Katiekrug Reads and Reads and Reads Some More - Part 1

CURRENTLY READING

(Audio) (Print) (Kindle)

Hi All!

For anyone new to my thread, I'm Katie: reader, wine drinker, food appreciator, shenanigan-ator, and non-sufferer of fools. I live outside New York City with my husband, "The" Wayne, our cat, Leonard, and our dog Nuala/Noodles. I work as a senior governance manager for a non-profit engineering association, which used to be fun because I got to travel and now is just a big pile of meh.

Here's to a great, or at least an improved, new year!

Recent Books Completed

Books Off My Shelf: 1
Books Off My Kindle:
Books from Audible:
Library Loans: 1

1. Jazz by Toni Morrison (3.75 stars)
2. One By One by Ruth Ware (3.5 stars)
.



My Ratings (revised, once again, as I continue the fruitless search for the perfect scale...)

2 stars = Whyyyyyy?
3 stars = Eh, ok.
4 stars = Definitely worth the time.
5 stars = Perfect *for me*

(Anything below 2 stars is unlikely to be finished)

WELCOME!

Hey, found you. Happy new Thread and here's to 2021.

>4 Helenliz: - Happy to be found, Helen!

Happy new thread!

>3 katiekrug: Absofuckinlutely. Never say That Name in this year, never name THAT YEAR in any future calendar...best it turns into an oubliette.

>6 ChelleBearss: - Thanks, Chelle!

>7 richardderus: - Yep!

Happy new thread, Katie. And yup, >3 katiekrug:. Just yup

Welcome back! Hoping 2021 is a better one - it has to be, right?

>9 jessibud2: - Thanks, Shelley!

>10 drneutron: - You're tempting fate, Jim.... :)

So. Bridgerton. Sumptuous, no?

>3 katiekrug: I could have done without the entire Trump years as they coincided with personal crises for me as well as what that f*ckwit did to your country in the same period.

Welcome back, Katie.

>12 richardderus: - I haven't watched it yet! I'm waiting to binge it sometime this week while The Wayne is working....

>13 PaulCranswick: - Thanks, Paul.

Happy New Year!

HI Katie, I've placed my star and I am looking forward to following along with you next year. I saw that the Bridgerton series is available but I, too, am saving it for now. One of these days I am going to gorge myself on this juicy romance!

HI Katie! I am looking forward to lurking, like I usually do, in 2021. I haven't watched Bridgerton either but have seen some previews. Something to look forward to.

Welcome back and enjoy your reading this year!

2021. Go figure. And hallelujah!!!

Dropping off my star.

>14 katiekrug: Ooohhh.

Well then, I shall draw a discreet veil across my emojis, gifs, and memes.

On to The Problem with Mistletoe! Heatless Christmas rom-com featuring you twice: The blonde, perfectly pulled together villainess Zooey, and the Bridezilla Mrs. Krug, each of whom is doing her dead-level best to keep Alex the hot Pinoy Boy and David the Single-Dad Hockey Star from gettin' their freak on at last!

Free on Kindle. Just sayin'

>15 cbl_tn: - Thanks, Carrie! Happy new year to you, too!

>16 DeltaQueen50: - I couldn't resist and watched the first episode last night, Judy. It's good. Different from the books - *which is fine* - but I think it will be good fun.

>17 crazy4reading: - Welcome, Monica! It's always good to have something to look forward to - especially these days...

>18 thornton37814: - Thanks, Lori!

>19 EBT1002: - Nice to have you along as always, Ellen :)

>20 richardderus: - I watched the first episode last night, mostly to stop TW's binge of His Dark Materials. I needed a break :) I luuurve the costumes. The acting is meh, so far. I am fine with the changes to the story, but I do hope it picks up pace a bit...

So wait, is there really a bridezilla in that book with my name?!?! I hasten to add, I was NOT a bridezilla....

>21 katiekrug: I've found the pace, erm, magisterial to date. Looks like they straightwashed a few characters, too, and that's a shame.

Yep. The Krug bride, maiden name forgotten, was the cause of a lot of story angst. It amused me all to hell. Especially since you're the second-to-last person I'd ever think of being a Bridezilla. (I'm last.) (Because I'm so very easygoing and tolerant and forgiving.)

(Stop guffawing it's unladylike.)

>22 richardderus: - *smothers guffaws*

I don't recall any characters that weren't straight in the book(s)...?

>23 katiekrug: They weren't gay in the books...they were being set up as gay in the series, but last minute got pulled back from the brink.

Or so it seems just now...things could easily change, but not likely shall we say.

>24 richardderus: - OIC. Once I'm done watching, we must reconvene this discussion!

>24 richardderus: I thought so, too.

Happy newness, Katie!

Hi Katie! Dropping my star for 2021. Happy reading!

>26 Crazymamie: and >27 AMQS: - Thanks, Mamie and Anne!

Best wishes for a better 2021!

Thank you, Diana!

I wish you a Happy New Year. May it be better than the old one.

>31 Ameise1: - Thank you, Barbara!

Dropping off my star, Katie. Looking forward to 2021 shenanigans. :)

I haven't started Bridgerton yet. Probably won't start it until Mr. Fine goes back to work next week and I have some TV time to myself.

12 hours thirty-six minutes left. I want to poop on all of them to show my displeasure but can't, since I'm not a puppy anymore.

Hi Katie, I'm just bopping around the threads leaving my calling card, as it were. I'm looking forward to more snarky chatter with you in 2021.

Happy New Thread, Katie. Happy New Year! Glad we are turning the page on that one. Looking forward to following your book choices for another 12 months.

Happy New Year Katie!

>33 MickyFine: - Glad to have you along for another year, Micky!

I was a little worried about Bridgerton after the first episode, but the second moved along at a better clip and there was more of the humor I expected.

>34 richardderus: - Snork!

>35 lauralkeet: - I look forward to it as well, Laura *grin*

>36 msf59: - Hiya, Mark! Thank you for the new year's greetings. They are returned in kind!

>37 SandDune: - Thank you, Rhian!

Happy new year, Katie! I'm looking forward to more shenanigans, snark, food talk, wine talk, doggy talk, etc. in the coming year. May it be a good one.

>39 RebaRelishesReading: - Good to see you, Reba!

I've decided to be brave and not worry about carrying over a book from one year to the next. I started Jazz this afternoon for a shared read with Laura and Beth.

Happy new one, Katie.

>41 katiekrug: ooh, that IS brave. LOL.

tbh, because I finished a book this afternoon I will probably read a few pages of Jazz this evening, or at least at bedtime.

>42 charl08: - Thanks, Charlotte.

>43 lauralkeet: - I looked back at my first read of 2020, and I had started it NYE 2019, so I guess I'm not as brave as I thought... Heh.

Happy reading in 2021, Katie!

And keep up with my friends here, Katie. Have a great 2021.

Thanks, Anita and Paul. Happy new year to you both.

Currently contemplating the stupidity of confirming our gym appointment for this morning...

>48 katiekrug: Ugh! The 1st should be a sleep in day!

I also need to find some time for the gym today. Hopefully I can find something to entertain the kids

>41 katiekrug: hi Katie!

Jazz is one of the Morrison books I haven't read.

Judy and I caught up with a great "American Masters" documentary on Morrison last night lots of her talking lots of people talking about her. Good stuff

>48 katiekrug:. You go girl! You'll feel superior over all of us sofa sitters once you've done it.
Or unable to move, one or the other.

>49 ChelleBearss: - Well, it's done. It wasn't pretty, but I survived!

>50 magicians_nephew: - Hi, Jim! I'm only about 20 pages into the Morrison, but I am liking it. I will have to look for that American Masters...

>51 Helenliz: - Feeling smugly superior now, Helen ;-)

We had a nice NYE - good food, I won Monopoly, Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper on TV from Times Square being silly. Very chill, but our New Years Eves usually are. I drank too much wine, but whatevs. Made it through our training session without embarrassing myself, so it's all good.

Today I plan to binge some Bridgerton and watch college football. Tomorrow will be a big cleaning/picking up day, I think.

>50 magicians_nephew: That American Masters episode was terrific, wasn't it? Of course, most of them are. I haven't read Jazz yet, and I don't have a copy, but I will have to defer. I'm already behind on my January reading! C'est la vie.

Hi Katie, and Happy New Year!

>3 katiekrug: 👍

>53 katiekrug: College football is in my future today, too. I’m particularly interested in the Clemson-Ohio State game and want Clemson to steamroll OS.

>54 laytonwoman3rd: - HI LINDA!

>55 karenmarie: - I want Notre Dame to embarrass Alabama, but I doubt it will happen....

Hi Katie, am I understanding this correctly? You don't like to start a book in one year and finish it the next year (which may be the next day)? I don't know if I've ever done anything BUT that lol.

Happy New Year and happy reading.

>3 katiekrug: Yup! That says it all. 2019 2021....

Happy New Year!! I hope you get some of the fun of your job back, which would be the traveling! Maybe this fall? Fingers crossed.

>57 brenzi: - Yeah, it's a weird thing. I feel like it's messy or something. But I have started books in one year and finished them in another previously, so I guess I'm over it? Maybe? Ha.

>58 Berly: - Thanks, Kim. Yes, maybe fall? I have a tentative work trip scheduled for September, so I'll just have to wait and see. I'm not going anywhere until I get vaccinated, and the way that's going so far, I'm not holding out much hope of getting the jab before late summer/early fall at the very earliest...

Yo, Katie. The year begins. I'm in. What could go wrong? *Don't answer. DON'T*

Happy New Year Katie! I fervently hope it's a better one.

>60 weird_O: - You're going to jinx it, Bill!

>61 AnneDC: - Nice to see you, Anne!

Happy New Year, Katie. I look forward to reading Jazz with you.

>63 BLBera: - Hi Beth! I'm liking Jazz a lot. I need to buckle down and devote some real time to it. I've been reading in dribs and drabs the last couple of days...

I watched some Bridgerton yesterday and have now completed 5 episodes. Oh. My. Be still my heart, Simon.
I am not loving all of it, but that scene with Simon and Daphne and the queen.... And the wedding night... *fans self* I don't love the actress playing Daphne, but Rene-JeanPage makes up for it :)

My thoughts exactly.

*grin*

You might like to know that himself of the good looks and smouldering eyes appeared in a Zoom inspired pantomine on the BBC over Christmas. It was Cinderella and he was cast as Prince Charming. He managed to pull of a look with an inflatable crown particularly well, I thought.
It was a bit slapstick, but some very funny bits too.

