2022 ~ #JenBsBooks

 

Another year of reading in the books ... literally ;)  Similar stats to last year, with most numbers bumped up just a little. This graphic is a GoodReads recap... I record, rate and review all my reads there.  Here's a look (with tiny covers) of my year of books organized by rating.  27 5* reads, which is the most I've ever had in a single year. A cousin had posted some favorite reads right when I'd finished up all my holds at the library, so I put his top10 on hold. I had to wait weeks for some of them to come in, but several 5* were from that recommendation.

I've shifted even more to audiobooks ... I didn't keep track of how many I actually read myself, but it wasn't many. I just have more ear time (being able to multi-task while working, driving even while watching #5's basketball games) than eye time ... and my eyes continue to deteriorate. I finally got glasses this year.

Here's my Audible stats ...

Audible is only one of the platforms I listen to audiobooks on. I use my local library/Libby more than Audible, plus other apps like Chirp, Kobo, Hoopla. I added a second library this year too. Love the library! I noted in my monthly collage that all my May books were from the library, I try to note on a GoodReads shelf which are library loans,  AudiblePlus/KindleUnlimited (started a six month gift subscription in November), or ones I've purchased. Ironically ... the recommendation "It Ends With Us" was one of my first reads in January 2023 (before this Audible report came out). 

You can glance at previous annual reading recaps ... 

2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014

At the end of each month, I'd create a collage of the covers of the books I'd read. You can check out the monthly collages on the family blog (JenBsBooks2022). I LOVE Goodreads, but have heard about another book tracking site called StoryGraph. I was able to import my Goodreads history and get some additional data and graphs. 

These are my imported tags from GoodReads ... going forward on Storygraph, I'll be streamlining my tags to (1) if it was audio or read with my eyes (2) stand alone or series and (3) where I accessed it ... from the library, a purchase, KU, Audible Plus, and if I have the book in my KindleCloud. I'll continue to use ALL my tags in GoodReads.

Below you'll find the annual GoodReads reflection ...

What I Was Watching ~ Q4

Quarter four ... the last three months of the year. 15 series, 15 movies ... that isn't counting all my Christmas Movies (in their own post). While several of the series were watching upstairs, seven of them were watched while working out, as were all the movies this month. But surprisingly, Hubs was in a watching mood, so SIX series were with him, and Ally McBeal is one I watch when I can't sleep ...

• AllyMcBeal (S2&3): As mentioned above, my Ally McBeal sessions are when I can't sleep. I've seen the shows before, so I don't need to pay close attention and it's okay if I drift off. I wasn't sure it would stand the test of time, but I'm really enjoying it as much as I did years ago. Hulu. 
• For All Mankind (S3): For some reason this one was on my mind last quarter, and I thought my viewing of season 2 (which was way back in the first quarter of the year) was more recent, and was season three. I then realized I hadn't seen season three and was excited to watch it. I would have subscribed to Apple+ just for this, but #1 son got a new phone, and a free trial, so he signed in on the gym Roku so I could watch. I REALLY like this show! Another big time jump.
• Physical (S2): While I had Apple+ I watched the second season. As I'm into Zumba, the dance aerobic aspect is interesting. The show itself is a little dark, not really a "feel good" type. 
• Dead to Me (S3): This was getting a LOT of buzz. I'd really enjoyed the first two seasons, but it had been a while. I had to watch recaps to remember all that was going on. Nice to have a conclusion (even if the very end is open to interpretation). 
• Ghosts (S1): Like "The Office" and some other shows, this is one that originated in the UK, and then a US version was made. When I thought to start, I only had access to the UK version, so I went with it. Cute, but not super compelling to keep me coming back to the gym. 
• BlackBird: Another Apple+ ... and this one kept me coming back. The main bad guy was so weirdly but almost innocently evil. I didn't recognize him from CobraKai!
• ShiningVale: I didn't care for this ... had to push to finish.
• From Scratch: Lots of buzz about this one too. I liked it, yes, there were tears.
• Succession (S2): Watched with Hubs ... had to push to finish. No likeable characters and it was starting to drag some.
• CobraKai (S5): Perhaps this has run its course? Losing interest in the series.
• Welcome to Wrexham: I don't know that this would have appealed without some Ted Lasso love. Lots of humor, lots of proFanity. Interesting making a documentary about this, not knowing how it would turn out. Not sure if we'd watch a second season. 
• House of Dragon (S1): Hubs and I had watched Game of Thrones together back in the day. We waited until all the episodes were out before we started the season. I didn't love it to start, and was a little thrown by the time jump and change in actors, but it ended up holding my interest in the end. Wasn't quite ready for it to be done.
• Wednesday (S1): Lots of buzz on this one, but I was still surprised when Hubs queued it up, I wouldn't have figured it being one he'd want to watch. We're not really fans of Adams family (have seen a movie or two). This was cute, but we were ready to be done as it wrapped up.
• White Lotus (S2): The first season was SO weird! This isn't one I would have chosen on my own, but I was willing to watch with Hubs. The intro music is bizarre (Hubs said it was included on a Peloton playlist which really surprised me). Lots of sex and such

