Reading Update (2025 #7-9)
[7] Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, green light from Jamie on The Popcast, Kindle
Synopsis: Anna Appleby, a 38-year-old journalist in Bath, UK, is navigating life post-divorce while raising two kids and clinging to her job at a struggling magazine. When a corporate shake-up threatens her position, she pitches a wild idea: go on seven real-world dates picked by her children. Her work rival, Will, ups the ante with a competing column on online dating, and their boss loves the his-and-hers angle. As they battle for column success, sparks fly.
Synopsis: Ha, the notes I left here said “closed door meh.” That about sums it up! This was cleverly written, and I liked all the current pop culture references, but this story and their connection didn’t do it for me. I was pretty bored.
Recommend? No
[8] Annie Bot by Sierra Greer
Fiction / Literary, heard about from Stephany, Kindle
Synopsis: Annie Bot was created to be Doug’s perfect girlfriend, designed to meet his every need with devotion and charm. As her artificial intelligence evolves, she begins to act less predictably, challenging Doug’s expectations. The more human Annie becomes, the more she questions her role and desires.
Review: This was a fast read that kept me entertained and simultaneously appalled. Annie isn’t human, yet her designers gave her emotions and the ability to learn and grow. Despite this, Doug treats her as nothing more than an object. In his mind, they’re in a relationship, but only on his terms. If Annie steps out of line, she’s punished. So interesting, and so ick at the same time. You really feel for Annie, even though she’s not “real.” Read Stephany’s much better written review of it, because I felt the same way.
Recommend? Yes
[9] Beg, Borrow, or Steal (When in Rome #3) by Sarah Adams
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, follow-up to When in Rome & Practice Makes Perfect, read on Kindle
Synopsis: When Emily Walker’s college and work nemesis, Jack Bennett, returns to Rome, Kentucky, after a broken engagement, her perfectly ordered world is thrown into chaos. Now neighbors and colleagues, their long-standing rivalry reignites. But when Emily accidentally risks exposing her secret life as a romance writer, Jack surprisingly agrees to help her fix the mess. As their partnership deepens, their animosity transforms into friendship and more.
Review: This book had me grinning like an idiot almost the entire time – exactly what I needed right now! I loved their playful sparring, their shared history, and the way they slowly realized their feelings for each other. The small-town charm of Rome actually annoys me, but the fantastic characters more than made up for it.
Recommend? Yes! And you can read this as a standalone if you want.
Flying to KC
I was not expecting this trip to Kansas City (KC) to happen this weekend. What are the odds for decent visual flight rules (VFR) flying weather in February in the midwest?! But we somehow got a decent window of weather and it worked out. We originally planned to be there Friday – Monday, but ended up coming home Sunday to stay ahead of a snow storm coming in Monday night.
This is the third time we’ve flown to the KC area. The first time we flew a Cessna 182 and had to divert to St Joseph, but later landed at the downtown KC airport to check it out. It was kind of intense, so the second time we took a Cessna 172 and landed in Roosterville instead of downtown KC. This time, we took a 172, and decided to try the downtown KC airport again.
If you are reading this as a little bit of foreshadowing, it is, but also… it obviously all worked out in the end.
We left Waukegan Friday morning at 9:20 am, and flew under the Bravo airspace shelves around ORD. That’s always a bit intense – traffic is congested there since all the general aviation (GA) planes have to fly there to stay out of Bravo airspace. Just part of your home airport being near a major city.
We got out from under the ORD Bravo and there was a bit of traffic around one airport then we didn’t see another GA airplane until we got to KC. It was a quiet flight! We chose not to do flight following, and just tuned into different frequencies around where we were.
After we crossed the Mississippi River, Steven let me fly for quite a bit! I used the yoke only – he controlled the rudder. But I got a really good sense for how sensitive the controls are. I was constantly turning it too far right or pitching up or down when I didn’t mean to. I kind of got a bit better at it by the end. I enjoyed it.
