Monday Check In

No post this week. I will be back with a new post next Monday, 1/4. 

Instead I'm leaving you with a wish for a safe, happy, and healthy 2021.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I didn't do anything writing related last week. Even though we aren't having anyone come for Christmas, I am still doing holiday baking and wrapping gifts. I've decided to take the rest of the year off from writing and start fresh on Monday, January 4th.

Motivational Quote:  I saw this on Pinterest - "Don't be busy, be productive." I feel like right now all I am is busy and not seeming to get much crossed off my To Do list.

What I'm Reading: I started reading Disorderly Conduct by Rebecca Zanetti last night. I like her Deep Ops series so I thought I'd give this Ebook a try. 

Random Things: Christmas doesn't really seem very festive this year. While we are baking and bought gifts (thank goodness for online shopping) and wrapping them, we aren't having anyone come to celebrate the holiday. Covid-19 cases are increasing daily in our area and with an elderly mother living with me, we didn't want to take any unnecessary risks. Instead we've made arrangements with the people we normally buy gifts for to have me go to their homes the weekend after Christmas, ring the doorbell (while wearing a mask of course) and leave the gifts and their cookie platter on the porch. I'll wait by my car to make sure someone opens the door and takes the gifts inside before moving on to the next family. 

Random Photo:

Mrs. Green likes that there will be no presents under the Christmas tree this year. It's her new favorite place to take a nap or watch the comings and goings of her humans.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I didn't work on any writing this week. I used the time to finish making my holiday cards because I wanted to get them in the mail this weekend.

Motivational Quote:  "Throughout your life you will have to set your own priorities, make your own decisions. They won't always be the best or brightest ones, but that's how you learn." ~ Meredith Vieira

What I'm Reading:  I started reading Brighter Than The Sun by Maya Banks on Friday. This is the eleventh book in the KGI series.  

Random Things: This is the first year that I've done all of my holiday gift shopping online with the exception of 2 gift cards for local businesses. I really liked the convenience of it. I may continue to do the bulk of my holiday gift shopping online in the future.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I only managed to write 5 pages last week. I started telecommuting for my day job this week due to the overwhelming rise in Covid-19 cases in my area. I ended up working longer hours than I do when I'm actually in the office. I'm going to start setting a timer so that I can keep better track of time so that I don't end up starting a project that can't be stopped in the middle of when it's quitting time. 

Motivational Quote: "It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can." ~ Sidney Smith   I know I'm repeating this quote for the 3rd week in a row, but after how little writing I accomplished last week, I feel like it's very apropos. 

What I'm Reading: I'm reading Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean. It's the 3rd book in the Bareknuckle Bastards series. I loved the first book in the series and liked the second book as well, but I'm really struggling with this last one. I'm finding myself looking for something, anything, else to read instead of picking Daring and the Duke up. 

Random Things:  I should have started making my holiday cards at least a week or so ago, but I've been procrastinating. I couldn't decide what designs I wanted to use so that may have been part of reason while I've been putting it off. I finally decided this last weekend to make just 2 separate designs instead of multiple designs this year. Now to actually make them.

Monday Check in

Last week...

Writing Related: I did not get as much writing done as I had hoped last week. We only had 2 people over for Thanksgiving dinner instead of our usual 12 to 15 people, but the prep work took more time than I expected. 

Motivational Quote: "It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can." ~ Sidney Smith     I'm repeating the motivational quote from last week. I think it should be my new mantra.

What I'm Reading: I'm about half way through Paradise Cove by Jenny Holiday. It's the second book in the Matchmaker Bay series. I loved the first book in the series, Mermaid Inn. I'm kind of not liking Paradise Cove as much, but I can't really put my finger on why.

Random Things:  My uncle set up a Zoom meeting on Thanksgiving evening with my mom and all of her siblings. Most of her siblings live down south. With the pandemic and travel restrictions, no one has been able to (or willing to) travel. It was nice for my mom to be able to visit with her brother and sisters without anyone putting themselves or others at risk.

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I didn't get quite as much accomplished as I have the last two weeks. I have Friday off for the Thanksgiving holiday so I hope to spend most of that day writing.

Motivational Quote: "It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can." ~ Sidney Smith

What I'm Reading: I started reading Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe by Jodi Thomas Saturday night. This is the first book I've read by this author. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet even though I'm about 90 pages into the story. The story is told from about 4 characters' point of view (POV) with each chapter in a different POV. 

Random Things: My mom and I started our holiday shopping yesterday. Like most people, we are going to try to do the majority of our shopping online this year. I'm not sure how I feel about not going to stores yet. It's nice not having to deal with crowds and trying to find a parking space, but it also seems to take away a bit of the holiday spirit to shop on a store's website.