Welcome to the Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer to share weekly news and updates on what we’ve been up to on our blog, with our books, and book-related happenings.
And I Would Walk 500 More
Last week was a total contrast with the week before, weather-wise. The weather was so nice two weeks ago and I walked so much outside, but last week it rained/snowed pretty much the whole week and I didn’t go outside at all. I did manage to get some exercise indoors though. I paced while reading, and I set up my computer on my walking desk so I was doing blog stuff while on the treadmill too, which is great!
Except that I got a bit of motion sickness and I had to take a lot of breaks.
I had wanted to post more, write some book reviews, but didn’t feel up to it with the motion sickness. I also had a lot to catch up on with replying comments and visiting blogs, and I’m still catching up, but I think I’m getting better doing longer sessions on the treadmill/computer, and I’m sure it will get easier once I get used to it. It’s a chore setting up the computer, so I can’t just switch it out when I get tired of walking and want to sit. I mean, I can, but it’s a whole lot of work. And I want to get used to this because I think it’s better for my health in the long-term.
It’s getting better already, see! I’m writing this post while at my walking desk!
In other news, husband and I finished watching Formula 1: Drive to Survive, and I finished watching Blown Away. We are now watching Physical: 100 Season 2 together, and I’m continuing with my 911 watch.
I also got caught up on laundry, yayyy, but of course it never really ends. And I took a break on cooking last week and husband cooked instead. He sautéed some salmon belly which was simple, but oh so delicious!
All the happy things:
- We had our final check-in for The Count of Monte Cristo readalong and had a wonderful discussion that went almost 3 hours!
- I managed to finish The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie in time for the book discussion and we had another great discussion for it, plus, I ended up really loving it and now I’m obsessed and have started reading the next book!
- I organized my work space – cleared some old papers, threw away stuff I no longer needed. More to go, but it’s a great start.
- The bad weather didn’t get me down because I still managed to walk a lot – indoors, but it still counts! I’m getting into the habit of pacing while I read and walking on the treadmill while working on the computer, and honestly, it doesn’t come naturally and I get tired easily, but I’m looking at the long term benefits.
The Books
Books I read last week:
- The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande – I thought it was cool that a whole book was dedicated to the importance of having checklists. For the regular layperson like me, checklists are usually just part of the tools I use for convenience and keeping myself organized, and it has also saved me some stress many times, but in aviation, construction, and medicine, it can be the difference between life and death. I think checklists are worth implementing in any situation you can think of though, and I think the book is definitely worth reading.
- Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton – I didn’t expect such a heavy subject matter, but I think it was an important story to tell and I appreciate the author being vulnerable and telling her story. It’s given me a different perspective about the oil sands industry, and about male-dominated industries in general.
- Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel – This is my in-person bookclub’s BOTM for May, and I’d usually not read the BOTM so early, but I borrowed the book from the library before it was chosen for the BOTM, and I decided to just go ahead and finish it anyway. I might do a quick recap before the book discussion as a refresher.
- The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie – I just finished this book yesterday and I loved it! It was the highlight of the week! I had such an immersive experience reading it, plus having discussions about it immediately after. I’m still processing, or rather, I’m still half in the world of the book and I’ve already started on the next book, so I feel like I’m still immersed. Totally leaning into it!
Books I’m reading:
- Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie – Just started but already excited about reading more!
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou – I’m reading this on audio. It’s only 3 hours and I’m already halfway through. It’s breaking my heart a little.
Last Week on The Blog
- Top Ten Tuesday | Petty Reasons I’ve DNF’d a Book
- Monthly Wrap-Up | April 2024
- Time Travel Thursday | May 2
This Week
I’m so obsessed with The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie that I might try to finish the second and third books this week. Let’s see if I can do that!
How was your week? I hope you had a great week last week, and I hope you have a great one again this week!
I think I need to try pacing while reading. I can walk up and down my hall without worrying about running into anything or tripping. Trying to come up with ways to increase my step count with the rest of my schedule.
It’s quite perilous for me with three cats running around, but I’ve gotten good at seeing out of my peripheral vision to avoid stepping on them when I pace while reading!
Wow snow.
A walking desk sounds good. I do an hours walking a day on the school runs and that’s it 😂 I reckon that I would get motion sickness too!
Enjoy your reading and treadmilling!
Have a great rest of the weekend!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2024/05/05/sunday-post-125/
I don’t walk much in my regular day-to-day, that’s why I need to set up something that forces me to incorporate it into my daily life! I think an hour’s walking daily for school runs is great!
