The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week, and showcase books and things we have received.
Don’t forget to look at my giveaways on the right sidebar.
Sunday, well we were so exhausted last night I didn’t really explain much about Lulu. She has IVDD which means a disk has been herniated and we need to keep her immobile as much as possible to let it heal. She’s young at 5, but in the future we have to discourage her from jumping onto furniture or doing stairs. She’s 19% dachshund and 12% poodle which are two breeds prone to this condition. I looked into new things for her like a ramp, a sling to carry her, and some new gates for the stairs. It’s just difficult because with pain meds she will feel better and then want to be more active and we can’t let her or she won’t heal. I’m so sad about having her do stairs or walking or getting onto the couch when she was having so much pain last week. We had the book club chat which was fun as I’d read both books.
Monday, my whole routine is upended around care for Lulu. I watch her to make sure there is little movement and no jumping / stairs. After her meds, and a trip outside, she was offered food while I ate breakfast. She drank some water. Then I brought her up to rest (with her water and food) in the office while I do my usual stuff. I’m really enjoying her adorable little snoring which means she is getting some rest. I’m also planning simpler meals this week for us as the stress is getting to me. When my daughter got up for a telehealth appt she watched her while I ran out and mowed the backyard. The weeds were high but the grass is still dormant. Now Lulu is supervising my computer work. I ordered a new crate pad, a ramp and a mesh retracting gate to make things easier once she is healed. I got a text and email that the warranty company has received the crash computer. After dinner, my daughter was taking Lulu out and all the smoke protectors went off in the house. Luckily, the weather was nice and they could stay outside while I disarmed them. There was no smoke anywhere and they are fucking shrill. I had to bring in the 8 foot ladder to get to some of them. Exhausting and I don’t want to hook them up again to have them shriek in the night for no reason.
Tuesday, I’m so tired. When my daughter got back from walking with Abby, she watched Lulu while I ran around and gathered up trash and recycle, and did some laundry. I ran to Aldis for a few items. I took Lulu outside and then we went upstairs to work on things. I was going to wear a sling and take her on the walks but she is supposed to have pretty strict crate rest and I can’t see jostling her around being a great idea. I got a text that my laptop is on the way back. I made a batch of Lulu food while prepping dinner. After dinner, we had a nice evening reading together in the living room until it was time to give Lulu her meds, then I went to bed.
Wednesday, the routine is improving although I’m still anxious. I’ll feel better if I can get some things done. We are trying hard to move her as minimally as we can. Today and tomorrow my daughter has the 11:30 walking gig plus also 3pm. My computer was here by the time she came back at noon. They replaced the hard drive – yeah! Now I just have to set it all up again. I found my notes from 2021 easily and used them to start the setup. When it got to the part after the pin, it said Just a Moment for the rest of the day. I stayed up way too late reading.
Thursday, so I’m starting the day with only a few hours of sleep and a busy task list. I got right to work on a few things while my daughter did her walks. Then I went to Sam’s Club for a few bulk items. I had a call to the pharmacy about an Rx and then a message to her doctor about the prior authorization. I have put in a few calls to Lowes and Home Depot about bathroom cabinets I want to purchase. I talked to the manager and the cabinet designer won’t be in until Monday so they will honor the promotions that were until March 31 when I meet with her next week.
Friday, today has lots of phone calls and paperwork. There are many things blooming – the SDB iris, the epimedium, the Lenton Rose, the pulmonaria, two different azalea. The garden is coming along well also. My daughter was up until 7am so it’s just me working hard in the office and Lulu snoozing. She is such a good girl. I called and made the checkup appt with the vet on her IVDD issue. I placed an order at MyBread for some of their gluten free products because they had a 20% off through end of March. I got to talk to the Lowe’s guy about the cabinets. Their promotions go until April 5 and I liked the guy but I think their promotions aren’t as good as the Home Depot ones. I’d rather buy from Lowes though. I also talked to several of my current credit cards about balance transfer options for 0% interest and found out my options there. My computer was still doing the Just a Moment so I called the warranty company and they have me trying something else to be able to install Windows. I am SO done peopling and talking on the phone. Tonight I started the french bread for tomorrow with the soup. I tried a new recipe of tuna wraps tonight and we used lettuce from our garden. It was delicious. My daughter ate it and seemed to like it ok which made me happy because she didn’t seem that excited about the recipe when I asked her.