When we got close to the KC airport, traffic picked up again, as to be expected. We made contact with tower and got our instructions, and found the airport (woo hoo – last time we flew to it it wasn’t as obvious, but we had studied the surroundings more this time). When we reported midfield they told us to extend our downwind. Downwind is the pattern leg that runs parallel to the runway you’re going to land on. There was so much traffic the controller was having almost everyone extend to space us out. We were #2 in line to land and as we were flying we heard up to #6.
So here’s the thing. Extending downwind is a totally normal instruction. But we had NOT extended downwind here before as it was our second time flying here, AND the runway we were going to use (1) meant that our downwind extended right into downtown KC, as well as toward two huge ass radio towers. It felt like we were headed straight toward the buildings and towers. It was nuts.
But hey, I got a great view of the city.
And I have to say, that controller was ON IT with directing people, and even taking time to ask if we were familiar with the airspace and warn us about the towers.
Phew. I feel a bit tense just writing about it and all I did was sit in the passenger seat.
We landed (12:42pm), got fuel (second time all on “our own” (in quotes cause I just chatted with one of the linemen the whole time, oops)), and put the plane in a hangar, then I immediately had to work. Womp womp. Total flight time was 3h 22m.
Alright, the flight back! We paid for the hangar, preflighted the plane, loaded the plane, did a briefing, then runup, and took off!
It was a rare no wind day, so all runways were in use, and they put us on runway 4, which pointed more in the direction we were going.
Our planned cruising altitude was 7,500 MSL to take advantage of a tailwind (we cruised at 4,500 on the way in). KC has Bravo shelves around its major airport as well, so we had to be mindful to stay under the shelves and not climb too fast. Did we get too close at one point? Maybe. Maybe not.
Similarly to the way in, we saw no GA planes, just a few commercial jets. There was also hardly any radio chatter. It’s like everyone was watching a football game or something?
We departed at 3:32, and the flight was 3h 13m. We chatted the whole time, and got to see a pretty sunset behind us.
We had a lot of elevation to lose when we got close to Chicagoland (7500 down to pattern altitude at 1800), but it became tricky with more GA planes flying around our altitude outside of the Chicago Bravo shelves. We didn’t want to lose 500′ a minute when someone was near our elevation and climbing and headed toward us.
All that to say, Chicagoland area was still busy, womp womp.
(Edited to add – we wonder if ATC was watching the Super Bowl because the METAR (weather report) did not get updated for UTC 0:00 for when we landed. It usually updates 10 mins before the hour, and when we checked at 6:30 pm CT it was still on UTC 23:00.)
Our airport wasn’t though! It was calm there too and we got our choice of runway. We chose 5, and came in a bit high and fast. Steven did a slip (first with the left wing down, then the right) but we were still coming in too fast so he went around (basically that means you don’t land and put in more power to reenter the pattern and try again), did the pattern and came in to land. It was completely dark, and he commented on how he needs to keep practicing night time landings because of its effect on spatial orientation. It was the perfect time to do all that – there were NO other planes there!
As soon as we landed (6:45 pm) and parked we rushed to the bathroom. 3+ hours is a long time to hold it! Then we unloaded the plane, dropped off the keys, and got El Famous and went home to watch the rest of the Super Bowl (yikes).
From the weekend
On Friday I was laughing out loud at a text in HyVee, and a stranger walking by said “Wow, it’s really nice to hear someone laughing.”
He was saying it kindly. I told him I was thinking the same thing, and that I was responding to the person who text me “I’m literally LOLing thanks for that.” I haven’t been laughing as much as I usually do.
I was laughing at a text that said “Have a good w/e in KC. Btw the chiefs are playing in New Orleans not home. lol”
Ha. First of all, I use w/e for “whatever” so it took me a second to realize it meant “weekend.”
And second, that is a very appropriate text to send me, because I know next to nothing about sports, and actually thought the game was in Las Vegas (for whatever reason?) until Wednesday. I did know it was NOT in Kansas City (KC).
We were in KC for a late “Christmas” with Steven’s dad and brother. We flew down Friday and came back last night during the Super Bowl. We turned it on when we got home and caught the end of it. Yikes.
I saw this graffiti on my Saturday run. There’s a misspelling, but it’s 100% accurate.
While we were in KC we got to hear Steven’s friend Eddie play the organ at a church service. Eddie is talented and so passionate about music (and life). I love spending time with him!
