karenmarie: a new normal with lots of books - IX

Welcome to my ninth thread of Twenty Twenty-one.

The Good: Books, family, friends, kitties, in constantly-rotating order. Jenna’s settled in Asheville. Some pleasure in watching some of the Olympics. Looking forward to the fall.

The Bad: The Delta Variant and the reversion to lockdown mentality. Just when I was getting comfortable socializing again, too. I am livid that there are so many folks who won’t get vaccinated. And Mother Nature taking one of her first large whacks at us with the results of climate change. This won’t be the last one, either.

The Ugly: The Gang of Psychos. The erasing of the insurrection from their memories.

I still love being retired, and am beyond grateful that I don’t have to venture out to work to earn a living ever again. I’ve paid my dues. Every day I don’t have to get up to an alarm is a cause for celebration.

I read and am a charter member of the Redbud and Beyond Book Club, started in 1997. We haven’t met since March of last year, met July 11th and decided to ramp back up in September. However, that may a no-go now. I am President for our local Friends of the Library (henceforth abbreviated FoL). The Board met in person in June and July and I’m already anticipating that our next meeting, in September, will have to be via GoToMeeting again. Our August 7th book sale was cancelled two days ago. We're now having an email vote to decide whether to cancel the September sale. How things have changed – not for the good! – in 2 weeks.

I have been married to Bill for 30 years and am mother to Jenna, who just turned 28. Bill and I live in our own little corner of paradise on 8 acres in central North Carolina USA.

We have three kitties. Current pictures of all three. L to R: Inara - 14, Zoe - 3, Wash – almost 2.



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No theme for pictures although I do like posting ones of family members. I’ve been thinking about my maternal great-grandmother recently, and my uncle just sent this picture of the six sisters. There were also 3 brothers. The sisters with their birthdates in parentheses are Mary (1874), Libbie (1892), Otilie (1884), Emma (1877), Agnes (1881), and Frances (1875). My great-grandmother is Agnes, 5th from the left. My guess is that this picture was taken in the 1920s, but I’m not sure.



My goal last year was 100 books and I exceeded it by 24. This year’s goal will be 100 again. It’s a good goal, not too stressful and not too comfortable. No page goal, just tracking. I seem to read around 30000 pages per year and surpassed that too, last year, by 3,869 pages.

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I finished up my personal Nero Wolfe challenge, reading all 47 starting last April. I’m toying with the idea of reading all the Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple books by Agatha Christie.

New this year: With Julia’s blessing, I’ve taken over the Dick Francis Shared Read, now in its 3rd year. Here’s the link: Third Race at the LT Racetrack: a Dick Francis SHARED Read.

Every year I buy a new Lett’s Week to View Desk Diary. The first thing I do when I get it is to put in my name, address, phone number, and email address in case it needs to be returned to me, although it hasn’t gone out of the house since a meeting at the Library in February. Next, I transfer my voter registration card from last year’s to this year’s diary. I then write “God does not make bargains, but She does dispense grace.” across the top of the left inside front cover. Finally, I print out and tape in the two following quotes. The first I think I found in an old Ann Landers column and I don’t remember where I found the second one. But I’ve had both for decades and read them often.

On This Day

Mend a quarrel.
Search out a forgotten friend.
Dismiss a suspicion and replace it with trust.
Write a letter to someone who misses you.
Encourage a youth who has lost faith.
Keep a promise.
Forget an old grudge.
Examine your demands on others and vow to reduce them.
Fight for a principle.
Express your gratitude.
Overcome an old fear.
Take two minutes to appreciate the beauty of nature.
Tell someone you love them.
Tell them again,
And again,
And again.

**********

Whatever you do, death occurs. But if you have lived with a sense of reality and gratitude towards life, then you can leave the dignity of your life behind you, so that your relatives, your friends, and your children can appreciate who you were.

**********
2021 – a new normal with lots of books.

books read

January
1. Washington's Farewell Address and Webster's Bunker Hill Orations, Introduction and Notes by William T. Peck 1/8/21 1/9/21 172 pages hardcover
2. Banker by Dick Francis 1/3/21 1/12/21 303 pages mass market paperback
3. Christmas Beau by Mary Balogh 1/16/21 1/18/21 224 pages mass market paperback
4. If Death Ever Slept by Rex Stout 1/22/21 1/25/21186 pages hardcover
5. The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths 1/25/21 1/28/21 342 pages hardcover
6. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn 1/29/21 1/30/21 438 pages trade paperback
7. The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths 1/28/21 2/2/21 352 pages hardcover, Kindle

February
8. The Distant Echo by Val McDermid 2/5/21 2/10/21 450 pages mass market paperback
9. Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo 2/11/21 2/12/21 353 pages trade paperback
10. Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn 1/15/21 2/15/21 373 pages hardcover
11. And Four to Go by Rex Stout 2/13/21 2/16/21 150 pages mass market paperback
12. A Promised Land by Barack Obama 11/20/20 2/17/2021 701 pages hardcover
13. Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo 2/17/21 2/19/21 322 pages trade paperback
14. We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper 2/19/21 2/23/21 433 pages trade paperback
15. The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths 2/23/21 2/26/21 359 pages hardcover
16. A Wealth of Pigeons by Harry Bliss and Steve Martin 11/25/20 2/28/21 272 pages hardcover

March
17. A Darker Domain by Val McDermid 2/26/21 3/4/21 404 pages mass market paperback
18. Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz 3/4/21 3/7/21 417 pages hardcover
19. The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly 3/7/2021 3/9/21 421 pages hardcover
20. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman 3/9/21 3/9/21 59 pages hardcover
21. Little Black Sambo and the Baby Elephant by Frank Ver Beck 3/9/21 3/9/21 57 pages hardcover
22. Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo 3/9/21 3/12/21 302 pages trade paperback
23. The Skeleton Road 3/12/21 3/17/21 404 pages hardcover
24. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 3/18/21 3/21/21 351 pages hardcover
25. Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron 3/22/21 3/23/21 261 pages hardcover
26. Southern Discomfort 3/23/21 3/27/21 241 pages hardcover
27. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 10/18/20 3/29/21 audiobook 20 hours
28. Win by Harlan Coben 3/28/21 3/29/21 371 pages hardcover
**abandoned Murder At the 42nd Street Library by Con Lehane 65 pages
29. Odds Against by Dick Francis Francis 3/30/31 3/31/21309 pages mass market paperback

April
30. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E.Schwab 3/30/21 4/5/21 444 pages hardcover
31. Fup by Jim Dodge 4/5/21 4/6/21 51 pages trade paperback 1983
**abandoned Our Tragic Universe by Scarlett Thomas 56 pages
32. Champagne for One by Rex Stout 4/9/21 4/10/21 205 pages mass market paperback
33. Plot it Yourself by Rex Stout 4/11/21 4/12/21 132 pages hardcover
34. Life of Pi by Yann Martel 4/12/21 4/15/21 325 pages trade paperback
35. Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar 4/16/21 201 pages hardcover
36. Three at Wolfe's Door by Rex Stout 4/18/21 4/19/21 184 pages hardcover
37. Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman 4/19/21 4/20/21 355 pages trade paperback
38. Too Many Clients by Rex Stout 4/20/21 4/22/21 188 pages mass market paperback
39. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell 4/22/21 4/24/21 340 pages hardcover
**abandoned What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris 186 pages read
**abandoned North Carolina as a Civil War Battleground 1861-1865 by John Gilchrist Barrett 71 pages read, rest missing

May
40. An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine 4/29/21 5/2/21 291 pages trade paperback
41. The Final Deduction by Rex Stout 5/3/21 5/5/21 188 pages mass market paperback
42. Out of Bounds by Val McDermid 5/5/21 5/7/21 421 pages trade paperback
43. The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks 5/8/21 5/13/21 418 pages hardcover
44. Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller 5/13/21 5/17/21 350 pages hardcover
45. Homicide Trinity by Rex Stout 5/18/21 5/19/21 205 pages mass market paperback
46. North Carolina as a Civil War Battleground 1861-1865 by John Gilchrist Barrett 4/30/21 5/20/21 99 pages trade paperback
47. Out of Bounds by Val McDermid 5/21/21 5/24/21 419 pages trade paperback
**abandoned yet again - sigh - Emma by Jane Austen 69 pages
48. Gambit by Rex Stout 5/25/21 5/26/21 206 pages Kindle
49. Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard 5/24/21 5/29/21 295 pages hardcover

June
50. Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben 6/1/21 6/2/21 347 pages hardcover
51. The Mother Hunt by Rex Stout 6/2/21 6/4/21 213 pages mass market paperback
**abandoned Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots 150 pages
52. Still Life by Val McDermid 6/4/21 6/7/21 434 pages hardcover
53. Last Seen Wearing by Hillary Waugh 6/7/21 6/9/21 214 pages trade paperback
54. Case Pending by Dell Shannon 6/9/21 6/12/21 215 pages trade paperback
**abandoned Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 39 pages
**abandoned Archaeology From Space by Sarak Parcak 25 pages
**abandoned Moby Dick by Herman Melville 93 pages
55. Trio for Blunt Instruments by Rex Stout 6/12/21 6/13/21 200 pages mass market paperback
56. A Right to Die by Rex Stout 6/13/21 6/15/21 194 pages mass market paperback
57. The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout 6/16/21 6/17/21 207 pages hardcover
58. Death of a Doxy by Rex Stout 6/18/21 6/19/21 155 pages mass market paperback
59. The Father Hunt by Rex Stout 6/19/21 6/20/21 182 pages hardcover 1968
60. Bonecrack by Dick Francis 6/14/21 6/20/21 240 pages mass market paperback
61. Death of a Dude by Rex Stout 6/20/21 6/26/21 200 pages mass market paperback
62. Please Pass the Guilt by Rex Stout 6/26/21 6/27/21 168 pages mass market paperback
63. A Family Affair by Rex Stout 6/27/21 6/29/21 167 pages mass market paperback
64. Death Times Three by Rex Stout 6/29/21 6/30/21 243 pages trade paperback
**abandoned The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich 58 pages

July
65. The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers 7/2/21 7/7/21 307 pages hardcover
66. Archie Meets Nero Wolfe by Robert Goldsborough 7/7/21 7/9/21 223 pages trade paperback
67. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 7/9/21 7/11/21 304 pages hardcover
68. Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit 7/2/21 7/11/21 154 pages trade paperback
69. A Promise of Spring by Mary Balogh 7/13/21 7/15/21 183 pages mass market paperback
70. Night Film by Marisha Pessl 7/17/21 7/24/21 599 pages hardcover
**abandoned The River Between Us by Liz Fenwick 103 pages
71. Ties That Bound: Founding First Ladies and Slaves by Mary Jenkins Schwartz 7/11/21 7/30/21 356 pages hardcover

August
72. Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley 7/25/21 8/1/21 301 pages trade paperback
73. The Stranger Times by C.K. McDonnell 8/2/21 8/6/21
74. Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz 8/6/21 8/15/21 603 pages hardcover
75. Three Doors to Death by Rex Stout 8/16/21 8/17/21 136 pages hardcover
76. Hot Money by Dick Francis 8/17/21 8/18/21 423 pages mass market paperback
77. Topper by Thorne Smith 8/19/21 8/22/21 218 pages trade paperback Kindle
78. The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi 8/15/21 8/25/21 2020 289 pages hardcover

Currently Reading:

Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard 8/26/21 304 pages hardcover 2012
Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton 8/25/21 349 pages hardcover 2021
The Barrakee Mystery:The Lure of the Bush by Arthur W. Upfield 224 pages trade paperback Kindle 1929
American Indians by William T. Hagan 8/6/21 212 pages trade paperback 1961
Religious Literacy by Stephen Prothero 5/5/21 244 pages hardcover 2007
Cumin, Camels, and Caravans by Gary Paul Nabhan 276 pages hardcover 2014 - Sandy McPherson
White Trash by Nancy Isenberg 11/9/20 321 pages trade paperback 2016
The Source by James Michener 10/1/20 909 pages hardcover 1965

books added - 2020 was the great conjunction of adds and culls, both at 128. Keeping the adds down will probably be as easy as it was last year because of the pandemic - no Friends of the Library book sales and no trips to used book stores and thrift shops.

**I spoke too soon - a FoL book donation with me getting first dibs has put me in the hole already.**

00. Friend Jessica - Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein. Given in December, but it offsets the first cull, below, so they're in the 00. black hole.
1. Amazon - Twice Shy by Dick Francis
2. ER - Sergeant Salinger by Jerone Charyn
3. Amazon - The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian Mortimer
4. Amazon - A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders
5. FoL member Marian - In the Morning I'll Be Gone by Adrian McKinty
6. FoL member Marian - The Cold Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty
7. FoL member Marian - I Hear the Sirens in the Street by Adrian McKinty
8. FoL member Marian - Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly by Adrian McKinty
9. FoL member Marian - Rain Dogs by Adrian McKinty
10. FoL member Marian - Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty
11. FoL member Marian - The Death of a Joyce Scholar by Bartholomew Gill
12. FoL member Marian - Counterparts by Gonzalo Lira
13. FoL member Marian - The Hellfire Club by Jake Tapper
14. FoL member Marian - Lost Light by Michael Connelly
15. FoL member Marian - Echo Park by Michael Connelly
16. FoL member Marian - The Overlook by Michael Connelly
17. FoL member Marian - The Reversal by Michael Connelly
18. FoL member Marian - Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly
19. FoL member Marian - City of Bones by Michael Connelly
20. FoL member Marian - All Saints by Karen Palmer
21. FoL member Marian - Ripley Under Water by Patricia Highsmith
22. FoL member Marian - The Drop by Michael Connelly
23. FoL member Marian - The Dark Winter by David Mark
24. FoL member Marian - The Last Four Days of Paddy Buckley by Jeremy Massey
25. FoL member Marian - Fair Warning by Michael Connelly
26. FoL member Marian - Reversible Errors by Scott Turow
27. FoL member Marian - Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly
28. FoL member Marian - The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
29. FoL member Marian - Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane
30. FoL member Marian - Death Descends on Saturn Villa by M.R.C. Kasasian
31. FoL member Marian - The naive & Sentimental Lover by John Le Carre
32. FoL member Marian - The Professionals by Owen Laukkanen
33. FoL member Marian - The Widow by Fiona Barton
34. FoL member Marian - The Looking Glass War by John Le Carre
35. FoL member Marian - The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carre
36. FoL member Marian - Dead I Well May Be by Adrian McKinty
37. FoL member Marian - The Chain by Adrian McKinty
38. FoL member Marian - The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
39. Amazon - The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
40. Kindle - The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
41. Kindle - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos
42. Kindle - Legion by Brandon Sanderson
43. Mark - We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper
44. Kindle - Medieval People by Eileen Edna Power - saw it on Mamie's thread
45. Amazon - Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz
46. Kindle - The Chronicles of Barsetshire by Anthony Trollope - recommended by lauralkeet
47. Amazon - The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
48. Kindle - Theresa Marchmont or, the Maid of Honour by Mrs. Gore9
February
49. Amazon - Deacon King Kong by James McBride
50. friend Karen - the President's Shadow by Brad Meltzer
51. friend Louise - Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
52. FoL member Marian - Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo
53. FoL member Marian - Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo
54. FoL member Marian - Gone Missing by Linda Castillo
55. FoL member Marian - Her Last Breath by Linda Castillo
56. FoL member Marian - The Dead Will Tell by Linda Castillo
57. FoL member Marian - After the Storm by Linda Castillo
58. FoL member Marian - Among the Wicked by Linda Castillo
59. FoL member Marian - Down a Dark Road by Linda Castillo
60. FoL member Marian - Shamed by Linda Castillo
61. Amazon - Cumin, Camels, and Carabans by Gary Paul Nabhan
62. Amazon - Drive Your Plows Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
63. Amazon - A Darker Domain by Val McDermid
64. Kindle - My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due

March
65. friend Jan - Remains of Innocence by J.A. Jance
66. friend Jan - Dead Wrong by J.A. Jance
67. Kindle - The Decameron by Giovanni Boccacio
68. Circle City Books - Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron
69. Amazon - The Skeleton Road by Val McDermid
70. Amazon - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
71. Amazon - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
72. Amazon - Win by Harlan Coben
73. Kindle - Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth
74. Sanford book store - Shooting at Loons by Margaret Maron
75. Sanford book store - Death's Half Acre by Margaret Maron
76. friend Pam Dennis - A Very English Scandal by John Preston
77. friend Pam Dennis - The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell

April
78. Amazon - Too Many Clients by Rex Stout
79. Amazon - Refusal by Felix Felix Francis
80. Amazon - The Survivors - Jane Harper
81. Amazon - Blue Nights by Joan Didion
82. Amazon - e.e. cumming: the Growth of a Writer by Norman Friedman
83. found on my shelves - don't know how I acquired it - Defending Jacob by William Landay
84. Kindle - Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham
85. Amazon - What Angels Fear by C. S. Harris
86. Amazon - The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
87. Amazon - Out of Bounds by Val McDermid
88. Thrift Shop - The Golem of Hollywood by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman
89. Thrift Shop - Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart
90. Thrift Shop - Beneath the Skin by Nicci French
91. Thrift Shop - Land of the Living by Nicci French
92. Thrift Shop - The Crocodile Bird by Ruth Rendell
93. Thrift Shop - A Visit from the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan
94. Thrift Shop - Wait Wait... I'm Not Done Yet! by Carl Kasell
95. Amazon - The Final Deduction by Rex Stout

