Sunday, January 10, 2016

Right now...

Reading:  "Listening Valley," another recently reissued novel by D.E. Stevenson. (Review to come, eventually.) Recently acquired (& now in the to-read pile): "Once in a Great City" by David Maraniss.

Watching: Most recent movie seen: "The Big Short" (last weekend), which was both funny and horrifying at the same time. And I actually started watching "Downton Abbey" last weekend -- the start of the final season. For some reason, people seem to assume that I have been watching it all along -- and gasp in horror whenever I tell them that no, I haven't.  I've seen bits of different episodes, but never consciously watched one in its entirety (until now). (And yet, thanks to social media, I could still tell you the names of most of the characters as well as the various main plotlines. Go figure.)

Please tell me that I'm not the only holdout. ;) 

Listening: This past week, I was telling a distant cousin in Scotland about Blue Rodeo, one of Canada's most beloved bands, and sent him a couple of video links. Here's one of my favourites. You're welcome. ;)

This afternoon, I also very much enjoyed listening to a thoughtful CBC Radio documentary/podcast about women turning 39/facing 40. Most of the women featured here are single & childless -- but there's still a LOT here that most of us who have reached (or passed) this stage in our lives can relate to. Here's the link.  It's about 25 minutes long.

Following:  My online book group's discussion of "Listening Valley" (just getting started).

Drinking: A nice mid-afternoon cup of tea -- my favourite. :) 

Eating:  The last of my Christmas toffee.  My sister's best friend since junior high days is a great cook & baker, and she makes toffee that is EXACTLY like the kind our grandmother made for us every year at Christmastime. And so, every year at Christmastime, P. makes a batch of toffee and gives a generous portion to my sister -- which she, in turn, shares with me. :)  I've often said she & I don't have a "Hallmark" sort of relationship -- but it does give me a warm fuzzy feeling that she does this. ;)   

Anticipating: A certain sort-of milestone birthday, divisible by 5, coming up shortly.

Contemplating:  Past mistakes. Trying not to dwell on them or beat myself up over them, particularly since most of them don't matter anymore anyway (if they ever did).  

Loving:  Having a little "me alone" time, while dh spends some time this afternoon with his dad.  

7 comments:

  1. Being in my early 40s, I must listen to that CBC radio documentary. Thanks for the link- I love stuff like that.

    A little alone time (with a cup of tea) sounds lovely. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And CBC does it so well, too -- I wouldn't have been caught dead listening to CBC Radio when I was younger, but I've come to appreciate it as I've gotten older! lol ;)

      Delete
  2. What a lovely post. I think I might copy this idea - only because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I hope you don't mind.

    I laughed at you "holding out" on Downton Abbey. I was like that with How I Met Your Mother. I watched the last series, and then went back to the very beginning, and have watched it all now. You need to do that with Downton.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Be my guest -- I copied the idea from Brooke at "By the Brooke," lol. I never watched Downton at the start because Sunday night is generally dh's TV night, and it was just one more viewing commitment to make. After awhile, though, with people expressing shock that I wasn't watching, it became kind of a game to see how long I could hold out before I caved, lol. ;) Kind of like when people used to ask when we were going to have kids, when I think about it. :p I definitely wanted to have kids, but I wasn't going to run out & get pregnant just because it was expected of me, and I certainly wasn't going to tell people about it...! ;)

      Delete
    2. LOL! That last sentence - you may not realise it, but we're so alike!

      Delete
  3. Hey Loribeth.... another holdout here.
    I haven’t seen any episodes of Downton Abbey, much to the surprise of most people that know me.
    I’m usually a pushover for most period piece TV but the impression I was getting from the ads was that Downton Abbey was a bit on the soap opera side... correct me if I’m wrong.
    I can’t handle the soapies – they leave me feeling agitated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course it's a soap opera -- albeit a high-class one in a gorgeous setting with pretty costumes, lol.

      Delete