Amber's (scaifea) Thread #5

Hey, everybody!

I'm Amber, a one-time Classics professor, turned stay-at-home parent/lady of leisure, turned part-time library assistant, turned once again Classics professor. I spend my free time sewing, writing, knitting, baking, and, of course, reading.

My reading life is happily governed by lists, which means that I read a healthy variety of things across various genres.

I'm 45 going on 12 and live in Ohio with my husband, Tomm; our son, Charlie, and Mario the Golden Retriever.

Here I am in Dr. Scaife Mode (you can tell that because my hair is, for once, actually combed and not just in a messy bun):



Favorite Books from 2020
The Lumberjanes collected comic volumes
Call Down the Hawk
New Kid
The Wise Man's Fear
The Slow Regard of Silent Things
Pride and Prejudice
Silver in the Wood
A Tale of Two Cities

What I'm Reading Now:
-Lord Foul's Bane (BSF Award)
-Ready Player Two (series read)
-Upon the Head of a Goat (Newbery Honor Book)
-The Henna Wars (romance list)
-A Promised Land (audiobook)
-Farmer Boy (family bedtime read-aloud)
-Memoirs of a Geisha (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob)
-Gardens of the Moon (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books)

Books on Deck:
-Guard of Honor (Pulitzer list)
-Uncle Silas (books by year - 1864)
-(an unread book from my shelves)
-(a book from my Read Soon! shelves)
-The Experience of Insight (Buddhist reading list)
-A Likely Story (cozy mysteries)
-Henry VI Part 1 (Shakespeare re-read)
-The Ugly American (Banned Books)
-The King of Elfland's Daughter (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list)

The five-ish or so books I have going at once and the On Deck books nearly all come from the following categories and lists:

1. A book from the 100 Banned Books book (at least currently. As soon as I finish this list, I'll replace it with another, and oh, I've got tons of lists).

2. A children's book, for Charlie's library. I'm trying to collect books from various award lists, and I like reading them before reading them to Charlie or deciding to add them to Charlie's shelves. For this category, I’m currently working through three lists:
a. 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die
b. The Newbery Honor books
c. Cooperative Children's Book Center list

3. A book from the Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, in chronological order.

4. A list I'm working through together with my best friend, Rob: The Hugo/Nebula/WFA/Bram Stoker (and other) lists (combined, in chronological order)

5. For this category, I cycle through 9 different stacks:
a. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
b. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
c. John Boyne bibliography (in chronological order, sort of)
d. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
e. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
f. Maggie Stiefvater's bibliography (in chronological order)
g. The NEH Timeless Classics list
h. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
i. The Pulitzer list (in alpha order by author)

6. An unread book from my shelves.

7. A book from my Read Soon! shelves.

8. A book on Buddhism or from the Dalai Lama's bibliography.

9. Book-a-year challenge: Three years ago, along with a few others in this group (*cough* Paul *cough*), I made a year-by-year list to see how far I could go back with consecutive reads. I've since been trying to fill in the gap years.

10. A book from the couple of series that I'm reading together with my mom.

11. A full-on re-read through Shakespeare's stuff.

12. A read-aloud-to-Charlie-at-bedtime book (or two).

13. An audio book, which I listen to as I knit/sew/otherwise craft/drive.

14. A romance novel, using as a guideline an excellent list of authors and works curated by lycomaflower (I know virtually nothing about this genre, but I now work in a library where many, many lovely people come through to check out books of this genre, and I want to know something about it).

15. This slot is reserved for books that just grab me and shout that they need to be read Right Now.

Books Read

JANUARY
1. Spinning Silver (Alex Award) - 10/10 = A+
2. Swamp Thing: Twin Branches (Stiefvater bibliography) - 8/10 = B
3. Manchild in the Promised Land (Banned Books list, AlphaKIT: M) - 9/10 = A-
4. The Wish Giver (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
5. Silas Marner (audiobook) - 8/10 = B-
6. The Story of Tracy Beaker (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B-
7. Thick as Thieves (series reread) - 10/10 = A+
8. Lumberjanes #16: Mind over Mettle (series read) - 10/10 = A+
9. Pilgrimage (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books) - 7/10 = C
10. Each Tiny Spark (Schneider Honor Book) - 7/10 = C
11. The House on the Borderland (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 6/10 = D
12. Beyond Religion (books on Buddhism) - 9/10 = A
13. Outlander (romance list) - 6/10 = D
14. Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun (Newbery Honor Book) - 7/10 = C
15. Far Away Across the Sea (1001 Children's Books) - 10/10 = A+
16. The Daylight Gate (Read Soon! Shelves) - 8/10 = B-
17. The Queen of Attolia (family bedtime read-aloud) - 10/10 = A+
18. Works and Days & Theogony (Myth course readings) - 9/10 = A-
19. The Book Thief (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 10/10 = A+
20. Return of the Thief (series read) - 10/10 = A+

FEBRUARY
21. The Bacchants (myth course reading) - 9/10 = A
22. Camp (romance) - 8/10 = B+
23. Song of a Whale (Schneider Award) - 8/10 = B-

Able Baker Charlie:



Mario and her friend, Frencisco:

Next one is yours - welcome!

Happy Saturday, Amber! Happy New Thread. A snowstorm is heading our way. Oh, joy!!

>7 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I am *so* excited by the prospect of a snowstorm! I hope we get tons of it down here!

We're supposed to get snow late Sunday/early Monday. Bring. It. On.

Happy new thread!

Happy new one, Amber! Hope you get some white stuff!

Also love that picture of Mario. She obviously needs some ear rubs.

>9 katiekrug: Katie: YAS!

>10 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I'll deliver those ear rubs toot sweet. (She's sleeping in much the same position right now, in fact.)

Happy new thread!

Happy number 5, Amber. Great to see your threads flying - even I cannot keep up!

>12 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

>13 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul - I suspect you may actually have more posts at this point, though, yeah?

Cupcakes are done - help yourselves! (NB: The unfrosted are reserved for Katie.)

>14 scaifea: Almost a dead heat Amber but you'll take the lead overnight with your new thread. Nice to see you back!

I currently have 1,048 posts
You have 1,045 posts including this one.

First time in many years that two threads have topped a thousand posts in January.

>16 PaulCranswick: Three posts behind you, eh?

>16 PaulCranswick: Huh.

>16 PaulCranswick: Weird.

HA

>15 scaifea: - NOICE!

Ha xxx

>20 PaulCranswick: *snork!* I just couldn't resist.

>21 katiekrug: There's milk in the fridge, Katie!

Glad you thought Tesserae was interesting. I hope you can make use of it. The back engine AI is one of the applications he’s writing his dissertation on.

I want to say I want cake...but we still have a third of Cassie's birthday cake, plus 3/4 of the ginger cake she made at cooking class last Thursday. Glut of cake and I'm not allowed near my Dad to dump it on him (as would be usual!).

*trundles herself off to eat cake to avoid offending her daughter, struggling to fit through doors*

Happy new one, Amber! DOn't mind if I do with the cupcaking.

>24 drneutron: That's so impressive, Jim. Does he have a defense date in mind yet?

>25 BekkaJo: Wow, Bekka, that is a lot of cake! The ginger cake sounds delicious...

>26 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! And help yourself!

Happy fifth thread, Amber!

>5 scaifea: What kind of cookies is Charlie making there?
Lovely picture of Mario with her stuffed toy.

>28 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! Those are peanut butter cookies that Charlie's working on.