>68 Helenliz: The Christmas "Pantos" is such a huge thing in England and most Americans just groan and pass by. It's old fashioned music hall / vaudeville and the hoariest of old jokes (and lots of audience participantion) but I love them.

>68 Helenliz: - I would watch him in anything, with or without an inflatable crown. Also, with or without clothes ;-)

>69 magicians_nephew: - I've never actually seen one, but know what they are. I keep threatening The Wayne with a Christmas-time trip to the UK when The Bad Times are over, and a panto would definitely be on my list of things to do.

>70 katiekrug: Same.

I have arrived in 2021.

>72 Crazymamie: - Wait - did you not have a thread yet? I guess the Cat Challenge thread threw me off!

*trundles off to find Mamie*

>65 katiekrug: My fingers are itching to click that spoiler tag but I haven't watched any yet so I'll be good.

Hi Katie!

>56 katiekrug: Neither of us was pleased then. Alabama embarrassed Notre Dame and Ohio State blew Clemson out of the water. We abandoned ship at halftime.

>75 karenmarie: - I will now transfer my support to OSU, as the rule in this house is to root against Alabama...

Dropping off my and wishing you the best of new years in 2021!

>76 katiekrug: GO OSU!!!!!

>66 Crazymamie: Yes.

>70 katiekrug: Yes! (Option 2: major detailed nudity preferred)

*Perfect* day to keep Nuala out longer on her walk.

>76 katiekrug: Hey, I went there! (Don't care a bit about the sports, but still.)

Happy New Year Katie!

>77 ronincats: - Hi Roni!

>78 Berly: - YES!

>79 richardderus: - Glad we are all in agreement re: His Grace :)

Nuala had a lovely walk...

>80 scaifea: - Another reason for me to root for them!

>81 norabelle414: - Happy new year, Nora!

Happy New Year and thread Katie! Hope you are doing well. Starring this topic, I hope I get time to pop in!

>83 vikzen: - I hope so, too, Vic! Happy new year!

>82 katiekrug: His Grace can be MY Grace any old time.

Much to Rob's disgust.

I watched the first episode of The Bridgertons last night and it wasn't until the last ten minutes that I was actually drawn in and decided I'd continue with it. However, once the plan was made by the two main characters, The Duke of a Hastings and well, whatever the female character is called because honestly I barely noticed her, I was hooked.

Hi Katie!

All the best in the New Year

>1 katiekrug: I have seen this title all over lately. Can't wait to read the review.

>85 richardderus: - He can't be your grace because he is my grace, RD. Geez.

>86 brenzi: - It was definitely a slow start, Bonnie. And honestly, it's not until the end of episode 4 that I feel it really gets going....

>87 figsfromthistle: - Happy new year, Anita! I'll come find your thread...

It's snowing - big fluffy flakes and so pretty. I don't think it'll last or accumulate much but it's making for a nice start to my last day off from work *sob*

Last night, we had ravioli in homemade vodka sauce, and I finished watching Bridgerton. Not a perfect series by any means but the parts I enjoyed, I really loved. So now to wait for the next season....

Today will be a whole lot of nothing. I have one load of laundry to do and that's about it. Ive spent an hour this morning snuggled under a blanket on the couch, drinking coffee and reading Jazz. I see more of that in my future before football starts. Homemade chicken noodle soup with biscuits for dinner, I think. Can't get much copier than that!

>89 katiekrug: The soup and biscuits sounds good. My lunch will be leftovers from New Year's Day.

Morning, Katie! Enjoy that beautiful snow.

Dinner (both last night and tonight) sounds most yum.

>90 thornton37814: - The Wayne offered to do something more "complicated" for dinner, as he is wont to do on Sundays, but I really love soup and it just sounded right, given the weather.

Hope you enjoy those leftovers!

>91 Crazymamie: - Thanks, Mamie. The snow has stopped, but it's sticking around, at least for now. I think it's supposed to rain later - boo!

Bridgerton's imperfections are not deal-killers like some, but are more than a bit disconcerting. But He's it's very beautiful!

Soup and biscuits! Inspired. I shall emulate.

*smooch*

>93 richardderus: - I do wonder if I'll like it as much when there is less Simon in the subsequent season(s)....

Less Simon?! Just no.

>94 katiekrug: None of the Bridgerton Boys come close in, um, appeal, do they. *sigh*

>95 Crazymamie: - I am assuming we'll turn focus to Anthony, given the bee at the end of the last episode, and all the hullabaloo with the opera singer.

>96 richardderus: - In looks, Benedict is my favorite, but Colin's story was always my favorite. It was the first of the series I read way back in 2003 or something like that.

Yes, yes, I know, but....let's keep Simon front and center. It will take some creative writing, but they have already done loads of that, so...

Colin's is my favorite story, too.

Sounds like a perfect day. And now i have to check out Bridgerton....

>98 Crazymamie: - I'm really eager for Eloise's story arc to be done. I love it, and they've set it up so interestingly with the Marina storyline being included already.

>99 Berly: - It's a slow starter, Kim. Honestly, if I hadn't read the books, I'm not sure I would have stuck with it...

I think so, too. Eloise and Colin were my favorite characters from the books.

>89 katiekrug: It's my last day off also... ugh. I know I should not complain as most working adults do not get school breaks but this year's winter break was exceptionally short - about 10 days and I am not ready to go back:( Enjoy your day of leisure!

Getting curious about Brigerton- will have to poke a nose in

>102 Crazymamie: - Same!

>103 AMQS: - I hope you have a leisurely day planned, too, Anne. Work is just so meh for me right now. I cannot gin up any enthusiasm for it whatsoever.

>104 magicians_nephew: - Well, I'd be interested to hear what you think of it, Jim. My initial thought is it won't be your cuppa, but people continuously surprise me!

>105 katiekrug: ...people continuously surprise me!

Don't they always?

Re: Benedict he's one of the teased-as-gay storylines. His flirty responses to Granville's catching him out making disparaging comments, then the little interplay in Granville's studio, was seen as part of a promised updating of the sexual politics. Then...like Eloise, the other one...it simply piffed away. He is some man-candy, it's true, but next to MY Grace the Duke, yesterday's turnips served cold.

>106 richardderus: - Yes, when I finally watched up to that point, I realized what you had been referencing. It was a bit odd - the teasing of it and then... nothing. But I did like Grenville's little speech in a later episode about his relationship(s).

ETA: Cold turnips indeed!

Happy New Year, Katie!

We got hooked on Bridgerton, too. We binged the whole thing in a couple of days. I'm fonder of the actress playing Daphne than you are - maybe because of my gender.:-)

Apparently there are 8 novels, and they're already planning the second season. Anthony (the oldest brother) supposedly will be featured.

>108 jnwelch: - Glad you enjoyed Bridgerton, Joe! Daphne grew on me, though not as much as on you and my husband, I think!

Yes, eight novels - one for each sibling. I've read them all. I knew Anthony would be the focus of the next one, but I am really interested in what other storylines they weave in, as they did with this season... Something to look forward to!

>107 katiekrug: Yes, that little monologue was most interesting indeed...to be continued...?

>110 richardderus: - I would not be at all surprised.

I think the show is trying to update the "genre" in the same way authors have been doing. The original Bridgerton books are products of the late 90s/early 2000s, and the genre, especially historicals, have evolved a lot since then.

ETA: I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know, so apologies!

>111 katiekrug: Never apologize for sharing info. Most especially on your own thread! While you're here you can recite the Credo three times in a row and (while I would be on the blower to Social Services for a wellness check) it's not up to any of us to say boo-turkey about it.

And I am SO ready for Romancelandia to drop the old-fashioned gasp-and-clutch response! No one anywhere ever said "YOU TOO MUST READ THIS YOU FUSTY LAVENDER-SMELLING OLD BAT."

Read what *you* like, Great-Aunt Nelnorina. Just stop whinging about what *we* like.

>109 katiekrug: Whoa, I don't know anyone who read the novels. Did the first season adaptation live up to the book for you?

>112 richardderus: - I think Romancelandia is making great strides, much to the consternation of some of the Old Guard writers and readers...

>113 jnwelch: - Several of us here in the 75ers are fans of the series, Joe - Mamie, Micky, Meg..... You must have romance-blocking glasses :)

I can't compare the show to the first book, as they are very different. But I'm not the type to demand, or even want, an adaptation to be entirely faithful to the source. So I liked the show just fine, absolutely loved parts of it, but I think some of what they chose to include/invent didn't add much to the main story. That said, they are working in an entirely different medium, so to compare isn't really fair. If that makes sense?

We have talked about watching Bridgerton but haven't started it yet. It will likely be our binge for my return to work. I'll need something to soothe my frayed nerves when I return to "real life."

I think I have romance-blocking glasses, too, but I might give these a try.

>115 EBT1002: - Romance is the Rodney Dangerfield of genre fiction - can't get no respect! There have been a lot of great articles recently, thanks to the Bridgerton premier, about romance and its evolution. I hope more people give it a try and realize it's not all formulaic Harlequin and heaving bosoms...

>116 katiekrug: I hope more people give it a try and realize it's not all formulaic Harlequin and heaving bosoms ...

>117 lauralkeet: - LOL, Laura! I mean, there are plenty of heaving bosoms in the Bridgerton series - books and show!

And bad info on corsets that's got a flap goin', too. I confess I can't work up a head of steam about corsets.

Nor I...

>118 katiekrug: I, for one, can appreciate a good heaving bosom...

I am planning on binging on The Bridgertons later this week. My husband is going in to the hospital for his operation and I will need something to keep me busy. I am looking forward to it but have also lowered my expectations so I'm not locked into anything. It does sound like I have some smashing man-candy to look forward to!

I think I'm lost. Isn't this LibraryThing? Seems like TelevisionThing.

Yeah, I guess a book was mentioned.

>105 katiekrug: if past performence indicates future results I will like Bridgerton more than Judy will.

But we will see

>119 richardderus: Richard I knew a woman once who worked for Harlequin as an editor.

She called out one of her writers on how long it would take to get a woman out of an old fashioned whalebone corset - apparently it was no mean feat.

Now I seem to recall a scene in "Deadwood" where a gal just slipped out of her corset and into the feathers P.D.Q.

More research on this is needed clearly

>114 katiekrug: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I can think of other series and movies that depart widely from the book and I loved them anyway, Blade Runner being one example. Bridgerton was a fun series, and I'm looking forward to the next one. You must have romance-blocking glasses :) Ahem, very astute. My eyes do glaze over when it's a romance review. My loss, I'll bet.