• Oblivion: Saw this on a list of "underappreciated sci-fi movies" and figured I'd give it a watch. Didn't see it on any of our streaming services, so I grabbed the DVD from the library (which Hubs teased me about). Liked it. Noticed it then was on a streaming service, so saw parts again as #3 watched it upstairs one day.
• Race: This was quite compelling. Interesting story and fun to see "Ted Lasso" coaching track in earlier days ;) 
• Luckiest Girl Alive: This kept my interest.
• Extremely Loud and Exceedingly Close: This one seemed a little slow ... but it has stayed with me. I've continued to think about it months later. Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock are in it, but the main role is the young boy. He reminds me a little of my nephew with some of his quirks and thought direction. The events of 911 are the impetus of everything. I was surprised a mother would let a child wander so much, yet the ending still caught me off guard. Loved it.
• District 9: This was a rewatch ... I was pretty sure going in that I had seen it before but didn't have a super strong memory of it.
• Alive: I'd read the book this is based on not long ago and wanted to see how the movie compared. I thought the film was good, although of course as always, left out so much detail that the book provides. 
• Passengers: I'd seen this one before and really liked it. One of the boys wanted to watch it, not on any streaming services, so we did an Amazon rental. I went ahead and rewatched it in the gym.
• Perks of Being a Wallflower: I'd heard buzz about this (movie and book) but hadn't seen or read it and thought it was time to remedy that. Liked it, didn't love it. 
• The Guardian: This movie was mentioned by my son's coach, and I figured I'd give it a look (also a library DVD borrow). Liked it a lot.
• Promising Young Woman: Sometimes I'll browse the "leaving" sections of the various streaming services to decide what to watch next (although ironically they often leave one service just to show up on another). That's how I selected this movie. Very sad.
• Lou: Ummm, didn't like this one. I'd actually started watching, then stopped a little way in and switched to the Christmas movies, and then remembered I hadn't finished. Not sure it was worth the time to finish. I was rolling my eyes.
• Still Alice: I actually started with the book ... but couldn't get into it (author narrating, and it wasn't working for me). Went straight to the movie. Very sad!
• The Outsiders: I think I've seen this before, read the book, but it's been ages for either. Borrowed the DVD from the library, and the sound was so low, I had to turn the volume up as high as it would go. I then noticed it was streaming on HBO, and the quality (picture and sound) was so much better. I know this is a classic, so many recognizable names in their younger years ... but it felt so dated and over the top to me. 
• Road to Perdition: Saw this advertised by Netflix on Facebook ... and couldn't find it on Netflix. Had to borrow from the library. Dark and slow and sad. I didn't really care for it.
• RIPD: Super silly, over the top ... but enjoyable enough for a workout show.

I must admit, my workouts have been more quantity than quality. I've been choosing a simple walk on the treadmill (3.5 mph) over the elliptical, which feels harder, even though it's nice to be able to jump on it quickly (I wear slippers instead of shoes on it).  Walking while watching ...

Christmas Movies 2022

Last year (in 2021) I only watched a couple Christmas movies. The year before that, in 2020 ... I watched 29 Christmas movies! I really hadn't watched many (beyond the most traditional ones, "Elf" etc), but it was in 2019 that I dedicated December to Christmas movies, while I was working out at least. I watched 13 Christmas Movies in 2019. And this year, I did it again. After Thanksgiving was over, I started watching "Christmas Movies".  From new releases with big name actors, to the cheesy "Hallmark" classics. From Netflix to Amazon, to HBO and Hulu. My treadmill time and elliptical exercise were also an attempt to get into the holiday spirit.

I started off with the "bigger" movies, with mainstream actors, on the HBO and Netflix. Amazon had quite a few movies, but some of the "freevee" ones were slipping into my "recommended" list (free with ads ... I do NOT do ads). Hulu ended up having a lot of movies (Lifetime, Halmark) - sometimes they wouldn't show up on my "watching" (I watch in stops and starts, during several workouts) and I'd have to manually search them. I gave up on a couple movies on Amazon after subtitle issues (no captions coming up, and another with the timing off).

