Saturday, May 01, 2021

Weekly Mews: Goodbye April, Hello May (Please Vote in My TBR List Poll)

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  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 It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

As part of my monthly wrap up, I am linking up to Nicole of Feed Your Addiction's Monthly Wrap-Up Post and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently. 


What I Am Reading: After finishing Angel of the Overpass (Ghost Roads #3) by Seanan McGuire, I picked up Cheryl Wilder's Anything That Happens, which I will be reviewing Monday for a tour. It was the perfect way to close out National Poetry Month. Mouse and I finished reading the 12th Dork Diaries novel, Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe this past week as well. 

I am in the middle of Black Water Sister by Zen Cho, which I was not sure about at first but is proving to be a hard book to set down. I am sure I will finish it this weekend. 

Next up . . . A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver sounds pretty good. Or maybe Wendy Wax's The Break-Up Book Club

What I Am Watching: We reached the end of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and are now on the final season of Angel. I do not know why I got so excited seeing Harmony and Spike on Angel. There's just something about  when  characters crossover from one show to another. I have a love/hate relationship with those two characters as it is. 

Last weekend while working on Mouse's chain reaction science project, we had a musical day airring in the background. We watched Annie, Newsies and Oliver (based on Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens). It had been years since I last saw Oliver. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed that musical. I really hate Bill Sikes.

Off the Blog: Is it May already? April was one of those months that seemed to drag in spots and race by in others. The CDC has loosened mask wearing mandates for outdoors in the U.S. California continues to see a decline in COVID cases and increase in vaccinations. My husband said today the grocery store has taken out the floor stickers where people were to stand to remain six feet apart in line. I am not sure I agree with that move just yet but hopefully people will still adhere to social distancing guidelines. The county I live in is staying pretty steady metric wise, but we have been watching the numbers go up in other parts of the country and world, wondering if our  luck will hold. My heart aches for those in India. The crisis there is horrific, and I hope they are able to get the help they need. 

After much consideration and mental handwringing, my husband and I decided to take a calculated risk and started Mouse back at the dance studio where masks and social distancing are required. The classes are fairly small as capacity is limited. The students' temperatures are taken at the door and they have a fairly strict safety protocol in place. She still attends dance classes via Zoom too sometimes. At this point the studio has no plans to stop the Zoom option, and so we can switch back completely to those with some ease if need be. Mouse is super happy to be able to go in-person again. She has a spark in her I have not seen in a long while. I am missing the extra free time I had when she was solely at home though. I have been taking advantage of the waiting time by reading in my car or on a bench outside the studio. 

Mouse has less than four weeks of school left this school year. It's been quite the year. We had such a rough start to this new-to-us world of virtual learning, but it turned around for us somewhere in there and has been easier to navigate these past few months. We may even miss it next school year when Mouse returns in-person. Or maybe not. 

I have been having some minor health issues and had a couple of doctor appointments this past month, including a biopsy that came back normal (yay!). I have more testing scheduled later this month. 

We are enjoying warmer temperatures, although those two days it got into the 90F's we could have done without. It was an early taste of the summer to come no doubt. 

Nina trying not to look guilty. 
Earlier she'd been playing with the clock. 

I came across this old photo of Mouse and Parker not too long ago. 
It's one of my favorites.

New to the Shelves in April:

New books on Mouse's Bookshelves: 


Fearless (#1) by Mandy Gonzalez
A Dash of Trouble (Love Sugar Magic #1) by Anna Meriano
A Sprinkle of Spirits (Love Sugar Magic #2) by Anna Meriano
A Mixture of Mischief (Love Sugar Magic #3) by Anna Meriano 
(Thanks for the recommendation of the Love Sugar Magic series, Caspette!)


