New Orleans Mourning

One of my goals in 2022 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

The first in the Skip Langdon series by Julie Smith, New Orleans Mourning, indroduces the lead character.

Skip Langdon might be from a wealthy esteemed white family in New Orleans high society, but she’s worked hard to distence herself from that past and set her self apart. At first rebellious without direction, joining the NOLA PD changed all that. She started at the bottom and is making her own way and her own name. True, she’s still only a beat cop but she’s ready to prove she can solve a high profile murder that happens on her rounds. But it’s going to mean going back to the roots she’s been trying hard to leave behind.

I read the third in this series and I was excited to see how Skip got her start. I picked the books up initially by they were set in New Orleans and I’m always looking to be transported there. These books are some of the baest for that, in my opinion. More than any other books I’ve read, they feel like New Orleans. The descriptions and vibe, makes me happy and nostalgic for a town I love. They are an older series, this book was written in 1990, so there are some outdated notions, ideas and language. And things like interracial marriages, white washing, or colorism, might stull shock Skip. But the lead character feels like she could be a real denizen of Nola, too. Especially bc the city has a history of pioneering (mostly black) women, especially in the police force. Another way in which these books feel a little ahead of their time, or at least not behind it, is the take on queer characters. So there’s an interesting mix here of a little outdated and a little progressive. I don’t know if Julie Smith intended these themes to be prevalent or picked up on. I’m not sure if colorism, queerness, interacial marriage, and womanly bodies, female friendship, found families, and the general relationships between the various groups depicted were intended to start conversations here but they definitely could. On the other hand, these books can be read as fun, 90s, cop mysteries. I like that the series can do both and I intend to keep reading to find out what happens to Skip along the way!! I recommend the Skip Langdon series to those who like strong females leads, especially if you enjoy a bigger bodied heroine, readers who want to read books set in New Orleans, and people who like cop dramas and cop mysteries.

What is your favorite city for a book to be set in?

This book can be seen in my July Wrap Up.

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

One of my goals in 2022 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I never imagined that The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid could have lived up to the hype, but it totally did!!

The famous, infamous, sought after Evelyn Hugo, star of screen and stage, fashion icon, volatile starlet idol, has been out of the spot light for many years. She rarely does appearances, she barely ever does interviews. So when Monique, an unheard of and often overlooked small time reported is given the task to interview her, Monique is surprised, delighted, and confused. What could be the real reason she was requested by the illustrious actress?

Man, ever since joining booktube I’d been hearing about this book and how much everyone looooves it. This isn’t the book that put Taylor Jenkins Reid on the booktube map, but it is the book that cemented her there as a goddess of the community. I’d seen other works of hers in little free libraries but never picked them up. I figured she could not possibly live up to the hype. Why I ended up grabbing this one, I’m not sure. When I read it, I was definitely surprised. I really really enjoyed it!! It made me tear up! It was complex, sweet, cold, interesting and well written. In this book, I feel that Reid has a way of grounding the reader in her reality and making them believe in the characters and be alive in her world. She spins enough reality, a splash of envy, treads of wish and wanting , and a dash of magic and wonder into a web that her reader easily falls into. Don’t misunderstand me, this book is a contemporary, not magical realism. The “magic” here comes from our own love of glamour, romance and misfortunes. This is a classic Hollywood tale with all the sequins and dazzle, hiding the pain and dishevelmant behind the scenes. It feels like a real story about a real actress. There’s a little bit of a mystery in this book, a very nice love story, some tragedy, and a lot of husbands. Unlike many of the contemporary books I read in 2021, this one didn’t feel too modern. It wasn’t trying to hard to have snappy dialog or “hip” characters. It felt how actual people might talk or interact or react. It was well balanced. It was fast paced and compellled the reader. Although it has multiple perspectives, both were interesting and I wasn’t rushing to get back to the one I preferred. The two voices were distinct. I would highly recommend this book to people who want to try a booktube darling, those wondering what all the hype about modern contemporary books is, readers who like fast paced and well balanced stories, readers who like Hollywood based stories or those who like a little romance in a book.

Have you read this book? Did it live up to the hype for you?

This book can be seen in my July Wrap Up.

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Death at High Tide

One of my goals in 2022 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

My husband spotted this one and I was glad to get a cozy mystery based in the Jersey Shore area where we live. Death at High Tide is the 2rd book in the Jersey Shore Mystery Series by Beth Sherman.

Anne Hartaway has lived in Oceanside Heights her whole life. It’s convenient that her latest ghost writing job is currently in her town! Anne is not thrilled to be writing a celebrity memoir/self help book, but she is happy that she can do so from her ocean facing front porch. The actress she’s writing for is a total divva, super difficult, but Anne wouldn’t wish her dead! Unfortunately, that’s what happens and Anne decides she must find out what happened.

