Tuesday's Tune: Back to December

 

I was thinking that since this is the first Tuesday in December, I'll share a song that also references December. So, the song I wanted to share is "Back to December" by Taylor Swift. Yes, it's another Taylor Swift song. (On a side note, I was thinking about sharing songs from Taylor Swift for the rest of this month on Tuesday; however, I'll see if I can even follow through on that wish.)

This song is obviously Taylor Swift's very public way of telling Taylor Lautner that she was sorry for breaking his heart (granted, they only dated for three months). This song was released about twelve years ago (OMG, I can't believe it's been twelve years ago). Anyhow, I share this song because when this song came out, it was also in December that I told my Mr. Man that we couldn't be together anymore. Like the lyrics in "Back to December," he gave me all of his love and I told him goodbye. And when he was gone, I missed him dearly and wished that I'd go back to December and change my mind. 

Of course, I went on to meet others (this song in particular reminds me of someone special), but my Mr. Man and I eventually came back together and found each other. When I listen to "Back to December," I think of my Mr. Man. The song doesn't make me sad. I only see it as a time in my life when I really needed to discover who I was and find the confidence to move on with my life.

What do you think of this song?

Books of 2021

This is a very very late post. This list should have been posted eleven months ago (at the beginning of this year)! I was debating about not even posting this list but thought that it's best that I do anyway. I mean, it still is 2022 and this list is for 2021. (Whatever!) So, why do I keep on making this list each year? I've found that it's a good way to keep track of books I've read, and a really good way to remind me of authors that I've loved reading and to look up for new books from them.

So, this list isn't as comprehensive. I know it doesn't reflect all of the books I've read in 2021, but these are the books I know I've read. 

1. Death in a Budapest Butterfly--Julia Buckley

2. A Body at Bunco--Elizabeth Spann Craig

3. 13 Little Blue Envelopes--Maureen Johnson

4. The Last Little Blue Envelope--Maureen Johnson

5. Death of a Toy Soldier--Barbara Early

6. Murder on the Toy Town Express--Barbara Early

7. Death of a Russian Doll--Barbara Early

8. Murder in an Irish Cottage--Carlene O'Connor

9. Well Met--Jen DeLuca

10. Well Played--Jen DeLuca

11. The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany--Lori Nelson Spielman

12. Botched Butterscotch--Amanda Flowers

13. Progressive Dinner Deadly--Elizabeth Spann Craig

14. Cooking is Murder--Elizabeth Spann Craig

15. Miss Spelled--Morgana Best

16. No Offense--Meg Cabot

17. In a Holidaze--Christina Lauren

18. Picture Perfect Frame--Lyn Cahoon

19. You Lucky Dog--Julia London

20. Open Book--Jessica Simpson

21. Charmed and Dangerous--Candace Haven

22. Synchronized Sorcery--Juliet Blackwell

23. Death on the Night of Lost Lizards--Julia Buckley

24. Truly Madly--Heather Webber

25. One Poison Pie--Lyn Cahoon

26. Murder on Opening Night--Elizabeth Spann Craig

27. Searching for Sylvia Lee--Jean Kwok

28. Pretty is as Pretty Dies--Elizabeth Spann Craig

29. A Body in the Trunk--Elizabeth Spann Craig

30. Cleaning is Murder--Elizabeth Spann Craig

31. Edit to Death--Elizabeth Spann Craig

32. Hushed Up--Elizabeth Spann Craig

33. A Body in the Attic--Elizabeth Spann Craig

34. Murder on the Ballot--Elizbeth Spann Craig

35. Death of a Suitor--Elizabeth Spann Craig

As you can see, I read a lot of cozy mysteries. I really do love mysteries. I don't know if there's any book that I'd recommend. I do remember reading and really liking 13 Little Blue Envelopes. It's a "chic" book and is considered a young adult book. So, if you aren't into that type of book, steer clear of it.

Let me know of any books you've read. 

Wordless Wednesday: Catacombs

Taken on November 2, 2022 in Paris,France.

Tuesday's Tune: Midnight Rain

It may seem like I'm a Swiftie, but I'm not. (Not that being a Swiftie is a bad thing.) I didn't listen to Taylor Swift's Midnights album at midnight when it dropped. I haven't listened to all of the album's songs. Nor have I analyzed the meanings behind the songs. However, I heard this song and it's my favorite from the album.

Some people think the song's about Taylor Lautner, and I agree. Regardless, I love the lyrics. I love how reflective she is about the life she gave up because she wanted something else. You can sense some regret, but there's an acceptance of her decisions. I find the song to be so thoughtful.

This song makes me think of the person I was seeing when I left Sacramento for Minnesota. I left behind a person for a career (even if our relationship was coming to an end). At the time it felt right, and in retrospect, I'm so glad I did it. At the time I thought he was a nice guy, but it was only later that I discovered his lies and deceit. (A nice guy he was not.) When I left, there were moments when I caught glimpses of what my life could have been with this person, but I'm so happy that I did not end up with him. He would have been my biggest regret if I had stayed, married him, or had children with. It was only after so much reflection that I realized he got what he wanted and I did too. We found people that were similar to our own core beliefs. Honestly, I rarely think of him and he only comes up because I had a weird dream about him. He's not someone I waste my precious time on.