After the service he showed us the organ and demonstrated how it works. My first thought seeing him work his feet and hands was “he could definitely fly a plane,” then Steven said that to him out loud. Ha.
And speaking of flying, you’ll get a separate post on that!
Hoping for a pucker free day
Have you heard the term “pucker factor”?
I’ve been hearing it more and more as I read aviation books and listen to aviation podcasts.
I finally googled it,
“Pucker factor” is a military term used to describe the level of fear or stress someone experiences during a dangerous situation. It’s often measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest level of anxiety.
to see if it meant what I thought it did. It did:
The term refers to the tightening of the sphincter muscles in response to fear
I just don’t see myself embracing this term! As much as I love butt jokes…
Pilots often use the term to describe how tightly they grip the seat during stressful situations
I’ll have to come up with something else to use.
TMYK!
Random Thoughts Thursday 485
- We got this cute new scratcher for the cats. It said $20 when I scanned it at Target, but was on sale for $13.99 then 15% off so I paid like $12 for it. That’s $8 saved for my girl math bank. Woo hoo.
- Yesterday I said “girl math” to a coworker and he’d never heard it before! That was fun to explain.
- Thankfully Ned is still distracted by the Gingerbread cat house and is leaving the new one alone.
- The outdoor cats had a special visitor on Monday. I went outside and opened the flap and the opossum was just like “whut.” I let them be. They’re harmless.
- Greg was MIA for like 5 days and he showed back up this am. Phew.
- Today is our 9 year anniversary of closing on our current home!
- New mani!
Holding it together
Actually, it’s (in no particular order):
- Humor
- Caffeine
- My snis
- Therapy
- Cat cuddles
- Reading
- My coworkers
- The gym
- Running
- Limiting social media
- Rock painting
Although it could be argued I’m not actually holding it together 😂😩
What’s on your list?
Two vague observances
1. It’s been interesting how many people reached out to ask our thoughts about the devastating and tragic plane* crashes last week in DC and Philadelphia – both about what we thought happened and whether it made us nervous to fly.
It’s interesting that they legitimately wanted our opinion on it – I’m not used to people wanting my opinion! – and touching that they were thinking about our safety.
I was (somewhat) surprised to see I did have a baby opinion**, based on what little information I read and pending the NTSB report. Who knew. Seems what little time I’ve spent in the plane, chatting with Steven, and reading up on aviation has stuck with me. “I’ll take Bravo Airspace for $400, Alex” (RIP).
2. If there was ever a time it was beneficial to have the top person in my organization as my mentor it is RIGHT NOW and I am SO GRATEFUL.
*Not trying to make light of this AT ALL. These crashes are horrific and devastating and my heart breaks for all of their families and loved ones.
**okay, baby when talking to others, pretty loud, more like adolescent, when talking to Steven
Cat photo for payment for reading this:
Respect his artistic license, please
My parents gave us this cute gingerbread cat scratcher in November, and Ned didn’t start destroying it, excuse me, renovating it, until after the holidays.
They also gave one to my snis, and she offered it to me when I visited in January. Her cat didn’t really care for it and it was in pristine shape.
So I took it home, thinking it would last a few months like the last one.
Ned had other plans.
Who knew so much destruction could be done in such a short amount of time.
Reading Update (2025 #4-6)
[4] The Coworker by Freida McFadden
Fiction / Thrillers / Psychological, recommendation from Sandra, audio
Synopsis: At Vixed, a nutritional supplement company, Dawn Schiff is the odd, friendless accountant who never misses a day at her desk, until one morning, she doesn’t show up. Popular sales rep Natalie Farrell is unsettled by Dawn’s absence, and an anonymous phone call only heightens her concerns. When she visits Dawn’s house in search of answers, she finds herself becoming more entangled into the mystery than she ever anticipated.
Review: I gave this 5 stars on Goodreads because it kept me so damn entertained on my drive home from Iowa. It starts with a long email Dawn sends her boss at Vixed, and I could instantly tell how freaking bizarre she was just from the way she formatted a simple meeting request. I was hooked from the beginning and sad I had to pause it when I arrived home. I finished it the next day! The twists in this one felt natural and not overly outlandish, which I appreciated.