Anne stays on in her small town partly out of honor and duty, but I’m sure getting to solve mysteries is part of the reason she stays! Although she’s an easy going, mild mannered ghost writer, she sure does attract murders and trouble! I like that these cozy mysteries are fun and straightforward arcitypes of their genre with a jersey shore twist. I love that they are set in a fictional version of Ocean Grove NJ, where I have long visited and where I now live next door, in neighboring Asbury Park. Since these books are written and take place in the 90s, it’s fun to see some of the iconic landmarks and areas mentioned. And to see who things have changed over the years. It’s also interesting to see the area thru a cozy mystery lense, how things are described when they need to fit in with a cozy mystery plot. I really love to read books about places I know, visit often, or love. It’s fun to really understand where the books are set or how the events could have come to pass. The history of Ocean Grove and Asbury Park are very rich, so it’s surprising in many ways that there aren’t more books set here. This is a very silly but fun mystery series, pretty unbelievable but very readable. I would recommend this book to those who want to try writing cozy mysteries, this is a book that makes you feel like anyone can. I would also recommend this to people who like mysteries set near the ocean, readers who live in the area, and those who like summer mysteries.

What is you favorite geographical location for a book to be set?

This book can be seen in my July Wrap Up.

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March in Review

And here we go on to March.

But since these photos are still from Feb, let’s recap that: Birthdays, snow, sun, reading, and family get togethers. Some beach, some cats, and lots of work, but time for relaxing, too.

In March: More beach, more work, getting healthier, eating well.

Does everyone know I have a booktube? It’s something I’ve become very passionate about. I find it and interesting and new form of creativity and expression. I talk there all about books. But also zero waste and sustainability, and other things. It has over shadowed this space a little. I struggle with the whether there should be a lot of overlap between my channel and my blog. I’m inclined to say yes, with subtle variation and uniqueness between the two. But what do you think?

It does not feel like spring yet. Does March every? Will April swing us into Spring?

February in Review

When was February? Years ago now? It was a full month and a great month from what I recall!

I’ve gotten quite behind, in many respects. March saw a semi unexpected full break from the blog. But if you want to know a bit of what I was up to, you can always check out my Booktube Channel.

I’m also behind in posting my 365 photo project over on insta! I’m still taking the photos, but posting them slowly. We’re still IN Feb over there, if you want the nostalgia. I used to always post my favorite insta pics for my month in review. Now, they are the previous month. These photos are from Jan 2022. If you know me, you know change and change of routine is often a struggle for me. That may explain my recent absence from this space.

But here we are getting back on track; for March wrap ups, for continuing the year!

How did you February go, how has March went, where will April lead?

Convenience Store Woman

One of my goals in 2022 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

Another brilliant and unexpected LFL find, I really really enjoyed Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata!

Keiko works in a convenience store, she has for the last 18 years. She’s good at her job, she does it well and she enjoys the benefits she receives: doing a good job, providing a service, good customer interaction, training fellow employees, making the store presentable. She is happy in her routine. But outside pressures, from her family and friends, are threatening her routine and pleasant existence. Why doesn’t she want a better job, a husband, a change?

I really connected with this book. I love to work in the service industry and find the jobs I do rewarding, fulfilling and important. I love to have a happy customer and a clean store. It is a valid and chosen career. I loved that the main character in CSW felt the same and it was heartbreaking to see her confused and unsettled by “well meaning” friends and family. Although this book doesn’t outright say that she is neurodivergent, it’s pretty clear that she is. I think we are not straight out told by this book is completely from her perspective and since she hasn’t been diagnosed in that manner and since she knows no other way to be, it doesn’t occur to her that people might see her state of being as being afflicted. I really enjoyed that, bc that’s true! We say nuerodivergant, but if that is the way a person’s brain works, that’s the way it works. Just because it is not statistically “normal”, doesn’t mean there is something wrong with that person. It was an interesting look and commentary on that fact. And on the idea that social norms don’t work for everyone. Not everyone needs a significant other to a “real” job to be happy and whole. It was interesting to see this contrasted with a rigid socially structured culture like in Japan. This is a story of someone who knows them selves well and fights to keep their identity. I would highly recommend this for people looking for stories about outisiders or characters who strike their own path, readers interested in stories where nuerodivergence plays a role, and anyone who has even been told a job they enjoy doesn’t matter.

Have you read this story? What were the major themes that you picked up on?

This book can be seen in my July 2021 Wrap Up.

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The Water Cure

One of my goals in 2022 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I put The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh in my video about 20 Books I Heard About in 2020 and Want to Read in 2021, and was so happy to find it in a Little Free Library a few months later!!

Three sisters live on an island with only their mother and father for company. They are put through rigorous tests and exercises, taught to be always vigilant against the outside world and especially the dangerous and afflicted males of the world. When three men wash up on the shore, their world is turned upside down.

Phew, this was an unsettling one. In tone, structure, and subject matter, this book was unconventional, strange and often off putting. We are kept in the dark about many things and at the same time shown seems in graphic detail. The book is told in multiple perspectives including a conbined perspective or conciousness which takes some getting used to. I don’t usually like multi perspectives, but this really warmed for me, in part by the reader is kept off kilter in many aspects, but also bc the perspectives do not alternate each chapter. Sections are devoted to all parties, often several chapters at a time, or for whole sections. There is a lot of grief and violence, unease and manipulation in this book, but I still felt for each main character in their own way. There are some anticipatory elements to this book, which usually I really dislike, but bc the entire book made me feel off kilter, these were just another aspect of the overall discomfort of this book. All that being said, I really liked this one, and look forward to reading more of Mackentosh’s work. This could have felt like a Young Adult Novel, by all the main characters are in their teens or early twenties, but luckily, it did not go that route. It is a novel for adult readers and there are many adults themes and trigger warnings. If you do not want to read about child abuse, spousal abuse, cheating, grooming, infant death, or bodily harm or horror, this might not be the book for you. I would recommend this book to those who like plague books, dystopian stories, isolated woman tales and readers who like weird books.