May
96. Amazon - Homicide Trinity by Rex Stout
97. Amazon - Blind Justice by Bruce Alexander
98. Amazon - Nomadland by Jessica Bruder
99. Amazon - The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson
100. Amazon - Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
101. Thrift Shop - The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel
102. Thrift Shop - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
103. Thrift Shop - The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
104. Thrift Shop - Frederica by Georgette Heyer
105. Library of Congress Shop - Last Seen Wearing by Hillary Waugh
106. Library of Congress Shop - The Silent Bullet by Arthur B. Reeve

rather than renumbering from January and February,

107. Amazon - Archaeology From Space by Sarah Parcak
108. friend Roni - Dangerous Visions by Harlan Ellison

109. Kindle - A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby: A Multi-Cultural Historical Regency Romance by Vanessa Riley
110. Amazon - Train by Pete Dexter
111. Amazon - Broken Ground by Val McDermid
112. Amazon - North Carolina as a Civil War Battleground 1861-1865 by John Gilchrist Barrett - replacement for copy that mysteriously stopped at page 71 and culled
113. Kindle - The Jungle by Sinclair Lewis - Mark
114. Thrift Shop - Crisis by Felix Francis
115. Thrift Shop - Later by Stephen King
116. Friends donations reject - The Beat Book: Writings from the Beat Generation edited by Anne Waldman
117. Friends donations reject - Adventures in American Literature 1952
118. Kindle - Gambit by Rex Stout
119. Amazon - The Children of Pride by Robert Manson Myers
120. Thrift Shop - Parade's End by Ford Madox Ford
121. Thrift Shop - More Letters from Pemberly by Jane Dawkins
122. Thrift Shop - Rituals of the Season by Margaret Maron
123. Thrift Shop - Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow
124. Thrift Shop - Theodore Roosevelt by Nathan Miller
125. Amazon - Still Life by Val McDermid
126. Kindle - Virginia Woolf: The Complete Works

June
127. Friend Jessica - The Love Girl and the Innocent: Victory Celebrations. Prisoners by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
128. Thrift Shop - Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
129. Thrift Shop - The Parrots by Filippo Bologna
130. Amazon - A Right to Die by Rex Stout
131. Amazon - Death Times Three by Rex Stout
132. ER - The Hawaiian Romance of Laieikawai by S.N. Hale'ole
133. Amazon - The Dead Letter by Seeley Regester
134. Amazon - I Am I Am I Am by Maggie O'Farrell
135 - 137. Kindle - first three Miss Silver mysteries by Patricia Wentworth - Grey Mask, The Case is Closed, Lonesome Road
138. Univ of Chicago Press - The Daily Jane Austen: A Year of Quotes by Jane Austen
139. Univ of Chicago Press - Socrates and the Fat Rabbis by Daniel Boyarin
140. Amazon - 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed: Revised and Updated by Eric H. Cline
141. Univ of Chicago Press - Knossos and the Prophets of Modernism by Cathy Gere
142. Univ of Chicago Press - American Indians: Fourth Edition (The Chicago History of American Civilization) by William T. Hagan
143. Univ of Chicago Press - Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things by Lafcadio Hearn
144. Amazon - The Royal Wulff Murders by Keith McCafferty
145. Univ of Chicago Press - Rattling Spears: A History of Indigenous Australian Art by Ian McLean
146. Univ of Chicago Press - Who Freed the Slaves?: The Fight over the Thirteenth Amendment by Leonard L. Richards
147. Univ of Chicago Press - Ties That Bound: Founding First Ladies and Slaves by Marie Jenkins Schwartz
148. Univ of Chicago Press - A Village with My Name: A Family History of China's Opening to the World by Scott Tong
149. Univ of Chicago Press - The Thousand-Year Flood: The Ohio-Mississippi Disaster of 1937 by David Welky
150. Amazon - The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness by Simon Wiesenthal
151. Amazon - Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
152. Friend Tamsie - The Elements of a Home by Amy Azzarito
153. Friend Tamsie - Midland Club by Mark Spano
154. Friend Tamsie - Cats Cats Cats edited by S. Gross
155. Friend Tamsie - Dead Feminists: Historic Heroines in Living Color by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring
156. friend Tamsie - White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
157. book sale room reject - Unger's Bible Dictionary by Merrill F. Unger

July
158. friend Louise - American Sherlock by Kate Winkler Dawson
159. Ann Sanders - The American Heritage Cookbook and illustrated History of American Eating & Drinking by editors, American Heritage
160. Ann Sanders - Trinity Treats: A Collection of Recipes by The Woman's Society of Christian Service
161. Ann Sanders - Aunt Bee's Delightful Desserts by Ken Beck and Jim clark
162. Ann Sanders - Eating with Etta Cookbook Holiday Recipes by Etta L. Broaddus, R.D.
163. Ann Sanders - The Williamsburg Art of Cookery or, Accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion by Mrs. Helen Bullock
164. Ann Sanders - Birds of North Carolina by Thomas Gilbert Pearson
165. Ann Sanders - Marcus Aurelius by Marcus Aurelius
166. Ann Sanders - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife of Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee by Warren Parker and Laura Dixon
167. Ann Sanders - Japanese Proverbs and traditional phrases by Jeff Hill
168. Ann Sanders - Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer
169. Ann Sanders - Guide To Ecclesiastical Birdwatching by LeRoy Koopman
170. Ann Sanders - The Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Cooking by editors, Favorite Recipes Press
171. sister Laura - The Harbinger by Jonathan Kahn
172. Amazon - Archie meets Nero Wolfe by Robert Goldsborough
173. Amazon - The Midnight Diary by Matt Haig
174. Amazon - The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker
175. Amazon - Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
176. Kindle - The Plague by Albert Camus
177. Kindle - The River Between US by Liz Fenwick
178. Kindle - Summary and Key Points of What Really Happened In Wuhan: The cover-ups, the conspiracies and the classified research by Sharri Markson - by Laurie Bunger
179. Kindle - Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

August
180. Kindle - The Stranger Times by C.K. McDonnell - jackie_k
181. Friend Karen - The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho
182. Friend Karen - Chocolate Every Day: 85 Plant-based Recipes for Cacao Treats that Support Your Health and Well-being by Bennett Coffey
183. Friend Karen - The Chatham School Affair by Thomas H. Cook
184. Friend Karen - Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt
185. Friend Karen - The Old Contemptibles by Martha Grimes
186. Friend Karen - Stories in the Stars: An Atlas of Constellations by Susanna Hislop
187. Friend Karen - The Male Brain: A Breakthrough Understanding of How Men and Boys Think by Louann Brizendine, M.D.
188. Friend Karen - The Dangerous Ladies Affair by Marcia Muller
189. Friend Karen - Four Spirits by Sena Jeter Naslund
190. Friend Karen - Seeking the South: Finding Inspired Regional Cuisines by Bob Newton
191. Friend Karen - I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider
192. Friend Karen - MAD About the Trump Era by Various
193. Friend Karen - The Agenda: Inside the Clinton White House by Bob Woodward
194. Amazon - How the South Won the War by Heather Cox Richardson
195. Amazon - The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi
196. Kindle - Topper by Thorne Smith
197. Friend Mark - The Orphan Mother by Robert Hicks
198. Kindle - The Barrakkee Mystery by Arthur Upfield
199. Kindle - This Girl for Hire by G.G. Fickling - mentioned by magicians_nephew
200. Amazon - Thus Was Adonis Murdered by Sarah Caulwell - friend Karen
201. Amazon - Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton
202. Kindle - Divine Lola: A True Story of Scandal and Celebrity by Cristina Morató

books culled - there are still quite a few books on my shelves, lurking in corners and 3 deep on the shelves, that need new homes.

00. Mi's Day by Mira Vest. Cousin Mira, published in 1947. I had two copies and gave one to my sister. I actually culled this one in December but won't go back and update 2020 statistics.

1. Lost Light by Michael Connelly - upgraded to hardcover
2. The Overlook by Michael Connelly - upgraded to hardcover
3. Echo Park by Michael Connelly - upgraded to hardcover
4. Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly - upgraded to hardcover
5. City of Bones by Michael Connelly - upgraded to hardcover
6. The Drop by Michael Connelly - upgraded to hardcover
7. The Reversal by Michael Connelly - upgraded to hardcover
8. The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly - upgraded to hardcover
9. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn - won't read any more of the series
10. Field Gray by Philip Kerr - won't read the series - for Peggy
11. For the Time Being by Annie Dillard - for Richard
12. I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming
13. The Brass Go-Between by Ross Thomas
14. Voss by Patrick White
15. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
16. Straight On Till Morning by Mary S. Lovell
17. Our Tragic Universe by Scarlett Thomas
18. Field Gray by Philip Kerr
10. Champagne for One by Rex Stout
20. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H. G. Parry
21. What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris blech
22. North Carolina as Civil War Battleground 1861-1865 by John Gilchrist Barrett - missing pages

bye-bye J.A. Vance!

23. Betrayal of Trust by J. A. Jance
24. Cold Betrayal by J. A. Jance
25. Cruel Intent by J. A. Jance
26. Day of the Dead by J. A. Jance
27. Dead Wrong by J. A. Jance
28. Deadly Stakes by J. A. Jance
29. Deadly Stakes by J. A. Jance I do not know why I had two copies. bad inventory control. *smile*
30. Failure to Appear by J. A. Jance
31. Injustice for All by J. A. Jance
32. Left for Dead by J. A. Jance
33. Partner in Crime by J. A. Jance
34. Remains of Innocence by J. A. Jance
35. Second Watch by J. A. Jance
36. Taking the Fifth by J. A. Jance
37. Trial by Fury by J. A. Jance
38. Until Proven Guilty by J. A. Jance
39. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - will never, ever read this trilogy
40. Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel - ditto
41. The Mirror & The Light by Hilary Mantel - ditto
42. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots - nope. Not my cuppa.
43. Forgiveness by Simon Wiesenthal - duplicate
44. The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich - urp. Boring.
45. We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates
46. Sheer Abandon by Penny Vincenzi
47. The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol. 1: Fort Sumter to Perryville by Shelby Foote, audiobook missing disc 7
48. The Civil War: A Narrative, Vol. 2: Fredericksburg to Meridian by Shelby Foote - don't like narrator, and because disc 8 is missing can't continue with vol 1 anyway

bye-bye Judith McNaught and Anne Rice!

49. A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
50. Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught
51. Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught
52. Once and Always by Judith McNaught
53. Someone to Watch Over Me by Judith McNaught
54. Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught
55. Until You by Judith McNaught
56. Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
57. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
58. Servant of the Bones by Anne Rice
59. The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
60. The Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice
61. The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
62. Violin by Anne Rice
63. The Capture o the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens
64. Chocolate Every Day: 85 Plant-based Recipes for Cacao Treats that Support Your Health and Well-being by Bennett Coffey - will never use and my sister is vegan
65. The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi - I don't have an overwhelming need to keep it
66. Almost a Crime by Penny Vincenzi

Statistics Through July 31

71 books read
24 of them on my shelves before 01/01/2021 and not rereads
11 books abandoned, 974 pages abandoned
20902 pages read
20 audiobook hours
Avg pages read per day, YTD = 99
Avg pages read per book, YTD = 294

Book of the month: Tie: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and Ties That Bound by Marie Jenkins Schwartz

Books By Month
January 6 books, 1665 pages
February 10 books, 3790 pages
March 13 books, 3609 pages
April 10 books, 2426 pages
May 10 books, 2894 pages
June 15 books, 3379 pages
July 7 books, 2165 pages

Author
Male 58%
Female 42%

Living 56%
Dead 44%

US Born 68%
Foreign Born 32%

Platform
Hardcover 45%
Trade Pback 24%
Mass Market 27%
Audiobook 1%
e-Book 3%

Source
My Library 86%
Library 10%
Other 4%

Misc
ARC/ER 1%
Re-read 18%
Series 58%

Fiction 89%
NonFiction 11%

New to Me Authors 26

Author Birth Country
England 15%
Germany 1%
Jordan 1%
Scotland 11%
Spain 1%
US 68%
Wales 3%

Original Decade Published
1890s 1%
1910s 1%
1920s 1%
1950s 7%
1960s 23%
1970s 4%
1980s 4%
1990s 6%
2000s 11%
2010s 24%
2020s 18%

Category
Adventure 3%
Biography 0%
Chrestomathy 0%
Contemporary Fiction 7%
Fantasy 8%
Historical Fiction 6%
Humor 1%
Informational Nonfiction 10%
Memoir 1%
Mystery 42%
Poetry 0%
Science Fiction 0%
Suspense 0%
Thriller 22%


Book Acquisition Date
2007 - Joined LT, added 1853 books 10
2008 1
2009 1
2010 1
2012 1
2016 3
2017 2
2018 8
2019 1
2020 6
2021 27
borrowed from friends 3
Library 7

Rating
2.5 - Average 1
3 - Good 6
3.5 - Very Good 17
4 - Excellent 34
4.5 - Stunning 13

3.48 - YTD Average

July’s Lightning Round

The Murderer’s Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers 7/2/21 7/7/21

One of my rare forays into contemporary fiction, this is a beautiful novel about two sisters growing up after their father murders their mother and almost kills the younger sister. Emotions ring true, characters are beautifully developed. Chapters move forward in time from 1971 to 2003, alternating between the two sisters, sometimes from the same years, other times skipping ahead quite a bit. This did not make the novel disjointed, rather it focused on what was important for this story. A jewel.

Archie Meets Nero Wolfe by Robert Goldsborough 7/7/21 7/9/21

Not bad at all, frankly. Archie is hired to provide security at the docks and kills two men within two weeks of getting hired. Although his boss appreciates what he did, he fires him. Archie hooks up with Del Bascom and immediately solves a case, and when Bascom is recruited by Wolfe on a kidnapping, brings Archie along. Reminiscent of the Lindbergh kidnapping, and actually quite well done. Wolfe, Archie, Cramer, Saul, Fred, Orrie, and Fritz all are recognizable and in keeping with the characters as written by Stout.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 7/9/21 7/11/21

Another rare foray – this time into fantasy. Nora Seed wants to die, takes an overdose of pills, and is whisked away to the Midnight Library, where the time is 00:00:00. Here she is guided by her high school Librarian, Mrs. Elm, as she tries on different versions of her life. It is always 00:00:00, until Nora has a revelation. Absolutely wonderful.

Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit 7/2/21 7/11/21

I think I’ve been a feminist ever since my parents told me in about 1961 that I could and should go to college, thus giving me a sense of self-worth and acknowledgement of my intelligence that I didn’t even realize I needed. However, in the culture of white America in the 1950s-1960s this was an outlier position. I’ve always been keenly aware of cultural assumptions and slights and male power plays against me and read much of the feminist literature of the 1960s and 1970s. I internalized my right to be the equal of any man, the right to make my own decisions about my body, and the right to manage my own life. This book has gotten me refreshed and caught up, so to speak. The only essay that I really disliked was the one about Virginia Woolf, because I simply Do Not Get Virginia Woolf and reading about her irritates me. However, even there Solnit is incisive and astute and illuminating. A very good book.

A Promise of Spring by Mary Balogh 7/13/21 7/15/21

A slow-paced and nuanced look at a marriage of convenience and how it grows through honesty and respect for the other person. Perry marries Grace after her brother dies, leaving her in a precarious situation. He does not know of her illicit relationship and child born out of wedlock. They work together to build a loving and fulfilling life. Very nicely done.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl 7/14/21 7/24/21

Engrossing and occasionally brilliant, I was totally frustrated when our hero finally tracks down filmmaker Cordova on a tiny island at the tip of South America. Cordova is going to spill the beans, and that’s where the novel ends. There are some beautifully written scenes of looming danger and terror. The mystery is intriguing. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Will I keep it on my shelves? The jury is still out.

124 books read

1 Masterpiece
19 Stunning
67 Excellent
20 Very Good
12 Good
4 Average
1 Bad
0 Very Bad
0 Don't Bother
0 Anathema

Best Fiction
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Beastly Tales From Here and There by Vikram Seth
The Standing Chandelier by Lionel Shriver
Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls

Best Nonfiction
Abraham Lincoln: Mystic Chords of Memory edited by Larry Shapiro
Dr. Seuss Goes to War by Richard H. Minear
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Top five overall for the LT Top Five Books of 2020 list:

Mrs. Caliban
How to Be an Antiracist
In the Heart of the Sea
The Standing Chandelier
Dr. Seuss Goes to War

So perfect.

Welcome one and all to the latest and greatest.

Happy new thread, Horrible dear. *smooch*

>8 karenmarie: I'll remember that one, Karen, as I might need it in statistical justification at some stage soon.

Happy new thread, dear lady.

Happy new thread.

>1 karenmarie: What a great sisters picture. Your great grandmother seems to have a different grip on things than the others, though I'm a bit partial to Libbie and Agnes. A handsome family altogether.

Third time. I've lost my posts and won't try again tonight. Maybe tomorrow!

Happy new thread, Karen!

>1 karenmarie: What a nice picture of Irina.

Happy new thread, Karen. I love the sisters photo. Did you know all (any) of them while they were alive?

>10 richardderus: Thanks, RD. *smooch*

>11 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. It just puts things in proper perspective.

>12 quondame: Thank you, Susan. I’m glad you like the Zvacek sisters.

>13 LizzieD: Sorry you were wrestling with LT and/or the Internet, Peggy.

>14 FAMeulstee: Thank you twice, Anita.

>15 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. I remember meeting Aunt Mary Zvacek Becicka when she was very old and in a convalescent home. I must have met some of the other great-grandaunts, but I don’t remember. They all lived and died in Linn County, Iowa, which, along with Johnson County, is where all my maternal relatives lived. My mother married a Nebraska man and they drove to California for their honeymoon, where I was born a year later. We visited only a few times when I was young. I don’t know why we didn’t visit more often.

…
Ah, the first sips of coffee. Heaven. I’m going to see if Moonflower Murders hits the spot as I search for my next fiction read. I finished The Stranger Times yesterday and will include it in my August Lightning Round.

Happy new thread! I love the sister pic. Mrsdrneutron and her sister have been going through their mom’s old family pics, and the stories coming out have been really interesting.

Happy new thread, Karen. I love the photo!