I'll take a plateful of Charlie's cookies...cupcakes are nice but I know Katie's had her eye on those...

Hi Amber my dear, happy new thread and i just love the cupcakes, they look delicious, my mouth is watering dear friend.

>30 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: And they're gluten free! No flour needed at all and they're really good.

>31 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

Happy new thread!

>1 scaifea: What a cozy image. I feel like I want to pull a heavy sweater on and read drinking creamy tea.

>33 quondame: I live that way pretty much every day. Chunky sweaters, milky tea, and books.

19. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 10/10 = A+
Narrated by Death, this is the story of Liesel, a German foster child in the town of Molching during WWII. She is one of the few humans whose stories Death follows until they come to an end, and Death retells her tale of love and bravery and book thievery and loss, oh so much loss. Gorgeously written, I loved the rare perspective of a German child during the war and the views and sufferings of Germans who hated what their countrymen were doing. Highly recommended, but fair warning: this story doesn't hold much happiness, although it makes up for it with little moments of beauty throughout.

>35 scaifea: - I tried to read this one several years ago - soon after joining LT, I think. I couldn't get into it and set it aside. I want to give it another try, I think. So many people love it.

>36 katiekrug: Katie: It's not...fast-paced. But once it gets going, I suspect you'll get drawn in.

>35 scaifea: Lovely review, Amber! That book haunts me still, but I'm so glad I read it. The unique perspective really added to my understanding of the whole rotten situation.

>35 scaifea: This was an LT-inspired read for me, but ages ago. Like Katie, I was new to LT. I really liked it but it sure was heavily hyped back then.

>35 scaifea: So happy to see it got an A+ from you. I have strong memories of sobbing through the last bit of it.

Happy new thread Amber.

I'm right there with you Katie. I had trouble getting into The Book Thief aswell. I've been thinking about trying again.

>38 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! Haunting is the right word for it - I won't be forgetting it anytime soon.

>39 lauralkeet: Laura: I know it won a handful of awards, right? Definitely one that is worth its hype.

>40 MickyFine: Micky: I'm pretty surprised that I didn't sob myself! I usually do at those things. I loved it, though.

>41 fairywings: I'd say give it another go, and try to be patient through the slowish start.

Hppy new one!

>35 scaifea: I enjoyed that read as well. Have a great weekend.

>15 scaifea: Yum! *grabs several* I'm with Charlie on frosting sometimes being too much.

>44 justchris: *grins*

We have snow! Lots of it! And it's still snowing! Plus, I have warm, buttered banana bread and a big mug of coffee, sitting cozy inside and watching it snow, so, pretty much a perfect Sunday morning.

Today's Agenda:
House cleaning (ick), but then sewing and reading for most of the rest of the day, so overall I think it's a win. I'd love to make some good progress on the quilt project today, and I'm nearly finished with a cabled scarf I'm knitting, too. Oh, and I finished up Charlie's new mittens last night (photo to come). Philly Cheesesteaks for dinner.

On the reading front:
Song for a Whale is coming along. It's good, but not wow-level. Still enjoying the Obama audiobook, too - I'm up to his first debate with McCain. Today I think I'll focus on Return of the Thief.

What We're Watching:
In one of Charlie's art lessons last week, he learned about how museum curators work to preserve and protect the artwork and artifacts on display, including a neat little feature on the Declaration of Independence and how heavily protected and guarded it is. So, in the interests of his education, we watched National Treasure. #bestparenting

So happy you got your snow! I'm there with you in the cleaning boat. Here's hoping we both get through it quickly. Also, so enjoy National Treasure - such silly, action fun. I hope Charlie liked it.

>47 MickyFine: Morning, Micky! Yeah, I suspect my cleaning efforts today will be what my mom calls "swish swish and done." Not the most diligent of efforts, but yeah. Charlie liked NT, and giggled a lot at its ridiculousness. So, mission accomplished.

Amber, your threads on fire! Happy #5!

Happy new thread, Amber.
>15 scaifea: Now I'm getting hungry!
>35 scaifea: I think I'll look where I find the book, it sounds very worth reading.
With us, unfortunately, the snow is already gone.
I wish you a wonderful Sunday

>49 Carmenere: Hi, Lynda! Hoo boy, well, we'd better take care of that, then...

>50 SirThomas: Hi, Thomas! Help yourself to a cupcake, and I hope you can find a copy of the Zusak - it's definitely worth a search. I'm sorry your snow is all gone; I'm hoping ours lasts a while.

Charlie's new Gryffindor mittens (same as the last pair I made him a couple of years ago, but...much. bigger. #gentlegiantcharlie):

>51 scaifea: *sniff* Now if you want a real rocket...

>54 drneutron: *SNORK!!* Jim. Really. HOW is that helping to put out the fire?!

PS: Have you told Tim about The Son's revamp of the buffalo classics page? If he doesn't already know about that site, I bet he'd LOVE it.

>46 scaifea: substitute tea for the coffee and it would be a perfect morning for me too. Enjoy!!

>56 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: Tea is my afternoon drink; I'm just about to make a cup now!

>53 scaifea: Gorgeous. One of the women in my craft circle recently finished a gorgeous pair of knitted mittens that have a stag head and the Deathly Hallows on them. Not sure where she found the pattern but they're beautiful, although I assume there's a ton of colour work involved.

Morning, Amber! Hooray for snow!!

We love National Treasure! I have watched that one many, many times. And Birdy keeps her mad money in her copy of Common Sense because of course she does. She was eight when we took her to Williamsburg, and she completely charmed one of the shop managers who had asked her if they could help her to find something by asking for "my very own hardback copy of Common Sense, please."

>53 scaifea: LOVE these!

>1 scaifea: Hi Amber! It's been awhile since I have been around to chat with you. I see things are going well for you. And, I'm glad to see that I was not alone in my dislike of The Outlander. I hesitate to recommend a book to add to your extensive reading plans, but I just finished Devoted by Dean Koontz. It's not one of my typical genres, but one of the main characters is a golden retriever, and I am a sucker for anything having to do with Goldens! I trust you share my opinion. But, I would advise that you be careful before reading with Charlie. I have no idea how old he is now, and since I am old enough to be your mother, my standards may seem prudish. Just be advised that there are a few parts that I don't consider suitable for children. (I was shocked to learn that 50 Shades of Grey was part of some high school curricula!)

Me - trying to keep up with the threads. ;-)


>5 scaifea: The enthusiasm in Charlie's and Mario's faces... :D

>53 scaifea: Awesome mittens!

>61 PersephonesLibrary: Käthe, I love that gif!!

>46 scaifea: I may have gotten myself in for a spot of quilting by purchasing a kit that includes a mini quilt - I assume it's not complete but I don't know how incomplete it is. It won't be larger than a handkerchief though since it's for a 6.25" doll, so it may even get done.

>62 Crazymamie: That's how I feel sometimes on LT - but until so far I managed to catch the train this year. :)

>58 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! I always hesitate to do too much color changing with socks or mittens unless I'm going to line them with fabric; otherwise I worry about fingers or toes getting caught in the lines of yarn. I wonder if that pattern in on Ravelry, though...

>59 Crazymamie: Hi, Mamie! It is STILL snowing here! I LOVE IT!

Woot for National Treasure! So fun, that one. And I love the Birdy story!!

Thanks for the mitten love! I have enough left over to make him a new hat, too, I think - the old one is also pretty little on him.

