Books, Life, & Everything Else (4)

1. | Well, I missed this post last week. My blogging is not off to the start for the year that I had hoped. But, really, last week was just a bust in all areas. I didn't even do my bullet journal last week. Last week is just lost in time.

2. | It is #ComicsFebruary and I am off to a great start. So far I have read Morning Glories - Volume 10 (such a weird series) and Black Science - Volume 1 (been curious about this series for a while, but didn't love it enough I can see me reading on). I am excited to make February about comics.

3. | Speaking of comics, I wasn't going to get the Image Humble Bundle, but then I remembered that February is #ComicsFebruary and got the bundle. Black Science is from it, so hopefully I can work my way through it in a timely manner. (The current bundle is Tank Girl. I would love to get that one, but thankfully they have made it easier to resist because it is not collected volumes of the series, just single issues.)

4. | So far February is off to a good start reading wise in general. I have read 3 books. January just didn't go well, so I am hoping February I can settle in with some of those books that I wanted to read last year and never got to. I know that graphic novels and audiobooks is still considered reading, but I just want to concentrate on some of the longer works on my shelves.

5. | The problem with my getting over my reading slump is that I want to read everything. lol On audio, I finally got a copy of Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop, so I am on book 4 in that series! Book 5 will be out in March, so all ready plan to spend a credit on it. Then, I am over 100 pages into The Last Days of Magic by Mark L. Tompkins. I got the e-copy from the library after trying it on audio last year and not clicking with it. I am enjoying reading it much more. (For the record, it was not the narrator, just the jumping around story and too many characters to keep straight.) Then, I have about 5 other books with bookmarks in them. They are mostly left over from January's slump.

6. | I went to read Black Science last night and my app that I read my e-books on was gone off my e-reader. I guess it has a new name, but not sure if they deleted it because of the new name, or when I was cleaning off my tablet to make room for a software update I was a little too thorough. I found it under its new name this morning and it is back on there and ready for me to use it again. Hopefully everything else is the same on it!

7. | Chloe continues to grow like a bad weed. She is still not a really cuddly cat, but she is a shadow cat. If I come downstairs, she comes downstairs kind of thing. She will follow Finn around a bit and deviate from that, but mostly she is always near where I am. She is sleeping on my desk while I write this post!

8. | I should mention that there was a possible Casey sighing last week, but upon receiving some pictures, it wasn't her. It has been since October so I am not really optimistic, but keep hoping she is in a house somewhere and they let her out and she comes back. She would be good for Chloe. Finn has some really annoying habits that Chloe has picked up on. (For the record, I was really tempted to take in the Casey look-alike. The people that found her said she was really friendly and she's a cat, so less likely she will be adopted. But, well, we all ready have two cats and Chloe still needs to get spayed and they were pretty sure this cat did, too. Just not in the budget at the moment.)

Saturday Snapshot - Take 12

Always be my favourite..

Saturday Snapshot - Take 11

Christmas Casey - 2013

Bookish (And Not so Bookish) Thoughts

Casey, 2011

1. | Casey's birthday was in June, but we got her in December of 2011 so this was her adoption month. It's unfortunate that I didn't have Instagram or my camera when we first got her, so there are not as many pictures of her as a kitten as of Mackie, Finn, and now Chloe as they grow. Casey was my main subject for years, though, so there are no shortage of pictures of her!

2. | Chloe will not stay out of the Christmas tree. She has been forced out of it about 10 times today. Finn keeps running away like he is the one in trouble. No, Finn, Chloe. You are just sitting there watching her act a fool. Smart me for getting a kitten before Christmas. I am reconsidering that thought process. lol

3. | I am starting to plan for 2017 in the sense that I need to make more of an effort to cycle through my physical TBR and my e-book one. And, I need to read books I actually own, so I suspended my Scribd account and may just cancel it if this plan works out. I was going to suspend Audible, too, but I like using my credits every month even though I have a backlog. This year it has been a good way to read 2016 releases I wouldn't have read otherwise. And, I can think of three 2017 books that I plan to listen to on audio. So, I will keep it for now.