Morning, Karen! Happy new thread. Love the photo in your topper - I am also one of six sisters. No brothers, though.

I have already had my hot coffee, and now I have moved onto iced coffee. Still overcast here but hot and swampy outside. An excellent reason to stay in and read.

Thanks, Jim! I adore going through old family pictures, and am glad Mrsdrneutron and her sister are doing the same.

Happy new one, Karen!

From your last thread, I feel your pain about Bill's new doctor up and leaving. The Wayne had been seeing a doctor in the city as his PCP, but then with lockdown, I got him to try one at the practice I go to close to home. He really liked her (which is a miracle in itself as he usually hates all medical professionals). And then she left after a few months. *sigh* We've found another that looks like it might be a good fit and he has an appointment in a couple of weeks, but what a pain! I hope things get resolved for you and Bill with a minimum of fuss and bother.

Thanks, Katie.

And thanks for The Wayne's doctor story. Bill is quite distraught because this guy only lasted about 3 weeks and Bill had been with his previous one for 37 years. Bill can't even try my doctor because he's 64 and not accepting new patients. It will work out, it will just take time and may even involve a compromise or two on Bill's part.

Just letting you know that Beth and I were here between Jim and Katie.

The doctor thing is most annoying. Hoping Bill finds one that he likes and that sticks around for a long time.

>23 Crazymamie: I do this sometimes - see a message, start responding to it, get diverted, finish the message, post it, and forget that I should re-check the thread first. Thanks for the head's up!

>18 BLBera: Thank you, Beth!

>19 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! I'd forgotten that you're one of 6. The older I get the more I wish I had more sibs. I have one sister who I am very close to, and one brother, who stopped being in touch with me in 2010. I think I know where he is, but our number and address haven't changed since 1998 and I feel like I have to respect his desire to not be in touch, although it's rough sometimes.

Hot and swampy. Yuck. It's raining here with the possibility of severe thunderstorms, but it's only 80F. Bill and I have errands this morning, including trying to get my birthday box out of hock with the PO.

Happy new thread, Karen.

>1 karenmarie: Interesting family picture, Karen. Six sisters. Sounds like a book. My mom is one of eight, (and two brothers). They were a close family, nice.
I’m sorry about your brother.

Love the family photo up top!

This Saturday feels more like an especially Wednesday Wednesday to me...Rob can't visit (traded a day since he couldn't surf anyway today), Old Stuff's cab to take him drinking has stood him up twice and is he pissed about it!, the DRC I'm reading vanished three days early (supposed to do so on Tuesday), etc etc etc...why does their Gawd get to run the universe when she doesn't even exist?!

I'm in!

>25 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. My goodness, you have lots of aunts and uncles for sure. So glad they were close.

Yes, I’m sorry about my brother, too. Thank you.

>26 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba!

>27 richardderus: One of those everything-at-once-days, eh? I’m sorry for it. *smooch*

>28 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hiya, Larry!

…
My kitties are being hunters today, although what they’re bringing in is totally reflective of their personalities. Zoe brought in a male Cardinal, major sadness, and Wash was wrangling a …. Butterfly… when I noticed and got to the kitty door before he did.

I'm shopping for a doctor myself. Judi and I always had the same PCP, some the time we married. All but the current one left us, kind of passed us along to someone else in the practice. So we got a young person who just doesn't inspire confidence. I'm alone now, and I'm feeling I should seek out someone who I feel confident is listen to me, who is willing to explain things, and ok with giving me a whack when I'm not listening.

Ping❣️ I was here... I even read the ending of the last thread.
What's up with doctors bailing out like that? Sounds very unprofessional. Sympathy to the hubs.

I think I'm on the fourth Dr. at Kaiser. They keep moving away, which does seem to happen more with women than men, though I can't be sure as I avoid male PCPs. Mike is still with the PCP at Cedars-Sinai that we shared after my most preferred PCP quit and passed us along, but she never seemed to listen to me and kept sending me to dingbat dieticians.

I hope your Dr. gets sorted out and stable. It's such a relief when you can trust the care you're getting.

Hi Karen, I live in fear that my primary physician will retire and leave me in the lurch. I've been seeing him for over thirty years so it wouldn't be unusual but the idea of trying to find a new one is pretty terrifying so I get Bill's frustration.

>30 weird_O: Hi Bill! I wish you good luck in finding that PCP. Having someone who doesn’t inspire confidence is awful. Hey! A book title. The uninspiring doctor.

>31 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy! Thanks re the bailing doctor. Another book title...

>32 quondame: My sister has Kaiser and I can never keep track of her doctors. And they don’t talk with one another. Thanks re the stable doctor. Another book title…

>33 brenzi: I’ve had my PCP for 23 years. He’s 64, so the day will come sooner than later, I’m afraid. But until then I’ll keep chugging along. Unfortunately, he isn’t taking new patients, so Bill’s going to have to find someone else in the practice. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that your PCP doesn’t retire.

…
Got a marvelous box of books from friend Karen today. I went to the PO and showed the clerk the photo of the receipt Karen texted to me and she said that she could see it had been paid for and would call the carrier to bring it out without requiring postage due. I think they had to come back after the end of the shift, because the box didn’t arrive until 4:15 p.m. in an official PO truck, not the mail carrier's vehicle with the orange light on top.

The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho
Chocolate Every Day: 85 Plant-based Recipes for Cacao Treats that Support Your Health and Well-being by Bennett Coffey
The Chatham School Affair by Thomas H. Cook
Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt
The Old Contemptibles by Martha Grimes
Stories in the Stars: An Atlas of Constellations by Susanna Hislop
The Male Brain: A Breakthrough Understanding of How Men and Boys Think by Louann Brizendine, M.D.
The Dangerous Ladies Affair by Marcia Muller
Four Spirits by Sena Jeter Naslund
Seeking the South: Finding Inspired Regional Cuisines by Bob Newton
I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf by Grant Snider ***official birthday present***
MAD About the Trump Era by Various
The Agenda: Inside the Clinton White House by Bob Woodward

Happy new thread, Karen. Great photo up top of the sisters. Their personalities seem to shine through in the picture.

>34 karenmarie: Looks like friend Karen's box o books will keep you busy for a while!

I'm glad the book delivery situation was straightforward. It must make you wonder what was going on with the carrier on the first attempt.

Hi Karen my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend.

>35 Familyhistorian: Thank you, Meg. The 6 sisters and 3 brothers had 24 children total. There's so much I don't know about them.

Karen always sends me the most interesting books. Most of them she found at the Bozeman MT Library sales. The birthday book, I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf she bought 6 months ago just for my birthday. She also sent Archie McPhee Bacon Bandaids, some cut out cartoons, a beautiful Montana calendar, and hardcopies of the newspaper she works for.

>36 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. The carrier was, unfortunately for me, just doing her job. there were no PO labels or stickers anywhere on it, yet it had to have those to get routed properly, I would have thought. The PO came through by confirming the receipt and getting the box out to me the same day I went in. There WAS a "Postage Due $15.75" note on it, but of course I didn't have to pay it.

>37 johnsimpson: Hi John, and thank you. Sending love and hugs to you and Karen and special treats to Felix!

...
This morning I'll have the pleasure of assigning the correct user-uploaded cover to each book. If none are available, I'll scan my book's cover in and link it. I like doing this.

>38 karenmarie: It *is* satisfying, isn't it. Enjoy! And enjoy even more I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf! Great present, no?

Four Spirits slipped past me. I hope it's enjoyable as well...I liked Ahab's Wife long, long ago, so I'd expect there to be some hope for it to be a good read.

*smooch*

Hi, RD!

Yes it is. I just finished. Some I scanned, some I snipped and uploaded and some had choosable user-loaded covers. Highly gratifying.

And this is from I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf.



For some reason I couldn't get into Ahab's Wife but hope that I can do better by Four Spirits.

*smooch*

>38 karenmarie: That's 33 people, Karen. No wonder you don't know all about them. It would take a lot of tracking down of tales if they had been passed or written down.

>29 karenmarie: Oh yes. All of them married and with children, making a total of 37 nieces and nephews on that side of the family alone. Hard to keep up with. I heard a lot of their stories though.

Mrsdrneutron has 51 first cousins. Now *that’s* a fun family reunion… 😀

>41 Familyhistorian: I'll have to ask my maternal aunt what she remembers about her grandmother's siblings and children.

>42 EllaTim: 37 nieces and nephews is absolutely amazing to me, Ella. Of course it's all hard to keep up with. Whew.

>43 drneutron: And I think Mrsdrneutron wins with 51 first cousins. I can't imagine. I have 4 first cousins. I saw one of them in 2007, two of them in 2003, and the other one in the early 1960s. It sorta makes me sad, but it's just reality.

How fun to get books in the mail.

>44 karenmarie: My mother had six sisters and one brother, my father had 3 sisters and 5 brothers (one sister and one brother still alive). Large families were usual back then.
From my mothers side I had 30 first cousins, from my fathers side 26 first cousins, making a total of 56 first cousins....
Fun fact: my paternal grandfather died rather young, and all siblings named their first son after him. So on family reunions there were 8 first cousins (and an uncle) with the same name.

Morning, Karen. Happy New Thread! We are back a day early, due to weather. Details on my thread. I never opened my book once, so I hope to really hunker down with the books this week. The possibility of rain and the heat will probably keep me off the trails for the next few days too. Did no birding in WI either, other than camp-side observations.

>45 BLBera: Absolutely, Beth. And I got one yesterday, although this was from Amazon - How the South Won the War by Heather Cox Richardson.

>46 FAMeulstee: Wow, Anita. And it's interesting that you mention naming first sons after your paternal grandfather. I think I've mentioned that my husband is of Dutch ancestry on his father's side and in doing genealogical research he discovered exactly what you're reporting - sons naming their first born sons after their father. That tradition was broken by Bill's grandfather, who instead of naming his son Abram named him after himself so that Bill's dad was a Junior. Bill's also got the same name and is the III. If we'd had a son instead of a daughter he would have been IV.

>47 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and thank you. I'm sorry that you had to return early because of weather. And weather will keep you tied indoors with books back in Chicagoland, too. I bet you've got some good ones going, Warbler.

...
Coffee, quiet, books, puttering, and etc. are on the agenda for today.

>48 karenmarie: It is nice to find those names in ancestry, Karen, and to see where a new tradition starts :-)

In the long tradition of my father's family, there were two names that alternated in the paternal line since 1783: Willem and Aart. This tradition stopped with the eldest son (Aart) of my uncle (Willem; my father's eldest brother), who never got children.

Soooo, many threads that I'm behind on. But I think I'll just drop in and say hi for the moment. I hope you've been well, and hopefully I'll have time to drop in on your thread more often now that IL2 is allowing me to use the computer while he's around.

>49 FAMeulstee: it's all fascinating. Bill's family came to the US in the 1860s, I think.

>50 The_Hibernator: Rachel! So glad you came to say hi. We've been hanging in there, thank you.

>43 drneutron: 56 first cousins (or even 51)!! I have (actually "had" since many are no longer with us) 34 first cousins and thought that was a lot

I have exactly 5 first cousins. Had 6 but one died young, in her late 30s from hepatitis. I am really only close and in touch with 2 of them, one in Montreal and one lives in Alabama. My mum had only one sister and she had only one son. My dad was one of 4 kids and only 3 of them had kids. I can't even imagine so many first cousins!!

I had around 20 first cousins, nine from one paternal aunt alone. I'm the youngest, so I don't know them particularly well. I can honestly say Alzheimer's scares me so much more than it ever has now that two of the first cousins, and their mother, have all succumbed.

Well, I got today's review accomplished despite unforeseen obstacles so I feel smug.

I have exactly two first cousins - my maternal aunt's two sons. Mom's other sister didn't have any children, and my father was an only child except for 4 half-siblings, so I have some half-first cousins, but I don't know them and the less said about that side of the family the better :)

Luckily, my two cousins and I are reasonably close. They, their families, and their parents are my only family left (that I'm willing to speak to) and they all live outside Dallas.

Entering the cousin discussion ...

I have only 13 cousins. Most grew up in California but my parents moved to Ohio for my dad's job. We visited the west coast every few years but I can't say I ever got to know my cousins well.

My daughters have only 4 cousins -- 2 on each side of the family. Our generation just hasn't borne as many kids as the one before.

>48 karenmarie: If we'd had a son instead of a daughter he would have been IV.
My brother is a IV. I don't know what inspired this, as there are no other instances of it on my tree. My brother has a son but gave him his middle name instead of making him a V.

>52 RebaRelishesReading: Oh my. Just oh my.

>53 jessibud2: You’re more like I am, Shelley, with a small first-cousin family.

>54 richardderus: Another one with tons of first cousins. Glad you got your review out today. *smooch*

>55 katiekrug: I’m glad you’re reasonably close with your cousins, Katie. I wish I had relationships with my cousins.

>56 lauralkeet: Only 13 is still a good many, although geography always does familial relationships in.

Glad your brother broke the tradition and gave his son his middle name.

My husband is Frederick William but has always been called Bill. His grandfather was nicknamed Dutch, and after he passed Bill’s Dad became Dutch. Before that they were Freds. I call Bill “Fred” if I want to get his attention. *smile*

Morning, Karen. Busy day yesterday, packing away and cleaning up everything but I still managed to read a large chunk of The Last Town on Earth. I hope to do the same today but I do plan on doing a solo bird outing first, before the heat & humidity bury me.

Morning, Karen! Another hot one here today, so I am going to run my errand early. But first, another cup of coffee...

>58 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Glad you got everything cleaned and put away yet still got some good reading in. I hope you can beat the heat with an early solo birding outing.

Speaking of heat and humidity, I finally found a pair of secateurs yesterday. My favorite pair, kept in a kitchen drawer so they wouldn't get misplaced somehow got misplaced last year some time. I got logical yesterday, found the case of gardening tools inherited from my MiL, and now have a new pair of secateurs, which are going to stay in the Utility Room. Wish me luck keeping them where they belong. I used them to trim back the begonias which had overrun the path to the Sunroom door. Amazon and other delivery folks had started putting stuff on the front porch instead, which we don't like, so I thought it would be a friendly gesture to make the pathway clear again.

>59 Crazymamie: Hiya, Mamie! Oh yes to another cup of coffee! I just posted on your thread regarding the great OCD grocery bagging/little old lady adventure.

Your swamp-like conditions beat my swamp-like conditions, and you have my sympathy. I will probably go grocery shopping today and endure the incorrect bagging.

Good luck with not losing the secateurs. (I learned a new word because I had to look up what they are - BONUS)

Never a dull moment in the Deep South. Heh. Sending you good mojo for your grocery shopping adventures.

Isn't it fun to learn new words? I like this word and like saying it out loud, too. se-ca-TURS.

Never a dull moment here in the mid-Atlantic, either. Thanks for the good mojo. So far my shopping list has three things on it - regular and golden raisins, and bleach. Pretty exciting, isn't it?

Seca...whatnow? You mean "garden scissors"? Fancy-schmancy way to call 'em, n'est-ce pas?

This from the man who gives me new words at least twice a month...

Yes. It is fancy-schmancy. I like saying the word. But pruning shears, garden scissors, etc. work too.

*smooch*

edited to add:
Apparently the compressor on the HVAC does not need to be replaced. Something about a wire... so we were only charged $200 for the labor to figure that out.

What gets me is that the guys who came out today flat out told us that the guy who came out to service the units and originally diagnosed the problem is either a trainee or with less technical knowledge than they have. It would have been fantastic if we hadn't had to go through the stress and upset. It would have been nice if someone who actually knew what he was doing came out the first time. Harrumph.

Yeah, that would have saved a lot of grief. I've called in a few service requests since I moved in and I'm always glad when some crotchety old fart climbs out of the truck, rather than a kid.

Well, at least it's not going to cost anywhere near what you at first thought!

>60 karenmarie: secateurs. Straight to Google when I read that word. Never heard it before -- and thanks for adding the pronunciation. I may never use it but it's still good to know how to say it.

>64 karenmarie: As frustrating as that is, the results (as >65 SomeGuyInVirginia: notes) are significantly less costly than expected.

Yay!

>65 SomeGuyInVirginia: Oh yes, old farts are preferable. $200 is sort of reasonable, yes.

>66 RebaRelishesReading: You're welcome, Reba!

>67 richardderus: It's one thing down, for sure.

The new thing is that the doctor's office didn't submit the pre-approval for hyaluronic acid shots to my insurance and rather than be a cynic and check up that it had been submitted, I sat around like a little girl and waited to hear back. I've got the ball rolling today, though, both with the insurance and with the doctor's office once I was able to speak with a human being.

This is the week of dealing with incompetency...

edited to add:*** Doctor and insurance worked together, amazing, and I'm approved. First injection is Thursday.

>64 karenmarie: Well, a $200 wire sounds pretty fierce to me, but I'm glad that extensive repairs weren't needed!

Hi, Karen!

As to first cousins, I had 27 in all, and have now lost 6 for various reasons. As an only child, I've been close to them and cherished them.
Speaking of genealogy, what my DH found going way back into his family tree was not only first-born sons with their fathers' names, but parents naming the next child the same as a child who had died. Now that can be really confusing!

STILL reading *P&P* and waiting for those *5 Stones*!

>69 LizzieD: I'm an only child too but great up in California while the other cousins were in Indiana (except one family in St. Louis) so I'm not terribly close to most of them. Some came to live in CA for a while as young adults and I do feel close to them.

Yep, the naming a new baby for one who died is really confusing for later generations trying to create a family tree. I also had an ancestor who married two women named "Martha" (sequentially, not at the same time lol). That makes for some confusion too.

>69 LizzieD: Hi Peggy.

$200 is less than $1600 which is less than $2800. Frankly, it's not worth fighting because if we get on their pain-in-the-ass-customers list we'll suffer in the future. Cynical? Sure. Realistic? Also sure.