>60 LoisB: Hi, Lois!
I've read some Koontz before with varying results, and as much as I *do* share your love of GRs, I pretty much always try to stay clear of books with dogs in them. They rarely remain unhurt, it seems, and I just can NOT handle that.

We don't really censor much with Charlie. I have *never* told him he can't read a particular book. He knows he's allowed any book he wants as long as he talks to me about it first and during and after. For TV shows and movies we only keep him away from things we think may cause nightmares and shows/movies with disrespectful treatment of women. Otherwise, he's more of a prude than we are: he politely declines shows or movies with sex, saying he's not ready to watch that stuff yet (he's amazingly self-aware for a kiddo) - he knows my views about it are that sex - respectful, safe, consensual sex - is nothing to be ashamed of. It's a joyful thing, not an embarrassing or wrong thing. And that words are just words and the only bad ones are the ones used to hurt others. There are definitely other, equally valid parenting modes; this is just the one that works for us and our particular kiddo.

>61 PersephonesLibrary: Hi, Käthe! Is that Buster Keaton? At any rate, I love it!

And yes, the two of them can be so serious sometimes. Adorable.

And thanks for the mitten love!

>62 Crazymamie: Right, Mamie! I love those Chaplin/Keaton-type films. So impressive the stuff they did (and survived through!).

>63 quondame: Best of luck on the tiny quilt, Susan.

>64 PersephonesLibrary: Käthe: Things generally calm down a few weeks in, so the trains should be easier to catch up with soon.

You look like you've been busy with crafting and cooking as well as reading. I cooked a lot more this weekend than sometimes, but now I have stuff that will reheat easily for lunches and evening meals next week.

Today got away from me, so I'm only now visiting the threads.

It's snowing here, too! It started late this afternoon, but it's supposed to last all of tomorrow, and the last update from the town said 14-20"! Hoo-boy. That's a lot of shoveling... Thank gawd The Wayne has a strong back. Heh.

I hope your Sunday turned out as lovely and relaxing as you expected.

Happy new thread, Amber, and hope you're having a good weekend!

>66 scaifea: The dog does not get hurt - he is gifted with very special powers. It's more of a fantasy. The few sexual parts are somewhat explicit and not traditional. I'm not at all surprised by, or opposed to, your parenting style. It fits with what I know about you and Charlie.

>69 thornton37814: Lori: I'm always busy with one thing or another, it seems. Ha! Since this year I'm teaching in the late afternoon/evenings (so that I can be available during the actual school day to help Charlie if he needs it), I have to plan cooking around my teaching schedule so that Tomm and Charlie don't go hungry on the nights I'm working. It's slightly exhausting, if I'm honest.

>70 katiekrug: Katie: It snowed here off and on all day and night! We didn't get 20 inches, but I'd say we have maybe 8-10? I'm happy with it, although as I type this I can see Tomm out the window shoveling and I'm not sure he agrees with me...

>71 bell7: Thanks, Mary!

>72 LoisB: Thanks for that, Lois. If I have a no-hurt-dog guarantee, I may just add it to my wishlist.

Today's Agenda:
Prep for both classes, grade Reader Response assignments for the myth class and Latin quizzes, start prepping the readings for next week's myth class, and help Charlie set up his art experiment (testing artwork (drawings on paper) in various environments).

On the reading front:
I finished Return of the Thief and hot damn, it's good. SO. GOOD. Not sure if I'll get round to a mini review today; it may have to wait until tomorrow.

What We're Watching:
Charlie's pick last night, so more Gilmore Girls. Rory and Lorelai are still fighting, poor Paul Anka is sick, and Logan is being a butt to Jess. Frustrating times.

Morning, Amber! I hope you got the tons of snow you hoped for. We got a foot, so we got plenty. Hooray, for The Book Thief. I am glad you loved it as much as I did.

Morning, Amber! Sadly, we did not get any snow last night. I'm sure you're shocked.

Morning, Amber! The threads are doing weird things today - I was here and posted and it didn't take. Showed up and then disappeared. *cue creepy music*

Sadly, I did not get any snow overnight. I'm sure you're shocked.

>76 msf59: Morning, Mark! Tomm says we got about 8 inches total. I'm HERE for it! And yay for another Zusak fan! So good.

>77 Crazymamie: Aw, poor ex-patriot Mamie. I wish I could send you some!

8-10" is my perfect amount of snow. We've gotten about 7" so far and it's still coming down. Supposed to keep going all day. We've shoveled once, and thank goodness TW found the electric shovel the previous owners left in the garage. It's not as great as a snow blower, but better than a regular shovel. I took Nuala out for her post-breakfast romp, and she was adorable snuffling and jumping and trying to eat snowflakes. A nice way to start a Monday :)

>78 Crazymamie: - Same thing happened to me. I posted right after you, Mamie, and now it's gone.

I guess Amber will never know what wisdom I imparted.

>78 Crazymamie:...OH, so it wasn't just me....I was reading threads, and the display wasn't changing to remove the "unread" highlights.

>82 katiekrug: - But now my message in >81 katiekrug: is back!

Cue The Twilight Zone music...

>82 katiekrug: Whatdaheck is an electric shovel?

>78 Crazymamie: Very much weirdness happening on LT this morning. But our posts are finally showing up!

>82 katiekrug:, >85 laytonwoman3rd: Yeah, I was just about to ask?! Whoozit?

>81 katiekrug: >82 katiekrug: Katie Wisdom saved from the depths! YAY!

Mario also did some snow frolicking just a bit ago. Adorable. Not so adorable? Pulling mini ice/snowballs out of her footpads. She forgets that she even has back legs? So it's a struggle. Big sweet dummy.

And I am with Linda: what, exactly, is an electric shovel?

>83 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Very strange morning, yeah? I'm glad it seems to be fixed.

>84 katiekrug: Katie: doDOdodo doDOdodo...

>85 laytonwoman3rd: My question exactly, Linda.

Electric shovel: it has a very long cord because it needs to be plugged in, and a long handle like a shovel, and a rotating thingy (technical term) that moves through the snow and blows it to the side (similar to a snow blower). It's a tad noisy but nearly as bad as a snow blower, and so far it's worked great, but the snow has been dry and light. I'm not sure it will work so well with heavy wet stuff.

I'll see if I can find a picture.

ETA picture:



Ours has a chute or whatever it's called to direct the snow in one direction or another.

>91 katiekrug: Oh, interesting! I was thinking maybe it was a heated scoop or something, but this is much more like a blower than that. Cool! Thanks for the explanation, Katie, and I hope it does work on the heavier stuff.

>91 katiekrug: Okay, I NEED ONE OF THOSE. Lookit how cool that is!

Apparently, the correct term for it is a power shovel. Should anyone be interested in acquiring one :)

>93 lycomayflower:

>94 katiekrug: Power Shovel. I love it.

>91 katiekrug: W-E-I-R-D! I've spent most of my life in snow country and never heard of this thing. Thanks for the explanation and picture. Whodathunk?

>88 scaifea: Not so adorable? Pulling mini ice/snowballs out of her footpads.

I feel your pain, Amber! I would take Odie for walks and the snow and ice would build up in the long hair between his footpads. At which point he would just stop walking and hold up in the air whichever foot needed clearing, waiting for his valet. I spent more time crouching down holding his foot in my bare hand to melt the ice than I did walking, sometimes!

>98 rosalita: Julia: Ha! I love the mental image of a paw just sticking up waiting for attendance!

