It's a chance to share news: a post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books,
and share what's coming up on your blog in the week ahead.
T H E W E E K I N R E V I E W
For those who celebrate the 4th of July, I hope you have a happy and safe day tomorrow. I am thankful for the three-day weekend, but not looking forward to the neighborhood fireworks that go on into the wee hours of the morning. 😣
So, hockey season is officially over. The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in game six of the finals. My Tampa Lightning came *so* close. I really thought they could pull it off and win the Cup for the third year in a row, but it didn't happen. Even so, it was a remarkable season and they still won the Eastern Conference Championship.
Covid cases have been on the rise in my city and the transmission rate has gone from Low back to High. Cases are rising at the office, as well. I know Covid isn't going anywhere and for the most part, it's just a fact of life now, but I am so tired of it. (Who isn't right?)
I'm also tired of the political climate here in the U.S. The hate and the vitriol, the extremism and the intolerance, the battle for basic human rights. It's so discouraging and it just makes my soul heavy. It's hard to find the balance between staying informed and being overwhelmed by it all.
For a little bit of a mood lifter, here's a video that made me smile. This little guy had quite a reaction when he saw his mom as a bride. :)
In honor of the 4th of July, here's one of the most iconic performances of the Star Spangled Banner (Whitney Houston, 1991).
O N T H E B L O G
Tuesday, June 28
Thursday, June 30
Friday, July 1
W H A T I R E A D
Audio: Under Locke by Mariana Zapata
Audio: Catching the Cowboy by Kennedy Fox
C U R R E N T L Y R E A D I N G
Kindle: Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh
N E W A D D I T I O N S
Not a thing.
T O T A L L Y R A N D O M
HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?
I'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT!
Honestly I used to admire USA Tanya and I still admire all of my bloggers friends but the way your country is oving backwards for human rights is so sad! Hugs husg!
ReplyDeleteSophie: I can understand that. I used to have such a feeling of pride in my country. But the last several years have brought so many changes that dampen that pride. :(
DeleteCongrats to the Lightning for having a great year! I hope you have a wonderful coming week.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bonnie! Hope you have a great week, too! :)
DeleteHope the fireworks don't go on too long...
ReplyDeleteIn the UK people are ignoring that Covid is a thing. Cases are on the rise. Something like 1 in 30 people have it. It is crazy!
Have a good week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2022/07/03/sunday-post-38/
Emily: Isn't it crazy how so many people (most?) seem to just carry on as if Covid doesn't even exist? Meanwhile, they're passing it on to everyone? Very frustrating.
DeleteI hate the fireworks too. And it is tough to celebrate our country when its such a wreck right now.
ReplyDeleteSamantha - So true. :(
DeleteThe little guy in that video was too cute.
ReplyDeleteThe totally random post is too funny!
Those Circle B cowboys are something else. How are you enjoying in the Kenndey Fox series?
Alicia - I'm a big Kennedy Fox fan after "discovering" them last year. The Roommate Duets series was my first and it was a big hit. And the Bishop Brother series was one I loved. The Circle B series has been hit or miss for me so far. I didn't love the narrators for the last book I read and since they narrate they next few in the series I think I'll switch to the Kindle versions. :) Do you read KFox??
DeleteOMG that video! It was so adorable!
ReplyDeleteI 100% understand the news making your soul heavy... It feels like the world is on fire and I'm so tired of it. Whenever I switch off for my own wellbeing it just feels worse when I next watch it!
I hope you enjoy your weekend, Tanya! The meme at the end had me giggling. :)
Hi Nicci! :) I know what you mean. I step away from all the news for my own well-being and when I decide to read the news again it's just as bad if not worse. *sigh* I hope you're doing well, my friend!!
DeleteI feel the same way about fireworks. I also hate how much they scare my cats and other animals. Plus, in my state, people can start lighting fireworks as early as July 1 and go up until July 7. It's so annoying, lol.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a good holiday and long weekend. :)
My Sunday Post
Jenni - Oh boy, people in your area really make a week of it with the fireworks. That's gotta be annoying! Hope you still had a great holiday! :)
DeleteI have seen that video before, but this time I noticed all the attendees are in black. Maybe there was a dress code? We have fireworks in these parts all the time (a lot of other holidays are celebrated with them). They tend to go too late though.
ReplyDeleteIn the 3-4 years since we moved into this neighborhood, it seems the fireworks on the 4th and on NYE have gone until almost 2 am. This year wasn't so bad for some reason. I'm not complaining!
DeleteThat was such a sweet video! Thank you for sharing that. I am feeling the same way about Covid and the world right now. The extremism on both sides is what is so hard. We don't seem to be able to discuss differing opinions anymore and come to any sort of compromise. I used to love debating things like that and I always learned things and quite often changed my mind a lot when people explained their side. But now that people won't even let others disagree and wait to hear why, I just try to stay out of it. I love fireworks till about 10 pm, after that I'm ready for bed. Especially with it being a weeknight this year. I don't have to work, but I know others do. Hope you have a good week!
ReplyDeleteLisa Loves Literature
Lisa - I so agree. There was a time (and not so long ago) that people could discuss politics and religion and anything else with a sense of respect for the other person's opinion. We could usually agree to disagree and carry on. Those days seem to be gone and it's just extremes. And a feeling of "if you're not for me, you're against me." There are several friends/family members that I just know not to discuss certain things with. It's discouraging. I hope your week is going well!