Sophie Mackentoch has a new book out this year, Blue Ticket, I look forwarding to reading that when I find it. If you like a book, will you move tight to the next of the authors work, or do you file the info away?

This book can be seen in my July Wrap Up.

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Mad Cat Garden | Jan 2022

Our 2021 garden was pretty awesome. It was expanded from previous years and we grew new and interesting things. It lasted well into the fall with gourds and flowers. But unfortunately I didn’t really chronicle much of last year. I want to make sure to change that in 2022. Starting in January, there’s not too much going on right now. The most exciting thing was the recent snow storm.

We actually had two storms in Jan. The first one was light and fluffy snow with almost no wind and it stuck to every branch. The next snow was wet and heavy and several feet deep.

I was pretty worried about our favorite herbs in the front beds during the second storm. But they seem to have come out unharmed. Except perhaps the curry. I was shocked it was still alive anyway. Do any of my readers have any experience with curry plants? I’d love some advice.

Did you have snow or other extreme weather in your area for the first month of the year?

I look forward to a whole new year in the garden!

84, Charing Cross Road

One of my goals in 2022 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

A contender for my favorite nonfiction, and possibly book of 2021, 84 Charing Cross Road is not at all what I expected. More of a memoir told in letters, and Helene Hanff’s love letter to book lovers.

*this book did end up being my favorite of the year!! See that video here.

Finding the used books surrounding her upper west side apartment lacking, Helene Hanff turns to writing to a renowned book seller she has heard about at 84 Charing Cross Road, London, England. A play write, screen writer, and scholar, her book taste are extensive and specific. She finds a match to her love of books and a friend with the attendants on the other end of her letters.

This collection of letters, spanning more than 30 years, become more than just requests for specific used books, and Helene becomes a friend and patron of the workers at 84 Charing Cross Road. Her unorthodox manner and style, practically unheard of at the time, endears not only the main book seller, but many of the other employees, some writing to her in secret. Through many letters, the reader learns her personality, as they must have on the recieveing end of her requests. As we learn more about her life, and generosity, so too do we learn about the individuals and family, friends and neighbors of the Charing Cross road book shop. Helene goes out of her way to care for her new friends, sending care packages and letters to spouses. Although the letters can be sporacdic, partly bc Helene was not terribly organized, and partly be she originally didn’t intend to keep them, one comes to love both sides of this unusual exchange and becomes invested in the lives and well being of all these seemingly disparate people. I particularly love the ideas and implications of community, family and shared love for people who may never meet. The times when letters go unanswered or months or year pass with no letter at all seem intolerable and deeply sad. But then a letter or a book will arrive and we are once again among friends. Some of the original authors of letters disappear, and we have no way of contacting them or finding out their further stories and it is heartbreaking. The relationships built in the slim volume will stick with me for a long time, and I have thought about this book so often since first reading it. I would highly recommend this book to all readers, partly bc it is a love letter to readers and books, partly bc it’s a delightful and easy read for fiction and nonfiction lovers, and partly bc it is a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of caring for our fellow human. I would entreat all to read this book.

I also read the sequel and continuation of this nonfiction story (much later in 2021) . It’s rare we get a sequel to a true life story, but with Helene we are that lucky!

This book can be seen in my July Wrap Up.

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2022 Monthly Goals | February - The Return

I really love making monthly goals. I like to pick a few things (tasks, exercises, etc…) that I want to work on until they become routine. I’ve used this technique to make many varied routines over the years. This technique isn’t fail proof, and I’ve played around with the format from time to time. In the beginning of 2021, I decided to try out quarterly goals. This didn’t really work for me. I’m not sure if that was bc of the format, or bc 2021 was…. well, 2021.

So, for the new year, we are headed back to what we know and what works. I have been trying to keep up with monthly goals for the last few months, actually. Here are the 5 tasks I’ve been working on in Jan and am carrying over to Feb.

Clean Sink Everyday
We’ve been trying to keep some areas of the house more under control lately and this is an obvious one.

Weekly Cleaning Routines
Similar to the above, I want to keep up a few cleanliness tasks.

Check Something Off The BIG List
This year I made a big list of house projects I want to get done in 2022. Some are big, some are small, but I really want to make a big dent in that list this year.

30 Day Challenges
Mostly for my channel, but also to just try a bunch of new practices, I want to do a series of 30 day challenges. Currently I’m working on reading tarot.

Morning Routine
I’ve needed a new am routine for a bit. Right now, I’m trying to read or do something like bujo or other “more important” tasks in the morning before I look at the internet. Along the same lines, I’m trying to stay off my phone for at least an hour. I’m trying to make sure to stretch each morning. I also want to take at least 10 min to reflect and think, while doing nothing else.

