Month in Review: January 2019
How many times in the past week have you heard someone say “wow, can you believe it’s February already??” So I won’t say it again 🙂
But WOW.
January is usually my month to hibernate, to refuel and recharge, to get the house a little organized, to REST. To be alone. I would come home from work at 4:30, put on my nightgown and curl up on the sofa and binge watch one series after another. Go to bed early. Take a break from the world.
NO BREAK THIS JANUARY! Ha.
And we’re already a week into February, the days are a little longer, and I have a ton of things to do in the new apartment. At least week after next I’m off work for a week, thank goodness cuz I really need it. I’ll try and do a mini-recharge, but…it’s not the same.
Anyway, I feel like I barely kept up with the blog in January…I have a faint memory of having a couple of 4-post weeks (my new schedule for 2019) and then BAM, life got in the way.
So to recap what did go on in January…
My highest viewed post was “Dreaming About Change” about my crazy dream of Janey getting stuck in the walls of the new apartment! I wore this floral top from Seven7 jeans that I just adored! It was a rental from Gwynnie Bee and IÂ held onto it for quite a long time waiting for the price to go down but…in the end, cooler heads prevailed and I sent it back. But I have it in my Shoptagr now and maybe the price will drop before it sells out!
Next was “Ch-Ch-Changes” when I revealed that I was going to be moving…I just didn’t know yet how soon! I combined my new favorite leopard cardigan with a denim blouse and black skinny jeans and loved it!
And the third most viewed post from January was “Week in Review: Week 150,” which surprised me.
I ended up on an unplanned clothing shopping freeze due to moving work and expenses. So I have nothing new to show, but that’s okay. I spent barely any time browsing online or reading other blogs so I have no favorite outfits to share. I bought packing items but I think I’m going to write a blog post about surviving a move and how to pack in an organized fashion (ha ha, yeah, me) so I’ll share my tips and tools of the trade then.
I only read one book and I only managed that because it was an audio book. Have I told you guys how much I love Audible (#NotSponsored) and listening to audio books while I’m driving?? LOVE. If you haven’t tried it, you should. If you’re one of those people who says “I prefer holding a book in my hands,” yeah yeah yeah, me too, try it anyway. I know you can do a one-month free trial. Just try it.
Anyway, in January I listened to The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. It won a bunch of awards, so someone liked it a bunch. I’m not exactly sure how I felt about it. It did take me a long time to warm up to it. A long time. If it had not been an audio book I probably never would have gotten through it. The story was good, it just didn’t grab me. But here’s a thing I’ve realized about myself in the past few years – I rarely enjoy stories about men as much as I do stories about women. Is that a thing? Or is that just me?
Yeah, so while January was a hectic month, it was actually a pretty boring month. I really just looked at apartments online and in person, threw stuff out and packed. Sorry. But that’s life. And that was January. Fingers crossed that February is a little more entertaining!
jodie filogomo
Actually a post about moving could be SUPER helpful. With a checklist. And ways to get rid of things. See?? You’re full of great ideas.
I have a leopard sweater on my wish list….and since I already have a couple of chambray shirts…I want to recreate that look!!
Hopefully Feb. will be a little calmer for you. Moving is one of the hardest things.Even with help. There’s just so much topsy turvey.
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
bettyewp
Working on that post this weekend for next week!
julia
So, that is funny but I feel the same way about men and male authors! Like, what are you going to tell me that hasn’t already been said by you all already and really I don’t care anyhow! This must be why men are afraid of post-menopausal — we don’t give a f*** about them and their feeling and their experiences. Yawn. Julia: Propping them up since 1967.
p.s. and I haven’t even had coffee yet today! Boom!
bettyewp
Hey guys, watch out for Post-Coffee Julia!
Karen
Lol, I feel that way about stories about men too. At least when I was a little kid, innocent and naive, I could pretend I was Huckleberry Finn sailing down the Mississippi and not think about the boy/girl stuff. I could be just like Huck Finn. Then I got older, and reality set in. Sigh. So I’m over reading about men, what more can they say that hasn’t been said a million times already? And don’t even get me started on their female characters, because of course they know women better than women know themselves.
bettyewp
Ha ha, men’s female characters! Yeah, even the great Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer never held much appeal for me. Although last year I did read (and don’t know how this even came to me but), oh shoot, I can’t think of the name right now, but it’s by Laura Hillenbrand (Hildenbrand?) who wrote the Seabiscuit book, anyway, about men (true story) and in particular one man who was a Japanese prisoner of war during WWII, and it was quite captivating. Unbroken – that was the name of the book. And I remember being so surprised at how into it I was. That seems like the mark of a good writer to me – someone who can pull you into a story you thought you’d have no interest in.