Primer by Jennifer Muro & Thomas Krajewski, illustrated by Gretel Lusky (Illustrations)

Amazon had their annual World Day giveaway and I picked up the following (all free): 


The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy, translated by Chris Murray
The King of Warsaw by Szczepan Twardoch, translated by Sean Gasper Bye
You, Me, and the Colors of Life by Noa C. Walker, translated by Lisa Reinhardt
At the End of the Matinee by Keiichiro Hirano, translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter
Amora: Stories by Natalia Borges Polesso, translated by Julia Sanches
Return to the Enchanted Island by Johary Ravaloson, translated by Allison M. Charette
The Broken Circle: A Memoir of Escaping Afghanistan by Enjeela Ahmadi-Miller
(I already owned a couple they were offering)


Here is what I finished reading in April:
  • Tales from a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen (Dork Diaries #9) by Rachel Renée Russell
  •  The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba (Cuba Saga #4) by Chanel Cleeton
  • The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar
  • Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter (Dork Diaries #10) by Rachel Renée Russell
  • Shadowed Steel (Heirs of Chicagoland #3) by Chloe Neill
  • The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
  • Tales From a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy (Dork Diaries #11) by Rachel Renée Russell
  • Angel of the Overpass (Ghost Roads #3) by Seanan McGuire
  • Anything That Happens by Cheryl Wilder
  •  Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe (Dork Diaries #12) by Rachel Renée Russell
I was not the best blogger (or commenter) in April, but I did fit in quite a bit of reading. Mouse and I knocked out four Dork Diaries novels together and I read a fair amount on my own. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo was by far my favorite read. 

This Past April In Reading Mews:

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your April? 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 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. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 


It is that time again! I considered going with historical fiction this month and then thought I really should go with nonfiction given I am behind on that challenge. Alas, fantasy and science fiction won out. All three of these books are sounding like a good fit right now. Not to mention they are actual physical books from my TBR shelves rather than the easier to go to e-books sitting on my e-reader. I could use your help in deciding which one I will read next though!

Spin the Dawn 
(The Blood of Stars #1) by Elizabeth Lim
Project Runway meets Mulan in this sweeping YA fantasy about a young girl who poses as a boy to compete for the role of imperial tailor and embarks on an impossible journey to sew three magic dresses, from the sun, the moon, and the stars.

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Steeped in Chinese culture, sizzling with forbidden romance, and shimmering with magic, this young adult fantasy is pitch-perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Renée Ahdieh. [Goodreads Summary]


The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
(Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers

Follow a motley crew on an exciting journey through space-and one adventurous young explorer who discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe-in this light-hearted debut space opera from a rising sci-fi star.

Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.

Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.
[Goodreads Summary]


The Map of Time
(Trilogía Victoriana #1) by Félix J. Palma, translated by Nick Caistor

A skeptical H. G. Wells investigates time-travel mysteries including an aristocrat's love affair with a murdered prostitute from the past, a Victorian woman's escape to the future, and a plot to murder celebrated authors to steal their written works.

Set in Victorian London, with characters real and imagined, The Map of Time is a page-turner that boasts a triple play of intertwined plots in which a skeptical H. G. Wells is called upon to investigate purported incidents of time travel and to save lives and literary classics, including Dracula and The Time Machine, from being wiped from existence.

What happens if we change history? Félix J. Palma explores this question in The Map of Time, and he weaves a historical fantasy as imaginative as it is exciting, a story full of love and adventure that transports readers to a haunting Victorian London for their own taste of time travel. [Goodreads Summary] 

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


© 2021, 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.

60 comments:

  1. So much in this post! I also had a biopsy that came back benign this week. What a relief and I am glad to hear yours is okay as well!

    Mouse dancing is person is wonderful news; I am sure she is loving being back at the studio.

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    1. Helen - I am so glad to hear your biopsy came back benign! The worry while we wait is real, isn't it? Such relief now though.

      She seems to really be happy to be back and among some of her friends again. She's been such a trooper through all of this, but it means so much to her to be able to do something normal again.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  2. May snuck up on me big time! And wow you guys are doing great with the Dork Diaries series! So glad to hear you had good news with your biopsy. And yes, those decisions are tough re: the dance thing- we've agonized with a few of those ourselves this year. Sounds like you made the right decision though and that she has that spark from going back.

    Love the cat pic- like "what did I do" lol.

    I had to vote for Long Way because i love that book so much. :)

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    1. Greg - It does feel like it snuck up on me too. Mouse loves the Dork Diaries. The only reason we aren't going to start book 13 yet is because we don't have a copy on hand. LOL Thank you for your kind words!