Hi Katie! 124 unread messages! "There must be hot guys on this thread," I said to myself.

:-)

>125 jnwelch: Those romance-blocking goggles must have a Georgette Heyer-shaped scratch on one of the lenses. :-D

Morning, Katie! Your thread is cracking me up with the heaving bosoms and whalebone corsets. The bosoms were heaving because those poor women could not breath.

>127 rosalita: *belly laugh*

>121 drneutron: - Snork!

>122 DeltaQueen50: - Judy, I think bingeing Bridgerton while your hubby is in the hospital is a great plan! It will certainly take your mind off things...

>123 weird_O: - EIGHT books, Bill, EIGHT! ;-)

>124 magicians_nephew: - I can't get worked up about things like that, unless it's a pivotal part of the story, like a ticking time bomb was involved or something :D

>125 jnwelch: and >127 rosalita: - Excellent point, Julia! Good historical romances, like Quinn's series, are very similar to Heyer, just with sex. And, shocker! People have sex! So, in a way, they are way more realistic :)

>126 susanj67: - Happy to prove you right, Susan! Heh.

>128 Crazymamie: - Excellent point, Mamie :)

>129 Crazymamie: - Julia has made such a good point, I think. And so wittily - Ms. Heyer would be proud!

Also - HI JULIA!

I thought this was interesting: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/priority-to-be-read-trick-reading-life-mistakes/?utm_....

(sorry for the long link)

Does anyone here use a "priority" TBR list? I am thinking of trying it, as I do get overwhelmed by choice when it's time to pick a new book. Now the challenge will be picking 5!

I created a collection called Possibilities that I use to place books into that I am considering reading soon or that I want to get to next.

Off to check follow that link.

<131 Hmmm. I think my idea of a Priority TBR is the stack of books that sits on the floor by my bed. However, it quickly goes from a workable stack of 5 to a teetering tower or two, so maybe a post-it would be better.

>132 Crazymamie: - That's smart, to use a Collection for it, Mamie. I think I'm going to give the Post-It strategy a try and see if it helps at all.

>133 AnneDC: - I'm thinking the challenge is determining which 5 make the list (or the stack), Anne. I'm going to give it a try and see how things go.

Back at work today. Ugh. Just ugh. I have 200 unread emails to wade through, so I think I'll just spend a little more time on LT... *grin*

Oof to 200 emails.

I like the idea of narrowing it to just 5 books.

>135 katiekrug: Good luck with the email wading, Katie. While most of my department are on layoff/vacation until the 12th (with the exception of our three managers and one staff member (poor woman - layoff sucks but being part of the skeleton crew is just as bad from what she tells us)), I know my inbox will still be full after four weeks away with emails from branch staff who were still working, automatically generated emails from vendors, and all my bookish mailing lists. But that's future Micky's problem. Trying to relax for this last week and a bit of "vacation".

>136 Crazymamie:- But how do I narrow it to just 5?!?!?!?

>137 MickyFine: - I just realized the 200 doesn't include the other Inbox I'm responsible for, but that's usually mostly spam, so should be easy enough to get through...

Past Katie greatly appreciated Future (now Present) Katie's willingness to have a sucky first day back in order to afford her (Past Katie - this is getting confusing...) a lovely break, so Present Katie shouldn't complain too much!

>138 katiekrug:

Right?! That's why I like the idea of it. I'm thinking I would choose one next up in a series, one classic, one something new, one audiobook, and one special interest. I might be back with my own priority choices, actually. Stay tuned.

>139 MickyFine: - Ha! Perfect!

>140 Crazymamie: - I am standing by....

Prioritizing TBRs is, for me, a self-defeating exercise. As soon as I pick and stack five books and declare, "I will read these next," my evil twin Buford will contrive objections to each and every one of them. He'll plant doubts and conflicts in my head. All reading grinds to a halt.

I think I'm better off having a big pile of possibilities, like the pile in my topper, so I can pick the one among many that attracts me in the moment. (Nevertheless, I have a list of even MORE reading candidates in a spreadsheet, so I can consult it in the moment of decision.)

Prioritizing TBRs is a challenge. I sorted my TBR collection by date added to try to get through some of the oldest. That works for a few months but then I get distracted by books from the library! And some have been sitting there for over 10 years and I now wonder what my younger self was thinking in buying those books!

200 emails? Oh, gross. Didn't anyone else realize there was a holiday happening?!

Hi Katie!

>135 katiekrug: 200 emails. Blech. Yes, stay here!

As far as prioritizing my tbr, the closest I come is having a tag "2021 read" but I rarely remember to look at it when it's time to pick a book. I'm rather flighty in what I finally settle on.

>142 weird_O: - I am very similar, Bill, in that as soon as I plan to read something I no longer want to. I wonder if having a relatively short list from which to choose might help...

>143 jayde1599: - Welcome, Jayde! I have pulled about a dozen books off my shelves that have languished there for 10 or more years. That stack really should be my priority TBR, but I doubt it will work that way!

>144 scaifea: - Gross indeed.

In the words of Ross Gellar from Friends: "WE WERE ON A BREAK!!".

>145 karenmarie: - Hi Karen! Welp, I'm still here. Sort of. Ducking in too much in between reading emails... At this rate, it will take me all week to make it through!

The consensus seems to be developing that my hope for the priority TBR is, well, hopeless :)

>124 magicians_nephew:, >130 katiekrug: I'm with Her Kickassness...how long it takes to divest oneself of a corset seems like a piddling thing to me, besides ignoring the existence of enthusiastic, motivated assistance in the process.

>135 katiekrug: ICK

I am so sorry.

Nonetheless...dig we must in this unfriendly economic climate.

>131 katiekrug: Thanks for the link, Katie. When I was commuting, Anne's "What Should I Read Next" podcast was an important part of my week. And she's great at tips for organizing things.

As I read the post you shared, I realized I am kinda unwittingly doing that prioritizing thing. Mine is organized around the calendar month, so as the beginning of a month approaches I think about a) my reading mood, b) any library books that might come in to land, and c) any commitments like book club reads. I come up with a list of my next 4-5 books and put them in my Currently Reading folder. I *know* I'm not actually reading all of them simultaneously, but this seemed the easiest place to park those books. Since I've been reading about 7 books/month on average, choosing 5 also gives me flexibility to change or add to the list during the month.

>148 lauralkeet: That's very similar to what I do, Laura. I always have ebooks reserved at the library that I try to stagger arrival times using the suspend hold feature. I have various group reads. And I have my category challenge so I try to be reading from each of those categories sort of evenly.

I think, for me, reading 2 books at a time also helps. I almost never finish them at exactly the same time, so if I'm a little at a loss for a day or two about what to read next, I have something that I'm still reading in the meantime.

I just really don't need help these days choosing what to read next, so as much as I love new systems of organization, I don't think I need a TBR priority list. Seems like it would work for a lot of people, though.

As do I. My "currently reading" collection should more likely be called "the next books I'm going to get to" collection.
Doesn't always work and sometimes books move back out again, if the inclination simply isn't there.

>147 richardderus: - Digging... digging...

>148 lauralkeet: - I do something similar, Laura, towards the end of each month to look ahead. So maybe I am prioritizing without consciously doing so.

>149 japaul22: - "reading 2 books at a time also helps. I almost never finish them at exactly the same time, so if I'm a little at a loss for a day or two about what to read next, I have something that I'm still reading in the meantime. "

Yes! And sometimes I will start a new book with fewer than 100 pages left in the one I'm reading, so I can have a smooth transition from one to the next.

>150 Helenliz: - That's interesting. My Currently Reading is strictly what I'm reading at that moment or have just finished. I keep books in that collection until I've posted comments about them.

I am also a mood reader, BUT, I think I can prioritize if I keep it simple, so here is my first attempt:

1. Sissinghurst: Vita Sackville-West and the Creation of a Garden - Abby bought this for me for Christmas, so I want to get to it soonish, and it fits my Obsessions category (hardback)

2. The Body in the Castle Well - this fits as a next up in a series (trade paperback)

3. Arctic Dreams - fits the year long polar GeoKIT, the GenreCat for this month, and I really want to read it (Kindle)

4. Dead I May Well Be - loved his Sean Duffy series, so I want to try this (audiobook)

5. Strange Weather in Tokyo - because I want to read more in translation

I picked only stuff that was already in my personal library. No classic here but that is because I am reading The Three Kingdoms, which is a classic and it is BIG.

I always plan my readings for the next month at the end of the month. I have an avarage of pages read per day, and fill in the books I want to read with number of pages on a spreadsheet. I stop adding when I reach the total number of pages per day I can read. Or a little before that, so I can add an unexpected book or two.

I have a collection for "to read" and also a collection for "to read - shortlist". It's never as low as 5 books but it's more like 30 books compared to the hundreds in the larger collection

>152 Crazymamie: - Nice list, Mamie! I think having a diverse collection of genres and such probably helps for the moody reader :)

>153 FAMeulstee: - That's so interesting, Anita! I love hearing everyone's strategies. I have no idea what my average pages per day is, though I guess I could do a little math and figure it out. But math - I try to avoid it whenever possible ;-)

>154 norabelle414: - That's smart, Nora. Big enough to offer variety but small enough to avoid that overwhelmed feeling.

>155 katiekrug: Average pages per day isn't a steady number, Katie, it is based on my reading in the last month or two. And I keep a lot of lists and spreadsheets related to my reading, so the numbers are easily available.

>156 FAMeulstee: - Ah, that makes sense. I do track page numbers, so I could do a rough calculation if I wanted to.

Jazz by Toni Morrison

I’m slightly unsure what to say about this novel. It is not destined to be a favorite of Morrison’s for me, but the writing is so damn good I don’t want to turn people off of it. It’s a fairly straightforward story about a marriage and an affair but told in a non-linear way. I don’t know much about jazz music, but I think it has a lot to do with a central melody and then instrumental and vocal riffs off that center - which perfectly describes the novel. This is Joe and Violet’s story, but then a lot comes off of that – about the city, about their pasts, about their origins, about slavery and the unfulfilled promise of the post-Civil War South and the post-World War I North... It all comes together in a sort of chaotic whole that can be disorienting at times, but then Morrison returns to Joe and Violet, and the reader finds that center again. It is really remarkable as a piece of writing, even if as a story it didn’t fully engage me.

3.75 stars

>158 katiekrug: A book more to be admired than adored, then.

