Well, last year, when there was 3 funerals happening at my work place, I thought January was long. I swear January felt even longer this year. It felt like it had, at minimum, 756 days.

I started January hot and heavy with the reading- quickly flying through some books. Then, I have currently hit a wall. My attention span is hit and miss these days. I’ll get back to it, but I’m in semi-slump.

I have been on a semi-quest for the past handful of years to get my Netgalley ratio to 80%. Currently at 71%. Hoping to make 80% by end of 2025.

 

I wish I could tell you that when I returned to work after my time off that things had magically changed and I felt better about how work was. But that would be a lie.

But what my time off did reinforce was that I have been letting these people get to me. And for what I get paid, I can’t afford to let people get to me on my time off. So I’m going to take big steps back, understand that everything, even if people are trying to make it my problem is NOT my problem, and use my PTO.

Here are some highlights from January:

 

I read 5 books in January. Reviewed 8 books in January. Read 4 books in January from my backlog of Netgalley e-ARC’s, and then read 1 Netgalley approval (Beach Vibes- look for it it in March 2025)

Last June, I met a girl at Square Books named Hannah. We started following each other on Instagram and she invited me to the Chris Whitaker signing. I had been seeing the book on the ‘gram so I decided to go. We had a nice time at the signing, then went for a glass of wine afterward to chit chat about books and the cat she recently rescued!

 

Then, I went to Beau Rivage in January with my friend, Jenny. We each got a massage, had some good drinks, ate yummy food and did a little gambling. It was a nice way to spend a couple of days!

 

Beau Rivage was decorated for Lunar New Year- The Year of the Snake!

Then I did my monthly facial- my 1 true hour of indulgence every month. I love how my face feels afterward and how it looks for several days/couple of weeks.

 

Then lastly, we took a little trip to Louisiana. While the reason was sad (celebration of life) we did make time to get a King Cake.

 

Speaking of PTO, I already have a trip planned in February, will be seeing my Sweet Potato Queen friends in March, going to Texas in May for Keith’s sons graduation and hopefully adding a couple of days to the trip for a little 2 year anniversary celebration.

How did your January go- tell me all about it!

And for those wondering, I’m still working on my resolutions!

 

*How did January treat you? Did it feel like 764 days?*

 

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T