27 is a very respectable number of first cousins.

Bill discovered that in his researches, too - naming a second child the same name as one who died.

Go P&P! I hope 5 Stones arrives soon.

>70 RebaRelishesReading: The joys of genealogy. 🙄

>71 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, although it is a lot of money $200 for a loose wire that should have been found in the first place instead of the trauma of being quoted ridiculous amounts of money, it is a good result. I agree with you about not fighting them, as you say, you don't want to get on the wrong side of them and being known as awkward customers.

Sending love and hugs dear friend.

>60 karenmarie: >61 Crazymamie: Me too. Pruners they are here in the west.

My dad was the oldest of three boys. His parents had a fourth boy who died at birth. The family lore is that my grandmother polled the neighbors during her pregnancy for a name. Buford Solomon Hylton. And everyone said the name killed him.

Cousins. Hm. Six in all, two of whom are already gone. And only one nephew. We are withering on the vine here.

>74 weird_O: - Oh my. I hope the neighbours who came up with that, repented....

I love the word secateurs so thank you for using it. And I am really glad you got yourself a new pair. We only have one at the moment, although I swear we used to have two and I feel like it wouldn't be a bad idea to buy another both as backup and for "his and hers gardening".

>72 johnsimpson: Hi John! Being awkward customers might mean opportunities for lax customer service, so we feel like we've nipped that in the bud.

Sending love and hugs to you and Karen and kitty skritches to Felix the Cat.

>73 quondame: I think I called them pruning shears until I learned the word secateurs.

>74 weird_O: That is a most unusual name, Bill. Proof that committee decisions rarely work out well.

>75 ffortsa: We’re withering on the vine here, too, Judy. I don’t envision Jenna ever having children although she may surprise me.

>76 jessibud2: I agree, Shelley.

>77 lauralkeet: You’re welcome, Laura. These were hiding in the garage, probably since about 2011, but they’re in perfect shape. I still want to find my good red ones. They may show up now just to spite me. I think you deserve a second pair for her and his gardening.

>78 karenmarie: Well Karen, our wedding anniversary is this month. What year is the secateurs anniversary?!

Happy anniversary month, Laura. I think the secateurs anniversary is the PA-VA move anniversary, so you're in luck! And would you believe it? I just found this: Top 13 Best Secateurs of 2021

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. I did venture out yesterday and managed to beat most of the intense heat that covered our area like a wool blanket. I was hoping to add a couple of Lifers but with the rain we had on Monday night, those certain shorebirds had relocated. This is the second time I have struck out with the ruddy turnstone at this location. Hanging with the books today.

Thanks. I did not know what "secateurs" were?

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you. Sorry about not getting any Lifers. I don't suppose this counts on your Life list? *smile*



...
edited to add: A friend of mine is married to a man who won't get the vaccine. Yes, he's one of those people. Irrational and so far to the right that he's out of the frame. She just shared this with me - it's a riot.

How to Get Republicans Vaccinated

Hodja dew, Horrible. I'm pleased as punch that my review for today's already had the publisher crooning at me.

I like those days!

Be caffeinated, cool, contented, and overbooked.

>80 karenmarie: Can I chime in? Morning all! I’ve gone through masses of secatuers in my lifetime and even used to collect the antique versions. The only kind I buy anymore is the ones with the simple latch lock like the Kent & Stowe version

https://www.pricerunner.com/test/secateurs

I’ve found other lock mechanisms fail, become difficult, or are just clumsy to use.
Just my 2 pence.

Secatuer is a new word to me, too.

>82 karenmarie: Great laugh! Thank you!

Oh oh oh! I knew what secatuers were, teacher! *insufferable smirk* When I was a kid living in Germany I read an English book on Greek mythology, and Atropos cut the thread of life with her secatuers. I even remember looking the word up and filing the definition away in my head as 'big scissors'.

>83 richardderus: Hiya, RDear. Congrats on your review.

I’m caffeinated, overheated, somewhat irritated, and underbooked. I just got back from running errands – PO, pharmacy, grocery store – in 91F/100F heat index weather. Just finished putting all the refrigerator stuff up, have consumed cold water, and am going to sit for a while.

>84 2wonderY: Of course you can chime in, Ruth! Thanks for the secateurs expertise. Antique ones, too? I’m impressed.

>85 streamsong: Live and learn, eh, Janet? And re >82 karenmarie:, you’re welcome.

>86 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hi Larry! You get a gold star.

It's 93° heat index here, and I just stumbled back in from *walking* to the CVS to use my 25% off $25 coupon that expires at 5pm. It was worth it, though, Rob's young cousin Jacky and I bumped into each other! Sweet kid. Kid, hah, he's 34.

Yuck weather, glad you got to use your coupon and meet up with Rob's cousin Jacky.

*smooch*

Oh, I wouldn't want you on the Ignore List, Karen..... just saying.......

>74 weird_O: Hilarious! Sad at the time, too. (I think the following is funny, so I have to tell it again. Our nephew liked it so much that he used the line too.) When we were younger, we would sometimes be questioned by crass people who demanded to know why we didn't have children. If they kept on after a polite, "Why do you want to know?" I'd say, "We believe in giving family names. That would mean that our first-born son would have to be Spurgeon Sturgeon McLizzie. We just can't risk it." That did the trick most of the time.

>80 karenmarie: LOL thanks Karen!

>90 LizzieD: Hi Peggy!

That's a great explanation. Too bad you actually had to use it.

>91 lauralkeet: You're very welcome, Laura.

So after finishing The Dictionary of Lost Words I went through my libraries web site to the OED and needing a word to look up used "secateurs", a word that did not make it into the first edition. I love the extra info on the side.

I'm amazed at all the interest in secateurs. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face, Susan.

>94 karenmarie: We should all be tending our gardens, eh Candide?

Even more so now in these polarized, pandemic, and panicky times, Ruth.

>82 karenmarie: Yep, that is my ruddy turnstone, a bird that has evaded me twice so far. Birders have to be patient though. No, I can't count the photo. Grins...

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. Once again, the heat is keeping me from the trails. I do have a library run to make and then I have to pick up a bookshelf for Bree's nursery. You know that whole phrase is music to my ears. B.A.G.

'Morning, Mark! A very sweet Thursday to you, especially with such a wonderful errand to run.

I just finished cleaning the suet feeder and put out a hot pepper suet cake. We will see. 🤞 A hummingbird came by just before I put the feeder back out and now 5 minutes after I put it back out I've already had 3 hummingbird visitors and I see one in the Crepe Myrtle. Joy. I've had to bring it in at night because I think the raccoons are getting it. Cardinals and finches are visiting right now.

...
I'm going for the first of three hyaluronic acid injections in my right knee today, one each on subsequent Wednesdays. It's FDA-approved for osteoarthritis of the knee, and the next step since my knee got so bad this spring.

Hi Horrible, an although it sounds weird to say this, "have a good injection today" is a valid sentiment in the moment we find ourselves.

*smooch*

Thanks, RD! I did have a good injection today, although he hit a vein and I got 2 bandaids instead of one. However, this gives me the opportunity to use an Archie McPhee bacon bandaid...

edited to add: I came downstairs from a nap a while ago and asked Bill what the outside temp was. It was 100F, and although the heat index number on the weather station said 122F, Bill said it was probably ONLY 114F or so.

Blech.

Fingers crossed that the injections help, Karen. And ooof to the heat - we got close to that index yesterday here. Gross.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. I hope the knee injection gives you some relief. I am meeting a birding buddy a little later to look for shorebirds. These early migrants are a hot commodity in August and I need all the practice I can get. These buggers are tough to ID.

>101 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. There are three injections total, a week apart. He said I might feel some relief as soon as a week from now, but I'm sending healing energy and positive thoughts to my knee, and orders to start using the hyaluronic acid right away. *smile* These heat waves gross, and it looks like a 97F day with triple-digit heat index again. Thank goodness I don't have to go outside.

>102 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and a very happy Friday to you, too. Thanks re the injection. Good luck with your shore birds.

...
And as much as I love my husband of 30 years, I'm glad he went to work today so I can be alone in the house. I need to pay 3 Friends of the Library bills. Our Treasurer had emergency shoulder surgery, got a staph infection, and is on her 2nd of 4 weeks of at-home 3x-day antibiotic infusions. The work is not onerous, and we can easily catch her back up when she's better. And I'm going to read, and I'm going to putter.

Oi, staph infections following surgery are becoming more and more common.

All positive energy to the knee!

>103 karenmarie: I empathize with the treasurer. I got MRSA in 2003 after the toe-sectioning. Cipro is a beast! Years of colchicine and allopurinol did dirt to my digestion, then Cipro...well, eating 2lb of fresh yogurt w/o sugar every three days ain't fun but it *does* restore the gut biome when added to lots and lots of beneficial-microbe pills, too.

>104 SomeGuyInVirginia: Hiya, Larry! Thank you.

>105 richardderus: Weezie's no spring chicken - she's 81 - and she feels like she's only 65% of her normal self, after all that's gone on.

My FiL had MRSA and the protocols to get him over it were rigid and onerous but necessary. Yikes. Your MRSA saga sounds awful, too. 2 lbs of fresh plain yogurt every three days.

I gave up on sugared yogurt a long time ago but every once in a while get a hankering for plain yogurt - which I sweeten with a bit of honey and a few raisins. I like letting them plump overnight.

Hope the knee-shot is making a noticeable difference already, Karen. HOT!!!!

I have just started feeding us plain yogurt one breakfast a week - with granola, blueberries, cantaloupe chips (I do the chipping), sunflower seeds, and maple syrup. REALLY GOOD! Really filling too!

MRSA is the pits. My aunt had it in her declining years. Only one retirement facility here, the most basic/least appealing one, would take her. Cipro is also the pits. Stay healthy, Richard and everybody else including me!

Plain yogurt is still, and will always be, my first choice because the gunge they shovel into the sugary stuff is like a gift-card to C. albicans. Having experienced thrush, I just say NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to most fructose. I can always add some jam or fresh fruit if I feel schmancy-pantsy, and always use the yogurt in chili and stuff if I need a creamy hit but don't have any sour cream.

>103 karenmarie: Hope those injections help your knee, Karen.

Yuck, to those temperatures you are having.

And hurray for plain yoghurt. I usually buy Greek yoghurt, it is fattier than the yoghurt I used to buy, and less sour. Very nice, and Marc loves to make tzatziki. I don’t know if there’s a difference when it comes to microbes.
Marc had a hospital infection last year. I looked at hygiene in hospitals and wondered about what seemed a lack of it.

My yogurt of choice is Labne. Used as a Cheetos dip lest I be suspected of eating healthy.

Karen--So, back to AC's from the lat thread. (I've only been gone a week here--how can you have so many posts?!?) Glad 2 of your 3 are working. We only have one serving the two upstairs floors. The finished basement area is without but largely remains cool because it is so well shaded. And we have smoke back again, so I am currently typing from my bed in a hotel downtown Portland. We are staying one more night and then it should be manageable again. yay!

>98 karenmarie: Hope the shots help. I got a cortisone shot a month or two ago in my knee and it has helped enormously. Now I just have to fix the hip. LOL

>110 quondame: I love yogurt. Any yogurt! Although I prefer raspberry to blueberry. : )

Hi Karen. Happy Saturday!

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Not as many shorebirds, as we would have liked but we did snag a juvenile Little Blue Heron. Wonderful looks too, along with photos. Not a Lifer, I did get one in Mexico but first for the state. I plan on a solo stroll today.

>107 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy. The doctor said the shot takes a while to kick in – he said some people get relief by the time of the second shot and I haven’t noticed any miraculous reduction in the pain, sad to say.

I’ll have to look for good quality 6- or 8-ounce cups of plain yogurt – the idea of fresh blueberries and/or raisins and either honey or maple syrup (new idea to me!) actually sounds good right now. I might actually have to go to the local health food store, which I should be doing more of anyway.

>108 richardderus: Hi RD. See above, about me keeping some 6- or 8-ounce cups of yogurt in the house. I just started the new shopping list and the only item so far is yogurt.

>109 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. And the temps are bad here, as they always are in summer, but at least we’re used to them. The poor Northwest isn’t used to them and most folks don’t have air conditioning.

I’ll be looking for full-fat yogurt.

>110 quondame: Cheetos. Sigh. If I buy them I eat them voraciously, so I try to not buy them. My current crunchy of choice is unsalted tortilla chips which I can only get in the deli section if and when the deli folks decide to make them. Usually they only have salted chips or lime-flavored chips. I tried those once and had to throw the whole bag out.

>111 Berly: Hi Kim! I, too, am amazed that I already have over 100 posts on an 8-day old thread. Our upstairs areas are at opposite ends of the house, hence 2 upstairs AC units. Part of me wishes we had put a basement in this house, part of me knows that all that would have happened is that it would be filled with stuff.

Ah, the smoke. This year’s fires in the west have been more awful than I ever remember. We even got some haze from them a couple of weeks ago. I’m glad you’re able to spend the nights in hotels when it gets too bad for you to stay home.

I tried cortisone shots first – 2 over the course of 6 months. The first one was great, the second one was basically ineffective. Insult to injury on the second shot was the cortisone flare of 7 hours when I thought my right leg was going to spontaneously combust. Then the diagnosis of osteoarthritis, then meloxicam, now the hyaluronic acid injections. I’m glad the cortisone shot has done wonders for you.

Raspberry is a flavor I prefer in general to blueberry. My favorite for toast is Simply Fruit Raspberry.

>112 connie53: Hi Connie, and happy Saturday to you, too.

>113 msf59: Hi Mark, and happy Saturday to you. Sorry the shorebirds jaunt only produced a juvenile Little Blue Heron. Enjoy your solo stroll today.

Hot pepper suet report: Less activity than with regular suet, but I’ve got a female Downy who’s been visiting a lot. The finches are okay with it but don’t go crazy, and a Carolina Chickadee tried it and immediately left for the sunflower seed feeder. On the upside, NO SQUIRRELS so far.

…
Coffee. Bill had been up for a while by the time I came downstairs at 8, and was excessively bubbly about the scheduling for a new roof. He then segued into some financial stuff he wants to do. I just wish he’d give me time to get some coffee in me and wake up.

>114 karenmarie: Bill clearly knows you love him. Otherwise he'd've been too scared of your reprisals to speak to you before you're fully caffeinated.

I've got to say Mark's onto something with Gordo, which he liked a lot. Really good stories about migrant laboring's vibrant community.

Morning, Karen!

>114 karenmarie: "Bill had been up for a while by the time I came downstairs at 8, and was excessively bubbly about the scheduling for a new roof. He then segued into some financial stuff he wants to do. I just wish he’d give me time to get some coffee in me and wake up. " I hear you! Craig is the same way - he a big time morning person, and I am SO not. He likes to jump right into the day, and I like to meander into it. After coffee.

Mornin', Sunshine. Have to sampled Heather Cox Richardson' book? Her Facebook post this morning was about the Census. Hmmm.

>115 richardderus: We do occasionally snarl at one another, RD, but we're already back on an even keel. He's gone out to make the dump run for trash and recyclables, and will bring back something for lunch. I told him that whatever he wants is fine with me, so we'll see what comes in the door.

Ah. Gordo. I'm going to do a hard pass on this one. Short stories are not really my thing. Let's just leave it at that.

>116 Crazymamie: Hiya, Mamie! I like the way you put it, liking to meander into the day. I used to jump into the day because I had to, but once I retired, I realized that I didn't have to jump into the day except on rare occasions when I have to get up to an alarm. Fortunately, those times are few and far apart. And of course, after coffee.

>117 weird_O: 'Morning, Mr. Bill! I have not opened How the South Won the Civil War yet, but it's at eye level on a shelf I always look at.

Not being a FB person, I don't see anything by her - just recently unsubscribed from her free newsletter too 'cuz I wasn't reading it.

I agree, Karen, "meandering into the day" (most days) is the best part of retirement.

>118 karenmarie: Oh gosh no, Horrible, I wasn't in any way trying to sell you on the idea of reading Gordo! Perish forbid! If I am ever so ga-ga about a collection of stories that I want you to read it, I'll start out with "I already know you hate the form, but..." or something similar! No, just musing about something I'm reading ATM.

>114 karenmarie: Strange as it seems, after over a year of having Cheetos around all the time, I only pour out a bowl and munch on them every few weeks. Though at first I did go through the bags in about 1/10th the time. I love the new bag clips that keep chips and cereals crunch after the bag has been breached.

>119 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba!

>120 richardderus: Okay, RD. With the exception of J.D. Salinger, I do mostly hate the form. But, muse away... *smile*

>121 quondame: We use clothes pins, Susan, but as long as the crunchies stay crunchy, it doesn't matter what's used. I've also been known to dump them into a plastic bag or tupperware.

For Amor Towles fans, I just got an email about his in person and virtual book tours for the release of The Lincoln Highway in October. All the hyperlinks aren't transferring, but if anybody wants me to forward the email to them, just pm your email address.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Readers,
I'm happy to share with you details of my upcoming book tour, which will follow the October 5 release of The Lincoln Highway.

The tour will include an array of in-person events across the country and in the UK, but there will also be virtual events where I will be joined by terrific conversational partners. Most of the events, whether in-person or virtual, will be ticketed.
Virtual Events...

Regardless of where you live, you can attend any of the virtual events by registering through one of the sponsoring independent bookstores. To do so, visit the Event section of my website.
In conversation with Ann Patchett - October 6
In conversation with John Grisham - October 7
In conversation with Ken Burns - October 19
Exclusive zoom with Barnes & Noble - October 21
In conversation with Richard Russo - November 4
In conversation with Erik Larson - November 11

In-Person Events...

