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:

• Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall
• Last Words by Rich Zahradnik
• From the Archives:Joanna Brady Series by J.A. Jance
• From the Archives: More J.A. Jance
• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
• Under a Silent Moon by Elizabeth Haynes

Posts of Interest This Week:

• Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/03/2015) (Including Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I Haven't Read From the Mystery/Crime Fiction and Fantasy Genres)
• Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/10/2015) (Including Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes to Romances in Books)
• Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/17/2015) (Including Ten Book Related Problems I Have)
• Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/24/2015) (Including Top Ten Books I'd Love to Read If I Had A Book Club)

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© 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.