Monday, January 2, 2017

2016 in Review

We are a day into the new year and here is the recap of what happened in 2016. In regards to my reading, I completed 74 books! This was an increase over 2015 as I finished 68 that year. My reading is on a steady track with fewer children about, less of their "things" to attend, and more free time to spend between the covers of my latest selection.

I discovered a few new series. I've been enjoying the Black Dagger Brotherhood books from JR Ward. Pure steamy, trashy, vamp romances, but with a bit of kick-ass action. I've continued to enjoy the Maisie Dobbs series from Jacqueline Winspear. Maisie is always a good read and the London setting makes me quite happy. I have rediscovered Juliet Marillier and am loving her Blackthorn and Grimm books. She takes Celtic tales and twists them into mysteries. It was fun to read the latest Flavia book from Alan Bradley, along with the latest Lestat book from Anne Rice, and other series from authors I have followed for a while.

It was a good year for reading.

Of course, 2016 saw the election of Trump. The deaths of so many of my youth's cultural icons, Prince and Carrie Fisher to just name two.

My oldest graduated from college, found a job, an apartment, and has launched into adulthood with style and confidence.

Work has been good for both the hubby and I. The other two kiddos are doing well. Both will graduate this year, one from high school and one from her undergrad degree. The boy is off to Bama and the girl will be doing a fifth year to earn her master's degree and sit for her CPA.

We have a lovely vacation planned for May to celebrate all of that good stuff.

I did not blog nearly as often as I did in 2015, but am hoping to return to form in this new year. I will be scaling back my social media wanderings on Facebook and Twitter. It has become a chore instead of a fun thing to do. The phone will be placed on the charger away from easy access until I break the habit of scrolling through post after post.

So, that is it. Here we are in 2017. I'll turn 52 this year. And while the day outside my kitchen window is foggy and gray, I'm hopeful for another good trip around the sun.

Toodles.