I started the day after Thanksgiving, and got in 25 Christmas movies ...

Here's a recap/review ...

• Spirited: I thought this was cute. The dancing was SO energetic! Fun to see some of these stars (Ryan Reynolds) sing and dance. Ended up turning it on upstairs on Christmas Day too, to make the family watch a little. "Good Afternoon!"  HBO.
• Harmony Holiday: This was pretty cute, gal/singer on the road, needing repairs, cute town/cute boy. I wasn't sure about the "class" of kids ... only five kids, but I did enjoy their number. I liked the main gal's voice, and the original Christmas song. HBO.
• A Christmas Story Christmas: I didn't grow up on the original "A Christmas Story" but it's legendary in my husband's family (seriously, my BIL has a "leg lamp" and hosts a party every year for the unveiling. He has a big pink bunny suit too). So this was a fun look at Ralphie in the future, as well as many of the other "kids" now grown. Too bad they couldn't get the original parents to play parts.  HBO.
• The Noel Diary: A new release, featuring the guy from "This Is Us" ... cute enough. Netflix.
  
• Christmas With You: The "famous singer relationship with regular person" story (like "Marry Me and "The Valet") ... it's been done several times, but I liked this. Freddie Printze Jr .. a lot older than whenever it was I saw him last. Netflix.
• Falling for Christmas: Another 2022 release getting a lot of buzz (not all good). Lindsey Lohan, filmed in Utah resorts (not that I'm that familiar with them, I'm not a snow/ski gal). It was the story done in "Overboard" and it was cute enough.
• Christmas Catch: This felt pretty low-budget, and a little (a lot?) silly. Female detective, falling for the suspect, trying to find a stolen diamond reindeer ... Netflix.
• Father Christmas Is Back: Some big names in this one. Released in 2021, but I'd never heard of it. Four sisters, a father who hasn't been around but now comes to Christmas with his new wife. Not great, but watchable, at least while multi-tasking. Netflix.
• Naughty or Nice: This was cute. The gal from "One Tree Hill". Santa's magic book listing naughty or nice activities from anyone. A bit of a moral to the story too. Amazon.
• Surviving Christmas: Silly, over-the-top, but I didn't mind it. Big names in it. Amazon. 
• Hollywood Christmas: A "Hallmark" type, even though it was on HBO. Cute enough, story about making Christmas movies ...
• Nothing Like the Holidays: A little older, 2008 release, more mainstream (although I hadn't heard of it). Several recognizable faces. About a family from Puerto Rico. Amazon.
  
• Your Christmas or Mine? This was perhaps a favorite. Taking place in England, so heavy accents. Cute "switch" story as they each end up with the other's family. Amazon.
• Mistletoe Mix-up: Pretty classic "Christmas Movie" story, silly, over-the-top. Amazon.
• A Christmas Movie Movie: Two sisters get transported into a "Christmas Movie" ... silly, but kind of cute. Hulu.
• The Enchanted Christmas Cake: Corny title ... but that was what the movie was about. It actually wasn't as bad as the title makes it sound! Hulu.
• The Holiday Fix-up: I remember both these leads from last year's Christmas movies. A successful home improvement star returns to her little home town to help rebuild, meeting up with her old flame. Main memories of this were the handmade mantle built ... it was awful! And the dress the gal was wearing at the end ... it was awful! I really wanted to pull it up and show Hubs and ask if it was just me or if he thought so too. Hulu.
• A Merry Christmas Wish: I didn't care for the female lead. The male lead was familiar from a soap opera, back in the day when I watched those. Successful city gal inherits a childhood farm and puts on one last Christmas party at her late, great-uncle's request. Hulu.
• Christmas on Repeat: A slight break from the traditional romance Christmas story, with a little paranormal, groundhog day type thing. Kindof cute. Hulu.
• Christmas at the Drive-In: The gal from "The Wonder Years" all grown up. This one really stretched credibility ... forcing the owner into good-faith effort and making a drive-in work rather than selling it? A perfect wrap-up at the end.  Hulu.
• Secretly Santa: Cute movie about two app developers (both with an app to help you find the perfect gift) forced to work together. They met at a "santa crawl" - a term I hadn't heard of before, but heard a couple of times during Christmas movies this year - in disguise, so they don't know who the "mystery santas" were, but reconnect (still incognito) in chat, before they finally figure out who it is. Hulu.
• Catering Christmas: Cute movie about a gal/caterer and the grandson of a wealthy client. Hulu.
• My Christmas Fiance: Cute American gal/student at a resort restaurant in Italy helps out her boss pretending to be his fiancée for the holidays. This really had nothing to do with Christmas (stretch to included it as a "Christmas movie") ... It started out strong, but then got super ridiculous with his family, the spurned love interest (who his family wants him with) and the "duchess" played by Denise Richards ... and WHY was that character included? What did she bring? She even gets on the cover, although isn't even listed on IMDB (which has a trailer for a completely different show). Just weird feeling with this show (although I liked the cooking aspect and the other chefs, even though it was silly).  Hulu.
• Merry Kiss Cam: This didn't have to be a "holiday" movie ... a stretch to have it a Christmas theme. Otherwise, it was actually quite cute. I liked several songs playing in the background of the movie, but most weren't recognized when I tried to Shazam them.
  