These goals are slightly different from what I worked on in January. Let’s see how I do with them.

Do you aim for monthly goals?

January Plant Update

January was pretty cold, rainy, wet, and snowy. We went to the beach, looked to the sky, but there weren’t too many plants to discover, except under all the snow. They are dredging at one of our favorite beaches; Interesting to look at, not great for the environment. We got out to play and Irving came out in the snow, too! Check out more pics of the snow covered garden with the return of Mad Cat Garden, coming soon!

Big winter sky.

A pipeline of sand.

The start of a storm.

What it looked like later.

Snow child.

And back to the sky!

January was very…. January this year. We saw some plants, but it was wintery. Will feb be the same?

How was the first month of your year for plant observations?

January in Review

I’m really liking how this year has started out for the most part. I feel able to get things done, take time to relax, and settle into the goals I have for 2022. Not every minute has been great, and all months and years come with ups and downs, but so far so good. We gotten to explore some places that we like, but perhaps were neglecting at the end of last year. We’ve seen or checked in with family pretty often. We have started out getting doc appointments and other maintenance out of the way and are hopefully setting a precedent for wellness in the new year. Creative outlets have been a bit of a priority. And best of all Jan hasn’t flown by. I feel rooted in January and the new year.

This year I am working on a 365 Photo Project over at my insta as a way to post there, but not spend too much time on the app. I started taking the pics right at the beginning of the year, but am posted them behind the actual dates. So far I’m really returning to this style of project. It requires some thought and intention each day.

Are you starting any projects for the new year? Let’s dive into month two together.

2022 Goals

It feels like I should just cut and paste last years goals here. Not much movement was made on them and so they will remain mostly the same. There are subtle differences and andvancements to be tweaked and added.

Having to physically wrote them out seems important though. Perhaps goals were not accomplished, fell to the way side, or were over looked bc not enough time and energy was devoted to them. I did not cast my eye on to them in 2021, and this could be why they fell from my consciousness,

In 2022, I want to concentrate on slow living, sustainability, creativity, and forging a path that will lead me to a more tranquil and fulfilled life in the coming years. Societal norms and traditional means of income, working for others, expected gatherings, and timetables are some of the things that are no longer serving me. In my goals for the coming year, I hope to turn myself to a life more aligned with my priorities and pleasures. By writing and rewriting them, I hope to keep my goals foremost in mind and intentions.

Creation over Consumption
This is the goal I make every year and every year the definition changes ever so slightly. Creativity has many meanings in my world. Creative art, content making, living differently than most by living as self sufficiently as I can, creating a life that aligns and parallels my ideals and priorities. I want to live a more artistic life. Dare I say it? A more romantic life. To me, that means, consuming less media (yes, even booktube!), buying less, consuming less ideas of a “normal” life, and creating instead the life I seek.

Less electronic media (internet, news, instagram, booktube).
More art, both making and viewing.
More cooking to balance outside consumption.
More making (videos, blogs, photos, and thoughts. Although reading is consumption, I find that it falls more in this category: an inspiration).

Become more Self Sufficient
This is another multi facieted goal, needing more than just physical tasks to accomplish it. Not being able to love “normally” for nearly two years by of the global pandemic has not made me long for the “old days”, but made me anxious to usher in a new normal, a life full of art and romance and care for the larger world, but lived in a more susinct way. Truer to myself and my ideals.

Continue to grow towards zero waste and a plastic free lifestyle
Cut down on cheese, other factory and processed foods, and eating out.
Shop local, shop small.
Cook more, grow more food, preserve and less food waste.
Reduce clutter and use up.

Health
We’re not getting any younger! Regular checkups, better eating and exercise, and mental heath are going to become increasingly important this year. In youth we can coast through but it’s time to buckle down and create healthy routines.

Cat health.
Docs and regular check ups. Taking care of any issues we currently have.
Self healing techniques (including cooking more at home, walks for metal health, supplements and nutrition).
Exercise and stretching.

Home improvements
We love our house and we are happy that the pandemic has provided us more time to spend there. But after 7 years, there is maintenance that needs to get done, and improvements to be made. Not to mention all the projects we had meant to get to and didn’t (yes, our kitchen has been under construction for 5 years). And we have a few dream projects that can always linger on the list in hopes of one day coming true.

Finish kitchen.
Bathroom redo.
Wallpaper and paint.
New doors.
Organize and utilize the basement.
Maintenance on appliances.
Wood stove.
Piano.

Reading and Content
Although many things in my life and current goals are geared for staying off the computer, away from social media and out of the mainstream news, this blog, instagram and now my BookTube channel are important creative outlets for me. Reading is involved in all those things and an outlet for my mental health.

Read more (at least 75 books in 2022).
Consistent content on blog and booktube.
Find a way to post and view insta without app on phone. (I love to see my life recorded there, but the platform’s other functions no longer serve me).
More creative content.