4. | I hate wrapping Christmas presents. Does anyone want to come do this for me? I have a rule that we cannot buy weirdly shaped objects... when that gets broken, bags for the win! I would use bags for everything, but that gets expensive.

5. | I got one of my Christmas presents early. I had to retire my Keurig and really didn't like the new ones, so I am back to a regular coffee maker. The test run was this morning and I used too much coffee. Learning curve! It's really nice. My main issue with regular coffee makers is the cheaply made pots. We even tried a metal one once and the handle fell off and I had to duct tape it on... This one seems sturdy compared to all my others, so fingers crossed it lasts.

6. | I have decided that I need new glasses and today is a glasses browsing day. I hate glasses shopping because I cannot see without my glasses. I thought my current ones looked good on me until I could actually see. I personally hate them, but my main pair got a big scratch on the lens and had to be retired. I used to love getting new glasses, but I am so blind without them that it is more of a form of torture at this point. Wish me luck!

7. | We got our first snowfall overnight. I really don't think it is that much snow, but they cancelled school. Times have sure changed when it comes to that. It was really pretty this morning, but melting now.

WWW Wednesday - On Thursday (10)

This is the very first picture I ever took of Casey almost exactly 5 years ago because we got her in December of 2011. She was a cuddler and lap cat right from the start!

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

~ I am having a quiet reading month and kind of expected it. I started The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye earlier this week and I am really liking it so far. I just haven't really been sitting down to read... Maybe before the week is out I will get to settle in and finish it!

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY LISTENING TO?

~ All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. This is one of the 2016 books I really wanted to read, so I grabbed an audio and now sneaking it in before 2016 ends. It is really quite good so far, but I am still early in only having started it yesterday.

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

~ Since my last post for this, I have finished two audiobooks. Who am I? lol The first was Where'd You Go, Bernadette and was a really fun listen that I have been meaning to get to for ages. The other was Free the Darkness by Kel Kade. For some reason I loved this book and just flew through it. I am hesitant to recommend it after reading other reviews of it simply because I understand why people didn't like it. But, I did and I am excited for the sequel, which I also grabbed a copy of and hope to get to soon. Then, I just read comics. I really enjoyed Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat on Marvel Unlimited. I look forward to more in that series. And then I checked out Volume 2 of Sunstone. That is so not my normal genre at all, but I don't mind them and have Volume 3 here to read soon.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WILL READ NEXT?

~ When I downloaded All the Birds in the Sky onto my iPod, I also downloaded Mort(e). So, that is likely what is up next. It only wasn't up now because I got that as part of a sale, while I used a credit for All the Birds in the Sky. Actual reading is looking like comics unless my mood changes!

Countdown to Christmas & #AMONTHOFFAVES2016

These Are A Few of My Favourite Things

My fur balls. 2016 was rough in that I lost Casey and have pretty much accepted that she is not coming back. It still doesn't feel real. But, she will never be forgotten and Chloe has fit in nicely. If Casey does ever come back, I know they will get along fine.

Audiobooks. 2016 has become the year of the audiobook for me. Going on the treadmill has really improved my ankle and listening to audiobooks at the same time played a big part in it. I am hoping 2017 will be just as great! A quick flip through my read books this year shows I have listened to 33 audios. That is a good number for me and only started part way into the year.

E-Book Sales. Thanks to 1-day e-book sales, I was able to read books that I would not normally have had the chance to this year because hardcovers are way more expensive now than they used to be. So, instead of waiting for the paperback, I was able to grab a cheap e-book copy instead. (Or, listen to the audio.)

Planners. I did a bullet journal and then added in a Happy Planner. I am kind of finding it hard to keep up with the Happy Planner lately, life has been busy, but I have kept my Bullet Journal up all year except a couple days. It just took me a bit to figure out my method.

Litsy & Instagram. I love taking pictures and now I have two apps to do it with!

These are just a few of my favourite things... What are yours?

When do you begin listening to Christmas music or watching Christmas movies?

While I will listen to Christmas music here and there during November, I only officially start listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas movies on December 1st. After seeing how bad I am at movie watching, I am hoping to get to some older Christmas classics this year. Any suggestions? I should also check out some new music... I listen to the same stuff every year! 

