LBFD

My sleep was rudely interrupted at 7:30 this morning by a HUGE clap of thunder,  signaling the onset of a torrential downpour also known as a Lazy Bum Florida Day.  I love, love, love these days!

Years ago, I would’ve hated having to get up and trudge to work in God awful weather, but, now, I have earned my lazy bum status.  Today, I was supposed to drive over three hours to Cassadaga to meet my friend, Allyson, before my appointment with my favorite medium.  How I was looking forward to “seeing” my friends and family on the “other side,” but we’ll do it next week.  I’m a little anxious about this visit, since it’s the first time I will have the chance to meet with my mother, but maybe she won’t come.

There is nothing better than a rainy day with no agenda.  Sleeping as long as I want, finally stumbling to the kitchen to make the coffee….mmmm…there is nothing like that morning aroma.  Slowly, poring over the Tampa Tribune, the Baltimore Sun, the Washington Post.  Getting updates on the latest sports scores…NBA, Australian Open, NCAA basketball.

Of course, it’s still January so there’s the mandatory minimal exercise component….stretching, resistance, cardio.  Simultaneously, I tune in to HGTV, switching to MSNBC or CNN during the ads.  GROAN….same old stuff.  Always hoping for adult behavior….just call me Pollyanna.  Followed by my usual breakfast, Chopani coffee and cream yogurt or coconut yogurt.  Somebody who shops at my neighborhood Publix has also discovered the coffee and cream…. The inventory is often minimal or missing.  Bummer.  (Definitely, a first world problem)

Now, the day stretches before me.  I am overwhelmed by my options.  There’s catching up on “This Is Us” on Hulu or finishing the second season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Marvel” or binge watching the fourth season of “Rita,” the Danish teacher who is certainly more liberal or direct than we see here.  But, it is Danish, so I’m an enthusiast.  There’s "Frankie and Grace"…think I'm still on Season 3.

It’s a fabulous day for reading!  I just finished Louise Penny’s latest, Kingdom of the Blind, the 14th in the Chief Detective Gamache series.  Her husband passed away last year and I was afraid she wouldn’t continue the series as he was her muse for the detective.  But, she did, and it was as spectacular as all the others.  Her books are to be savored, so I read it slowly and carefully, dreading yet anxiously eager to reach the ending.

Naturally, I have my favorite genres.  For non-fiction, I generally choose memoirs, like Becoming by Michelle Obama, which I devoured in two days.  Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime was fascinating…an amazing rags to riches story.  The best in my opinion was Educated by Tara Westover.  Basically, I read that with my mouth agape….who could survive that childhood much less thrive?!  This book is a testament to the struggle for self over fierce family loyalty.

For decades, I only read non-fiction: biographies, autobiographies, history and politics.  And, then, for some reason I haven’t  analyzed I switched to reading primarily fiction.  So, historical fiction is a perfect blend for me.  I love Paula McLain’s novels on Ernest Hemingway’s wives and Beatriz Williams’ books on the roaring 20s.

When I want some good feeling beach escapism, I turn to Debbie Macomber, Elin Hilderbrand, Mary Alice Monroe and JoAnne DeMaio.  For Florida maniac fiction, there’s Carl Hiaasen or Randy Wayne White.

I have always been a bookworm.  Last year, I read almost 70 books.  There are my old favorites like Alice Hoffman, Anne Tyler, John Grisham, Elizabeth Strout, Ann Patchett, Amor Towles.  But there are some amazing new writers on the scene like Celeste Ng, Joshilyn Jackson, Maria Temple, Lauren Goff, Tayari Jones.  

Mostly, these days, I’d like a good laugh so out with The Hunger Games (don’t get me started about that series) and in with Crazy Rich Asians.  Read all three in a week….needed that!  Got a kick out of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine….of course, she’s not but she is quirkly and charming.  Lianne Morarty’s most recent, Nine Perfect Strangers, did not disappoint with her tendency toward bizarre-o world.

Today, I’m onto a new writer who’s climbing up the Best Seller List.  Delia Owens,the author of Where the Crawdads Sing.  I’ll update you later.

Back to my Lazy Bum Florida Day…ahhhhh.