Career
I don’t usually have a career section, but I plan to make a 3 year plan and my career is an important factor. Although, I love to work, my career is not fulfilling me the way that it used to. Partly that Is due to the pandemic, partly my age and disposition, and there are so many other factors as well! Part of my idea of a self sufficient life includes a job unbeholden to others, a way to raise up workers I see around me and create community. I don’t know how to accomplish this just yet, but 2022 is the year to figure it out.

3 year map and plan for life and work.
Budget.
Creative income (I’m not fully sure what this means or entails just yet, but I know I want some of my income to be generated by creative means).

That seems like quite a lot, but these are small steps to a larger path. I think by writing, seeing, rewriting, and working on reviewing these goals, I can make big strides towards a life more inline with myself.

What are you goals for 2022?

Children of Men

One of my goals in 2022 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

The last of three books I read for a PD James reading Vlog, Children of Men is her only Sci Fi. I was lucky enough to find this library discard copy in a little free library near my work.

It’s been 30 years since it was discovered that no new children were being born. Theo has settled into the end of his life, he teaches adults in college, he loves his flat, he only sometimes regrets his lost loves. He is comfortable and not looking for excitement before death. He is not expecting to get thrown into conspiracy, and possibly change the course of the human race.

This books starts on Jan 1 2021, and I almost wish I had started reading it then, too. But I’m happy that it was a coincidence that I did end up reading it sometime in 2021. It’s also about a global phenomenon that effects all humans, so reading it in 2021 was timely in that way, as well. As I mentioned this is PD James’ only sci fi. Written in the 90s, It was made into a well received movie in the 2000s. I really liked the idea of how each nation, focusing on England, would deal with a global health crisis. This book is quite English centric, perhaps satirically stating that England would handle this issue far better than other nations. But behind the national inovations, comforts and conceits there are dark forces at work, to keep the peace at least from a outside perspective. Under the stoic sheen of a well organized country and world dying naturally, PD James does a great job at keeping an undercurrent of uncomfortableness and unease. I don’t love tense anticipation in stories, but this was more of a proclaimed foreboding. This is a story about the salvation of the human race, but also of one man and the idea that self possessed determination can change the course of a life. One can decide to live, or resign themselves to death. This book tackles that in an interesting way, depicting a resistance to action with a long interlude in the middle of the story. This book and story have certainly earned a place in sci fi history and it’s easy to see why this is a modern classic of the genre. I would highly recommend this to PD James fans, bc it is so different than her well known mysteries. But there are glimmers of her more more traditional work. For instance the flat of our main character is pretty much identical to a flat described in The Private Patient, the last of the Adam Dalgliesh novels and written nearly 30 years later. I would also recommend this book to sci fi lovers, those interested in the classics of the genre, people who like end of the world stories, or readers who want to read about global pandemics and their geopolitical repercussions.

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? What is your favorite classic sci fi story?

This book can be seen in my July Wrap Up.

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Call Me By Your Name

One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

I was looking around for another book featuring queer writers or characters for Pride month and settled on Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman. I had heard of the book and the movie, but never seen the latter.

Elio is used to his father’s university students joining them for their summers in Italy. The students help his father with his work, study and work on their own writing, lounge by the pool and visit the village. Elio doesn’t often interact with them. But the year Oliver is on exchange, Elio takes notice. An at first timid and distant relationship soon blossoms into something new and strange. This coming of age and coming out story is to told in the sweeping and majestic thoughts, feelings and emotions of a teenage boy.

I had heard of the movie with Timothy Chalemet and Arrmie Hammer, heard that this was a queer love story of two young men in Italy over a summer. I had also heard that there was some controversy over the age gap and potential grooming/exploitation. I was interested to learn that Aciman was an Egyptian author, the first I have read from, I believe. And I was excited to read this divisive queer book. I found it on audio, read by Hammer. He had recently fallen under another shadow in the media, being accused of potential abuse and cannibalistic tendencies. But I really enjoyed his performance and voice acting. I might still be torn on the age difference in this book, as it is a little too far and the young portion a little too young to be entirely comfortable. And I was quite shocked with the graphic sexual descriptions and content in this book. It was much steamier than I had anticipated. It was the kind of audio book one wants to make sure others don’t hear snippets of ideally or out of context, unexpectedly. All that being said, I really enjoyed the book, the love story and it’s, to many readers, unsatisfying ending. There has recently been a sequel written, but personally I would not like to read it and have this story extended. I quite liked the ending and feel satisfied with the story as so and would not want to learn something I may not like. This book reminded me a lot in subject and in tone to a movie from the 90s I equally like, Stealing Beauty. It gave me the same longing, vacation, wishing for love, vibes that that movie does. The infinite possibilities of summer, the wistfulness for summer love. I would recommend this book for those interested in reading something in that vain, those who want to read more m/m romances, readers who like queer books, but in all those categories, only those who can handle explicit sex scenes in books.

What is your favorite queer centered book?

This book can be seen in my July Wrap Up.

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Regularly Scheduled Programming

In 2016, I started looking back and seeing what posts I used regularly and making a list. Every year, I look back for my own memory, mostly, but you may want to take a look back, too! I’m late to this article this year, but I think this year it’s especially important to log this info.