>99 scaifea: I have to hand it to him: He really trained me well and quickly when I inherited him from my mom. He came to live with me in October and it only took one snowfall that winter to get me with the program. Impressive for a dog who was otherwise not the brightest bulb in the chandelier. :-)

Thanks for the photo. I had never heard of a power shovel and couldn't imagine what it was. Photo cured that.

Twilight Zones and power shovels. Dang it's been a morning here. We're supposed to get snow later today here. Only a couple centimeters though so not a biggie.

>100 rosalita: I love it when you talk about Odie, Julia. It makes me happy. Which reminds me: today's Latin quiz bonus question was "What makes you happy?" and one student said, "videos of military veterans coming home to their dogs" and just...what a great answer, right?

>101 RebaRelishesReading: It's not at all what I was thinking either, Reba. Very cool.

>102 MickyFine: Twilight Zones and power shovels. Dang it's been a morning here. Right?!

I can't answer "what makes me happy" in Latin, so I'll just leave this here:

>105 rosalita: Ahh, what a sweet face!!

>103 scaifea: Oh man those videos make me ugly cry! Tearing up just at the thought of them.

>105 rosalita: Aw, Julia, I LOVE IT. And oh no, they don't have to answer in Latin! It's a bonus question, so it's meant as a way to boost their grade and gives me a way to have fun with them first thing every class - I read through the answers and we laugh and chat about them. So fun. Later in the semester I'll have a BQ that will ask them if they were going to get a tattoo in Latin, what ENGLISH phrase they would want, and then we translate their answers together in class into Latin.

>106 RebaRelishesReading: Right?!

>107 MickyFine: Micky: YES! I thought it was such a great answer - Happy ugly tears.

>108 scaifea: I like your Bonus Question concept! It seems it would be especially great in online classes where it can be hard to make connections. Well done, Prof!

>105 rosalita: Oh....*melt*

>109 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! I've done it for years because it really helps create a relaxed, friendly, comfortable atmosphere, and you're right that it very much helps with the online classes. I had some students comment on their evaluations last semester that this was the only zoom class that they didn't dread by the end of the semester, so I'm taking that as a good sign...? Yay - they don't dread me! Ha!

>110 laytonwoman3rd: Agreed, Linda. Agreed.

>105 rosalita: - Love that sweet face!

>111 scaifea: - Yes, Amber, I think that is a good sign!

>112 katiekrug: It's certainly encouraging, since mine will always be zoom classes and not just for the length of the pandemic (I live 2.5 hours away from the uni). It's good to know that this may actually work okay...

20. Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (series read) - 10/10 = A+
I admit that I was both excited and...worried about this one. Turner's The Queen's Thief series is my all-time absolute very most favorite series. Ever. And this is the long-anticipated finale to that series. I eagerly wanted to meet up with Gen again and learn more about what happened next in his story, but there's so much pressure to finish a series strong and with an ending that lives up to the quality of the rest; Gen's are big shoes to keep filling. I am abashed now that I ever worried. Of *course* Turner pulled it off. Of *course* she wrote a final book that gives us the Gen we love, doing the amazing, impressing things we know he can do, all while taking the story to a conclusion that both is interestingly surprising and feels, in hindsight (oh, Turner is the master of hindsight revelations) like the only natural conclusion that could ever have been. What an impressively difficult thing to pull off - Turner is her own kind of Eugenides, and thus should never be underestimated.

>114 scaifea: Glad you loved the conclusion, Amber. Hoping the book hangover isn't too bad.

Yayyyy for Return of the Thief. I'm so looking forward to rereading the whole series again on a semi-regular rotation.

>35 scaifea: I love that book!!

Happy new thread!!

>94 katiekrug: Really? See, I hear "power shovel", and this is what I think of:

>115 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! Nah, I'll be fine. I know I'll reread them again soonish, so it's okay.

>116 bell7: Mary: Woot! And YAS to regular re-reads!

>117 ChelleBearss: Oh, I'm so glad, Chelle! It's *so* good, isn't it?

>118 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, but that's more of a scoop, right? Definitely powerful, though.

>118 laytonwoman3rd: - I could use one of those right about now!

The Wayne just informed me he has ordered a snow blower. Last time we went out to shovel, his power shovel was struggling....

>120 scaifea: The caption on the photo definitely called it a power shovel, Amber.

>121 katiekrug: I think the Wayne is very wise.

>121 katiekrug: good call, Wayne. All it takes is one big storm to convince the un-convinced!

Has Nuala enjoyed the snow, Katie?

>121 katiekrug: Katie: Nice! Tomm keeps trying to convince me that we need one, but we have a small driveway and I never have to shovel it so I'm not convinced...

>122 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, now you're just making things up. What caption?

>123 lauralkeet: You know, Laura, it would be good form to ask if the thread host's dog enjoyed the snow... *eye roll*

>125 scaifea: dammit, I forgot what thread I was on. Sorry Amber!

What did Mario think of the snow? 😂

So I wanted a snow blower after a particularly bad winter. Turns out having a snow blower means yet another gas-powered engine that I have to keep running. For what is usually one or two events per year. Maybe I shoulda thought that through a little more... 😀

>126 lauralkeet: *snork!* Happens to the best of us. I'm honored that you would mistake this for Katie's Kool Thread.

Mario *loves* the snow. Jams her nose down in it tosses her head back, then zooms around the yard.

>127 drneutron: Ha! Excellent point, Jim.

The snow has finally come our way and they have already called a snow day for tomorrow!!

Nice review of Return of the Thief. I love when a series wraps up nicely. I may need to check it out

>124 scaifea: I did a Google search for "Power Shovel", and that's one of the images that I found. Do I have to post a link? I have to post a link. OK....Wikipedia is easy: power shovel Or, if you'd rather Britannica: power shovel.

>129 jayde1599: Jess: Woot for a snow day!! The thing about Charlie being in an all-online school is that he doesn't get those now.
And of course I highly recommend you check out the series. It's so good!

>130 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Britannica or no, that's clearly a scoop. Think of the action it performs - would you call it shoveling or scooping? *stands on hill, ready to expire*

Today's agenda:
Course prep, Charlie schoolwork guidance, more course prep, and a quick trip to the library to pick up holds. It's funny: I go to the library once a week and don't think much about it; on Friday Tomm and I need to go to the bank to sign some papers, and I'm panicked about it. Everyone will have masks on, I'm sure, and we won't be in there much longer than I'm ever in the library. But still. Anxiety. Awesome.

On the reading front:
No non-work reading yesterday, although I did reread through the Homeric Hymn to Demeter for the myth class.

What We're Watching:
Tomm had a late meeting so Charlie and I watched another Queer Eye episode.

>132 scaifea: I was worried about going into the bank for our mortgage renewal last spring and the bank employees had been working from home mostly at that time. So our mortgage guy came to our house and we signed the papers on our porch. It felt so weird. Covid is making things so weird lately.

>133 ChelleBearss: Chelle: Everything is weird and way more stressful than it should be. It's exhausting, really. I think the bank is closed to general transactions - you have to go through the drive through for those, and to come inside the building you need an appointment, so it should be pretty empty and I know that everyone will be masked, so it'll be fine. I just need to convince my brain of that.

I finished knitting the cabled scarf I've been working on forever last night, which completes the set along with the leg warmers and hat. (The middle photo has the truest colors. Also, please ignore the Pandemic Witch Hair):

Love the knitted set - I so need a set of handwarmers like that for home working. Trying not to have the heating on during the day and my fingers are cooooold!

>135 scaifea: Oh, how lovely! And I really like the scarf, too.