Bookish (And Not so Bookish) Thoughts

1. | It's been a month of no Casey. I last saw her October 17th, she went out that night, and we never saw her again. I really miss her. She had a great personality, I took a million pictures of her over the years, and even now that we have Chloe... The house just isn't the same without her. Every time I let Mackie out and every time we come home from being out, I hope she will be waiting at the door. She just would not stay in. I feel a lot of guilt about this.

The last picture. October 17th, 2016

2. | Chloe is great, though. I never planned to have a kitten because I thought Finn and Casey would be around for years, and two cats seemed like enough. So, as much as I am enjoying having Chloe around, it is all bittersweet.

3. | Finn is not only warming up to Chloe, but he seems friendlier in general. He rubs up against the dog and stuff. He still only tolerates me because I feed him and change his litter box. But, he has been playing with the kitten and he could use a little bit of weight loss... (Okay, more than a little bit...)

4. | Casey would love Chloe. I am still hoping they will get to meet. We will be in trouble when it comes to food, though. Finn has absolutely no interest in human meals, but Casey always did. She is worse than the dog. Chloe didn't seem too interested at first, but she is now. And she is still little and can climb up the sides of chairs and stuff. We feed our animals, I promise. Both Casey and Finn are chubby. (It is not me that gives them treats for the record.)

5. | Amazon gave me Prime free for a month. This is the 3rd time that has happened, but it is the first time I am considering keeping it. We use Amazon a lot because there are not many stores near here and they bumped up the limit for free shipping to 35 from 25. It would be nice to just order without having to worry. I have a month to decide.

6. | My reading is still just all over the place. I have so many good books to read, but I skip around and can't seem to settle. I have been listening to the same audiobook forever! I think the fact that I have had a cold that will not go away, added to other things happening, is to blame. I had higher hopes for 2016 than what has came to pass.

7. | On the plus side, I read with Mackie and Chloe. So, I got my wish of another cuddly kitten. Finn hovers, but he finds the cuddling thing all overwhelming. The kitten really wants to be friends with Finn, so she is determined and Finn just wants her to go away a lot of the time.

8. | I have way too many books and audio books that I want to get to soon. I clearly need to read faster... This is the slowest I have been going with audio books since I started listening to them again. Hopefully I can get back into a groove!

Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts

1. | I can't believe we have a kitten. I had no plans to get one any time soon and it actually has been a while since we had one. Casey was about 5 months old when we got her, but this kitten was only 10 weeks old. And then Finn we got as a cat, so bit of a change! She is definitely active!

2. | There have been a couple reports of grey cats in the area, but none of them have turned out to be Casey. The other night I could hear coyotes really close. That is very unusual, but has made me feel even sadder about everything. Now I am nervous just letting Mackie out after they were that close the other night. And, no more outdoor cats in this house! (Not that I ever wanted there to be in the first place...)

3. | This week has seemed so long and I am behind on everything. Colds really throw off your week. Add in everything else that happened this week and I am glad the week is almost over. Hopefully next week will be better!

4. | I read the new Gotham Academy graphic novel yesterday. Yay, actually reading something! It was good, but not my favourite in the series. It is nice to finish something the same week you receive it. That definitely doesn't happen that much anymore!

5. | I think this is the most I have blogged since like 2009. Will it keep up? Probably not... But, it has been fun being part of the blogging community again.

6. | If I could have one luxury, it would be a maid. I am so sick and tired of my house always being a disaster. No one picks up after themselves. I feel like I pick up the same things over and over again everyday. I am pretty sure that I do. And now we are back to two cats, both of who are very enthusiastic litter users. I took everything out of there on Wednesday and vacuumed and mopped. You would never know it now.

7. | I am just having one of those weeks where I am not sure where the hours are going. I am not reading. I am hardly using Instagram. I have hardly been using Litsy. I haven't been listening to my audiobook. I am hardly using my planners. Even though I am pretty sure I have cleaned this week, you would never know it. Maybe next week will feel more organised.

8. | I got the David's Tea Advent Calendar this year. I wasn't going to, but Memory did and I have always wanted to do it. There is enough tea for two cups per day, I believe, so I am hoping it will be a couples thing and maybe a new tradition. I am excited to try!