I created a collection last year called Books to Read Soon. It consisted of books I own either on my shelf or on my Kindle. It soon grew to 50 books and now stands at 66. I maybe read half a dozen off that list so it didn't work out the way I hoped. Neither does setting goals I January as I'm prone to do. I was so unsuccessful last year that I didn't even try attempt it this year. I pretty much go by what I'm in the mood for, what's risen to the top of my Overdrive list or, or readily available on Overdrive or just WTH, I think I'll just read this. The only think I stuck to was reading one book a month of Anita Brookner's books.

You're done already, Katie! And you have been engaged in a serious corset conversation. Impressive.

I hope your first day back went well.

Like Anne, I have a pile of books I hope to read soon. I guess that's my priority list...

Morning, Katie!

My reading plans are...detailed. (Oh look, I misspelled "insane.") But, I love 'em, and they mean that it's *never* the case that I don't know what's next.

Morning, Katie! I got nothing, but I wanted to share it with you.

>162 scaifea: "Oh look, I misspelled "insane."" This made me laugh!

>159 richardderus: - That's a fair way to describe it, I think.

>160 brenzi: - I make plans and goals and follow them through January and then usually give up, Bonnie :)

>161 BLBera: - Hi Beth. First day back was okay. We'll see how today goes!

I get torn between stuff from the library and stuff on my shelves (don't we all?) but I am going to try to prioritize my own books. That said, I am currently reading a library book :)

>162 scaifea: - The Queen of Lists! Yes, you do seem to have a process that works well for you, Amber. I'm not jealous or anything...

>163 Crazymamie: - Amber's comment made me laugh, too, Mamie :) I also have nothing but you are welcome to some of it.

Nuala let me sleep in until 7:00am and it was lovely. The Wayne and I take turns getting up with her in the morning to take her out for a pee, and today was my turn. She's going to day care today, and I have a long To Do list for work, but it's all pretty manageable, so here's hoping for a productive day!

Dinner last night was ginger plum chicken from Hello Fresh. Pretty good. The only problem is HF, even their "calorie smart" choices, isn't super WW-friendly, and I'm trying to get back to WW after a hiatus over the holidays. So we'll see how things go...

I'm currently reading One By One by Ruth Ware, a suspense novel about a group trapped in a ski chalet by an avalanche. Not great literature, but it's well paced and reads quickly. I haven't started an audio since finishing my last one in December. I need to get back to puzzling so I have some audio time. Or, I guess I could also do some walking, but, um, yeah.

Morning, Katie. I am enjoying reading about how people choose their reads. I am not much of a mood reader and my approach is not very scientific. My only Reading Objective- is continuing to read OTS. I did pretty good last year but I want to do even better this time. I also have such a variety to pick from, I should never have a problem selecting something.

>163 Crazymamie: >164 katiekrug:



Ginger Plum Chicken sounds pretty amazing.

I keep a folder on my computer desktop of "Books to Keep an Eye On" mostly cut and paste from reviews on LT and other sources.

I used to think that when i was stuck for a new book I would go and open that folder and pick one, but somehow books just sneak up on me and dive bomb me from the top of the bookcase and THAT's the one I read next.

Perhaps we should form a support group.

>167 scaifea: - The pan sauce - fresh ginger, plum jam and ponzu - was amazing.

>168 magicians_nephew: - Jim, I think LT is our support group!

That sauce sounds most yum.

>166 msf59: - Ooops, missed you up there, Mark! You always seem to move smoothly from one book to the next. I'm also trying to read more off my shelves. I did reasonably well last year.

>170 Crazymamie: - Easy to make, too! Or at least that's what The Wayne tells me :)

Pray for Blue skies over Georgia, Katie, and maybe there won't be another failed administration.

"What to read next" has never been any kind of problem for me because I'm always reading at least four books, and all are at different stages of completion. It used to drive my mother and sister NUTS. I'd put down Green Darkness in May, pick it back up in September and keep going without needing to refresh my memory, forget the twenty or so SF novels I'd read between times.

The longest I left a book and then returned to it was five years. Ulysses. Pretty unforgettable stuff.

I'm not able to read as many books at a time as I once did, and have slowed way down...I finished a book a day for decades...but it's still puzzling to me, "what should I read next?" Whatever you put down first? is somehow never a helpful suggestion. Odd, that.

>173 richardderus: - I have my fingers crossed, but I'm feeling pretty resigned to a loss. Self-defense maybe?

It's self-defensive to anticipate the worst when the stakes are so high...and the fact that the pollsters can't find any way to get an answer about the results that isn't within the statistical margin of error is not precisely a consolation.

Most of the books I read in 2020, 61 of them, were on my shelves when that year began. The other 20 I bought during the year, either because I specifically wanted to read them, i.e., I looked for that title (Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy, JCO's Hazards of Time Travel, Trudeau's Lewser! come to mind), or because I craved a snacky sort of read I couldn't find in my stacks.

Is there a point here? I dunno. I had one when I started, but it snuck away. Sorry.

>175 richardderus: - I shall remain pessimistic so as to spare myself heartache.

>176 weird_O: - I got your point, Bill! And I'm impressed you read so much off your shelves. I managed a few over 30, and a few more over 30 off my Kindle.

Mein Gott!

You all know I love The Wayne to pieces. He is the Best Person in the whole world and a lovely man, wonderful husband, and all-around good guy.

But he's sitting at his desk (approximately 3 feet from mine) and sniffing like a 1980s Wall Street banker with a cocaine problem. It's driving me batty. I keep offering him tissues, but he says, and I quote, "Tissues don't help. It's too far back." To which I want to respond, "Well, if you stopped sniffing, it would come to the fore and the tissue would help" but I just turn the volume on my headphones up....

Sorry for the mini-rant but GAH!!!

I feel your pain, Katie! Craig does this throat clearing thing when he coughs, and it Makes. Me. Completely. Insane.

>178 katiekrug: I work with a sniffer. Much as I love him (from a work perspective) it drives me round the twist.

>179 Crazymamie:- Solidarity, sister!

>180 Helenliz: - I had a co-worker who was an ice-chewer. That was The Worst. But this sniffing business....*smh*

Teeth-suckers.

*shudder*

Nothing. Can. Stop. Them.

>182 richardderus: - I've never encountered a teeth-sucker, thank gawd. But the ice-chewer - she'd fill up a large Whataburger cup and happily munch her ice ALL DAY. Like nails on a chalkboard, I tell you!

Unsurprisingly, given her complete lack of concern for others, she is a big ol' MAGAt...

Did you see that Twitter feed early on in the pandemic, Katie, about people discovering their partner's work personalities while overhearing zoom meetings and phone calls? Cracked me up.

Maybe plop a neti pot on The Wayne's desk? ;)

>183 katiekrug: That makes my teeth hurt and my eyes mist all at the same time. (I miss Whataburger.)

A MAGAt, you say. Stunned. Just *clutches pearls* stunned.

>158 katiekrug: Hi Katie, I waited to read your thoughts on Jazz until I had finished and reviewed the book myself. A review is now up on my thread, and it seems we came out in a similar place. Morrison's writing truly is amazing and she challenges me, and for the most part I appreciate that.

I forgot to tell you about your spirit-ancestor's new biographical novel! Nora Barnacle Joyce gets a book all to herself.

Finally catching up with your thread, Katie. I liked all the Bridgerton talk. I'm only part way through. I agree about Simon but my favourite female character is Penelope. As I remember she was my favourite in the books too.

My fingers are crossed for travel this coming year. We'll see how that pans out.

>178 katiekrug: Ha! I can't imagine sharing an office with anyone. At work our desk are over 6ft apart and it's often busy enough, and loud enough, that I can avoid listening to my coworkers.

I'm glad that Nate and I both don't work from home. I can not even begin to imagine all the ways he would drive me insane.

Morning, Katie!

>178 katiekrug: *SNORK!!*

It's times like these that I'm grateful Tomm and I have offices in separate rooms. (Although I suspect he'd be more annoyed with me than the other way round.)

>184 MickyFine: - Yes! So funny! Listening to TW on calls is definitely illuminating. I swear, half of what he says isn't English.

Neti pots freak me out...

>185 richardderus: - I miss Whataburger, too. So Much.

>186 lauralkeet: - Your review was aces, Laura. No one was responding to mine and my feelings were getting hurt ;-)

>187 richardderus: - Ashamed to say I had never heard of Nora Barnacle, RD. I'll keep an eye out for the book - thanks!

>188 Familyhistorian: - Penelope was my favorite in the books, too, Meg. I look forward to more screen time for her in Season 2 (fingers crossed!).

>189 ChelleBearss: - For the most part, it's not too bad, Chelle, but oof. When it's annoying, it's *really* annoying!

>190 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie! Look at Georgia go!

>191 scaifea: - I am contemplating moving my desk into the guest room, Amber. TW is talking about not going back into the office much at all once it's open (it's totally up to each employee if they want to WFH permanently), in whcih case, I think a new arrangement might be necessary. I can't work like this for 20 more years!

Hoisin beef and cabbage bowls for dinner last night. Pretty good! And we started watching the new adaptation of The Stand. I tried to read the book several years ago, and it didn't take, but the show is good so far.

We are, of course, very excited about the Senate races in Georgia. I admit to being surprised, but very happily so :)

Work today will be a killer - it's the deadline for getting in pre-reading material for the Board meetings next week, and no one ever follows the deadline so I end up sitting at my desk until well after quitting time, and it's annoying. Plus, there will be a flurry of emails from staff who won't remember how to post documents in our Board portal (it's drag and drop. I mean, really *eye roll*). AND my boss has yet to sign-off on the reports I wrote, so I'm sure he'll have last minute edits. Blerg. I've told The Wayne he's completely responsible for the dog and dinner tonight, so I can just sit quietly, weeping in a corner...

In better news, it was leg day at the gym and I did 3 sets of 20 hip thrusts with a 65lb barbell across my pelvis. I am going to have glutes of steel!

"...so I can just sit quietly, weeping in a corner..." I think you should go with racking sobs. Good luck - sorry about the incoming killer day.

I am thrilled with the blueness of Georgia. It is happy making.

Hot bath and a beverage of choice sounds like it might be in order at the end of your day, Katie!

>173 richardderus: I used to be able to read - and remember my place in - multiple books but the gift has left me - one new one and one old one now is about my limit these days.

Even before COVID I liked to go into work to work. But most of my co-workers worked from home even then, and sometimes looking around the floor was like scanning the empty Alaskan Tundra.