"*stands on hill, ready to expire*" No need, I'm sure. If you see a scoop, then Britannica can just suck it up.

>136 BekkaJo: Thanks, Bekka! Ha! You're the second person to think that photo is of hand warmers! They're leg warmers.

>137 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda! I love that scarf pattern - it's the second time I've used it (the first one is a heathered oatmeal kind of yarn).

Oh, how diplomatic of you to let me go on living (all while not admitting completely to it being a scoop. Well done, Linda. Well done.)

>138 scaifea: *bows* I'm here all week.

>139 laytonwoman3rd: *snork!*

Morning, Amber! That knitted set is so pretty - love the colors.

>123 lauralkeet: - Nuala loves the snow, Laura. I took her down the back deck stairs this morning, but the snow was too deep for her there, and I think she got scared. She scrambled back up the stairs and insisted on going back inside. Poor thing. But then I took her out front after shoveling a bit, and she was like a pig in shi-, er, mud :)

>124 scaifea: - Our driveway is super short, too. If a car is parked in it, it basically fills it. But we have a sort of long sidewalk in front, and honestly, the worst part of shoveling this morning was the end of the driveway where the town plows dump snow as they move down the street...

>127 drneutron: - I think TW ended up going with a rechargeable cordless electric one. I did not know they made such things *shrug*

>141 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! I love the colors, too! At first I was hesitant about putting rose-ish and heathery brown together, but I started loving it right away when I started knitting.

>138 scaifea: Oh I saw they were legwarmers - but my legs have big fluffy socks and my hands are blocks of ice :) My Mum knitted me some ages ago (and no offence to her, not so pretty as yours) which have a thumb bit, but I can only find one. So it's one at a time for warmer hands.

>144 BekkaJo: I made myself some hand warmers last year and I love them! Easier than full-on gloves, too (no fiddly fingers).

I quite enjoyed Ready Player One, will be interested to see how the second one maps out.

I love the hat, scarf, and leg-warmers. My cousin who is an avid knitter sent me a knit cap for Xmas and I just love it.

>135 scaifea: ooh, very nice Amber! So much talent there with cables AND colorwork.

>146 EBT1002: Ellen: I haven't quite started it yet - I need to look up a quick summary of the first book to refresh my memory! I'm excited, though, because I loved the first one tons.

And thanks for the knitting love! A friend sent me a scarf she'd made for Xmas, too, and I love it so much, but because it's amazing and because it's just so wonderful when someone you love shows their love for you in that way.

>147 lauralkeet: Aw, thanks, Laura!!

Gorgeous knitted set, Amber!

When we bought our house last year in May all the lawyer stuff was done with us sitting in our car and the lawyer standing in the parking lot at the required distance. It'll be a fun story to tell in the after times...

>149 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky!
We had the option of the bank person coming to our house and I would have said yes if it were nice enough outside to sit on the porch or something, but I don't want anyone *inside* our house. *sigh*

Holy Guacamole! Happy New Thread - I can't believe that you're 150 posts into it already.

I'm going to give one recommended by Paul a go that you might like (or have liked: Charlotte Sometimes. Time travel middle grader/YA book.

How is Ready Player Two so far? I enjoyed the first one, so I expect this new one is in my future.

>151 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! I read Charlotte Sometimes a couple of years back and found it fair to middling. Maybe you'll like it more than I did.

I've not quite started Ready Player Two - I need to look up a summary of the first book to jog my memory!

>67 scaifea: Indeed, it is Buster Keaton - from the movie "Daydreams".

>135 scaifea:: Love, love, love the knitted stuff! Looking warm and cosy - and beautiful!

>153 PersephonesLibrary: Hi, Käthe! I was fairly sure it was Keaton, but not 100%. I don't remember if I've seen Daydream, although I've seen several of his movies. I love him to bits (more that Chaplin, although he's pretty good, too).

And thanks so much for the kind words. They are *very* wooly and warm and cozy.

>153 PersephonesLibrary: I thought I recognized him...now feel a need to watch a bunch of silent movies. As it happens, our local video store happens to have a large collection...

>154 scaifea: >155 justchris: I am a big fan of silent movies. Though they are sometimes a bit more straining to watch because you can't "drift" away for a moment without losing the story. :)

>156 PersephonesLibrary: I love them, but I also can't help cringe thinking about just how they managed most of the stunts - without much thought for safety!

>157 scaifea: I know what you mean. :) I am fascinated by how they managed "special effects" and tricks. They are so playful sometimes. Do you know the movie "Hugo Cabret"?

>158 PersephonesLibrary: I haven't seen the movie, Käthe, but I *love* the book!

>148 scaifea: Exactly! The hat is all the more special because I know my cousin picked out the yarn and the pattern, and spent her time knitting it for me. Also, having purchased some pretty nice yarn to send her for her birthday last month, I know that the yarn itself can be expensive. So it's the cost of the materials and the time invested. I feel much loved. :-)

>160 EBT1002: Ellen: Yes! And I bet she loved the yarn gift! it *can* get expensive.

>132 scaifea: I've always been on the edge of agoraphobia (though the actual Agora in Athens was a pool of cool serenity in the city summer) but these last months have made my reluctance to go anywhere I haven't been before quite robust. I do hope it fades once it's safer out there.

>162 quondame: I think the post-vaccine world will mean a fair amount of adjustment for everyone, and for some more than for others.

Today's Agenda:
Prepping for class, keeping an eye on Charlie's work, and even more course prep work. Woot.

On the reading front:
Made a smidge of progress with Lord Foul's Bane, but to be honest I spent most of the time I had yesterday for reading sorting and oogling the holds I picked up from the library. *sigh*

What We're Watching:
Well, Groundhog Day, of course. Every year.

21. The Bacchants by Euripides (myth course reading) - 9/10 = A
One of my favorite plays to teach. A play that dares to tackle the role of Dionysus and the tension between traditional religion and the newer cult rites in his name, performed at a festival honoring that very same god. Traditional roles are conflated and blurred in such beautifully-done but ultimately brutal ways here (I mean, it *is* a Greek tragedy). Euripides *always* pushed all sorts of limits and I love him dearly for it. I've never given my "Jesus is the Christian fathers' answer to Dionysus" lecture while working for a Catholic uni, so that should be a hoot...

Morning, Amber! Yesterday was Abby's birthday, which means I get to have cake with my coffee this morning. *happy dance*

"I've never given my "Jesus is the Christian fathers' answer to Dionysus" lecture while working for a Catholic uni, so that should be a hoot..." I wish I could be a fly on the wall.

>166 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Yay for breakfast birthday cake and YAY for the birthday gal!! I hope she had a wonderful day!

I'll do my best to be...diplomatic...about it. We'll see how it goes. And if I have a job at the end of next week.

>164 scaifea: "oogling the holds I picked up from the library" - Glad to see I'm not the only one...

Good idea to look at a summary of Ready Player One before reading Ready Player Two. I kinda sorta remember it, but I'm sure that would help.

I can't remember whether you liked The Hate U Give and On the Come Up. I just finished her Concrete Rose, and it's another winner. She has such a knack. This one is a prequel to The Hate U Give, with Starr's parents as high school seniors.

>168 drneutron: Jim: *snork!* How did you get actual footage of me and my preciouses?!

>169 jnwelch: Joe: I *loved* The Hate U Give but haven't come back round to her other stuff yet, which I admit is ridiculous of me. Must fix that soon. Thanks for the tip on the new one!

