Sunday News #25

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon are blog news memes hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer and Reader Buzz, respectively. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, and showcase books and other things.
Feeling

I’m feeling excited and frustrated. The excitement comes from closing on our place and finding a place to move. The frustration comes from the buyers needing to change timelines at the last minute so we’re now not moving until next weekend. I’ll get over it, though, because it gives us more time to pack and prepare.

Blogging

This week on the blog:

Reading

I finished reading both EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune and SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA by Becky Albertalli this week. I loved both of them so much. I’ll be posting reviews next week.

I also read THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW by CS Lewis and finished it last night. I have officially met my yearly goal upon finishing it! I can’t believe I’ve read so much already this year. I’ll start THE LAST BATTLE today and finish my reread of the Narniad in the next couple of days. It’s been a fun experience.

I’ll also pick WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens back up. (I’d put it on the back burner so I could read the three books I finished this week.)

Listening

I’ve been listening to some 80s songs this week. I love the music from the 80s, but I don’t listen to it very much unless the songs are covered by a more recent band, like Weezer and their Teal Album.

One of my favorite 80s songs is “Take on Me” by A-Ha. Even though the music video seems a bit cheesy forty years later, I still think the concept is cool.

I also really love Weezer’s cover of “Take on Me.” If you haven’t heard it, I highly recommend listening to it. I included the MV in this post for your viewing pleasure.

Watching

I watched the season finale of MASTERCHEF JUNIOR and I’m really happy with the winner. I think the top three kids absolutely deserved to be in the positions they were in.

I also got caught up on the current season of MASTERCHEF. I think I want Fred to win. I loved him in his original season and I love him still. I also can’t believe Alejandro did what he did in this last episode. View Spoiler »

We also started watching the new season of MOTHERLAND: FORT SALEM. We really like this show. The story’s interesting and the characters are great. This season seems like it’s going to be awesome.

Loving

I love that I came off the medication that I did. The withdrawal symptoms have pretty much disappeared AND I’m so much more clear-headed than I used to be.

Wanting

I want to move now. The buyers are being so annoying, even though we have a lease to stay in our property until next Saturday. They’ve been so hard to work with, changing dates and asking for extensions. And, now that we’ve closed, it’s like they don’t want to hold up their end of the bargain. Sorry. I’ll just be glad when this is all over.

Needing

I need to start packing the rest of our stuff. Because of the changing dates and extensions, Corey and I haven’t really been able to make plans. Because of that, we didn’t want to start packing since we need a lot of our stuff until we actually move. Now that everything’s settled, other than dealing with the buyers, we can actually make hard plans. Wish us luck.

How was your week? Anything exciting happen?

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Sunday News #24

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon are blog news memes hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer and Reader Buzz, respectively. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, and showcase books and other things.
Feeling

I’m feeling so much better. I still have lingering fatigue from COVID and, every now and then, I still cough or have some body aches. It’s so much better and more bearable than it has been, though.

Corey and his dad are also doing a lot better too. His dad still has some lingering congestion. We recommended he take some guaifenesin to help clear his mucus. Hopefully that will help. Corey also feels the fatigue, but he says it’s getting better.

I’m also starting to come out of the brain fog and headache I had from coming off my medication. I’m feeling much more clear-headed, which is one of the best feelings in the world.

Blogging

This week on the blog:

I celebrated my 15th blogoversary on Thursday. I also have a giveaway going with my blogoversary. It’s for a book of your choice (up to a $15 value). If you want to enter the giveaway, check out my post for instructions.

Reading

I read less than I wanted to this week because of all the craziness happening with selling our place. I did start reading SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA by Becky Albertalli, but I haven’t made much headway. From what I’ve read so far, I’m really loving the book, though.

Listening

This week, I listened to “Mad World” by Gary Jules. Even though it’s such a sad song, I love to listen to it when I need something calming.

Watching

Corey and I rewatched MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT. We’re both big fans of the MI series and we wanted something actiony.

We also tried to watch EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, but Corey’s eyes give him trouble and he couldn’t read the subtitles. He has neurological issues with his eyes so it’s not anything corrective lenses would fix. I’ll watch the movie by myself sometime because it’s looks really good.

We also finished watching OBI-WAN KENOBI. We really enjoyed the series, thought it was really well done. I know it was only billed as a limited series, but I hope they do a season 2, especially since Ewan McGregor has expressed interest.

Loving

I love my therapist so much! He’s writing me a letter that says my cats are emotional support animals. No matter where we move, we can’t be turned away because of our cats. (My therapist’s only writing this letter because my cats ARE emotional support animals. We’re not trying to scam the system.)

Wanting

I want to show off my nails. I got a mani-pedi this week. I decided to do rainbow nails for Pride. I love how they turned out. (You can see my sad, empty shelves in the background. I’m really looking forward to getting my library back in order when we move.)

