Wow, what a crazy month! Today marks day 42 of staying at home for me, so like most of you, I spent the entire month of April inside my house. Most of the month was fairly quiet - I did a lot of reading, took walks when the weather allowed, worked on puzzles, cleaned my house. Pretty boring, really!
April is a big month for birthdays in my family, including my own. It was weird to not spend it with my family, especially my twin sister, at any point during the month. I kept telling everyone that I wanted to forget about this birthday, pretend it didn't happy, so of course my dad sent a card that said, "Happy 35th birthday for the second time!" For one of our nephews, we had a little Zoom meeting to sing happy birthday to him and see him blow out the candles on his cupcake. It was a fun way to get everyone together! Speaking of birthdays, my blog turned 4 in late April. I was thinking about doing a giveaway like last year, but with the way the mail has been lately, I decided to hold off and maybe do a bigger giveaway later in the year.
We usually have Tom's family over for Easter, but it was just the two of us this year, so it was a pretty low-key affair. I've seen my mom a few times since she lives really close by, and my dad stopped by once. Thank goodness for phones - I talk to my mom and sister almost daily! Although I'm fortunate enough to be "quarantined" with my husband, at times it can feel lonely, not seeing all the people we're used to seeing, and I think it's important to make the effort and keep in touch.
Anyone else doing things they don't normally do? I actually cut my husband's hair for the first time this month! I just buzzed the whole thing so it was hard to mess up, but I think he should go to a barber in the future!
As for my work situation - the start date at my new job was kind of up in the air for awhile, so thankfully, my unemployment claim was accepted and I was able to collect. The unemployment system in my state has been overwhelmed with new claims and many people are still waiting to get their money, so I was very fortunate that mine worked out. I was able to start at my new job near the end of the month. They gave me a laptop and I've been working remotely along with the rest of the office. It's definitely been a big adjustment and I have so much to learn, but my sister actually works at the same company and she has been a huge help!
The Books
While We Were Watching Downton Abbey (reread) // Light From Other Stars (review to come) // Daisy Jones & The Six (audio, reread) // Wasted Words (review to come)
Bringing Down the Duke // Everything Beautiful in Its Time // Meet Me in Monaco // Whisper Network (audio)
I'm Fine and Neither Are You (review to come) // The Giver of Stars // The Beast Within // All Your Twisted Secrets (audio)
It Ends With Us (review to come) // Give a Girl a Knife (review to come) // A Castle in the Clouds (review to come) // Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban (reread)
The Royal Secret // Scythe // The How & The Why (audio) // Verity (review to come)
Conceal, Don't Feel // Wine Girl (review to come)
The Posts and Reviews
Review: The Floating Feldmans
Book Haul #7: Kindle Freebies
Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Betrothed
March Quick Reviews
Down The TBR Hole #10
Can't-Wait Wednesday: Summer Longing
Backlist Mini-Reviews
Top Ten Tuesday: Titles That Would Make Good Band Names
Can't-Wait Wednesday: Real Men Knit
Mini-Review: Everything Beautiful in Its Time
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Missed as a Kid
Can't-Wait Wednesday: Beach Read
Book Haul #7: Kindle Freebies
Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Betrothed
March Quick Reviews
Down The TBR Hole #10
Can't-Wait Wednesday: Summer Longing
Backlist Mini-Reviews
Top Ten Tuesday: Titles That Would Make Good Band Names
Can't-Wait Wednesday: Real Men Knit
Mini-Review: Everything Beautiful in Its Time
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Missed as a Kid
Can't-Wait Wednesday: Beach Read
How are YOU doing? What's your best coping mechanism for these crazy times?
My mom had a birthday too in April so that was the first time ever I haven't been able to celebrate it with her which was very strange. I hope I can go see her soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, too, Stephanie!
DeleteHappy belated birthday! My little niece has a birthday just when everything started and it had to be cancelled :( i’m
ReplyDeleteHoping by the time june comes around we can have a birthday party for my twin nephews.
Thank you, Verushka! I know for at least two of the nieces and nephews, their birthday parties are being pushed off until the summertime.
DeleteHappy Belated Birthday to you! Your quarantine routine sounds similar to mine. I've read a lot, binged a few series on Hulu I've been meaning to try for a while, and did finally order myself some puzzles this week for something a little different to do. I have cleaning/organizing projects to do but keep ignoring those, lol.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzanne! Haha, I know, I have the same things on my to-do list every week and I just keep pushing them off!