>165 scaifea: Now I'm intensely curious as to what you have to say about this play. I may pull it out (I think it's still on the shelf).

>165 scaifea: - I don't think U of Dayton is uber-Catholic, though I don't know much about the Marianists. I went to an uber-Catholic college, but it was Jesuit and very liberal in its education philosophy. You'll probably be okay :)

>166 Crazymamie: I would like to hear that lecture myself. I was going to ask if it was a Jesuit university (like our University of Scranton), but I see Katie has addressed that point.

>171 ffortsa: Go for it, Judy. I'd be happy to chat with you about it after you've read it.

>172 katiekrug: I was mostly teasing, Katie. I doubt I have anything to worry about.

>173 laytonwoman3rd: Have you read the play before, Linda? I extend my offer to Judy to include you, too, if you're interested...

>175 scaifea: I have not read it, and I don't think I have it in any of my collections. The Greek tragedies are not my strong suit---I read a couple of them with the World Literature class I did my student teaching with (dreadful co-operating teacher, so I don't think any of us got the best out of them). It's a branch of literature I would really like to explore, and having you about as a resource would be the ideal way to do it.

>176 laytonwoman3rd: I'd be happy to chat with you about any of them, Linda!

>166 Crazymamie: Me too!

>169 jnwelch: Good to know! I LOVED The Hate U Give.

>176 laytonwoman3rd: Right there with you. I've got The Oresteian Trilogy and Greek Tragedies volumes 1 and 2 on my shelves from my undergrad days, supplemented with a copy of The Complete Plays of Aristophanes that I picked up at a thrift store who knows when. I'm not sure whether I ever read any of the plays in the Greek Tragedies volumes, but I got flags sticking out of the Aeschylus, so I know I've read that. Shows how much I remember from freshman humanities.

>178 justchris: If there's enough interest, I'd be willing to lead a group discussion of some of the plays...

Today's Agenda:
Menu planning for next week and grocery ordering, being here for Charlie if he needs school work help, getting reorganized after yesterday's teaching (recording attendance and participation grades, sorting through my notes,...), course prep for next week.

On the reading front:
I actually managed some reading time yesterday (rare for teaching days), and spent it on Camp, which is due in 6 days and I'm still only halfway through (yoicks). I'm teetering between really enjoying it and possibly being really annoyed by it; everything hinges on how it ends, I think, so we'll see. I also read a few pages in Song for a Whale and I'm still grabbing 10 minutes or so a day for A Promised Land.

What We're Watching:
Nothing last night, since it was DC Night (which is why I was able to sneak in some reading time).

>180 scaifea: How is Charlie doing with distance learning?

I'm grateful that my horde are all very computer literate, and generally capable students. But at one point I had to draw a line with my big two, telling them it's not my job to micro manage them, and they'd have to start suffering the consequences of not paying attention. The direct talk thankfully turned them around, and they brought near-failing grades up to As (keeping video game time is more valuable than sneaking YouTube during class, apparently).

>181 London_StJ: He *loves* it and has been asking if he can stay on next year (I'm hesitant because I think he needs social time once the vaccines are around). And he's thriving at it. He honestly doesn't need much supervision at all, but I do need to check off his assignments before he turns them in. At our monthly check-in with his homeroom teacher, she told us that he's her top student right now!

>182 scaifea: Aww, yay for Charlie being such a smarty pants.

Good luck with the menu planning. It always feels like so much work when I do it with Mr. Fine, especially making sure we don't eat just the same five things. :P

>183 MickyFine: Thanks for the yay, Micky! He's a good kiddo and so crazily self-motivated. I mostly worry that he is partly so because he's inherited my anxiety genes, but we'll see.

And ooof, YES to menu planning being a pain in the butt. I don't get any help from Tomm, though, and honestly I don't know if it's harder or easier that way...

>183 MickyFine: - Menu planning for me is almost the same experience as making a list of books I plan to read. Once it's on the list, I lose all interest - ha!

ETA: Hi Amber!

>185 katiekrug: Katie: For me it's like a puzzle but not a fun one.

I hear that.

>184 scaifea: Well, Mr. Fine does more of the cooking than I do so his participation is not optional. :P

>188 MickyFine: Tomm is responsible for one night of cooking a week, but somehow I'm still responsible for the planning part, even for his night. *eye roll*

>189 scaifea: - Something is wrong with this picture!

The Wayne asked to go from 3 to 2 meals a week from Hello Fresh because he felt like he wasn't getting to cook enough. Weirdo.

>189 scaifea: Mixed blessing...my husband does all the weekday cooking since I work and he doesn't...but 9 out of 10 meals is fried rice w vegetables or some variation. Hard to complain though since it's hot and ready when I walk in.

>190 katiekrug: Katie: You noticed that, did you?

>191 vivians: I don't want to complain too much, really, because we do divide household chores fairly evenly, but honestly, the whole point of him doing it was to take the onus off me one day a week and that isn't really happening if I have to plan the meal, make sure the ingredients get on the grocery list, think up what vegetable side for him to make with whatever main course he decides on...

>182 scaifea: Gosh, that is SO GOOD to hear!

>193 London_StJ: Right? Such a relief that he's doing so well with it this year, what with, well, everything.

>3 scaifea: Good luck with your goals. I know you can do it!

>195 Whisper1: Thanks, Linda!

Today's Agenda:
Weekly bill sorting, grocery pickup, class prep, cookie baking (chocolate chip), office hours, and the dreaded trip to the bank. Ugh. Anxiety levels are through the brain roof this morning.. It's silly, I know: everyone will be masked and we'll probably only be there no more than 15 minutes. It's not much different than when I go to the library to pick up holds once a week. But that's routine and this is different and new and unknown. (I think re-entry into a post-vaccine world will have its challenges for me.)

Starting the day on a good note, though: I made biscuits yesterday for our dinner of sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit sandwiches (Tomm had his wrapped in a corn tortilla instead), so my breakfast is a leftover biscuit warmed, with butter and honey. That'll do.

On the reading front:
I'm nearly finished with Camp and hopefully I'll polish it off today.

What We're Watching:
Thursday night is GBBS Night, plus a couple of Arrow episodes.

Warm biscuits for breakfast sounds fantastic. Hope the bank visit is in the morning so the dread doesn't ruin your whole day. *hugs for you and your anxious brain*

>198 MickyFine: Micky: WELP.

The bank trip was awful. Tomm told me he didn't think we'd be there more than 15 minutes; we were there for an hour. In a tiny conference room with what felt like no ventilation. With two other people, one of whom didn't have a f*cking clue how to wear her mask properly - it was never over her nose and the rest of it was so loose there was no point even having it on. I was near a panic attack the entire time, sobbed the whole drive home, and ran from the door to the bathroom so I could vomit. I'll now be at 300% anxiety level for two weeks, waiting to get sick, imagining both Tomm and me dying and leaving Charlie alone, imagining passing it on to Charlie,...

Oh Amber I'm so sorry it was such a terrible experience. *hugs*

>199 scaifea: Oh, no! How utterly dreadful. I'm so sorry, Amber.

>199 scaifea: That's really awful and unprofessional. A bank employee should know the rules and keep to them. I hope you feel better by now and all stays well and healthy.

Unprofessional, and unforgivable. A word to the manager might be in order, I feel.

Thanks Micky, Julia, and Connie. I so appreciate your kind words.

