Ellen (EBT1002) reads what she can in 2023

Greetings my friends! I'm Ellen, 62, currently living in eastern Washington. I'm a university administrator and my job involves long hours and too much stress. My partner of 27 years, aka P, is retired so when I'm not working, I'm often spending time with her. I also have a sweet ginger cat named Carson; he often sits on my lap, making computer work impossible (and yes, I know I could move him, but having a cat sleep on my lap is one of life's great pleasures). I do enjoy reading with him on my lap. I also got into jigsaw puzzles during the pandemic and, honestly, sometimes working on a puzzle is more stress relieving (and easier for focus!) than is reading.

All that said, I've been on LT and a member of the Mighty 75ers since 2011 and I just love this community! I've met the 75-books goal every year except 2022, and I don't know whether I'll make it in 2023, but I'm going to give it a try. I read contemporary literature, historical fiction, mysteries, a few classics, an occasional memoir, and -- every once in a while -- essay collections. LT has expanded my reading horizons and I'm usually open to giving new things a try.

In the early years, I was an active poster, often in the top ten of Paul's posting league. I simply cannot keep that up with my current job, so I'm letting folks know right up front. I intend to be present, track my reading, look for some of the wonderful recommendations for which this group is famous, and visit others' threads when I can. After I retire (which I'm still thinking will be in 2023, just not sure which month), I hope to be back in my old form.

Happy New Year to each and every one of you, and here's to another year of terrific reads!

Carson, my favorite laptop (and yes, that is a heated bed in which he snoozes when not occupying my lap)

Challenges, shared reads, whatever....

COMPLETED IN JANUARY

1. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell 4.5 stars
2. Out of Bounds by Val McDermid 4 stars
3. The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield 3.5 stars
4. The Furrows by Namwali Serpell 3 stars
5. The Candy House by Jennifer Egan 4.5 stars
6. The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks 4 stars

COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY

7. What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez 3.5 stars
8. Horse by Geraldine Brooks 4.5 stars
9. The Cape Cod Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor 2.5 stars
10. A Death in Vienna by Frank Tallis 4 stars

One of my favorite puzzles

Happy new thread and new year, Ellen. Wishing you all the best as your *real* retirement gets closer. This year, right?...? ;-)

>7 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! I admit that my "commitment" to retiring seems reminiscent of my "commitments" to read the books I already own, and especially my "commitments" not to commit to any challenges. Ha. I do believe this will be the year, but I'm wavering between July and December as the month in which I walk out the office door for the last time.

Welcome back, Ellen! Happy New Year!

Ellen,I glanced at your thread and I love your puzzle! How cute! So perfect for the times!

Happy New year Ellen. Exciting that this will be your year of work liberation.

Happy new year, Ellen. I love the puzzle -- and the cat photos. I look forward to reading with you in 2023.

Wishing you a comfortable reading year in 2023, Ellen.

Lovely to see you back again, dear lady.

Hi Ellen - Looking forward to spending another year with you on LT, no matter what the level of your activity is :)

Hello, Ellen! I fell off the threads last year, but I am hoping to make a better show in 2023 - thank goodness it's almost here. Wishing you happy and looking forward to following your reading journey.

>9 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

>10 vancouverdeb: Deb! I love that we are both book and puzzle friends! See you here and on FB!

>11 Caroline_McElwee: Hi Caroline. Yes to work liberation!!

>12 BLBera: Hi Beth. As always, love connecting with you here and in our monthly book meetings. Happy New Year, my friend!

>13 PaulCranswick: Paul, my friend, thank you for stopping by and for your kind words.

>14 katiekrug: Thanks so much, Katie!

>15 Crazymamie: Mamie, my dear. So nice to see you here. Thank you for stopping by and happiest of new years to you!

Happy new year Ellen!

Happy new thread for the new year Ellen! Carson is quite the comfy fellow and handsome ginger.

Oh my goodness, Carson's face in that heated bed! So cute. I'll be following along with you this year, however often or rarely you're around.

