Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
My Week in Review
Happy Sunday! Another week in the books. I was busy again at work, but at least I feel more competent with what I am doing, so it's a lot less stressful. I have also grown my list of people I can reach out to for help. Now I can rotate my questions.
I was excited to get my daughter her Christmas gift. She mentioned it, so I bought it immediately.
You know how after you buy something, those things and related items pop up any time you are on the web? Well, the unsigned version of this popped up. I was pretty surprised that I paid an extra $100 for Jim Boeheim's signature. But, you know, anything for my little sloth. I have indifferent feelings about my college, so I love that my daughter enjoyed her time at SU so much. I'm actually a little jealous. Any of you out there have a lot of love in your heart for you alma mater?
Other than work and reading, I really didn't do anything this week. Kiersten sent me a link to this monitor that attaches to your laptop, so I could have two screens, but from what I read, the app we use, Citrix, will only let me stretch the screen to encompass the two screens. I really miss my two monitors. Anyone have any experience with this? We got more communications from my company suspending in person meetings and business travel through the end of March 2021, AND they are on-site testing those who are working in the office. So, I think I may be home for a while, and a bigger screen would be a worthwhile investment.
Time for cute animals!
the perfect yoga partner
— Humor And Animals (@humorandanimals) November 11, 2020
(🎥 @vegastories ) pic.twitter.com/3n5t8vqF3F
Social distancing. pic.twitter.com/2L05fg0K7h
— Back To Nature (@backt0nature) November 4, 2020
This is the best basketball match ive ever seen!! 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/HrCZMr5czs
— Nature & Animals🌴 (@AnimalsWorId) October 31, 2020
Let's Discuss!
- Wendy shared her top ten most spectacular falls (and I laughed a LOT)
- Katie tells us why she doesn't knock people for what they read
- Join Shannon for Shattering Stigmas
- They're coming - THE SWOON AWARDS
On the Blog:
- Monday: #AmReading YA - A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
- Tuesday: TTT - Sing a Song
- Wednesday: CWW - Wider Than the Sky, Mean to Be
- Thursday: Blog Tour - Everything I Thought I Knew by Shannon Takaoka
STACKING THE SHELVES
Publicist:
- In the Penalty Box by Lynn Rush, Kelly Anne Blount
- Not Our Summer by Casie Bazay
- Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney
- You Were Made for Me by Jenna Guillaume
- Up All Night: 13 Stories between Sunset and Sunrise
What I Read Last Week
Books
- Wild at Heart by K.A. Tucker - ★★★★
- Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake - ★★★★ 1/2
- Just Our Luck by Julia Walton - ★★★★★
- Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill - ★★★★
- Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala - ★★★★ 1/2
- The Perfect Score by Maggie Dallen - ★★★★
- The Setup by Meghan Quinn - ★★★★
- Flirting with Scandal by Chanel Cleeton - ★★★★
- Taking Shots by Toni Aleo - ★★★ 1/2
What I Am Currently Reading
So, yeah, I clicked another widget, though I already had 18 January review books. I just was in the mood for something on the lighter side, that I knew I would enjoy. Entangled books always hit the spot for me, and In the Penalty Box being a YA hockey romance made it even more appealing. It's getting the job done too, because I am plowing through it.
Madsen is another reliable reading source for me, and so far, Always a Bridesmaid has made me laugh quite a bit. Another good choice for me.
- In the Penalty Box by Lynn Rush, Kelly Anne Blount
- Always a Bridesmaid by Cindi Madsen (audiobook)
What I Plan to Read
- Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan
- Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant
- Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis
- If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
I'm sort of ambivalent about my alma mater, but my daughter is starting and loves it so far (even though virtual) and I'm glad she picked a school she loves so far. As for two monitors- I really miss them at work and should really set myself up with another one here at home.
ReplyDeleteSocial distancing :) love that!
Be well this week Sam!
I couldn't imagine going to college and not being on a campus, though, my family lived about 2 miles from campus, so I had to commute. I still went to class. I hope your daughter gets to have a tasted of the full experience soon. I am not giving up on the two monitors. Still researching.
DeleteGreat gift for your girl! It's such a good feeling to get something that you just know someone wants and will appreciate/enjoy. I miss my two monitors at home, too. I'd grown so used to them that it does make some tasks a bit clunky now. Some things I actually put off to a day that I know I'll being in the office. It'll probably be a few weeks until I start In the Penalty Box but I'm looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteWell, she sent me the link. I cannot take credit for coming up with it on my own. When we lived together and spent more time together, I could collect clues of what she wanted. It's hard now. Penalty Box was cute. It had just the right amount of drama to keep it interesting and lots of heart.