• Christmas Movie Magic: Turned out to be a cute movie. A reporter comes to a small town to a small town to write an article about a popular old movie, trying to find a unique angle. Romance between her and the grandson of the owner of the theater. A music number at the end had a weird lip-sync feel though. Hulu .
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special: This one wasn't downstairs during a workout, but upstairs on Christmas Day. My son turned it on (Disney). Corney, but kind of cute. Funny, with Kevin Bacon theme. 

I couldn't quite fit the Guardians Christmas cover into my collage, so I'll show it here, along with the two movies I watched last year, that didn't get their own post (as there were only two!)

 

 

 

General "Christmas Movie" thoughts from this year ...

• I got married shortly before I turned 22 ... very young. Most of the "romance" in Christmas movies (and more) now are featuring much older adults. Mid to late 30s, established in careers. Some even later, with kids (after a divorce or death).
  
• Mainstream movies definitely have a different feel than the ones for the Hallmark/Lifetime channel. I didn't play any "Christmas Movie Bingo" but just Google that to see some of the stereotypical repeated themes. I had to laugh that a few of these Christmas movies had "Christmas movie" themes.
  
• Hulu surprised me by having the most options (that I hadn't already seen). There were still tons I didn't get to. I do like that Amazon has a basic "rating" (the Amazon stars) and the IMDB rating (the two do not always coincide) - that would give me at least a general idea when picking my next picture, which ones might be worth a watch ... although I was pretty random, often just going with whatever popped up next or was showing as a similar selection.
  

Still so many Christmas movies unseen, but there are more Christmas seasons to come.

 

 

Q3 ~ July/August/September

 Quarterly Recap and Stats

Weight ... I was actually making a little progress in August, but September had some struggles which resulted in eating/exercise issues, which showed up on the scale.  Steps & Minutes ...

Here's a little look at the actual activity record ...

It's the eating ...

I HAD been attempting to get back on the fasting schedule ... Totally stopped in September.

Counting Calories (MFP) still wasn't happening. 

No problems with my book consumption ...

To see my TV/Movies for the quarter - What I was Watching While Working Out.

Exercise Entertainment. Several different series (15) and 20 movies.

Family Photo Recaps ...

... and sleep.

What I Was Watching ~ Q3

 July/August/September

In the third quarter of 2022 ... (mostly) while working out, I watched 16 seasons of series and 20 movies. Some shows definitely have more action and excitement and get me excited to hit the gym again ... others, I had to push through a bit.

