The Sunday Post #80 – Weekly Wrap-up
Welcome to my Sunday Post / weekly wrap-up. Thank you to Kimba over at The Caffeinated Reviewer, who is hosting this weekly event. It is the perfect opportunity to share what happened here on my own blog, as well as some of the happenings elsewhere in the Blogosphere.
In just over two weeks, I’m going to BEA! Can you feel my excitement? I’m sure I’ll have a lot of fun, and it’s going to be fantastic to meet authors and fellow bloggers, hang out with other book-lovers and just plain have fun! If you want to follow me on Twitter or Instagram, that’s where I’ll be most active while I’m in Chicago. I’m also going to co-host a round table at the Blogger Con on the Wednesday, where Katie @ Mundie Moms and I will be chatting about balance between personal life and blogging, how we make sure we don’t spend all our free time on the internet, but some with our family as well… So if you’re coming to the Blogger Con, please stop by at our table to say hi 🙂
This week was much calmer than last week, and it was nice to have a normal routine again. I worked my hours, graded some tests, and just started to prepare what needs to be done with my classes while I’m in Chicago. We’re slowly moving towards the end of the school-year, so I want my students to be ready for the year-end exams.
On Tuesday, one of the other teachers that works at my school came to one of my classes in order to observe me. It felt really weird, and even if we know each other a little bit, I was quite nervous just at the beginning of the class. I forgot about her being there, though, and just did my class as usual, and we’re meeting next week so she can give me some feedback.
Thursday delivered a shocking blow to me, when I learned that Prince has passed away. I have never really cried before when a celebrity died, but that changed on Thursday. Almost all my best memories from my early teens to now involve Prince songs in some way or another. I’ve had the privilege to see him in concert four times, from huge stadium concerts to a cozy one at the Montreux Jazz festival in 2013. I’m still having trouble believing it, and I’m very happy his music will always be here to keep me company in the future as well.
This week’s Freddy pics
I think you would all be disappointed if I didn’t share some of the cuteness that is Freddy 🙂 He’s getting really big, and he went to the vet on Monday to get his vaccines. He’s also starting to be ready for some longer walks, even if they tire him quite a bit. We had a fun early morning encounter with our neighbour and their dog on Friday morning. He was so funny running around and around, happy to be with another dog 🙂
- [21 Apr] Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts #62 – What We Find
- [22 Apr] Up Close and (un)Conventional – Inspiration Where Art Thou?
- [23 Apr] STS #131 Bought Borrowed and Bagged #81
- [24 Apr] The Sunday Post / Weekly Wrap-up #80 – Almost time for BEA!
- [18 Apr] Prince of the Playhouse by Tara Lain ★★★★★
- [19 Apr] Strange Magic by Michelle Mankin ★★★★½
- [20 Apr] Firespell by Chloe Neill ★★★
- [28 Apr] Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts #63 – In Her Eyes
- [29 Apr] Up Close and (un)Conventional – Keeping Track of Ideas
- [30 Apr] STS #132 Bought Borrowed and Bagged #82
- [30 Apr] Mini Blog Ahead Challenge
- [1 May] The Sunday Post Weekly Wrap-up #81
- [25 Apr] Anathema by K. A. Tucker ★★★
- [26 Apr] Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella ★★★★½
- [27 Apr] Mr. Perfect by J. A. Huss ★★½
Jennifer @ Bad Bird Reads has a Bookish Blatherings about Flame Ratings this week.
Marina Sofia @ Finding Time to Write discusses Honesty, Likability and Book Reviews.
Lisa @ Lisa Loves Literature shares why She Doesn’t Use Ratings on her Blog.
Lola @ Lola’s Reviews explains why She Hates the Obligatory Break-up Scene in Books.
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight wonders if it’s Ok to Revamp and Repost Old Reviews.
The fabulous Cait @ Paper Fury asks Do We Need Books Without Discrimination?
What have you been up to this past week? Don’t forget to leave me a link so I can come visit your Sunday Post as well.
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you’ve enjoyed your weekend, and that next week will be filled with awesome!
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
I was shocked to hear that Prince had died just because he was still so young!! I’m sorry it was a celebrity death that hit you hard though!
Yay for BEA coming up. you’re going to have a blast. And ooohh cute Freddy picks. I love it.