      Nina is such a troublemaker. :-) We love her.

      Thank you for voting and stopping by!

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  3. It's just crazy to me that it's already May. How did that happen?!

    Things have started to open up a little here too.. but the new COVID numbers are still pretty high, so I'm a little scared things will get worse again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't though!

    I took our girl to her very first dance class this week. It is outside because of COVID and things look pretty safe. And she loved it! So she will go regularly starting the second week of May. I'm glad to read Mouse was able to go to again this week.

    I voted for The Map of Time. It just sounds and looks so good. :D

    Have a great week and happy reading.

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    1. Maureen - I know. This year is going by faster than last for sure. I am glad to hear things are beginning to open up a bit more where you are as well. I worry about that too--that the numbers will start to go up again, especially since the numbers are rising in other areas. I don't want to get overconfident.

      I am so glad your daughter enjoyed her first dance class! They are especially adorable at that age. :-) My daughter is so glad to be back in the studio. Zoom classes just aren't the same. I am grateful though that we have had that option though. It helped us through this past year.

      Thank you for voting and visiting!

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  4. Sounds like it has been quite a month for you! I am pleased to hear your biopsy came back clear and that Mouse has enjoyed going back to her dance classes. I hope cases numbers continue to fall and vaccinations continue to rise for your area.

    My month was relatively quiet except for work, however I read three (almost four) books; watched three new-to-me films and enjoyed the easing of restrictions here in the UK.

    Take care; all the best for your upcoming tests and happy reading in May! 🙏🙂

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    1. Jessica - Thank you! I was relieved when I received the results. I really hope the numbers continue to move downward here too--and start in other parts of the world.

      Quiet months are good, although I know you weren't feeling well for a good part of it. I hope your sinuses are better.

      Thank you for stopping by and for the well wishes!

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  5. I just returned from India, and the condition there continues to deteriorate. And right now, crowdsourcing and NGOs seem to do a lot more than the Government. It is heartbreaking and scary to say the least.

    Stay safe and cheerful!

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    1. Gayathri - I am so sorry to hear that news about India. I cannot even imagine. I am thinking of your family and friends there as well as all of India.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  6. I'm glad the biopsy came back okay, that's always a relief! That's great Mouse is enjoying her dance lessons again again. They loosened some restrictions here as well but we're still staying really safe. Unfortunately I'm back in the office with a hybrid schedule this upcoming week but it had to happened eventually so. How sad and scary about India.

    Enjoy your books this week and stay well! We just recently re-watched the old Buffy the Vampire Slayer film from the 90's and it did not age well...lol...except for Luke Perry. :)

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    1. Naida - Yes, it was quite a relief. Thank you. I'm sorry you are having to go back into the office. I have been working a sort of hybrid schedule since the start of this and so I'm used to having to go in. It hasn't been too bad. I have to wear a mask all day when in the office and we all maintain our distance, but usually I am one of a small few in the office at any given time since we are all on rotating schedules. I'm much more comfortable now than I was early on, but still highly vigilant and take precautions. I hope the transition goes well for you.

      We were thinking of re-watching the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie. LOL I don't imagine it would hold up well. :-)

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. I'm happy we are seeing declines in the number of people who are getting Covid. We continue to follow the strict protocols so as not to endanger others who have not yet gotten the vaccine.

    It's wonderful that Mouse is returning to dance class. That is fabulous in many ways for her.

    I enjoyed the World Day book giveaway, too. I used to love participating with real books. I especially remember the year I was able to give away copies of Winn-Dixie to students and the year I gave away adult books in Spanish to parents.

    It was easy for me to pick the book I hope you will read this month!

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    1. Deb - I am too. I hope the decline continues. My family and I are following all the safety precautions too. I don't see that changing anytime soon. Who knows when my daughter will be eligible for a vaccination. That's one of the reasons I was so reluctant to let her return to the studio. I think it was the right decision though and they do have safety protocols in place.

      I love that you gave away books to students and parents at one time!

      Thank you for visiting!

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  8. I get a little worried when restrictions are lifted too much, and I think I wouldn't want to shop in that store with no lines to mark for distancing. Without them, I wonder if people will just assume they can stand anywhere they want?