DeleteHappy belated birthday!! It must be hard not being able to celebrate with the family but at least Tom was there with you. Sometimes I think of those who are alone in self-quarantine, I'd go crazy alone I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your new job! It's great you could start already.
And congrats for reading that many books this month!
Thanks, Ronnie! Yes, I'm glad he's here, too. I was by myself for a couple days and that was enough for me!
DeleteHappy belated birthday! I hope you were able to enjoy it despite the circumstances. You have read some amazing books. What did you think of The Royal Secret? I'm interested in your thoughts on Verity. I have heard great things. I can't believe it's already May. I am hoping this month will be better? *fingers crossed*
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christina!
DeleteThe Royal Secret was just kind of a so-so read for me. I don't think Lucinda Riley is really the author for me, I've had issues with a few of her books.
Verity was a great read!
I’m glad you hear you had a good birthday. We haven’t been out much since our stay at home order was out into place. It expired last night but not a lot of businesses will be allowed to open in Monday. Luckily the manufacturer company my husband works for was deemed essential so he’s still be working. But a lot of my family here in Florida is struggling with their unemployment benefits. Hopefully it will get better soon. Enjoy your weekend and congrats on the new job.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jenea! It seems like unemployment benefits are a problem in a lot of places. It's just not set up to handle this many people at a time, I think.
DeleteHappy happy belated birthday! and I'm happy to hear you were able to start the new job and get some help with it from your sister, too. Working remotely can be an adjustment at times, that's for sure <3
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll have a lovely May, take care! <3
Thank you so much, Marie!
DeleteI had to cut James' hair too - it wasn't a horrible experience, but I don't want to have to do it again. Yay to all of our Skype meetings lately!
ReplyDeleteHaha, you're going to get sick of looking at my face!
DeleteHappy belated birthday, Angela! And happy blogiversary. Yes, it was so weird spending these last couple of months away from the family. I still have my niece and nephew's birthday presents because I haven't been able to see them. My coping mechanism has been k-dramas, which you saw in my wrap-up. I hope you have a safe May <3
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Alicia! TV has been my coping mechanism, too!
DeleteThat's really good news, that you were able to start your new job. I guess it's enough like your old job, that you don't need any training? My father keeps asking me to trim his hair, and I do not know how to cut hair. He wears his almost in a pompadour, so no buzz cut for that guy. It's awesome you were able to meet your husband's grooming needs.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I don't know if he's going to continue to want me to cut his hair, I did have to fix some of it the next day!
DeleteMy new job is actually completely different from what I was doing before, it's a totally new field for me! So, I'm doing some training over Skype and just learning as I go!
Happy birthday and blogiversary! Good luck with the new job. It must be hard to learn stuff without your coworkers in the same room. I hope you have a good May!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Thanks, Aj! Yes, training has been a little difficult, trying to schedule it over Skype and not having someone right there if I have questions. But, we're making it work so far!
DeleteHappy birthday and blog anniversary too! Quarantining is tough, isn't it? So weird to be home so long with very few breaks! And congrats on the new job!
ReplyDeleteI have All Your Twisted Secrets and I'm a couple chapters in so far...
Have a good week!
Thanks so much, Greg!
DeleteHappy birthday! Happy blogoversary! I hope it was an enjoyable day despite the current restrictions. I do feel like April flew by when you compare it to March! My birthday is next month, so we'll see where things are then. I know Mother's Day is in a few days, and I've already caught my husband trying to be secretly creative with the kids. I don't know what they're planning, but they're definitely up to something! ;)
ReplyDeleteDaisy Jones & the Six, and Bringing Down the Duke are two of my favorites! I have Conceal Don't Feel (the freebie Disney did the other day), and I think it's one I'll read aloud to the kids. I just need to make sure it's appropriate for young ears first! I haven't seen any reviews yet, so it's just sitting there.
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?😷 💬
Aww, that's sweet of your hubby to still make Mother's Day special for you!
DeleteI also got Conceal, Don't Feel when it was free, and I really liked it! I think it was pretty clean!
Happy belated birthday!
ReplyDeleteRe-reading older favourites is a great way to escape from reality.
I agree, Melissa!
DeleteHappy belated birthday and blogoversary!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to hear you got to start at your new job, that'll be a new adventure (so fun that your sister works at the same company!) and great not to have to worry about that anymore.
Thanks so much, Lindsey!
Delete