Sunday Salon, Nov. 23, 2014

Weather: currently there is a spot of blue in the sky. Earlier today it was raining and pouring. Last night it was windy in addition to raining and pouring. Really awful weather.

For your listening enjoyment: Cue The Piano Guys new video and listen while you read this post!


Thankful: Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. It is a good week to focus on thankfulness. Here are a few things I am grateful for this month:

• My husband, Don. He is such a hard worker yet he also knows how to relax. He is dedicated to me and to our family. I am so blessed by him.
• My new principal at school. Matt Y. is very thoughtful and articulate. He is a great listener, too. I am grateful that he is willing to take my opinions and seems to respect me and appreciates what I offer the school.
• My family. Sixteen family members will assemble at our house this Thursday to share a meal together. We are so blessed to have family members who love each other and get along well when we gather together.
• Our veterinarian. Poor Muffy, our Cardigan Welsh Corgi, had to have a tumor removed from her leg and then we had to take her back several times because she kept chewing on her bandage. It is really obvious that everyone at the office loves animals. One of the vets treating Muffy even kissed her on the head. So kind. (Now we are keeping our fingers crossed the cancer won't return.)
• The gals in both of my book clubs. I am so lucky to have so many friends who also love books and get excited to talk about them.

Moose-a-Muffin project update: We have completed stage 3 of 5 of our projects which started because we bought a new car that we want to park in the garage. Stage 1-New Car; Stage two-clean out garage and add shelving; Stage three- pour a concrete pad on which we will locate a new shed. Yes, the concrete work is done! Now to find a shed and have it built on site. Lastly, move our stuff in to it, and finally, finally park the car in the garage.

Currently reading:

• I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson---a new favorite YA novel. Nelson is a masterful wordsmith.
• Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld---my current audiobook. I just read a hand full of reviews on Goodreads and now I am not sure if I should spend my time listening to it. Hmm. Anyone? Should I read it or not?
• Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teen Speak Out by Susan Kuklin. We have a transgender student at our school who is so tender and sensitive about his situation. I am hoping that this book will be helpful.

Books read this week:

• Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts. Another YA audiobook selection. A story told in two voices. Both Zac and Mia have cancer and each helps the other cope. I didn't like this story as much as the other "youth with cancer" stories recently written, The Fault in Our Stars and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
• Landline by Rainbow Rowell. An audiobook selection. I love Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park and her Fangirl. This book, written for adults, didn't excite me.
• Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S.King- a Mock Printz selection. I think this book is actually my new favorite on the list.