9. | Chloe really wants Finn to like her. She follows him around. Mackie wants everyone to like him and doesn't understand why the kitten keeps growling at him. Last night when I went upstairs, both cats were asleep on the spare bed near to each other. Then, Mackie joined in. I am glad they are starting to get along, but it was also a bittersweet moment that made me wish Casey was there, too. The moment was ruined when the kitten started playing with the dogs tail. lol

10. | Today is Remembrance Day, so make sure to appreciate the sacrifices of men and women that have done so much for us and fought for the freedom we enjoy today. I feel like the election this week shows that we have forgotten history in many forms, but that is just my opinion.

Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts

1. | Over two weeks of no Casey. Still seems pretty bizarre. I was making a ham sandwich in the kitchen the other day and I am so used to a cat under my feet wailing. And then I would give her a little piece. We have done that for years and it was so weird to not have a 'helper'. Mackie was there, too, but he is younger and always been part of a group. Casey was alone for a few years, so we have lots of traditions.

2. | I have been looking at kittens. It is probably too soon, and part of me feels guilty about it, but we do not want to replace Casey. We need another cat because Finn all alone just doesn't work. He is not cuddly or all that friendly. I need a cuddly cat. This has derailed my project to convince the other human I needed another dog... The kitten project is going better than the dog project anyway. Just, no one answers emails. Do you want to re-home these animals or not?

3. | I bought a new bookcase! I am ridiculously happy about this fact because it is has probably been 5 years since I have bought a new one. It sits on the landing and helped me finish off my organising from earlier this year. It holds some beloved series/authors and the random books I got for my birthday. I am sure that will change with time, but I think it looks good.

4. | I have been thinking a lot about Canada as a whole lately between the scary political situation in the US and the fact that I am reading The Promise of Canada. It covers 150 years of Canadian history in preparation for Canada's 150th birthday in July. We have treated people terribly over the years. But, I think we are doing better. What has me thinking is I really like this book, but I have yet to see it on any of the best of lists all ready out. And, I am left thinking is it because others do not consider it to be that great or because it is about Canada and most lists are American. There was a whole chapter on Margaret Atwood and how hard it can be to be a Canadian writer. Still early days and I definitely haven't seen all the lists. Just a thought.

5. | I have a cold, so my reading has been kind of slow. I am left choosing between nap and try to feel better or read. Hopefully the cold passes soon!

6. | I think I have bought more e-books in 2016 than I have ever. It is hard to pass up a book you were planning to get when it is like 2 dollars and the hardcover edition is like 30. I still forget about my e-books when I have shiny books on my physical shelves catching my eye. I think I have a project for 2017.

Wordless Wednesday - Take 7

She will always be my girl. 

Casey

June, 2011 - October, 2016?

Still hoping she will reappear...

Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts

1. | Another post a week later with no Casey. I called all the vets and shelters and nothing. I keep getting told that cats wander all the time, and my cats when I was a kid did, but this is the first time Casey has ever been gone for more than a few hours and I am losing hope.

2. | Still struggling with reading. I know that reading should be an escape from everything else, but I have always had a really hard time reading when I am stressed out. I just cannot turn my mind off and always feel like I should be doing something else.

3. | My Q&A a Day Journal arrived yesterday! I looked at starting it yesterday, but maybe I will wait and start it November 1st. Or, maybe I should have waited and got it in the New Year. Or, maybe I should stop overthinking things and just start it today. I hope I can keep it up. I only got it because I have been keeping up my Bullet Journal and other projects, so I figured I was safe. I still do my day by day journal that I started in 2012 and always enjoy looking back on what I did on this day in previous years.

4. | I had a lot of fun during the Readathon co-hosting the Instagram account. People take such great photos and there were lots of furry companions. I enjoyed visiting everyone and all ready volunteered for next year. Hope to see people then!

5. | My grandmother's house is on the market. A bit of a sad situation because it is closing off an aspect of my childhood, but it will be much better to have her closer to my mother and in an environment that if she falls again there is help close by. Not that we want her to fall again, but I know that she is really paranoid it will happen again.

