Sunday, October 6, 2019

The Sunday Post [28]

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer! It's an opportunity to share news, post a recap for the previous week, showcase books, and highlight what's planned for the week ahead.

News: 

I'm sorry for the lack of posts this week! My last few reads have been DNFs, so those reviews will be on my DNF&Y post at the end of the month. However, I do review them on Goodreads and Amazon beforehand, so you can always check there if you're interested in what hasn't been working for me.

My son started at a new school two weeks ago, and he's really enjoying it. Instead of a 15-minute recess, it's 30-45 minutes depending on the day (sometimes they go outside twice), and they have gym every single day! My son is so much happier when I pick him up in the afternoons, and he always has something to share. It's such a relief to not be worrying about him and his education. He's being challenged mentally (the workload is a little more intense, but he's thriving), and he has an outlet for all of his energy. The only negative is that we have to leave earlier in the morning to get there on time (it's all the way across town), but it's totally worth it.

Soccer games have officially started, so that's what I'm doing 3-4 days a week. Our game was at 8 AM yesterday, so I'm dragging today. Mama needs a break! I have six kids on my team, and they're wonderful to work with. They actually listen when I ask them to do something, and they want to be there learning and playing. We haven't won any of our games, but we're also playing older kids since there aren't enough in our age group. I'm very proud of them and what they've accomplished, and they've scored each game so they're happy. My son actually made the goal yesterday and I was so proud! I almost forgot that I needed to be running down the field and getting them into position for the next play. I didn't think I would enjoy coaching, but it has been such a rewarding experience. 

Previous week on the blog:

Sunday: Nothing!
Monday: DNF&Y [21]
Thursday: Nothing! 
Friday: Nothing!
Saturday: Nothing!

What I'm currently reading:

An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes, #1) by Sabaa Tahir
How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse (The Thorne Chronicles, #1) by K. Eason

We're trying to finish the Transformers book before it's due back at the library (three more days, I think), but the kids keep falling asleep before I've finished a single chapter. On the one hand, I'm thrilled they're asleep so I can read my books, but on the other... they need to stay awake a little longer if we're going to get through this one. 

An Ember in the Ashes is a book I've been wanting to read for ages, but haven't had the time. When I realized my library had the audiobook, I jumped at the opportunity to listen to it (especially since Steve West is one of the narrators). It's been really great so far! I'm curious how the main character's stories will overlap.

How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Universe is what I'm starting today, so hopefully it's as good as it sounds!

I'm also trying to learn how to read tarot cards, because I think the concept is really interesting. I don't know how I feel about divine intervention or magical elements, but I do think the cards give you perspective. They challenge you to look at your life and where it's going, and maybe offer insight you wouldn't have considered on your own. 

However, I did do a reading for my mom (because you're supposed to practice a lot to familiarize yourself with the cards, also journaling), and she started crying after two cards. I'm still using books to help with interpretation, but it's also about intuition. How a reader chooses to connect the cards and their meanings. Apparently, my father is sick and she didn't know how to tell me, but he has stress tests later this week for his heart. Maybe the cards were just a way for her to communicate her fears to me, or just share the news in general, but I think they're a great tool for introspection. 

Kitchen Table Tarot: Pull Up a Chair, Shuffle the Cards, and Let's Talk Tarot by Melissa Cynova has been an invaluable resource. She speaks in a way that's relatable and not overwhelming. A lot of books tell you what the cards are, what they mean, and how they can be interpreted. Cynova gives examples from past readings she's done, and uses terminology that sticks in my brain. Like, how when water is present in a card, it represents emotion. The more water, the more emotion. If you're interested in tarot cards, I highly recommend this book. Rachel Hawkins actually suggested it on Twitter when we had a brief conversation about tarot (love her). 

What I plan on reading next:

The Best at It by Maulik Pancholy
Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle, #1) by Rosaria Munda
10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

What I'm watching:

I've started watching Friends from the very beginning! I don't think I've ever watched it all the way through. I still need to finish Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Supernatural

Challenge Updates: 

Discussion Challenge: 5 / 11-20
Goodreads Challenge: 329 / 500

Don't forget to enter my 2 Year Blogoversary Giveaway! There are only two days left!

42 comments:

  1. That's great that the new school is so much better. Glad to hear you really like coaching.

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    1. I would gladly let someone with more experience coach the team (I've never played soccer before), but I have enjoyed myself. :) I spent a few nights Googling how to play and also how to teach the game to small children. It's been fun, but I think I prefer cheering from the sidelines. <3

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  2. It's good when you find the right balance for a child so they can thrive. If you don't like the book, DNF is the answer. I'm lucky to get mostly books I really enjoy but lately I've had more trouble staying awake to read a bit at bedtime. I hope to listen to Ember in the Ashes sometimes soon (my library has it) and STEVE WEST!!! I love him and Fiona Hardingham. Maybe that should be my series for the month of November. Have a great week with some good reads!