    I love that look on Nina's face. She looks guilty to me! LOL

    Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES

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    1. Laurel-Rain - Yes, I am concerned they are removing the distance lines on the floor, especially since restrictions are still in place, particularly indoors. I would hope people would still maintain distance, but I have my doubts. We were at Barnes and Noble on Sunday and I noticed there wasn't much social distancing going on there. At least people were wearing masks.

      Nina is quite the troublemaker. :-)

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  9. Yay for normal biopsies!! Hope all is going to stay well! Happy May!

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  10. Like you, I watch the situation slithering away in India with grief and horror. And I'm glad that Mouse is able to go back to dancing in a studio, for the time being. Fingers crossed that this time, the lockdown and vaccination programme manages to keep the infection rate down... In the meantime - I've voted for the Becky Chambers read, because I absolutely loved it and I think you would, too, Wendy:)). Have a lovely week.

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    1. Sarah - I wish there was more we could do to help those in India.

      My state has been managing well recently and I do hope it continues. Hopefully people will continue to take precautions even as things continue to open up more and more.

      Thank you for voting and visiting!

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  11. The UK's Covid numbers are right down too and the vaccination programme is going really well here also but I do worry about complacency causing a third spike - especially when I look at recent spikes in other parts of Europe and what's happening in India... Hopefully, as the year goes on, we'll see this less and less but who knows after the last year and a bit?

    My son re-started in person fencing lessons this week. Like dancing for your daughter, it's been a very good thing for him and has made him super happy... As adults we talk a lot about the impact of this year on our lives but for the kids it's been next level and I'm super proud of how well they've handled it all.

    Glad your tests were negative! Fingers crossed all continues to be okay. Take care!

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    1. Nicci - Yes, I worry about the complacency too. We can't get too comfortable yet, I don't think.

      I am glad your son is fencing again. I imagine he is happy to be back at his lessons. I agree, I am really proud of how well our kids have been handling all this. I know it hasn't been easy.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. I love crossovers on TV too---it's always exciting to see your favorite characters in a new environment.

    I agree with you about COVID--there have been lots of difficult decisions to make when it comes to when to go back to things. Lately, we've been struggling with whether or not to go back to our church. We're not happy with the way they've handled COVID at all, and it's honestly distanced us from the church as a whole, which is sad.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Nicole - Good luck with the church decision. I know that cannot be an easy one to make. Thank you for stopping by!

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  13. Becky Chambers' series has been in my TBR for along time now. I'm hoping to get to it this summer. Spin the Dawn. I've heard great things about this one too. Also on the list!

    What a weird year, right? My son will also be going back to in-person in the fall. He's got four weeks left of his virtual year. It's been tough and there will be tears when he starts again. We signed him up for a late summer science camp, days only. I'm hoping it'll get him used to kids again and being social before he starts school. Glad Mouse is dancing in person again!

    Looks like you picked up some great books this week as well. I hope you have a wonderful week! love those kitty and Mouse pics!

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    1. Heather - I've been wanting to read Becky Chambers' series for quite a while too. And Spin the Dawn sounds so good! I will be happy with whichever wins, I think. :-)

      I imagine there will be tears when the new school year begins here too. I hope the late summer science camp goes well. We've been considering our summer options as well. Especially with both my husband and I working, even if it's from home.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  14. I'm glad your biopsy came back negative. I've had a few and the waiting is always the hardest part.
    I loved Buffy and Angel. Both shows were so good.

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    1. Mary - Thank you! It was a big relief. We are big Angel and Buffy fans here. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  15. I can't believe it is May! I'm loving the weather and being vaccinated and doing a bit more. We aren't changing our masking or anything but we are going out a bit more often. I've been scheduling all those doc appts we didn't do over the last year. The summer should help us ease into some in person things with outdoors events and time for more to get vaccinated.

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

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    1. Anne (Northwoman) - We aren't changing our masking either, regardless of the loosening of restrictions. I am glad you are getting out more. I need to schedule an optometrist appointment, which I put off because of the pandemic. I noticed a chip in one of my lenses so it's probably a sign that I shouldn't put it off for much longer.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  16. Glad to hear about your biopsy report! Yes, that two days of 90 degree weather was so weird, I actually broke down and turned on the AC. I feel as if things are getting back to normal, with masks, anyway😁 have a good week Wendy!

