It's Sunday/Monday: Check-In Time

Linking up with The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer and It's Monday! What are You Reading? hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. In Sheila's absence, share your Monday post on twitter #IMWAYR.

On the home front:

Slowly, slowly working my way through the review backlog. 

A bit of gardening this week. Garlic and leeks growing well, abundant supply of limes and happy to finally have a win over the bugs and get a crop of sweet tomatoes.

Watching:

Part way through season 3 of Hannibal, devastated this is the final season but I'll get over it, HA ... Scandal returns in just under 2 weeks!

Melanoma Clinic this week for 6 month skin check, a necessary evil, and another chance to poke and prod my friends that say thanks for the reminder each time I post. I hope you've had your skin checks and not just talked about it!! 

Check out the Melanoma Research Foundation and their #GetNaked campaign ... it may save your life.

And finally a few scrapbook layouts I did at retreat almost a month ago. They all happen to be photos of my beautiful granddaughter using kits from the talented Sue Tonga (with just a few adaptations) 

#FitReaders Weekly Check-In

 

#FitReaders co-hosted by Felicia @ Geeky Bloggers Book Blog and Jen @ That’s What I’m Talking About. FitReaders is a great way to stay motivated, accountable and it's more fun having bloggy friends to check in with. If you also have a fitbit and want to add me, let me know :)  

20% over target again this week ... yay me! Walking is still proving a distraction from my hands and since it works about as well as pain medication (not very well) I may as well walk lol 

Fitbit Steps: 

Mon: 8319 steps

Tue: 15,680 steps ~ walk

Wed: 7568 steps

Thurs: 16,110 steps ~ walk & gardening

Fri: 7347 steps 

Sat: 7329 steps ~ walk to park with Mia 

Sun: 8100 steps ~ neighbourhood walk with Bella

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Giveaway: 

Win the eBook Forever boxed set which includes the three full-length novels leading up to Forever Bound. International. Enter here

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Reviews & Posts: (click on title)

THE PRECIOUS ONE by Marisa de los Santos (audiobook) ~ messy family stuff at its best!

IF YOU ONLY KNEW by Kristan Higgins ~ I loved it! See my joint review with Karen

THE PARIS KEY by Juliet Blackwell ~ a just-because favourite read this year!

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Finished last week: 

PRETENDING TO DANCE by Diane Chamberlain ~ excellent

THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE by Amy E. Reichert ~ another fave this year

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This Week's Reading List: 

UNDER THE MOON by Gabriele Wills (Muskoka Trilogy #3) ~ finally finishing this fab trilogy. Page 50

HAPPY GO PALEO by Irena Macri 

LONE STAR by Paullina Simons (audibook) ~ not quite half way through. Good narration

THE OUTBACK MIDWIFE by (audiobook) ~ hoping to get to it this week.

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Reviews Coming: 

THE LITTLE FLOWER SHOP BY THE SEA by Ali McNamara (audiobook) ~ good listen

ALMOST FRENCH by Sarah Turnball (audiobook) ~ loved it

ON RUE TATIN: LIVING AND COOKING IN A FRENCH TOWN by Susan Herrmann Loomis ~ wonderful for anyone dreaming of living in France

THE WATER DIVINER by Andrew Anastasios and Meaghan Wilson-Anastasios (audiobook) ~ I bawled my eyes out! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. I love this meme, it helps me stay on track ... well, most of the time. 

On the home front: 

Last week was a busy one, the usual stuff and still making a birthday present for youngest son's 21st, a lovely midweek catch up with friend and author Sherryl Caulfied (Iceberg Trilogy) which involved a 5km walk and yummy breakfast. Reviews and blog visits were thin on the ground but I did get a couple of reviews scheduled for this week ... and if I stop reading for another week I might actually get caught up HA

I finally had the nerve conduction tests on my hands but have to wait until later in the week for results. Still hanging in there with the gluten-free thing until I get those results. My gorgeous granddaughter came for her regular sleepover and we had a lovely couple of hours at the park.

what a joy this little sweetpea is

watch out nonna, I'll be running soon

Tomorrow it's been 7 years since mum passed away from Nodular Melanoma so I'm heading back to Toowoomba to take her some flowers and then catch up with a friend of 25 years. As usual around mum's anniversary I'm on my soapbox to say please please get your skin checked, including your scalp. The Melanoma awareness campaign is huge but many people are still unaware of the relatively innocent looking but very dangerous Nodular Melanoma (mum's was pink and on her scalp so it looked very much like a pimple. She didn't get much time and was sadly in the 2% that die from a stage I melanoma) 
Skin checks peeps xx

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Reviews & Posts: (click on title)

WILD WOOD by Posie Graeme-Evans ~ loved it, took me straight to Scotland

#FITREADERS WEEKLY CHECK-IN

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Finished last week:

absolutely nothing 

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This Week's Reading List: 

Same as last week . Maybe I'll get through an audiobook while driving?