-Lauren
I’m sure I’ll get over it – it’s not as if I actually knew the man – it just really hit me where it hurts…
Thanks for stopping by, Lauren 🙂
Aww, cute pics of Freddy! He looks very relaxed there. 🙂 Glad it was a calmer week- and yay for BEA! It’s coming up fast, I hope it’s a lot of fun. 🙂
Freddy is either all relaxed, or he’s going a little crazy playing – both are fun!
I’m sure BEA will be a blast! I am so looking forward to hanging out with other bloggers for several days!
I was so shocked about Prince too, he was such a unique artist 🙁
Please take lots of notes at your round table as that’s a topic I’m always looking for tips about. It’s very exiting that it’s so close now. I can’t wait to hear all about it.
And Freddy is sooooo cute!
I’m going to do a write-up on the blog about what we do at our round-table. I think a lot of people want some tips on balance… Of course, everyone will have to tweak things so it can work for them 🙂
Freddy is a gem of a puppy – it’s such a joy to have him in our family 🙂
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
Yeah being observed would make me nervous, but you do tend to forget they are there. Glad this week was clamer for you. I have an appointment for a haircut and color before the trip. It will be here before we know it!
I think I’ll take a trip to the hairdresser before I leave, too, I do want to look my best 🙂
Your mention of someone coming to observe you reminded me of this one time in high school when someone came in to observe the class. The teacher had told us someone would be coming so that we would know and kind of go out of our way to participate extra and everything since we all liked him as a teacher, but he didn’t think it would be that day, so we were watching a film about something, and he let us all move to different seats and sit on the floor and stuff to get closer to the TV. So then the person comes in to observe, and almost every person in the room just kind of slowly starts moving around and rearranging themselves back into their actual seats, but, like, there was no way to be subtle about it, and it was just funny to me lol.
Anyway, sorry you were so affected by Prince’s death :-/ But at least you have BEA coming up! And an adorable little puppy! You’re right, by the way, I’d be totally disappointed if you didn’t post some pictures 😛
LOL, Kristen. That must have been quite a sight! And teachers do sometimes show movies in class – I do that, too. I’m glad that’s not what I had planned last Tuesday, though 🙂
Thank you! I had never felt so hollowed out by a celebrity death before, and it was so strange to me. I kind of thought I was immune, but apparently, I wasn’t. I’m not sure why that’s such a surprise to me, as I cry when fictional characters die in my books 😀
I’ll post lots of pictures from BEA, but I’ll use instagram and twitter while I’m there. I only have one post scheduled for that week, as I don’t want to be completely overwhelmed when I get back.
My first year I was very nervous when people would come in. Now I’m only nervous when an administrator comes in. This year we have had hoardes of people come in at one time – 8 to 10 people. My classroom is already filled to capacity between kids and furniture. This was new and very intimidating to my students and me. They interrupted my lesson as a distraction and just descended on my students. I hope you get really good feedback this week!
Why in the world would they have so many different people come to your class at the same time? It’s not really a good way to help your students feel safe when they’re in class! And I would have been completely overwhelmed as well!
I just love seeing photos of the cuteness that is known as Freddy! He is so adorable!
Thank you, Chuckles 🙂
Glad your week was calmer!! I almost didn’t believe the Prince news. So incredibly sad. Love seeing the Freddy pictures. Always put a smile on my face 🙂 Have a great week!
It was my son who told me, and I just said to him that that was impossible. Little did I know, right?
I’m glad my little cutie makes you smile, Grace 🙂
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I think everyone was shocked about Prince’s death. He was so young. He was also so healthy. I don’t think he was into drugs or anything. I wasn’t a Prince fan growing up. He just wasn’t my genre. I was more Metallica, Ozzy, Iron Maiden, type of girl. As I got older, and my tastes in music expanded (I also learned that I could listen to Ozzy and Prince and that it was okay, my teenage self would not have believed that to be the case. Had to be one or the other), I found that I did love him and really appreciated everything he did for the music industry and even outside of it. I loved seeing stories about his Super Bowl Halftime show, him saving a library in a predominately black area that was going to close do to lack of funding and the like.
