Happy July! What a week it has been (and will continue to be)! I have put in more hours at work than I have in a long time. I am counting down until the end of my shift on Friday for some time off--at least for the weekend.
Even despite having to be at the office both Saturday and Sunday this past weekend, I managed to fit in some quality family time, whether playing princesses, splashing in the pool, or feeding the ducks. This all before I had to leave for my ten hour shift at the office each day. My husband kept Mouse very busy while I was at work. I am sure they appreciated having the time just the two of them.
Mouse began swimming lessons this week, which she's already declared as her favorite activity ever. I don't think she remembers the parent/child lessons we used to take at the YMCA when she was younger. Water safety is high on my priority list, given the number of child drownings I come across in my line of work, especially this time of year.
This coming weekend is a big one for many in the United States as Americans celebrate Independence Day. Those of you who celebrate, do you have any special plans? Even though I have to work, I will be getting off at a decent hour to see the fireworks, at least.
My life has been so busy lately, I am afraid my reading has suffered. I have not been able to read as much as I would like. I am nearly done with The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan, which I shared with you last week. As soon as I finish it, I plan to dive into The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters.
What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?
Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts
First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where
participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a
book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.
As an asteroid threatens the existence of all life on earth, Detective Hank Palace is still on the job, investigating crime. I have heard wonderful things about this trilogy, and I am anxious to dive in. Here are the first couple of paragraphs:
Would you continue reading?I'm staring at the insurance man and he's staring at me, two cold gray eyes behind old-fashioned tortoiseshell frames, and I'm having this awful and inspiring feeling, like holy moly this is real, and I don't know if I'm ready, I really don't.
I narrow my eyes and I steady myself and I take him in again, shift on my haunches to get a closer look. The eyes and the glasses, the weak chin and the receding hairline, the thin black belt tied and tightened beneath the chin.
© 2014, 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.
I'm glad you've some quality time with your family despite your busy work schedule, Wendy. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Last Policeman sounds interesting. I look forward to your review.
Melody - It's been a challenge, but I am trying. :-)
DeleteI can't wait to start The Last Policeman. Hopefully within the next day or two.
I like that intro a lot. I would read more. Glad Mouse loves swimming.
ReplyDeleteDiane - I've heard good things about the trilogy and am anxious to dive in.
DeleteI hope work slows down for you! I loved The Last Policeman, so I hope you enjoy it! I will be starting The Curiosity next, as soon as I am done with my current book.
ReplyDeleteAthira - I think next week will be better. No one is supposed to be out of vacation. :-) I am glad to hear you loved The Last Policeman. I can't wait to start it. I'll be interested to read your thoughts on The Curiosity. I'm nearly done now.
DeletePlaying princesses and feeding the ducks sounds like a wonderful way to relax.
ReplyDeleteI'm not too inspired by those paragraphs you shared but as I've heard some good things about this series I'd keep reading.
100 or so pages into 30 Days by G.R. Case so far I'd recommend it.
Tracy - Mouse enjoyed herself, I know. :-)
DeleteI am glad you are enjoying 30 Days so far. I hope it continues to be good.
I'll be working on the 4th as well. People around us set off major fireworks and, to be honest, I find them very annoying after a while. I hope things settle down at work soon!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Hopefully you will have a good work day. I'm hoping it will be a quiet day. It's against the law to set off personal fireworks in my county, while I know some still do. Not too many though. We usually go see the city's show. Mouse loves the fireworks. If it weren't for her, I imagine I would have stayed home that night and watched television.
DeleteSounds like work is crazy right now! Hope it slows down soon. Glad Mouse likes her swimming lessons. I hadn't even thought about them for the Tornado until we were at the beach and he went running towards the pool to jump in completely convinced he could swim! I like the descriptions in the excerpt so I'd probably keep reading. I'll wait for your review before picking it up though.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - It's more of a coverage issue rather than a workload issue right now. Summers are always slower at my office, fortunately. But since we are open 24/7, there always has to be available staff.
DeleteMy in-laws have a pool and although they live out of town and we don't get up there often to visit, I still wanted to be on the safe side when we do visit. That was my primary motivator, at least. I'm glad she likes the water so much. Maybe she'll be a diver like her cousin was when she was in high school and college. :-)
Relaxing on the 4th, and my husband will probably go fishing.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mouse will transform into a mermaid. :)
I just finished The One I Was by Eliza Graham, and it was very good.
Have a great July 4th!
Jenclair - That sounds like a nice way to spend the 4th of July.
DeleteI am glad Mouse has taken to the water so easily. Hopefully it will always be that way.
I hope you have a great 4th too!
Wow, you have been busy! Hope you get enjoy a little free time for the holiday.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds like fun.
JoAnn - I will be glad when I can go back to being more picky about the overtime I say yes to. :-S
DeleteI am looking forward to reading the book. Hopefully in the next day or so.
Hope you get time to relax more and enjoy your daughter and childish pursuits.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of The Last Policeman, not sure about it yet, but I certainly would like to check it out of the library if available and give it a try!
I am reading Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta and so far I like it.
We are not doing anything for the 4th--in our new neighborhood we don't know how folks celebrate and with the extremely dry climate I would think fire is a real concern. My hubby likes to watch Boston Pops on tv and I will sit in the yard and watch the sky :)
Rita - I will be glad to see the weekend come!
DeleteKoryta's book sounds like it will be a good one. I am glad you are enjoying it so far.