Happy New Year!

Happy new year! Happy new thread! We also have a lap cat who has, I believe, contributed to last year's higher book numbers. Can't stop reading and do anything else as I don't want to disturb the cat.

As for retiring: I semi-retired last June, giving up the stressful nonprofit job, and I can highly recommend it. I still do a bit of teaching and instructional design but nothing too hard. Haven't been bored yet.

Happy New Year, Ellen! We are closing out another wonderful year of books and banter and I am looking forward to sharing another with you, even if it is sporadic due to your busy work schedule. I sure hope you pull the trigger for retirement this year. 🤞❤️

Hi Ellen! It's great to see you back here for another year, and I know you will find a way to participate that feels right for you. In terms of retirement, I'll echo others who are cheering you on as you get ready to make the switch. You will love it. Just sayin'.

Happy New Year, Ellen!!

>5 EBT1002: One I do wish would be distributed free to certain communities.

Anyway, happy 2023, Ellen!

I finished my first book of 2023 this morning:

1. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell 4.5 stars

This is what historical fiction should be: set firmly but fictionally in known time and place, well-researched, imagined by a master. The setting is palpable, the writing exquisite, the last chapter surprisingly suspenseful! Lucrezia di Cosimo de'Medici, of Florence, is married at 15 to Alfonso II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, thus merging two dynasties. Taken away from all she knows to serve as Duchess of Ferrara, the restless, creative, and fiercely independent Lucrezia struggles in her role but also has moments of hope as she and Alfonso come to know one another. As time passes and no pregnancy ensues, Lucrezia finds herself facing an uncertain future in the face of her powerful husband.

Highly recommended!

>18 quondame: Thank you, Susan! Happy New Year to you, as well.

>19 WhiteRaven.17: Thank you, Kro. He does have that hedonistic streak for which cats are legitimately famous.

>20 ursula: Hi Ursula. Thanks for tracking along. I'm looking forward to a good reading year!

>21 figsfromthistle: Thanks figs!

>22 witchyrichy: Hi Karen. Yes, when Carson is ensconced on my lap, I am likely to read "just one more chapter." It's a great excuse not to get up and do chores! But it does make posting on LT more difficult. ;-)

I'm looking forward to retirement. My job isn't one I can do part time, so it's an all-or-nothing prospect, but I don't fear boredom. Not at all!

>23 msf59: Hiya Mark and thanks for the nudge toward retirement. I know you are enjoying yours to the fullest! I won't have a grandchild to entertain me, but I think I can find ways to pass the time. *grins*

>24 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. I truly have no doubt that I will love retirement (although I think it's realistic to anticipate a bit of restlessness at the outset), but I'm so reluctant to leave my awesome team. We're in the middle of a couple projects that I want to be sure at least get started well. Oddly, I'm much more anxious about the few months of being a lame duck than I am about the retirement itself!

>25 Carmenere: Thanks Lynda!

>26 richardderus: Amen to that, Richard. It's a sentiment that needs a bit more adoption, right? Thank you for the new year wishes!

I got crossed up in trying to follow you last year, and I expect to do better this year. I have several books I'm reading now, hope to complete one of them soon. But I do have to launch a thread.

I know I can't keep up on book reviews, much less life updates but I will give a small overview here.

Yes, I work at the university most recently attended by the accused murderer. This fall was his first semester in the graduate school. Pullman, WA, is just 8 miles from Moscow (pronounced "moss-ko" with slight emphasis on the second syllable), ID, so the quadruple homicide has rocked both communities and instilled fear in both student populations. When I learned that someone had been arrested, I was so relieved. When I got the call about 20 minutes later asking if I could join a conference call with colleagues / university leadership because the accused is one of our students, my heart fell. I was supposed to be on vacation that Friday but I spent the day in zoom meetings. I didn't mind that; these are times when I feel the meaning and purpose of my work. But it has just been so surreal and horrifying and unsettling. Honestly, I don't know a whole lot more than any of you who read the news know, but I'm witnessing the impact on colleagues and friends. It's just exhausting.