Yeah, he really was among the healthier of music stars, and it was so shocking both because he was so young, and because he was so filled with life and very vibrant. I listened to Metallica, Judas Priest and others as well as Prince when I was younger. I was always the weird one out 😀
That Super Bowl Halftime show was amazing! I’ve watched it several times since Thursday 🙂
Have fun at BEA!! Sounds so awesome! I know having another teacher watch you teach is so weird! It always throws me off my game for a bit. I will say I have learned so much about being a good teacher by going and watching other teachers though!
Freddy it TOO CUTE!! So adorable!
Have a great week!
I’m so excited about BEA, Samantha! It’ll be my first time, and I’m so happy to spend some quality time with some of my favorite bloggers.
I’m sure I’ll learn something from the feedback I’ll get next week, too, and that’s the most important, right?
Thank you! I think he’s adorable, too.
I’m looking forward to hearing all about your experiences at BEA, you must be so excited now! 🙂 The pics of Freddy are gorgeous, as ever – he looks like such a lovely dog.
My Weekly Wrap-Up/Sunday Post:
https://rathertoofondofbooks.wordpress.com/2016/04/24/weekly-wrap-up-24-april/
I am so, so excited, Hayley! It’s going to be so much fun to hang out with some of my favorite bloggers! Also, to of my other US friends are coming to Chicago on the Saturday to spend the day with me – so yeah 🙂
He is a lovely dog. It’s still a learning curve for all of us, but we’ll get there for sure.
BEA sounds really amazing Lexxie. I’m definitely going to follow your tweets and pictures on Instagram to see what is going on. 😉
That observation sounds a little scary. I would definitely also nervous. I hope you’ll get some good feedback.
Have a great week and Happy Reading!
The observation is par for the course, but it was still a little nerve-wrecking 🙂 I hope I’ll get good feedback, too, and that it’ll help me be a better teacher.
Have a great week yourself.
Such a cutie!
🙂
Your little puppy is so adorable!! I want to give him cuddles! I’m super jealous that you’re going to BEA this year! I’m hoping to maybe go next year! Maybe I’ll see you there! 😛 Have a fantastic week!!
He is a super-cuddler, too, Tracy 🙂 I’m sad so many people who have been to BEA in the past aren’t going this year since it’s in Chicago. Not sure if I’ll come to NYC next year or not, we shall see.
Have a great week!
Awwww! I love Freddy! He is adorable! Dachshunds are the best dogs, although as my sister says, they’re not for everyone! 🙂 I’m so jealous of BEA. I wish I could go this year. But I just couldn’t afford it, and when I tried to get the free blogger/press pass, I didn’t qualify. Not sure what I need to do to change that. Oh well. I will go next year for sure when it is back in NYC and I can stay with my sister for free, especially now that she lives only a few blogs from the Javitt’s Center! Can’t wait to hear all about your time there though. Thanks so much for visiting my Sunday Post earlier!
I love Dachshunds, my grandma had one, and my mom’s dog is Freddy’s dad 😀
It’s really too bad you can’t come to BEA this year, Lisa, but I totally understand. I didn’t even think bloggers could get a free pass… We’re ‘non-editorial media’, so I guess we’re part of the paying peeps.
Have a great week.
Freddy is adorable as usual! I’m super jealous you get to go to BEA. I want to try to go next year 😀 Have a great week 🙂
I’m so excited about BEA, Molly, it’s my first time going, and I’m sure it’s going to be a blast to hang out with other bloggers for a few days 🙂
Have a great week yourself.
Twitter: lattenightsbook
OMG you’re going to BEA! That’s amazing! I hope you have fun!
Freddy is so freaking cute! I remember when my dog first came to live with me, he was so calm and would follow me around and fall asleep on my feet. The following day…He turned into a tornado haha He was very fun though.
I hope you have a good week!
Yes, I’m crossing the Atlantic for some blogging goodness, Gen. And I can hardly wait! I’m sure it will be a lot of fun, spending time with fellow bloggers is the best 🙂
LOL tornado dog! I hope Freddy won’t become one of those 😉 Thanks for stopping by.
Prince’s passing was so tragic! You’re very lucky to have seen him in concert at all, let alone 4 times! I wish I didn’t live in the middle of nowhere and could say the same. In happier news, YAY BEA is coming up! I wish I was going to to meet you and hang out…hopefully one day. Have double the fun for me 😀
I know I’m very lucky to have seen him several times in concert, Micheline, both in the 80s, the 90s, the 20s and a few years ago… I feel like I grew up with Prince, really. I love his naughty lyrics and amazing beat.