I know I'm ridiculous to be so upset; I know lots and lots of folks go to work every day and stay safe. But I also know that I'm not the only person experiencing a massive surge in anxiety issues because of the pandemic and these feelings, although possibly not completely rational, are real and they're rough.

>203 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda. I should have said something at the time and I kept trying to get myself to ask her, politely, if she could adjust her mask, but I was too far gone into trying to control the panic and apparently it didn't bother Tomm as much. This person is a notary and doesn't work directly for the bank, so I'm not sure who I would complain to.

>205 scaifea: Yeah, that's tricky since she's not a bank employee. And I would find it very difficult to ask her in the moment, since I have a tendency to start crying when I have to confront someone about something that is upsetting me. Even when what I am feeling is rage, it comes out as tears. So annoying!

>206 rosalita: Oh, I'm right there with you on the confrontation tears, Julia. Every time. And I was already trying so hard not to cry in front of them. Ugh.

>199 scaifea: Oh, Amber, I am so sorry. What an inconsiderate POS, seriously. It is really not much to ask and not too much of a strain to wear a mask. Have you talked to her or her boss about it?

>204 scaifea: No, it is not ridiculous. Your feelings a completely valid.

>205 scaifea:, >206 rosalita: When I'm in that position, I try to summon my inner MOM, and just say something like "Oh...I think your mask needs adjusting...it's fallen off your nose there." Casual as F. Works except with complete dunderheads and people who are trying to be obnoxious.

She may not work for the bank directly but they must have hired her for the job so they could say something. That said, I'm hopeless about saying something when things like that happen. Like you, I worry, I fret, and I wait praying it turns out OK but I don't say anything.

>208 PersephonesLibrary: Thanks, Käthe. I so appreciate the support and kind words (and the Dean support!).

>209 laytonwoman3rd: That's a good way to think about it, Linda. I'll try to keep that in mind.

>210 RebaRelishesReading: Reba: Yep. I hate confrontation. *sigh*

(((Amber)))

I would have had the same reaction to the notary! How can we be 11 months into a global pandemic and some people still haven't figured out how to wear a stupid mask?

>213 katiekrug: Thanks for that, Katie.

>214 curioussquared: Thanks, Natalie, for the solidarity. I don't get it either. She didn't seem like a complete idiot in other ways, and yet...

Thanks so much, everyone, for the kind words and support. I means so much that you don't think I'm a complete dummy for feeling this way. I appreciate you all, tons.

Oh Amber - how awful! I am really very surprised that the bank did not have their own notary and had to bring in an outside dumbhead to perform that very ordinary service for them. You are entirely within your rights to be upset and p****d off! I would be. The bank needs to know how you feel. Life is hard enough these days without people being put at risk by someone who is too stupid to live. I am constantly amazed by how idiotic and callous human beings are being. It's as if they want to kill themselves and everyone around them.

Hope you can have a decent weekend and try not to worry.

Amber, I'm so sorry about your experience at the bank today. In addition to what's already been suggested, is there anywhere near you where an asymptomatic person can get tested? You probably need to wait a few days before getting a test, but if you do the rapid test* you'll have results in a jiffy and be able to put your mind at ease.

* the rapid (antigen) test is reportedly less accurate than the PCR test, but errs more on the false positive side. In the unlikely event of testing positive you'd want to get a PCR test to verify. But it's far more likely you'll test negative and then you can put the whole sorry mess behind you.

>218 lauralkeet: Thanks so much for the suggestion, Laura. For most people I think this would be an excellent idea, but (and I know as I type this that it also sounds crazy) the thought of getting tested is yet another, massive source of anxiety.

>15 scaifea: your muffins reminded me of the ones I made the other day (the kids first day back at school...no work...time for baking!). I saw a little video on the book of face, and copied it. They look just like Simpsons donuts!

>164 scaifea: When I find a book I want at the library I grab it like there's going to be hoards of other people willing to fight me for it. And I love it when I get to take it home and, yes, ogle it.

Eta: and the bank experience sounded not good. I remember (vaguely, thank goodness) that feeling of having to be near people but being terrified of them. I am so used to not worrying about it anymore, I wish you could have that too.

>53 scaifea: Love these!

>199 scaifea: This is awful. I am so so sorry. I really wish people would be more considerate.

>199 scaifea: Yuuk! Whatever can lower the anxiety, indulge. You have my best wishes for remaining infection free and finding early relief for the stress.

>219 scaifea: Totally understand, Amber. I actually thought that might be the case but also thought why not make the suggestion. Sending hugs.

I decided to give myself a bit of a mental break and took my book up to bed to just recline and relax and read; ended up falling asleep and slept *hard* for two hours. I clearly needed that.

>220 LovingLit: Well, if they look like Simpsons donuts, they must have come out great! Well done, Megan!

I don't very often indulge in impulse check-outs (Must Be On a List), but when I do, ooof that's a heady feeling, I know.

And thanks for the sympathy. I wish we could all have your kind of security, too, even as I'm super-happy for you having it now!

>221 leperdbunny: Thanks, Tamara!

>222 leperdbunny: And thanks again, Tamara. I wish so, too.

>223 quondame: Thank you for those good wishes. I appreciate them.

>224 lauralkeet: I love that you thought about both sides, Laura, and I really do appreciate your suggestions, always.

>225 scaifea: So glad you got some sleep! Anxiety is exhausting, and your body and mind needed the reset, I'm sure.

I found this and thought it might cheer you up a little...

>226 rosalita: Thanks, Julia - I do think it helped and you're right that I really did need it.

>227 PersephonesLibrary: *snork!* I love that, Käthe! I saw it yesterday on a FB page I follow and immediately added it to one of next week's class powerpoint! I *love* that you thought of me when you saw it!

>227 PersephonesLibrary: Can't. Stop. Laughing.

>199 scaifea: & >204 scaifea: We are all made differently, Amber, and have to respect sensibilities in such difficult times. Your anxieties and fears especially something happening and what those consequences would be are perfectly understandable.

Take plenty of deep breaths and enjoy your weekend the worst bit of it is already over.

>228 scaifea: it's so perfect. :)

>229 MickyFine: It's hilarious. And I kind of can hear Zeus whistling while strolling down the street. :)

>231 PaulCranswick: Thanks for that, Paul. I appreciate it tons.

>229 MickyFine: >232 PersephonesLibrary: Micky & Käthe: If I had known that people here would enjoy classical memes, I would have been sharing my collection here! I'll have to start do that. I've gathers a healthy bunch for the myth class.

Today's Agenda:
Some baking (Pesto Swirl Bread and some sort of dessert, although I haven't decided just what yet), maybe some sewing time, definitely some reading. Tomm's in charge of dinner tonight: burgers, chips, and salad.

On the reading front:
I finished up Camp yesterday (mini-review to come) and read a bit more of Song for a Whale, which I think I may try to finish today. Still happily plugging along with Obama's audiobook and may get more than 10 minutes in today if I listen while sewing and baking.

What We're Watching:
Friday night = Family Game Night + Graham Norton. Tomm's pick of game last night, and I absolutely trounced both him and Charlie at Ticket to Ride (as I usually do - I'm weirdly good at that game).

>233 scaifea: Reaction of Micky and me:

Ha! Okay, then. I'll start getting you caught up with the rest of the class...