Here's where I'm scheduled to speak so far...
Watermark Books - Wichita, KS - October 11
Cuyahoga Pub. Library & Case Western - Cleveland, OH - October 12
Talking Volumes - Minneapolis, MN - October 13
The Bookworm - Omaha, NE - October 14
Cliveden Literary Festival - Berkshire, UK - October 24
Cambridge Literary Festival - Cambridge, UK - October 26
London Literature Festival - London, UK - October 27
Texas Book Festival - Austin, TX - October 30
Miami Book Fair - Miami, FL - November 14
San Marco Books - Jacksonville, FL - November 15
Symphony Space - New York, NY - December 7

2022
Artis/Naples - Naples, FL - February 19
Mount Lebanon Public Library - Pittsburgh, PA - April 5
Fall for the Book Festival - Fairfax, VA - April 21
LA Times Festival of Books - Los Angeles, CA - April 23


Preordering Signed Editions in the US...

For those seeking signed or personalized first editions of The Lincoln Highway, you can preorder through one of my local independents in New York City. In the days leading up to October 5, I will be visiting the stores to sign the preordered books as requested. They generally ship anywhere in the US.

Greenlight Bookstore - order here or call (718) 246-0200
McNally Jackson - order here
Three Lives & Co - email info@threelives.com or call 212-741-2069
Word - email brooklyn@wordbookstores.com or call (718) 383-0096
Shakespeare & Co - order here or call (212) 772-3400
Corner Bookstore - email info@cornerbookstorenyc.com or call (212) 831-3554
Bookclub Bar - order here or call (646) 678-4160
Books Are Magic - order here or call (718) 246-BOOK
Community Bookstore - order here or call (718) 783-3075

Pre-Ordering Signed Editions in the UK...

UK residents can pre-order a signed special edition of The Lincoln Highway by visiting Waterstones online here.

Looking forward to seeing you in the months to come,

Amor
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

>123 karenmarie: Oooh! A potential book for my Dad and I to read together!!

>123 karenmarie: - Thanks for that, Karen. I just went to his website, events page and there are 2 dates that I'd love to attend virtually. But I sent him a message asking how to sign up because even on the site, there were no live links to do so. I am interested in his conversations with Ken Burns and with Erik Larson, 2 faves of mine!

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. I had a nice solo stroll yesterday. Pretty quiet, bird-wise but I did get to see a young black night-crowned heron feeding in a marsh. One of my favorite waders, that I don't get to see very often, even though they breed here. Some of the family (small-size) is coming over, this afternoon, including our favorite expectant mother. Sue is cooking dinner. It will be nice.

>123 karenmarie: This is very cool. Thanks for sharing. I sure hope he delivers another gem with The Lincoln Highway.

>124 Berly: Hi Kim. Exciting, isn't it?

>125 jessibud2: YOu're welcome, Shelley. I hope you can get signed up and watch.

>126 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you. Interesting about the Black-crowned Night-Heron, and from the description on allaboutbirds.org you're lucky you got to see him. They apparently breed here, too, but I've never seen one.

Yay for a small-size family dinner. Getting closer and closer to being a grandpa...

You're welcome re the Amor Towles email.

...
Coffee is such a pleasure, and I've just had my first few sips.

A lovely way to put it: liking to meander into the day. That is what I do, even when we had dogs they knew the first walk wouldn't happen before coffee :-)

Usually I wake up around 7:30, and Frank wakes up 4 hours later (and 7 hours later if he had a work night).
He also likes to wake up slow, but sometimes I have been thinking about something all morning, and spit it all out when he is just awake. I know it doesn't work, and it would be better to wait a while, but sometimes I can't hold my tongue.

Your dogs were well trained, for sure, Anita. Coffee first.

It's funny, because for the longest time I got up early and sometimes sprung things on Bill when he staggered into the kitchen trying to wake up. I learned to leave him alone for the first half hour or so after he came out of the bedroom, but he hasn't quite figured that out with me yet as our patterns have shifted over time. I may actually have to say something, if for nothing else than my snarling first thing doesn't do either of us any good.

How about the upraised hand and groggy "not yet, brain not on"? Usually works for me....

That just might work, RD! I'll try it on Tuesday - the next day Bill works from home. *smooch*

74. Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

8/6/21 to 8/15/21





From Amazon:

Featuring his famous literary detective Atticus Pund and Susan Ryeland, hero of the worldwide bestseller Magpie Murders, a brilliantly complex literary thriller with echoes of Agatha Christie from New York Times bestselling author Anthony Horowitz.

Retired publisher Susan Ryeland is living the good life. She is running a small hotel on a Greek island with her long-term boyfriend Andreas. It should be everything she's always wanted. But is it? She's exhausted with the responsibilities of making everything work on an island where nothing ever does, and truth be told she's beginning to miss London.

And then the Trehearnes come to stay. The strange and mysterious story they tell, about an unfortunate murder that took place on the same day and in the same hotel in which their daughter was married—a picturesque inn on the Suffolk coast named Farlingaye Hall—fascinates Susan and piques her editor’s instincts.

One of her former writers, the late Alan Conway, author of the fictional Magpie Murders, knew the murder victim—an advertising executive named Frank Parris—and once visited Farlingaye Hall. Conway based the third book in his detective series, Atticus Pund Takes the Cake, on that very crime.

The Trehearne’s, daughter, Cecily, read Conway’s mystery and believed the book proves that the man convicted of Parris’s murder—a Romanian immigrant who was the hotel’s handyman—is innocent. When the Trehearnes reveal that Cecily is now missing, Susan knows that she must return to England and find out what really happened.

Brilliantly clever, relentlessly suspenseful, full of twists that will keep readers guessing with each revelation and clue, Moonflower Murders is a deviously dark take on vintage English crime fiction from one of its greatest masterminds, Anthony Horowitz.

Why I wanted to read it: I loved the first in the series, Magpie Murders, and this one was just peeking at me from my shelves saying “Pick me!”

At 603 pages this is not for the faint-hearted. It also helps that I read quickly. It only took me 9 days.

Susan Ryeland is on Crete with her boyfriend, running a hotel, when she gets the request to return to England. It’s as much the £10,000 as it is about justice. Susan digs in and works for the money. There are red herrings, side plots, and parallels between Moonflower Murders and Atticus Pünd Takes the Case not Cake as the Amazon blurb above would have it.

It was an engrossing read, but there were so many characters and so much cleverness that by the end much of the subtlety was beyond me. I didn't particularly care, though, as I wanted to know what caused Cecily to know who murdered Frank Parris and how Susan would figure it out.

Susan Ryeland is quite a bit like Hercule Poirot in that she keeps her musings to herself, and the denouement is worthy of Poirot himself.

Six word review: Book within a book, Susan triumphs.

>123 karenmarie: He's going to be talking to some of my favorite authors -- will go check out that website. Thanks for posting.

>129 karenmarie: >130 richardderus: I just hold up my hand and say "not caffeinated."

>133 RebaRelishesReading: You’re welcome, Reba.

>134 quondame: Even briefer, I like it.

>135 weird_O: And just think! You can buy it on Amazon. Brilliant.

Morning, Karen. I love my coffee too. Usually 3 cups and I am done. We had a really nice visit with family yesterday and Sue cooked a wonderful meal. Of course, Bree still stole the show.

I am hooking up with birding buddies today and we are on the hunt for shorebirds. Since, I am lacking in shorebirds identification, more eyes and knowledge the better. Come on, Lifers!

ETA- Lots of hummingbird activity at the feeder. Finally getting a pair that zip around each other. Always a male but there is also either a female or juvenile hanging around too.

'Morning, Mark! Yay for coffee. I'm glad you had such a nice visit with family yesterday. Bree stole the show, but as soon as that baby arrives guess who'll steal the show? *smile*

Good luck on your shorebird hunt today, and congrats on the hummingbird activity. I just put a freshly-filled cleaned hummingbird feeder out. Less than 5 minutes and there's already a customer.

Morning, Karen! It's Monday, and it definitely feels like it.

'Morning to you, too, Mamie! I agree. I've got the Monday grumbles for sure.

The worst one is that it turns out that I did not read book 16 of the Nero Wolfe series last June, when it should have been read. I can't find any record of having started it at all, it's not in any of my Lightning Round documents, and when I just scanned the first few pages of each novella, they're familiar but not recently familiar, if you get the drift. So, I must have had a mental lapse of huge proportions along about then. Sigh. So I'm reading it now. And, it took 15 minutes to find because when I started looking for it I looked for Three Doors to Death, it's title, instead of researching properly and realizing that it was in Five of a Kind, an omnibus. Grrr.

On the upside, it will be nice to read a 'missing' Nero Wolfe although I've read this one a long time ago.

Well, at least you figured it out. Stuff like that makes me crazy and I can't stop working on it until I solve the mystery. Happy reading to you!

>140 karenmarie: what >141 Crazymamie: said

It's a very Monday kind of a Monday, then. Here's to hoping it gets only better. *smooch*

>141 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! I'm happily immersed in the novella Man Alive.

>142 richardderus: Yes, thank you, RD. The Monday kind aspect is decreasing because I called the Propane company to have them tell me how to log into their new online payment system and then paid the bill, ate yummy leftover roast potatoes and teriyaki chicken for late breakfast/early lunch, and am going to read most of the rest of the day. I might possibly work on some Friends payments, but might hold off on that 'til tomorrow. *smooch*

Sounds like a perfect day to me, Karen. I've pottered around, accomplished nothing, and now am faced with prioritizing the rest of the day. Poo.

>137 msf59: Hi, Mark! One thing I will do today is find a few minutes on our back porch between 2 humming bird feeders to enjoy the August Bird Wars. The fights from the first *Starwars* movie play out time and time again. In fact, getting across the street from our house to my mom's is an adventure with the little devils zooming past at eye level or knee level, apparently paying no attention to anything but their business.

Hi Karen! Passing through, waving hi.

>144 LizzieD: Oh, sounds fascinating, wish i could see those birds. Are hummingbirds that aggressive, really?

>144 LizzieD: It's been a great day, and I didn't do anything more this afternoon but read and re-watch Major Crimes with Bill.

I love watching hummingbird wars too, Peggy. I must admit that I don't walk in their flight path, but that would be lots of fun, I think.

>145 EllaTim: Hi Ella! Waving hi back to you.

Hi Karen. There is message of sorts, from me to you, over on my thread. Just sayin'.... ;-)

I'm waving *hello* as I schmooze through the threads.
I caught a BB on Laura's and almost-nearly-maybe on Richard's so I better skedaddle before I overwhelm my August BB list!

Morning, Karen. We had a terrific birding day yesterday. More details on my thread. Staying put this A.M. Maybe go out to breakfast with Sue. She has a late start. I do have a volunteer orientation to attend this afternoon. This is for the Trail Watch duties, I signed up for. My feeders continue to buzz with activity. I can not keep the platform feeder filled, it is like a buffet and I heard blue jays back there yesterday so I think they have been snacking on the shelled peanuts.

>147 jessibud2: 'Morning, Shelley! I'll head over as soon as I post this message.

>148 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy! Wish list. Hmmm. I like keeping my catalog here just books I own and those that I have to keep to maintain favor with the ER Gods. I keep my wish list on @kairfa, but that's only since December. I have a spreadsheet of another wish list of over 400 books, but haven't looked at it in months.

>'Morning, Mark! Congrats on a tbd. Glad your feeders are buzzing. Mine are quiet at the moment, with only one finch.
...
Coffee, although this batch of beans tastes a bit weak and bitter. Disappointing.

Morning, Karen! My coffee is also disappointing me this morning, It's a long story, but I am having iced coffee today, and it just isn't the same.

Hiya, Mamie! I'm sorry you're having a Sad Coffee Morning too. Iced coffee is never exactly the same as that glorious morning jolt of hot caffeine, is it? The best iced coffee I ever had was in Athens Greece in 1979, but I can't remember the last I had it.

I usually drink iced coffee once a week or so but not as my morning cuppa. I might have to break down and just brew a pot.

Cold Coffee in the Morning, All Sailors (Housemates, in this case) Take Warning.

Hiss boo on ugh-y coffee. It's why I brew my own...the facility only serves decaf.

Merry, um. Tuesday. That's what this one is, isn't it?

>153 Crazymamie: You should do that, Mamie. Make it a happy coffee morning. *smile*

>154 richardderus: Yay for your own French Press brewed coffee, RD. It is Tuesday. All day. Neither good nor bad, just Tuesday. Merry one to you, too. *smooch*

>154 richardderus: Only. Serves. Decaf. Have you contacted The Hague about this crime against humanity?

I was thinking about you this morning, Jim, as I was using the clearly inferior beans we unintentionally bought.

Are you still roasting your own beans? Medium roast, as I recall, which is also my preference?

Yup, still roasting. I came across some Haitian Blue Mountain (cousins to the more famous from Jamaica) that were awesome at a medium roast. Plus still have a few pounds of Columbian beans I'm working through.

>156 drneutron: Considering the, erm, mental acuity of these folks I'm perfectly happy to see the place serve only decaf. Wired and disinhibited by cognitive deficiencies...the mind boggles. Long as I can still get the real stuff I'm all good.

Medium...roast...ah! I get it. You mean "beige beans of boredom," then. As opposed to my dotes, "black as coal beans burgeoning with bountiful flavor and caffeine."

>159 richardderus: 😂 I'll send you my next batch of burned beans...

>158 drneutron: It all sounds heavenly.

>159 richardderus: No, no, RD, medium roast is flavorsome and rich and not bitter. Dark roast tastes burned.

>160 drneutron: What's scary is that he'll like them.

>161 karenmarie:, >160 drneutron: ...y'all *get* me...::teardrop::

>154 richardderus: >156 drneutron: There's guarding your health and there's compromising your sanity. Why must people always know what's good for us!?!

Sounds good when we're talking about coffee, Susan, but there are folks who are saying the same things about vaccines and we're disagreeing with them.

>164 karenmarie: Well, yes, but I'm not going to infect anyone with my caffeine. Richard's >159 richardderus: point is valid though...

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. I am an official Trail Watch Volunteer, with a vest, first aid kit and everything. Six hours a month, which should be no problem for me. Hooking up with a couple of birding buddies this A.M. Books in the P.M.

>165 quondame: You're right.

>166 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you, too. Congrats on being an official Trail Watch Volunteer. Wow. Vest, first kit and everything. 6 hours is totally reasonable. Enjoy today's adventures.

...
I put the hummingbird feeder out and already have a customer.

Coffee, going to read for a while. This afternoon is the second hyaluronic acid injection. I'm also going to have my left knee x-rayed to see if it's also seriously arthritic. All of a sudden my knees are not in good shape.

>167 karenmarie: One really ought not to complain too hard about knees that've been working since you first walked the Trail of Tears, dear. They've done a lot for you! And the acidic thylacine juice will fix you right up!

*smooch*

Not complaining exactly, Richard, but worn out with pain. I'm hoping the juice will work, it's just that it hasn't started to yet. I don't like hobbling around like an old woman.

This is your second shot, right? It should kick in sometime this week...such is a normal pattern, so I'm informed. I've got the crossables crossed. *smooch*

Yup, second shot. I'm back, safe and sound. They took x-rays of my left knee so he can look at it next visit, and the doctor is calling in a prescription for Celebrex. It was one of two options he offered in April, and frankly the Meloxicam isn't doing anything that I'm aware of. I'll fill the new one tomorrow and we'll see how that works.

And in the meantime, our dear neighbor Gary brought over two gorgeous home-grown cataloupes and a homegrown two-people-sized watermelon. They're all chilling in the refrigerator and will be part of dinner and snack tonight.

76. Hot Money by Dick Francis
8/17/21 to 8/18/21





From Amazon:

Wealthy gold trader Malcolm Pembroke has five ex-wives and nine chidren between them, all fighting among themselves. But when violent death strikes the least likable of his former spouses, Malcolm himself feels threatened, and he calls on his most capable son, Ian, the family jockey, to protect him from his nearest and dearest. While he's at it, Ian is also commissioned to delve for the final, critical clue in the darkly buried Pembroke past, simmering with the greed, hate, and vengefulness that could motivate blood to strike against blood.

Why I wanted to read it: Fourth of six books in this year's Dick Francis SHARED Read.

Oh my, I’d forgotten what a marvelous book this is. It’s full of nasty sibling rivalry, nasty ex-wives rivalry, jealousy, envy, long-held resentments, tragedy, and an amazing denouement.

Ian and his father haven’t spoken in three years, but Malcolm asks Ian to save him after a murder attempt. There are more murder attempts. Ian keeps Malcolm hidden from the family, much to their consternation and upset. Slowly Ian figures out who might want to kill Malcolm and why and the trap is set. Who will drive back to Quantum, the family house, to make sure the secret’s kept?

Thank goodness for the page listing Malcolm’s wives and each of their children. I kept referring to it throughout the book. Four ex-wives and one murdered, nine children, seven of them living, 5 spouses, unnamed and for purposes of this book, unimportant, grandchildren.

The fun parts are Malcolm and Ian’s horse and racing adventures, their casual use of power and money to keep Malcolm hidden. In today’s world of social media and cell phones this story would be quite different, but I like it just the way it is.

Six word review: Family dynamics gone horribly, dreadfully awry.

>172 karenmarie: That's one of my favorite Dick Francis book.

>173 quondame: I think it's going to become one of my favorites, too. This is book 16 of the three years of the Dick Francis SHARED Read series, and it's been great fun getting reacquainted with the books. Last two for the year will be Decider for September-October and Shattered for November-December.

...
I'm impressed with the x-ray department and my knee doctor - the results of the x-ray of my left knee are in and it sounds awful - Moderate lateral compartment predominant tricompartmental osteoarthrosis of the left knee.

We'll see what he has to say next week.

>174 karenmarie: translation: AMPUTATE!!!

Not really...it doesn't sound like it feels good, though.

>173 quondame:, >172 karenmarie: Mama's favorite Dick Francis, too!

