Maggie made a wonderful birthday post back in February, so now it is my turn! I have joined the 31 club and could not be happier to enter this next year in a new city, a new house, and a new job. Here are some fun facts, thoughts on books, and other things I'm feeling like hyping up.
I went to school with Maggie.
Maggie and I both went to college in Indiana together. Classes and parties and storm chases, oh my! Post college, Maggie went the forecasting route, and I went the research route. Grad school in New Hampshire, research out of California, teaching in Ohio- all of which were great! Maggie and I had always been readers, so when she started her blog, I was an avid follower! She was nice enough to let me guest post, and the rest is history.
My 'day' job is bookseller.
The job sort of fell in my lap, and I am so incredibly happy it did! Teaching during COVID times was exhausting, and I was thinking of taking a bit of a break and finding a new direction to take things. My husband and I moved out west and while in the process getting settled in, I followed every local, indie bookshop in my new city. The one that I frequented most posted online that they were hiring, and after an interview process, I was hired! I now spend my days reading ARCs, shelving books, hyping authors up on social media, and helping with the store's displays. I work with the best coworkers on the face of the planet, and it is wonderful!
Audiobooks are my best friend.
I am a fan of having a good book physically in my hands, but these days I can't sit still long enough to finish one this way. Audiobooks have been there to help! I can listen while gardening, painting, grocery shopping, or driving, and my multitasking brain is happy. If you haven't already visited your local library to get a library card and join Libby and/or Hoopla, I highly recommend you do so! If you don't want to go on the waitlist for books, check out Libro.fm- an audiobook platform that supports indie bookstores and authors. I have finished so many books this way, most recently the Monk and Robot series by Becky Chambers. Highly recommend you check these two books out!
In addition to books, I'm an avid TV fan.
I try to read every day and catch up on one episode of a TV show every day. Recently, I have been watching the new season of The Bear, a show near and dear to my own Chicagoan heart. I am halfway through My Lady Jane (see my previous post about the book and my upcoming post about the "second" in the series!) and am OBSESSED! So sassy, so silly, and so satisfying. I also need to catch up on Season 4 of The Boys, though if you have ever seen this satirical, superhero dramedy, you know that you really have to be in the mood to stomach the crazy insanity that is that show. I will get there by the end of summer!
My husband and I like birdwatching.
During the pandemic, John and I did the typical lockdown things- read books, made sourdough from scratch, etc. We additionally started sprucing up our Louisiana house's backyard, which led to new gardens and a single birdfeeder. We soon heard the most beautiful bird calls, watched the coolest birds swoop down and have their fill, and downloaded bird apps on our phones to familiarize ourselves with our birdie visitors. Our new house in New Mexico boasts two bird feeders, two suet feeders, a hummingbird feeder, and a bird bath, and we are still expanding!
We have also discovered Wingspan.
John mentioned to a coworker that we were enjoying our birdies, and they recommended we look into the game Wingspan. It is an AWESOME game where you complete challenges and collect birds, food, eggs, etc. to complete your aviary. It requires strategy to prioritize individual rounds and winning the whole game, and it can be completed in a single sitting, which is key for us. It is a bit confusing the first time you play, but we were able to find a good instructional video on YouTube that helped a ton. The art on the cards is absolutely gorgeous, and we are learning even more bird facts with each time we play the game! If you are a boardgame fan, this is a must for your collection.
So, my birthday post shall conclude with this advice: buy local/support indie, listen to audiobooks, catch up on some TV, watch some birds, and play a fun boardgame with someone you love! I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about me, and thanks for reading the blog!
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