Treadmill Goals/Tracking

• Get on the treadmill (or equivalent exercise) daily
• Pace is fine at 30 min/mile, although I may up it on occasion
• Time range between 30 minutes and 1 hour per day
• Distance 1-2 miles per day
• Read the chosen book. I’m officially modifying my original rule of not reading the book-of-the-week off-treadmill. I’m usually going to look at length and try to divide it up somewhat evenly per day, even if that means either closing that book early (if it’s short) or continuing after (if it’s long).

Week 179: April 26, 2020 – May 2, 2020

DAY	PACE	TIME	DISTANCE
Sunday	30 min/mile	30:16 min:sec	1 mile
Monday	30 min/mile	30:10 min:sec	1 mile
Tuesday	30 min/mile	30:09 min:sec	1 mile
Wednesday	30 min/mile	30:21 min:sec	1 mile
Thursday	30 min/mile	30:21 min:sec	1 mile
Friday	30 min/mile	30:56 min:sec	1 mile
Saturday	Mowed	~ 2 hours	Exceeded 13k steps & 30 “flights of stairs” per Fitbit

What I’m Reading

Note: Although I will try to avoid them, my weekly reading snippets may or may not contain spoilers, so read at your own risk.

What I #amreading: Cadence and the Pearl by K.L. Noone (includes bonus story: Peter and the Sea-Prince)

Once upon a time, on a rocky island with enchantment under the ocean …

Cadence Bell left the windswept Northern Isles and his parents’ inn for the theaters and royal masques and glitter of Londre, swearing he’d make his fortune as a playwright and poet, trading fish stew and rain for fame and adoration and a place at the Queen’s Court. Now his parents are gone and Cade’s inheritance brings him back home, where he’d never wanted to return. But magic lurks beneath the waves, a stray pearl might be a key to another world, and even the quiet local schoolteacher has secrets of his own.

Jeremiah Carver never meant to hide secrets. But he promised to tell no one about the other world he’s seen, and he keeps his word. Even if that means concealing magic from Cadence Bell. Which is difficult, since Cade’s not only a dazzling literary success, but also the person Jeremiah’s loved from afar since their years-ago childhood. And he’s afraid he’s falling for Cade all over again now.

When Cadence falls under the siren spell of the ocean’s magic, Jeremiah has to make a choice and return to a world he’s left behind once before to rescue his heart from the sea.

My favorite lines this week…

✿✿ SUNDAY ✿✿ (Cadence and the Pearl)

A year ago he’d had no sense of the stone about to land in his life. Ripples and ripples and he was sinking.

“Cadence Bell,” he said, to the wind and the sea, “Queen’s playwright and artistic advisor. On the Inner council.” The sea sighed at him with voiceless well-meant soothing rhythm; but it had no advice to give.

✿✿ MONDAY ✿✿ (Cadence and the Pearl)

“I’ve heard that one.” Cade poured cream into porridge, a slow curl of sensuous white; it pooled into the hollow he’d made for it, lapping at sides. “My life. Surprising. Shocking. Scandalous. Infamous.”

“Famous.” Jeremiah’s foot nudged his under the table. “Growing up I thought you didn’t even know my name. Not that you ahd to. Not that you needed to.”

Cadence, who in fact would’ve thought the same at the time, in the present found himself unusually discomfited by the ready acceptance on that side. He ate some porridge to put off answering.

✿✿ TUESDAY ✿✿ (Cadence and the Pearl)

“There are many men,” said Nerein. “They come and go. And they’re all just humans.”

“Yes,” Jeremiah said, more kindness in the answer this time. “They do come and go, don’t they? For you. But we remember your face. We remember your smile. We never forget you.”

Nerein looked everyplace but at Jeremiah; flicked his tail, suddenly much more awkward and much less ethereal, and muttered, “You do make it hard to stay angry, don’t you…”

✿✿ WEDNESDAY ✿✿ (Peter and the Sea-Prince)

He hadn’t expected any of this. He did not dislike it—it’d be like disliking the fabric of the universe—but he would’ve liked one more day.

✿✿ THURSDAY ✿✿ (Peter and the Sea-Prince)

It was what it was. His family. His life. His world.

But his world had a sea-prince in it. Who liked currant buns and sarcasm.

✿✿ FRIDAY ✿✿ (Peter and the Sea-Prince)

The afternoon melted into sea and silver, salt and storm, smoke and skin. Water dripped from eaves and slid down windowpanes; serviceable white cotton sheets became an enchantment, a discovery, a whole new world discovered by just the two of them.

✿✿ SATURDAY ✿✿ (Peter and the Sea-Prince)

Peter’s mouth, without his input, gulped, “State occasion…sweet western stars, we’re not even engaged yet…”

Cadence smothered a laugh behind a hand. Jeremiah looked at Peter with absolute delight. Peter’s mother, standing with friends and apprentices in the crowd, gave him a very definite we’re having a talk later, young man, but I’m happy for you stare; and evaluated the merman at his side with newly intensified parental scrutiny.

Both the Queen and Nerein said, “Yet?” with immense interest. Nerein’s eyes got brighter, bluer, giddy as horizons; he leaned in and kissed Peter squarely on the lips, swift and breathless and heart-pounding.