Needing

I need to know where we’re going to move. We have a few places picked out, but we can’t finalize any of our plans until we close. It’s so stressful and I hope it all works out. We currently have four days until we close and six days if you don’t count today until we move.

How was your week? Anything exciting happen?

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Sunday News #23

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon are blog news memes hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer and Reader Buzz, respectively. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, and showcase books and other things.
Feeling

Corey, his dad, and I are all finally feeling well enough to be considered “over” COVID. We each have some lingering symptoms, though. Corey and his dad still have the cough, and I still have a headache and some brain fog. Corey and I also have the fatigue everyone talks about.

My brain fog and headache may or may not be COVID related. Just before I got COVID, I started weaning myself off one of my medications (with my doctor’s help, of course). I’ve suffered cognitive decline in the last few years because of this medication and I miss the ability to memorize without effort. Coming off this medication, even though I’m doing it slowly, is causing some not so fun withdrawal symptoms (other than the headache and brain fog). Hopefully, they won’t last too long.

Blogging

This week on the blog:

Reading

I finally read and finished a book this week. I read THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig and it was the most profound reading experience I’ve ever had. I’m going to start SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA by Becky Albertalli today if I can actually concentrate on reading.

Listening

This week, I’ve had “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger stuck in my head. I have no idea why, but the chorus just keeps in my head over and over. I’ve tried listening to other music to get this song out of my head to no avail.

Watching

Corey and I watched THE CARD COUNTER on HBO Max. It was a lot different than either of us expected. It was really boring and a little bit weird. I wish we decided not to finish it, but Corey enjoyed it up until the end. I thought Oscar Isaac did a great job in the role. It’s not surprising, though, because he’s an amazing actor.

Loving

I love not being sick anymore.

Wanting

I want to sell our place without any major difficulties. I’m still a little anxious something’s going to screw up the deal.

On Friday, the appraiser came and, as far as we know, that went well. We also had the inspection yesterday. There are a few minor things that need to be fixed. We’re going to negotiate allowances so the buyers can fix these things when they take possession of our place. Hopefully, both of us will be happy.

We currently have 11 days until we close and 13 days until we move. I hope it all goes smoothly.

Needing

I need my brain to clear. Right now, I can’t concentrate on much. It took several sittings to write this post. I’m afraid I’m not going to get caught up in my class from being sick last week because of this medication withdrawal.

How was your week? Anything exciting happen?

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Sunday News #22

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon are blog news memes hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer and Reader Buzz, respectively. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, and showcase books and other things.
Feeling

Well … after two and a half years of extreme carefulness, two vaccines, and a booster, I finally got COVID this week. As you can imagine, I’m not feeling all that good right now. Although, I am feeling marginally better than I was.

Corey and I went to his parents’ last Sunday for his mom’s birthday. Everyone was in good health, or at least we all thought we were. About 30 minutes before left for home, his dad started complaining about his throat feeling weird. That might tip people off that he was coming down with something, but Corey’s dad has throat issues. He actually had his uvula removed a while ago because his throat kept closing. (They know it’s partially due to allergies, but they’re not sure exactly what the cause is.) Because of this, we were just worried about his airway. But, I digress…

On Tuesday late morning, Corey got a text letting him know his dad tested positive for COVID. I took an at-home test right away and my first test was negative. I was falsely excited because I didn’t think I was going to get sick. … Fast forward a few hours and my throat, just like my father-in-law’s, started feeling scratchy and I knew my test lied to me.

By Wednesday evening, I was feeling achy, I was coughing, my throat was sore because of the coughing and the scratchiness from earlier, and I was over-heating. In the wee hours of the morning on Thursday, I woke up with a fever, which peaked at 103° F (39.4° C). During my high fever hours, I also had the chills with body shakes. I couldn’t get warm, not even with a heating blanket. At that point, I took another at-home test just to make sure. The positive line showed up so quickly and so darkly; there was no question.

Thursday has been the worst so far. At first, I felt like I had a really bad flu. As the day went on, more and more symptoms showed up:

  • Over-heating with sweating (replaced the chills with body shakes)
  • Headache
  • Hoarse voice from coughing
  • Runny nose
  • Sinus congestion
  • Weird taste issues (a couple of things didn’t taste like they should)
  • Ears ringing
  • Snoughing (sneezing and coughing)
  • Various gastrointestinal symptoms
  • Extreme fatigue

Each day since Thursday has been slightly easier. (Although on Friday night, I did start feeling nauseated and my gastrointestinal symptoms worsened for about 12 hours.) As of writing this post on Saturday evening, I’m still feeling pretty lousy. I do see a glimmer of hope, though, which is more than I can say I felt a couple of days ago.

Corey also has COVID, which he got from me. We isolated from each other as much as possible; he’s just been such an awesome caregiver that he finally succumbed. Fortunately, his symptoms are milder than mine have been. He’s sneezy and congested. He also has a cough and gastrointestinal symptoms that are more severe than mine are. Hopefully, his symptoms don’t get any worse.

