By: Revanche

A quarterly look back: Q2 2016

July 4, 2016

Spring 2016 recap: This year, I set some personal goals to make sure I actually live life. See what I read, where I went, what I learned, and what I made in the past 3 months.What I read

Spirits Abroad, by Zen Cho
I can’t say enough how much I loved this book. It was gifted to me and I’m so grateful I have friends who will insist that I MUST read this or that book because the few from whom I will accept that badgering are always right.

The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough
A freebie from ECCC, this was a mildly entertaining read but I couldn’t help but be distracted by the protagonist’s “attraction” to the standardly beautiful female scientist character that rang false. It was, of course, his motivation for action and felt pretty stupid. As written, I would have been a lot more inclined to believe his motivation if the physical attraction was never mentioned / didn’t exist. I suppose you could say I object to distracting romance but it’s more that I find so much written romance to be unbelievable. (*thinks* maybe I find standard human romance unbelievable too…)

Which leads me to a friend’s book. As a rule, if I am friends first with an author, I often hesitate to read their writing. It’s oddly uncomfortable for me because I’m an alien to know an author as a person and read their works. What if I don’t like it? I’ve evolved beyond grade school is so many ways but not in this: I want to like and respect my friends but I cannot do that if they display a lack of integrity or write poorly. I was, therefore, both relieved and impressed that Erica Monroe’s A Dangerous Invitation was both well written and engaging. Her heroine was both spirited and believable and the research into the language and society of the times blended so well it was a joy to read. Yay I get to keep admiring my friend.

Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
I’m a sucker and this was WONDERFUL. Reading the lyric notes and seeing how the musical came together, it’s easy to forget that this took 6 years to create, even as they’re describing the work, the edits, the pivots and the changes. I had no idea they changed the song list and how they played certain songs during their run at the Public up until they debuted on Broadway.

War Brides by Helen Bryan
This was engrossing specifically because I’ve always got interest in WWII historical anything but I think the ending was a little disappointing. Not because it was poorly written, necessarily, but it was unsatisfying and I suspect that’s just a personal thing.

Timebound (The Chronos Files) by Rysa Walker
Totally readable (which is actually a compliment from me). I’d like to read the next story, also a compliment.

What we watched

We never watch movies anymore so they’re an event when we do. Which is to say, WE FINALLY WATCHED THE FORCE AWAKENS.

Out of respect for the maybe 3 people left on the planet who haven’t seen it, I won’t go into details but it was awesome. We loved the little call outs to the original series. We shall never speak of the prequel trilogy that were a travesty and do not exist in my personal universe.

Return of the Jedi, at moments, felt like watching a documentary on historical movie magic, but mostly felt like fun. We watched it with a bunch of little kids, after having read Star Wars books to them, and it cleared up some of the questions they’d asked for which we couldn’t recall the answers. (Oohhhh those were the clone troopers!)

A friend picked The Intern and it was a fun light watch. I never even knew it existed but I quite like Anne Hathaway and will give any movie she’s in a shot. It could have used a lot more in the way of diversity and a better ending but it had a female lead in a position of authority and was enjoyable. I’ll take that as a start.

It turns out that I work much better on my bigger project when I have something sort of action-sounding playing in the background. I’ve binge half-listened to all the Once Upon a Time that’s on Netflix and Nikita which was initially just a hey, try it out but then I realized it was a show with some legs and more than that, a female Asian lead that had some depth. I look forward to more Maggie Q.

Where I went

The best travel this year was scheduled for this quarter. Hawaii! The islands do NOT love me, I’ve gotten sick on every single trip there, but I adore them.

Emerald City Comic Con!

Flying with JuggerBaby!

What I made or did

Nothing new here, this Spring. Most of the spring was spent recuperating so that shouldn’t be a huge surprise. I’m not going to be sad about it. I went 3.5 weeks without getting sick and that was a dad-blamed record! Now that’s sad.

Wait. I was just reminded that I’m totally forgetting things I did work on, but didn’t consider sharing here because they’re not complete.

Let’s call this the Under Construction sub-section:

  • I discussed a possible business partnership with a talented and lovely lady.
  • I started up a new venture that’s on hold right now while we both get our energy back, with another lovely and talented lady.
  • I’m working on more writing projects because clearly you don’t hear from me enough.
  • And I’m putting something exciting together for this August!