Why is that you may ask? Well in 2021, I pretty much didn’t post on my blog. If we looked back and did the calculations (I have not actually done that), I would have posted less blogs posted than in most of the past years. If these are my regular series, but I haven’t posted many of them this year, do they still count? How do we look at what series I stuck with despite being scarcely here? Which count and which don’t?

Below is a list of everything that I would consider a regular series. I’ve starred the ones that were more relevant or more often posted in 2021.

There are several series that are more usually updated, at least monthly and/or weekly:

Month in Review - A review of each month and my favorite instagrams for that month. *

Monthly Plant Update - A review of all the plants I've observed for each month. *

Mad Cat Garden - We started our garden a few years ago, but it’s become a great blog feature.

On My Mind On Friday Morning - A few things I've noticed around the internet, and life, recorded on Friday morning. *

Book Reviews - What I've been reading.*

Weekly Video Round Ups - Here I put the collection of videos from my BookTube each week. *

6 More Months of Zero Waste - In this series of posts we tackle moving to a more zero waste lifestyle. We will be taking a break (kinda) on this series up for at least the first six months of 2021.

Bullet Journal - I've been keeping a BuJo for several years now, and I like to check in about once a month.

Mad Cat Capsule - In 2017, I started keeping a capsule wardrobe, follow my progress here.

Zero Waste - 2017 also marked the start of my zero waste, plastic free journey. I post thoughts, ideas, recipes, and goals. 

Something Nice - Don't you love it when nice stuff happens? 

Something New - Something new I've learned or done. 

.Tattoo Story - To remember my tattoos and why I got them, I record it here.

Recipes - I want to include more recipes, specifically zero waste recipes, here.

Definitions - Some terms that I and other bloggers use but might be new to you. Here’s where you can learn more about all the things we talk about on MCQ.

Product Review - This is where I record reviews of products I have tried.

Monthly Goals - I have been trying to achieve several monthly goals so taht they can eventually become regular habits.

Pandemic Pantry - Originally started to showcase how to use up items druing the worst of lock down, I have taken aspects of this practice into daily life.

Homeschooling - In 2020, I started recording my homeschooling history. I would like to expand this series more in 2021.

Tattoo Story - The stories of my tattoos.

Joy of Using Up - This has been an off and on series, but I find myself gravitating to it more and more.

A Week of Books - Here I post even more book reviews to catch up and keep on track!

Sewing/Quilting - I would really like to bring back weekly sewing posts, but so far I’ve made it about one monthly.

Shelfie - Just pics of my home. (this one is an old series, but something I would like to bring back monthly).

There have been quite a few series that have fallen by the wayside, some I would like to bring back, others that might be gone forever.

Art and Nature... - Art and nature go together. I like to write about it here. 

Zoo at Home, Zoo Abroad - We love to visit animals, zoos, aquariums, etc... when we can.

Travel - One of my long standing goals is to document my travels.

Life Admin Day - This is where we check in on some admin goals we need to achieve, then see if we do achieve them.

Off Season - Notes on places I've seen, been, or explored and why I like them better in the off season. 

What I Eat in a Day - I love to eat, love to know what people are eating, love to share!

Habit Shift - Here I talk about the habits I love and those I want to make

So we can see that really only a few of these actually made in to be reoccuring series this year. And scrolling back through a year of posts, it’s easy to see what some of the issues, distractions and priorities were were. My booktube definitely was part of the reason the blog was not as loved in 2021. But also, I’ve been having lots of difficulties with the squarespace interface almost all year. Those issues not only derailed my being able to actually post, but frustrated me to the point that blogging become unpleasant and upsetting. Although those issues and frustrations haven’t ceased, I have developed some workarounds that have made posting a little easier.

It’s always nice to look back, see what series and posts make a regular scheduled programing on the blog and to reflect on what I love to post. Of course that makes me think of the year ahead and what posts will be like going forward.

Do you have a series on Mad Cat Quits that you enjoy? One that you missed in the year of 2021? One that you would like to see added? All feedback is welcome!

Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl

One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

My friend Noah was getting rid of some books before they moved and I spotted Carrie Brownstein’s memoir, Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl.

Carrie Brownstein is one of the forerunners and creators of the post punk girl band Sleater Kinney. She is an actress and comedian also well known for Portlandia. In Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl she shares moments of her childhood, creating her dream band, her thoughts on growing up queer and her struggles with anxiety and mental health.

I was never a huge fan of Sleater Kinney, but I was indrotuced to them by an ex who was. Much like my favorite post punk band, Sleater Kinney contained an introverted but luminescent member who people of a certain ilk were drawn to. In Sleater Kinney that was Carrie Brownstien. Lovely, queer, quiet but Carrie wrote my favorite song from the group. She titled this memoir after that song. I was very interested in learning more about her relationshio to the band, growing up in Olympia Washington, and growing up queer. And while this memoir does relate many of those things, as well as her relationship with her mother who suffered from a severe eating disorder, her father coming out as gay later in life, and her struggle with mental health and anxiety, this book is mostly about her time and experiences with Sleater Kinney. This memoir is weirdly impersonnal, holding the reader at arm’s length at all times. How Brownstien felt about many of the elements in her life is told in a clinical or separated way, and one never feels like you know the whole story, even from her perspective. She is holding back from connecting with the audience and with telling her truth. I enjoyed this book, but it left me not much more educated about it’s subject than I was before reading it. I would recommend this book to readers who like band memoirs, especially those who like to hear about each album of a band and how they were conceived, or fans of the band Sleater Kinney. I would not suggest this book for those who like in depth memoirs, or fans of Portlandia.