DeleteOh the fireworks have been non stop over here! I'm sorry about the Lightning. Reminds me of when the Red Wings were such a dominant team and they and the Avs split some Cups back in the late 90's/ early 00's. And yeah about Covid. Here where I live it's pretty red and you wouldn't even know there's a virus. Unless you check the stats lol.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way. There is a balance between staying informed and feeling overwhelmed by it all, for sure, and it's hard to find!
Anyway have a great 4th!
Greg - Yeah, the Lightning loss was a heartbreaker. And a few days ago they traded a top player (Ryan McDonough) due to salary cap issues, so now I'm mopey about that. lol Hope you had a great 4th... and that the fireworks have finally stopped! Ha!
DeleteI feel deeply what you're saying about both covid and the US climate right now. I'm so saddened by the fact that no one is taking precautions anymore and that the freedoms we have (especially as women) are being taken away. It just sucks and I am sad. And I'm over fireworks, too. My dog hates them. Sorry for being a downer in this comment! I've been loving all your reviews this week, though.
ReplyDeleteDeanna - I felt like my post was kind of a downer this week, but reading the comments shows that most are feeling the same way. *sigh* Thanks for the comment about the reviews... I was on my game last week. LOL
DeleteI don't like the neighborhood fireworks either. And neither do my dogs! I have to detox from the news quite often these days. It's so very sad.
ReplyDeleteWendy - Hope the fireworks weren't too overwhelming this year!
DeleteI have 2 dogs that are scared of fireworks (the third one doesn't care) and I live in a large neighborhood so I am less than thrilled by all of the fireworks right not. I have to agree that I am over Covid. I have some older relatives that I haven't been able to see for years at this point. I think that I probably spent too much time looking at political things this week. It is hard to look away. I hope that you have a wonderful week, Tanya!
ReplyDeleteCarole - It's hard to find a balance between staying informed but then getting too overwhelmed by all the bad news. I hope the fireworks weren't too overwhelming this year!
DeleteAww, what a sweet video! Definitely brought a tear to my eye. Happy 4th, hope the fireworks don't keep you up too late!
ReplyDeleteAngela: I love that video. Definitely a feel-good moment. :)
DeleteThat Whitney Houston performance is incredible! IMO the best.
ReplyDeleteHappy to have found your blog via The Sunday Post!
Sara - I agree, Houston's performance is truly the best. Although, I really think Lady Gaga's performance at the inauguration was pretty impressive. Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteWe're seeing cases rise here too. I've yet to get COVID, but just the threat of it still scares me. I've also been troubled by the recent backsliding in the US. As a gay man, I'm frankly terrified of what this SCOTUS decision could mean for me and my husband. I've been escaping in some good books and TV this week.
ReplyDeleteEthan: My husband and I have managed to avoid Covid for the last 2+ years and even as everyone seems to just ignore it or accept it as a fact of life, I'm still terrified of getting it.
DeleteThe SCOTUS decision last week has opened a door that scares me. I fear it will be a slippery slope. Clarence Thomas has already stated in his decision that he intends to overturn same-sex marriage. They are not done. It's infuriating that this group of nine wields such power, relatively unchecked. Thank goodness for the escapism of books.
Omg that video is the cutest thing I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteCarrie: It sure brought a smile to my face. :)
DeleteThat video is so adorable! I'm with you on just being so tired of everything right now - the shootings, the political extremism, COVID - the list goes on and on and it's all just so draining.
ReplyDeleteSusanne: It's just all so overwhelming, right? Thank goodness for the escapism of books.
DeleteThat video! OMG I needed that sweetness today, thanks for sharing. The fourth has never been my favorite holiday as the fireworks - and the dangers they pose, not to mention the noise - really irritate me. But this year, I'm just so far from feeling like celebrating. So disappointed, angry and afraid with how things are going here.
ReplyDeleteAND OMG yes, I'm also just so tired of the reality of COVID. I know it's here to stay but I'm just tired of having to worry about it.
Have a great week and stay safe!
Berls: Glad the video brought a smile. :) Hopefully the fireworks weren't too bad and didn't go on too long on your end. I feel like they weren't as bad in my neighborhood this year. Hallelujah!
DeleteI think they were a little reserved here in Wildfire country/Northern California because I didn't hear any fireworks go off. Thank goodness! I know they had a show over the lake, but I was too tired to go. Maybe next year. Yes, the political climate is so disappointing and disturbing. I have to just ostrich it out sometimes and bury my head.
ReplyDeleteNalini Singh is a nice escape from reality! Enjoy! :)
Rachel: I'm with you. I can only take so much in and then I have to avoid it completely.
DeleteI'm enjoying the Psy-Changeling series so much! :)
I'm right there with you: tired of Covid, tired of the political climate. It's exhausting. Every day I try to find the balance of being informed but still keeping a mental distance from the news. So thankful for books right now. And blogger friends. ;)
ReplyDeleteDedra: It really is tricky to find that balance. Unfortunately, I'm finding I need to distance myself from the constant barrage of news more and more. But you're right - thank goodness for books and friends!
DeleteHow did you like Under Locke? I need to make my way through all of Zapata's backlist.
ReplyDeleteAlison- Under Locke was so, so good! I didn't love it *quite* as much as The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, but it was close. :)
Delete