DeleteYay for finding the perfect gift! I feel indifferent with my alma mater. It was definitely the right school for me, but it just felt like a school to go. Our county has more restrictions coming in so I don't know if things will be changing at my work or not. I took Friday off so I don't even know what's going on. I just started there in June when they came back to the office, so I wouldn't really know how to work from home. I can easily learn of course, but year, I have 3 screens at work. And I'd have a difficult time trying to do my job with one screen, but again, I'd adapt if need be! Lol.
ReplyDeleteNice new reads! All totally new to me ones. I hope you enjoy them all!
Here's my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I didn't really find it, since she sent me the link, but I am glad I have a gift for her. Three to one would be a hard adjustment. I could ask for a desktop set up from work, but then I would have to decide if I want to invest in a desk. It's hard when I know this is sort of temporary. I am managing with the role I am in right now, but when I asked to step in with something for my own team, it was so hard with only one screen. Decisions, decisions.
DeleteI went to 4 different colleges and feel ambivalent about all of them. They were mostly just super expensive and kind of boring. Good luck with your monitor situation! I’ve never needed 2, so I’m no help.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Wow! Four schools. I have both my bachelors and masters from the same school, but honestly, I the reason my masters is from there was because it was the closest school offering my program. I didn't really want to go back there.
DeleteRoman Jewel looks pretty good - I might have to add that to my tbr!
ReplyDeleteAlways up for an R&J retelling
DeleteMy college was a very strange experience for me. Private New England school with lots of wealthy East Coast prep school grads. I loved my classes, but didn't make that many friends. All the same, I did recently buy an overpriced hoodie from them when my school started a "wear college gear Friday" thing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing my silly list!
I went to the college 2 miles from my house. I didn't get to live on campus and I kept seeing people from my high school (regardless of the fact that the school was huge). I have a fundraiser shirt I bought after super storm Sandy, but it was more like a "we were in this together" sort of thing and not any sort of affection for my school. Your silly list cracked me up. I will always share things that make me smile and laugh.
DeleteWe use Citrix too and I invested in a big screen as my company's laptop was really small! It's worth the investment Sam.
ReplyDeleteNo alma matter for me as this does not really exist here.
And I laughed at that basketball match!!!
Those birds belong in the NBA. They were fabulous. When we first started WFH, they said it would be a few weeks, so I never invested in anything. The attachable monitor is interesting. It about $300, not too bad, since I am saving that amount on my train fare each month.
DeleteI didn't live on campus. At the time that I went to college, the school that I went to was a commuter college with everyone living off campus. Most people just lived at home with the parents or were older students who had a family so it was a different experience than what my daughter is getting. I went to school and then went back home and didn't really look to it for entertainment. I am reading a lot of 2021 books right now even though I should be reading all the books I missed this year. Oh well, that is what is appealing to me so I am just going with it. I hope you can find a bigger monitor. I have a really big wide one at home that can be split for 2 screens and a two monitors at work. I hate having to deal with a single screen. I agree that it would be a good investment if you can find something that works for you. Have a great week and enjoy all of your new books!
ReplyDeleteI lived home too, because we were 2 miles away. My mother wasn't paying for me to live in the next town over. I set aside a few books, that I might try on audio, but I am more or less done with my 2020 ARCs.
DeleteThose animals are sooo cute!
ReplyDeletetoo cute, right
DeleteI'm fairly ambivalent about my alma mater as well. I mean, I had a decent time, but it was just school and I paid a LOT of money. Perhaps it's just that I prefer not to be reminded of how much it cost me!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter was lucky. She went tuition free, but there was something nice about how personal the experience felt. Even her graduation felt sort of special compared to mine, and it had all these nice touches because she graduated from the visual and performing arts college.
DeleteMy husband is constantly complaining about his company laptop and how much he misses having two large screens! They tried giving him another screen but of course it wasn't compatible with the tablet they gave him.
ReplyDeleteI loved college and I try to follow what's happening there and support whenever I can!
I never went and got equipment from work. I could get a desktop, but I don't really have the space. I have just been using my mac. I think if I had gone away to college (I had to live home), and my school wasn't only 2 miles from my home, and I had an easier major, maybe I would have liked it more.
DeleteYay for feeling competent with your job, that’s a bit how I feel with mine now. Smart thinking have a list of people to approach with questions, I only have one person so feel like I bit of a nuisance.
ReplyDeleteYou use citrix for work? You can have 2 screens with it, you need to change it to windowed mode and then drag the window to be between the two screens you’re using and then change back to full screen and it should automatically change to the two screens. You do need them both to have the same acreen resolution, though, otherwise it can cause a little screen size weirdness. I used it in my last job and my current one.