On a more cheerful note, we have plans for 2023. A week on Kauai in February and, most exciting!, a trip to Ireland in September. We're still planning the Ireland trip but it will include five days walking with a guide and then some time on our own with a rental car. I'm so excited and certainly intend to do some Ireland-related reading this year.

It has been seven years since my stroke. My health is good but I have definitely slid away from healthy eating and regular exercise. I don't do new year's resolutions, but I am determined to re-embrace a lower-cholesterol, lower-fat, eating routine. And in terms of moving, getting ready for the walking in Ireland will help. I've been sitting here "doing LT" while watching the first half of the Indiana-Nebraska women's basketball game; I'm going to spend the second half watching while walking on the treadmill.

Oh, and what am I reading next? Hmm, I haven't decided yet. :-)

I thought of you, Ellen, when I saw the news about the accused murderer of the Idaho students. So disturbing.

I so look forward to The Marriage Portrait. It's on my stack of "read soon" books, which is teetering at the moment. :)

Looks like your 2023 reading is off to a good start with the O'Farrell book! Wishing you a great year of reading!

>33 BLBera: Thanks, Beth, and I love the image of your stack of teetering "read soon" books. One thing I was thinking about digging into next is to get back into Read Dangerously by Azar Nafisi, which I was reading based on your recommendations. I was enjoying it but got distracted....

>34 thornton37814: Hi Lori and thanks for swinging by! Best to you in 2023, too!

>27 EBT1002: I enjoyed that one too Ellen.

>32 EBT1002: The accused student is quite shocking. I'm sure it has discombobulated your university community, but know you will help get that back into balance.

Lovely travel plans ahead Ellen, I've forgotten, will you be retired by September?

I did love the essay collections I read last year, Ellen.

Happy New Year, Ellen. Carson pictures!!!!!!

So glad we get to share another year here together on LT. I know you are a busy woman, so pop in when you can. Scary and exhausting about the student!! Just keep looking forward to your trips this year.

>32 EBT1002: Oh my, that's shocking. Best wishes to you and your colleagues for as tidy a resolution as possible.

>31 weird_O: Missed you there, Bill. Happy new year!

Yikes, what disturbing news. I hope the rest of 2023 is more peaceful.

Great start to the 2023 reading, I haven't read anything by Maggie Farrell and obviously, I need to.

Checking in to hold my spot on your thread, Ellen.

It has to be tough dealing with the recent events. It was shocking to hear of the murders, knowing you're part of that community, and a good friend of my daughter did her MFA at the University of Idaho (many years ago now). Then, we learned the prime suspect was arrested not terribly far from us, in a neighboring county. A few more degrees of separation would be welcome in these circumstances.

I hope you find the exact right time to retire, and can leave things in what you consider to be good hands. Selfishly, I wish for more reading time for you, so you can share your thoughts with us .

That Carson, btw. What a hunk.

Yikes, Ellen. That situation has to be a lot of stress to deal with. Just way too close to home!

Also, when I posted early in your thread, you had not yet put up your photos. That is a very cool puzzle and Carson is precious. That second photo of him!! Oscar material! Best Picture :-)

Happy New Year and happy new thread Ellen!



I don't usually manage to keep up with your threads but I'm popping in at the beginning and will try to keep up. I'm sorry that you and your community have had such a scare. Hoping things are back on an even keel soon.

Hi Ellen. I didn't realize Pullman was so close to the crime scene. Here's hoping your community doesn't get too embroiled in the investigation and trial.

You will be joining me in the retirement ranks. I announced my retirement from The University of Alabama effective March 1, 2023. This was sudden, but the library administration announced their intention to close the library in which I work, as of February 28, 2023, so I thought it was a good time to make my exit as well. I have 30 years in and my mother needs help to stay in her house, so I will be retiring and traveling back and forth to Kansas in preparation for moving in the fall. I had to sign a years lease in October, before we knew the library was closing, so likely October 2023 will be the month in which I move - somewhere.