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    1. Tammy - Thank you! Our air conditioner came on too--it's on now as a matter of fact, but I don't think it's reached 90 today. Yes, normal with masks. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  17. I'm so glad to hear that Mouse is back at in-person dance! My kids are in hybrid school as you know, and my daughter starts volleyball tomorrow. Her two sports are volleyball and basketball, which are normally fall and winter sports. However, since there were no fall or winter sports this year, they are doing what they can and doing both in the spring--at the same time. So, she had to choose. She figures she can practice basketball at home and volleyball is easier to play wearing a mask, so volleyball it is!

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    1. Melinda - That is nice that they are giving the kids a chance to play off season since they couldn't play this winter. I hope your daughter has a good volleyball season! Thank you for visiting!

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  18. Glad to hear that everything turned out okay with your biopsy. I am glad we can start to be less frightened to go out. My county is still having fairy high numbers so we are still in phase two. Sigh. My Sunday Salon post

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    1. Anne (Head Full of Books) - Thank you. It was a relief, that's for sure. I hope your county's number start to come down. I imagine I will be feeling anxious about the pandemic long after its gone. :-( Thank you for stopping by!

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  19. Oh I'm so excited for Mouse about going back to dance class. I'd be wringing my hands in your shoes too but it sounds like they're taking precautions and hopefully it will be fine. Love the pic of Nina on top of the bookshelf. How do cats end up in all kinds of crazy places? And that picture of Mouse and Parker is just sweetness. I hope you have a wonderful week!

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    1. Katherine - It's good to see Mouse smiling more. Fingers crossed things continue to go well.

      Nina loves being up high. She's quite the climber and jumper!

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

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  20. I've been looking at Spin the Dawn for some time, so I voted for that! It would be great to hear your thoughts!

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    1. Eustacia - Thank you for voting! Even if it doesn't win, I don't know if I'll be able to resist it for long. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  21. So cool that Mouse can go back to dance classes. My place stopped online classes in September and I've gotten completely out of shape since. My city's cases have really gone down, but our classes normally stop over summer so don't think they're going to start up now just for a month.

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    1. Dianthaa - I'm sorry they stopped online dance classes for you last fall. I wonder why they did that. I can imagine they won't bother to open up for just a month and then have to close. The studio my daughter attends is open year round, although they do take two weeks off at the end of summer and around the Christmas holidays. Thank you for visiting!

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  22. Happy May Wendy. So glad to red that your biopsy came out well - that is stressful. You had a great reading month in April. Your cat Nina looks like a handful LOL and I love that old pic with Parker and Mouse. Hard to believe how fast this school year went by

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    1. Diane - Thank you! I am hopeful the other tests will come back normal when I am able to get them done as well. Nina is such a spirited cat. LOL We love her. Thank you for stopping by!

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  23. Glad things are going well in April. Hopefully May continues on a good note. I chose the Elizabeth Lim book for your TBR choices since it is Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage month!
    Lisa Loves Literature

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    1. Lisa - I hope so! Thank you for voting and visiting!

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  24. VERY glad to hear that your biopsy came back benign. The waiting is always so scary. You just get all worked up thinking about it.

    Yay for Mouse being back in the studio. I know it comes with a risk. I felt that way about my daughter returning to some of her activities but we will be fully vaccinated tomorrow, that's me, and she is getting her #2 next week so hopefully with common sense and basic precautions we will be good.

    May. Already. Every day is going by too fast. Both of my kids will be moving soon and it's all too much to think about. I wake with dread and then feel hopeful and then feel dread again. I am not usually all over the place like this. I think I spend entirely too much time alone.

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    1. Ti - Thank you! I was relieved at the news. I kept checking my e-mail to see if a new message from the doctor came in up until it finally did.

      I am glad you are fully vaccinated now--and your daughter will be soon. My husband gets his second dose tomorrow. Who knows when Mouse will be able to get her vaccine. I think that's part of what makes me so nervous about all this re-opening. I know the risk to her is small, but there is still a risk. We're getting used to being back in studio routine though and I really appreciate all the studio is doing to keep the kids safe.

