Reading Update and Another Surgery in October

I saw the thoracic surgeon last week and she’s all for me having the surgery to remove the tumor on my right lung. Said it’s small (8mm) and in an easy spot to remove (yay?). I still have to pass the pulmonary test (in Sep), but since I don’t have COPD or any breathing problems, I was assured I’d pass it.

So… I’m having surgery (#3 for the year) on October 11. Should only spend one night in the hospital, too. Will this be the end of my surgeries? I sure hope so!

Trying to make appointments for the surgery and for the procedures needed prior to the surgery has been interesting. We’re gone for most of September and don’t get back home until Oct 5. I was able to make the pulmonary appointment for Sep 9, just barely squeezing it between two trips. But I’m glad I was able to wait until October for the surgery. Now I can go see my mom!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 23

Dates read: July 29 – August 8, 2022
Title: Knight Awakening
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Genre: Apocalyptic romantic suspense
Series: Scorpius Syndrome #6
# of Pages: 330
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from the book: The world has changed. Any rules that might’ve been in place before the Scorpius bacterium ripped through civilization and decreased its population are no longer in place. Obsession and survival are the new reality. So, Marcus Knight, after a hellish time in captivity that stole most of his memory and all of his soul, has one focus, and that’s keeping Dr. Penelope Kim safe in the aftermath. She risked her life to save him once, and she’s all that matters. For months, he’s kept his distance, protecting her from afar, because he knows that one touch—one sigh—one kiss—from her will never be enough.
    Penny Kim is one of the few doctors still living, and she alone holds the key to ensuring the human race continues. Several of her friends are pregnant, and the clock is ticking down on their survival. Her days are filled with experiments and hope, while her nights are consumed with visions and dreams of the hard-bodied and powerful soldier who’s made her safety his one and only mission. She should be wary of him; she should be terrified of him. Yet all she feels is an unreal craving for his touch that gets stronger every day. Life is short, and she’s unwilling to wait, unaware of the danger already hunting them both. Some risks are worth it, even in this new and dangerous world.
My thoughts: Enjoyed this one better than the last. And it’s the last in the series, which is very clear. I liked how it wrapped up.

I’m still walking every morning I can and noticed that my pace has increased in speed, despite the hot and humid mornings. I’m thinking that clip is really doing the job! Or maybe it’s the beta blockers. Who knows? I just know I’ve been able to push it and not feel like I’m dying out there. And the weather hasn’t been all that comfortable. Cooler weather is in the forecast (with less humidity), but I doubt I’m here to enjoy it. We leave for NJ on Friday for a family reunion on Saturday. Lots of driving and very little walking. But I enjoy the trip and seeing my cousins. I try to go every year (or at least every year they hold it).

So… do you attend family reunions? If so, do you have to travel far for them?  

Happy Reading!

Stacy

I Can't Believe I Ate...Well, You Know

This is what I did on Saturday...

And all the food was gooooood.

Now I get to work it allllll off.

Have a good Monday!

Stacy

On the Road Again

I love traveling. The driving kind, that is. And today I’m headed (along with my hubby) to NJ to attend a family reunion. This is a fun reunion and one I didn’t go to last year because, well, there wasn’t one. That’s because there was a wedding (which, unfortunately, I couldn’t attend), so it’s been awhile since I’ve seen these people.

Now, they probably all think I don’t have fun at these things. But they’d be wrong. Just because I usually plant my butt in one spot and only talk with whoever sits near me, only means I’m not a social butterfly. I have a hard time flittering and fluttering.

But I am getting better. Conventions have helped a lot. Maybe it will be different this time.

Of course, I said that the last time about taking pictures and then didn’t take any. Me bad!!

Anyway, if I don’t comment right away, you’ll at least know why. And no, I don’t plan on commenting from my iPhone. I’m sure I’ll screw something up. Heck, I still don’t have access to my voice mail on that thing. You’d think the sales rep would have TOLD me what the password was before I walked out of the store, but NOOOOO.

I noticed on Goodreads that I’m two books behind schedule. Yikes! Ahhh, but I have these two long drives ahead of me, where I should at least get ONE book finished. Still have to work on Blind Temptation, too. Not sure I’ll do it in the car though. Why is it I get car sick when I try to work on the computer but NOT when I’m reading a book? Is it all mental? Yeah, I know. I’m mental!

