Saturday, September 26, 2020

Hurricane Beta Leaves His Calling Card

 

If they keep coming at you, one of them is bound to hit you. 

And Beta did. It was a little hurricane with winds just 50 mph, but it managed to drop ten inches of rain on us in just a couple of days. We woke up the morning after it pushed in to find that Beta had blown a big sycamore limb like a sword into our garage roof. My husband, of course, had to climb up on the roof in the wind and rain and pull that limb out and patch it as best he could, and that scared me more than having a limb stuck in the roof. But, all in all, it could always have been worst. 






The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce
Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I challenge everyone to read True or False. We could all use a little help reading and thinking more carefully in these times. The Library of the Unwritten and Gods of Jade and Shadow both took me out (way out) of my usual sorts of reads. The Music Shop was completely charming, and it inspired me to find Rachel Joyce's newest book that is being published soon. It's probably just how my mind is working right now, but King Arthur reminded me of America during the years I've been alive and how an idealistic system can deteriorate because of the human desires for money and power. Begin Again sent me looking for more of James Baldwin. Stepping Stones is a marvelous little graphic novel, great for kids of blended families, I think.


Have you read any of these? Thoughts?





War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy...76% read

Devotions by Mary Oliver...63% read

How to Draw Your Beautiful Ordinary Life...44% read







It's the weekend of the National Book Festival, usually held in Washington D.C. each fall, but this year held virtually. Some of the authors I hope to hear are Gene Luan Yang, Chelsea Clinton, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Téa Obreht, Peter H. Reynolds, Colson Whitehead, Madeleine Albright, John Grisham, Sabaa Tahir, Salman Rushdie, Don Tate, Jason Reynolds, Jon Scieszka, Mark Doty, Bill Buford, Marlon James, Mo Willems, Saeed Jones, Kate DiCamillo, Ann Patchett, Sophie Blackall, Walter Mosley, Juan Felipe Herrera, Robert Pinsky, Emily St. John Mandel, Deborah Hopkinson, James McBride, Jerry Craft, and Nic Stone.





1. Just a hole in the garage roof. It could have been worse.

2. We are (hopefully) close to the end of hurricane season.


3. The Good Place. So much fun. 
Thank you to whoever recommended it to me.
And, please, share your suggestions for what else I need to watch.




I'm happy you found your way to the Sunday Salon. There are no requirements for linking up at Sunday Salon; Sunday Salon is simply a place for us to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week. Sunday Salon is a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 

Some of the things we often talk about at the Sunday Salon:

  • What was your week like?
  • Read any good books? Tell us about them.
  • What other bookish things did you do? 
  • What else is going on in your life?

Other places where you may like to link up over the weekend are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.


My linkup for Sunday Salon is below.

71 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, I’m glad you and your husband are ok. I didn’t realise how many hurricanes are in that area just now. It’s not something we really get here in Scotland but we do occasionally get storm force winds.

    We love The Good Place! Especially Janet, I have my own little funko pop Janet and Michael. It’s so funny, I must rewatch it!

    Have a lovely week and stay safe!

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    1. This hurricane year is not a typical year. Thank goodness.

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  2. We loved The Good Place too!

    I don't know whether to be glad that it's just a hole in your roof or to feel bad for you. I guess the most important thing is that you are both okay.

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  3. Also a reminder that the Toronto International Festival of Authors is in October.
    https://festivalofauthors.ca/

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  4. Seeing that photo of the limb in your garage is quite daunting. That's pretty darned thick through. I don't know how he managed to get it out and I'm really glad no harm came to him in the rain. I hope that's the last of the ones that will be hitting you. I'm very glad you are all safe.

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    1. I don't know how he pulled it from the roof either. He had to use a chainsaw to cut it up so that it could be hauled off.

