Summer Vacation Reading Challenge

Pizza Party Style

I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid there were summer reading challenges. I don’t remember there ever being a pizza party involved, but my local library usually had a challenge where if you read X number of books, you got a free book at the end of the summer.

The library I went to as a kid is a prime example of 1970s Brutalist architecture. Translation: it was ugly as all hell but I still loved it because it was my childhood library.¹ There were a lot of different windows and courtyards and light coming in in various places. The library basement was often used for Girl Scout activities. It had multiple entrances and was across from a supermarket and next to a bank on Main Street. And I think they let you check out 10 books at a time. I might be making that up though; probably was less for children. But in the mythical memory of childhood summer vacations, it was 10 books at a time.

If you’re wondering what is Brutalist architecture and need a visual behold, Boston City Hall.

Also used as set pieces in various Boston set crime movies.

I hate summer. It is my least favorite season, and it is bearing down upon us. My controversial yet brave opinion is that no one really likes summer: they just like the extra daylight. Which honestly, fair! While I do love winter, I cannot fault people for being sad it gets dark at 4pm. But I do not actually believe anyone likes the heat. I think you are all lying.

I do not like summer because I do not like being hot. My people are mostly Slavic mountain people, and we👏🏻 do👏🏻 not👏🏻 do👏🏻 heat. My Italian people are Northern Italians, which also, again: no heat. And the little last part of me that’s Irish? What do they all have in common? Say it with me now… And if you’re wondering, it’s just me who’s the problem here. Literally everyone in my immediate family can sit on a beach for a full day and I will lose my mind after an hour. I need activities! I need stimulation! I need air conditioning! You know what accomplishes all of these? Books!

Also, my body is actually physically incapable of regulating my internal temperature, so I get hot and stay hot more easily than the average person. Thanks EDS! Ask me about the time I got heat exhaustion on three separate occasions while living in Savannah during the summer of 2023.²

So, how does a Certified Summer Hater™️ make it through the summer? She gives herself a Summer Reading Challenge, of course. I am also partially inspired by my friends at the Silent Book Club Newport, who are running their own Summer Reading Challenge.³

silentbookclubnewport

A post shared by @silentbookclubnewport

So here’s what I plan to read and write about this summer:

• Read a pile of books. Have not started that reading goal at all, and honestly probably should.

• Speaking of reading goals, I’ll do a mid-year check in of where I stand.

• I’ve got a nice little write up going about what strategies I use to read diversely.

• My friend Sam and I are going on a homemade reading retreat next weekend and I will report back.

• I’ve seen a lot more books about nuns recently and I want to investigate that.

• I will obviously tell you what I read in June, July and August.

• And maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally finish that stupid post on Men Have Called Her Crazy.⁴

I have not decided what prize I will award myself if I complete all of these. It probably won’t be a pizza party; I can’t have gluten any more. It’ll probably be more books, let’s be honest.

Translation: the post I had planned for today was not done so I’m chatting about summer reading instead. I’m trying to keep things Easy, Breezy, Beautiful Covergirl™️ here and not stress myself out too much. So my diversely reading post will show up in the weeks to come.

What are your reading goals for the summer? Will you give yourself a pizza party if you meet them? Tell me!!

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No New Books™️ Challenge

Ok last week of miserably failing at this challenge and then I’ll have something new to report!! Last week I had to (ha) buy another special edition as well as bought some books for my Dad for Birfather’s Day. What is Birfather’s Day, you ask? My Dad’s birthday is June 13th, which in the US always falls during the week of Father’s Day. So, we created the portmanteau. My phone officially recognizes it as a word now. Again: the rules of this challenge are not that I buy books specifically for me, it’s that I buy books at all. I was going to fail anyways with the presents, so might as well get a treat for myself, no? It’s ok, I know how ridiculous I sound, but I am still living in my delusions and I regret nothing.

• Longest streak: 38 days (January 1st - February 6th)

• Last streak: 14 days (May 7th -20th)

• Current streak: 0, After all, tomorrow is another day!⁵

Mug Moment of the Week

This week’s Mug Moment of the Week once again features 1) a guest mug and 2) my intrepid and innovative cinematography. This is my mom’s newest mug, and it has birds on it. I truly thought my extra bendy joints would allow me to turn the entire thing around without having to set it down, but alas even I have my limitations.

Story time! Back in 2016, I went to Colorado Springs on a business trip. It was my first time in Colorado, my first time on a military base, my first time getting altitude sickness. Also - I ended up taking a photo that haunts my friend Emily to this day.

Air Force Academy Campus and Chapel in Colorado Springs

Now, my friend Emily is a birder. Which means I have become a birder because I now 1) document the birds I see and then 2) announce them to Emily as proof that I have seen them. Or (more accurately) I send her a picture of a bird and say, ‘What is this?’ This is how I learned that ‘regular finches’ do not exist.

Anyways, at my Colorado Springs hotel, I apparently saw a mountain bluebird. It was sitting outside my window, I snapped a photo and sent it to her because it was pretty and blue. Emily proceeded to lose her mind because apparently these are (somewhat?) rare birds⁶ and I just SAW ONE sitting outside my window. Did I save this photo? No of course not so I can’t prove that I saw this bird, other than the fact that Emily reminds me from time to time that I did.

The client I visited took me to see Garden of the Gods early one morning as I was still jetlagged.

Why is this important? It’s not, but mountain bluebirds are on my Mom’s mug so there you go. How many bird related anecdotes do you have?

1. I believe it’s been partially renovated/expanded now. It was supposed to be torn down but people got up in arms about it because of the historical importance of said Brutalist architecture.

2. I had to start staying inside between the hours of 10 and 4 and not leaving, otherwise I’d be at an increased risk for fainting.

3. Disclosure: I am friends with the woman who runs this account and business. This wasn’t paid or sponsored, I just think what they’re doing is neat.

4. For the record: I am not calling the book crazy. I am calling my inability to take the time to finish that post crazy. I am sure it’ll take me MUCH LESS TIME than I am worrying it will.

5. Have you enjoyed my random quotations to liven up the same number over and over again? I hope so.

6. Clarification: rare to us New Englanders. Their habitat and range is very much West Coast of the North America.