What is your favorite book about a band? Or what is your favorite memoir?

This book can be seen in my June Wrap Up.

More about books here:
BookTube
Goodreads

The Nickel Boys

One of my goals in 2021 is to read more. See other books I've read or listened to here.

For most of 2021, I thought The Nickel Boys would be my favorite read of the year. I read so many amazing books but it still made my top ten.

Elwood Curtis’ life is changed forever when he is sent to The Nickel Academy, a reform school for boys in 1960s Florida.

* editor’s note: This book is reviewed out of order. Usually I post books in order that I read them. This is one of my favorite books of the year, but I struggled to review it and so it is later in my reviews and out of order.

Based on true places and events, this was a beautiful and heartbreaking book. It was a short novel but definitely is well defined and well paced. It was also a brutal tale of racism, prejudice and hope in the heart of the civil rights movement. Made more sad and poignant bc we know many of these true stories exist, this fictional account really emotionally involved the reader. I loved that the story unfolded in a way that kept me guessing, and broke my heart but was also ultimately uplifting. I cried at the end of this book, for the characters but also that we live in a world where reform school existed and still exist. I read this only weeks before hearing of the bodies uncovered in Canadian reform schools where indigenous children were imprisoned, tortured and killed. And to know that those injustices still run rampant, it’s defintatly a tough read. I would highly recommend this book tho, if you, as a reader, can handle the difficult subject matter. The writing is compelling and characters endearing. I think this is a good book for those who know some of this true history and are looking to hear fictional stories of that time, or those who want to learn more but aren’t ready to start with the more graphic true accounts. I would recommend The Nickel Boys to readers who like historical fiction set during the civil rights movement, or people who like southern American tales.

This book is featured in my March Wrap Up.

More about books here:
BookTube
Goodreads

Best Nine 2021

I always really like to get my best nine on instagram each year. I’ve been doing it for the last 6 years. Ever since we moved to Asbury Park. This year I couldn’t get the bestnine website to work. I tried multiple times starting in december to get them to generate my grid. And it just wouldn’t do it. Luckily, 2021 was not a banner year for me and insta. Or unluckily. Either way, I sat down the other day, looked at every insta post I did and found my most viewed nine posts. And made my own grid.

2021

This grid has some interesting aspects but most notable is that this is the first grid with no cats.

In 2022, I hope to post more on instagram again. As of today, I haven’t actually posted at all this year, yet. But I have been taking photos every day. I’m trying to figure out a way to post on insta without actually going on insta. One idea I’m working on is a 365 photo project. Another is getting a insta feeding app so that I can schedule my posts but not actually be on the insta app.

Although I love insta in many ways, I find that is can be depressing to see certain real world events unfold there, and it’s a giant time suck when I get stuck in endless scrolling.

I’ll be excited to see what 2022 brings in pictures.

Here are all the past years:

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2021 Goals in Review

2021 was not the best year for completing my goals or for this blog. Those things are probably connnected, but perhaps not how you might think.

I’ve had this blog for many years and one of the reasons that I created it and keep it is that it is one of my greatest accountability partners. When I plan out goals here, and am able to refer back to them in this space, it helps me keep up with them in real life. If I have to check back in each month to keep updating, all the better.
The last few years have not really gone how anyone expected, but that wasn’t the only reason I’ve had trouble keeping up with this blog. Since starting my BookTube channel in Oct of 2020, I have devoted more and more time to that and had less time to invest in this space. I think I can find a balance there, and I hope to in 2022.

Another reason I have taken time away from this blog that directly ties in with my goal setting is that between 2020 and 2021 I experienced a long stretch of productivity burnout. It’s not that I was not productive during that time. I certainly was where my channel was concerned. But I was burnt out on the idea of always being productive, of goal setting, of measuring accompaniments in that way and constantly keeping up and keeping track. I really love goal setting and productivity techniques as a way to keep track and measure ones accomplishments, and intentions for the most part. But if it’s dragging one down, discouraging one, or simply not serving one, I know when it’s time to take a break.

That break for me, mostly included this work space as well as instagram and a few other areas. Some things that didn’t waver were my bullet journal, and of course, BookTube.

So why am I telling you all this here, in a post about 2021 goals? Mostly bc I haven’t looked at these goals in months, perhaps a year, and I wanted to record for you and for myself why that was. Usually I will check these goals often over the year, check in with you around mid year to adjust, see what needs to be tweaked or changed, then finish out my over all thoughts in this yearly post. This year I can’t even remember if I did a mid year check in. I could go back and look, but why bother?

Although, I firmly believe that one can start any goal at any time, I really love to check in in the beginning of, the middle, and the end of the year.

And here we are again at the start of the year! A perfect time to check on last year’s goals. Let us see what they were and how I did. Considering I haven’t checked, I’m very interested to see of there was progress made.