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  5. What a vivid photo of that tree limb! I'm so sorry that you guys had to deal with storm damage. Certainly lots of rain fell over parts of Texas, right? We got some, but not a huge amount and it was that rain that we get often from tropical storm bands that's sort of soft but will drench you if you get out in it. Not big drops. Good luck with getting your garage repaired and I would have been scared about my husband being on the roof at that time as well - though he would have been. Sigh. Hope you have a nice weekend and enjoy the book festival.

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    1. I'm glad you got some rain. I know it's been dry for you in central Texas.

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  6. more Hurricanes? Not great. I am glad you guys are OK.

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  7. As long as you are okay! We are on holidays with no wifi and really bad cellphone signal. So hotspot it is. Doesn't work all that well, so I'm just popping in to say hi and glad you are okay.

    Have a wonderful week and I will try to hop online if I can!

    Lots of love, https://elzareads.blogspot.com/2020/09/bestsellers-around-world-south-africa.html

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  8. 10 inches is a lot of rain. Glad no one got hurt with that falling limb hitting the roof.

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    1. Yes, but it has been very dry, so the ground soaked it up quickly.

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  9. We got rain out of Beta which was much needed. Interesting to see that you are enjoying "The Good Place." I watched a few episodes but just couldn't get into it, in fact found it annoying, but mine seems to be the minority opinion.

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    1. Interesting our different takes on The Good Place. Right now, I'll take any comedy I can get.

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  10. I was thinking about you as Beta was in the news and am so glad the damage wasn't worse than a limb through the roof, though that is scary enough! Hurricanes sounds terrifying to me, but maybe that's because we don't have them. Earthquakes I am fine with.

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    1. There are complete towns (Indianola, Velasco) that have been wiped off the map from hurricanes. That's pretty scary to me.

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  11. I'm glad the hurricane damage wasn't worse but I'm sorry that it happened! I get nervous when my husband has to get on the roof in dry weather; I would be a wreck if he had to do it in the rain.

    We just started season 4 of The Good Place tonight. I'd forgotten exactly how much I love it!

    That is an amazing lineup for the Book Festival. I didn't realize it was this weekend.

    Enjoy your week! I hope you can get the roof repaired quickly!

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  12. Glad you are ok! That is quite a hole in the roof. Seems like you managed to read a lot despite the storm.
    I've also read Devotions by Mary Oliver. Her poetry is so comforting and inspiring. I also love The Good Place and am enjoying Season 4 so far!

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  13. A few years ago I awoke at 4 am to a big boom. I looked out the windows but didn't see anything and then I turned on the stairway light and there was limb sticking out of the ceiling. It crushed my heat pump but at least I wasn't trapped upstairs. Have you watched Upload? It has some similarities to The Good Place with its own unique twists on life after death.

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  14. Men can be so stubborn LOL. I'm glad things turned out well for your hub....scary stuff.

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  15. One little hole in the garage roof can look like a good thing...especially when anything that happens could be worse. Hope you escape any further disasters!

    I like the look and sound of True or False.

    Have a great week!

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  16. Oh my goodness!! Glad you all are safe - my husband climbing on anything always freaks me out too!

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  17. Sorry to see the damage you got from Beta. :( But glad it wasn't any worse and everyone is safe.

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  18. Oh, wow - I hope the repair process for your garage isn't too bad!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. My husband got impatient waiting to hear from the contractor and decided to...yes, you guessed it...fix it himself.

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  19. Glad you're getting some repair. That 'Music Shop' book sounds interesting. I jotted it down.

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  20. Goodness me, you were both very lucky and unlucky. I hope the repair goes smoothly.
    You’ve read a fascinating variety this past week, The Library of the Unwritten and Music Shop are on my wishlist, I think I’ll add True or False as well for Nonfiction November.
    Thanks for sharing the link to the National Book Festuval, I’ve subscribed to their YouTube channel so I can watch a few of the talks.

    Wishing you a great reading week

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    1. I think all of us here in America need to read True or False. We seem to have trouble sorting out what is real and what is fake.