>155 karenmarie: >156 drneutron: >159 richardderus: Sigh for me. For YEARS I have drunk decaf because of my galloping osteoporosis. I have now chosen to believe that caffeine has nothing to do with the condition, and I am beginning to enjoy real coffee again. I'm with Richard. Darkest is Bestest. I don't have access to good beans, but I'm happier than I've been in those YEARS.

Karen, I'm sorry, sorry about the knee. I am greatly hopeful that next week brings some good news that reduces the "moderate" to "mild" at the very least! Meanwhile, I haven't read Hot Money in a long time. If I can get myself motivated, that would likely be a step up from Quarter Share, which I'm rereading now because it's so relaxing and easy. *sigh* I started A Master of Djinn and liked it a lot, but even that is too demanding at the moment.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. We had a good birding buddy walk yesterday, clocking in over 30 species. We are going over to Bree's a little later to give one or two of the dogs a bath. That should be interesting.

I read a lot of crime/mystery novels back in the 80s & 90s and remember really enjoying Dick Francis but I have not read him in many years.

>175 richardderus: Heh. Amputate. Well, that's a hard pass, but thanks, Dr. RDear.

So far, of the 18 books I've read for the SHARED reads (2 were bonus books), Hot Money is the only one at 4.5. I'm ridiculously stingy with 5s, with only 7 books out of 1,980 rated, so 4.5 is pretty darned good.

Nerve: rating 4
Forfeit: rating 4
Reflex : rating 4
Rat Race: rating 4
Break In: rating 4
Bolt: rating 3
In the Frame: rating 3.5
Slay Ride: rating 4
Blood Sport: rating 4
The Danger: rating 4
Smokescreen: rating 3.5
The Edge: rating 4
Second Wind: rating 3
Trial Run: rating 2.5
Banker: rating 4
Odds Against: rating 4
Bonecrack: rating 4
Hot Money: rating 4.5

>176 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Yes, I remember you loving your dark roast when we went to Starbucks the two wonderful times I visited. Do you buy ground coffee or whole bean and grind fresh? I don't remember if we ever had that discussion.

I drank decaf for years and years - ground Sanka at first, then whole bean Gevalia Swiss-water method decaf. Then Gevalia stopped selling whole bean decaf and I just cancelled Gevalia completely and started getting beans elsewhere.

Thanks re my knee. Or, rather knees. Both are giving me fits, unfortunately. I know that my weight has something to do with it and although I haven't gained weight in the last several years somehow or another must have reached critical mass. Sigh.

Hot Money is relaxing and easy, IMO, because it's just so much fun to read the ridiculously nasty things Ian's family members say to him.

...
Coffee. I need to write some Friends checks today.

I need to find a new fiction book to read. I also need to find a new non-fiction book to read because although I've started a couple none have stuck. Digging around the shelves will be fun.

Morning, Karen! I'm sorry about your knees. I hope the injections will give you some positive results.

>178 karenmarie: - Choosing new books to read is one of my favorite activities :)

Wow sugar, I am so sorry about the knees. I hope they can do something for you that's not invasive and provides relief. I know it's scary and should only be a last resort, but they are doing wonderful things with knee and hip replacements these days.

Do you like vintage English mysteries? I know you like Edmund Crispin, a personal favorite of mine. Have you read anything by Nicholas Blake? You might enjoy him. His books are straightforward whodunnits, and he doesn't have Crispin's humor or break the fourth wall. They're fun reads.

>177 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and a very sweet Thursday to you, too. Wow. 30 species. Impressive. Getting the dogs purtied up to meet the new baby human arriving soon? *smile*

Mysteries are my go-to genre, always have been. Bill’s Mama turned me on to Dick Francis, and I’m forever grateful that she did. I devoured them pre-LT, and am happy to revisit them. In recent years I’ve revisited Sue Grafton, Dorothy Sayers, and Rex Stout, too.

>179 katiekrug: ‘Morning, Katie! Nice to see you here. Thanks re my poor arthritic knees! I’m hoping for some good results from the hyaluronic acid. I just have to be patient. I hope that we’ll be able to start the left knee injections after discussing things next week, too.

I have way too many books to choose from, and of course I just downloaded two books to Kindle, Topper and The Barrakee Mystery so will probably ignore what’s on the shelves for one of them. By the end of July I’d read 27 books acquired in 2021 of the 71 total.

Hi Larry!

Thank you. It sucks, and I'm hoping the hyaluronic acid injections work for quite a while. My understanding is that it's usually after the 3rd injection that the relief starts, with some folks getting relief before that. So far I'm in the former category, but I'm deliberately keeping my expectations tamped down.

Bill's had knee problems for so much longer than I have that I think he'd kill me if I was able to get knee replacement surgery before him. He's switched doctors, coming into the practice I'm at, and is already talking about seeing the knee doctor I see. He's a DO - Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

Oh yes, I adore vintage English mysteries, love Edmund Crispin for sure. I have read at least one by Blake, and have 4 omnibuses.... going off to check which mysteries I actually have. Edited to add: I have 1-9 and 12-14. 10, 11, 15, and 16 weren't put into omnibuses for some reason.

So sorry to hear about your knees, Karen. I also have recently been told (by my physiotherapist, not an xray - yet) that the issue I have in my left knee is osteoarthritis. So far, physio helps. I haven't yet progressed to injections or xrays but I can't rule that out at some point. The right knee pings once in awhile, too and when it does, some alarm bell goes off in my head. I live in a townhouse which has 33 steps inside. On the one hand, the little voice of logic on my shoulder suggests it might be time to look for a place to live that is on one level. But the other voice, the practical one, knows I can't afford to move in this city and besides, the forced *exercise* of using the stairs every day might just be doing more good than harm as I am not otherwise inclined to fitness, if you get my drift.

Good luck going forward.

>183 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! Thanks re my knees. Stairs are the same for me. I climb stairs at least twice a day, frequently more if I'm looking for a book or to locate a cat. I just made a note in my cell phone with things to discuss next week. Thanks for the nudge.

I wonder how the physiotherapist knows it's osteoarthritis without an x-ray? I guess just by feel and your symptoms. I like x-rays and clear-cut stuff, so my visits with Dr. Castillo are making me happy with the treatment if not the problem.

>184 karenmarie: - My physiotherapists are a husband and wife team who specialize in sports medicine although I'd bet that many of their patients (like me) do no sports, haha. But they and the rest of their team are really excellent and really know their stuff. I like how they always show me on a model (of the spine or the joint or whatever) and explain exactly what is going on and where and why and how my issues look inside my skin. That shows me that they really do know their stuff so if they say it's osteoarthritis, I tend to believe them. And they both are also certified to do acupuncture which I do like., when necessary.

It's Thursday again, Horrible. Wasn't it Thursday like six or seven days ago? Seems like they're coming too close together, doesn't it?

Well. Anyway. Divine Lola: A Savage Beauty is weirdly fascinating and it's free for Prime-mates.

>185 jessibud2: They sound like perfect health care professionals - share information, show information, and knowledgeable. I've never had acupuncture but a quick perusal of the interwebs says that it can be beneficial for osteoarthritis of the knee. I've added it to my talking points for next week. Thanks!

>186 richardderus: It does roll around every so often, for sure. Today's version has bright blue skies, moderate 87F heat, and pretty low 54% humidity. I'll take it.

Heh. Prime-mates. I like it.

I am sorry that your knees are bothering you so much Karen. Heard good things about acupuncture, especially when it comes to relieving pain, so seems worth a try.

The conversation about coffee has made me crave some. Roasting your own beans sounds wonderful! Give me a mellow coffee though, Wiener melange is my thing.

>186 richardderus: Thursday is my new Monday. Becky goes to work at her office on Thursday early, leaving Nutmeg with me because the gardener will be coming and Nutmeg can't be out. And just in time for her returning to the office, Nutmeg injured her leg and has to be kept from stairs. The dog is drugged, which helps, but only some.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Sorry to hear about the continuing issues with your knees. I hope you can find some relief. I am doing a Trail Watch walk today. I have to do a couple of "shadow" walks, to get the experience before I can start scheduling my own. I will bring my binoculars along...just in case. Grins...

>188 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella. @drneutron is the only person I know who roasts his own beans. I think it would provide a superior cup of coffee for sure. I'm not quite sure I'm willing to go into the home roasting business myownself, however. Never heard of Wiener melange before, but now I know.

>189 quondame: Sorry that Nugmeg injured her leg, Susan. Our Zoe did something or had something done to her the other day because she came in Very Slowly and didn't even come upstairs that night. She didn't go outside the next day, but this morning seems chipper as ever.

>190 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Trail Watch Friday to you. I hope this volunteer work suits you, and of course, binoculars in case of some bird excitement.

...
Coffee, although once again this bag of beans isn't up to the quality of the store brand medium roast that we haven't been able to get for weeks and weeks now. I upped the amount of beans I ground and now the strength is right, but it's just the teensiest bit bitter.

Probably going to go pick up the Celebrex, mail a package to Jenna, and go grocery shopping.

And read, of course.

Morning, Karen!

How is Jenna settling into life in Asheville? My Facebook memories reminded me today of my trip there several years ago and how much I loved it.

'Morning to you, too, Katie!

Jenna loves Asheville, thanks for asking. She's not a terribly social creature and hasn't made any new friends there yet, but is in texting contact with her four best friends pretty much every day and manages to call me pretty much every day, too. Which I love, and will cherish until it changes.

Her big thing right now is to finish unpacking. One of her first 'decorating' efforts was to put up her two bookcases and fill them. They fit perfectly besides the living room window.



She also bought some workout clothes and has designed a regimen for going to the apartment complex's gym on a regular basis. She also loves the hiking trail in the complex.

>193 karenmarie: - That's great to hear. Changing cities and jobs can be daunting but it sounds like she is doing well. And that window was obviously made for those shelves :)

She's not rushing herself, only doing things when she's in the mood. I would have put everything in its place as soon as possible, but that's just not my kid and I don't push.

She has twice as many books as are in those bookcases, and we'll probably do some more Ikea bookcases for her for Christmas if she wants us to. She's only two hours away from the Ikea in Charlotte and this time, instead of me exhausting myself driving from Durham to Charlotte to Pittsboro one day in 2018, I think I'll let her rope in her friend Will who lives in Charlotte and has a truck.

Friends with trucks are friends for life.

Morning, Karen! I can't believe I missed stopping in here the last two days.

>172 karenmarie: A direct hit - onto The List it goes!

>174 karenmarie: YIKES to the knee news. Hoping that the shots provide some relief.

So glad to hear that Jenna is settling in and loving Asheville.

>196 katiekrug: So true!

>193 karenmarie: Noice! Really well-used space.

Happy Friday, Horrible, and much good reading. *smooch*

Good afternoon, Karen! I hope that your errands have been run and that you're home out of the humidity. We just got back from our walk, and I am seriously damp.

As to coffee ---- I never have offered you any here because we buy bags of ground. Our very non-upscale town no longer offers whole beans of any sort (that may be untrue; I haven't been inside a grocery store since March of '20, and my DH orders for pick-up). You're right that making the best of not-very-good has to do with strength. I guess that it's still true that USA gets the floor-sweepings after coffee wholesalers send the best to Germany and the rest of Europe.

>196 katiekrug: I look with envy at folks who have trucks. Bill used to have a Ford F150 but sold it for $500 to a friend of his early in our marriage and got a compact something or another. I still regret him doing that. We’ve had various minivans and SUVs over time. I’ve got a Ford 2012 Escape right now, which is better than nothing, but not a truck.

>197 Crazymamie: and >198 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Nice to see you. I’m cautiously optimistic today – my knee seems noticeably better. Not significantly, but noticeably. We’ll see.

I can tell by Jenna’s voice that she’s loving Asheville and the apartment she’s in. Makes mom happy.

>199 richardderus: Thanks, RD. It looks peaceful and balanced to me. My reading’s been interrupted with errands and visiting friend/neighbor Louise. She wanted to sit on her front porch so we did, properly distanced, but honestly, I hate, hate effing NC humidity. I’m whupped. A very tired *smooch* to you.

>200 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Errands all done. Stuff delivered to previous Treasurer of the Friends at the Library, prescriptions picked up, gas tank filled, package mailed to Jenna and Friends PO box checked, and finally, grocery shopping. I was seriously damp after visiting with Louise on her porch, but am now in comfy clothes and in 76F with only 47% humidity. I’m cooling down.

I would love to come visit when things are safe and sit down and have a cup of coffee with you – I feel bad that you may have gotten the impression that I’d look down on anybody offering me coffee made with already ground beans. Not the case!

Dear Karen, you had never given me the impression that you will be anything other than a charming guest! Even Starbucks is such a treat for me that I want to share it with you when you come - and I trust that you will be able to visit again sooner rather than later. (Our guru Gottlieb has said that by late October everybody who wants the Delta variant will have had it. The rest of us will still be vaccinated. Wouldn't it be WONDERFUL if we hadn't encouraged new variants by that time?????)

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Like I posted on my thread, they rescheduled Bree to come into the hospital tonight. I guess they got very busy with new babies. They are bummed, of course. Not much planned today, with the heat & humidity. House chores and the books, I guess. Enjoy your day.

'Morning, Peggy! everybody who wants the Delta variant will have had it. It's sad to say that that's mostly true. I think there's a very small percentage of people who shouldn't get the vaccine because of underlying conditions, but I can't find detail on what the conditions are might be.

I have a friend fighting for her life right now. I worked with her for 21 years and have stayed friends with her, along with 2 other women I worked with. Appalling, amazingly, horribly, it turns out that she wasn't fully vaccinated, kept putting it off. (The four of us met for lunch in May and she didn't say anything, let us assume she was vaccinated. The four of us and our former boss, his boss, and HIS boss all met for lunch in June and Michelle got there late, apparently after the fact of our discussing that we were all fully vaccinated and how wonderful it was to be able to get together.) Then there was a family gathering at the beach... she apparently actually got her first dose of vaccine the week she came down with symptoms of Covid. She's been on a ventilator and for a while they were thinking that she'd come round, but I got a text yesterday "I'm afraid we are gonna lose her unless something changes real quick." Her husband, vaccinated, came home after a breakthrough case. His only symptom was low blood oxygen. A friend's husband had a mild case, Michelle's DiL apparently tested positive.

Foolish. Stupid. And now potentially fatal.

I'm distraught about this, but angry, too.

>203 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you. Ah, sorry about the change of plans. I know how anxious you all are to finally meet the baby boy. Chores and books are not a bad thing.

...
I think I'm going to try a new cheesecake recipe today - crustless cheesecake. 24 oz of cream cheese, 6 oz of sour cream, 4 eggs, vanilla. Bake in a water bath, cool in a turned off oven, on the counter, and only then in the refrigerator.

>204 karenmarie: - How awful, Karen. And yes, I do understand the anger. Slowly, slowly, I have begun to get together with small groups of friends. Mostly outside. And only after making sure that everyone is vaccinated. Still, when I got to the outdoor brunch on Sunday (8 of us, total), everyone wanted to hug. I backed off and said, no hugging for me, please. They all understood and respected that. I think this is the only way I am going to be able to move forward. I have another lunch with former colleagues this coming week, only 4 of us and also, outside. I did ask, in my email reply to the invite, if everyone was vaccinated and if there is even one who isn't, I won't go. I don't even apologize for asking. If people don't *get it* by now, they never will. One can't be too cautious....

Hoping for the best for your friend!

Hi Shelley. I understand your hesitancy and am glad that you're got personal rules for when you meet up with people.

My biggest socializing activities related to the Friends of the Library - meeting weekly to sort books and then going to lunch - and the few friends I or Bill and I met up with irregularly. All that's stopped. No book donations, FIVE sales cancelled. We spread our vaccinated wings a bit in the mid-June/mid-July but have pulled completely back socially. We had made go-visit-Jenna noises too. Not going to happen. We're now very grateful for getting to see her so much mid-May - mid-July.

Thanks re Michelle.

>204 karenmarie: So sorry about your friend, Karen.
We still keep very few contacts. Nobody is wearing a mask here anymore, since the rules were mostly ended in June. That went wrong, but the the majority here is so against masks, they didn't dare to bring them back :-(

I'm so sorry about your friend, Karen. I totally get the anger but also the sadness. It's a tough combination to process, I think. Take care.

>207 FAMeulstee: Thank you, Anita. I honestly don't understand why anybody would be against wearing a mask against a potentially fatal disease. Simply don't get it. I'm glad you're staying safe.

>208 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie. I guess I'm fortunate in one way, because out of all my family, friends, and acquaintances, I have had no one else come this close to dying. But to even have one person is very upsetting. You got it right - the combination of anger and sadness is confusing and exhausting.

Very sad news about Michelle. I'm hoping for her inner fighter to stay in the battle.

Saturday loses its luster when someone's in that kind of trouble, doesn't it.

Sorry to read about your friend, Karen. The husband of a niece living in Texas got the virus. After several days at home, he had so much difficulty breathing that Nessie took him to the ER. He spent several days in the ICU, a couple of them on a ventilator. He's recovered and is back home now. I know she got vaccinated, but I'm guessing that he wasn't, or that he was only partially vaccinated.

I'm so very sorry to hear about your friend, Karen. Your feelings -- both sadness and anger -- are completely understandable. Hang in there.

>210 richardderus: Thank you, RDear. I hope her inner fighter stays in the battle, too. Yes, today is not quite as lustrous as yesterday because I'm thinking about Michelle and her family. I've met most of them over the years, worked with her husband for a decade or more, too. She's the family matriarch and I'm hoping she'll come roaring back.

>211 weird_O: Thanks, Bill. It's a sad story indeed, especially if you think about his non-vaccinated/partly vaccinated status.

>212 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura.

...
Speaking of partly vaccinated, I'm still worried about a former Friends Board member/book sale team member who got the first dose but staunchly refuses to get a second. She is completely unhinged on the subject, and we do not discuss it. I would absolutely refuse to be in the same room as her and this is just one more reason why I'm glad we cancelled the September book sale - she was standing in as volunteer coordinator. We're going to revisit the idea of a book sale at the end of September - perhaps something in November or December depending. If not, we'll aim for March, and if March doesn't work out, then oh well.