Creation Over Consumption
In 2020 I think my consumption has really changed but the other day I had a realization about how much I’m still consuming. Like suddenly I realized that watching youtube is just watching TV. This might seem like a no brainer, but I always thought of yourtube as teaching me something and therefore not mindless like TV. I also realized basically the same thing about reading. Now, obviously there are levels of consumption, from mindless to imporatnt. And I’m very happy that my consumption has leaned more to the imporant and edulcational this year. But in 2021, I want to make sure that my creation and creativity is at least more balanced, and more of a priorioty.

This first goal is one that I have had for many years. I think that I did not more well on this goal in. 2021 than in past years, but I also think I didn’t do worse than in most years.
I definitely still watched too much YouTube and perhaps even read a bit too much (I finished out the year having read 95 books). Reading is a little bit of a catch 22 in that I think it can help with creativity, but if that’s all you are doing, that’s not a help to your creativity. I did add effort to creative endeavors like BT and did a hand ful of projects over the years. Over all, not the worst, but no great leaps here.

Be More Self Sustainable
Double down on zero waste - I feel like in some ways I have gotten better at zero waste and in some ways more complacent. In 2021, I want to renew my pledge to the zero waste and low impact lifestyle in dramatic ways.
Live slow
Work more - Usually this goals is flipped but in 2021, I want to work more for MYSELF!
Forage more
Grow more food
Beach more
Spend less

Let see. This goals also wasn’t a true success. I didn’t advance my zero waste lifestyle nearly as much as I had wanted to. Here I feel like I’m in a holding pattern, circling just off where I would like to be and how much I would like to be progressing in this goal. I have had many discussions on what I can do to advance here, but very little tangible has come from them. I know I’m the kind of person that needs to think about things quite a bit before taking action, but neither much thought or action went into this in 2021. Now, that is not to say that I haven’t continued to live a more sustainable lifestyle than many people or even more so than in previous years. But I have reached a sort of plateau, and I would love to take the several next steps to become closer. To the goal I really want to achieve.
The way that I see this happening is to really focus on living slowly, hone in on what it means and how to do it. Create smart and concise goals within this goal to make it happen. I’m still working it all out, but one aspect is going to be doing a slow living series on my channel. One way that I kept up with zero waste in 2021 was to have a One More Month Of Zero Waste series on my booktube (my BT is not just about books!). Much like the series I do on this blog, we focused on one zero waste challenge each month and became more zero waste one month at a time. Over on YouTube, we rehashed and revisited a lot of the same challenges that we had already seen here. This both introduced the series to viewers, but also reinforced some things that we already knew but may have been slipping on.
I didn’t really work more in 2021, neither for myself nor for an outside job. The former needs attention, but I was happy with the amount of outside work I did in 2021. Part of a slow lifestyle, in my mind, is to work a job less, maintain it as a job you like that is low stress and deosn’t demand tooo much time or mental energy. Although one must make money to live in America, part of my slow lifestyle is to spend less, make less, and devote more time and energy to the real work of life, creativity, self employment, and enjoyment. Spend less was on the list of goals for last year. I can’t quantify if we actually did, but it felt like we did spend less in 2021.
Foraging and growing our own food kind of goes hand in hand. While we grew more food, and did find things we needed instead of buy them, I think. We could have been more intentional in the execution of this goal.

Health
Cook more
Cat health
Find doctors
Walk
Swim
Stretch/yoga
Health and supplements

I’m seeing a trend. Although we made some progress, we didn’t really focus on this goal. Plainly put, we did not cook more, focus on cat health, walk more, swim more or do yoga. We did all of these things a bit, but not more than the normal amount. We did do some work to find doctors, but that is ongoing and so doesn’t feel like any great accomplishment.

House Projects
Kitchen
Basement
Woodstove
Roof
Piano
Clean and reduce

Again, no real movement on the kitchen (a little tho!), basement, woodstove, or piano. But we did get a new roof, and we did work a very little bit on the cleaning, decluttering and reducing. I think we will see a big shift in these in the new year.

Travel and Explore - I’m not convinced there will be a lot of travel this year, but we can explore locally.
Irving in the car
Explore possible vaca home locales

This is a goal that saw NO movement. Zero.

Reading, Booktube, Blog
Read every day (65 books at least for the year)
Build my content creation and community
Be consistent with blogs and videos (schedule, schedule, schedule)
Be creative

We know I reached my reading goal, and along with that some goals I had for book tube. So I was able to buil my community in that way. I was pretty darn consistent over there. And fairly creative. But we also know I failed in all those aspects in this space. And the links between them were tenuous at best. Food for thought in 2022. I also hope that taking some time to concentrate here, now, is already helping.

How did you do on your 2021 goals? Did you keep up with and feel productive? Or were they pretty much dropped like mine? What are your plans for 2022?

Bc I use this blog to help dissect and evaluate my goals, it feels good to be back here. It feels solid and that it holds all the potential for the new year. I’ll need a few days to ruminate over what I’ve gone over here and will be back soon with some new goals for 2022.

Be I use this blog to help dissect and evaluate my goals, U