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Tonight’s Top Five

Today was a huge writing day for me at work. I put together a press release about the tragic shooting at a July 4th parade in Highland Park, IL. One of the people who died was a member of the organization where I work. It was a sad day for those who knew her or felt like we did when we learned more about her life. I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard to compose four paragraphs.

Anyway, I’ve been sitting at my kitchen counter for the past hour writing a blog post that is not ready for prime time. Now, it is after 9 pm ET, and I have nothing to show for it. Desperate times call for desperate measures. So, here is a top ten list of random things on my mind. (Okay – it was going to be a top ten list, but I’m tired, so I cut it down to five. Sue me 😉 )

  1. I need some artwork or something to hang in my home office. At the moment, I’m looking at a blank wall. I used to have a Monet print that I moved from my bedroom wall to the living room to my home office. There is no good place for it. And frankly, I don’t like it. I took it down for good, and now I need something else to put there. I’m considering a vision board of inspirational quotes and photos of places I want to travel to when I retire. But that sounds like a lot of work, so I’m open to other suggestions.
  2. I have an old boss that haunts me in my dreams. He was awful to me when I worked for him, and while I haven’t thought about him in decades, he seems to have taken a starring role in my subconscious. And the dreams are so realistic that they are unsettling. I often wake up in a cold sweat and need a stiff drink.
    Ah, memories… How do I get him out of my head?
  3. Our dog might need knee surgery. She has this cute little bunny hop she does when she sprints across the lawn. But, we’ve come to realize that she is trying to keep weight off the one hind leg that gives her trouble. The vet gave us a referral for an orthopedist – for dogs. I didn’t know that was a thing. I’d do anything for my pup, but I’m really hoping the insurance covers it.
  4. I’m listening to Randy Rainbow’s memoir, “Playing With Myself,” on Audible, and it is such a fun summer read. If you don’t know who he is, check out his YouTube channel. He narrates the book, which is a real hoot! Highly recommend!
  5.   I’m so grateful to everyone who read my post yesterday. Writing something on July 4th about not feeling patriotic felt risky to me. I almost didn’t hit publish. I wasn’t sure if people would unfriend me or be upset by what I had to say. Maybe some people were upset but didn’t comment  – which is fine with me. For those of you who read it and supported me, I appreciate it. It is nice to be in a safe space with all of you. Thank you.

Time to call it a day, friends. See you tomorrow with a much better blog post than this one. 🙂

XO,

Elisa

Patriotic? Maybe Not This Year

Somewhere, I know there is a photo of me taken at a Bicentennial parade looking patriotic in an over-the-top sort of way. I’m wearing red, white, and blue clothing and waving an American flag. My tricycle is decked out in paper streamers, and a sign is taped to the back of my seat that reads  “Happy Birthday, America!” The only thing missing is a bald eagle flying above me in the sky.

I was about five years old, and the times were much simpler.

This year, I wasn’t in the mood for fireworks or singing about the land of the free. I did grill some burgers and dogs for dinner tonight, but that’s because we have to eat. And, I always appreciate a three-day weekend. But, in light of the U.S. Supreme Court rulings this past month, I’m not feeling particularly festive. I’m not going to get into politics here. But, in general, my rights as a Jewish American woman have been infringed upon. This country is supposed to be built on freedom of religion, but the line between church and state – that I count on – has been blurred beyond recognition. And it’s not a good feeling, to say the least.

But, while I’m not feeling patriotic, I am grateful. Grateful to live in a country where there is still freedom of speech so that I can say these things on my blog or in person and not fear punishment. Backlash on social media, maybe…but not punishment.

Maybe there will be something to celebrate next year, but I just can’t get there today. Maybe next year, there will be liberty and justice for all.

June Book Report

Summertime is my favorite time to read, but this month has been slow going as I make my way down my endless TBR pile. Between a busy work schedule and my son’s high school graduation (and all the festivities around it), there hasn’t been much time for reading. I typically average around four books per month but only managed to finish two. Too bad listening to podcasts doesn’t count toward my Goodreads goal because I’d be way ahead of the game by now. But, maybe there is something to be said for slowing down and enjoying some quiet time while sitting by a beautiful lake with a book in hand. Wherever you are reading this summer, I hope it is something that you love.