I never liked working from home - too easy to get distracted.

You have a hot review - did you see that?

Cool! I didn't see that. Wow - 3 thumbs. I'm gonna be famous!

*grin*

>193 katiekrug: I had a "work day" like that yesterday, and I'm retired. What am I doing wrong????? (Oh, I know...volunteer board work, estate administration, genealogy research that I could stop at any time but just can't let go til that last thread is pulled...I'm not whining, really.)

>181 katiekrug: ice cruncher

>198 katiekrug: FOUR

>199 Crazymamie: - I take what I can get as far as validation goes :)

>200 laytonwoman3rd: - You are definitely doing retirement wrong, Linda!

That video made me shudder.

Thanks for the thumb!

>193 katiekrug: I may join you in the corner... The price I pay for being off at the end of December is a flood of emails and meetings in the first half of January.

>194 Crazymamie: - Happy-making indeed!

I don't know about wracking sobs. Quiet weeping seems so much more pathetic....

>195 MickyFine: - Can I skip the bath (I don't like baths) and have TWO beverages of choice, Micky?

>196 magicians_nephew: - There are definitely distractions working from home, Jim. But I get more done than I did working in an office with lots of people to talk to and office gossip to stay on top of :)

>202 drneutron: - Plenty of room in the corner, Jim, but you have to bring your own tissues...

Well little miss hottie, I hope your hurt feelings have been assuaged. 😀

>204 lauralkeet: - Maybe a little bit... ;-)

A hot review!! Which I didn't read yet because I hope to finish Jazz today. : )

Sniff...sniff... just kidding. Although I did run out of tissues yesterday. Added to my grocery list for pickup tomorrow. I actually miss roaming the grocery store! Who would have thunk?

I list the books that I plan on reading for bookclubs and joint LT reads, but tend to leave the rest to spontaneous mood-dependent choice.

Good luck on the emails!

>203 katiekrug: Okay, so the nerd on me had to look up racking since we spelled it differently, and the funny thing is that before I posted I was thinking to myself, "Is it wr or just r?" Turns out we are both correct: "The correct and original spelling is racking my brain. But the variant wracking my brain has become so well established by now that only strict traditionalists consider it a mistake. So, if you want to be perfectly correct, use nerve-racking and racking my brain."

Quiet weeping is more pathetic, but the sobbing is more dramatic. And might get you the offer of a drink, which is why I would go with the sobbing.

>206 Berly: - Hi Kim! I miss the grocery store, too, which is shocking to me. So much we took for granted....

I'll look out for your final thoughts on Jazz.

>207 Crazymamie: - Hmm, I am usually a strict traditionalist so now I don't know what to do! Ha!

Good thinking on the sobbing=drinkies :)

In other news, I registered with the state for my place in line for the vaccine. Are other states doing this? I didn't know about it until I saw a tweet from our governor. The portal only opened yesterday, so I'm not totally behind the eight ball, at least.

>209 katiekrug: I wonder if Georgia is doing that. Craig and newest daughter have already gotten their first dose.

I guess maybe other news has been dominating Georgia lately...

The scenes outside the US Capitol of protesters tearing down security fences, attacking police officers, and trying to storm the building is making me ill. So much for that "law and order" party and "Blue Lives Matter." Such hypocrisy.

I hadn't given much thought to my place in line because I hardly go anywhere, I'm only 53, and I have no health problems - just figured I would not be able to get it until it was readily available to everyone.

>212 katiekrug: Agreed.

>213 Crazymamie: - That's pretty much what my thinking was, though I was going to check with my doctor during my physical in February since I'm fat. But since I heard about the registration portal, I figured I might as well go ahead and let them know I want it :)

Well, I'm fat, too. There is that. Funny how that manages to slip my mind.

:)

they're INSIDE the Capitol now and the SecDef controls the National Guard in DC. This will be interesting.

*sob*

Ohio doesn't have a registration setup yet, but thanks for the heads up! I'll be watching for one, now.

And ugh, the Capitol thing. Christ. Just think what would be happening if they were BLM protestors (although they wouldn't be doing something this stupid, of course.)

I have no words - terrible.

>217 richardderus: Let' em in....LOCK 'em in. Take the joint session elsewhere and get 'er done. Dammit.

>217 richardderus: - And the DOD denied DC's request for the National Guard. Yet another reason they should get statehood - control of their own NG. Virginia is sending some of theirs to help.

ETA: Apparently the DC Guard will now be deployed.

>218 scaifea: - Seriously about if the protesters were from the "other side." Why do we spend so much fucking money to arm the police if they can't fend off a bunch of mediocre white men?

>219 Helenliz: - Truth.

>220 laytonwoman3rd: - It's infuriating.

>221 katiekrug: Yep, this is among the many reasons we need to be a state. What's happening today is outrageous, and frightening.

Katie, I just heard a statement from your former boss (President Bush) read on CNN. He wasn't afraid to call it an insurrection. Good for him.

>222 AnneDC: - The lack of statehood is disgraceful, Anne. My state of New Jersey is sending State Police and will send NG if also requested, so be sure to have some good pizza and bagels on standby 🙃

>223 rosalita: - I just saw his statement, Julia. Good for him, yes.

Happy Wednesday, Katie! Have you finished reading Ruth Ware's One by One yet ? I have enjoyed all of her books so far and have this one on my buy list.

>224 katiekrug: Holy crap, Katie. The news is unreal. One thing I've been thinking is that if the group was a BLM group, shots would have been fired and protesters would be dead.

>226 BLBera: - I think one was.

I've been ranting about this horrendous day on my own thread. Embarrassed. Devastated. Angry. Things have to change.

Can he be tried as a terrorist? Because he is. It happened because he called for it to happen. He needs to be put away forever. Without a single electronic device in his hands ever again.

>225 figsfromthistle: - Good morning, Anita! I haven't finished it yet. I have about 100 pages to go. It's pretty good!

>226 BLBera: - Yeah, the difference in response is unbelievable, Beth.

>227 jessibud2: - Yes, one woman died inside the Capitol.

>228 Berly: - Yep, all those things.

>229 jessibud2: - Not gonna happen, Shelley.

Morning, Katie! I could do with less drama today - yesterday was exhausting.

So my day yesterday got blown completely out of the water for obvious reasons. I sent an email to our senior staff that I was delaying the deadline because I was behind and attempted coups are very distracting. No one seemed to mind. So now I *really* need to get some stuff done...

Yesterday's events were very upsetting to me, as I know they were to a lot of people of course. I worked at the Capitol for 6 months (internship with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) and to see the disrespect towards the institution, the building, and the people - not just members of Congress - was infuriating. I was going to say "We are better than this" but as someone pointed out on Twitter, if we have to say that every 2 weeks, maybe we aren't. So I'll just say we should be better than this and we can be.

>231 Crazymamie: - So true, Mamie.

"So I'll just say we should be better than this and we can be." Yes.

Sending virtual hugs and hoping today is better.

Hoping Thursday does a better job for everyone.

Thank you, Mamie, Micky, and Helen!

>232 katiekrug: "Attempted coups are very distracting" yes I'll buy that

No one ever expects the French Revolution

*hugs*
I'm right there with you - were we ever much better than this? I feel like we've been walking a thin line for so long now. So disheartening.

>238 magicians_nephew: - Except it was pretty easy to predict, don't you think?

>239 scaifea: - Thanks for the hugs, Amber!

After yesterday I think we need a group hug -- so here's a virtual one. I like your thought train of "we should be better than this and we can be"...but the way things are going I don't expect it. How in the world are Biden/Harris supposed to help things get better against this tide and with the civil war Trump has worked so hard to start? He should be arrested and tried for treason then locked in a cell for life.

Hoo boy, I agree with you about yesterday, Katie. I'm glad I didn't have anything important vying for my attention because I lost all ability to concentrate.

Do you think they can do the inauguration indoors, behind safe, closed doors. Cameras rolling, of course, to prove it is being done, and done properly, but seriously, does anyone else worry about an attempted assassination if it's outdoors? Absolutely nothing is out of the realm of possibility, after yesterday. I wouldn't put it past dumpty and his goons to already be thinking about that. He will stop at nothing. He has said and shown as much.

And clearly, *security* doesn't look all that reliable right now....

Sweet Thursday, Katie. "We should be better than this" sounds right - that was a debacle yesterday in so many ways, including the inept security response. I also agree with those that say, if those had been black protestors, bullets would've been flying everywhere. I'm glad at least that Congress reconvened and certified Biden's election.

>127 rosalita: Julia's so right. As she knows, I'm a big Georgette Heyer fan. I love Heyer's wit, among other things. I argued fruitlessly on LT a while back that her books shouldn't be called "Regency Romances" because they're not Romances as I understood the term. Maybe it's the missing sex, as you say. If there are authors writing Heyer-quality stories that mainly differ because they include sex, I need to keep an eye out for them. As you say, that might even make them more realistic. :-)

>241 RebaRelishesReading: - Thanks for the virtual hug, Reba! Biden and Harris have a huge task ahead of them...

>242 lauralkeet: - Luckily, my concentration returned today and I was able to get done what needed to get done for work. And tonight is virtual HH, so I will get to decompress :)

>243 jessibud2: - I doubt they would move it inside, Shelley. It would send a bad message. And having lived in DC, I know the lengths they go to to secure the area for the Inauguration. Also, it's a completely separate organization responsible for security. I am not too worried about it, tbh.

>244 jnwelch: - Hi Joe! Agree about the difference in response to yesterday's events to others last year. Absolutely appalling.

Romances are defined as stories with a romantic relationship between two people at the center and offering a satisfying and/or optimistic ending ("happily ever after"). I haven't read a ton of Heyer, but I've read several, and they would seem to qualify. Obviously, she wrote a lot, so maybe not everyone is technically a romance. Anyway, in addition to Julia Quinn (who wrote the Bridgerton series among many other great books), I recommend Eloisa James and newcomer Evie Dunmore very highly (there are many other good, sharp, funny writers out there, but these two sprung immediately to mind). James is a Shakespeare professor at Fordham U and her writing is very smart and often very funny. You can just skim the heaving bosoms if they make you uncomfortable ;-)

>232 katiekrug: Well said, Katie. We should be and do better. What I want to see is accountability. I want to see the rioters arrested and charged with crimes and sent to jail.