      You're going to have an empty nest soon. I can just imagine the range of emotions that brings on. I always tease my daughter I'll love wherever she does--not too close so she can still have her independence, but just close enough she can come home if she needs to. Of course I'm just kidding, but in an ideal world . . . Haha. I am sending a big hug your way, Ti.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  25. Glad to hear your biopsy came back negative. That has to be such a relief. That's great that you were able to get your daughter back to the dance studio. I have my son back playing soccer again, mainly because his travel club has similar strict protocols, daily temperature checks, masks, etc.

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    1. Suzanne - Thank you! It really was a relief. I think being able to get out and do some of their regular activities is really good for them. It does help that the studio is taking the precautions seriously. I'm sure you feel the same about those running the soccer club. Thank you for visiting!

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  26. Hope the health challenges settle down soon and glad to hear the biopsy was benign!

    I know what you mean about Mouse being back in the studio. We have finally made the decision to send the kids back for swimming and are debating whether we should add gym to the list as well. We probably will, but have a lot of thinking to do.

    My reading has been all over the place as well. I think I did better in April than in March but hope the trend continues. Hope May is great for you guys as well.

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    1. Athira - Thank you. I hope so too. I am having an ultrasound in a couple weeks and am still waiting to hear from the specialist about another test, but I'm hopeful it will all turn out okay.

      It's tough deciding how much to jump back into life again after being so careful, especially when there is still risk out there. I am glad your kids are back to swimming again and hopefully you can add in the gym soon too.

      I hope you have a great May too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  27. Its interesting the way different schools/districts have handled things this year. We've been in-person all year (private school) and it's been worth every penny of the tuition to me as our public schools have been doing hybrid with the high schools.

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    1. RAnn - I am really glad we had the option of whether to go in-person hybrid or virtual. The state didn't allow even private schools to go in-person the first trimester of the school year and then waivers were required. Only a small few in my county were able to get them before the state closed that window because of the winter pandemic surge. The public schools (which is what my daughter attends) in our district didn't start hybrid until mid-March. And that was just for elementary school students. Middle school and high school started hybrid in April. Now I think they are all back five days a week--but that's only for those parents/students who chose to be in-person for the school year. We signed on for the all year virtual plan right from the start because of our situation, and I have no regrets looking back on the year. It may have been a struggle at first, but we made the best decision for our family. That's all any of us can do really. :-)

      Thank you for visiting!

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  28. I'm glad to hear your biopsy result turns out okay, Wendy.

    Speaking of Covid, we've seen a rise in the community cases lately so we're back to phase 2. :( It's also so sad to see the surging death cases in India.

    I'd vote for Spin the Dawn as the premise sounds so interesting. :)

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    1. Melody - It was a relief, thank you. I am sorry to hear your community has seen a rise in COVID cases. I hope the numbers go down again soon. Yes, what's happening in India is appalling.

      Thank you for voting!

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  29. I liked Harmony on both shows--she was definitely an amusing character, played with a nice comedic touch. --Nina is looking very cool! What a great cat!

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  30. John - She and Spike play well off each other. We just watched my favorite episode with her of Angel, which she takes more of a lead in. Thank you for visiting (and the kind words for Nina)!

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  31. Michigan just completely changed mask mandates here and it's all up to individual businesses now to require masks and/or an honor system that requests unvaccinated people wear masks indoors. I know it's going to take me awhile to feel comfortable again going maskless even though I'm fully vaccinated. I bought a used copy of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet after a friend highly recommended it but of course, it sits waiting for me to read it. Love, Sugar Magic books have also been recommended to me, so I hope your daughter enjoys them.

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    1. Danielle - California is holding onto the current mask mandates until the middle of June as of right now. We'll see if the governor holds up to the pressure from the anti-mask crowd. My family will continue to wear masks, especially when indoors with those outside our home, for a while yet. Especially since my daughter is not eligible for the vaccination yet.

      I finished reading The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and enjoyed it quite a bit. I can see why all the fuss. :-) I hope you like it when you get to it.

      Thank you for visiting!

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