Thursday, January 17, 2019

Happy Birthday To Meeeeeeee!

As of 5:50 this morning I am a newly minted mid-30s adult and that sounds so weird to me because sometimes a lot of times I am immature AF. I'm also impulsive, stubborn, quick to anger, and spoiled rotten. In short, I'm a peach 😘 But hey, I'm an only child so, it is what it is.

Anyway, my momma is awesome. One of my favorite things about my birthday is the fact that throughout the day leading up to January 17th, I get emails from her like, "It was about this time when I started having contractions", "This is when my water broke", and my personal fave, "This is about the time that Grandpa drove me to the hospital in the White Van and we didn't die".

(Side note about the White Van, this hunk of junk is one of my most treasured childhood memories. There were only two seats, one for the driver and one for the passenger. There was a freestanding chair in the back that was in no way secured and I LOVE RIDING IN THIS VAN whenever Grandpa and I had to go run errands for Grandma.)

And then The Call comes every January 17th at 5:50 AM without fail, my Momma telling me how this is when she was holding me in her arms for the first time. Still half-asleep, I listen while my Momma sings Happy Birthday, tells me she loves me, and to go back to sleep. I love this tradition and can't wait to carry it on with Eleanor when she is older (though right now she wants me to go to college with her, so I wouldn't have to email or call. I could just leave little Post-It notes around the dorm room she plans on us sharing.)

Naturally there are gifts to be had and this year I received a gift card with the amount of my age, because Momma knows I have to choose the books myself. Here is what I selected:

26196406 I've already read this, and absolutely loved it. It has all the kinds of history that I would want to know when I am finally plunked down smack-dab in the middle of NYC and have the luxury of exploring the boroughs for days on end. You can find my review HERE but it doesn't even do this gem justice. If you are going to NYC, I highly recommend using this as a guide book and you will find all the sights/sites you didn't even know you were looking for.

34312336 Now, if you know me but at all, you know that in September of 2017 I got to meet Dan Jones and before his US book tour for this particular treasure, I actually won a limited edition autographed proof (complete with my preferred UK cover). BUT, I had to snag this one because I need my collection to be complete (and in paperback. Yes, I am one of those who has some intense OCD tendencies about my books). You can check out my review HERE. Plus, he can sign this one AND his forthcoming book on the Crusaders book during his next visit to the US.

328032 This is one I have been wanting for a long time, and finally bought. I have this habit of totally forgetting any book I want to buy when I actually have a gift card to go buy them. I spent a looooooooooot of time going through my TBR to see what I really wanted, and this was it. I am super excited, because I love NYC and all the history contained on that tiny piece of real estate.

Have you read any of these? If so, which one(s)?

Happy Reading!
Sarah

12 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Sarah! Oh yes I understand book OCD and wanting matching covers and things! I like my covers to match and all books in the series to be the same size! I love that Eleanor wants you to dorm share at college with you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Chuckles, it was a very good day! I hope Eleanor feels this way in 13 years when it is time to actually go to college, haha

      Delete
  2. HAPPY Birthday Sarah! Many happy returns. The Gift Card idea made me smile. Each year I send my sister a bank cheque for the birth years - except if there's a zero in it. in 2017 she got £49. Last year she got £250. After all my kid sister isn't 50 every year!

    Speaking on the Big Apple.... I'll be diving into some historic crime novels 'soon'. A number of them are based in New York. I'll let you know when I review them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! It was a good day, and then today school was cancelled due to ice. Eleanor and I got to stay in our jammies all day and play, do science experiments, sing, dance, play board games, and make art projects and crafts.

      You are quite the wonderful big brother, almost makes me wish I had any siblings, lol ;)

      I am OBSESSED with NYC. I'm definitely looking forward to those novels you will be reading!

      Delete
  3. Happy birthday! Your mom sounds terribly sweet. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy birthday!!! That's sweet and sounds like a wonderful tradition. :)

    Enjoy your new books!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Greg, it really is. When I was in college I was not *quite* as thankful for it (then it was usually only the phone call), but since then I have thankfully realized what a gift in itself that it is. My mom is pretty awesome <3

      Delete
  5. A belated but still very Happy Birthday to you :-)
    I love that you're going to be going to college with Eleanor though I wonder if that idea might have changed by then!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I too have a feeling that Eleanor's thoughts on this might change when she is older, haha

      Delete
  6. Happy belated birthday, Sarah! I love your mom's tradition of calling you at the exact time of your birth. It's so sweet and being the recipient of that call every year must be so special :)

    Laura @BlueEyeBooks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Laura. It really is something I enjoy, and Mom has even asked if I want her to stop, because it is so early. But I always say no, because it is a nice reminder of just how loved I am <3

      Delete

Thanks for visiting my little book nook. I love talking books so leave a comment and let's chat!