I looked at a retirement community in Lincoln, Nebraska, but it is very expensive. It is an active living retirement community and I am not sure I need to have all the “planned” services, but I really like Lincoln. It is exploding in population 270,000 and growing. It has an airport with links to big airports in Denver and Minneapolis so traveling would be easy using Lincoln as a base. It also has the major university library and I plan on trying to finish up some of the publishing that I and a colleague are doing. Bottom line is that I am still thinking about where I will be moving and Lincoln is high on the list.

I am also contemplating Bozeman, MT for many of the same reasons as Lincoln. The added bonus there is that my sister and niece live in Bozeman. The downside, is that there is a terrible housing crisis there with housing of any kind being sucked up for the tourist trade and unavailable for people who want to live there. I have contacted a real actor and am considering an older house in Three Forks, but it would need lots of work and I don’t know if I want to do that.

In the meantime, I will be spending this month cleaning out my converted janitor’s closet office in which I have been ensconced for 30 years. I will also be trying to acclimate professors to a new routine with the library closing and all services being moved to one of the other libraries on campus. They are not happy about the abrupt change, and justifiably so, but they will adapt. And it is not my worry after March 1.

I do still plan on attending ALA’s for awhile, so will keep trying to do the LT meetup’s at that event.

On a different note - your hiking in Ireland made me think of my sister. She is going to walk The Way of St. James (the pilgrimage to Santiago De Compostela) this summer. She is leaving June 8 and will return July 2. She is hoping to walk the entire trail, but if not will go as far as possible. There are 3 of them going from Bozeman and she is in training. Strength and endurance training. They will start their walk in France and hope to end 500 miles later. I think 500 miles in one month is very ambitious, but with training perhaps it is possible. At any rate, it sounds like a grand adventure for her. I just wish that I had the time to get ready to go with her, but it will have to wait.

In November and December, I checked out 80 books from our library and I plan on spending March, April, and May reading and making plans for my retirement life.

I'm looking forward to following your thread in 2023, Ellen. From your description of your team and how you appreciate them, you are in a much better place than your starting years there.

Hoo boy, I'm already behind. So lovely to see so many visitors!

We have been living in a hotel for the past five nights. We were having much of the interior of our house painted so we packed up poor Carson and moved into the Residence Inn (along with a number of journalists in town for the extradition and formal charging of Bryan Kohberger in local - Idaho - court). It made for a discombobulating week and at a time when, frankly, coming home to my own bed would have been sweet, but the house looks marvelous! They will come back Monday to finish the job but it was to a point where we could be in residence again. We are all relieved.

Work has been weird -- exhausting and intense, but also very meaningful. I keep being reminded how much I love and appreciate my team. Then I deal with a parent or an administrator higher than me (not all of them, just one) and I think "oh yeah, retirement sounds good." I do feel lucky to love my work. I don't always love the job but I do love the work itself.

Not much more to share in terms of life. Our next trip is the annual February week on Kaua'i and I'm looking forward to watching whales, reading on the beach (in the shade of a tree), eating shave ice, and floating in the ocean.

2. Out of Bounds by Val McDermid 4 stars

I really enjoyed this fourth in the Karen Pirie series. A tragic car accident leaves three youths dead and a fourth in a coma; the latter's DNA turns out to be a match with DNA recently analyzed in a 20-year-old cold murder case (okay, that coincidence stretched belief a bit but many good mysteries start with an unlikely event). Karen begins to investigate and finds her path repeatedly crossing that of a current case, the apparent suicide of a mentally ill man. His mother died in a plane bombing 20 years ago, too, and that crash was attributed to the IRA but they never claimed responsibility so, technically, it's also an old unsolved murder. Anyway, the threads converge and diverge. It's a compelling read and I'll now put the next one in the series on hold at the library.

