Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. Natalie’s taking a break from the Coffee Share link-up, and I decided to be more visual this time. It’s a warm, temperate day, but that won’t stop the festivities! I even enjoyed hot hazelnut coffee myself. Let’s take a short break and Share. How are the festivities in your part of the world?
We started last night with a church service and live nativity with a play similar to one my son was in 17 years ago….
A holiday memory!
The live nativity was great, but my son was starving and didn’t want dwell there too long. I did get him to take a photo, on our way into church., though.
At home, we had more family time.
Someone got a new toy!
The fun’s not over… I’m in charge of sides for Christmas dinner. I type this while they’re simmering/ cooking. I think they’ll turn out great!
Collards and baked candied yams will be served with ham and cornbread!
Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer. It was a green matcha tea day. I am being kind to my health, and I actually did some yoga with an online yoga website class. A healthy body aids a healthy mind and vice versa.
What an interesting week. On Thursday, my Newspaper Club had judging for a poetry contest that we ran during the month of April. This was my pet project. Several of the students wanted to be in on the judging, and I had two other teachers present to help with judging as well as one of their wives who is into art and poetry. I read each poem aloud, and they judged it American-Idol style. I think the kids had great fun with it, and the adults seemed to have a good time too! I showed my principal the 1st place poem the next day. She seemed pretty busy, but when I asked if she had time, she said, “I can always make time for the kids.” She was impressed by the poem as well! Winners have not been officially told yet, but I have a student who wants to do the announcing.
Also on my mind this week was how tired I’ve been. I did not sleep well for a few nights, all due to a conversation with my boyfriend last Saturday night. After dinner, he said we needed to talk. So, after a brief talk, we amicably split up. It was sort of a shock to me being brought up now; we had dated for 11 and 1/2 years, but lately, it didn’t feel much like dating. More like the old ball and chain that didn’t want to take vacations with me, didn’t agree with my bucket list, etc., etc. There’s no way he would ever accompany me to Europe. All of this also felt strange though, so soon on the heels of my son moving out.
Adjusting to this new norm could take a while, I suppose, and might be a slight challenge. Just as adjusting to daylight savings time can result in disruptions to sleep patterns, adjusting to the new norm in my social and relationship life has also done the same. Maybe an over-thinker like me can’t help it. Going back over things, wondering what I should have done differently, if I should have called it off myself sooner, if I should not have let the relationship start in the first place, etc. Yet, I feel I have accepted all of this.
Through the pandemic and shutdown, I started really throwing myself into my work. I also tried to maintain friendships with female friends, even if it was only by phone. My focus and ability to write were challenged, but I’ve done a little, and that is my personal little world that no one can take away from me. I lost the watch he gave me, so I bought my own, a nice watch…it made me feel independent and self-satisfied. Then I found his weeks later. So now I wear either one depending on the day. I think I have been moving toward accepting that the realtionship was not going to go any further and that I needed to make places for myself in this world…so I have. I feel grounded.
So, needless to say, I did not get enough sleep most of last week, just processing all of this stuff, but Thursday night, I finally slept well. Last night, I also got eight hours of sleep! I don’t expect this to be every night, but I am thankful that my brain slowed down for a while.
The best hallmark of this week, though, was my son’s twenty-fifth birthday! We went to eat Mediterranean food, one of my favorites. He had a hookah, so we all sat outside. It was cool and comfortable. There was hummus, pita bread, shish kebobs and plenty of veggies…so tasty! My mom also had a great time. I think it was a good way to celebrate that pleased everyone all around.
He seems to be doing well with his move to independence. If I text in the morning, he answers. So, I know he’s been getting up on time for work. I don’t try to call him much, as I know he won’t be talkative yet. (I haven’t given him enough alone time yet) 🙂 Acceptance seems to be my key word for the day, until I can say I am truly embracing independence, my own, my son’s, and that of all of us. Viva la independence!
Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at EclecticAli. Almost every day but one has been a full-cup-of-coffee day this week, what with all of the celebrating and the book release. I think the event for my Undercurrents in Time release went well and was a whole lot of fun. I did a few live videos to save myself from all the typing, trying to share background and info in my FB event. Here is one of the live videos I did, discussing why I chose to be an indie author and why I choose to write sci-fi books: Facebook Live Author’s video Please go and check it out! Disclaimer: No, I am not 23 years old; it is a joke!
I was also celebrating my boyfriend’s birthday with himthis week. We went to the Pixies’ concert Sunday night and then to the beach on Monday, not too early, of course. The Pixies were playing at The Florida Theatre, a very nice venue, however, it was steaming hot even inside as we waited in line for a drink. I think it’s because there were so many people there. They haven’t played in Jacksonville, Florida since the 1990s, so I’ve been told. People were all very friendly and looked to be about our age. So I didn’t feel old for being there…haha. I kept asking my boyfriend, Kenny, “Where are all the mohawks?” To be fair, the band is more of a surfer-punk type band, but you would have seen mohawks back in the day, I’m sure. I have a curiosity for counter-culture. Sadly, we didn’t see any.