I have seen a lot about walking desks and given how long I sit at my own computer – it might be a good idea. Before I got sick with long covid, I used to spend part of my day standing at my desk instead of sitting. Kudos to you for getting it set up – and I expect the motion sickness will ease up when you get used to it. I hope the weather improves soon!
Thank you! I feel like standing at my desk would be easier for the motion sickness, but for some reason my body gets really tired and sore just standing and fares better if I’m walking instead.
I’m now thinking about getting a walking desk. I’ve been eyeing just a standing desk for AGES now, and I know both would be a good investment, but it’s difficult to save up for things like these. 🥺 Anyway, I haven’t been exercising at all which is terrible — I got so used to the long walks on campus when I was in university that I never got into any other excercise routine even after I graduated!
I get that! I got myself in trouble because I didn’t add any new exercise routine when my own everyday life got less active. I took it for granted that I never had to exercise before, and didn’t realize that it was because I was a lot more active! I hope you manage to get what you need soon!
Hopefully the weather will be nicer this week and you’ll be able to walk outdoors, which is always the best. I’m glad you are having some success with the walking desk! I’m currently reading on audio The Fox Wife, which I got based on your review. It’s so good.
That makes me so happy to hear! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!
I saw Physical 100 and I was curious about it. Is it good?
My husband and I both love it! The editing can be annoying with the repetitions, but it’s also very well-done, and I think the challenges are very creative. Culture-wise, I feel like the contestants sometimes push themselves too hard beyond what’s safe and I don’t know if that’s a good message to send, but it’s still very exciting to see them do it!
I never tired a walking desk though when i used to get to go the gym i would put my kindle on the treadmill and walk like that. I don’t get to do that anymore since my care giving job has gotten more demanding exercise takes a back burner. I am in washington state so the weather is typiccal for spring rain oh look sun rain oh look sun. Have a great reading week.
I used to watch movies while on the treadmill too, but I end up just not doing both so much. This is working for me so far because I end up with hours on the treadmill just because I’m doing work on my computer. Hopefully it works long term!
I easily get motion sick, so I get it. I usually listen to audiobooks when I walk or walk on the treadmill 🙂 Have a great week!
Motion sickness sucks 😭 but I’m determined to get better!
A walking desk sounds like i would take getting used to doing. I listen to audio while I cook, do yardwork and walk the dogs. So I think I’ll keep sitting for my desk. We are getting plenty of rain off and on over the next week so walking and yard work will be tricky.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
You’ve got lots of things keeping you active, you definitely don’t need a walking desk!
I have been thinking about getting a walking desk for a while, but I don’t work at home enough that it would feel worth it! I really should get a treadmill regardless, though. I hate going to the gym because I don’t want people to see me lol (I work at the high school in town, and all of the kids have access to the gym). Keep up the hard work, though! Any progress is amazing 💖
Thank you! I hate going to the gym too, I feel so lost and wouldn’t have any idea where to start!
I have Sea of Tranquility on my list this month too!
Jill
I really enjoyed it! I hope you did too!
Hopefully the weather will improve this weekend, yay. We’re back in Alberta and i’m ready for some warm days. I thought about reading the Ducks book — but it seems grim and heavy a topic. Good that you got thru it. You deserve a fun read now. cheers.
It is pretty grim. I didn’t expect that, but I’m glad I read it. Welcome back to Alberta!! I’m ready for the warm days too!
I always thought it would be fun to have a walking desk! (I hope that’s the right term!)
I’m also not 100% sure it’s the right term. I guess there’s no difference between a standing desk and a walking desk, except that you’re just standing for one and walking for the other! 😂
Your weather really is all over the place! It’s been so nice here. I really need to get back into walking. My husband and I did go walking a bit last week a couple of days when I was feeling well enough. I am glad the treadmill is working out well for you!
Sounds like The Count of Monte Cristo discussion was a good one! I saw a trailer for a new French movie version of the book that looks really good.
The Checklist Manifesto sounds interesting. I probably need more checklists in my life. Ones on paper. I do a lot of them in my head, but the older I get, that isn’t as easy. I got my husband a copy of Ducks for Christmas and he loved it. Like you, he hadn’t expected it to be so heavy subject matter wise. Hopefully I will get to it one of these days. Oh, how I love Maya Angelou! She’s one of my favorite poets. I hope you are having a great week!