Sunday, February 17, 2013

Fiona Sunday Life is Sucking Mash-Up

This was my week.  I kid you not.


I can't even begin to tell you what all went haywire and you wouldn't want to hear it, but pardon my absence.  I was so upset for several days that I couldn't read, couldn't think straight, didn't take any photos, didn't check email, couldn't write and had a Falling Skies streaming marathon.  Oh, that is bad, kidlets.  When Falling Skies is all your brain can handle, you are in dire straits.

Before my life began sucking mightily, I did manage to finish The Art Forger.  I didn't love it, but when I finally came to my senses after this week's fiascos (yes, plural), I picked up Life After Life by Kate Atkinson and I am totally going to tell you to buy, beg for or borrow that book.  I'm only 1/3 in but it's one of the most entertaining, sharply-written books I've read in quite a while.  There's always something to be grateful for, if you look hard enough.  

Meanwhile, since I didn't pick up the camera, apart from the one day I went outside with the goal of capturing a cardinal in motion (sort of a success), Fiona didn't get Friday'd, again.  I know you all desperately need your cat fix, so I'll share a photo I'm pretty sure I haven't put up on the blog:  Izzy in the bathtub.  


Also, there was this, which I call the "Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky, tippy, tippy, tippy, tippy-toe squirrel photo" because this little fellow was trying to get to the bird food without getting swooped upon and pecked by the dozen or so cardinals and finches that were having a party on our deck railing:


He did get dive-bombed at least once.

Actually, now that I'm flipping through the photo files, I'm finding all sorts of treasures.  We have only one bar stool because we there was only one at the Pottery Barn Outlet Store when we went looking, a couple months ago (and we haven't happened across its match-mate).  Eventually, someone may have to fork out the big bucks on a second stool. In the meantime, Fiona has claimed the one we've got:


Other wahoos:

  • A meteorite did not land on my head or blow out my windows.
  • I've done a reasonably good job of resisting offers for review books (only 1 arrived).  That helps to offset my horrible reading week, although I am well and truly behind on reviews . . . again.
  • Several used copies of personal accounts from WWII England arrived at our house, this week (titles forthcoming), and most of them are in terrific shape.  
  • I know Easter isn't about bunnies, but it's an excellent excuse to plunk a few bunny-shaped objects on your mantel. 
  • Brussels sprouts in cream sherry sauce.  O. M. G. 
  • It's already mid-February, but I haven't forgotten this little bit of Christmas fun:



Here's hoping the next week will be a great one, all around.  Feel free to share your wahoos with me.  I can use all the uppers I can get, right now.

©2013 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery  or its RSS feed, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

24 comments:

  1. I hope this week is better for you. Keep your chin up!

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    1. I hope so, too, Kathy. There is a lot of bad happening but I'll just hope it all leads to something good. Thanks! :)

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  2. I, too, am rejoicing that no meteroite landed on my head nor my house. We're grateful for the big things, Bookfool! Plus, could I just hold your kitties once? :)

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    1. It's always great when a meteorite doesn't hit you, isn't it, Bellezza? No earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes or (mostly likely, in reality) tornadoes hit us, either. Also, two bags of polyester fiberfill were enough to fix the sagging back cushions on our new sofa, so that's good. They were driving us both a little bonkers.

      I wish you could come down here to at least hang out with my kitties (and their chosen person). :)

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  3. Sorry you had a crappy week! Hope all is well now.

    My wahoo for the past few days is snowshoeing in the Colorado mountains under the most gorgeous blue sky ever!

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    1. All is not well, yet, Les. But, here's hoping it will improve. A vacation would go a long way toward helping me at least cope with the yuck, but I can't leave till things are sorted. I'm glad you've had a terrific time in Colorado!

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  4. I hope everything is OK. I'm afraid of this coming week. I'm sure it's nothing compared to your past week but I'll probably react like it is. Here's hoping this next week goes better for you. Hang in there.

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    1. I hope your week is a good one, Jenny. My week is just beyond explanation and it's all boring, but hopefully things will improve soon. Time will tell. :) Thanks!

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  5. Sounds like the week was a bummer for you. I hope all is well and better soon. That photo of Izzy in the tub is very striking- such beautiful green eyes. Reminds me of a photo I have of a stray cat I once fell in love with on a trip- my roomate even tried to convince me to smuggle it home on the plane!

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    1. It was a major bummer, Jeane. I have high hopes for improvement, but it's just going to take time before things are straightened out. Life can be complicated.

      Thanks! I love that photo of Izzy for just that reason -- it really makes her gorgeous eyes stand out to have her white fur on a white background. Aw, wish you could have smuggled the kitty home. I always want to take them all with me. I think if I was wealthy I'd open a cat sanctuary. There are way too many animals in need of a home.