I’m kind of sad you’re not coming to BEA this year Micheline, it would have been so much fun to hang out together. One day, we’ll meet for real 🙂
D’awwwwww!! Freddy is just too adorable! I really wish I could go to BEA. So many of my blogging friends will be there and I want to meet everyone in person! It’s on my Bucket List, so hopefully in a few years I’ll have the money to go. 🙂 I hope your week is fantastic!
I completely agree, he’s a true cutie 🙂
I’m very excited about BEA, there are some smaller events like that here in Switzerland, too, but not with the huge international names BEA has. Although the Geneva book fair will have Paulo Coelho this year, and I hope I’ll be able to say hello to him…
Ugh, being observed at work is just creepy. That’s my every day, lol. Prince was a hard one for me too. So sad.
Really? Every day? That would make me go crazy, I think.
Prince was devastating, I downloaded my five favourite songs and have been listening to them constantly on my dog walks. The kids for some reason seem to hate my singing of Raspberry Beret which is my favourite. Another legend gone too soon.
Thanks for the doggie pics x
I took out my phone and put Prince on shuffle… and the kids already knew most of the songs, too, as I have always listened to him everywhere.
That’s so exciting you’ll be going to BEA! I wish i could go one year, but not sure if that’s possible. It sounds great to be able to meet all other bloggers ad that round table thing you mentioned sounds fun! That’s good this week was calmer for you.
Aww Freddy is just too cute! I am always looking forward to seeing new pictures of him in your Sunday post. He’s still so small and that picture of him rolled up in a ball is adorable. That’s great he got his vaccines, although that must’ve been a bit of a scary experience for him. Going to the vet is never fun, even if it’s for their own well being. And that’s nice he can go for a bit longer walks now and got to play with another dog.
Thanks for linking to my post! I hope you’ll have a great week!
I’m sure it would be possible for you as well, Lola, if you planned it well in advance. I’m sharing a room with Brandee and Denise, so that puts the hotel cost down a little. The most expensive is definitely the plane ticket for me.
Freddy didn’t mind the vet or the shot at all. He was a bit tired in the evening, but otherwise fine.
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
Freddy looks a lot like my oldest fur baby who is about 15 years old and blind and can hardly get around, the poor little thing. She is part long haired chiwauwau and dauchound. 🙂
Can’t wait for BEA even though I am nervous, this will be my first ever Con of any kind…lol. 🙂 See you in a few weeks! 🙂
Oh she sounds like a sweetie, Stormi. It must be hard to see your dog become old and somewhat diminished, though.
It’s going to be so much fun, Stormi! And I can understand that you’re nervous – I know I was last year when I went to RT. But it was so amazing, I had a great time.
Judging by my Facebook newsfeed, Prince’s death hit everyone pretty hard, so you’re not mourning alone. I hope that the music itself comforts you.
Freddy is adorable — just looking at him makes me smile.
I hope you have a wonderful time at BEA. I’m trying not to be jealous of all the bloggers who get to go. I’m directing a concert that weekend, which I’m really looking forward to, so I’m not feeling bad that I can’t go, just sort of “wishful.” But I do hope everyone has a terrific time and comes home with lots to blog about!
His music has always been a comfort, and I’m sure it will continue to be. I keep dreaming of his songs these nights, though, and it’s a bit weird…
BEA isn’t during the weekend, though, it’s from Wednesday to Friday, on the Saturday it’s the Bookcon – which I’m not going to.
Thanks for stopping by, Lark.
I know (that BEA is before the weekend) and I thought about it, but there’s so much to do to get ready for the concert, plus I’ll be working, so it just wasn’t feasible this time. Maybe next year, if it’s after the concert. 🙂
I know… that news of Prince was so sad. I haven’t heard much about causes etc… He appeared on the scene just as I was finishing high school and going to Uni so I was at my ‘going out and dancing’ peak!
And you must be excited about BEA. I think I already follow you everywhere so I’m looking forward to book blogger catch-up pics!
I was only thirteen when I first heard of Prince, but I immediately fell in love with his music! And definitely he was part of my going out and dancing peak, too.