Jacki
I love Audible — been a member for years. I won’t admit to how many books I listen to a month, I’m an addict. I’m a mystery/crime/history/biography fan. I read way too many kindle books a month and I always have a ‘real’ book in the car in case of emergency. I do love to read — no matter the format. They all have their benefits.
bettyewp
Hey Jacki! I also love to read, but as I’m older, busier and seemingly always tired, I find it more difficult to read a “hard copy” book. It’s hard for me to get in a comfortable reading position anywhere, and if I do, very soon my eyes are closing and I’m asleep. So Audible has been a blessing for me. I look forward to someday having more time to read.
Iris
I don’t listen to audible – though I do love to hear books read. I seem to always be busy and I have to sit down and concentrate with I’m listening – don’t drive very far (for sure). We used to always listen when we traveled – but I don’t do much of that these day (thank you God). Don’t really have any other excuses.
I know you’re glad the move is over with – hopefully your next week off can be a bit restful.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
Sometimes if I’ve had an exhausting day or even in lieu of a nap on a weekday afternoon, I’ll just lie down, close my eyes, and listen to a chapter or two. It feels totally indulgent but sometimes we need that!
Nancy
Can’t wait to ,,see,, your new appartment! I hope you will be very happy there.
Susan Marinelli
The worst of it is over. How cool is that?
Rest, relax and listen to Janey purr. You deserve it.
bettyewp
Yes, very relieved to have that part behind me…as well as the “unknown” part of moving to a new place. And as difficult as it was to get all that done in the span of a month, I’m glad I got it done that way, otherwise my whole Presidents’ Week vacation would have been spent packing and stressing…and now, instead, it can be spent continuing to settle in and getting to do some fun things (which seems like a very long time since I got to do much of that!).
Janey is a LUNATIC.
Cheryl Tucker
I prefer books about women too! My favorite as a child was the Susan B. Anthony biography. Next on my list is Micelle Obamas book. I feel the same a male doctors, like what could they possibly know about a woman’s health? It sounds like a hectic January but that you took it in stride and came out on top! Don’t you love the part of moving after you are physically moved and you can start nesting? You are an inspiring woman Bettye and I love to hear what you have to say! Have a great week!
Peace!
Cheryl
bettyewp
I’m finally starting to feel a little settled in. Once I get a sofa I can unpack the living room. I’m going to look at one tomorrow – fingers crossed it’s as nice in person as it looks in the picture. Thanks for your kind words, Cheryl.
Clover
So glad you are moved. Moving is so challenging. On moving day, I always always swear I will never move again.
Yes! I find I really gravitate toward female authors. I do read Alexander McCall Smith and enjoy his books immensely. Other than his, I can’t name any novels I’ve read by men in *years.* I want to support women writers as much as I can.
bettyewp
Moving, challenging, yes 🙂 Ha, as a renter you NEVER get to say “I’m never moving again,” cuz it’s just not up to you! This is twice now in 10 years that landlords have said to me “you gotta go,” cuz they decided to sell. I really really loved my other place, too. How come the owners of the crappy places never sell out from under you?? Ha.
Clover
Right, you don’t have that control as a renter. Though, come to think of it, that’s never stopped me from shouting it at least a few times during any given move. Lol
Many years ago, my (now) spouse and I were eating supper one evening and looked out to see three “suits” standing in “our” backyard. We walked out and acted a bit puffy, “Can we help you?” And they were all, “Nah, we’re good. This property just sold and we’re putting in a condo development…” We had to skiddaddle within a few weeks’ time, and 30 years later, there’s still no development.
bettyewp
Well, THAT’S annoying!!!
I have no real “I’m never moving again” wish. I’m not sure how long I’ll be here with the higher rent. And I definitely see a move to California in my future when I semi-retire. AND I would like to spend a little more time living in Brooklyn as I got skiddaddled (to use your term) out so quickly the last time. And I still have mad love for it. But I won’t live there again while I’m at this job, that was a 100-mile roundtrip commute each day, lots of car expenses, additional taxes taken out for “city living,” (which is stupid cuz Brooklyn isn’t “The City”), etc. So I have to see if I can work it in between semi-retiring and heading to California…and, of course, then my income will be more than halved, so…how would I afford it?? These may all be pipe dreams, but they’re the only dreams I got so I’m going with it.