The first one I showed them (classical-themed, anyway (there were SPN and Star Wars ones on the first day first) was this one, because we were talking about Heinrich Schliemann, the crazy rich dude Homer fanboy who decided he'd use the Iliad as a map to find the city of Troy. And...he did. He also found Mycenae (where Agamemnon was supposed to have ruled). This was back in the days before regulated archaeology and so there are famous photographs of his wife wearing the jewelry he found looted and such. So:

One more for now:

Morning, Amber! Happy Saturday. I am back from my trip to the Great White North. Funny, colder here than it was there. Did not read anything, so I have some catching up to do.

>239 msf59: Morning, Mark - I'm happy that you made it back home safely!

Best wishes for you and your health, Amber.
I hope you can recover a little and wish you a wonderful weekend.

>241 SirThomas: Thanks so much for that, Thomas. I appreciate all the support!

Happy weekend!

May it bring plenty of rest and relaxation

The memes made me snort, Amber, so you know they're good!

Sounds like a great line up for your Saturday.

Love the classics memes. You keep posting and I'll keep laughing. :)

>243 figsfromthistle: Thanks so much, Anita. Happy weekend to you, too!

>244 rosalita: Ha! I'm glad you like them, Julia! The students seem to too, so far.

>245 MickyFine: I have a lot of fandom members in that class, so they love the Superwholock type memes. These are my people.

Morning, Amber. Love the memes!

I hope you have a restful Saturday.

>247 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

22. Camp by Lev A. C. Rosen (romance) - 8/10 = B+
Every summer Randy Kapplehoff goes to a camp for LGTBQ+ teens, a place where he feels safe to be the nail polish wearing, musical theater loving, fabulous fashion rocking gay he truly is (something he can't do at school) along with all the friends he's made there over the years. He's also harbored a massive crush on another camp member for several of those summers, and this year he has a plan to win over the masc4masc playboy and make him fall in love, although that plan means he'll need to put all those things he loves being and doing on hold. A Shakespeare romcom plopped down into a gay summer camp: both main characters pretending to be something they're not, fun side characters with their own romance stories going on, and a play (or musical, in this case) within a play (novel). For me the working through the "it's okay to be the gay you you are, no matter what form of gay that takes" seemed a little belabored and the dialogue around it a bit repetitive and very slightly clunky at times, but for a teen audience who may be struggling with those issues, it's probably just the right amount. And so, I think it's fun and doing important work in the field, and I can happily recommend it.

>238 scaifea: Bahahaha, this is my favorite. I may not know my classics, but I know my SuperWhoLock.

Sorry the bank was such a trial. I definitely think post-Covid life will take an adjustment when I am no longer wearing a mask and my personal space bubble gets smaller again. I have to tell people the rules when they come into the library for their browsing appointments. Most are good, but some push back. I mentioned to one the other day that she'd "have to wear your mask over your nose and mouth while you're in the building," and her response was "It's not?" "No, it's just below your nose." She said she pinched it closed coming in and thought it was over (insert big shrug from me here) but she did adjust it. I don't love those conversations.

Hoping your weekend is nice and relaxing.

>238 scaifea: The teacher gets an ACE!!

>250 bell7: I'm glad you liked the meme, Mary!

And that anecdote is one of the reasons I told the library manager that I'm not ready to come back when she asked me to take my old job back. I am not in the mental headspace to cope. *hugs* to you for being there and dealing.

>251 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! Thanks, Linda!

>237 scaifea: Haha, Schliemann had his methods. :)

>238 scaifea: I am sorry - I haven't watched any of those series. Do I get detention now?

>254 PersephonesLibrary: Käthe: Ha! No detention. I'm glad you liked the Schliemann one!

Hi, Amber. Happy Weekend.

Are you still reading that Steve Erickson sci-fi book? I tried it and gave up quickly; I just couldn't get any traction with it.

So far I think I'm liking Charlotte Sometimes more than you did, but let's see how it wraps up.

>256 jnwelch: Hi, Joe.

I was just spending some reading time this afternoon with the Erickson. It's fantasy, though, I'd say, more than scifi, but yeah, I'm having a tough time getting into it. The writing's...not great? I'll give it a little longer but I may call it quits.

I'm glad you're enjoying Charlotte Sometimes. I think for me, having read fairly extensively in the genre, I've just read better versions, maybe. I hope it holds up for you to the end.

23. Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly (Schneider Award) - 8/10 = B-
Although Iris is only 12 years old, she is a wiz at fixing up old radios. But as the only deaf student, she feels left out at school, and since her dad never really learned sign language, she doesn't feel completely in the loop at home either, even though her mom and brother did learn. Still mourning the death of her grandfather and feeling her grandmother's sorrow driving a wedge between her and her only other deaf relative, Iris seeks comfort in throwing herself into researching the existence of a unique whale, so unlike other whales that he cannot communicate with any of them through song. She becomes determined to find a way to fix Blue55's loneliness, mostly likely because she can't seem to fix her own.
This Schnieder Award winner from last year is okay, but there are a few things that, for me, keep it from being great. Iris didn't feel quite likeable enough for me to root for her as much as the story needs its reader to root for her. Also, the parallels between her story and the whale's (they're both outsiders and can't seem to find a family that will listen and understand them,...) are interesting ones, but the similarities between them don't need constant signposting. I got there pretty quickly on my own and I think middle grade readers will, too, and they really don't need *that* much help with it. There were also a few inconsistencies in the storyline (or maybe I was just not interested enough to remember any explanations that were somewhere given to sort things out?); for example, the biologists have trouble getting close enough to tag the whale so they can track his movements, but then Iris is somehow...tracking his movements through an app on her phone? Um, what? Anyway, sweet idea, but not super-well carried out, as it seems to me.

Hi Amber! I appreciated you visiting my thread. Yours is zipping along so I found myself lagging behind unable to catch up. Hope you have a nice weekend! I'm not very talkative at the moment, but I will be visiting your thread.

>259 EllaTim: Good to see you here! No worries about staying caught up - just stop by and wave when you can!

Today's Agenda:
We've had pancakes (with chocolate chips in for Charlie) for breakfast and now I'm going to give myself some pajama and coffee and LT time before getting into the rest of the day. House cleaning, laundry, maybe some sewing (which didn't happen yesterday because by the time I finished everything else my wrist was hurting so I spent the afternoon with my brace on), and hopefully some reading for the rest of the day, then. Mujaddara for dinner tonight.

On the reading front:
I read another chunk of Gardens of the Moon yesterday and, as I hinted to Joe above, I think I'm going to call it quits. Mini-dnf-review to come. I also started Upon the Head of a Goat last night.

What We're Watching:
We finished Agents of Shield last night. Whoa. That series finale was WILD. Slightly confusing (time travel is involved and the results are a little eye-crossing, but interesting and fun), but very good. (I mean, Joss Whedon wrote it, so of course it was good.) It took me about a season and a half to get into the show, but now here at the end I'm so sad it's over.

>261 scaifea: Are you sure those chocolate chip pancakes were just for Charlie? Sounds delicious either way.

Cleaning day solidarity first bump.

Glad to hear you ended up enjoying SHIELD. Agent Carter or WandaVision next? ;)

>262 MickyFine: Ha! Both Charlie and Tomm like chocolate chips in their pancakes, but I leave them out of mine. I feel that they hinder the soaking up of tons of butter (or peanut butter, depending on my mood) and syrup, which is the true meaning of pancakes anyway.

*return fist bump* I just finished up my part of the cleaning duties for the day - woot!

As far as what's next, Shield was Tomm's pick, so he'll probably choose the next Marvel series (although I may try to influence him toward Jessica Jones because I've been wanted to see Tennant in that for ages).

The new thread is up:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/329573