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  21. Oh my goodness, yes I would have been freaking out if my husband were on the roof. Even little storms can cause serious damage. Be safe!

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  22. Yes, just a hole in the garage roof, but still a hassle. Just a few more weeks and hurricane season will be over after a horrendous year.

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    1. I keep hoping that many things will change in a few weeks. Some things I may have to wait longer.

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  23. Oh wow, I'm sorry you had to deal with the hurricane and a hole in the roof. I really wish hurricane season was over already.

    Hope everything else is alright with you and your family!

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  24. Oh what a pain. Glad it wasn't worse and that your husband was able to get it out and temporarily patched. I'd have been a nervous wreck about that as well. My aunt lives in Fort Morgan, AL and Sally did some damage to her house. Thankfully nothing too bad but some screens and siding need to be replaced as well as some carpet due to wind driving rain sideways through an eve vent. It's been quite the hurricane season. Hope this week is a bit more calming and you enjoy your books.

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  25. Oh my, that limb could have struck a window or worse. Glad your hubby was able to take care of it without getting hurt. You read some good books this week. I read a few light breezy reads just to change my thoughts and to escape a little.

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  26. Glad you stayed safe during the hurricane season!

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  27. The National Book Festival sounds lovely- virtual and all!

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  28. So scary about the limb, but thankfully the garage and not the house. I have to catch up with the Good Place -- it's a fun series.

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  29. Hurricanes! Still one more reason to live in Northern Minnesota! I'm glad the damage wasn't worse. You read an intriguing assortment of books this week. I remember enjoying some of James Baldwin's books years ago. My reading taste seems to be getting much narrower these days - old favorites, science fiction and historical mysteries seem to be the only thing I can connect to. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  30. Another blogger I follow also had a tree limb go through her roof. Scary! I know what you mean too about going up there to patch it up and how that could be scary too with all the rain and wind. Wow.

    What bookish things am I doing? Nothing. I can't even finish the last 10% of the book I have. Too distracted and not feeling that great. Not sure what is wrong with me. Feels like an ulcer in the works which I hope is not the case.

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    1. No, just pass up the reading for now if it's not working for you.

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  31. Ten inches of rain is astonishing! We got some rain this week, but nothing like that. I hope you can get a professional out to repair your garage roof. Keep your husband off that roof! I have meant to read The Music Shop since it first came out, but alas, too many books... I hope you enjoyed the National Book Festival. So nice that these book events are held virtually so more can attend.

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  32. I read Begin Again and I just love James Baldwin. I've now read two of his books and have bought a few more. I read Silvia Moreno-Garcia's "Certain Dark Things" a couple of years ago and I have her "Mexican Gothic" on hold at the library. I also just picked up True or False based on your recommendation!

    I've been enjoying Schitt's Creek. I started it after it won all those Emmy's last weekend. Woke is on Hulu and that one was really good as well. Shrill on Hulu is also a fantastic comedy.

    I am so happy you are all safe! How scary to get a tree through your garage roof. Glad your husband got it out and the roof patched. My friend lives right outside Houston and said the flooding just missed her street. Hopefully the hurricane season is over soon. I've heard this is the strongest hurricane season in almost 50 years.

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    1. I hope you enjoy True or False. The content of the book was similar to information I learned in many of my classes when I was in school. Do kids get this today? I hope so.

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  33. My word, Deb - that tree limb could just as easily have been through the roof of your house! I didn't even realize that we're on the second round of storms. Take care!

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  34. That sure is some hole in the roof and some work to be done. No wonder you were concerned about your hubby getting up there. I think i will go take a look at True False. So difficult to know isn't it.

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  35. I's amazing how many storms we've already had this year. That's scary about that tree. Glad everyone is okay.

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  36. I can't believe I'm so behind on your blog!

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  37. I LOVED The Music Shop. I listened to it. Gods of "whatever" isn't getting it with me...maybe BECAUSE I'm listening to it. LOL

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