Pixabay photo. Where have all the mohawks gone?
Here was Kenny’s answer, by the way: “Honey, everyone’s got a job now. We’re all at least in our fifties now.” Hmmm.
I laughed. “Yeah, no one could get these tickets if they didn’t have a job!” I guess all the artists with mohawks hang out somewhere else? I’m telling you, it is a really nice venue. I had never seen them in concert before, and this was a real treat. So, yeah, it’s not the 1980’s anymore, but the band sounded awesome! They played “Here Comes Your Man,” a sort of rock-a-billy, danceworthy song and most of the tracks from my favorite album. “Wave of Mutilation” seemed slowed down to me but still sounded killer! Sorry, my eighties’ lingo is creeping in. I heard from a friend who got a really good seat so he could see, because he can’t stand for long, and he had people standing in front of him who would not move. The ushers acted like they had very little power to help, but then they had to hurry to the lower area where, I am told, a fight had ensued. Ah, some people never grow up…
So we enjoyed the concert immensely. Monday morning I caved in and got a Starbuck’s espresso drink, salted caramel to be exact. It sure hit the spot. I think I did have one half -cup- of- coffee day this week; it certainly wasn’t on book release day! I have made it to yoga twice this week, so I am on the way to balancing my health with summer fun, which is the goal. I am not writing much, but that can be expected since I just dropped a new book on the world! Actually, I’m writing copy for Facebook ads and creating Canva quote and image teasers to market my book. It seems to never end. I also created a Facebook page for Detours in Time series; I think you can find it just by typing that name. Wake up-Hug dog-Hustle is the motto on my new favorite t-shirt, and it certainly applies to me! After all, my son is up and out the door for work around 7:30 almost every day except for his day off. I’m left with my dog, my books, and my social media, until I schedule a lunch with a friend. I had one of those this last week. My son and I have taken in some movies, Jurassic World being the most recent. I really enjoyed it; lots of thrills and chills and the never-ending debate of “Just because science allows us to do so doesn’t mean we should…” Jeff Goldblum looked very appealing as he made this argument….
I am enjoying summer, as I slept in until 9 a.m. today. My son and I spend time together on his Thursdays off, beside me taking him to appointments. So far it has been movies, but we may hit the beach early one day. I do need to work on waking up early again….It also feels like to have the book published! You may preview and or download Undercurrents in Time, which is the sequel to Detours in Time here: Undercurrents in Time
I hope you all have had a great week and certainly have a great weekend!
Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Allison at eclecticali.wordpress.com! Forgive me if I seem a little book-centric today, there is a lot going on in my book life. That, and I have a wedding and baby shower to attend this weekend, as well as a Pixies concert Sunday night which leads into my boyfriend’s birthday. So, it goes without saying that this is a full cup of coffee day for me, as have been all of my days this week…
Undercurrents in Time will be available through Kindle on 6.26! I have a Facebook event planned for that day from 12:30 to 4:30; feel free to join it here: https://www.facebook.com/events/243192562932315/
There is also a blog tour going on for ten days through goddessfish.blogspot.com. Find out more here: Undercurrents in Time blog tour
Other than preparing for the new release, I have wrapped up my course on teaching Gifted students and look forward to less time at my laptop. It has become detrimental to my body, meaning my lower back and sciatica, to sit at my computer for too many hours at a time. I need to get out more with the dog, maybe to the dog park and just on simple walks outdoors. This is one of my plans. The sciatica feels better when I am up and about. I guess this is just a side effect of turning 50. Seriously, I sneezed one day and had the strangest back pain, so when I told my doctor, he gave me a steroid shot in the bum (for arthritis inflammation which I do have); this resulted in the worst pain going down my leg, lasting all week in varying degrees. There are supposedly be less systemic side effects with a shot. Still, I don’t know if I’d want to do that again…. Who knew turning 50 would be such a pain in the butt? I have to joke about it, since you can tell I complain enough…:)
After an exciting weekend and busy Tuesday next week, I have a lunch date with a friend and then have to tend to errands. Car maintenance, paying bills, etc. Though I still will be promoting my books and the new release; I am having great fun with Canva!
P.S. – I got so busy and overwhelmed that I posted this Weekend Coffee Share late, even though it was prepared in advance. My only down time was 1-2 hours with my feet up next to the dog on my couch….reading fiction! By the way, The Pixies were awesome in concert. Life is good. 🙂 Have a great week!
Pixabay photo. Where have all the mohawks gone? 
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