the Mary Oliver book at the world's slowest reading pace, I think. I just finished a Ted Kooser poetry book yesterday. He's a lot like Billy Collins.

    So glad virtual school is going well. How fun that you get to do a little dancing with Mouse. So fun.

    The Lysol series. Yes! My husband and I have been passing little stickers we've made from tags on online purchases back and forth. It relieves the tedium.

    Happy birthday to your grandma! 103. Wow.

    Have a great week, Wendy.

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    1. Deb - I can't remember the last time I was at a bookstore in person. Was I ever? It seems eons ago . . . I should avoid the e-book deals, but it is so hard. I have enough unread books already.

      Mary Oliver's poetry is awesome. I think poetry is mean to be savored rather than rushed through, so take your time. :-)

      I may have to revise my opinion that virtual learning is going well for us. It's a short week and so far it's been, well, it's just been.

      Thank you for the birthday wishes for my grandmother and for stopping by!

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  9. The Wicked Deep sounds great!!

    I'm glad virtual school is going well for you!

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    1. Eustacia - Doesn't it? I don't know why I haven't read Wicked Deep yet. This week has been a little rougher on the school front, but it could be worse. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  10. Your little ones costumes are super cute! Looks like she is going to have lots of fun!
    Happy Birthday to your grandmother! God Bless her, 103 years young!
    I voted for THE Black Witch! That is a great cover!

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    1. Michelle - Thank you! My daughter keeps putting on her poodle skirt and dancing around the house. LOL Thank you for voting and stopping by!

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  11. I am glad Mouse got to visit her friends after a long time and her taking up more dance classes online. It is great that you are joining her on her PE/Dance sessions. It makes it more fun for her too I suppose.

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    1. Gayathri - Yes, she seems to have more fun when she has someone to dance with. :-) It's good for me too, physically, and a good activity for us to share. Soon enough she won't want anything to do with her dear ol' mom. Thank you for visiting!

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  12. Sounds like school has been going as well as can be expected given the circumstances. One granddaughter lives in a tiny town of less than 3,000 so her school is starting in person, outdoors weather permitting - just 10 kids combined both grades 1 and 2. My other 2 granddaughters are totally remote beginning the week after next.

    Glad Mouse can see one of her friends, it's tough for only children during COVID.

    Hope that your reading continues as planned and that all is well. Bless your 103 y/o grandmother - great genes for sure.

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    1. Diane - It'll be interesting to compare your granddaughters' experiences with school, being so different from one another. I like the outdoor school idea with a small class. When the weather is cooler here, if I'm still partially working from home, I wonder if I could get away with working outdoors. Probably not, but wouldn't it be nice?

      I sure hope I got my grandmother's good genes. :-) She's an amazing woman.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  13. Love the cat on your laptop. Looks great. Happy belated birthday to your grandmother. 103 years is quite a number! And she looks so fit. Here in Germany most kids are back in school again. There are only two states left where we have one more week vacation until school starts again. I wish you a wonderful new week, happy reading and stay safe and well.

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    1. Vi - Thank you! I have never had stickers on my previous laptops, but thought I'd do something different this time. :-) Thank you for the birthday wishes for my grandmother!

      Thank you for visiting!

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  14. That's good to hear virtual school is going well for you. And that's nice you can do that dance game together to get moving. How fun you're rewatching the Star wars movies, I want to do that too at some point. Sorry to hear about the fires. i hope you stay safe!

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    1. Lola - Virtual learning isn't ideal, but it is better than nothing. I am just glad it is better organized that this past spring had been when our kids were forced out of school with no plan in place. Teachers did what they could, of course, under such strained conditions, but it was hard for many people. It still is.

      The smoke has been very bad the past several days from the fires. The winds picked up tremendously today, so perhaps some of it will go in a different direction. It doesn't bode well for the fires though. Wind and fires aren't a good mix. :-(

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  15. I watched Legacies the other week which is the teen spinoff of The Orginals, can’t say I think much of it but I’m running out of things to watch.
    I’m glad online schooling isn’t too problematic for you and mouse, and she is finding a way to keep dancing!

    Wishing you a great reading week

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    1. Shelleyrae - I've seen the first season of Legacies, which is actually what made me go back and watch the Vampire Diaries and now The Originals. I don't know why I like those teen paranormal shows, but for some reason I do. Haha

      I hope you have a great reading week too. Thank you for visiting!

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  16. I love the new cat stickers on your laptop! I am also glad to hear that online school is going as well as possible.

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    1. Helen - Thank you! I think they are so cute. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  17. Wow. What a week! You were busy. I want to check out that poetry book you have beside your bed. I like to read a few poems every night if I can. My Sunday Salon posting

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    1. Anne - It's a lovely collection. I recommend it! Thank you for visiting!

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  18. Ooo, love the musical theatre costumes. I'm thinking of the witch theme too for October.

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    1. vvb - My daughter putting on the poodle skirt dress and dancing around. :-) Witches are good in October too! Thank you for stopping by!

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  19. Yay for 103. I’m glad virtual school hasn’t been too bad for you. I love seeing what you read and voting on the next one.

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    1. R - This week wasn't as good a school week, but it could be worse. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  20. We have to keep reminding ourselves that our family has been very lucky throughout this virus - no one has gotten sick, for starters, but our children are all adults so we don't have the battles with schooling and trying to keep them safe. Sounds like you are doing a great job it balancing it all!

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    1. Lisa - I do feel really lucky so far, and pray it stays that way. Thank you for stopping by!

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  21. School our kids starts this week and its been stressful to say the least. I'm nervous about them going back as were doing a hybrid of online and in person. Hope you enjoy your books have a great week!