A DESPERATE FORTUNE by Susanna Kearsley ~ 15% done

ROSE UNDER FIRE by Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity #2) ~ audiobook

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Reviews Coming:

LEAVING HOME by Jodi Picoult (audiobook) ~ three short pieces on the subject of leaving home. Review Wed

THE LAST ANNIVERSARY by Liane Moriarty (audiobook) ~ review Wed

CONSPIRACY GIRL by Sarah Alderson ~ my first Sarah Alderson and I really enjoyed it. 

GREAT-GRANDMA'S GIFTS by Marianne Jones ~ sweet little children's story

TELL THE TRUTH by Katherine Howell (Ella Marconi #8) ~ great installment, sad it's the last in the Ella Marconi series ... for now. I'm not ready for goodbye! 

THE LAST TIME WE SAY GOODBYE by Cynthia Hand (audiobook) ~ a departure from Cynthia Hand's usual, very moving. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. I love this meme, it helps me stay on track ... well, most of the time. Thanks Sheila! 

What a busy, busy week. It started with my skin check (many of you know my mother passed away from early stage melanoma on the top of her head) and I had a very anxious 24 hour wait for results on what specialist thought may have been a pink melanoma. Thankfully I got the all clear but once again it's timely for me to remind everyone of the importance of regular skin checks!!  

Monday to Friday in Chinchilla and lots of special time with my granddaughter.  

love the little cutiepie (9 weeks)

Not much happened on my blog while I was away (I'm disappointed blog fairies didn't write a few reviews for me ... slackers!!) but I'll catch up on reviews and blog visits this week, I promise. HA

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Reviews & Posts: (click on title)

BOOK BLOG WALKERS: Weekly Check-In

THE GLASS KITCHEN by Linda Francis Lee ~ squeee I'm lovin' on this one, 5 star fave!! Weekend Cooking Post.

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Finished last week:

ACCIDENTS OF MARRIAGE by Randy Susan Meyers ~ intense, emotional, loved it! 

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This Week's Reading List: 3 talented Australian authors this week

BITTER GREENS by Kate Forsyth ~ for book tour, loving it

COME WHAT MAY by Sherryl Caulfield (The Iceberg Trilogy #2) ~ so excited for this one

OUTBACK GHOST by Rachael Johns (Bunyip Bay #3)

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Reviews Coming: 

LYREBIRD HILL by Anna Romer ~ brilliant!! Review Tue

THE DARKEST HOUR by Barbara Erskine (audiobook) ~ great, love Barbara Erskine

MAYBE SOMEDAY by Colleen Hoover ~ so good. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Update :)

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

Callum went in on Wednesday for multiple mole excisions and thankfully while the results came back with severe abnormalities, all moles were removed before becoming melanoma. He has had a fair amount of pain but considering the number of excsions that was to be expected. He's been a very good patient and getting this 1.5litre slurpee from the 7-Eleven "Bring your own cup day" sure put a smile on his face LOL

Heartfelt thanks once again to everyone for the supportive, caring comments and emails, it has truly meant a lot during this stressful time.

Winners of Giveaways:

Dreamland by Alyson Noel ~ Linda

The Kingdom of Childhood (ARC) by Rebecca Coleman - Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

*Top news for this week is BANNED BOOK WEEK. I'm participating in Sheila's promotion of banned books. Come back tomorrow for my review of Twenty Boy Summer and a clue you'll need to enter Sheila's awesome Banned Books prize package ending on Saturday.

*I'll also be posting my review of THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman and hosting a US giveaway.

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Finished last week:

COLD KISS by Amy Garvey ~ cold shivers and happy sighs

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This Week's Reading List:

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh ~ page 70 and loving it!

