A weekly round up: it's normally eats, workouts, watches, and reads, but this week we're using a looser format so that I can tell you about a bunch of odds and ends. We'll kick it off from a picture from one of my hikes this weekend, and then get into the goods.
Blog Inspo
I loved San's take on Stephany's TGIF posts. Hmmm...is this something that I would like to try for myself? Check in this Friday and see, and if there's no post it just means that I got overwhelmed with my week and will try again later.
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?
This girl! We recently graduated Doggo from sleeping downstairs in her crate to sleeping in our room. Mind you, if it had been up to me she would have slept with us from day one, but the no vote always wins, so it had to wait until Hubs was on board.
[Just a note that there are reasons why dogs need to be crate trained, and it is generally recommended that dogs sleep in crates until they are two, so my stance was not the correct one. Doggo is probably about 20 months old, so we're just a little ahead of schedule.]
Hubs and I used to have different standards for pets in bed. Hubs's standard was that it's fine for the dog to be in bed if the people are awake, but once the lights go out the dog should go to its own bed. Stepdog always accepted those rules, but Doggo does not. She starts off in the dog bed, and then comes and goes into our bed as she pleases. So how did Hubs react? I literally saw his heart melt and now we have the same standards for pets in bed.
A Recent Podcast Episode That I Loved
When I was in Kentucky my podcast well started to run a little dry, and I found myself downloading a bunch of old episodes of a few shows. It was to the point where I was willing to listen to just about anything, which is how I happened to download an episode of Bigger Pockets Money called How to Make an Extra $100 a Day (Working from Home).
So the punchline is that I will not be doing any of the things to make that extra $100 a day, but I absolutely loved the guest, Jackie Mitchell. I am normally allergic to newsletters, but I signed up for hers and it's a weekly recap of her meals, and there are definitely some good ideas in there.
Stuff on the Internet I Tried IRL
Janae wrote about Foldology and the next thing you know it was in my cart and then delivered to my house. It's a pad of 100 sheets of paper that look like this:
Which you fold so that the picture is on the front and the green squares are on the back:
Watcha Watchin' Lately?
Whatcha Reading?
I'm so happy that you asked!
- On the one hand, I think it's good that work memoirs are starting to become a thing. On the other hand, either this genre has a ways to go or I am in just in a place with work where it's too triggering for me to listen to them. I tried to listen to The Myth of Making It, but bailed as soon as I heard the phrase "girl boss". I think I made it about 10 minutes into Careless People, which is the big Facebook expose. I appreciated that the title comes from The Great Gatsby "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy. They smashed things up...", but my stomach clenched at the opening scene where the author was tucked away in some obscure corner of the world trying to get a cell signal to answer a 24/7 demand. I'm not going to bother to list these two DNFs on my book list, but just wanted to say that I tried. Luckily the Glamorous Trash podcast is going to do an episode on Careless People soon, so I'll be able to get the gist in an hour instead of the 13 hour run time of the book.
- I finished L is for Lawless by Sue Grafton. I felt that the story was a little improbable - Kinsey takes a case for free? For some pretty unlikable people? And the next thing you know she's getting on a plane at a moment's notice with her own money? BUT also I was lapping it up, so I don't need my Alphabet plots to be probable.
- Currently: I'm reading the book that everyone has been telling me to read for a few years now AND I LOOOOOOVE IT. That would be The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry. Elisabeth put it back on my radar and I finally got it. The story is about two sisters who were sent to live in the country during the blitz in WWII, and got through it by telling each other stories. The youngest sister disappeared, and her fate is unknown 20 years later when the story takes place. The other sister is working in a bookstore and comes across a manuscript from America which just happens to have the stories that she and her sister used to tell each other that no one else knew, so hmmm....there is a mystery to be solved here. I'm almost done with it, and for those who have read it, I'm at the point where older sister finally decides to talk to the journalist...you know what I'm saying. And for those who haven't read this sheesh pick it up already!
Peace Out! What are some things that you've loved recently? If you have a pet, does it sleep with you?