I’ll be on the plane in two weeks, and I’m definitely excited 😀
Some day I hope to attend BEA. It’s never held close enough here. Hope you have fun. Freddy is getting so big. Such a cutie and I’ll never tire of pictures! I can just see him, wiggling all over with those little legs scrambling. LOL
Hearing about Prince was a shock to me too. I listen to a station at work and his songs are playing on there every day.
I’m sure BEA is closer to where you live than it is for me, Laura… me being in Europe and all… I just kept wanting to go, and so my five franc coins have served me well this year.
Those little legs are definitely scrambling, and he’s almost too cute for words.
I’m kind of surprised I haven’t heard any Prince songs on the radio this morning. Maybe I’ll rather put my iPod in the dock and rock it out 😉
YAAAAAY BEA! I can feel your excitement! Can you feel my envy? LOL I’m VERY happy for you though 😉 I’m definitely stalking you on Twitter and Instagram. I’m definitely checking your round table because I DO need to learn how to balance blogging and life. Freddy is of course TOTALLY adorable 🙂
I wish you were coming to BEA, too, Daniela. I hope one day we’ll be able to go to the same convention so we can be excited about books together in real life 😀
I’m really excited for BEA too – I can’t believe it’s coming up so soon! As always, your pup is adorable!!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This is one of those times when I’m happy to say ‘time flies’, Nicole 🙂
Glad you had a calmer week, I would’ve gladly traded you. Yeah, one of my close friends has been obsessed with Prince since before I met her 25+ years ago, and she was crying.
Freeeeeddy! <3
I was actually surprised at how hard Prince’s death hit me, Christy. I have never had that happen to me before, but it’s like a whole part of my teens has been ripped away from me, if that makes sense. I’m very happy I have most of his albums, though, so I can still listen to his voice telling me about Purple Rain, Doves that Cry and Little Red Corvettes…
Cuteness alert! Freddy is so sweet. When Tobie was a puppy, he would fall alsleep mid-walk, lol!
It was very sad news about Prince. 2016 has been simply awful. Every week, another celebrity passes away ?
Hope you have a great time at BEA!
The first week Freddy was with us, he would only walk 100 meters and then the walk was over for him… Now, though, he can walk much longer, and he enjoys it as much as we do.
I agree, 2016 has been a bad year when it comes to celebrity deaths 🙁 I hope we’ll all catch a break now.
AHHH YOUR PUPPY IS THE CUTEST!! And so lucky he loves other dogs. ? We kinda didn’t socialise my dog properly when he was a puppy and he’s terrified of dogs. Actually he’s terrified of EVERYTHING. Even when I snap the pencap on my pen?!? Gah. He’s only ever been coddled and loved all his life but he’s the most ANXIOUS creature of this universe. (Good thing he’s cute though. ?)
YAY GOOD LUCK FOR BEA!! 😀 I can’t wait to read everyone’s recap posts and things. 🙂
I’m not sure he exactly loves other dogs, but he isn’t averse to them so far… I need to make sure he’s around both other people and other dogs, as we’ll be taking him with us on vacation and all 🙂
And love and coddling is good for dogs, too, right? We sure do hugs and kiss Freddy a lot.
I can’t wait to be in Chicago, I’m so excited to hang out with my fellow bloggers 🙂
Oh my gosh that belly! It’s so dang smoochable. Glad to hear things are a bit calmer there. Hope you have a great time at BEA 🙂
I know, right? He’s just so cute, and I want to hug him all day long 🙂
I couldn’t believe it about Prince either, Lexxie! I never had the pleasure of seeing him in concert but I certainly have lots and lots of memories accompanied by his music! 🙁 Thanks for sharing pics of Freddy. He’s just so darn cute! I’m really getting anxious to see you…not long now!! **BIG HUGS**
The memories will continue to be made, Brandee, as his music definitely lives on:)
I’m so excited, too, Brandee! In two weeks today we’ll be hugging! For real! *BIG HUGS*
Prince’s death was surprising. He wasn’t even that old. Love the doggy!!! Reminds me of mine. 🙂 they’re the best! I hope this week goes well for you and thanks for stopping by!
I know, 57 really isn’t old at all…
You have a Dachshund, too? They’re the sweetest, funniest little dogs 🙂
It’s sad to see someone so young die. Such a loss in talent. I remember his music so well and my fondest memory is taking my son to see Purple Rain at the movies. Freddy is such a cutie pie. I wonder what he’s thinking in the second pic. 🙂