I'm going to have to disagree with you Katie when you say we should be better than this. Of course we should be but....unfortunately this is exactly who we are. When you consider that 70+ million people voted for four more years of this insanity, when you consider the difference between how these terrorists were treated compared to the BLM protesters, mostly peaceful protesters, of last summer, when you look at the awful racism and misogyny that's so prevalent right now I have to conclude that this is who we are. And I see no sign of any of this improving.

How is the Ruth Ware? I have avoided her for years.

I hope today was a better day for getting your work done, Katie. Couldn't believe what I was seeing yesterday.

>246 BLBera: - Some accountability would be nice, Beth.

>247 brenzi: - I don't think we are disagreeing, Bonnie. We should be better but we're not.

>248 msf59: - Hiya, Mark! The Ware is pretty standard suspense stuff, but with an intriguing setting and format. Probably not your cuppa. Why have you avoided her? Her personally or just the genre in general?

>249 Familyhistorian: - Thanks, Meg! Thursday was fine - got the work done at least.

I had a fun virtual happy (three) hour last night with my work friends - it was good to connect. And I got my favorite pizza - the Nico: fresh mozzarella, pesto sauce, and crumbled Italian sausage. Mmmmmm. (Menu for Amber :) - https://www.lunawoodfiretavern.com/mensu).

I should have a slightly more relaxed day at work today, but there is still a lot to do. Just not so time-dependent right now and it would be good to get ahead of it. Famous last words!

This weekend will be taken up by un-Christmasing the house and watching football.

Soup and Italian bread for dinner tonight. When we order from the place we did last night, we always get a quart of the pasta fagioli soup to have the next day :)

Mmm, ordering soup for lunch later is brilliant, Katie! Wishing you a quick slide into the weekend.

>251 katiekrug: We do that with two of our favorite restaurants, too! With the Italian place, we both usually have enough of our entree left over for a second meal---at least lunch--as well. Cannot beat it.

>251 katiekrug: Oooh, thanks for the menu! And whoa, it looks amazing! Please put that down as one of the many places you'll take me when I come to visit.

>252 MickyFine: - Thanks, Micky!

>253 laytonwoman3rd: - Linda, yeah, our Italian place(s) always have such ginormous portions, there are leftovers. Which is impressive because I can really pack it in when I want to ;-)

>254 scaifea: - Duly noted! We'll swing by for dinner after meeting at the Gettysburg Cat Diorama Museum!

I've enjoyed a few of Ruth Ware's books and one was just meh. Wish I could remember which one that it was.

Per an email from the state of New Jersey, I am in group 1C for the vaccine, which is non-essential people with underlying health issues. So yay for being fat?

I believe they have just started vaccinating group 1B, so I might get mine sooner than I thought but the website seems to indicate that there might be a lag after 1B due to availability.

>256 ChelleBearss: - I just finished the Ware, Chelle. I know I've read at least one other by her - I'll have a look and see which it was. This one ended up being a bit meh for me. Started really well, but the ending was flat for me.

Hi, Katie! I finished that Ware book yesterday and feel the same way about it. When I got to the end, I thought "That's it?" and was disappointed in the book overall.

>255 katiekrug: WOOT!

>257 katiekrug: I wish Ohio were more on the ball with the vaccine rollout schedules. I have not idea when Tomm and I will be able to get them. (Not to mention how fret I am about it not being okayed for kiddos. Ugh.)

>256 ChelleBearss: - The other one I read, Chelle, was The Woman in Cabin 10. I have The Turn of the Key on my Kindle but haven't read it yet.

>259 aktakukac: - Hi Rachel! Yep, we definitely had similar reactions. I was expecting some kind of big twist at the end...

>260 scaifea: - WOOT WOOT!

Well, NJ doesn't have a schedule in terms of timing, so much as buckets of people in a certain order. Still, I feel like they are mostly on top of things.

I just saw a news alert that the Biden administration wants to dole out all the vaccines they have now and not hold back enough for the second dose, as the current admin has been doing. I'm not sure how I feel about that. What happens if there is a supply interruption and people can't get the second dose within the necessary window?

>261 katiekrug: we're in the same situation, second doses are being delayed. From what I've heard, there's no evidence to support it as a strategy. It seems to me to be a political move, intended to increase the headline numbers of people vaccinated. And maybe some protection is better than none, but I'm sceptical.

>262 Helenliz: - Yeah, it just seems odd to me. And I really don't like the feeling of agreeing with the current administration over the incoming one!

One By One by Ruth Ware

This suspense novel started off really well with a fun setting - the French Alps - and an interesting premise - a corporate retreat for a tech start-up. There are two alternating viewpoints - one from a former employee who still holds shares in the company, and the other from the chalet "hostess" who is not a part of the company. As the bodies stack up, the back and forth works to build tension, but at some point it just stops working. Maybe it was too rapid, or maybe by focusing on these two characters' voices, Ware backed herself into a corner. Whatever the case, the last 100 pages or so weren't nearly as interesting as the first 250, and I found myself getting bored, even as the story came to its climax.

3.5 stars

>264 katiekrug: oh dear, shame about the anti-climatic climax. Not seeking this one out then.

Hope your vaccine rollout goes smoothly, Katie. My dad just got the Moderna vaccine yesterday (he's staff in a long term care facility) but as a youngish, healthy person I don't expect to be able to get mine until late summer or early fall based on current provincial estimates.

Congratulations on being 1c. I should move to Jersey -- I would get a double qualification fat and old. As things stand, however, I'm still fighting to get our health coverage moved to Washington -- although I may actually have made a breakthrough on that front this morning :)

That's the second person today who's told me that One by One was only okay... my co-worker who I was talking to about the books earlier today said that if I tried one it should be The Woman in Cabin 10 so if I ever read a Ruth Ware, it will probably be that one to start.

>264 katiekrug: Katie, a friend here had a similar reaction to One by One, so I think I'll pass. Thank you for crossing one book off my giant mental "maybe" list!

>265 Helenliz: - Happy to help NOT add to your TBR, Helen :)

>266 MickyFine: - We'll see when mine actually happens, Micky....

>267 RebaRelishesReading: - Ugh, I hate all that administrative work involved in moving, Reba. It's such a pain!

>268 bell7: - I read Cabin 10, Mary, and don't remember much about it. I think it was just okay for me.

>269 susanj67: - You're welcome, Susan!

Well, last night didn't go as planned. The Wayne was running an errand when he got rear-ended on the highway. He was okay, but the cop who showed up decided to call an ambulance to have him checked out, as he somehow managed to cut his hand rather badly. And then the car had to be towed :-/ When we moved up here, because he was commuting into the city, we decided to go down to one car, which hasn't been a problem at all until now. So this morning, I need to sort out a rental. Fun times!

In book news, I've started Waterland by Graham Swift, which I've had since - wait for it - 1993! I also started a nonfiction book about the Triangle Waist Factory fire in NYC in 1911.

Happy Saturday, Katie. Bummer about The Wayne. How is he doing today? You asked me up there about Ware. I probably should have tried her out, to see for myself but based on the mixed reviews most of her work has received, I decided to steer clear.

I will be watching for your thoughts on Waterland. That one sounds like my cuppa.

Katie! I hope The Wayne is OK. How's his neck today. I've been rear ended a couple of times, and the day after my neck was really sore.

>272 msf59: - Hiya, Mark. Yeah, you can safely keep avoiding Ware. Waterland is off to a good start - about 30 pages in...

>273 BLBera: - He says it's a little sore but not too bad. His forearm is worse, because it slammed into the steering wheel apparently...

Car accidents are such a shock to the system, mentally and physically. I'm glad The Wayne was checked out because it would have been easy to just "la la la I'm fine" his way home and maybe not really be fine after all. I hope you can get the rental sorted fairly easily.

>264 katiekrug: I’m in BB-avoidance mode with this one, but last year I read The Death of Mrs. Westaway and powered through it, giving it 4 stars.

>271 katiekrug: I’m sorry to hear about TW being rear-ended and getting badly cut. Not good about his forearm, and absolute crap about having to sort out a rental.

>271 katiekrug: I hope The Wayne is back to normal very quickly. Even fairly minor car accidents can really shake you up.

Sorry to read about The Wayne, Katie. Glad he is not badly hurt. Sorry about needing a rental - ugh. Hoping today is kind to the both of you.

Oh bad news about TW. I hope the cut heals quickly, they can be so inconvenient because exactly what can you do without using your hands?

Better days this weekend. Rent a Ferrari.

Sending healing vibes to the Wayne, and strength to both of you. Who needs this!???! Adding my kudos to the police officer who insisted he get checked out. Insidious things can happen in rear end collisions, and they don't always make themselves immediately apparent. (Remind me when teat New Year thing kicks in again?)

Oh dang - The Wayne! I'm glad he has only minor injuries. Whew!

Sorry to hear about The Wayne's accident — perhaps it was someone upset about Twitter's finally banning the Conspirator in Chief? Just kidding, but yeah. Good to see that happen at last.

I'm glad his injuries are fairly minor. Did he need to get stitches in his arm? And sympathy for the aggravation of having to deal with rental cars and insurance paperwork — blergh!

>275 lauralkeet: - So true, Laura. When he called 911 for the police, the dispatcher asked if he needed an ambulance and he said no. Apparently, whenever an ambulane is dispatched, they also send a fire truck, so he had the full compliment of emergency services out last night. He said he was so embarrassed :-P

>276 karenmarie: - 4 stars is pretty good, Karen! That one is on my library list so maybe I'll give it a try at some point.

His finger is much better now - he took a giant chunk out of the knuckle. I still can't figure out how and he has no idea.

>277 SandDune: - Thanks, Rhian. He is settling down. He was very shaky when he got home last night.

>278 Crazymamie: - Thanks, Mamie. Rental sorted, now to deal with insurance...

>279 richardderus: - No Ferrari but we got "upgraded" free of charge to the premium Nissan Maxima.

>280 laytonwoman3rd: - Thanks, Linda. I am glad he did get checked out on-site. I think he is, too, now that he realizes if he hadn't, I would have been checking him every hour through the night. Heh.

>281 scaifea: - Whew indeed!

>282 rosalita: - No, no stitches. His arm just got banged up. The cut was on his hand/knuckle. He showed me this morning when he unbandaged it. It was impressive!

Ha! re: the Twitter ban. They had an alll-US staff meeting yesterday afternoon with @Jack and after it, I said, "So are you finally going to ban him?" and TW said, "It's complicated." So he wasn't actually expecting it, at least not the same day. Apparently, there was a large group of staff who were lobbying for it and growing increasingly frustrated about the lack of a ban, but I don't know how much that influenced the decision or timing of it.