Saturday, I found out when I woke up a dear friend died. She had some health issues and I knew it was likely coming but it still hit me. She was creative, intelligent and kind. I met her through fan fiction and then in person. As usual, I have much to do. I picked up sticks when I took out Lulu. Now it’s raining and there was even a spot of thunder, but it’s warm and very windy. The Windows install seems to be going well now but I need to decide between 10 or 11. Since I am starting from scratch maybe I should go to 11? I’m thinking about it. The backup computer is still good. I have my month end updates to put together and a review for next week. I spent some time organizing my April reads.
Today – Sunday – is the Facebook Room chat for Hexed by Kevin Hearne at 3pm ET.
March Reading: I had another good reading month. I managed to read 28 books. Audiobooks continue to help me read more. Some count for more than one challenge. I listened to 15 audiobooks, read 6 library books, 28 COYER reads, and 12 books which I already own.
All Library books (including ones not reviewed on the blog) 2023 Library Love Challenge
I did manage to read 12 books I own (goal is 3 per month):
- Colony One by Tarah Benner
- The Cure by KJ Kalis
- 🎧 Hexed by Kevin Hearne
- Prison Planet Barbarian by Ruby Dixon
- Darak by Cara Bristol
- Witcher Upper by Amy Boyles
- The Watched by Casey Hill
- 🎧 Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
- Time Thief by Anna Hackett
- Fixin to Die by Tonya Kappes
- Chameleon by Cara Bristol
- Tinderbox by Rachel Grant
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Reading Reality. These are the exciting ARCs I received this week (If you click on the cover, it will take you to the Goodreads entry):
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer, Atria Books, Berkley Romance, Penguin Audio, Brilliance Audio and Avon Books / and William Morrow.
(If you click on the cover, it will take you to the Goodreads entry)
I picked a few from the Audible 2-1 credit sale.
I purchased this Audible daily deal for $2.99. and then another one for $1.99.
Now the really scary one. This is all the Kindle and Audible freebies I grabbed this past week. You can see why I need to do Thrifty Thursday to be sure I read a few at least one each month.
I really meant to cut back on freebies BUT they are free so I guess that won’t be happening.
I’m not including things like reviews posted or upcoming as they are always in the right sidebar. And, my challenge status is also there.
Anne
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Sunday Post –1 October 2023 @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - October 1, 2023
- 🎧 Saving Emma by Allen Eskens @aeskens @garytiedemann @GodfreyTweets @SaskiaAudio #JaninaEdwards #TimothyPabon @mulhollandbooks #LoveAudiobooks - September 30, 2023
- 🎧 Murder at the Merton Library by Andrea Penrose @AndreaPenrose #JamesCameronStewart @KensingtonBooks @TantorAudio #LoveAudiobooks - September 28, 2023
Sounds like you did great keeping Lulu resting and still so she could heal and yay for getting your laptop serviced and back. Hopefully the re-load will go well. Your spring growth in the yard looks great. LOL, I am exhausted some days when all I did was deal with phone calls to people so I get your ‘done with peopleling’ comment.
Great monthly reading and challenge numbers particularly the TBR pile reading.
Have a good week, Anne!
Thanks Sophia. It’s been a rough week. I can handle it but changes mean adjusting. I use my freebies to try new authors and genres and also for SoS themes.
Wow, what a week, Anne! I hope this coming week is better and you can ease back into your routine. I know how breaking my own routine makes me feel (not good because I LOVE routine) so I can see why you aren’t sleeping well. Good luck with Lulu, I hope she heals quickly.
Thank you Tammy. At a minimum I need to get a walk in even without Lulu. She has been so well behaved even though she has to be bored. She is eating and drinking normally and waits patiently to be picked up to go places.
Glad you had a great week and back to your routine. Sleep helps.
It was a busy week with lots of change. I hope to get more to a routine this week.
Poor Lulu. Sounds like you are doing all you to help her rest and limit her mobility. I know smoke alarms are meant to get your attention but oh my goodness that noise is so piercing. At least it wasn’t the middle of the night – which is always when ours seem to malfunction. All those phone calls – ugh. I find that exhausting. So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. 🙁 I hope this coming week is less stressful.