• West World (S4): There had been some discussion with Hubs as to if we might watch this together ... of course, he hadn't seen S3 yet, and I would have been okay with a rewatch of that to prep. Ultimately though, Hubs figured it had been too long since S1/S2 ... so I went ahead and watched in the gym.  Pretty crazy still, some fun throwbacks to the original season. HBO.
• For All Mankind (S3): Okay, I included the picture in my collage, and it came out June/July of this year ... but I didn't actually watch it yet! For some reason I got it mixed up with S2 in my mind. Need to get an Apple+ subscription again and this will be on the list!
• You (S1 & S2): I'd heard a lot of buzz about this series. S1 was pretty good. S2 ... started out okay, then went downhill and then went totally over the top. I pushed to finish the season but I won't be continuing on. Netflix.
• Sex/Life: Well ...yup, lots of sex. It was actually unsettling. Netflix.
• Emily in Paris (S1 & S2): I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Just a fun, silly, little show.
• Station Eleven: I read the book, but didn't remember it much. The series, well, the story, is weird. I'm not a Shakespeare fan. I ended up really liking the show though. HBO.
• The Last Kingdom (S1): I'd read the book here too, again, not really remembering it much (there was one scene that came back to me, but for the most part I really didn't know what was going to happen). It was good, but still a little tedious for me. Stopping at the first season for now, I might come back to it. Netflix.
• The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window: Ummmm, this gave me squinty, scrunched face. I didn't like it. I still have questions (the changing words on the tombstone?) ... just ugggg, whatever. Netflix.
• Archive 81 (S1): This looked intriguing and started off strong, but it started to drag for me and I had to push to finish. Total cliffhanger at the end of the season ... but I don't know that I'll come back (if it does get a second season). Netflix. 
• The Terminal List: High ratings ... but I didn't care for it. Just seemed so over the top. Really??? Not really even close to believable, and I anticipated most of the "twists" in the end. Amazon.
• Bridgerton (S2): This was actually in last quarter's watching, but I forgot to list it. I liked it. Will watch S3 when it comes out. Netflix.
• Ally McBeal (S1): I adored this show back when in originally aired. I wasn't sure if it would feel too dated for a rewatch now ... I was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed my rewatch. NOT in the gym though, this would be a little wind-down watch for me, on my phone in bed. I put it on the big screen once, but the quality isn't really there for a bigger screen. Hulu. 
• God's Favorite Idiot (S1): Hubs suggested this one for us to watch together. Super silly, but I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I would have thought. Would watch a second season if there is one. Netflix. 
• The Old Man: I'd heard this had some buzz, so Hubs and I gave it a try. Ehhhh. Like the leads, but this wasn't at all believable. Is that the girl from Arrested Development? Yes, it is Hulu.
• Succession (S1&2): Hubs and I had given this a try a long time ago, and we came back to it. None of the characters are likeable! Tag line: FO. Will continue on to S3. HBO.

• Top Gun Maverick: Actually went to this one in the theaters! Late to the party though, everyone else had already seen it and raved about it. I liked it. 
• Thirteen Lives: This had received some buzz, I really liked it a lot. Intense, even knowing the outcome. 
• News of the World: I'd read the book here and remembered it okay. I recall "hearing" Tom Hanks as the narrator (he wasn't), because I knew he was in the movie. It was good.
• Marry Me: Just a cute romance ... I actually think I liked "The Valet" better (similar storyline, earlier this year).
• The Lost City: Hubs had gone to this in theaters with a work buddy ... it was one I had been interested in. Sandra Bullock fan, even though I hated her sequined jumpsuit in the previews. When this hit streaming I watched, and liked it a lot. 
• Dreamer: This was actually really great. Ahhhhh.
• The Art of Racing in the Rain: I didn't love this as much as many. Maybe just too sad.
• Super 8: A rewatch. I can't remember where/when I saw this originally. I liked it ... with the 80s and kids it has a Stranger Things/ET feel.
• Warm Bodies: Rewatch ... and I've read the book. Cute movie. Thumbs up. 
• What Women Want: Rewatch ... still like this one.
• The Gray Man: Well ... that was over the top. Didn't like it.
• The Marksman: Didn't really like it ... just ... blah.
• The Gentlemen: I'd actually started this on my own and given up on it, when Hubs recommended it, so I gave it another try. Not really my cup of tea, but I was glad I finished it. 
• Sing: I'd never seen this ... funny to watch it on the heels of "The Gentlemen" with the same star (Matthew McConaughey), very different characters! Hubs also loves a certain scene (the ape playing the piano) so I've seen it (over his shoulder) a lot, but nice to see it in context (Hubs hasn't even seen it in context). Cute show.
• Purple Hearts: It was okay. I didn't care for the main gal's singing voice, or her songs. Didn't love how it ended "Let's keep this secret ... I'm going to tell the guy I own money to" ... um, okay?
• Rescued by Ruby: Cute show, but definitely had an "after school special" and/or low-budget feel. Loved the little twist ending though!
• 365 Days: Yes, I'm embarrassed I watched this. Just had heard a lot of buzz and thought I'd check it out.
• Cleaner: I liked this okay, although it wasn't anything that great.
• Prey: As this started up, I was thinking "this reminds me a lot of the old 80s movie Predator" ... ah, it is part of the franchise. I thought it was just okay. 
• Uncharted: Boy, if I thought The Gray Man was over-the-top ... this totally topped it! Had to force myself to finish. I guess this is based on a video game? Maybe you have to play the game to enjoy the film. I didn't. I thought it was totally stupid. 

So, some I liked/loved ... others just okay. 

What will I watch the rest of 2022?

2022- Q2 (April/May/June)

I was starting to get back into my exercise and eating routine after the accident ... I felt like March was the trial run, and then I should be on schedule for this next quarter. It didn't really work out that way. Sometimes it just clicks, and other times it's really a struggle. Still struggling. 