I started The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield this evening. She also wrote Once Upon a River, which Vivian sent me when I had my knee replacement a couple years ago. I loved Once Upon a River and I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy this one as well.

>37 BLBera: I don't read essays very often, Beth, but I tend to enjoy them when I do.

>38 ronincats: Thanks Roni. You know there will always be Carson pictures!

>39 Berly: and >40 quondame: Thanks Kim and Susan.

>42 banjo123: Rhonda, you really do need to read something by Maggie O'Farrell. She's a wonderful writer.

>43 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, I agree about the desire for more degrees of separation. This story has been so shocking all around. I read the Probable Cause Affidavit when it was released. Creepy, but also some good police work. It's weird. I am not one who usually follows news stories like this closely, but I'll be glued to every detail of this one.

"Selfishly, I wish for more reading time for you, so you can share your thoughts with us.". Aww, thank you. I wish for the same, my friend!

Carson is a cutie, isn't he? It's funny, I just scrolled up to look at the pics I had posted (just to confirm the accuracy of your praise) and that tan wall behind him in the picture on the right is now "Agreeable Gray." Quite agreeable, it is, too!

>44 jessibud2: Thanks Shelley. I have just a few *cough cough* photos of dear Carson on my phone. I'll try to mix 'em up on my threads this year. He can be a little pill, but I just love him.

>45 humouress: Thanks Nina! I'm happy to see you whenever you can stop by.

>46 ffortsa: The two communities (Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington) are about 8 miles apart, Judy. Both are small towns and it's mostly wheat fields in that space between, but we dine and shop in Moscow all the time.

>47 benitastrnad: Congrats on your impending retirement, Benita, even though the exact date ended up being a bit weird. And good luck identifying your retirement location! We're still looking at the Willamette Valley of Oregon, but we'll see.

>48 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. Oh, I love that you said that about how different things are for me now than they were in the first years at this gig. It's such a good reminder. I was so miserable and, honestly, now I'm not. I'm tired and definitely closing in on ready to spend more time reading, hiking, puzzling, gardening, and cooking, but I love my work again and I love most of the people with whom I work. It's nice to be going out, whenever the exact date ends up being, in such a good place!

Hi Ellen! I loved the Karen Pirie that I read, another series to get back to.

Retirement is good.

>5 EBT1002: Hi Ellen. Happy New Year! I very much like your puzzle. I started a 1,000 piece puzzle and for the first time in my history of putting puzzles together, I had to put it away. The colors were all the same, and it was too taxing. I am currently working on another 1,000 piece puzzle, this one given to me as a Christmas gift from my grand daughter Kayla's friend.

When reading your opening comments, I realize that even though I am retired, I still cannot keep up with posting on the threads. I vow to make more of a concerted effort this year.

Great to see you so energized, Ellen and clearly loving your first reads this year. I will wait for the paperback version of the O'Farrell and I am looking forward to it.

>32 EBT1002: Stay safe. There are far too many instances of violence in society these days.

Great to see your post, Ellen. Welcome back home - I bet it was so nice to be back with all your things. And fresh paint probably makes it feel like new. We really need to do that, but we will have to hire the living room done because the walls extend to the roof for the most part. We have a staircase and an upstairs hallway that cuts into part of the space, but most of it is completely open, so cathedral ceilings which are beautiful but not easy to paint.

>50 EBT1002: I am reading the first in that series after Rae and I watched and really enjoyed the first season of Karen Pirie on Amazon.

Hoping that the week is kind to you.

>49 EBT1002: The people I have worked with have always been one of the best parts of the job, a few, many years later, from different jobs, are still firm friends.

Ooo, a new interior house do, lovely. I'm not sure cats are permitted in hotels here Ellen. Bet Carson was happy to be home, even if he didn't recognise the colour scheme (did that change?).

>49 EBT1002: Hurray for new paint and for someone else doing the job! Glad the project is largely done and you are back home.

>50 EBT1002: Out of Bounds sounds really good. I will have to look up this author. Thanks.