    Anne - Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post   

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    1. His first school was incredibly frustrating, so I'm happy that we're both happy with the new one. He also has an incredible teacher that really works with her students. She challenges him to do his best, and to improve daily. She also understands that kids his age need to play! I always DNF a book when it's not working for me. Otherwise, I'm miserable. I cannot stay awake at night! I don't know what happened! As soon as the kids are asleep, my eyes refuse to stay open. STEVE WEST/SHANE EAST is AMAZING. I love his voice and narrations. Let me know if you decide to read it next month! :)

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  3. So glad to hear your son is doing great at his new school!

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    1. I know we're only going to be here for a few months, but I think enjoying school is really important at his age. I want him to look forward to learning new things, and be excited about education. His attitude about school now will impact how he feels about it in the future. <3

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  4. I'm glad your son finally found the right place! Now that sounds like a reasonable recess schedule at that age. I'm sending good vibes for your dad!

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    1. Thanks! I don't think it's anything too serious (my mom's a worrier), but he's getting checked out just in case. Apparently, he's been waking up at night with chest pains, and my mom's worried it has something to do with his heart. They ran some tests last week, but his stress test is this week. Hopefully everything is okay! He isn't too concerned about it, or he's not sharing if he is. I honestly think it's because one of their close friends recently passed away in his sleep, and they're struggling with that grief.

      Yay for awesome schools!

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  5. That’s the amount of recess every school should have. I get frustrated with these schools that think you can simply add more and more academic time and kids will learn more. No!

    I’m glad you are having fun coaching. It sounds like fun.

    I like the look of How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse.

    Have a great week!

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    1. Right?? Children need opportunities to get their energy out. Play is an essential part of learning. Cutting out gym, art, music, recess... that's doing more harm than good.

      Coaching is fun, but not something I want to do again, haha. ;)

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  6. I read Fireborne and enjoyed it and am looking forward to the second book.

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  7. I'm so glad your son is in a new school and loving it. Sounds SO much better! That's great you're coaching soccer and enjoying it. :)

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. It's a huge improvement! I'm happy that he's happy. :) As for soccer... it's rewarding, but likely not something I'll repeat in the future. There's so much work that goes into it, and time that most people don't realize. I have a group thread for parents, a group thread for coaches, and then a group thread that has coaches and administrators. Weather updates, cancellations, time changes... it's exhausting. Not to mention practices and games themselves, snacks...

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  8. That's wonderful that your son's new school gives them more playtime AND is still academically rigorous. Best of both worlds! My Oma used to do tarot readings. It drove my super Catholic grandfather up the wall, so, she would hide the cards and do it when he was out.

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    1. I have relatives that think it's witchcraft or the devil's work, so I just don't mention it around them. However, I don't try to hide the cards and books when they come over either. They've always told me I was "different" so this just adds to that, haha. I think it's great that your grandma was able to make it work with her husband! My husband thinks they're ridiculous, but harmless. ;)

      Yes! We are loving this new school. The classrooms are smaller (he's one of eight), so there's more one-on-one time with the teacher. She's able to structure her lessons so they benefit everyone. It's been fantastic. I'm really happy overall. <3

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  9. So glad the new school is working out! Sounds like a vast improvement over the other one. Lame on the DNFs. You’re due for a great read! I hope the tests for your father go well this week. I will be thinking good thoughts, my friend!

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    1. It's been a huge improvement! He went on his first field trip yesterday! Family members were encouraged to go, so the girls and I tagged along. There was a hay ride, train ride, spider climb, two different mazes, and so many other fun activities! They all went home with a little pumpkin. We had a blast. My son stayed with his class, and we just stayed nearby doing our own thing. :)

      Thank you for your good thoughts! We should have results next week.

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  10. Oh that's awesome news about the new school! I'm so glad you found something, that other place sounded like a mess! And woo hoo on the coaching- check you out haha! Got those kids running and playing- that's pretty neat. :)

    I'm sorry to hear about your dad, and sending lots of well wishes that everything turns out good.

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    1. Yay for schools that encourage play and physical exercise! The curriculum is also a little more rigorous, but he's enjoying himself. If he's happy, I'm happy. Coaching has been rewarding, but a huge headache. I had no idea what they went through in a single season! Keeping up with the players, their parents, the other coaches, and even the weather. It's exhausting. They seem to be enjoying themselves though. ;)

      Thanks! Fingers crossed it's nothing serious.

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  11. Finding the right school environment for your kids is so important!
    My grandmother read tarot for a while

    Wishing you a great reading week

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    1. Right?? I hate that most schools are cutting gym and recess from their schedules. Kids need both of those! They're essential to learning and physical well-being.

      Fun! Did she ever read for you?

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  12. So glad things are working out for your son at his new school and I always give kudos to parents who spend so much time with sports/activities/etc. I know there is so much running involved. I think tarot is fascinating but what I looked into, it always seemed kind of hard to learn. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks! We're both happy with the change. :) I have developed a new appreciation for parents that coach. It's very time-consuming! I don't think people realize how much work it takes to make a schedule that works for every player and their parents, haha. ;)

      Tarot is a lot of work, but I'm learning that repetition is key. The more I use the cards, the more familiar they are. The book I'm reading also mentions intuition a lot, and encourages journaling about a different card each day. When you look at it, what do you see? That really helped me notice little differences in the card that jogged my memory when they popped up.

