Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
My Week in Review
Happy Sunday! Summer is upon us, and I hope everyone is keeping cool. Though the temperatures were a bit high the past two days, the humidity did go down a bit. It could be worse. We are forecasted for a few over 100 days. I hope the a/c can keep up.
Has anyone applied for a UK travel visa? I spent over an hour trying to do it with the app. I had no problem verifying my email, uploading a picture of my passport, scanning the chip, but when I got to the part where I had to take my photo, I got stuck every time. The camera function would not work right. My arms are too short to do a selfie that includes my shoulders, but none of the buttons would work. The camera flip and "click" button could not be clicked. I uninstalled and reinstalled, so maybe I will try again soon. Just curious about other people's experiences.
It was another wash, rinse, repeat week for me. I had Thursday off and went to the eye doctor. She gave me information about this procedure I can do for my dry eye. It would be $1,400 since it's not covered by insurance. It's called Intense Pulsed Light Therapy. I had previously paid $1,000 for LipiFlow which did nothing for me. I need to research this more, and if I decide to go ahead, I will wait until next year so I can do Flexible Spending for it. In the meantime, I am trying to get approved for a new medication. The last new one I tried was expensive and didn't work any better than my current (covered) medication. I am waiting to see how much it will cost. It would be great to see better and feel better, but I hate wasting money.
On the Blog
Stacking the Shelves
It was a quiet week. I did get an invite for a book on my TBR. I am not sure I have time to squeeze it in, but I have a little bit to decide. I downloaded a freebie too because it's set in Mississippi, and I need that state for my reading challenge.
Invites
- If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden
Purchased/Free
- Kiss Me That Way by Laura Trentham
Read Last Week
This week was a little surprising. The books that rated high were expected, but I thought a few others would have rated higher. A total non-shocker was Backman's book earning my highest rating of the week. He is the king of these stories that touch me. They are always so well written and quietly beautiful. Larkin's newest release was also amazing, as was Lauren Kate's. Those were *this* close to getting the full five-stars, but I wanted a little more from the endings.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Where the Creek Bends by Linda Lael Miller - ★★★ 1/2
- Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin - ★★★★ 1/2
- Pretending He's Mine by Lauren Blakely - ★★★ 1/2
- Let's Make a Scene by Laura Wood - ★★★★
- The Spirit of Love by Lauren Kate - ★★★★ 1/2
Audiobooks
- My Friends by Fredrik Backman - ★★★★★
Currently Reading
- Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey
- Winter in Paradise by Elin Hiderbrand (audiobook)
To Be Read
- Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley
- Tutoring the Player by Rebecca Jenshak
- Where You're Planted by Melanie Sweeney
- Relationship Goals by Brittany Kelley
Let us know in the comments!
I haven't tried for the UK Travel visa yet. I think we need one paper like the Esta now but I don't think we need to download an app to get that paper. I will fill everything in in September or October as I will go to London in November.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could fill out a form. This has been a struggle.
DeleteThe travel visa sounds like a headache to get.
ReplyDeleteIt should be easy, but things never are for me.
DeleteI haven't filled out a UK travel visa. Is that the same as the UK ETA? The new thing you have to fill out to go into the UK? I am only landing and connecting in London on our way to Italy, but I think I still have to have it. I also have dry eyes and my eye Dr. says it affects my vision. I'd research that procedure. It seems like some places like to add procedures that you may not need or that even work. I had a procedure done for narrow angle glaucoma (just barely) and I think I didn't need it. They got a lot of money from my insurance company, though. My sister has the same thing and her dr said she didn't need it. Who knows. I should've researched more.
ReplyDeleteIt is the UK ETA. I am struggling with the app. I have tasked the kid with doing it and letting me know what tricks she had to perform to get past the picture. I hate wasting time, and I started that app and abandoned 4 times. I have had chronic dry eye since my 30s. I have double and blurry vision often. It's one of the reasons I don't drive to work. I am looking into the procedure. No rush. I hadn't even heard of it until last week. This would be elective and not covered, so I will be thinking hard about it.
DeleteI was surprised at how temperate it actually was yesterday, but then the heat kept building and now it's already crazy hot (at 8:30am) - not looking forward to the next couple days!
ReplyDeleteWe just have to survive a few days, a few brutal days.
DeleteWe've had some pretty crazy storms to start out the summer. I had massive limbs down in my yard, so there will be no shortage of firewood as the temperatures start to cool down later this year. At least, that's what I keep telling myself haha.
ReplyDeletePretty sure your cooling temperatures are still rather hot. I guess it is a bonus. If you had to clean up the mess, at least it will be useful later in the year.
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