Hello, Yeah, It's Been Awhile

(Not much, how 'bout you?)

It's July...  mid-July even.  We've done some things and been some places, but I've not been inspired by the Blog Muse to write, but I hate to leave this space languishing any longer.

Here's some plausibly entertaining things that I've been up to this summer:

1) Streaming TV (of course)  I've completed 5 seasons of the sleeper series Friday Night Lights that ended a few years back. I've thoroughly enjoyed it as evidenced by the fact that I've watched about 76 episodes, each 44 minutes in length over the last 7 weeks.  It's good to have ambition.



You don't have to appreciate football or the Lone Star state to be hooked on this series.  At the center is Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his wife, Tami (Connie Britton) who guide the team and students of Dillion, Texas.  Almost every football player or student that interacts with the Taylors are missing something in their own family dynamic.  One player is loosely watched by an older brother, his parents having abandoned the family at different points; the new QB1 (I now know that's a thing) is also missing a mom and dad figure while taking care of his grandmother with early dementia.  Several times throughout the show you can't help but want to take these fictional characters under your wing and say "You belong here...It's gonna be okay."  A new saying for Sarah from the show is "Go, Baby!" in her four-year-old country twang.  Did I cheer for the Panthers to win State?  Oh yes I did.  I clapped my hands like it mattered.  And my affinity for 'ball sadly diminished after I snagged a husband who really likes it.  All Fall, All Ball.  I'm sure if I was as supportive of Ball as Tami Taylor was, ours would be a stronger marriage.  You can put me your prayer list concerning this need in my marriage.  I covet your prayers.  Ten Years tomorrow :)

2) Books (ditto)

Some good beach reads this summer:

Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers
The One and Only by Emily Giffin
The Girls of August by Anne Rivers Siddons
Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
Restless (non-fiction, so not a typical beach read but I read it this summer so I'm counting it) by Jennie Allen


3) Hold on to your hats: A 10K
Mid-thirties rite of passage--check.  My "training" consisted of running maybe 12 times with my handy app, but hey, I ran 3 times one week and completed the Peachtree Road Race (ran 2, walked 4).  That's more movement than I've clocked in some time, so I'm proud.  The race was a throng of humanity with over 60,000 runners on July 4th.  Great atmosphere for a casual runner.  So glad I did it.

4) I Enjoy Satire:

Here are a few clips that nail the self-obsession of the "Tens" so far  (which I participate in as I am writing a blog).





Hope you are passing away these lazy days of summer in equally productive ways!