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  13. Oh, I'm so pleased that your little guy is happy in his new school, Lindsi. I remember your post about the weird rules at his last school before you moved - shocking. He's happy now so he's already set up for oodles of success.

    Shame about all the DNF'd books you've had this week, hopefully next week's reads will be better.

    Little tip about Tarot; as with everything, the more practice and use them the better you'll get at reading. If the pack you're using isn't speaking to you or you're struggling to remember the meanings, change to a different pack. There are hundreds of designs out there and Tarot is an instinctive art, so you need to work with what feels right. I look forward to hearing how you get on.

    Hope you have a great week, Lindsi,
    Flora x

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    1. Thanks! He's really thriving at his new school. He looks forward to going every day, and always has something to share when I pick him up. :)

      I know, right? I always feel super down when I DNF a lot of books.

      I currently have three tarot decks! The one Maggie Stiefvater made for The Raven Cycle series, a Star Wars deck, and Llewellyn's Classic Tarot (which is what I use the most right now). I'm learning with Llewellyn's since it's based on the original deck, and there's a lot of symbolism behind the imagery. It's really fascinating when you read about tarot's history. I just need more people to practice on! Most everyone here thinks they're evil and whatnot.

      Thanks, Flora! If you ever want to talk tarot, DM me or send an email. <3

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  14. So happy to hear that the new school has been better for your son, yay! <3 <3
    I hope you'll love An Ember in the Ashes, I remember being so curious about how things would turn out while reading the first book... and quickly being addicted by it all, too, haha. I hope you'll love it :)
    Happy reading and have a wonderful week <3

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    1. Yay for schools that don't suck! ;) I'm really, really enjoying An Ember in the Ashes, but it's stressing me out! I'm so worried for both of the main characters, and I'm curious how the first book will end (I have about three hours left in the audio). The audio is amazing! There's so much that could happen, or go wrong... I think they only people they can trust are each other, but they don't know that!

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  15. I love Kitchen Table Tarot. It really helped me learn the cards!

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  16. I've been drawn to tarot cards for a long time, but I'm always a little unsure what to do with them. I've only ever done readings for myself.

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    1. If you haven't read Kitchen Table Tarot, I highly recommend it! There's a lot of good information there that's really helped me. I mostly do readings for myself, but occasionally my mother will ask for one if she's visiting. My father isn't a fan, and most everyone else thinks they're evil, haha. I just think the concept of tarot is so interesting! The history is fascinating, and I really want to learn how to use them more effectively. <3

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  17. How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. Happy reading!

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    1. There's a lot of technical jargon that I struggled with, but the overall story was interesting! A very unique concept. :)

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  18. Ooooh, tarot cards are so cool! I have always wanted to learn how to use/read them. Also, props for doing soccer stuff! I remember playing it as a kid and my dad was my coach, so it was the best experience. An Ember in the Ashes has always sounded good, yet I have never picked it up. I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

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    1. I've been wanting to learn for years, but I've finally gotten really serious about it. I wish I had more people to practice on. :) My son seems to be enjoying himself, but he's a pretty carefree kid. He's just happy to be playing! I've enjoyed the experience, but it's exhausting.

      An Ember is the Ashes has been SO GOOD. It's giving me anxiety and making me want to skip ahead. I NEED TO KNOW HOW THIS UNFOLDS. There are so many possibilities right now, and I don't know who to trust.

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  19. The new school sounds incredibly Linds, it sounds like they really invest in their students and challenging their minds while promoting healthy bodies, I'm so glad he's enjoying going to school! I've never been much of a soccer fan, I don't really understand the game and only really watch Aussie Rules footy, I love team sports in general though and played netball for years when I was younger. You'd be perfect for coaching roles for kids sports, you're so kind and wonderfully patient. I can imagine as the kids get older, you'll probably be coaching five of six different team sports!

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    1. Shh! Don't say that! I don't want to coach multiple teams, haha. I want to sit on the sidelines, cheer, and take a million pictures. Maybe I'll change my mind once the girls are older, but right now I have to ask someone to watch them at practices and games so they don't wander off and I can focus on the team. There's just a lot to balance right now. I've always been curious about netball... want to teach me how to play? ;)

      The new school is wonderful, and I'm so happy we made the change. It's not perfect, but definitely an improvement. :)

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  20. 10 Blind Dates looks really cute. let me know how it goes.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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  21. Hope this school is great for your son. It's terrible that recess and gym have been cut so much as a lot of kids really need that. I've been doing some tarot too - I'm still in the "looking up every card" phase but hoping my memory improves...

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    1. So far so good! Physical activities like gym and recess are crucial to a child's development. It's been proven again and again, so I don't know why schools keep cutting them like they're not important. It's frustrating.

      Haha! I still have to look up most of the cards as well, so we can continue learning together. :)

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“Stuff and nonsense. Nonsense and stuff and much of a muchness and nonsense all over again. We are all mad here, don't you know?”
― Marissa Meyer, Heartless