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May Recap 2016

2016 05-10 Boston AFAnother month gone. I’ve been at my new job for about a month and a half and it feels like I’m still brand new, but also like I’ve been here forever. I’m, of course, still enjoying it and learning more each day about refugees and immigrants and about my own skills.

The other thing I’ve been trying to work on is exercising. I’ve been REALLY lazy over the last 12-18 months. I don’t know if it’s passing the two-year mark in my relationship (look at the pretty flowers at the end) or if it’s just me getting old and lazy, but I know I have to get better about it fast. So I’ve been trying to walk more in the mornings. That photo above was on a random street in South Boston and my friend Mal on Facebook summed it up perfectly: “Boston As F&ck.” (If you can’t tell it’s a Sam Adams tap.)

Aside from all of this we’ve been getting ready for China (very last-minute). We’re both starting to get excited, but with everything we did this month work and personal, it still doesn’t feel like it happens in less than a week.

Books & Bookish Things
This was another abysmal month when it came to reading. I finished two books:

  1. An Acceptable Time (Time Quintet #5) – Madeleine L’Engle
  2. Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight – Alexandra Fuller

2016 05-22 Book Group StruggleI surprisingly enjoyed both of them. The second one is for my friend’s book group and even though it was slow I liked it more in the end than I thought I would. We’re discussing it tomorrow and my post will go live sometime while I’m in China so you have something to read 🙂

I also made headway into Lyndsay Faye’s Jane Steele, which I’m enjoying more than I thought I would. The dilemma at the moment is what do I take with me to read on the really long flights I have coming up. I’m definitely taking at least one of the books on the Recent Acquisitions list below, but I also think I’ll read a few of my longform articles I have stored on Instapaper.

The one advantage of walking more is that I’ve been catching up on podcasts! These two are book related and were incredibly enjoyable. If you don’t listen to either 99% Invisible or The Allusionist I would recommend them.

Recent Acquisitions
I managed to pick up five books this month, including one unsolicited review copy I won’t be reading. Of those five four of them are ARC/Review copies that either I requested or sent to me. I’m really looking forward to The Madwoman Upstairs and Charlotte and Emily especially after making most of my way through Jane Steele.

Culture Corner
One of the reasons I’ve been so exhausted this month is that when I’m not working or stressing about work we’ve been doing so many other things including:

  • Revisiting the deCordova Sculpture Park
  • Going with Tim to see his first Ballet thanks to a friend giving us tickets (it was very modern and fascinating)
  • Seeing three movies! (No idea where my Love and Friendship ticket disappeared to)
  • Volunteering planting American Chestnut trees with my sister’s organization
  • Seeing Cirque du Soleil Kurios

Everything was wonderful and I wish I had time/energy to write about them all individually.

What’s Next?
China is next, obviously. There are a few books I really want to read about China, but I’m waiting to read them until after I come back because at least two of them are banned there. I’m hoping to get some reading done on my trip including some for work, but who knows what will happen. I also plan to re-visit Michael Scott’s The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series as I gave it to my friend Caroline in German and I want to be able to answer her questions when she asks them!

What are you excited about for June? Are you ready for the heat? I’m not.

2016 05-05 Happy Anniversary

8 thoughts on “May Recap 2016”

  1. It sounds like you had a very full and enjoyable month! I look forward to hearing what you have to say about Jane Steele, as I’ve been curious about it but I’ve read both very positive & quite negative reviews. And have a great time in China!

    1. Thanks! First reaction to JS is that it’s probably okay if Jane Eyre isn’t one of your favorite books. That being said I still have a whole volume to go. And thanks!

  2. I still haven’t made it to China, but I hope to get there in the next few years. Excited to hear how your trip goes!

  3. I also listen to those podcasts you mentioned here. Other podcasts that I like that you might enjoy are Hidden Brain, Radiolab, and the Memory Palace. And also Invisibilia. 😀

  4. I am so pleased to hear you’ve been enjoying Jane Steele (as I am excited to read it) and how exciting that your going to China, I hope you have a great time! In June I am looking forward to celebrating our Queen’s 90th birthday, a few small trips and the 10 Books of Summer challenge. As for being prepared for heat…living in the UK I am not holding my breath there will be any heat…:-D

    1. Oh the Queen’s birthday will be exciting I’m sure! And you never know about the heat, there were a few days when I was living over there that got hot.

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