Catching Up...Something New?

I'm going to try a new manner of sharing what's going on in my life - reading or otherwise.  I'll call the posts - Catching Up - and they might contain almost anything.  In my pursuit of simplicity on this blog and also taking a step away from formal reviews, I plan to "catch up" now and then or maybe weekly - but not on a set schedule.  I could do the Sunday Salon, which many bloggers use, but I don't want to tie myself down to one particular day.  I plan to continue a weekly offering of Waiting on Wednesday (upcoming books to highlight - mostly mysteries) and Saturday Snapshot (pictures taken by me or family pictures).  We'll see how it goes - so, be looking for the title of "Catching Up...".  Whatever I'm sharing in particular will be after the three dots - hopefully with a zingy twist.

Do you ever end up with all your annual or semi-annual checkups occuring back to back?  I've spent this week and last visiting my doctors - a well-woman visit, a dentist visit (teeth cleaning), a mammogram, and Monday, eye doctor.  Whew!  Why don't I just spread those out?  I'm supposed to return to the dentist at some point for a couple of tiny fillings.  I'll get around to it, but I was disappointed that further treatment was necessary.  I haven't been wearing my mouth guard (yes, I'm a grinder) and so, that's what I get.  All else seemed to be good.  I always get a little nervous though.

I've been working with a personal trainer in the last few months and my sessions are coming to an end.  I'll be on my own for exercise, but I think I've got a plan for continuing to make progress on the strengthening front.  I've also been "learning" to cook again.  In the last few years, my hubby and I have eaten out a lot - time constraints and the whole "too tired to cook" excuse.  Now that we are living in an area that doesn't have a restaurant on every corner, I'm back in the kitchen.  We're also trying to eat healthier and my old way of cooking is just not great.  So, I'm learning about cooking fresh things, veggies and fruit and fish (at home no less).  I'm marinating meats and we're using that new outdoor kitchen grill a lot.  It's a whole new way of eating.  For me, butter has always been a favorite food group (yes I said group - I could put butter on anything).  Olive oil has become my best friend and I'm not tempted to slather it on a piece of bread and munch on it (oh, I don't have much bread around either).
 
On the reading front, I've finally picked up a few books in Robyn Carr's Virgin River series to finish that one out or finish all those that are available at this point.  I went over to NetGalley and got the one that just published and also one that will publish in December.  I wrote about these books earlier this year - Robyn Carr's Virgin River Series.  I've finished:

• Promise Canyon
• Wild Man Creek
• Harvest Moon
• Bring Me Home For Christmas
• Hidden Summit (reading now - publishes in Dec)

I like the characters in these contemporary romances.  They might be a little racy for some, but you could just skip right over that part.  The whole town of Virgin River is populated by people that I've come to love.  I'll be sorry to be caught up, but I think I'll be looking for another series like this.

I've also been reading Deborah Crombie's long-running mystery series, starring Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James.  I'm taking that one slowly and finished the 4th entry - Mourn Not Your Dead - earlier in October.  Otherwise, I'm listening to some re-reads in audio - Nora Roberts' Three Sister's Island Trilogy and Louise Penny's Gamache series. 

So, what do you think?  Could you read a "catch up" post every week or so?  This sure seems like a mish-mash of items, but I think it will suit me well.  Have a good weekend and happy reading!