Weight did go down a little, but not much. I really have NO excuses, as during this time Hubs has gone on a weight-loss plan (SOTA) so we haven't had much eating out or late night popcorn temptations. He has lost 50 pounds! He's been very dedicated and eating things I wouldn't dream of putting in my mouth (I'm super picky, but ... yuck!) He's started exercising again, so we're even comparing steps sometimes:)

Seems like I was a little more dedicated as the quarter started ... then I slowed down some. We have been having some treadmill troubles, and that's really affected #4's workouts. But honestly ... I've just been walking, and the treadmill has been fine for that. 

Active minutes generally reflect the steps taken ... 

If you look over the last years, I've kept an excel spreadsheet tracking EVERYTHING ... but I got a little behind with my concussion and didn't get back to it. I have a wall calendar that I write down my daily workouts and step count on.

Zumba three times a week (M/W/F), pickleball Thursday mornings and then treadmill, elliptical and bike in the home gym. I haven't really done many weight workouts - still having dizzy issues as I move from vertical to horizontal (and there's often a lot of that in weight workouts, although I know I could still be doing more than I am). My shoulder has continued to trouble me, and I have been going to Physical Therapy for that and doing those exercises at home. I also used the calendar to write down what I've been watching while working out. I got through eight series and 27 movies! You can see more on #JenBsTV and #JenBsMovies HERE. 

 

...as per usual, it's the eating that does me in. 

I did pretty good getting back into fasting in April, slipped a couple times in May, and then pretty much bagged it for most of June. Tracking calories ... similar story. The averages of course are NOT correct for May/June, because those missing days were probably pretty high. I need to track calories for success. I know this.

... I had an earbud in and audiobook going whenever I could, so lots of books!

... and family updates on the family blog (April, May, June)

 

Finally ... sleep! I'm doing pretty good there. Zzzzzz...

School was still in session for April and May, but since #5 got his driver's license, I don't have to get up so early to get him to school (he liked to be there at 6:00am for basketball). As we move toward summer though, the sun rises earlier, and sometimes I still wake earlier than I need to. I SHOULD get up and get early exercise in!

What I Was Watching ~ Q2

April, May & June 2022 ... watched several series and quite a few movies while working out in the home gym. There were a couple watched upstairs (not working out) with Hubs, but most were while walking on the treadmill or on the elliptical.

We still had AppleTV for April, so I watched a couple of shows there. Severance was slow to start for me but then I got hooked. Quite the cliffhanger! I liked The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey ... premise reminded me a bit of Flowers for Algernon. Season 4 of Mrs. Maisel dropped on Amazon Prime, so I watched that. The Boys (S3) came out and Hubs and I watched that upstairs (and the last couple episodes won't release until July, but I still included it here - I have been watching s18 of Grey's Anatomy, and I'll put that one in the next quarter). Under the Banner of Heaven was getting a lot of buzz. I'd recently read the book ... I didn't enjoy the series at all though, it was a push to finish. While on the polygamy bandwagon, I re-watched some of BigLove. Everyone's been waiting for the fourth season of Stranger Things. My #5 is a fan, and stayed up until 1:00 in the morning when it dropped on May 27 and binged all the episodes. I took my time and watched them over the next week or so while in the gym. #4 had watched the first season long ago, then never continued. He did a binge to catch up, then watched s4 as well. The final two (long) episodes didn't drop until July 1 ... but I'm still including the series here in Q2 (and those were watched by July 2).

 Quite a few movies this quarter ... 27! More than double the first three months.

Sometimes I'm more in a movie mood.

A lot of times I'll check the "what's leaving" and use that to chose what to watch next. A few here were re-watches (Moneyball, Ready Player One, Social Network, Two Weeks Notice, Erin Brockovich, Warhorse ... & Topgun - I haven't seen the new one yet). West Side Story (eh), Spiderman, The Batman ... those were "new" and recently in theaters. The Valet was cute, and I really liked Hustle.

 

Movie memories ... fun to look at the collage and see which ones I really remember. And which I don't!

2022 ~ Q1 (Jan/Feb/March)

I had plans ... New Years resolutions and all that. I was going to get back on the weight-loss wagon. Back to IMF and counting calories. Upping the exercise, setting a 10k a day goal. Things don't always go according to plan.

January started off okay. It was really hard to get back into the fasting. Back in Fall2020, it just clicked, and it was easy. Stuck with it with success for about six months. I think I just got too flexible with the fasting, taking weekends off, then an evening here and there. I also NEED to keep up with the calorie counting, as even with limited hours, they add up.