I was so stressed out my first two weeks in this position to where I was not sleeping and had a tummy ache. It's much better now. I am definitely going to have the kid try your citrix trick for me with my TV and see how it works out.
DeleteHappily Ever Afters was a really sweet read!
ReplyDeleteAlso we use Citrix too! It took me three months, but I finally got it to work while WFH!
Yeah! I want all the sweet reads. So ready for it! Wait, just getting Citrix to work or using two screens?
DeleteWe're back into a freeze lockdown - we lost a few things (like capacity/eating indoors) but it's basically what I've already been doing so lol But that means my husband is back to working from home more again. he was just starting to go in 3-4 days a week.
ReplyDeleteI love that socially distanced meme lol
Karen @ For What It's Worth
I saw a lot of restrictions going into place out west. They lowered capacities here, but our gov is meeting with CT, NY, PA, and MA to make some decisions. All these restrictions don't seem to be making much of a difference. If anyone goes out, even for an "essential" job or shopping, they are still at risk, then they bring it home, and the whole family is infected (which is what they are finding a lot of in my area).
DeleteThat's great work is going better! And yay for getting your daughter's Christmas gift. I wouldn't say I really LOVE either of my colleges (undergrad and grad) but I'll sport some stuff. Not going to buy anything too expensive though! haha
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Me too. It was really stressful there for a while. I mean, my kid has the coordinated of Syracuse tattooed on her arm. She loves that place.
DeleteI have some sentimental attachment to my alma mater, mainly because it's where I met my hubby. Glad to hear work is getting better for you. I know what you mean about two monitors. I have a company-issued laptop but it's just so inefficient without a second screen. I finally just gave up and started using my desktop since I had already purchased a second monitor for that.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good reason to have warm and fuzzy feelings for your school. I never invested in any sort of permanent stuff, since this is all temporary. I might cave and get the attachable monitor though, because I don't have to dedicate space to it.
DeleteGlad you got Christmas sorted for your daughter! I went on a shopping binge and got most of mine done last week (I think it was last week?). :)
ReplyDeleteI miss my office set up. With the return to lockdown here, I'm only getting into office briefly once a week and my teenie work laptop is now driving me nuts. My company has a scheme where we can submit requests for equipment to improve our home office set up so I may end up doing that if it's going to drag on all autumn/winter...
I like the sound of the Madsen book! I've loved some of her books but also had a few that have left me underwhelmed... I'll see what you think before making up my mind on Always A Bridesmaid. :)
I admire you getting the holiday shopping done. I just struggle with my dad's birthday gift less than two weeks ago, and now I have to come up with another. --sigh-- Same here. I can request a desktop, but I don't have a space for it, since I don't use one at home. I don't think I want to invest in a desk, you know, since this is not forever (right?). Bridesmaid was cute. It was another fun entry to this series. Have you read the first book? If so, it continues very much in that vein.
DeleteThat's one of the most unique Christmas gifts I've ever seen - I didn't know it could be a thing. To me, school was just school (though our universities are very different from the whole American college thing - it's not like we get the chance to feel like we "belong" somewhere).
ReplyDeleteI loved all your pics and links, but that basketball match was top notch LOL. I laughed. It's incredible how they know to put the ball in the right basket. There should have been 3 players for each team though...
Good luck with your screen issues!
Sort of like people who bought a piece of the Berlin wall. It's amazing the things people could monetize. I wish I was as good at b-ball as those birds. Amazing.
DeleteWhat an awesome gift for your daughter, she's going to be so happy you got that for her! And I'm looking forward to your thoughts on Always a Bridesmaid, that book looks beyond adorable! Ohhh I ♥ my alma mater. I was only 4.5 hours away from home for college, but Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA completely embedded itself into my heart and soul. I loved every minute there and all of the beach time I got with my roommates. :)
ReplyDeleteJen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog
I KNOW the kid will like it, because she picked it out. It's so hard to figure out what to get for her, since I don't see her much. Always a Bridesmaid was fun. I wanted to smack Ford at one point, but good ending and liked the sneak peek at the next book. I love hearing all these college love stories. My college was in the next town, about 2 miles away. It felt like high school, but harder.
DeleteI'll keep that in mind for Ford lol, thank you! And that's amazing you were able to go to college so close to home, but I'm sure I'd feel the same, hugs!
DeleteI give very little thought to my alma mater, I'll admit. It's not that I disliked it or anything, I just don't have a whole lot of loyalty to it or lasting school spirit.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
At least you don't have negative feelings though, right?
Delete