There's been a lot going on over here this past week, both at work and at home. I'm looking forward to when I can read a lot in a sitting. Life I've been pretty distressed by all the gun violence news this week. Not that it has ever not been so distressing, but coming out of the pandemic and pretty much hearing about some shooting or the other almost every day, has just shown that nothing has changed in this world. Adam Toledo and Indianapolis this week. And apparently, there is still no way this can be controlled. Ugh, so frustrated. When I wasn't worrying about the news (or trying not to), I've been busy picking paint colors. The husband and I have been talking about painting our house, or just the upstairs, or just the downstairs, or the basement, or.. for the better part of the past four years. We finally decided to go ahead with it - that is, paint the entire house. It's a massive undertaking, especially considering the painter is going to be here tomorrow
Well, this is the first of two moves, I guess. My apartment lease has run out, so I'm moving to a friend's place for 20 days, before I move out of Blacksburg. I came here with just three huge bags, but in my two years here, managed to double my stuffs. So it's a hard task even thinking of packing looking at everything around me. I'm lucky I'm not moving across the country but just a couple of hours away. Else, I'll be giving away most of these things and fedexing the rest. :shudder: So today's going to be a really busy day. Packing, plus a lunch party!
Although I expected to have a light last week, it didn't turn out that way. I ended up with a few more thesis-related tasks, but I have finally (for sure this time) wrapped it up. 11 more days to go! Because of all the work, I didn't get much time to read, only finishing The Color Purple by Alice Walker (which I loved). Within the next four days, I have my eye on one more book, One Vacant Chair by Joe Coomer. I still haven't been able to get back to a proper reading or blogging schedule, and I'm not sure when I can. But hopefully today in between breaks, I can wring it. If not, there are whole days from tomorrow onwards.
And, since I promised you pictures from my lunch with three bloggers, Kathy, Jaime and Jennifer, here they are!
Jaime, me, Kathy, Jennifer (left to right)
Jaime, Jennifer, me (left to right)
What's happening in the blogosphere? I haven't been up-to-date with most of you, and will hopefully get to it only tomorrow.

Comments
PS Great pictures! You look so cute!
I should have asked the waiter to take another picture - I look like I'm half asleep.
I loved The Color Purple, too! I had first seen the movie and once I read the book, I was even more impressed by what a great job they did with the movie. Both are so compelling.
i sure hope you did not have any trouble with the cat.