What I learned

I haven’t picked up a new skill but did discover that I have an serious, and possibly unhealthy, need for financial validation. Hobbies can’t just be something that I do for fun, I have to be successful at them too or I feel like they’re just a waste of time. My mom didn’t raise me to feel that way, so why do I? Maybe because that feeling that I always have to scrabble to survive never goes entirely away?

 

:: What did you read or watch? How was your Spring 2016? What are your summer plans? What skills have you enjoyed, even as a hobby?

 

*Part of Financially Savvy Saturdays on brokeGIRLrich, Disease Called Debt and Little House in the Valley

10 Responses to “A quarterly look back: Q2 2016”

  1. “I haven’t picked up a new skill but did discover that I have a serious, and possibly unhealthy, need for financial validation.” That is very interesting – especially since you seem to be in a very good place financially. One of the great benefits of being financially fit is that it affords you the bandwidth to pursue interests without regard to financial cost or gain. I hope you pursue that freedom – and enjoy it. I suspect you are very, very busy, but have you considered taking up a musical instrument? Something that doesn’t stand a chance of earning you any income – at least for a good long while? Perhaps something that would entertain your daughter, and that she could also start to learn eventually? Just a thought. I enjoyed your book reviews : ) I read Outliers and The Power of Habit – loved both. I want to sink my teeth into some good fiction now that summer is here (and I’m NOT teaching summer school).

    • Revanche says:

      I haven’t figured out how to let go of that need yet but blogging sure “doesn’t stand a chance of earning you any income” so that fits the bill nicely for now 😀

      I hope you come back and share if you run across good fiction!

  2. You missed strawberry bread by a matter of days. I can’t wait for that to show up in Q3 😉 Just kidding! I am putting all of these books on hold at the library. I can’t remember the last time I watched a movie. We are muscling through True Detective Season 1 after being assured it gets fantastic. I’m not convinced.
    Penny @ She Picks Up Pennies recently posted…Harnessing the Power of Not YetMy Profile

    • Revanche says:

      YOU may be kidding, not me ;D I’m loving it. JuggerBaby is in love with the stuff.

      *fistbump* Someone asked when we last saw a movie in the theatre and honest to God I think it was Captain America. The first one. Good luck with True Detective!

  3. Eesh, I’ve done nothing in comparison. I’ve stumped for the book (off and on), watched TV with Tim, fretted about finances (my normal) and… um… Worked my job. Well, also some medical appointments here and there and the two SSA-related ones. But still… I don’t think I read a single book, though we certainly have watched plenty of TV and even a movie or two.

    I keep meaning to get back into reading but it ends up being shunted down further on the list as anything else takes up my attention. And I don’t even have a JuggerBaby!
    Abigail @ipickuppennies recently posted…Electioneering & other updatesMy Profile

    • Revanche says:

      You wrote a book! And published it!

      The reading thing is because I need to read for mental and soul balance, much like I Have to Have Dogs. It’s not always that important for anyone else 🙂

  4. I love reading a non-finance related quarter review! What a fun idea!

    I just put together my Q2 report for work, and was surprised by all the stuff I got done. I imagine this feels much the same!

    • Revanche says:

      I thank Cloud at the Wandering Scientist for reminding me to set some goals that aren’t just money or work this year 🙂

      It’s a great way to keep more balance in life.

  5. I read War Brides a while back, and I agree with your assessment: really engrossing, but kind of ended with a whimper. Have you read the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society? It takes place on Guernsey during WWII, which was occupied by the Germans, and is written as a series of letters between a writer and some of the survivors of the occupation.

    I really miss grown up TV. Except for my week of hives, when I basically watched 2 seasons worth of Veronica Mars, I have watched little but Power Rangers and Odd Squad. Fortunately Little Bit is also gaining an appreciation of the Sarah Jane Adventures and a carefully curated list of younger kid-friendly Doctor Who episodes.
    Emily @ JohnJaneDoe recently posted…State of the Blog: June 2016My Profile

    • Revanche says:

      I haven’t read that yet, thanks for the suggestion, I’ll have to hung it down. Which Doctor Who episodes have you already watched? JuggerBaby doesn’t get to choose any tv yet but I figure we have not a lot of time left before ze starts having opinions about that and we’ll have to compromise a little.

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