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  6. Brussel Sprouts in cream sherry sauce?!?! Sign me up!!!! I'm so sorry you've had a crap week Nancy :( I sure hope the next one is better for you. Hope you haven't had migraines on top of everything else, but my hunch is you have, huh? I have to say that you did put such a smile on my face with your pics though :) Izzy in the tub is such a beautiful pic!!! And I LOVE that squirrel picture because....well I just love squirrels :p We have tons of them here too and I love sitting outside long enough that they don't notice you there anymore and start their shenanigans :p I hope this week is full of wonderful things!!! Oh and thanks for the heads up about the new Atkinson!!! I was actually really curious about it!

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    1. Chris, brussels sprouts in cream sherry sauce are so amazing it feels like a sin to eat them (so, I guess I'll just keep sinning). :) Thanks. Hopefully, this week will be an improvement and it'll all be better from there, but we have some things to work out. Yep, I had just one migraine day, but it was a doozy. I was pretty much medicated to the gills. Fortunately, it did work.

      Thanks! You would love to sit on our porch and watch the squirrels. We've got a nice covered porch, so if you sit for a while in the shade, eventually the birds and squirrels do start to ignore you (unless you wear red -- better to dress like a tree trunk, I've discovered). We've been buying some "premium" bird food with nuts in it at Big Lots and the squirrels just go mad for the peanuts. LOL They are definitely hilarious to watch.

      I'm still only 1/3 into the Atkinson, but loving it. It's very, very well done. I can't wait to discuss it at my book club, this week!

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  7. I am SO sorry for a yucky week.....need any help from Arizona?!?!?

    Totally true about not having a meteorite land on your head - in your yard - OR on your street. I guess we have to look on the bright side.

    My wahoos are small...my hubby had at least a phone interview for a job this week. (At this point I will rejoice over every interview!) AND the weather is spectacular!! Definitely wahoo worthy!

    Hang in there and let me know if at least prayers will help :)

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    1. Prayers would be helpful, Gaye. Otherwise, there's not much anyone can do. We have just got to deal with some unexpected issues.

      Yes, always good not to get hit by meteorites, isn't it? The world got a nice reminder of that, this week. It took a while for me to come up with some wahoos, but once you get going on looking for the positives they tend to pile up nicely. Very happy about that. There is plenty of good mixed in with all the awful. :)

      Oh, great news about your hubby! I hope he finds something wonderful. We're having off-and-on spectacular weather. At the moment, it feels a bit like the plains -- pretty gusty out there. I love a good stiff wind, since I grew up in Oklahoma. We're enjoying it. My hair, actually, is the only real casualty there. LOL

      Thanks!! Yes, please, do pray that things work out!

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  8. Was gettting worried about you. Hope things get better soon! I can't wait for my trip to San Fran the end of March. It's the only thing keeping me sane right now. Try and keep smiling!

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    1. I keep meaning to drop into BB to update, Paula! This was just such a spectacularly awful week that I didn't even bother with email. Hopefully, things will improve soon. I'm a little envious of your upcoming trip (but excited for you -- you definitely deserve the break!!) Now would be a great time to run away from home, hole up in a cabin on the beach and just forget the world for a month. :)

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    2. As soon as I find someone to pay for it that's where you, Susan and I will be.... :)

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    3. Yes, a rich benefactor would be very helpful. :)

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  9. Oh noes! I hope this week is MUCH MUCH MUCH improved over last. I have The Art Forger on my nightstand and I'm already lusting after Life After Life.

    Hugs, my friend!

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    1. Thanks, Andi. Hopefully, this week will be an improvement. Last week was just one disaster after another. I've had worse weeks, but it was just a black hole of a week. I'm glad it's over.

      The Art Forger just didn't do much for me, but I'm loving Life After Life. I hope you get your mitts on a copy soon. This week is F2F discussion and I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone else thought.

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  10. I so hope that this week is a steady improvement over the last!

    I still have a job (hanging on by the skin of my teeth.... have a relatively normal family (in comparision to hubby)...

    And had such a clear night last night that I could actually count my lucky stars!

    Hope you feel the same way too soon.

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    1. Thanks, Melissa!

      I'll pray you keep that job. We're having gorgeous weather. Need to get out and take pictures of the moon while it's in sight. Hopefully, it will be a lucky moon, like your stars, although there's only one to count. :)

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  11. Oh no! I hope this week is turning out better. I would like it if it stopped snowing, and raining, and being windy. Some sunny days would be nice!

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    1. So far, so good, Christina. Things will take time to sort out, but nothing bad has happened by Tuesday. I'm happy with that.

      I would love some of your snow, of course! We've been alternating between gorgeous sunny days and storms, though. The sunny days are amazing. Winter is my favorite season in Mississippi.

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