I stopped counting the years and count my experiences…

My hibiscus produced three flowers over the last two weeks. It’s pretty easy maintaining hibiscus indoors — all it needs is lots of sun and water. It’s growing season so it needs to be fed frequently. My kitchen window is the perfect home for the hibiscus.

I just started my apples theme for “Eat around the World” this month. I know it’s not quite autumn yet, but whenever I see more types of apples at the grocery store I like to try as many as I can.

Yesterday was my birthday. I’m officially 34 years old. A month ago, I thought to myself “really? I will be turning 34?” I still feel like 30 or 31. I think I stopped counting the years after 30 and nowadays count my experiences. It’s gone by so fast but at the same time so slow. It’s been a busy past year with having a baby while working through this pandemic that never seems to end.

Speaking of work, I was offered an opportunity for an interview. It’s with the same employer, but at a different location. The title would be a major promotion with higher pay but the commute will be much farther. I reviewed my application for this position and I did not checkmark that area because I already knew it was too far. It was tempting to accept the offer to interview because I knew this was a job I wanted. But for the sake of my wellbeing, I declined the invitation for an interview. I already decided it was either get promoted at my current location or transfer to a health facility closer to home.

Reads of the week

Books I am currently reading:

• Educated by Tara Westover (audiobook from the library) – This is a very American story. It’s a memoir about a woman who grew up with her survivalist family in rural Idaho. She never went to school because her father was paranoid about public education, hospitals, the government, and his mom. Westover’s mom tried homeschooling seven of her children but ultimately gave up so most her kids did not learn how to read far later in life. But at the end of it all, she got her Ph.D. at Cambridge because she desired education. It is a very American story because her parents center their values around self-reliance and boot-strap living – themes commonly found in American literature. Also, I want to highlight her parents because I know many people just like them — I see them everyday.
• Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty  (e-book borrowed from the library) – I was on the queue for so long for this book. I believe I requested it at the beginning of the year.
• From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding by Jesse Thistle (e-book from the library) 
• Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson

Books finished

A Promised Land  by Barack Obama (in audiobook, from the library) – After almost 30 hours and several renewals and long waits in the queue, it’s finally finished!

#weekendcoffeeshare