I just put a crustless cheesecake in the oven - springform pan, tin foil up the sides, in a water bath. We'll see. My normal cheesecake is graham cracker crust, recipe from the 1950s from a Knudsen Sour Cream container.

Karen, this week in my city and province, one business after another after another, including banks, schools, universities, government employees, etc, are mandating vaccinations for staff to return to work in person. Who knows what the legal fallout will be from the crazies who get their knickers in a knot about their *freedoms* and *rights*. Personally, people have the right to a safe workplace (there are laws about that, by the way), and NO ONE has a right to make others sick. Still, you know this won't be easy. It will be interesting, these next few weeks. Canada is also in day 6 of the race to a federal election at the end of September. A dumb call, if you ask me, by our Prime Minister, but no one asked me. That, too, will be a logistic to deal with. Many election polling stations used to be located in schools. Not going to happen this time. Sigh. As if there isn't already enough crap to worry about. I am truly disillusioned with Trudeau but there is also no one else out there any better.

>204 karenmarie: I get your anger and distraught. My aunt and two cousins came down with COVID because they wouldn’t get vaccinated or wear masks. One of my cousins died from it six weeks ago. Hard not to be angry over the uselessness of it.

I am so sorry for your friend Karen. I know how you feel, so useless. Shouldn’t have happened.

I still try to keep my distance from people. With this Delta variant vaccinated people can be contagious as well, so best to stay careful. We had a small concert at the allotment, inside, nice, but i stayed outside and listened from there.

>215 drneutron: So sorry for your loss, Jim.

>214 jessibud2: I’m glad that mandates for vaccinations for staff are going into place in your city and province, Shelley. I hope that these steps help stem the tide.

Here it’s crazier than crazy, frankly. I was amused recently to see that one Texas school district made masks part of the dress code to get around the governor’s refusal to let local jurisdictions/school districts decide on their own how they should protect their citizens/children.

>215 drneutron: Oh Jim, I’m so sorry. Such a waste, such a tragedy.

>216 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. You’re wise to keep your distance and yes, the Delta variant is quite dangerous to vaccinated people.

…
Well, the cheesecake did well until I tried to slide the ring off the springform pan, at which time it … ah… slid off the bottom rim pan. I’ve recovered most of it, but it’s in a Tupperware and doesn’t look attractive at all. Tastes pretty good, though. Not as good as my cheesecake, but still. Tomorrow with breakfast coffee will be yummy.

Morning, Karen. Sorry to hear about your friend. That is a shame. It seems like Covid has touched the lives of many of the people we know and will probably continue for years to come, especially with this kind of resistance.

It looks like Bree's water broke at 1am, so the ball has started to roll. I haven't had an update for awhile but Sean said she is doing good. Lets hope this is the day.

'Morning, Mark. Thank you. I haven't heard anything since Friday night and don't want to bother the family. My source is a former co-worker and I'll hear something when I hear something.

Yes, let's hope today's the day for Bree, Sean, and baby boy!

...
Bill and I were going to watch the Panthers game last night at 7, but completely forgot as we continue to watch and love Major Crimes.

Ah, coffee.

Morning, Karen! I am so sorry about your friend Michelle.

Good morning to you, too, Mamie! Thank you re Michelle.

Coffee was extra-good this morning. It usually is when the weather's icky. Something, I dunno, defiant maybe? about savoring a really good pot of coffee when it's not going to be a nice day in any other way.

Twenty-five to Life by my pal RWW Greene is proving to be a good read. It comes out Tuesday, so no touchstone yet. WHich reminds me to add it today...anyway, *smooch*

'Morning, RDear! Yay for extra-good coffee. I'm still experimenting since I can't get hold of the grocery store whole bean coffee we love. Harrumph. More expensive and still haven't gotten quite the right beans.

Glad you've got a good read going. I'm 62% through Topper and really enjoying it. It actually helps that I watched the movie first for some reason - lots of times long ago and just this week.

Off to get some cheesecake wodge - see >217 karenmarie:. I rarely mess up in the kitchen like this. Sigh.

You know about the Brazilian drought, right? Lots and lots of coffees will be in short supply for a while and the prices will go up. Most likely by reducing the weight per bag, which will look and cost the same but be less coffee. Like the 24oz big tins that used to be 32oz big tins but still cost $X.99.

The cheesecake crash was, I admit, cause for snorting as I read it...I can't help it! The idea of the face you made...well! Heh.

But yes, if you were a kitchen-clumse it wouldn't be funny, it's the infrequency that makes it amusant.

Brazilian drought - ✔

It's just that amazingly, wondrously, and unexpectedly, we found the perfect beans for both of us and they were/are only $4.90/lb including tax - $7.33 for 24 ounces. Now I'm trying different beans and even paying much more and am not getting the right blend of strength and mellow non-bitterness.

You opened a can of worms - one of my recent (2013) pet peeves is that Baker's Chocolate went from 8-ounce bars of baking chocolate to 4-ounce bars of baking chocolate and it still costs the same. And of course 10-ounce bags of stuff that were 12-ounce bags of stuff. 1-lb cans of coffee that are now 14 or even 12 ounces. And now I realize that butter isn't the same butter I grew up with and I now buy Kerrigold and use it for everything except baking.

The face must have been total disbelief and dismay. Comical disbelief and dismay. It's the worst kitchen-clumse I've experienced in years. Kitchen experiments gone bad are different, of course. I'm glad it gave you cause for snorting.

The cheesecake wodge tastes okay. Bill likes it better than I do, and I hereby bequeath the rest to him. I prefer the Knudsen sour cream container cheesecake recipe my mother got hold of in the 1950s. I think you remember the same recipe, right? Nothing beats it.

*smooch*

>225 karenmarie: Yes, "comical dismay with a strong overtone of disbelief" was what I was picturing. *snicker*

Oh the fury of the 120-sheet Kleenex box costing the same as the 200-sheet one did four years ago...!!! And yep, that Knudsen's recipe is THE BEST one and should have shrines erected to it every ~10mi on all main roads in the USA. (Possibly Canada as well, IDK what their cheesecake landscape is like.)

Oh Karen, I'm sorrier than sorry about your friend. (The "until everybody who wants the variant" is, in fact, pretty much a quote from Scott Gottlieb.) I hope that you get some better news about her today. You'll remember that my life friend Billy died last year of the first iteration, and that his wife said, "I didn't get him to the hospital in time. I thought it wasn't that serious."

I'm also sorry about the cheesecake. Welcome to my World. I identify with everything that she does to herself except that I no longer walk anywhere without looking ahead and concentrating. I may still bump furniture but not doors.

Thank you, Peggy. I hope to hear some better news, too. Silence, so far. I didn't remember about your friend Billy, but am so sorry.

i liked that video - especially where she was trying to get the red sweatshirt off and making a complete hash of it. I do things like that all the time, too. I remember a salt incident like the one she had... not even putting potatoes in to soak up the excess was able to rescue it.

Sending the best of wishes for your friend.

Unfortunately, having the virus is no guarantee that a person is then immune. So the "until everybody who wants the variant" might mean 'round one of everyone who wants the variant."

How did we get in such a mess?

Thank you, Janet.

My depressing take on this mess. I'm in a particularly despondent mood right now, Covid-wise, so please feel free to take care of your emotional well being by skipping.

This mess is so complicated, such a combination of local, national, and international success and failure, that I can't even begin to consider where we'll be a year from now.

That's a tragic thought, because last April I was still thinking I could keep a May hair appointment, last September still thinking we might be able to host family at Thanksgiving and still thinking we could see Jenna at Christmas. Three vacations and four Friends book sales have been postponed. Friend Karen said last March-April that this might go on for a year. We were horrified at the thought and secretly didn't believe it.

Boy, were we wrong.

Many parts of the world can't get vaccine, some parts of the world have folks refusing the vaccine. Some folks mask up to protect themselves and others, other folks see an impingement on their freedoms and rights. Some folks separate themselves physically, other folks meet for beach parties and motorcycle rallies. We start feeling safe with vaccines and then a variant comes along that infects the vaccinated and also becomes the face of death for the unvaccinated.

It's amazing what science has learned about Covid-19 since early last year, truly amazing. Things have been misinterpreted, things have been interpreted properly, things are tried and work, things are tried and don't work. So many people are working on this. And yet, it stuns me what could have been done here and abroad that hasn't been done. I've never felt this threatened in my life. I've believed in science and progress and public health.

I grew up in a world that, yes, even with massive social inequities, seemed as though there were competent adults in charge of the things that would keep us safe, provide good infrastructure - clean water, safe food, well-maintained roads/bridges/tunnels - and keep the world intact for future generations.

Well, not so much now. Politics, unfettered capitalism, religious zealotry, and even questioning what are facts have put us in a world pandemic that will not end anytime soon.

All I can do is hunker down, protect me and mine, and hope that unvaccinated folks get scared shitless enough to get vaccinated before the next variant. Because even now, the Delta variant is making inroads into our children, sickening and killing them, and using them as a conduit to infect and reinfect.

Morning, Karen. As you know, we are grandparents and very happy ones at that. Hoping they all come home today. Sean is taking off the week but I will also offer my services. I am hoping to get over there tomorrow to see the new boy. Heading out for a solo birding walk. It supposed to get hot again for the next few days and I want to take advantage of a cooler A.M.

'Morning, Grandpa! Happiest of Mondays to you. Enjoy your solo birding walk and anticipation of seeing Jackson. It's supposed to be hot here this week, too, with highs in the low 90Fs and triple-digit heat index readings. School starts today in most places and Bill's commute will get complicated with school buses again.

...
I will probably finally work on Friends Treasury business this morning - checks, deposit prep for a bank run tomorrow.

Post-Henri, we're supposed to have some *sweltering* days. But then again, it's August, and these are traditionally the awful Dog Days. (More accurately "Cat Days" since they're wretched, uncomfortable, misery-spreading nasty days. Dogs do none of those things.)

The facility's doctor had a heart attack, and I need my Rx for Fentanyl renewed! Two bad things in a row....

Ah for the glorious days of SoCal heat - hot and dry, with the evenings cooling to the 60s or even 50s. East Coast summers suck.

Dog Days seem more applicable to me, of course, but you and I can happily ATD.

Sorry about the facility's doctor, for his sake and for your fentanyl prescription in jeopardy of being delayed. Hopefully the facility has a back up doctor or two.

...
I've cleaned the stove, gotten all the laundry folded AND PUT UP, and am bleaching the kitchen sinks. I am proud.

>230 karenmarie: Yes, I echo your thoughts on the pandemic. Montana is the only state where the legislature has passed a law that no business can mandate their employees must have vaccinations as a term of employment - this includes health care providers and nursing home employees. What a mess.

I'm also hunkering down and this seems far harder this time.

>234 karenmarie: It's just an inconvenience for me; it's probably life-changing for him, as he's an older gent and will most likely retire (if he has any sense!) so as to enjoy his remaining time with his family.

>230 karenmarie: Agreed Karen. I won't get started.......... well, yes I will once. Listening to the other side of interviews with 2 mothers about masking in schools on NPR this morning - Mother #2 said that her son had a speech impediment and was hard to understand even without a mask. Now his school may say he has to wear one, and "It's just not fair." I'm thinking that what's just not fair is the fact that an adolescent (and that's generous) whiner has the right to risk her own son, much less everybody else who comes in contact with him. I'll stop. No, I won't. Why are these people thinking that this is forever? That masks will never come off? Is it core stupidity? A lifetime of instant gratification? Lord forgive my unacknowledged biases, but REALLY!

Sorry.

>230 karenmarie: Couldn't agree with you more, Karen -- especially the last paragraph.

>235 streamsong: I hear lots of stuff about how crazy Montana is from Karen, too.

Yes, hunkering down seems harder after having a bit of freedom/feeling safe there for a while. For some reason this part of How Ya Gonna Keep Them Down on the Farm lyrics seems relevant:

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm
After they've seen Paree'
How ya gonna keep 'em away from Broadway
Jazzin around and paintin' the town
How ya gonna keep 'em away from harm, that's a mystery

We've seen Paree' and Broadway and don't want that to end, figuratively speaking.

>236 richardderus: Glad it’s just an inconvenience, RD, hope that it’s relatively short-lived. I wish him well if he retires. Sort of strange, but that reminds me of a Harry Potter thing - Professor Kettleburn, Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts, who retired at the end of Harry's second year. According to Dumbledore, he wanted to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs.

>237 LizzieD: Sometimes getting started is a good pressure relief valve. And REALLY! about sums it up.

>238 RebaRelishesReading: Sad to say that there’s anything to agree with, Reba.

…
I’m feeling a tad better today because I have finally found the link between my father’s paternal family, the Pomeroys, and the first in the line, Eltweed, who came to America in 1630 or 1632, depending on which source you read. Prior to that I could only get back to Warren, father of Francis Marion, and that only through two census records. Once I found Warren’s father Reverand Silas, zoom! Back another 6 generations. And Jenna will be thrilled that she has an ancestor named Eltweed. We’ve been hoping to be part of this large group of Pomeroys for a very long time.

Morning, Karen. The family came home last night, so hopefully everyone slept comfortably in their own beds. We plan on visiting later this morning. We made up a few meals for them too. I can't wait to hold him again.

There was a skunk hanging out under the feeders when I came down to turn on the coffee. I am glad they can longer get under the shed. The birds have been feasting at the feeders but no unusual sightings.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Grandpa Day 3. I hope they had a good night with their new cherub. Enjoy your visit.

Glad you've got lots of visitors at the feeder, not good about the skunk, though. I saw a ground hog yesterday, and unfortunately it looks like he's dug under the back deck. Time for some ground hog removal strategies, I'm afraid.

But on the upside, coffee, a few errands in town today, and reading. I finished Topper and it's in the August Lightning Round. I'm now reading The Eighth Detective and although it didn't initially grab me, I'm now really enjoying it.

>241 karenmarie: The Eighth Detective sounds really surprisingly good to me. Hey, Julia liked it okay and you're giving it your eyeblinks...likely I'll enjoy it too.

Happy Tuesday. *smooch*

>242 richardderus: I definitely enjoyed The Eighth Detective!

>243 drneutron: *sigh*

*trudges off to Ammy*

>242 richardderus: Pre-Ammy mode.

>243 drneutron: Stimulus.

>244 richardderus: Post-stimulus, current Ammy mode.

😊

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. Matt is off today, so we are going to run over and see the baby around lunchtime. I hope Jackson and the parents had a good night's sleep. Right now, I am heading out to find a rare owl...

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you. What?! Visiting the baby AGAIN? *smile*

Good luck finding the rare owl.

...
Spectrum is here to switch our landline from Centurylink. I actually had to wake up to an alarm. Grumble. And that's after insomnia from 3-6 and drinking my coffee then. I've got about half a cup left in the thermos.

I did finish The Eighth Detective and don't feel compelled to write a full review about it, so will include it in my August Lightning Round.

Now to find another fiction book. The follow up to the absolutely marvelous Hollow Kingdom arrived yesterday, much to my surprise - I remembered that I'd pre-ordered it but didn't remember the release date. The first in the Hilary Tamar mystery also arrived yesterday. Recommended by friend Karen, and who can resist an Edward Gorey Cover?

Morning, Karen! Sorry about the rough start to it.

I still need to get to Hollow Kingdom.

'Morning, Mamie. Thanks.

Kindle away, my dear - I checked out your Library.

I borrowed Hollow Kingdom from the Library. I bought friend Karen a copy, but didn't get one for myself for some strange reason.

I think S.T. and Cheetos might be just the thing.

Yep - I picked it up in a Kindle deal last year but have not gotten to it yet.

What is S.T.? You can never go wrong with Cheetos.

S.T. stands for Shit Turd. He's addicted to Cheetos. Here's the blurb for Hollow Kingdom from the author's website:

One pet crow fights to save humanity from an apocalypse in this uniquely hilarious debut from a genre-bending literary author.
​
S.T., a domesticated crow, is a bird of simple pleasures: hanging out with his owner Big Jim; trading insults with Seattle's wild crows (those idiots); and enjoying the finest food humankind has to offer-Cheetos.
​
Then Big Jim's eyeball falls out of his head, and S.T. starts to feel like something isn't quite right. His most tried-and-true remedies - from beak-delivered beer to the slobbering affection of Big Jim's loyal but dim-witted dog, Dennis - fail to cure Big Jim's debilitating malady. S.T. is left with no choice but to abandon his old life and venture out into a wild and frightening new world with his trusty steed Dennis, where he discovers that the neighbors are devouring each other and the local wildlife is abuzz with rumors of dangerous new predators roaming Seattle. Humanity's extinction has seemingly arrived, and the only one determined to save it is a foulmouthed crow whose knowledge of the world around him comes from his TV-watching education.
​
HOLLOW KINGDOM is a humorous, bighearted, and boundlessly beautiful romp through the apocalypse and the world that comes after, where even a cowardly crow can become a hero.

Gotcha. Thanks for that.

>239 karenmarie: Way too funny! Although I didn't make it to Paree before the cases started spiking again, I did go out to lunch a few times. :) Definitely back on the farm now, though. I'll probably go masked to my RLBC on Thursday.

I loved The Eighth Detective. Sorry it wasn't quite your cup of tea.

I didn't realize that there was a sequel coming out for Hollow Kingdom. Onto the wishlist it goes! There aren't any copies in our library system yet, so it will probably be *months* before I read it.

>252 Crazymamie: You're welcome, Mamie.

>253 streamsong: Yes, I was spreading my vaccinated wings and now they're clipped again. Good luck at your RLBC.