Now, there's another person I think about once in a blue moon. He was sunshine and I was midnight rain. He wanted it comfortable and could have provided that for me. He was nice and I did break his heart. Again, I too saw a portal to a life that could have been mine. I would have been extremely happy, but I wasn't ready. I only wanted pain and gave away the life and love that could've been mine. There's a haunting of what could've been that follow me, but it's okay. There's no regret. I love him from afar and only wish him the best in his current life.

What do you think about this song?

 

Wordless Wednesday: My Baby

 

Hello Fall!

Last week the air definitely became cooler. It was as if the warmth was being chased away by a cool kiss. It's been a weird summer. Granted, this summer, I hadn't done what I was supposed to do. As much as it pains me to say this, I honestly am glad for the change in weather.

I started the summer off with great intentions of gardening but was gone most of June (family trip to California). When I came back, my garden was full of weeds. I then tried to weed and failed miserably. Then the rabbits came and ate all of my bean seedlings. So, I don't have any beans this year (boo-hoo!!!). I didn't tie up my tomato plants, even though I'd put sticks into the ground early in the season. At the very least, I have some tomatoes, random squash/pumpkin plants, a little bit of peppers, and of lemon grass.

I can't believe September is coming to an end soon and I know that I need to work on other things. My own work is keeping me busy and I know that I need to hurry up and get my stuff out. I've been wasting a lot of time doing nothing, but at the same time I've also been trying to stay present with my boys (e.g. spending quality time with them, making them do homework, etc.,). Soon, the year will come to an end and I know that I need to finish up a lot of personal work before the new year, so I've got to start sticking to my plans. I know the winter will force me to stick to my plans. So, yes, I am looking forward to winter.

How are you doing? How is the weather in your neighborhood? How did your garden grow this year?

Tuesday's Tune: Red

 

Taylor Swift remade this song not too long ago. I support her and her reasons for why she redid this song and her albums. At the same time, I think the best version of this song is the original song, released back in 2012. You can hear the pain, the love, the angst, and all the emotions in the original.

So, why am I sharing this song? Because it's one of my favorites to listen to. The song reminds me of a relationship that I was in. It didn't last long enough, but the relationship was RED to me. It was hot, fiery (good and bad), and it was passionate. There was so much love there. The relationship really did feel like driving in a fast sports car, exciting and wonderful but ending too soon. (Of course, it was all my fault.) And when he took his red hot sun away from my world, my world became blue like I'd never known before. It took longer than I thought for me to move on from him because he was so hard to forget and even if I had any regrets about the relationship, it was only momentarily and I knew I could never regret him. Even now, memories of him still creep into my life at unexpected times.

My friend May Shoua once asked me if I had any regrets about not being with him and I told her that he and I ended up with the people we needed to be with. Looking back, he is a special person and it was a special moment in my life. I only have love for him and I wish him lots of happiness. As for myself, I am happy with my boys and my Mr. Man. Who knows what life has in store for us, but I'm delighted that we both are with people that make us happy.

Let me know what you think of this song.

Wordless Wednesday: Spring Crocuses

 

Friday's Quote: Barack Obama

 

Image Credit: QuoteFancy

Since the beginning of this year, I've been reading with my younger sister's two youngest sons. She had complained (again) that her boys were behind in reading, especially her youngest. I had tried giving her several solutions before, but she either didn't implement them or it didn't work. If you're wondering why my sister (and her husband) don't read with their sons, all I can say (without judgment and in all honesty) is that they're lazy. My nephews are pre-teens and they would've already done it if they had wanted to.

So, I proposed a solution, in which I was part of the solution. Every weeknight, I call them on Google Duo and I read with each boy for 20 minutes (click here you want to know why 20 minutes per day is important) on Epic, a book app (yes, I pay for the app too).  Some days, the 40 minutes pass quickly and some days it's a chore. There have been days where I had to skip (like earlier in the month when my children had norovirus/rotavirus and I caught it from them) because my children or I was too sick. Overall, I've been consistent in showing up and so have they. With the oldest, I've been trying to teach him to read more slowly and to pay attention to what he's reading. With the youngest, I've been trying to work him up to word recognition/sight words and reading fluency (he's not a first grader, but he isn't reading at a first grader's level). I'm noticing the biggest changes with my younger nephew because his reading fluency has actually improved. This arrangement (thanks to today's technology) will probably continue into the summer.

Why am I doing all of this? Because I love my nephews and they deserve more (even if they hate reading with me and don't understand the power of literacy). Because I believe in the power of reading and the power of books to transform one's life. Because reading is a gateway into learning about other things and opening one's eyes/mind to something bigger. So, I will continue to read with my nephews and we'll see how this goes.

So, how are you doing? What is going on in your world? 

Tuesday's Tune: Miss You

It has been some time. Life got busy, as it usually does. How have you been?

I wanted to share this song with you. I don't even know how I heard the song, I think it just popped up and I decided to try out this song. It's a sweet song. Even though it's been many years since I've had a broken heart and many years since I've had to mend from a broken relationship, this song reminds me of the moments right when I was still missing that person.

Let me know what you think of this song. I hope all is well in your world.