WITHOUT TESS by Marcella Pixley

IF I TELL by Janet Gurtler

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Reviews still to do:

THE GIRL OF FIRE & THORNS by Rae Carson (review scheduled this week)

LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols

MY SOUL TO KEEP by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO LOSE by Rachael Vincent

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and an Update

A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :)

In the midst of all the medical drama this week I received this t-shirt from Aussie author pal Katherine Howell. Katherine is a former paramedic, now best-selling crime writer. I can't rave enough about her work and I'm so look forward to her new novel, SILENT FEAR coming Feb 2012. Katherine surprised me with this "It's Criminal what a girl has to do ... to get a good read" Sisters in Crime t-shirt signed by herself and one of my other favourite suspense/thriller authors Tess Gerritsen. (love Tess's work!!) Thanks Katherine, this was a real cheer-me-up :)

Ok, back to update; they got all the cancer this time and after a few days of looking like a cross between a clubbed seal and the elephant man I'm slowly returning to normal. My stitches come out this week and Callum goes in on Wednesday for his multiple excisions. Obviously this week is going to be extremely stressful waiting on Callum's results so whatever I manage to get done on my blog will be a bonus.

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Giveaways:

DREAMLAND by Alyson Noel  ~ enter here. Ends 24th September (US/Canada)

KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman ~ enter here. Ends 25th September (Aussies only)










Winner of ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE by Gabrielle Zevin: Bookish in a Box

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I posted reviews for: (click on title)

FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater

and I also did a post on the Top 100 YA List which proved I need to pick up the pace lol

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Finished last week:

THE KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD by Rebecca Coleman - review, giveaway 27th Sept

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This Week's Reading List:

COLD KISS by Amy Garvey ~ page 65 kind of creepy but good

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

WITHOUT TESS by Marcella Pixley

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Reviews still to do:

THE GIRL OF FIRE & THORNS by Rae Carson (review scheduled this week)

LOVE STORY by Jennifer Echols

MY SOUL TO KEEP by Rachel Vincent

MY SOUL TO LOSE by Rachael Vincent

Just Plain Scared

This week has been a traumatic one and I could spend this valuable time writing a book review which would be much easier task but as I found after mum died and at the end of my abusive marriage, the hardest things to do are the ones you most need to do.

That's what my blog began as, an online journal to plot my journey through grief. I guess it's not for everyone; sharing intimate thoughts and feelings with the blogosphere, I was certainly more comfortable sharing my grief over mum's death than imparting the details of my broken life and spirit dealing with the mostly hidden abuse of a now ex-husband :)

But through sharing, which was certainly a very cathartic experience I also learnt how many others have been through similar things or are currently living in similar circumstances. The comfort and support I received from blogging friends and complete strangers was often overwhelming and when just one person said "thank you for being brave enough to share, you've helped me" it made the difficult experience of 'putting it out there' even more worthwhile.

So ... this week my youngest son, Callum (17) and I had our annual skin checks. Many of you know that my mum passed away from Melanoma 3 years ago in the most horrific way imaginable so we are very conscious of giving ourselves the best chance of never having to deal with this hideous disease. On tue I had a spot removed from the side of my nose which unfortunately came back cancerous so this week I'm having more excised to achieve complete clearance. It's not melanoma which is great but still I wish it wasn't on my face; I've had that many surgeries over the years that my body resembles a train track of scars so really, what's one more?? but I'm still vain enough to wish it was anywhere but my face!

However this was minor in comparison to the shock we got with Callum's skin check. The moles on his scalp have tripled in just 12months which in itself is most unusual, but even more so considering the mop of hair he has on his head. 4 or 5 of them are severely abnormal so they are being removed along with another 5 or 6 highly abnormal ones on his body.

Callum was obviously devastated, he has his year 12 Formal in just a month and he's embarrassed about having bald spots if they shave his head for excisions. I was so shocked that I didnt even ask this question. It seems like such a minor thing in the face of what could be but to Cal it was a big deal. The fact that he'll be spending school holidays with approx 30 - 40 sutures in 10 different areas of his body is another detail that really pissed him off.

I feel completely helpless, it's in the hands of our specialist and God and I don't seem to be able to hold on to anything positive at the moment. My head knows that my fear for Callum is the very reasonable and understandable fear when your child is facing any sort of danger or trauma. My head understands that a lot of the fear is due to my mother's melanoma being on her scalp and this brings up feelings of panic and terror. I can reason all this in my head but my heart still skips in panic to the worst case scenario that I cannot possibly voice to family and friends.

I'm blessed, I'm not alone, I have a sweet, caring man by my side now, Mike and I went to school together and he is stepping up to hold my hand while my best friend Alaine is away and my sister is there for us, as always. I've learnt a lot in 3 years of therapy, I'm using all the techniques I've been taught, I'm staying busy and now I'm putting my fear out there; I'm facing it, in the hope it makes me stronger.

Please keep Callum in your thoughts and prayers, his excisions will be the week after next unless the surgery gets a cancellation next week but as he needs extended appointment time it's unlikely and please, please get your skin checked

Sheree xx