I liked The Eighth Detective. Here's what's in my Lightning Round:

The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi 8/15/21 8/25/21

Just when you think you’re getting a handle on this book, you realize there’s another layer. Just when you think the author has settled into the true plot, he throws a monkey wrench. It’s all quite fascinating. I particularly like the concept of a mystery as a Venn diagram, where a large circle is the case, and smaller circles are suspects, victims, killers, and detectives. Well worth the read for the discussion of what comprises a mystery, which is more than just the Venn Diagram, much less the endings, which come fast and furious.

I'm already enjoying Feral Creatures. Where else can I read "Even squirrels natter about it, those toilet wand-tailed, nut-scrimping, Peeping Tom fuck scamps."?

Hi.

*smooch*

All book bullets are bouncing off my multicolored onesie, just like Superman! So I shall divert my x-ray gaze from Hollow Kingdom although it does sound like a lot of fun.

Ack-shully, it's good that I'm wearing my onesie because this weekend is Lynchburg Pride weekend, so at least I don't have to worry about what I'll wear. I may not go because I haven't felt well for several days. At first I thought it was food poisoning but I don't think it last that long, does it? I still have my senses of smell and taste so I'm not going to go get the covid test. But I do need to get the flu shot.

Here's Parker with a wadded-up piece of paper, he wants to play fetch. More later.

Confused and in a hurry to walk! All the Hollow Kingdom touchstones are taking me to a 19th century fantasy by somebody named Bunkle. I won't try to find the right one with ST.

I am a fan of Caudwell. She's unique, and I expect you either really like her or you really don't. Hope you really do!

>256 SomeGuyInVirginia: Based on some things you've said over the years, Larry, I bet you'd like Hollow Kingdom - I've now fixed all the touchstones in my posts to refer to the right one by Kira Jane Buxton.

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I hope it's just a cold.

We usually get our flu shots in October. This year, if covid booster shots are fully deployed, I'd be getting the Covid booster in October and don't know how that would affect the timing of the flu shot. It's always something to worry about.

Have fun with Parker.

>257 LizzieD: Fixed! I was going to try to start the Caudwell this morning, but the Spectrum tech is still here. Just trying the first several pages was not working with someone in the house because the writing is complex.

We're not sure if they'll be able to switch the phone over from Centurylink for some incomprehensible and bizarre reason, in which case we'll simply drop the land line completely. That would be epic and unsettling and involve lots of website updates to remove it and simply use our cell phones. Lots of folks don't have landlines, but this would be an absolute first for us. Jenna's never had a landline in either of her two apartments.

It's very very stressful with someone in the house.

Parker wants to play fetch exactly the same way a dog wants to play fetch. He brings me a wadded up piece of paper, I throw it across the room, he runs and pounces on it, and then brings it to me and drops it at my feet to be thrown again. It always amazes me.

I haven't had a landline since the '90s. The only time it was ever a problem was during 9/11, but with that total system failure even landlines weren't reliable, maybe in part because I was calling people's cell phones and the grid had simply collapsed. Do what my mom did, and have a plan in place on what each of us would do if everything really fell apart, and especially where we would meet up.

All that prepper stuff aside, I wouldn't worry about not having a landline. Is your concern that you hadn't been without a landline before? Or do you think that it would be limiting in some way?

>247 karenmarie: I LOVE that cover.

>258 karenmarie: Don't drop it! Go get a burner-phone and give it the old land-line number. Save yourself the HOURS of slogging through "prove you're not a robot" stuff.

Hi Karenmarie, my dear, i have put the details of our trip down to Salisbury on my thread and have listed the books we purchased. When we got home Felix was all over us like a rash, if he could speak he would have been saying, " I have missed you so so much, stroke me, love me" lol, whereas when we went away when Leo was alive he would have said " so you've finally come home, if your expecting me to fuss you then think again you bastards". Please excuse the language my dear.

We have had a good few days since we got back and tomorrow Amy, Andy and Elliott are coming over so there will be lots of cuddles to be had.

I hope all is well with you, Bill, Jenna and your lovely Cats, Inara, Wash and Zoe, please give them kitty skritches from both of us. We send you, Bill and Jenna love and hugs from both of us dear friend.

>259 SomeGuyInVirginia: That is so cute of Parker D.

Bill and I each have a cell phone, but we’ve always had the security of a landline. It works particularly well when there is catastrophic damage to the cell tower system here – it’s happened a couple of times. It was also good when we got an emergency phone call to our landline when the 4 armed criminals were within 5 miles of our house several months ago. Now, ironically, if we get the Spectrum version of our landline, when the network’s out the landline’s out, too. But we hope that the cell phones will work. Blech.

Good planning. I think we need to reaffirm ours with Jenna.

>260 BLBera: Thanks, Beth! I’m a serious Edward Gorey fan. I have 13 books by him and one book with him as illustrator.

>261 richardderus: We may not have to worry – supposedly Spectrum will get it handled via software within 24-48 hours. 🤞

>262 johnsimpson: Hi John! Thanks, I’ll zoom over for a visit, probably tomorrow. Tonight I’m whupped and will be going upstairs soon. Love and hugs to you and the whole clan.

…
3rd shot of hyaluronic acid in my right knee, and the doctor’s agreement to seek approval for the same for my left knee.

Lots of errands run today, and Louise gave me 4 books:

Killing England
Killing Jesus
Killing the SS
Patriots - not going to keep this one. Anybody want it?

___________________________
edited to add: I got an update on friend Michelle - she has ARDS, which is a very serious medical condition. I hadn't heard of it before, but apparently the Mayo Clinic now lists Covid-19 as an underlying cause. She's had so many ups and downs and this is very, very down.

I'm awfully sorry to hear about Michelle's ARDS diagnosis. So much sadness!!!

We remember Matthew and how we had a landline that worked when almost everybody else was without cell service. We were able to talk to out-of-town relatives and reassure them that we were OK.

Hope you're already sleeping well!!!

>263 karenmarie: With a third shot in your right knee, Karen, and now finding approval for the other knee, that means the shots are helping?
So sorry about your friend, Covid-19 can ruin a body in so many ways :'(

We did away with our landline in our previous move (Dec 2017), and have been fine without it since. I would think you could register cell phone numbers to receive emergency alerts like the one you had recently. But there's not much you can do about the risk of cell phone tower damage. It's a dilemma.

I'm so sorry to see the update on Michelle. That does sound serious.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. I did not get to see the baby yesterday. They got busy and then they had a doctor's appt, (Jackson passed the exam with flying colors). My son finally got to see his nephew though, which is great. I did see a very special bird yesterday though...details on my thread.

Did you start Feral Creatures?

>264 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy re Michelle.

The only time our landline went down was with Hurricane Fran – 1996 – we had to drive to a pay phone to let my mom know we were alright and she notified other family members. I can’t remember how long it was down.

>265 FAMeulstee: I’ve been told repeatedly that it may take up to 3-4 weeks after the third shot for the benefit to show, so I’m trying to keep my expectations down. I notice some help during the day, but the nights are still vicious. Thanks re Michelle.

>266 lauralkeet: Hi Laura! I’ve thought about that – registering the cell phones with the county’s emergency service. The landline still may work with Spectrum – we’ll know by late tomorrow. Bill was always willing to give up the landline and I’m slowly coming around to the idea if Spectrum truly lets us down.

I duckduckgo’d ARDS. The overall prognosis of ARDS is poor, with mortality rates of approximately 40%. Exercise limitation, physical and psychological sequelae, decreased physical quality of life, and increased costs and use of health care services are important sequelae of ARDS.

>267 msf59: Hi Mark, and sweet Thursday to you, too. Sorry about not getting to get your Jackson fix. Great that Matt got to see his nephew, though. I’ll head on over to see about your very special bird in a minute.

Yes, I started Feral Creatures and am about 50 pages in. It’s as amazing and snarky as Hollow Kingdom.

…
Another variety of medium roast coffee, this one’s closer to the one we really like. Of course it’s double the cost of what we, too.

Morning, Karen! So sorry to read about your friend.

We gave up a landline phone when we moved to Georgia, so we have been without one since October 2012. I have not missed it.

Hi Mamie! Thank you. No news today about Michelle.

Being landline-less with such a big clan and not missing it is just more confirmation that I'll survive without it if I have to.

Oh, Michelle...so very very sad, Horrible. I'm sure you're prepared to say your goodbyes.

And the landline issue will be resolved. It's always maddening making changes in tech. That's one of the ways they keep you in *their* system.

Courage, ma amie.

>271 richardderus: It is very sad, RD. Frankly, I've been expecting to get bad news for a week or more. She rallied earlier this week, but now with ARDS, things are dicey again.

You and Bill would have a lovely time talking about the conspiracy of planned obsolescence with tech.

We gave up the landline several years ago when we switched from cable to streaming for TV watching. We've never regretted it for a minute and get all emergency notifications and Covid updates on our cell phone. Strangely, two years ago (when we were last at Chautauqua) it was cheaper to get cable/WiFi bundled with telephone than without so we took the bundle but didn't even have a phone to plug in and didn't get one.

I'm so sorry to read about your friend, Karen. It's all so senseless.

A man my husband used to work with, who lived in Texas and was fully vaccinated, died just last week of Covid. The memorial notice that was sent out was filled with anger about the utter stupidity of some citizens and politicians. People around here don't seem to mask up very well and I go out as little as possible now. Again. I'm anxious to get my third shot since I got my second shot in January. I heard yesterday that the recommendation may change from eight months to six months for the booster.

We still have a landline. I'd say that 90% of the incoming calls are from unknown numbers that we ignore (and there's one now!). I'd get rid of it altogether but the husband is reluctant.

I loved Hollow Kingdom. I may be reading Feral Creatures next.

I hope your knee is feeling better soon!

eta: I love that your daughter put her bookshelves up so fast. I was in Illinois a few weeks ago helping my son move into his new apartment and the book shelves were a priority for him as well. He took less books with him this time (he left a lot with me, temporarily), but still almost filled the shelves. Moving books is such a pain (on the back).

Urk. Doctor visit. Ultrasound of kidneys, carotids. A sleep study, possibly...oh well, maintenance on old structures gets more complicated.

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, Karen. ARDS is terrible.

>263 karenmarie: A local friend is at about the same place in hyaluronic acid treatment and I've gotten a trifle confused seeing parallel updates on your thread and her FB posts. I wish you both maximum relief for the knee issues.

>273 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba! Another landline-less household. Good to know.

>274 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne.

The ultimate irony – dying of Covid after being vaccinated by being infected by someone who most likely wasn’t vaccinated.

I’m glad you’re going out as little as possible, and I hope you can get your booster shot soon, at 8 months. I’m eligible in October at 8 months, now if 6 months.

Ha. Most of the calls that come in on the landline are junk, too, and I’ve been gradually switching some phone #s on file to my cell phone number just on general principles.

Feral Creatures is marvelous so far.

I’m hoping my right knee is better, too, especially since I’ve now gotten the third shot and I can reasonably hope for a good result within a week or two.

Good for your son and his bookshelves. Jenna left all her textbooks and notebooks with us. She got them all upstairs, thank goodness, and they're out of the way.

>275 richardderus: Blech, RD. Yes, it gets complicated the older we get.

>277 quondame: Thank you, Susan, and best wishes for your CA friend and her treatment.

It's Friday!! :)

Sorry to hear about your friend.

Hi Figs! Friday indeed. I hope you have a good one.

Thank you re Michelle. The reports are all over the place - now they've inserted a tube into her chest because of a collapsed lung, but her oxygen levels are good and except for her blood pressure her vitals are reasonable.

...
Insomnia got me about 4 or so, and I came downstairs about 4:30 when the call of coffee became too loud to ignore. Reading, puttering. Now it's light out and time to take the hummingbird feeder out.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. I have Trail Watch duties this AM. This will be the last of my shadow walks and then I then I can start teaming up with folks on my own. Like I mentioned to you on my thread, I will go to Bree's later this afternoon, visit with Mom & baby and then take Sean for a couple of beers. He NEEDS it. I think he may be going back to work on Monday, but that may change.

Sorry about the insomnia. Hope you can squeeze in a nap or two later.

Morning, Karen! Happy Friday. I am crossing my fingers that those injections kick in and start doing their job.

I never know whether it's better to wish you a sudden onset of narcolepsy or simply the least ghastly day possible after sleepless nights.

>281 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you, too. I'm glad you'll start being able to take Trail Watches on your own soon.

I'm glad you'll get to go to Bree's today, glad that you'll get to take Sean out for a couple of beers.

I not only squeezed in a nap, I expanded it until about 20 minutes ago. Yay naps.

>282 Crazymamie: 'Morning Mamie! Thanks re the injections. Me, too.

>283 richardderus: RDear, I narcolepsied! I narcolepsied for more than 2 hours. Now I'm having the last half cup of coffee from my thermos which is still tolerably warm, then will switch to chilled bottled water. I reuse water bottles, washing them periodically. I love our well water.

...
edited to add: So I was thinking about nudibranchs, but I couldn't think of what they were called and all I could think of was 'bromeliads', which I knew were plants not animals. I had to duckduckgo 'beautiful sea creatures' to figure out what they're called. Then I went back to a last-year thread and found this collage I'd put together:



Aren't they marvelous?

Yay! I'm glad you got some sleep. There were times when I would get up at 4:00 because I couldn't sleep, have a couple of cups of coffee, and that seemed to actually help me sleep a little later that morning. I know, weird.

Oooh! Super pretty!

Glad for your sleep!

I had never heard of nudibranchs, but a gaze through google images shows every one of them gorgeous. Heavens! (or Earth!)

I am only now hearing about the South's (and is it just in the South?) adoption of livestock de-wormer ivermectin for both prevention and treatment of COVID. ??????? These people are taking cow/horse-sized doses because they're scared of a human vaccine?????? We see again that it's possible to stupid yourself to death.

>285 SomeGuyInVirginia: I used to get hysterical if I woke up in the middle of the night, because it meant a day of mind-numbing exhaustion at work. Now, what with being retired and all, I take it in stride. even if I hadn't taken a nap today and been exhausted, "This too shall pass" is a constant refrain.

We are weird siblings, eh? And, glad that you like the nudibranchs.

>286 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Naps are quite wonderful, for sure. And nudibranchs are totally amazing. I don't remember what got me started on them last year or what made me think of them today, but looking at them is quite wonderful.

Oh yes. Ivermectin. Animal Ivermectin, actually. There is a human version used for legitimate medical reasons. Heck, Hydroxychloroquine is also a legitimate drug used for legitimate medical reasons. But the crazies will do or try anything except legitimate authorized vaccines that tens of millions of people have taken successfully.

I've seen articles about Mississippians and Floridians going down this particular rabbit hole, but I don't think it's limited to the South. When it comes to right wing stupid shit, I think it's everywhere.

And yes, it is possible to stupid yourself to death.

You liked Eight Detectives more than I did, Karen. Sorry to hear about your friend. It's hard to be heading into another round with the dreaded pandemic.

>287 karenmarie:, >286 LizzieD: ::eyeroll:: at the ivermectin issue

>284 karenmarie: Good! Sleep is, in my experience, superior to its lack, no matter when the sleep arrives.

Nudibranchs are so beautiful it's amazing to know they're cousins to the living booger called "the slug".

>288 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. I liked The Eighth Detective - why does it have a different name in different countries? - but not enough to keep it on my shelves. It will be winging its way to a friend soon.

Thanks re Michelle. There is news, hard to interpret but possibly hopeful. She had a tube put in her collapsed right lung yesterday. Vitals are stable except for blood pressure which fluctuates wildly. She's still on a ventilator with the oxygen flow set at 65%

It is very hard to be heading into another round. Even if they change the recommended booster shot to 6 months after second shot and I got it today, I'd still be afraid to do anything more than continue to hunker down and only go out for essential errands. I know some folks are willing to take vaccinated risks, but now with Delta in charge, I'm not one of them.

>289 richardderus: Yes. Ivermectin does make for lots of ::eyeroll:: moments. I slept beautifully, with a down pillow tucked between my knees, which seemed to help somewhat.

I'm fond of the boogers banana slugs that arrived in my Christmas stocking one year courtesy of Jenna. They keep me company here in the Sunroom.

>286 LizzieD: Nope, Sea! I wonder if intelligent sea dwellers would nudibranch watch, collecting Lifers and FOS.

>290 karenmarie: Did Jenna go to UC Santa Cruz?

>291 quondame: Yes. Sea. *smile* And perhaps intelligent sea dwellers do watch and collect Lifers and FOS. What a lovely thought.

>292 RebaRelishesReading: Jenna did not - do they study slugs there or something? She took an AA in Business Administration from Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC.

...
Almost every night since August 4th I've come into the Sunroom between 8:30 and 9 p.m. and seen one or more tree frogs on the glass door. I've sent the pics to Jenna every night. Tonight's pic is the best, IMO.

Great pic of the tree frog! I have another wonderful one, but it may be only on my phone. I'll try to retrieve it and post it to you.

Sleep well!!!

>293 karenmarie: I imagine they do study them but I asked because it's their mascot

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. I like the tree frog. Cool pic. We enjoyed our time with Jackson yesterday. I got to hold him, with his eyes open, which was a treat. He remains perfect. I also enjoyed having a couple of beers with Sean. He appreciated getting out of the house. Sean is taking off next week too, but Sue was preparing to do it too, if needed. I have no birding plans this weekend, as it continues to be very hot here.

I love the tree frog! So cute. Hope you have a nice day and stay cool!

>294 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy. And, I’d love to see your tree frog pic. I did sleep well.

>295 RebaRelishesReading: Live and learn, Reba, and now I know about Sammy the Slug!

>296 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and thank you twice. Glad you got to see Jackson yesterday with his eyes open and spend some time with Sean. I’m sorry that it’s too hot for birding.

>297 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I plan on staying inside, as it’s supposed to get to 94F with a heat index of 100-105F. It’s hard to breathe in that mess.

…
Just starting my day with the first cup of coffee, always a joy.