And yes, bleurgh to insurance. I filed a claim with Geico last night, and until they get the police report, there isn't much that can be done. I am going to call the tow company and just let them know that we are working on things and to please not sell the car for scrap metal (yet). Meanwhile, I have TW researching cars. I don't think it will be totaled, but it is 12 years old so who knows. I want to be prepared if we end up having to get a new one.

We've gotten a rental, so that's one thing off the to-do list. We had to take a Lyft to the rental place, which I wasn't thrilled about, but I kept my window down and stuck my face practically outside so as to avoid any virus the driver might be shedding. I had called my friend who lives nearby to see if she could give us a ride, but they are at their weekend place, so Lyft it was. I need to make more friends around here... :-P

>271 katiekrug: oh no! That's just not what you need! Glad he's stopped bleeding everywhere.

And I second >273 BLBera:, get the neck checked out. I had all sorts of problems with my neck and shoulder last time I got rear ended, even though I was stationary and we had a closing speed of about 5 mph. Doesn't need to be high speed to give you whiplash. Ended up with physio and all sorts.

Hope the paperwork is plainless enough and all goes as smoothly.

>245 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. Happily ever after can be a mighty fine thing, for example, during a pandemic. Where would you start with Eloisa James and Evie Dunmore?

Glad to hear the rental car is sorted and The Wayne is doing pretty well considering. Have a thoroughly restful weekend!

What a pain!! So sorry to hear about the accident and all of its repercussions. Will be thinking about you as you (both) deal with it all. Hope Wayne feels better quickly.

Poor TW! I hope he continues to feel better today. I'm glad to read you have a rental already.

Ooft. What an end to a generally awful week. I'm happy to heat TW is on the mend and a rental was sorted out so quickly.

>285 Helenliz: - Thanks, Helen. I'm keep an eye on his neck (read: I ask him about it every 2 hours or so - ha!). The good news is that our personal trainer is also a physical therapist, so that's handy if TW ends up needing any.

>286 jnwelch: - Hi Joe! Evie Dunmore only has two novels published so far, I think. Her first, which was my intro to her, is Bringing Down the Duke, and it's pretty fun.

I haven't read much Eloisa James recently, but I remember very much enjoying Fool for Love, The Duke is Mine, and Duchess in Love.

>287 MickyFine: - Thank you, Micky!

>288 RebaRelishesReading: - Thanks, Reba!

>279 richardderus: Judy and I flew to Ohio for family stuff one year and went to pick up our rental car.

They tried to hand us a little TINY Fiat sport car which would have been fine for Judy but I would have never gotten more than one leg into it.

Thankfully they had another car to give us.

>292 magicians_nephew: *chuckle* I can't feature you in a 500 AT ALL!

Hi Katie! I popped in again and didn’t realize I had missed so much so I’ll try to distill a somewhat relevant response!

Bridgerton: YES. I’m interested in it - at episode 4 so far. Apparently interesting things happen to the plot after this (I’m over the prince tbh)

Ruth Ware books: Would you read more of hers? I stopped reading both Woman in Cabin 10 and Death of Mrs. Westaway near the beginning (I guess they didn’t hold my attention at the time) but I’ve been meaning to take them back up – will likely avoid this one based on your review and the other responses in the thread

US Capitol issues: I’m not American and I don’t live there either (visited lots, should be back after the pandemic), and that was singlehandedly the most American thing I’ve ever seen in my short lifetime – I think this sums up my outsider perspective. I like your statement re ‘should be better;’ also inclined to agree with >247 brenzi: – almost half the country voted for/agrees with what #45 stands for…wonder what other thoughts they’re harbouring. Could be better; lots of time will have to pass most likely.

Vaccines: We don’t have any here as yet…maybe mid-year for the timing and then they will prioritize them. I’m high-risk (respiratory) but also very young so idk if I’ll get one early once they finally get here.

Accident: Sorry to hear about The Wayne’s accident! Hope he has a speedy recovery, and gets lots of rest. Hope you got the car sorted out!
Stay safe!

>292 magicians_nephew: / >293 richardderus: - I would have liked to have seen Jim in the tiny Fiat! The Wayne is 6'4" so he is very particular about rental cars, too.

>294 vikzen: - Hi Vic! I'd say if those two Wares didn't grab you, maybe just write her off as not for you. No harm there - too many good books in the universe!

Thanks for taking the time to get caught up on my thread :) The Wayne is doing fine today, so hopefully that continues.

Oooh, you are just getting to the good bits of Bridgerton!

Capitol and vaccines - so much angst and uncertainty. I sometimes wish I could shut my brain off.

Sorry to hear about The Wayne's accident and ensuing challenges with rental car and insurance companies. (Isn't adulting fun?) Hope he continues to be fine and you're able to get the car fixed.

>116 katiekrug: and >117 lauralkeet: *smile*
We watched the first episode of Bridgerton last night and I got hooked in the latter half. We'll probably watch a couple more episodes this weekend.

Sorry to read about The Wayne's accident. I hope he is not having any lingering neck pain and that the car situation gets sorted out relatively painlessly. I got hit once, way back in the late 1980s by a guy who ran his stop sign. I was fine, but I still have a mild preemptive reaction when I'm cruising along and someone is coming to a stop sign, especially on the right. P has been known to say "why are you slowing down a bit? They have a stop sign." Yes, well, that doesn't mean they are going to stop!

Nothing to add to the political discussion. It was a crazy week and I'm nervous about January 20 and the days around it. And you can imagine my reaction to the "why isn't the Democratic Party trying unite the country?" rhetoric. 🙄
Okay, I guess I had a wee bit to add.

I enjoyed Jazz and appreciated having friends with whom to discuss it. I will likely try to read Paradise next month.

Hi Katie, I've been catching up with all the interesting conversations here. I have finished The Bridgertons and you & Mamie were right, it did get much better after the first three episodes. Have we heard whether there are going to be more seasons?

I hope The Wayne is doing ok after his accident, I am glad that his injuries don't appear to be serious.

I don't even know what to say about the events that went down in Washington, it was both scary and sad. I hope that the impeachment goes through simply for the historic record of the incitement that Trump was responsible for. I personally think he should be removed from office ASAP.

>296 bell7: - Thank you, Mary!

>297 EBT1002: - Hi Ellen! I'm impressed you got hooked on Bridgerton with the first episode. I thought it was boring :) Maybe I was too impatient to get to the good stuff, since I knew what was coming?

I know what you mean about the driving/stop sign. I haven't been in an accident like that, but I never trust people to see/obey the signs, especially on less-traveled roads.

I'm not sure if I'll do the Paradise shared read next month. I have a copy, so it will depend on my mood.

>298 DeltaQueen50: - Hi Judy - Yes, there will be more seasons. The next is supposed to start filming in March. I think I read it was supposed to start filming last July but covid restrictions prevented that. So I guess the March date will depend on how things are in the UK.

The Wayne seems fine. He had no problems yesterday, so that's good.

I agree that Trump should be removed, even with only a few days left in his term. Accountability is important, I think.

I got all the laundry done yesterday, so today we just need to pack up some Christmas stuff, and then we can relax. I believe The Wayne is making arroz con pollo for dinner, but I'm not entirely sure. Yesterday, we had a late lunch from the local Greek place, so basically skipped dinner. I read and watched football much of the day - I expect more of the same today :)

"Accountability is important, I think." Yes! This!

Morning, Katie! I'm doing laundry today. I think Craig is gonna grill some steaks later. We often do the late lunch/skip dinner thing on the weekends, and that suits me perfectly.

>301 Crazymamie: - I usually spread the laundry over Saturday and Sunday, but was on a roll yesterday. Glad to not have to deal with it today so I can be EXTRA lazy...

I love late lunch/early dinner. I wish it were easier to do during the week. I think I'd eat less...

I have say I am both surprised and disappointed in all the wordy Bridgerton discussions. A picture is worth a thousand words, no? ;)

I've started watching Bridgerton (largely due to your comments - I haven't read it) and am enjoying it. Hubby watched the first two episodes with me but excused himself for #3 last night. I told him you said it got much better starting with #4 so he said he may try again then. So thanks for your guidance, once again, Katie :)

>303 ELiz_M: - I have no idea what you mean, Liz ;-)



>304 RebaRelishesReading: - It gets better and waaaaay hotter, Reba. Mr. Reba might blush!

Hope The Wayne continues to feel okay and that his knuckle heals quickly. Man!

>305 katiekrug: I really need to get going on this series. : )

Happy Sunday!

>306 Berly: - Thanks, Kim!

>271 katiekrug: Sorry to see about Wayne's collision! Hope his hand isn't too bad

>283 katiekrug: Yes ambulance does that ... it's super annoying to us when fire shows up and blocks the road for no reason lol

>305 katiekrug: *sigh/swoon*

How's The Wayne doing today?

Morning, Katie!

>305 katiekrug: Mighty fine.

>305 katiekrug: what a nice start to a Monday.

>308 ChelleBearss: - Thanks, Chelle! The fire truck seems a bit of overkill, but what do I know?

>309 scaifea: - He is doing just fine, thanks! He survived our workout, and has unbandaged his hand, which seems to be healing nicely. Thanks for asking!

>310 Crazymamie: - Morning, Mamie! Soooo fine.

>311 ELiz_M: - You're welcome :)

Hi Katie! Just racing through your thread to catch up before you move on to #2. So glad to hear TW is ok. I'm reading less so far this year but had a real winner with Star of the Sea so thanks for nudging that one up my TBR. Hope you have a good week.

>313 vivians: - Hi Vivian! So glad you liked SotS as much as I did! Good week wishes to you, too.

Sunrise from my back yard.

>315 katiekrug: great photo Katie

Glad to hear TW is recovering

>316 magicians_nephew: - Thanks on both counts, Jim!

Hi Katie!

I’m glad to hear that TW’s hand is healing nicely and that you've got transpo again.

>315 katiekrug: Beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

Lovely sunrise shot, Katie. Hope you make it through your Mumbleday.

Thank you, Karen and Micky!

The WNYC 'All of It' GetLit book pick for January is Mexican Gothic, so I am going to try to make room for it in my reading plans this month. I love that they partner with the NYPL to remove limits on the book picked each month so anyone can borrow the e-book or audiobook with no holds line...

>305 katiekrug: I told him and he said (while chuckling) "I'm scared"! I think you may have motivated him to rejoin me :)

>322 RebaRelishesReading: - Bwahahahahahaha! Be sure to report back if he does....