I have cats, and in the cold weather one sleeps with me. She will cone up and gently meow at me if she think it's Kate and we should hit the hay. The other sometimes comes up, but he will spend time at night with my sons or guard their rooms in the hallway. Sometimes I wish I had trained them to sleep in a separate room or basement ( where the food annd litter box are, and a bed and comfy chairs) but mostly I love it. A soft little friend to keep me company. The boy cat is bigger than some dogs , so he's more of a challenge if he hops up and wedges himself against me.
ReplyDeleteI finally finished All the Light We Cannot See, but now I need quick reads. Times for some cozy mysteries or Agatha Christie.
Goodness, please excuse the misspellings. Middle of the night typos are hard to catch! Come , late.
DeleteI'm laughing because I used to get so worked up about every little grammar rule and now I don't care. Sometimes when I read my old posts I can't believe how many errors I let slip through, and also I think it's funny. I'm just happy that people write blogs and leave comments!
DeleteI'm with you - I want all the snuggles that I can get. And while I'm currently (as in for the rest of my life) on Team Dog, I will always be the first to admit that the one definite cats>dogs is that dogs don't purr.
@mbmom11 I LOVED All the Light We Cannot See.
ReplyDelete@Birchie. You read Flora Lea! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Also, love the shot of the trees on your hike. A path through the woods = so many possibilities.
I just checked San's TGIF post and yes, we need you to do one of these!
ReplyDeleteHaha, sounds like Hubs never stood a chance—Doggo clearly knew how to win him over! 😆 I bet she’s loving her new sleeping arrangements.
I have to admit, I’m a bit of a clean freak when it comes to bedrooms and bathrooms—no shoes in the house, and only freshly showered humans in the bed. So in my world, poor Doggo would still be in the crate… forever. 😂 But I totally get the joy of having pets close!
Once you're FIRE, these work memoirs will be more entertaining! 😃🙌
CATRINA WE NEED YOU TO DO A TGIF POST!!!!
DeleteI'm with you on no shoes, but sometimes I take breaks from work and get into bed with my laptop during the day.
Glamourous Trash has been hit and miss for me lately. I did like the Lean In episode, but I was turned off when Chelsea went off on her guest (I think it was Vanna White's memoir episode?) for just casually mentioning her own weight. I thought it was a wildly inappropriate response for a throwaway comment.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards - the author is from Calgary so it's exciting knowing all the places. It's a wild story, a memoir, and it's kind of upsetting on so many levels.
Rex (and Barkley before him) sleeps in his crate. He seems cozy and happy in it.
Rob and I are watching Rick Steve's travel programs, and also just started Arrested Development. We tried to watch it when it came out but for some reason I hated it. I can't remember why because we love it now!
GT is good when it's good. It's not an auto listen, and I've bailed on a few episodes that weren't hitting with me.
DeleteWindow's Guide to Dead Bastards is speaking it me. Sometimes when a book is described as "kind of upsetting on so many levels" my gut reaction is "I need to read that". Note to self, also go to Calgary.
There is nothing wrong with having your pet sleep in a crate. Doggo was perfectly happy with it. The only time that I've ever seen her get territorial was when one of her doggie friends came to visit and tried to get in her crate.
I'm looking at Nicole's comment above- Arrested Development, so funny!
ReplyDeleteAnyway! My husband was always opposed to having the cats in the room at night, but recently they've been sneaking their way in (they come in while I'm reading and then it's hard to get them out). I can't say my husband has been "won over." They can be a little disruptive, sometimes. But Muffin will usually sleep by my legs and I find it comforting.
I remember the Alphabet series being uneven for me- some were definitely better than others, but overall I enjoyed them all. I still can't get over the fact that she died after writing "Y". We need closure!!!
I'm intrigued by Flora Lea- I'll see if I can get it from our library.
There's no doubt that pets do not make the best bedmates. But it's so nice to have the extra snuggles. Doggo's three favorite places in the bed are: between us, picking a favorite hooman to snuggle beside, and snuggling at Hubs's feet.
DeleteMax has a similar bedtime routine. He starts in his doggie bed, but around 10 minutes post-lights out, he hops up and joins me. He probably thinks he’s fooling me, but I know his game (and I’m fine with it). Yay for Seinfeld ;-)
ReplyDeleteOops! That’s from me ;-)
DeleteWe think that Doggo's "I'm going to start out in my bed" stance is hilarious. We don't hate the player and we don't hate the game!