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    1. SJ - Good luck to you and your kids. All the schools in our county are required to do virtual at this time. Only a handful of private schools have been granted waivers for kids to be in the classroom right now. It's so crazy no matter where our kids are learning, isn't it? Thank you for visiting!

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  22. I started watching the Originals when it just aired, but I stopped. I hope to get back to it someday. Happy Birthday to grandma

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    1. Nadene - If you do get back to The Originals, I hope you enjoy it! Thank you for the birthday wishes for my grandmother. :-) Thank you too for stopping by!

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  23. Those ebook sales get me every time! They are irresistable, like you say. My son is in his last year of high school and he does half his time in school and half virtual learning at home. It's a strange school year and we don't know how long this will last. I hope all is well with your family.

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    1. Laura - Yes! I can't help myself sometimes when I see those sales, especially when it's a book on my wish list. It really is a strange school year. My daughter is all virtual right now as are all the other children in the county. I think only a handful of private schools were able to get waivers to have in-person classes right now. I hope your family is well too. Thank you for visiting!

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  24. I used to watch Vampire Diaries, but I never did finish the series. And I never started watching The Originals either. This makes me want to get back to both.

    I love the kitty computer stickers, especially the one where it looks like it's playing with the Dell logo. :-)

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Nicole - I finally got to see the last several seasons of The Vampire Diaries this year. I think the earlier seasons are stronger, personally, but it was fun to see the characters grow and change over the course of the series.

      I think in the ad for the kitty I have around my dell symbol, had the cat curled around the apple logo. I couldn't resist. She looks like she's playing ball. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  25. You've had such a busy month and again just want to say how wonderful that your grandmother celebrated her 103rd birthday. It's such a shame you couldn't be there with her but hopefully next year things will be much better for everyone. And, such cute kitty stickers for your laptop. Hope Mouse continues to do well with her virtual classes.

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    1. Iliana - Thank you. It would have been nice to travel to visit her. We don't make it to the East Coast often, unfortunately. This week was a bit more trying with the virtual learning, but we're hanging in there. Thank you for visiting!

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  26. I'm so glad to hear school is going well compared to many I have heard. We have several of the Just Dance but haven't done them for several years now. You read some great things in August. Robin posted her review of the new Juliette Cross today on BOMH.

    Anne - Books of my Heart Here is my Sunday Post

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    1. Anne - I've heard so many nightmare stories. I hope it continues to go okay for us. I finished Don't Hex and Drive just the other day and really enjoyed it! Thank you for stopping by!

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  27. I love your cat stickers. So cute! I'm glad to hear your daughter is doing okay with the online school so far. It has definitely been challenging but we're slowly getting used to it as well. I voted for Rules of Magic in your poll just because I love Alice Hoffman's writing so much.

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    1. Suzanne - Aren't the stickers cute? Thank you! Hopefully this school year will turn out okay for all of us. Thank you for voting and visiting! I really like Alice Hoffman's writing too!

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  28. I am so happy to hear that virtual school is going well for your family. I know that it really can be quite the challenge. I must say that I am happy that my youngest is college age because I don't know if I could juggle helping a little one with school right now. Happy 103 to your grandmother! I am glad that you were able to have a little get together and your daughter was able to play with other kids. Have a great week, Wendy!

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    1. Carole - The start of this school year has been so different from the way things ended last spring. I'm having to do less--at least so far. It makes things a bit easier because her teacher has the lead, and it doesn't feel like we are floundering. Thank you for the birthday wishes for my grandmother! Thank you also for stopping by!

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  29. My daughter has been applying to colleges and will be working on her video auditions within the next few weeks. It's so laborious!! Monologues, songs, choreography all recorded in a professional way. Each school has their own requirements too so you can't use the same recording for each one. She has a theatre competition coming up, all virtual which they won first place last year. They are doing Sweeney Todd so we will see how it goes. All the parts are recorded individually and then edited into one submission.

    I am glad online school is going okay for Mouse. It's going well here too. My daughter's school was supposed to flip to hybrid this week but it has been pushed to mid October now. Won't happen, I don't think. I am still working from home and okay with it.

    At some point this week we are going to go in for flu shots. I want them early and before COVID ramps up after the long weekend.

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    1. Ti - Best wishes to your daughter! I hope everything goes smoothly for her. It does sound like a lot of work! I hope Sweeney Todd turns out well. Our school district is doing virtual choir performance of Stand By Me and are hoping to get over 1000 students and staff to participate. I tried to talk Mouse into it, but she said no. I almost wish I could do it! It sounds fun.

      I am glad school is going well for your daughter. The hybrid here hasn't started up yet either. We went for all virtual, and so won't be returning to the classroom even when they do allow the hybrid students in.

      We got our flu shots this weekend. I hope you are able to get yours.

      Thank you for visiting, Ti!

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  30. Wow and yay for 103! That is so awesome! I loved the board with your grandma's favorites too. We are also being super careful here and let my daughter finally see her 2 best friends for an afternoon after we verified their families were taking COVID seriously too. Then, my husband and I met a neighbor friend on his backyard deck for dinner and conversation for the first time all summer. I didn't realize how much I missed this interaction. I'm hoping your virtual classes keep going as well as possible--teachers have so much extra work now. Even though we are thousands of miles away from the fires, we have days where the smoke covers our skies. I bought Ink and Bone (not read yet) in support of Rachel Caine who is battling cancer now.

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    1. Danielle - I thought the birthday board was a creative idea too. :-)

      I am glad your daughter was able to visit with her best friends. I imagine she enjoyed that quite a bit!

      Teachers really do have a lot on their plates right now. I can't even imagine.

      I follow Rachel Caine on Twitter and have been keeping up with her treatments. I was really sorry to hear she has gone into hospice. And yet she's still writing.

      Thank you for visiting!

      Delete

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