 

Then there was the accident.

It was Sunday, January 23 in the evening. Normal day. I'd done my exercise, hadn't really fasted, eating late (around 7:00). I hadn't logged my calories for the day, but I'd eaten plenty. We don't know exactly what happened ... I was feeling a bit off while I was doing some kitchen cleanup. My son heard a thud and when he came to investigate, I was on the ground, unconscious and bleeding. I guess I passed out, so fast that I didn't have time to control the fall at all (no ladylike faint for me!) and hit my head. He said I was shaking, like a seizure. I bit my tongue, blood there too.  The rest of the family was home as he called for help, and I woke up in an ambulance on the way to the hospital (but not before throwing up on the entryway rug). In the ER, the nausea was unrelenting, the world kept spinning. A CT scan and EKG didn't show anything alarming, no brain bleed, so that was good (my MIL had a fall a few years ago that did result in TBI). I got a few staples in my head. It took a few nausea medications, and a few hours, before I felt like I could move, but I did just want to be home in my bed.

There went my 10k a day step goal. And everything else ...

I was down and out for several days, just managing to get in a shower, eat a little. Lots of sleeping. I gradually started trying a few more things. Back to baking my sourdough, doing a few things around the house. After a couple weeks, I attempted my first walk on the treadmill. My first day back to Zumba was February 14 ♥ then I added in some elliptical, and even a weight workout. Still had some spinny moments here and there, going from a vertical to a horizontal position would (still) bring on one slow spin (so NO crunches for me).  Mostly back to normal for March (an off day there on the 6th, missed my 10k, felt sick, had to lay down much of the day) and even added in pickleball as another activity.

 

Active minutes generally mirror steps ... 

... as for food and fasting ...

Even before the accident, I wasn't doing great. Having a hard time controlling my calories, not able to keep up a full fast. After the accident, I didn't dare fast, watching for any/all signs of dizziness, and not wanting low blood sugar to possibly add to that. Some emotional eating during this time too. I was pretty much eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted... and the scale reflected that. Back to fasting and calorie counting in March. Now controlling calories ... that's another story.

 

 

... and sleep

... interesting to see my sleep right after the accident. Mucho sleep. Had a few days shortly afterward where I couldn't sleep, then things normalized. The accident timed pretty much perfectly with my youngest son getting his driver's license. Monday, January 24 was the first day he was going to drive himself to school, saving me the 5:30 wake-up call. None of the family did school/work that Monday (we'd just arrived home from the hospital around 6:00 am), but my mornings would have adjusted anyway, accident or no, which not only affects my sleep, but also exercise (as I now rarely get in early exercise like I did with a 5:30 rising time). 

What I Was Watching ... while working out (and recovering). 

I stuck it on its own blog post.

My ears did give me some issues after the accident, but I still got plenty of audiobooks in!

All are rated and reviews on my GoodReads (shEreader)

... and finally, the family. 

My monthly collages, with recaps of everything on the Family Blog.

 

What I Was Watching ~ Q1

 I'm making a recap post for the first quarter of 2022 ... I figured I'd post my What I Was Watching in a separate post, just so I can see all the TV/Movies at a glance, without wading through all the other stuff. I might copy this back onto the quarterly posts if I end up doing a TV/Movie recap for the year.

What I Was Watching ... while working out (and recovering). Starting with Series.

Squid Game was pre-accident. Watched in Korean with English subtitles (I don't do dubbing). VERY intense, great workout show! Kept me coming back. Total switch to Julie and the Phantoms - teenboppy but cute and I loved the music. Cobra Kai and Ozark were upstairs with Hubs. Dead to Me was upstairs after the accident (liked it a lot). Imposters ... eh, won't be continuing on with that series. Started upstairs, then finished while working out. Liked A Discovery of Witches - first season WAS on Amazon (it was leaving, I had to finish it up quick). I would like to watch the other seasons. With AppleTV again, I watched the second season of For All Mankind and really liked it, kept me coming back to the gym. And Just Like That ... eh. I realized I had NOT cancelled the Paramount subscription like I thought, so quickly watched season 5 before my now cancelled subscription ended. 

Moving on to Movies ...

My family seemed surprised that I'd like Don't Look Up (they thought it would be too dark). The Big Sick and We Bought a Zoo were  ones I'd seen before and re-watched. Same for Mission Impossible and Forrest Gump (those were upstairs with Hubs, and #3 putting it on in the kitchen).  Mrs. Winterbourne is old, but was new to me. LOVED the music in Encanto. Went on a little Ryan Reynolds kick I guess, with Free Guy, Adam Project and The Proposal. Infinite ... I'd read the book it was based on and figured I'd give the movie a try (other than the main character's name and reincarnation theme, nothing at all like the book!) The Backup Plan was my last movie of the quarter (the final two on Paramount before my cancellation). 