DeleteWhen Oscar still lived with us, she slept in our bed. She would cuddle up to Phil. She did not have much interest in me. She's lived with my MIL since the weeks leading up to the pandemic and that's her forever home as she is just not a fan of kids. She went there when we went on vacation to FL in Feb 2020 and has only come back for brief visits but Phil can no longer get her into the pet carrier. :(
ReplyDeleteI DNF'd "Remains of the Day" - I think it was discussed on Currently Reading so I gave it a chance but it didn't work for me. I also checked out "The Good Mother Myth" after hearin about it on Best of Both Worlds. But I was confused because it was a collection of essays and that is not what SHU described - turns out there are 2 books w/ the same name and I checked out the wrong one. Now I'm reading "Catalina" - no idea how it got on my hold list although her previous book "The Undocumented Americans" is a book several friends raved about. I must have read about Catalina in Book Page or something!
Stepdog liked me, but it was always clear that Hubs was her person. Now turnabout is fair play because I'm Doggo's person. Hubs is definitely a Dog Whisperer, and when we went to the shelter she was more drawn to him than to me, so this was a huge surprise. I am very honored.
DeleteI think some people think we are cruel, but the dog and cat are both limited to the downstairs, so they have never even seen a bed, let alone slept in one. The dog isn't even allowed on the furniture. We started the no furniture rule with Hannah because we were trying to establish boundaries and now it would be terrible for her back and joints to be jumping up and down, so no furniture for her. But she (mostly) hates cuddling, so I think it's fine.
ReplyDeleteI just read two not great books, so I'm rereading an Alphabet book myself. No ones says I can't take a Kinsey break when new books are breaking my heart.
No you are not cruel. I guarantee that Hannah and Zelda are just fine not having 24/7 access to you and the run of the house. Doggo is small enough that she can pounce like a cat, so it's not uncommon for Hubs or I to be sitting on the couch and out of nowhere we have a dog on our lap. Stepdog was not a cuddler but Doggo is.
DeleteI laughed at allergic to newsletters. Guessing since I don’t read the newletter style email from the kids’ schools- so am
ReplyDeleteI?
I think that flora book is on my book club list. If not I will add it to my list. I am really into The Rose Code. I bought Mama Love something or other about a soccer mom with money who steals from neighbors to feed her drug habit. I think I will take those 2 on my trip. Started but have not finished Apple Cider, because Curly and Coach and I are watching it but the 3 of us rarely gather in front of the TV.
I'm really strict about limiting distractions, so that's why I don't like extra emails. If I'm on a newsletter list, that means it's really good.
DeleteI read Mama Love when it first came out and I loved it. Pro tip, if you're going to do heroin it really helps to be a great writer so that you can rebuild your life after prison.
The cats sleep with me when they want to! Eloise will usually sleep between my legs or curled up next to me, but Lila does her own thing at night and only comes in for cuddles when she hears my alarm go off. I am VERY pro pets on the furniture, and that's because I'm a softy. I love having pets to cuddle on the couch/bed!
ReplyDeleteChip and Lucy, my mom's dogs, who are 7 and 4, still sleep in their crates at night. Chip LOVES his crate and asks to go into it every night (he will literally walk down the hall to the bedroom where his crate is and then stare my mom down until she gets up and opens the door so he can go in his crate!). Lucy has been sleeping on the big bed every now and then, which my mom loves.
I just finished Crow Mary thanks to your rec, and loved it!
Team Softie here! I cannot get enough cuddles, and Doggo is happy to provide them for us. She was perfectly happy in her crate as well.
DeleteI just can't say enough that Crow Mary is exactly why I listen to Sarah's Bookshelves. So many good books there (and also some not good books but the good outweights the not good).
I see you around commenting on blogs I follow, then I realized we started our blogs one month apart back in 2011, and am amazed we've not connected before. So I'm reaching out to say "hi!" and tell you that Foldology looks like my kind of fun. My latest book love is The Serviceberry. Haven't stopped thinking about its premise since I read it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've seen you around commenting on blogs! We're at the same party and now we've started chatting!!! 2011 was a great year to start a blog!
