Here is a little week in review and a little of what I was reading, watching and doing this past week. You can follow some other updates on the Sunday Salon on Readerbuzz and The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
This week is a week of saying goodbye to the old and looking forward to new beginnings. My husband is leaving his job after 16 years there and has taken a new job about 40 minutes away. This is his last week at the old job. Eventually, we will move closer to his job since it is also closer to my parents who are growing older. I met my husband while we were both working in newspapers. My degree is in journalism and I spent 14 years working at small-town newspapers before walking away to stay home with my kid, first, and then kids later.
When I left newspapers, he was my boss and the editor of the daily (six days a week) paper we worked at and that’s where he’s been ever since. In two weeks he will become the editor of the small weekly paper where I got my start writing my high school news column. It’s also where I worked for nine months when I did the newspaper hop, bouncing between the two main county papers before going to work for a slightly larger paper in New York State where everyone hated me, and then back to the paper where my husband worked, staying there until I “retired” so to speak.
Speaking of people hating me . . .(well, maybe, and hopefully not, but possibly):
I didn’t mean to say goodbye to a friend this week but the writing has been on the wall for a while so when I was pushed to answer why I wasn’t fully answering texts I gave an answer. The answer wasn’t appreciated. The ending of the friendship won’t be too much of a change since we’d only seen each other once in eight months but it could create some awkward moments since our boys are still friends. In the last two years, I’ve become the queen of awkward moments so it won’t be anything new for me.
As for what I’m reading and watching this week:
The Hairy Bikers was on my watching list part of the week. They have a couple shows on Netflix but the kids and I enjoyed watching them learn about all things chicken on their show: The Hairy Biker’s Chicken & Egg. This series shows them traveling the world to learn more about how versatile the chicken really is – thanks to the many ways to cook its meat and its eggs. They showcase some recipes, introduce the viewers to some amazing chicken-based dishes, all while being slightly odd and hilarious. If you haven’t seen the show, they are two British bikers (motorcycle riding dudes) who are also chefs. So they are refined in their tastes and delightfully less refined in their personalities, which is a perfect combination for me.
According to their site, they’ll be debuting a show in the UK sometime later this year featuring their tour of Route 66 in the US. I’m not sure when, or if, that will debut here in the US but I’d be interested to see it.
On the book front, I’m finishing up the fifth Mitford book, which I talked about last week, and then I’m starting (or at least hoping to) the following books:
Quite an eclectic group of books but it’s a combination of books my brother suggested and my reading obsessed husband ordered me to – I mean suggested – I read.
I also finished a couple books this week:
And
The Green Ember is a young adult book about medieval, sentient, anamorphic rabbits avenging the loss of their past king, finding their future king and working toward a kingdom of peace. It sounds weird but it really was engaging. Wish me luck, I have to lead a middle school book discussion on it for our homeschooling group next week.
So how about all of you? Any new beginnings you’re starting? Any friendships you’ve ended (I hope not!)? What are you reading or watching these days? Let me know in the comments if you so desire.
Boondock Ramblings 
Good luck on the new job for hubs and possible move. I’d suggest the sort / throw beginning now. I didn’t keep up and now that we are moving this summer it’s a huge task. I want to read Cuckoo’s Calling, one of these days.
Here is my Sunday Post
LikeLike
Oh we have started it already!
LikeLike
Friendships with the parents of your kids friends can be tough to navigate, especially when the kids fall out.
I hope your husband settles well into his new job,
Have a great reading week, there is an old tv series based on the Herriot books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to watch the series with my mom on PBS. Luckily the kids are still getting along but the friend and I aren’t so we probably won’t be communicating about getting them together anytime soon… based on her last message to me.
LikeLike
I wish we were friends so I could probe for fuller answers about why you think everyone hated you at your job and how you ended your friendship with someone. I currently am taking a bible study and this week’s topic was on friendship and I realized that aside from my sisters and my husband, I really don’t have many good friends…my fault, of course. I hold everyone at arms length, apparently. So I am “working” on myself. Anyway. Happy May. Here is my My Sunday Salon
LikeLiked by 1 person
The friendship thing is a long story but essentially she only texted me, didn’t seem interested in meeting in person and was definitely not interested in any deep conversations. Well, that’s what it seemed like to me, but I’m sure she just had a lot going on in her life and we just weren’t communicating somehow. Hopefully it will work out someday.
LikeLike
It’s almost like a homecoming for you, isn’t it? If you are the queen of awkward moments, then I’m the king. I’ve tried Terry Pratchett, but to be honest, couldn’t get into. Kim likes them, though. Too far-fetched, which I know is the point, but still…just too much for me. New beginnings? A new reading and writing (typing) space. Reading? James Herriot…still…watching? Among other things, Corner Gas. Nope, Kim and I are still making our way slowly through it. Not because we don’t like it, but don’t want to gobble it all up either. I think we’re still in Season 4.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I actually missed a lot of the show between making dinner while the kids watched and other things so I’ve been going back to watch it too. I actually tried Prachett in the past and he was too weird for me too so we’ll see how it goes. Julia abs Joanne were huge fans of him.
LikeLike
They would be. Weirdos. 😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep! Very much 😜
LikeLike
I loved the James Herriot books so much. I read them long, long ago, but they have always stayed in my mind as refreshing, taking place in another time that seems like it was gentle. I also love Terry Pratchett, though I haven’t read that particular book. He is so clever.
We have just finished reading all the Great British Baking Show series, and I am sad because I don’t know what to watch next. I will look for Hairy Bikers.
I’m sorry about the loss of your friend. Relationships are tricky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are tricky – and a pain at times. We watched the British Baking Show too. There is another one on Netflix about families cooking in a competition and we enjoyed that one as well. When I say “we” I mean my kids and I. My husband usually works nights and looks bewildered at those types of shows. He likes travel food shows like Anthony Bourdain.
I used to watch the All Creatures Great and Small show on PBS when I was a kid. I didn’t even know they were based on books back then.
Pratchett is a bit weird for me but one of my friends when I was growing up was always a fan and my husband is as well.
LikeLike
I read All Creatures Great and Small when I was a teenager and loved it. I didn’t think I was going to at first because I am more of a Fantasy fan, but I really did enjoy it 🙂 The ending of friendships is really hard. Even if the other person wasn’t much of a friend, it still can hurt. Good for you for ending a friendship that doesn’t sound like it was give and take. This will give you more time and energy to focus on the people who do matter in your life! God Bless!
LikeLike
Is working in newspapers as interesting and exciting as it sounds?
Sorry about the end of a friendship. That can be hard.
As for me…READING: Mars Rooms; WATCHING: Killing Eve, Good Girls, The Act, and GOT, just got caught up on Ozark and am working on getting caught up on A Million Little Things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Working in newspapers is as interesting as it sounds but not always as exciting. While working for them, I covered three murder trials, which was probably the extent of the interesting and exciting for me and all my timid personality could handle.
I almost asked what GOT was. I know! Slap me! I don’t know why I’ve never watched the show but I should since my husband has enjoyed it and the books.
I’m so behind on watching things and all of those sound like great ones to try and get caught up on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Every day is a new adventure – here’s to new beginnings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry to hear about your friend. Girls can be so crazy. 😀 I just finished reading The Woman in the Window and it was the best psychological thriller I’ve ever read! I’m addicted to binge watching Mama June, From Not to Hot. Like I seriously feel like these people are my family right now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I havent heard of the book or the show but they both sound interesting!
LikeLiked by 1 person