If We Were Having Coffee on the 11th of June, 2022 #weekendcoffeeshare

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Hello and Welcome. Come on in and I’ll get you a large mug of very strong dark roast, a cuppa tea or some other beverage. It is still slightly cool out, but it looks like another beautiful day. We did have rain two days this week, and it really poured hard on Thursday, but it cleared on both of those afternoons. Over all, this week was as close to “seasonable” as we have had this year, seeming just like an early June week in New England. In fact, this is as close to “perfect weather” as we get outside of early October. And what part of New England are we in today? Some of you may recognize the photo at the top as being from New Hampshire.

Work was tough. OK, that’s enough.

I was able to get out for plenty of dog walks this week, though not as many during working hours as usual – see last paragraph. I exercised a few times, ran at least three times since I last “saw” you, and did a few quicker walks without the dogs. I read a little, did some neighborhood socialization, and those types of things. A bit of work around the house rounded off my week. As I told many of you, I spent as much time outside last weekend as was possible, even if it was doing work, or reading.

My big thing this week was this year’s Dickens Challenge that I did with Yvette Prior. This year we did Bleak House. I put up a “Main Challenge” post on Sunday and then an essay every day during the week. I won’t call them “short essays”, though some are, since the longest was close to 2500 words. I will close out my part of the challenge later this morning.

Although I wrote most of the essays months ago (the rough drafts were from March), it was a lot of work this week, but also a lot of fun. We had a few people participate in the discussions and so far one other post, but it isn’t over yet and two Amazon gift cards are at stake ;)

As I said, it is a beautiful day out there and I had an awful work week (again), so I need to get up and go outside.

Thanks for stopping by! If you have a coffee share, I will try to visit.

Natalie the Explorer is now the host of the weekend coffee share and she is doing a wonderful job. Stop in at this week’s main share page or go to the InLinkz-Linkup to see all of the other shares!

39 thoughts on “If We Were Having Coffee on the 11th of June, 2022 #weekendcoffeeshare”

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  4. Diana

    You are so inspiring Trent as I’m thinking one of these days off picking up Bleak House to read. I now have carved out time to read. It took awhile to figure out when I would read and have finally finished one book and am half way thru another. I haven’t read in years, partly because of my crazy work hours which are better now. Sorry your work is so crazy…

    I’m enjoying coffee and am happy you can get outside like you always do, as I enjoy my time outside as well. Have a good week!

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I usually take 5 to 20 minutes to read before going to bed, but it is impossible to read something like Dickens averaging just 10 minutes a day! Finding time to carve out can be difficult for all of us, but I am glad I prioritized this so that I could get it done months before the “due date” that we set at the beginning.
      Thanks for stopping in! I hope you are having a great weekend :)

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      1. Diana

        That’s now when I read just before going to bed for the same amount of time. I could set aside a weekend or two or three for a challenge like Dickens if I plan and I could read instead of doing my crafts! Lol – and as I’m thinking about it not only are you inspiring, so is Yvette as you both are doing this together. I just wanted you to know I have met the coolest folks here on WordPress!! You guys rock!!! 😍

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          I have met a lot of great people on WP! Maybe you can carve out some time for next year’s challenge – Yvette wants to do a shorter work to get more people involved. We’ll see.

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  5. Melis

    Hi Trent! I’m sorry to hear that work has been a challenge but I’m glad to know you have your boundaries around it and are able to focus your out-of-work time in such a positive and productive way! The Bleak House Challenge sounds like such a cool project! Fingers crossed for a prize for you! Well worth the effort :-) Hope you have a wonderful, balanced week ahead!

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks. It’s impossible to not let anything through those boundaries between work and not work, but for the most part I can keep my life separated out.
      The Dickens challenge has been a lot of fun, but the gift card is going the other way – Yvette and I put out a couple of gift cards to try to get more participation. I don’t know if it worked as much of an incentive, but…
      Have a great week!

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  6. Janet Alcorn

    Sorry you had another rough week at work. I hope next week is better.

    I read Bleak House in college and wouldn’t mind reading it again, but I doubt I can find the time anytime soon. It feels like every minute of my day is accounted for. Bleah.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks, I’m hoping for a better July… Actually,next week will most likely be pretty bad, but then it gets better from there. I hope.
      Bleak House was a long read, so I can see how it would be tough to schedule in. I read it a few months back, which turned out better than expected since I had no idea work would be so rough this May and June. So I get that – there is no way I could rad something like this now!

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  7. Prior...

    Hi T
    Glad the weather was nice even if work had some challenges –
    Cheers to the weekend and also – thanks for all
    The time you put into the Bleak house challenge
    I think you essays are a rich resource that will be in the internet for folks to visit years from now – to enjoy and learn from or at least just think with you!
    They also had much value now – because how fun to discuss and explore such a classic book that had so many areas to dive into!
    ☀️😊☕️📚📚📚

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks,Yvette, the weekend has been great so far, with perfect weather, so I have been out enjoying it and (hopefully) letting work stress melt away :)
      I am so glad I read the book early! I wrote all of those essays back in March! Yes, I tweaked them quite a bit, a few of them a lot, but having everything up and ready to go was super. It let me spend time chatting about the essays even though the week was insanely busy :)
      I’ve half thought of gathering the essays, takign some ideas from our chats, and doing a big project, but maybe not – if I did, I would want to reread the book, which isn’t happening soon ;)
      And then, would I want to go into some of the areas I skipped? Wow, a huge book and I just scratched the surface!
      Oh, by the way, we did mention Great Expectations in another post and Robbie Cheadle, knowing we most likely won’t do it, has still jumped in and is reading it right now. lol. I also had a couple of people say they might start Bleak House. I see that as a major win!

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      1. Prior...

        Yes – I see that as a major win also – to have some start — and I was just adding that to the lens artist post I was planning for tonight –
        I mentioned that Marsha started and was wowed by the fog at the opening (like you and I were)
        And i think she is still going –/
        –
        Anyhow – yes! Very good to

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          Work has been so busy the last two months that it would have been impossible for me if I didn’t do most of the work earlier… I think Marsha said she is to 15% (I’m assuming on a Kindle or similar).

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            1. trentpmcd Post author

              We might. besides Marsha working her way through, I think it s Donna (Not good with blog names) who will post later this week, so there will be a total of three people beyond the two of us participating. Hey, maybe someone else will jump in!

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              1. Prior...

                Yes – and I am not just saying this but I am super content with Derrick, RR, you and me, and then Marsha – woo hoo
                But maybe someone else will even though with this long of a book – well, it might not be with reading all of it!
                –

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          WP sometimes does odd things. Are you using your phone? I hate WP on the phone because those odd things seem even more frequent.
          Larger Bleak House project? I’m not sure if it will ever happen, but never say never… For creative projects I need to get back into writing and more music…

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          1. Prior...

            Well my grand-doggy jumped up on me and woof woof
            That is why it cut off (and I almost wrote why but was getting caught up and all that !) hahaha
            —
            And regarding any future projects we each might have – let’s stay open and take it one season at a time!
            And regarding next year’s dickens challenge – really voting for a shorter one this time – yes indeed

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              1. Prior...

                Yea and maybe we can even do that coffee (or tea) meetup!
                Nice to think of 2023 and in ways will be here before we realize it
                —
                I started the final essay – so good!! But had to pause to I be get a bite to eat!
                Will resume shortly

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Hi Chel! I just saw you on Ruth’s blog (we commented at almost exactly the same time). Unfortunately I have done very little creative work since March. I have been playing my keyboards, but no composing or recording in a few months and no writing except what goes on my blog.
      I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

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