6. | I am still continuing my 'pick random audios from Scribd' project. I started off really well, but the latest one I just could not find time to listen to it and I felt like I read it forever. I am ready to pick a new one, though! Just have to decide what I want to go with... I am still adjusting to listening at regular speed. When I do Audible audios, I speed them up or I find that I lose interest.

7. | I am going to document right here that I started my project to listen to the Vorksogian series by Lois McMaster Bujold having started Falling Free. I will be curious if a year from now I will be done the series, or if it will by my typical take forever project that never gets completed... We will see!

8. | This post isn't as depressing as last weeks. I still probably should take a blogging break and try to get my head together after everything that has happened this month, but I just got back into a groove with blogging and I would be worried I wouldn't be able to get it back... What I really need is a fun project to take my mind off all the stress. (I am not going to lie, at least two times while writing this post I thought I heard a cat cry. I am losing my mind!)

Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts is hosted at Bookishly Boisterous.

Wordless Wednesday - Take 6

As I get this ready, on Tuesday, we still have not found Casey. I went to the vets and stuff in the area on Monday and nothing. At this point I imagine she is either locked inside somewhere or another animal hurt her. I have always been more of a dog person than a cat, but I love my cats. And, Casey is probably my favourite cat of all the ones I have ever owned. So, here are some Casey pictures over the last few months.

Last Picture of her just before she went out on Monday.

Wordless Wednesday is hosted here.

Bookish (And Not so Bookish) Thoughts

1. | As I write this, Thursday night, we still have not found Casey. I hope I edit this post tomorrow (or today as you are reading this) and say she came home. I feel so sick about it all. I have checked outside so many times, I am getting nothing else done. I am just worried because she could still come back, but there is the possibility that she won't. I am trying to stay positive, but it's hard. Over the last 5 years or so, Casey has been my one constant. I love Mackie and Finn, too, but we got Casey first. It is not a good feeling to open the door and her still not be there...

2. | So, the readathon is this weekend. I won't be reading for it officially, but I have been posting at the Instagram account and plan to over the weekend as well! I look forward to seeing what everyone reads and visiting some blogs! It is such a huge event now. I know I have said this before, but the first couple readathons I visited every blog participating and usually more than once. Now I find it overwhelming! Hope everyone has lots of fun!

3. | I got an insane amount of books in the mail on Wednesday. It was crazy. I think the mail gods decided that I needed a pick me up when Casey still wasn't back and the worrying got worse... Only one parcel said it was out for delivery and some of the books were not supposed to be here until November. I am not complaining, but you need to space orders out or other humans start noticing. lol And, I guess my whole mood is making reading even harder right now. (Not going to lie, I teared up when I wrote the first paragraph...)

4. | I think I mentioned on a previous post, or somewhere on my blog, that my grandmother had fallen? Well, things are better there. She honestly could not maintain a house alone anymore and she was 2 and a half hours from my mother. After some thought, she is moving to an apartment closer to my mother. It is another bittersweet thing, really. My dad's parents passed away like 15 years ago and my mom's mom is really the only grandparent I got a good chunk of time with. I think my October has had enough bad things happen in it and it is not over yet...

5. | Finn is missing Casey, too. He camps out by the door most of the day. He hated when she went outside before, but he has never wanted to go out himself. When I look for Casey I have Mackie and Finn standing on the doorstep with me. I feel really bad for him. He adored Casey and I doubt he knows what is happening. I wonder when he will get to a point that he stops waiting for her? We always call Casey the Queen because Mackie and Finn definitely know that she is the boss. I am a bad owner lately. Two days now I have forgot to feed Finn and Mackie supper because Casey wasn't here to tell me it was time. You just get used to something and then get thrown off when it is not there.

6. | I am struggling with reading. I haven't been listening to my audios or reading anything the last couple days. I am too distracted. I am starting to think my lofty post of audios I wanted to read next, that I posted on Tuesday, was crazy because I have been listening to the same two audios for like 2 weeks now. I need to get my head back in the game. I have been stressed in general and this whole cat thing is not helping. But, on Tuesday my house was clean and I got a bunch of reading done. I had high hopes that day for the rest of the week.

7. | I am starting to think I should take a blogging break because my posts are boring and depressing lately...