Thank you Tanya. Lulu is a trooper, accepting whatever we tell her to do but she has to be bored. I need to get walking again even if she can’t. I feel stiff.
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear about Lulu’s injury:(. You are clearly doing everything you can to make her as comfortable as possible. She’s very lucky to have you as her owner! And condolences on the death of your friend… Thank you for sharing the pics of the shrubs flowering in your garden – it’s really coming on and you have some lovely plants. I very much hope the coming week is a kinder one, Anne.
Than you Sarah! It has been a rough set of changes but I’m handling it. I need to get walking again or I’ll have my own hip problems again. Lulu is so good but she has to be bored. We are trying to give her plenty of love and rest. I love having the garden and the flowers. I planned for perennials because they are so easy. In the next month or so I need to add compost and fertilize some of them because the soil here is so bad.
Oh, poor sweet, sweet Lulu💜 Thank goodness she has you and your daughter to heap love and care upon her. She’ll be in my prayers.
Whoa! A new standalone from Krueger???? Thanks you SO much for this news! I also got the Hurst Audible daily deal. He’s like popcorn for me (a good thing).
Have a great week, Anne!
Thank you Jonetta. We have been taking the best care we can of Lulu. She is very good but it must be boring for her. I need to get walking again without her or I’ll have my own problems. WKK is the best! This is my first try of Hurst so I am glad to hear you enjoy him.
I get the stress with Lulu! It’s so hard to take care of the little ones when you’re worried about every little thing. I have ramps all around my house for my dogs. Occasionally Argyle chooses to jump up or down instead of using it, but Dora uses them pretty much all the time. In fact the little steps I had outside for her to get up on my lounge chair when we’re sitting outside has lost all the carpeting on the steps, which makes it a little slippery for her, I need to find one made for outdoors. I loved Mr. Wrong Number, hope you enjoy it too. Have a good week and sending lots of healing thoughts for Lulu!
Thank you Lisa. I hope she will use the ramps once she is able to move around more after healing. Right now the goal is for her to rest and do nothing. She’s so good about her boring options. We place her on a bed upstairs, or down or on the couch with us or in her crate. And we take her out to go potty. I’ve read Mr. Wrong Number already and decided I wanted my own copy to reread later.
Poor Lulu! I hope she heals well and that you manage to get some decent rest.
Thank you Nicci. We are taking good care of her. I’m more worried about getting in some walks when I’m not going with Lulu.
So sorry about Lulu – that’s certainly a stressful situation! Great reading month -I’m working on my month end post, but only managed to read 10. So excited to see a new Dugoni and Krueger book coming out! Thanks for visiting.
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
Thanks Terrie. You always have such interesting choices. We are giving Lulu all the love.
Oh poor Lulu. She must not understand (animals don’t always know what’s best for them with injuries I guess) but she’s lucky to have you taking care of her. Glad the garden is doing well. And yes french bread and soup are the absolute best. 🙂
I am saddened t ohear about your freind.
Take care this week and hope Lulu has a good one. I hear you on peopling- some days I just need a break as well. 🙂
Thank you Greg. Lulu is such a big part of our daily life and now more so. I know it must be hard for her but she’s awesome about it and does what we tell her. It’s harder on me not getting walks this week. At least she hasn’t seemed to be in pain. Either the meds or rest are making that better which is great because I can’t stand seeing her in pain. She’s eating normally and everything again also.
Oh that’s good news.
My condolences on the loss of your friend. *HUGS* I’m glad Lulu is on the mend and you are able to accommodate her needs. And hopefully you’ll figure a way to get your outside/exercise time, too. Your blooms are lovely!
This week was much more sedate after my adventures the week prior. But I was in the office two days, so I had a shake up to my routine. From a fitness standpoint, I’ve started doing a 10-minute stretching routine each day. I hope that helps with some of my aches and pains.
Thank you Jen. She was such a smart, fun woman. I hope they will tell us Lulu is better at her checkup later this month so we can at least get walking again. I’m doing my PT exercises but it’s not enough really. But I do have some yard work also. I love my perennials and the food garden as well.
Poor Lulu! Hand in there-I’m sure with your care and attention she will be back to normal in no time. Sorry your friend passed-even when it is expected it is still traumatic.