I did set a goal for myself, though: to finish my revisions by August 16. That averages out to a little over 5 pages a day. Since I tend to ADD words to my WIP, I have to make sure to average 6-7 a day, and so far I’ve been doing that. Of course, I haven’t tried this on a weekend yet. We’ll see how I do, since I most likely will not be doing ANY revising on Saturday (the day of the reunion). Ah heck, who am I kidding? I’ll be lucky to get any pages revised on Friday and Sunday, too! Might need to bump up that number, huh? Because I WILL finish by August 16. I will, I will, I will!

So… What’s your favorite food at a reunion? I love my potato salad and my deviled eggs, but they don’t travel well so I’m not bringing them. I’m sure I’ll find something yummy to eat, though. There will definitely be plenty of food to choose from!

Have a great weekend!

Stacy

 

Reading!

One thing I like about long drives – the part I'm not actually driving, that is – is that I can now read. There was a time when that would cause motion sickness quicker than anything, and it was discouraging. But something happened as I got older, I guess, because I can now read in a moving vehicle. My husband was impressed, because he had the same problem. He, too, can now read in a moving car. So, either something is different about the cars, or our stomachs became stronger as we got older. Hmmm…

With all that time to read, I got three books finished this past weekend. Before you think that's an awesome amount, I was close to the end of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" and half-way through with "Shadow Kissed". So I wasn't too surprised I finished them on Friday. I started "The Lady is a Vamp" on Saturday (between breakfast and the reunion) and finished it up on the drive home on Sunday. That was unexpected. I still had an hour left of our drive, too. Next time I guess I need to bring a fourth!

It was great reading, too. I decided to take a weekend break from writing and not worry about it (which I feel I can do now that I'm home during the week and can write).  So, how were the books? I was glad to finish P&P&Z because it was a tougher read. Sure, it had zombies (and more humorous parts), but it was still "Pride and Prejudice" with the old-fashioned writing. And while I kind of liked the story, it was hard to understand.

"Shadow Kissed" is the third book of the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. When I finished that book, I had wished I had brought Book #4. I am so thankful the series is complete (and I don't have to wait for the next one – my daughter owns them all). I might be a little perturbed, otherwise. I really hate cliff hangers. But I do love this series.

I zipped through Lynsay Sands' book ("The Lady is a Vamp") not only because I want to start Book #4 of the VA series, but because I loved the story. It pulled me in at the beginning and held my interest. But then, all of her books seem to do that to me. I'm thoroughly entertained when I read them, and that's all that matters, right?

Besides all the reading, I did have fun at the family reunion. Made a point of moving around and talking to more than one cousin (usually I sit in one spot and don't move – yeah, I'm strange). They all know I write and all wished me luck in getting published. I have a feeling the day I become published, I can get a lot of sales just by announcing it to my cousins (one was already joking about getting my autograph – even though he gets my autograph on every Christmas card/letter I send!).

So, have you read any good books lately?

On the Road Today

I will be attending a family reunion in NJ on Saturday, which means I'm on the road today (with my husband, of course). I always try to make it to this reunion. Since I grew up on the other side of the country, I didn't know the cousins on my father's side of the family (he moved from NJ to CA when he was 22 – 10 years to the date before I was born). Now I know them better than the cousins on my mother's side!

* * *

Not that I'm surprised, but the Olympics has nearly halted my writing. Since I'm home all day, I can watch more of the games (some events I wouldn't normally watch, too) and I have been. Ah, but it's only for a couple of weeks. I think my writing will survive. And it hasn't stopped completely.

Of course, a lot of my lack of writing is probably due to my lack of sleep. I'm up until after midnight watching the games and then I get up at 6:15 to exercise. I'm looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday!

* * *

I heard some discouraging news – from my husband, no less. He was telling me about a new hire at his employer's. Apparently no head hunter would help her find a job because she was unemployed.

I haven't applied to any head hunter, but I have applied to employment agencies. I thought for sure I'd hear back from them (especially since they've helped me in the past). But I haven't heard ONE word from all the resumes I've sent out. I don't mention I'm not employed, but it sure feels like everyone knows!

I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever have another accounting job again. Now whether that's a good thing or a bad thing…only time will tell. J

I hope you have a good weekend. I certainly will!