Blogging

This week on the blog:

Reading

I didn’t read much this week considering. As I’ve stated in past posts, I have a hard time reading when I’m sick, especially when I feel as awful as I have this week. I just can’t concentrate on what I’m reading. Hopefully once I’m over COVID, my reading will jump back up to pre-May stats.

Listening

I didn’t really listen to any music this week, except for the music in the TV shows and and movies I’ve been watching while I’ve been sick. I’ve also been playing a lot of Animal Crossing (ACNH) this week. A. Lot. I mean like 20 hours. (Ever since the pandemic started it’s been my go-to when I’ve been sick or anxious because I don’t really have to think.) In honor of all the ACNH I’ve been playing, here’s my favorite song from the game, “Stale Cupcakes.”

Watching

Corey and I watched the first episode of MS. MARVEL and we both loved it. We love the style. It reminds us of SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE because of all the comic and drawing asides. I’m really excited to see where this story goes since I know nothing about Ms. Marvel.

I also started the new season of MASTERCHEF. This season’s going to be exciting because they’re bringing back all the all-stars from past seasons. I was really excited to see that some of the contestants actually had a chance to go to culinary school before this season.

We also watched one of our favorite movies that we have seen for years. DICK, the 1999 comedy with Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams about the mysterious identity of Deep Throat. This was before his true identity was revealed, anyway. It’s such a fun movie. It’s on Hulu if you’re interested in watching it.

Loving

I love Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray. Without it, I wouldn’t have survived the past few nights. It clears my sinuses long enough that I can lay down and sleep for five or so hours. (I’m not as clogged up when I’m sitting upright, but I can’t sleep very well without laying down in my bed.)

Wanting

I want to feel better now, LOL. Yes, of course it’s because I feel lousy and I want to know what it’s like to feel well again. It’s also because I don’t want to get too far behind in my class. As some of you know, I got really sick last semester and got behind in this class and now I’m taking it again. I want to avoid taking it a third time if I can.

Needing

I also need both Corey and me to be COVID free by this coming Thursday because we’re under contract (), our closing date is set for June 30, and there’s a lot to do between now and then. I don’t want COVID to cause the deal to fall through.

How was your week? Anything exciting happen?

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Sunday News #21

Sunday Post and Sunday Salon are blog news memes hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer and Reader Buzz, respectively. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, and showcase books and other things.
Feeling

I came out as queer to my friends and family on Wednesday. Before then only a small group of people knew. Even though I’ve been planning to come out during Pride Month for a while now, I’ve been scared about it because most of my family and friends are conservative and I wasn’t sure how they’d react. So far, the response has been amazing and I’ve felt loved and accepted.

Blogging

This week on the blog:

Reading

I did make a little bit of headway with WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens this week, but I didn’t finish it like I wanted to because I’ve been really busy with school. Hopefully, I can spend more time reading this week.

Listening

In honor of my coming out, I’m sharing Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” She’s one of my favorite musicians and I love this song.

Watching

Corey and I are still watching and loving OBI-WAN KENOBI and STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS. We also watched the first episode of the new season of THE ORVILLE. It was really powerful and we’re both so glad to have it back on the air.

I also saw both DOWNTON ABBEY: THE NEW ERA and TOP GUN: MAVERICK in the theater with some friends. I enjoyed both movie, but Top Gun was basically A New Hope with F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and SU-57s instead of X-Wings and TIE Fighters. At one point, one of the characters even says, “Stay on target.”

Loving

I love Instagram ads. I’m definitely their target audience. Thanks to an ad, I found the solution to a problem I’ve been thinking about for the last year.

As some of my readers know, I deal with mental illness and I’ve tried to hurt myself because of it. I’ve been wanting to get a semicolon tattoo on my right hand, specifically between the first and second knuckle of my middle finger, as a reminder that “my story isn’t other yet.” (This has to do with the semicolon project.) I know nothing about tattoos, and according to my research, there’s a lot of debate about getting them on your hands. In fact, some tattoo artists won’t even do them there because they disappear after awhile.

Anyway, last week, I saw this ad for Zox. They make affirmation bracelets. They have a bunch of designs and one of them is purplish-pink () with semicolons and the word “continue” written on it. For $12, I bought one, it was delivered yesterday, and I love it.

Wanting

I wanted to share my latest computer programming project. We’re learning Python and we learned how to use turtle graphics this past week. Turtle graphics is a pre-installed module that allows programmers to create pictures and shapes by using different commands. My assignment was to create a landscape or picture with at least three “atomic” shapes, meaning something that can be broken down into simple shapes, like a square, rectangle, etc. Here’s what I programmed:

It took me about seven hours to do. I love it, though, and I feel really accomplished.

Needing

I need more sleep. I haven’t been sleeping very well. I’ve been going to bed around my usual time, which is midnight. I’m just not falling asleep until 3 or 4am and I’m getting up four or five hours later.

How was your week? Anything exciting happen?

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