2021 - The End

 

Well, the first half of the year was promising. Then, oops, I did it again. Stopped tracking my intake. Forgot about fasting. Slipped up on the exercise. I struggled with my monthly updates, and didn't even get up posts for October, November or December. I am still wearing my Fitbit (steps, active minutes, sleep) and weighing everyday, so some of the stats are there in my digital cloud.  My little excel file of facts and stats (requiring some manual work on my part) is eerily empty there at the end of the year though. I just never got around to updating and entering information. Alas ...

So here's a look at what I DO have from the last three months of the year ...

BOOKS

October 2021 ... 22 books. The six at the top are part of the "Middle Falls Time Travel" series (there have been some in previous months, and a couple more coming). Each feature an individual who dies at some point, and "resets" to an earlier point in their life. Often this occurs multiple times, as the characters try out different life options. Always an interesting "what if" imagining. The Queen's Gambit ... I'd watched the mini-series, and it seems like it was quite true to the book. As I listened (included in Audible Plus) I would visualize scenes from the show. Oracle was made for Audible, hard not to imagine Joshua Jackson as the MC, as he was narrating and his voice is distinctive. I really liked 180 Seconds, and 3:00 am was short, very unique - I'll be continuing on with that series. All were audiobooks. A couple were holds come in at my local library, some were KindleUnlimited, others were Audible Plus.

November 2021 ... 20 books. Finnikin and Immortal Rules were old favorites I read years ago, and did a re-read (well, listen ... all audiobooks again this month). These were ones I actually spent Audible credits on to purchase and keep (ones I KNOW I like).  The cartoonish covers (top right) were all contemporary, one more "MiddleFalls", some paranormal/apocalyptic, and the bottom row were all "realistic" and or "historical" although Dovetail had a touch of mystical mystery. 

December 2021 ... 24 books technically, although several where quite short, and one was a DNF (gave up after a couple hundred pages, it was 600+ and I wasn't liking it). Whisper/Weapon, a duology was a favorite (Australian author, not at my local library, but included as part of AudiblePlus), finished up the 3am series and liked it ... not so much the same author's "Unforseen". Finished up the "Middle Falls" included in AudiblePlus (12 books total). My Audible subscription is ending, so I was really trying to take advantage of AudiblePlus books (21 of the 24 were included). I borrowed a couple from the library, and got one in exchange for a read/review. 

What I was Watching ... my son (who does a lot of treadmill in the home gym) and I have talked quite a bit about how some shows can be much more motivating for exercise (whether it's getting us down to the gym at all, or energizing us to run instead of walk). With me being "off" these last three months, I didn't spend as much time in the gym, and didn't get through as many series/movies as I might have otherwise. Some of what I watched, was upstairs (not exercising) ...

I wrapped up my Hulu subscription (I like Hulu, but will only splurge sporadically then binge) by watching "The Split" which was intriguing. My son subscribed to a Paramount free trial, so I squeezed in a season of The Good Fight (season 4). Super political! We requbscribed to AppleTV as Hubs wanted to watch The Morning Show (season2) and I got him to try Ted Lasso (I'd watched the first season, we rewatched it together, then watched season 2) - he loved it! I don't know that he loved "Schmigadoon" (I'd watched it down in the gym myself, then we watched it together, it's short) but he did give it a try. I'd started Physical when we had AppleTv in the spring, and finished it up. Hubs and I watched The White Lotus (that was weird) and then I watched season 17 of Grey's Anatomy (while I was down with a cold). 

Movies ... LOVED Tick Tick Boom. King Richard, Finch and Swan Song were good. Gave a couple Christmas movies a try (ehhhh). A Silent Voice is not my normal viewing choice, but #4 had to write a "movie evaluation" for his English class. As I usually help him some with work like that, I had to give the movie a go.  Red Notice ... ehhh, not a fan, felt stupid/silly. Hubs and I watched Dune and the new Matrix (Dune was pretty good, Matrix ... no). 

Family Stuff ... I kept up with my monthly recap/collage (on my family blog)

So - that will be my wrap up of the last three months. Hoping to get back on track with the whole "New Year" and resolutions type thing, finally getting over my cold, getting back to routine. Back to fasting, back to counting calories, tracking (and inputting) exercise. Setting a "10k a day" challenge for myself ... wish me luck!