Recommend? Yes
[5] The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, green light from Jamie on The Popcast, hard copy
Synopsis: After a year of hiding out post-divorce, cozy mystery author Maggie Chase reluctantly accepts an offer from her publisher to spend Christmas in Europe meeting a devoted fan. The catch? Her workplace rival, thriller writer Ethan Wyatt, is tagging along – a detail she discovers only after boarding the plane. Upon arriving at a remote, grand estate, Maggie gets the surprise of her life about their mysterious host. Soon, she and Ethan find themselves forced to work together to solve a baffling mystery, leading to revelations, danger, and unexpected romance.
Review: This was well written but dang, it took me so long to get into it. It turns out cozy mysteries* aren’t my jam. Who knew? Actually me – I had a suspicion, ha ha. I thought Maggie and Ethan were really interesting characters and wanted a lot more of their backstories. The story picked up at the end, but it took me forever to get there. It was kind of annoying there were a zillion different characters, but I eventually figured them out. Meh.
*I think it’s really odd Edelweiss+ doesn’t even classify this as mystery! I’d put that before romance! (I knew it was a mystery going into it – that wasn’t a surprise)
Recommend? No
[6] Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
Fiction / Thrillers / Domestic, saw in “Available Now” on Libby, audio
Synopsis: Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were raised in foster care by the seemingly loving but controlling Miss Fairchild. Their childhood appeared idyllic, but was shaped by rigid rules and fear. Years after breaking free from Miss Fairchild, a body is discovered beneath their former home, forcing the sisters back to where it all happened.
Review: This was another I liked so much that I started and finished it in a few days time. I was immediately intrigued by the three sisters and enjoyed how the story alternated between their present lives and their time in foster care (with the sisters getting their own chapters). It was fascinating to see how their upbringing shaped who they are today and how they continue to cope with it. And I loved their unwavering devotion and loyalty to one another, and how the people in their lives were affected by it. That Australian narrator (it’s set in Australia) added to the listening fun.
Recommend? Yes
Random Thoughts Thursday 484
- Everytime I wear this very precious sweatshirt I drop some food on it. What the heck! Thankfully, I’ve been able to get all the stains out so far. But, grrrr. GET IT TOGETHER KIM.
- It’s almost the end of January (thank gawd). How did I do on my January goals?
- ✔️ Use walking pad on work at home days – I used it every day I worked at home
- Don’t multitask during meetings – I did this for as many meetings as I could, but things became hectic and urgent last week and this goal become less relevant
- ✔️ Pause before sending ranty texts to Steven – definitely paused!
- When I was listening to the work email portions of the The Coworker by Freida McFadden it reminded me of my first job out of college and how one time the owner read everyone’s emails (which I suppose is their right since it was their business, server, and equipment) and LOST it on someone who had been writing not so nice things about them. Ha, this happened in 2008 and I just now feel like it’s long enough ago to talk about it.
- I’ve been feeling very grateful for my coworkers, amazing supervisor, and leadership where I work.
- Let’s talk insurance!
- Something good – my therapist went above and beyond, writing her clients a full script to use when calling insurance to check if she’s covered. So helpful! She even included a form to keep track of the answers. Happy to see she’s covered again this year.
- Something annoying – it’s that time of year again – where I get my first EOB and wonder “ugh, does my insurance not cover this anymore, or have I just not met my deductible?” I got my first bill for my blood work and it was SUPER high. The office part of the visit was not covered at all. When I chatted my insurance they said I just needed to meet my deductible, and I asked why they covered the office part of the visit last year before I met my deductible? I finally got through to them and they said they would send it in for reprocessing.
Hi! I’m Kim, a 40-something-year-old living in northeastern Illinois with my husband Steven, and our cats, Khaleesi, Apollo, Starbuck, and Eddard aka Ned. My current main hobbies are running, painting rocks, flying, reading, and eating. I follow a vegan lifestyle and work in an account management role. I write about a variety of topics and consider this a “life” blog – a place I can share anything that’s on my mind. Please visit the “About” page to get a better idea of who I am! 🙂