Thank you Samantha. It’s so hard to have people you really care about but we just can’t see them or talk every day. But they are still loved. Lulu is so good about it all and I’m glad she’s not in pain now either the meds or the rest are avoiding that problem.
I LOVE your garden pictures! Thank you for sharing them with us. Your salad plants look great and made me hungry. But here it is close to midnight, so I can´t eat something while writing this comment. Have a great new week and keep your head held high!
Thank you Vi. We are enjoying our lettuces almost daily.
It is stressful when a beloved pet is having health problems and you’re trying to work around the issues so they don’t suffer! Sounds like you have some good solutions. Your lettuces as well as your iris and is it lilacs in the one photo? At any rate, they all look beautiful!
I tried to join the chat today but had technical issues from joining through my page as Waves of Fiction instead of through the personal side of my profile. Berls figured it out though and I think I should be good for next time. Sorry I missed out!
Lulu is being easy so it’s not as bad as we expected. She is happy to be a “couch potato” by us mostly. I’m sure she misses the walks but she isn’t complaining. yes those are a type of lilacs! They are favorites That’s a youngish one and I hope it gets a little bigger. We are enjoying our lettuces. I’m sorry I didn’t see the message about the chat sooner as it was a good one. I hope you can join next time.
I’m so sorry about the loss of your friend . It sounds like you have a lot on your plate with Lulu’s condition on top of everything. I hope you can enjoy the week ahead.
Thank you Jodie. It is always something but I just keep at it.
Hopefully, Lulu isn’t feeling too bad. It is hard to keep them quiet but I hate to hear them cry out in pain. My Stella did a fair share of crying this week which broke my heart. I hope that this will be a good week for you. Happy reading!
I hate to hear them crying! Luckily, Lulu hasn’t cried and hasn’t had a problem with being kept in one place (except for one jump onto the couch). I’m cautiously hopeful that she will heal and at least be able to walk around with us and do most things other than big jumps and lots of stairs. Thank you Carole!
Awww poor Lulu, I know she’s in good hands with you taking care off her. I’m so sorry about your friend. You’ve had a tough week. I hope this next week gets better.
Thank you Wendy. I’m hanging in there. I really want to do some yard work and I must get to taxes.
I’m sorry to hear about your friend. And good luck with Lulu’s recovery. It’s tough when it’s your fur baby and they can’t tell you what’s going on. Hope she learns to use the ramps and to keep things on the quiet side. Have a great week.
Thank you Role. So far so good with Lulu. I’m somewhat hopeful. It was great to see you at the chat. Don’t hesitate to speak up if you have things to say.
So sorry to hear about Lulu, I hope she heals quickly.
Thank you Mary. We are just glad for now that she’s not in pain and we know not to let her do jumping and stairs.
I am so sorry to hear that about your friend and about Lulu Anne! Hugs!
Thank you Sophie. The past week has some rough and stressful moments. I’m doing ok. The nice weather helps.
Aww Lulu 🙁 You take great care of her so I know she’ll heal and start feeling better again.
Your garden is looking nice and good that they’ll honor the cabinet sale. I’m sorry about your friend.
Enjoy your reading this week and hopefully the weather stays nice.
Thank you Naida. It’s been a bit crazy and stressful and I hope I can get some things done this week. At least Lulu isn’t in pain now between meds and we don’t let her move much. The store by my house still didn’t have their person in and said it would be another week! So I had to go to a store farther away but got it all squared away. I’m just glad I called to make sure they were in rather than go there and wait around today.
I’m so sorry for your loss 🙁
Thank you
Oh I’m so sorry about poor Lulu! Back issues are so difficult with dogs because you can’t explain why they need to be still and they take so long to get better. I hope all the rest provides lots of healing. As well I’m so sorry for the loss of your friends. Even if it’s expected there’s no real preparing for it. I hope this week is going much better and calmer.
Thank you Katherine. We’ve been keeping her quite immobile. She’s done pretty well.
I am so sorry to hear about your friend.
Poor Lulu! You do such a wonderful job caring for her though that I am sure she will be feeling herself again soon.
Thank you Erin. Lulu has done pretty well. She is happy to be a couch potato if she can stay by us.
Hope your having a great week!
Thanks. It’s going pretty well.