DeleteParty is a good way to think about blogging. I thought my blog would be a coffee klatch but it's turned into a cocktail party where everyone has a few drinks then tells me their stories. Fun to connect, never know who'll spill the beans about what.
DeleteI am a firm believer in no pets on the bed, and for dogs, no dogs on the furniture. I know, it is easier said than done. However, I value my sleep and having a thing moving around does not lend towards a good night for me. When I was a kid I used to sleep with my kitties inside the blankets with me, but our dogs were always no bed, no furniture, so I guess that is just what I am used to (also they were no kitchen). Probably having a dog sleep in a crate is similar to getting a kid used to sleeping alone in their crib? I know some parents hate doing that, or just don't do it, but there have been studies, which I have not read, that show that it is better in the long run (right?)
ReplyDeleteI loved Flora, and am also hit and miss on memoirs. They are pretty narcissistic and that can sometimes be annoying depending on the author/person. Like, I have no desire to read the Britney Spears memoir, but I enjoyed Matthew McConoughey, Matthew Perry (sad), Ina Gardner and Kelly Bishop memoirs, as they were an interesting peek into the lives of people's personal lives rather than the facade they show to the public. I also enjoyed In Love and You Could Make This Place Beautiful, if those are considered memoirs.
Well, if you really follow the dogs as kids metaphor, it's not normal for kids to sleep with their parents so that supports the crate/crib theory. I only know that I love the extra snuggles, even with the price tag of an extra wake up or so in the night when she's moving around.
DeleteI was talking specifically about work memoirs being a miss for me. I'm a big fan of memoirs in general.
Let's see. When I was growing up, almost all our pets lived 100% of their lives outside (they had a warm garage and/or barn to sleep in), so there was no co-sleeping. Then my parents got a housecat when I was a junior in high school (I think?) and I had to keep my door closed because I was allergic to him. He slept with my brother, who had no pesky allergies preventing him from a snuggly warm cat in his bed. This is to say that I am in theory wholeheartedly behind sleeping with a pet, and in practice I cannot and will not.
ReplyDeleteThis Flora Lea book sounds like so not my jam, but I also have some serious book FOMO, so.... we'll see.
I laughed out loud at your bailing on a book the instant you heard "girl boss."
No worries, you get to choose who you share a bed with! There are lots of happy pets who do not sleep with their hoomans.
DeleteI loved Flora but if it's not calling to you there are always other books out there!
I hate that the No vote always wins. It wins around here, too. Sigh. We had cats when I was a kid, and they slept in bed with us, but my dog was too big so she didn't get to. Actually, she was outside a lot of the time, which just seems mean to me, as she was an only dog. Genevieve (our sweet girl from 2002 to 2012) was not allowed on the furniture at all. Mulder (our darling boy from 2015 to 2023) was not allowed on the furniture in theory, but my daughter used to let him sleep on her bed, and he was smart and knew not to get up on anything else. The No in this situation is my husband. If it were just me and my daughter, the dogs (there would be plural) would be on the furniture with us.
ReplyDeleteWhy do they recommend dogs sleeping in a crate until they are 2? We never had a dog sleep in a crate, we only put Mulder in when we would leave the house when he was young, because we worried he would chew on things. Which he did at night a few times, until we stopped leaving things like library books and slippers on the floor. He grew out of that before too long.
I can't believe Doggo is 20 months old already! I think of her as just a baby.
We think of her as a little baby as well. It's just that now she's a little baby with fewer puppy crazies.
DeleteI think the crate recommendation is that overnight is a long time for a dog to be wandering around, so if it's in the crate it's not getting into things that it shouldn't be while you're asleep. It helps with house training, and a lot of dogs like their crates and think of them as a safe space. Doggo will occasionally wake up to some random noise and start barking, but she never barked when she was in her crate, so to me that kind of supports the safe space theory. With that said, I love having her in our bed, even with the occasional wake ups when she moves around in the night.
Foldology looks like a lot of fun! Most nights one of our cats will be sleeping on me. I enjoy their company! I just read your last blog post - what a fun trip you had! We enjoyed visiting Mammoth Caves and the tours. We also didn't have a great day for the outside stuff, but at least there is a lot to see underground.
ReplyDelete