1. As usual, a cat picture seems like a good way to start this Thursday 13. This is a picture of my sister’s cat, Flitwick, that I took when we were there for Christmas.
2. Speaking
of starting things, we started 2026 off by attending a party our friends Dennis
and James hosted on New Year’s Day. They
have two adorable Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs. This picture is of Magnus.
3. It would be nice if there’s any truth to the idea that what you do on January 1st sets the tone for your year. We had a great time at the party, met a lot of nice people, spent time with adorable and sweet pets, and enjoyed some delicious food. Continuing that theme would make it a good year!
4. Another
fun start to the year was doing an escape room for the first time. We went with our friends Jen and Chuck. The one we did was Clue themed (we had to
figure out who, in what room, and what the weapon was, and we had an hour to do
it).
5. It was the first time Nick and I did an escape room, and it was so much fun. I definitely want to do one again!
6. I’ve set my reading goals for the year on The Storygraph.
7. My
2026 reading goal is 52 books, which is basically a book per week. It seems reasonable. I didn’t quite make it last year, but I think
I would have if I hadn’t worked so much overtime in December.
8. I’m technically one book behind already, but I’m very close to finishing a book and an audiobook, so I’m fairly sure I’ll catch up over the weekend.
9. Of
those 52 books, I’ve set the goal for 26 of them to be audiobooks. We have a backlog of purchased audiobooks we
haven’t listened to yet, and there are so many available through the Libby
app. Since I have so many available and
can listen to them while I do other things (I listened to an audiobook while I worked in the yard on Monday), it seems crazy not to make use of them.
10. I’ve also
set the goal for 12 of the 52 books to be non-fiction. I mostly read fiction, and I don’t think that
will ever change, but I would like to branch out and read a little more
non-fiction. Twelve a year is basically
one a month, which seems like a good goal.
11. If you’re on The Storygraph and want to be friends, my super-creative username is dlzecher.
12. We downloaded camera pictures right before we left for my sister’s for Christmas, and I came across this one of Caroline that I like. I think it shows off how pretty her face is.
13. One more
cat picture seems like a great way to end this.
Theodore has started tucking himself into bed sometimes, and it’s
absolutely adorable.
If January 1 trends the year, I'm in trouble. It will be a year of sloth and little done!
ReplyDeleteYou've had a great start to the new year. I've decided to try to read some classics this year. I'm starting with the Jane Austen books I've never read before. I'm almost done with 'Persuasion' and have really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI like the cat bookends and one more for fun. That’s a lot of reading!
ReplyDeleteI’m Colleen at http: looseleafnotes.com
ReplyDeleteI've never done an escape room. I'm not sure if I would like it or not because I don't like the idea of being trapped.
ReplyDeleteI don't have specific reading goals for the year, but I am happy that I read more last year than I did the year before. I'm hoping the trend continues.
If Jan st set's the tone I will be in bed early.
ReplyDeleteEverything I try theblibby app I can never get the books I am looking for. I do not want to do amazon but I might break down and do it.
Fun escape room adventure
Cathy
I would love to do an escape room someday. Bucket list? I love StoryGraph, and I added you. I'm kiki870.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of StoryGraph. I just keep a list of the books I read or listen to in Excel. Old school, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI'm such a nerd that I have a massive Google sheets doc with a lot of stats!!
DeleteYour kitties are so adorable! I have never done an escape room before. I'm not sure I would like it, lol. I did attend a murder mystery dinner and our table was the only one who solved it. I think it was due to all my years of watching the B&W Perry Mason reruns.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your reading goals. I think it is doable. I am addicted to cozy mystery and true crime and try to challenge myself with nonfiction. I especially like biographies of famous women.
Love all the photos.
Non-fiction puts me to sleep if I read it in bed. If I take it with me to work and read it while the kiddos are working, I can do it. But it takes me a long time (as I'm working, so I can't just read). Do you know what non-fiction you'll pick?
ReplyDeleteI like your book/week goal! I set my reading goal at 38, because I find myself stressing if I spend too long with a big biography (and I know that's silly because I set the goal myself). Love the cat pics. Is Flitwick looking away from the camera because he's shy, or is there something on the floor that is about to be pounced upon?
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your photos of the cats. That dog is a giant. I cannot imagine having one, so two must be unbelievable!
ReplyDeleteMy reading goal is 18 this year.
ReplyDelete