It's very dry here too--we're in a drought also--and so fireworks are illegal in our county. The city puts on a pretty nice show every year though, and we try to catch that when we can. When we lived at our old house, we could watch from our front yard. Now we have to go elsewhere. We will be going to a BBQ/pool party that evening near the firework site this year, so that should be fun.
Your plans sound nice and relaxing. I'd honestly prefer to do something like that after I finish this week, but Mouse is excited about seeing her best friend and the fireworks. I can't let her down. :-)
It sounds like you've been very busy! Enjoy your time off at the end of the week. We celebrate the fourth of July. We'll go to a party in the afternoon and then finish getting our house ready for a family reunion that starts this weekend (we're hosting).
ReplyDeleteI finally finished Sorcery & Cecelia, and really liked it. I'm going to start on book 2 in the series later this week. :)
A.M.B. - I hope you have fun at the party on Friday and good luck with the reunion. Enjoy that too! Will a lot of people be attending?
DeleteI am glad to hear you liked Sorcery and Cecelia! I've been wondering about that one.
I like the build-up as he assesses the insurance man. I wonder how the insurance man feels during this scrutiny?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing...and here's mine: THE FROM-AWAYS
Laurel-Rain - I have a feeling the insurance man isn't alive anymore, poor guy. I am anxious to get a good start on The Last Policeman now, having read the first couple pages.
DeleteOOH yes.. I would continue reading. I can not believe it is July already.
ReplyDeleteSheila - I can't believe it either. June went by so fast! We're already half a year in.
DeleteThis book sounds like it might be a good read. I hope you enjoy it and enjoy the summer too!
ReplyDeletePat - I think so too! I can't wait to start it. I hope you enjoy your summer too.
DeleteI'd keep reading...I've heard very good things about this one.
ReplyDeleteMy Tuesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2014/07/first-chapter-first-paragraph-67-and.html
Catherine - I have too. It sounds like it will be a good trilogy. And I have to know if the asteroid hits earth!
DeleteIt sounds good, good and tense. Enjoy your book and thanks for stopping by. kelley—the road goes ever ever on
ReplyDeleteKelley - I think so too. It's just the book I am in the mood to read next, thank goodness.
DeleteI'm not sure this is for me, but I hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog today!
Sarah - So far I am. It's not exactly what I expected, but it's interesting.
DeleteThis sounds good.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it's sounds like July 4th is going to be a wash out for us, but we'll see.
Have a great week!
Yvonne - I'm sorry to hear it. Hopefully it will at least be a good day for you.
Delete10 hour shifts and finding family time - my respect, I know how hard it is!
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds intriguing and I would read on.
Peggy @ The Pegster Reads
Peggy - Thanks, Peggy.
DeleteI would have to read a bit more to decide. I think all our kids are coming over to swim, eat and go to the fireworks.
ReplyDeleteNise' - That sounds like fun! I hope you have a happy 4th of July.
DeleteI'd have to read a bit more to get context...
ReplyDeleteI'll watch for your response =)
Faith - I finished it this morning and actually quite liked it. Now to put my thoughts down on paper . . .
DeleteThat's quite a hook of an opener. I would read on.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get some family time this holiday weekend. Happy Independence Day in advance. And thanks for stopping by Love Bites and Silk
Maya - Thank you! I hope you have a Happy Independence Day too. :-)
DeleteThe insurance man? Really? The writing sounds terrific. Enjoy the fireworks. Here's Mine
ReplyDeletePaulita - I really liked it! And thanks!
DeleteAs you can imagine, I am determined that Gage know how to swim. We've been doing private lessons since last September. He loves it. Still isn't swimming on his own but he's coming along.
ReplyDeleteStacy - I am glad to hear Gage is doing well with his swimming, Stacy. We had Mouse in a parent/child swim class the year before last and she loved it. We didn't get to do swimming last year, unfortunately because the pool closed and the public pools at the time all had lessons during the week while I was at work. Fortunately, this summer, my boss has been nice enough to let me take a half hour lunch so I can leave half an hour early to take Mouse to swim lessons (I think the city rec department finally realized there are working parents who want their kids to learn to swim too). I had looked into private lessons, but they are just too expensive out here. I couldn't afford it. And not having access to a pool, other than the public pools, it was even more of a challenge. It's working out now though. Mouse is the youngest and smallest in her class, but she's holding her own. I'm really pleased with how well she's listening. Her favorite part is jumping off the diving board, although she's yet to do it on her own. :-)
DeleteI am planning on putting my kiddos all into swimming lessons after the baseball season ends as well. I am glad to hear that Mouse is enjoying it so much. My reading has slowed down as well thanks to summer but that is life. I hope that you and your family has a wonderful 4th of July weekend :)
ReplyDeleteSamantha - I hope they enjoy swimming! I wish sometimes we had a pool of our own. Maybe someday. I hope you have a wonderful 4th too!
DeleteSounds like you are busy over there. I can surely relate!
ReplyDeleteHow nice that Mouse is enjoying swimming lessons!
We stood home and BBQ'd for the 4th. It was a rainy day here, but the sun finally came out late in the afternoon hours.
The Last Policeman sounds interesting, enjoy it.
Happy weekend.
Naida - It's been crazy busy. I will be glad when everything calms down. I am beginning to understand what the summer frenzy is all about when you have a child. LOL That on top of work.
DeleteI am sorry you got rain on the 4th. It turned out to be a beautiful, but hot, day here. There was a parade that went right by my office Friday morning. I heard it but didn't get to see it.