>315 katiekrug: Well, that's full of fabulous.

>321 katiekrug: I have that one! I might try to get to this month, too - I meant to read it last year.

>322 RebaRelishesReading: This made me laugh out loud, Reba!

Fabulous way to start Monday.

>321 katiekrug: I really enjoyed that one! Nice and creepy, just the way I like my books and my ivy.

>324 Crazymamie: - Yes! Read it this month so we can discuss.

>325 Helenliz: - Thanks, Helen!

>326 rosalita: - Welp, that made me snork right out loud, Julia!

I like fun socks. Each day, I randomly pick a pair out of the drawer. Today's choice:

>327 katiekrug: I will! SO fun.

>328 katiekrug: I love those - made me laugh out loud.

Beautiful sunrise, Katie. What a nice way to start the day. I like your socks.

What Beth said.
Glad to hear TW is ok, too.

I think I might skip the first series of Bridgerton and just jump into the second one (assuming there is one).

>329 Crazymamie: and >330 BLBera: - Thanks, Mamie and Beth!

>331 charl08: - Wait! What? Why? Just skip the first, like, 3 episodes if you must :)

Finally catching up here, Katie. I did see about TW on Facebook and am glad to know he appears to be doing fine now. Such a hassle to deal with car and insurance and all!

I don't have Netflix so will have to bypass the Bridgerton furor. I could swear that I read the first book, The Duke and I, probably on your recommendation, but not according to LT. Sounds like the series is better than the books.

>333 ronincats: - Hi Roni! I wouldn't say the series is better than the books. They are different. I love them both :)

Thanks re: TW's accident. If past experience is to go by, GEICO will make things smooth and easy. I've never had a bad experience with them.

Nobody got me the items from Out of Print I put on my Christmas list, so I treated myself...

Great t-shirt, Katie!

>328 katiekrug: Awesome socks!

Thanks, Micky and Figs!

>315 katiekrug: Like!

>335 katiekrug: Like!

Happy Tuesday, Katie! I hope the work week is off to a smooth start. How is Waterland?

>339 msf59: - Hiya, Mark! Work is... work. You wouldn't know about that anymore :)

Waterland is very rich and very slooooow. I am enjoying it and trying to just accept that it's one I can't whip through. I really need to spend some concentrated time with it - lock myself in a room with no distractions for an hour or two - but I don't see that happening anytime soon...

Last night: pork cutlets with a lemon-thyme sauce, garlic rice, and roasted zucchini. Not bad but not a favorite.

We watched an episode of the leftovers show (can't remember the actual name) on Netflix, then an episode of The Stand, and an episode of Schitt's Creek. The Wayne is more into The Stand than I am, but it's pretty good.

And that's pretty much all I have to report. Sad, I know.

Morning, Katie! About the length of your thread...

Sorry about dinner last night - we are doing chili and garlic bread tonight.

>342 Crazymamie: - I want to see how long the thread can get! j/k But I really hate making new threads...

Tonight is either chicken caesar or bulgogi pork, I believe. I forgot to pick my selections for this week, so HelloFresh just sent 3 random ones. I am not excited about any of them. Oh well.

Hi Katie, I am catching up here. What a week you had last week. What a week we had. Ugh. I'm glad Wayne isn't hurt worse than he is, but what a lot of damage and hassle for you both. I'm so sorry. I've been catching up on the NT Times today, and it seems the riot is just worse and worse - like what an incredibly close call on so many accounts. I have been obsessively reading news and it is decidedly not good for my mental health. I only teach classes in the afternoons so my mornings last week were spectacularly unproductive and it's a good thing I'm teaching at home. Where do we even go from here? How is this possibly going to get better? I'm so dispirited.

I have a bulgogi recipe I make with flank steak that we had this weekend. It's a favorite of Marina and since she is FINALLY going to college next week I am trying to make all her favorites to fill her up before she goes and can't leave her dorm for two weeks.

Just asking because my internet is being a pain and I'm having trouble loading your thread. It takes forever even though we are supposed to have HIGHSPEED internet. *sigh*

Bummer about the meals.

I'm just glad thread jump to the bottom and I don't have to scroll through 345 posts... It'd wear my poor mouse wheel out.

>321 katiekrug: Mexican Gothic looks interesting. Not a part of the world I have read a lot of books about.

>343 katiekrug: yes have to keep an eye on Hello Fresh. They have highs and lows. We had a nice shrimp and pasta dish last night - yum!

>344 AMQS: - Hi Anne - I have no words of wisdom to offer about the current state of our country :(

Your flank steak bulgogi sounds good!

>345 Crazymamie: - I will try to get a new thread up today!

>346 Helenliz: - Same, Helen :)

>347 magicians_nephew: - MG had been vaguely on my radar, but now I have the push I need to read it, I think.

Most of our HF meals have been winners. A few mehs. I think only one stinker, and now I can't remember what it was...

>348 katiekrug: well if I can't get wisdom I guess I'll stick around for the company.

>350 katiekrug: - You are always most welcome, Anne!

I was hoping you'd start a new thread before I posted this, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen anytime soon. So ...

Efforts to castrate hippos are not as easy as you'd think — The latest on Pablo Escobar's hippo herd.

>351 rosalita: - Poor hippos...

Okay, okay, starting a new thread now!

Not starting a new thread, because when I click on the continuation link, it takes me to a page that says "This is a private group." I'll try again later.

>328 katiekrug: I love that.

I have now watched 3 episodes of Bridgerton and I can finally say I understand why there is so much talk about The Duke. Oh my.

>354 EBT1002: - Hi Ellen! Hard to ignore His Grace, eh?

I didn't take a picture of today's socks, but they have dogs on them, and say "People I would like to meet: 1. Dogs."

Heh.

>353 katiekrug: Thanks for logging this issue in the Bug Collectors group, Katie. It looks like it's related to rolling out the new Groups design, which honestly I hadn't even noticed yet.

Doncha love the fact that Regé-Jean is widely pipped to be Bond?

Not adding any more to this astonishingly obese thread for fear it will crash the site.

>356 lauralkeet: - That Lorax person was just insufferable on my post in Bug Collectors. Won't be going back there to report any issues in the future!

>357 richardderus: - I don't really see him as Bond, though I am not a Bond superfan, so what do I know?

Sorry about the thread length - I tried!

>355 katiekrug: I need me some of those socks. Roll on Friday!

>358 katiekrug: OMG Katie, I missed the drama, having only seen the first four messages before getting caught up in the "New Groups" talk thread.

FWIW, I've posted in Bug Collectors several times without incident. Sometimes other LTers can be helpful in channeling the issue to the right place (like the person who mentioned the New Groups thread). But that other person's patronizing sh*t just won't do at all.

>359 charl08: - My work week is extending through noon on Sunday... *sob*

>360 lauralkeet: - Serious *eye roll* moment, Laura. How hard is it to just be pleasant?

>361 katiekrug: - I didn't know about the changes to the groups page until I saw it mentioned here. I know Mark said he couldn't continue his thread, either so he just started a new one and posted a link to it at the bottom of his old one.

I went to that Bugs page and yikes, Katie! that's some snark! Sheesh. Is that person the official *help* person or was he/she just being obnoxious for the fun of it? Eye roll, indeed!

>362 jessibud2: Speaking as someone who hangs out in Bug Collectors and some of the other official site groups, she is one of a handful of very active users who are often quite helpful in answering user questions. Fortunately not all of them are so abrasive, but there are a few who are and she's one of them. I'm kind of used to it (also it's much easier to read someone being rude to someone else than having them be rude to you) but it's a shame that people who get tired of answering the same questions all the time don't just, you know, stop answering the damn questions since it's not actually their job.

>362 jessibud2: - Just confirms my low opinion of people as a species, Shelley ;-) Misanthropy FTW!

>363 rosalita: - I guess that's what really bugged (heh) me, Julia. She took it upon herself to respond and did so unpleasantly. Just scroll on by, random person who thinks I'm an idiot. No need to stop and infer as much. Blerg.

I keep checking and I still can't "officially" continue this thread. I guess I'll just set up a new, unattached one tomorrow.

>363 rosalita: - Thanks for that. Pity they don't have a disclaimer or a general info statement at the top of the thread, stating what info they will need, so they don't have to answer the same questions over and over. And if they are bored or tired of answering the questions, they should just let someone else step in. There is really no excuse for rudeness if the questioner wasn't being rude.

>364 katiekrug: >366 jessibud2: Yeah, I think it's a bad look for LT to have users who act that way to members who are just trying to get help. As you say, Shelley, if as a volunteer you can't be polite and welcoming to people who have a problem, just scroll on by. Better to not get a question answered in a timely fashion than to be treated so rudely, which could turn someone off the site entirely.

>363 rosalita: Amen, Julia!

Wow I think you just gave me another reason to let my thread go to 1000 posts Katie.

Are you talking about The Leftovers on HBO? Maybe it's on Netflix too. Anyway I watched it for the first time last summer and loved it.

Okay, all caught up again. Snarky, not helpful users commenting on other members questions, awesome hat and T-shirt (!), The Wayne is feeling better and I am assuming the fire truck has left by now. Eagerly awaiting your new thread link! : )

>366 jessibud2: - Agree, Shelley.

>367 rosalita: - Also agree, Julia. I maybe over-reacting but I just don't think it costs anything to be civil.

>368 lauralkeet: - Preach!

>369 brenzi: - Hi Bonnie - no, it's a show on Netflix about transforming leftovers in the kitchen :) I really liked the novel The Leftovers and should look up the series...

>370 Berly: - That pretty much sums things up, Kim!

Good heavens, Katie! 371 posts before I got to look. Ay.

Who is this Lorax person anyways? So sorry that you were met with over the top snark! Helpful or not, it was totally uncalled for. Anyhow, have a glass of wine and enjoy the rest of the week!

Hi Katie and good morning!

>358 katiekrug: My God, what an entitled piece of work @lorax is!

I reported a bug a couple of years ago and was surprised that so many non-LT-staff tried to solve it for me. They never did, TPTB never even responded to the problem, and I got disgusted and dropped it.

>372 ffortsa: - It's not my fault! :)

>373 figsfromthistle: - Thanks for the wine, figs. That always helps!

>374 karenmarie: - That's so frustrating, Karen. I'm just going to have to start a new thread sans linkage...

NEW THREAD

It's not linked, but I hope you'll follow me here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/328697