Here is what I read last month:

In Every Mirror, She’s Black

One of my 2022 reading goals is to pick up more titles written by People of Color. I want to learn about other people’s experiences, expose myself to different cultures, and – as always – dive into compelling stories. My first attempt at this was when I tried to read “The Other Black Girl” – a bestselling, genre-bending novel that everyone raved about last summer. Unfortunately, I had to DNF it more than halfway through the book. I tried to like it, but I was so confused by the storyline and couldn’t keep the characters straight. After a while, I became frustrated and threw the book onto the couch.* I had to physically and mentally let it go.

Thankfully, the next book I tried was a much better fit. “Black Cake” was released earlier this year, and I loved it. I also read, finished, and loved “The Personal Librarian” and “We Are Not Like Them.”  And then, I picked up this novel, “In Every Mirror, She’s Black,” and my winning streak came to a screeching halt. Set in Sweden, three women find themselves connected to one wealthy man in different ways – two work for him, and the other falls in love with him. The minefield of microaggressions they experienced was quite clear to me, even though it wasn’t as obvious to them. I wanted to yell at the characters, but I knew they couldn’t hear me. They aren’t real – after all.

The one thing I will say about this book is that it reconfirmed my philosophy about DNF-ing books. While I did finish this book, I only did so because I was invested in one of the three characters and wanted to see her story play out. The other two women made bad choices and constantly put themselves in no-win situations that annoyed me profusely. Because I felt compelled to finish this book, I wasted a lot of time not reading and enjoying much better stories.

Bomb Shelter

To me, a great memoir doesn’t necessarily have to be written by a celebrity. In fact, there have been many times that I’ve picked them up, hoping for all of the juicy details and have been either thrilled or vastly disappointed. But, they are fast and fun beach reads. If you need a recommendation, I have a few titles I can share with you.

Meanwhile, this memoir is written by a bestselling author who shares my sense of humor, level of parental anxiety, and positive outlook on life. We are both middle age and have two children who are about to launch into the world. We both are trying our best to support them and guide them without interfering in their lives – which is a thin line to walk sometimes. Her musings about motherhood and marriage validate my own choices while also looking optimistically at the future.

The other thing I liked about this memoir was the format she used. It isn’t often that a memoir is written in personal essay form – almost like a blog post. Each chapter tells a different story, and they don’t necessarily connect to each other or follow a timeline. But she weaves together a relatable series of moments that any woman of a certain age (or man for that matter) would be unable to put down.

In the Middle

I’m in the middle of a bunch of different books right now. Today, I downloaded Randy Rainbow’s memoir entitled “Playing with Myself” on Audible. Once I found out that he narrates his book, I could not merely download it on Kindle. If you are familiar with his work, you know that he is hilarious as well as charming and smart. I’m nine chapters in and have no doubt I will finish it tomorrow. And if you’ve never heard of this author before, I highly encourage you to visit his YouTube page – unless you are a fan of our 45th president, and then he might not be your cup of tea.

Another memoir I’m in the middle of is “Inheritance” by Dani Shapiro. I’ve been trying to finish it for a while. It is one of those books that I read a few chapters and then put down. I will finish it, but it is taking me longer than I thought.

Nonfiction books seem to be my jam lately because I am also just about done with “Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old” and “Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” More reviews to come next month.

Indie Bookstore Check-In

This month, I visited two independent bookstores. One was Reads and Company in Phoenixville, PA and the other was Inquiring Minds in New Paltz, NY. Both stores had plenty to choose from and were fun to walk through, but unfortunately, I wasn’t in the mood to buy anything. Knowing how long my TBR list was getting by the minute, it made more sense to visit and browse.

What are you reading lately? Recommend some books to me in the comments below. And if you are looking for something good to read this summer, let me know what you like. I’m happy to make some suggestions.

Happy reading!

Elisa

*No books were harmed while they were in my possession. 

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