Sunday Salon: April 22, 2018

My life in books: 

• Not that I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser
• Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp
• The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn--exciting adult thriller

Challenges progress:

• Non-fiction--My goal is 20 books and I've still read 19. I didn't add any in the past two weeks.
• Literary Voyage around the world--Read books set in as many countries as possible. I have read in 12 countries so far.
• Literary Escapes--Track the US states. I have read books set in 16 states so far and in the past weeks added Alaska and Ohio.
• Read all of the ALA YA Award Winners--I have already read 5 of these winners.
• Motif Reading Challenge--I have done this each month so far. For April the motif is Local, which I just found out includes my country so I am counting Before I Let Go by since it is set in the US.

My life outside books:

Working:
Negotiations with our school district went really well last week and we are just about ready to send it out for a vote. It feels so good that this is becoming a collaborative, calm process with respect on both sides!

Family:
My daughter and I were supposed to go to New York to visit the college she is going to next year, but a couple days before the trip was to begin, we both just couldn't do it. We were still on antibiotics, we were tired, and we realized the trip was a ton of traveling (2 hour bus ride, 6 hour flight, 40 minute shuttle, 2 hour train ride each way) for a 2-day visit. So, we cancelled. We both wished we went, but we were both glad we had the days fo rest as well.

I did, however, got to Scottsdale, Arizona this past weekend, which is a much easier trip since it's only an hour flight from my local airport. I went with my best friends from growing up; I've known this group of women since 8th grade (one of them since I was 2 years old!). We had a weekend of relaxing and catching up, which we haven't done for about a year so it was really fun! There is something wonderful about being with people whom one has known for so long.

 We went for a hike in the desert, which was fun, but way too hot. I am not good in the heat since I don't sweat so I just get super red and super hot. 

 We ate healthy, yummy food all weekend, and spent an afternoon lounging on the lazy river at the resort. Not a bad way to unwind. We were mostly device-free, which was really good. 

And these yellow trees were in bloom all over Scottsdale