>51 EBT1002: I gave that one 4 stars so enjoy The Thirteenth Tale. Also loved Once Upon a River so Setterfield is definitely a favorite author for me.

Happy Monday! Oh, and I just started The Candy House today.

Hope you have a great 2023 and that is the year of retirement! Best wishes!

Hi Ellen! I'm late as usual making the rounds and leaving stars.

I thought about you when the news was from Moscow, and now with the Pullman connection, all I can do is send good wishes and hugs. Hooray for Carson! I hope he is supporting you with many purrs.

You mentioned that you would be reading Irish books in anticipation of your trip. I'm reading a wonderful one right now, The Colony by Audrey Magee. I think I got the rec from Beth, so it may already be on your radar. My only caveat is that it takes place in 1979 during The Troubles and between each chapter is a short description of a Troubles Protestant or Catholic murder.

Happy reading in 2023, Ellen!

I hope your retirement works out this year. Sorry about the murders so near.
>2 EBT1002: I love that second photo of Carson :-)

3. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield 3.5 stars

I loved this novel by the author of Once Upon a River. Margaret Lea receives an invitation from a spectacularly prolific and popular author to write her biography. Reluctant at first, Margaret travels to the writer's home and gets caught up in her story. Stories within stories abound and, as a reader, it's easy to get caught up in them. A gothic suspense novel at heart, this is a wonderful ghost story, mystery, and homage to reading and literature all wrapped up together.

>63 EBT1002: I enjoyed this one too Ellen. I must pull Once Upon A River off the shelf soon, funny I was looking at it just this morning.

Hope all is well, Ellen and I was pleased to see that the Diane Setterfield hit the spot.

The Furrows by Namwali Serpell 3 stars

The first part of this novel was really working for me. Cee relates the circumstances of her little brother's death -- she was 12 and he was 7 when he died a terrible accidental death, one she witnessed and was helpless to prevent. She also describes her emotional reactions in a compelling and convincing voice, even as the story shifts unexpectedly. At first, the shifts are disorienting. But I quickly adjusted as the thread of grief steadily wove together the various narratives. Wayne's body was never found, no matter the other particulars of his demise, and Cee's mother clings to a desperate hope that he lives and will return. She starts Vigil, a foundation to support parents of missing children.

When the narration changes from Cee to Wayne (that Wayne??), the story clips along. His voice is also compelling and convincing, but I cared less. And, like any complicated grief (so few are uncomplicated, are they not?), "closure" never arrives. In that sense, this is an excellent novel. Its exploration of loss and grief and how familiars navigate them is original and, at times, oddly delightful.

Not the best novel I've read so far this year, but definitely noteworthy. And possibly one that will grow in my regard as it simmers.

currently reading:

The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks

and

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (reread)

Hey, you're doing a lot of reading so far, Ellen. It seems like you're back on track.

I just finished The Candy House! Really enjoyed some of the stories. Great book to discuss. Love your current reads. : )

>66 EBT1002: I wasn't thrilled with The Furrows either, possibly because my expectations were so high given its status on the NY Time Best Books list. I thought it was a really compelling picture of trauma and grief, but I was very uneasy about the second part - the relationship seemed manipulative and creepy.

Hi Ellen, dropping by to wish you well! Carson is definitely a cutie.

5. The Candy House by Jennifer Egan 4.5 stars

"But knowing everything is too much like knowing nothing: without a story, it's all just information."

Second in the loosely-defined Goon Squad series, this collection of interrelated stories really worked for me. Imagine the first quarter of the 21st century unfolding with social media even more intrusive than it is: The Collective Unconscious is available for uploading all your memories (even the ones you don't remember) and, through the Mandala, you can access others' stories in a vivid virtual reality experience. How does this affect relationships? What does it mean to elude this network of shared knowledge, information, human experience...?

Some of the characters from the original Goon Squad reappear to good effect. Egan is a master at creating characters and, once I let go of remembering each and every distant connection between them ("now whose cousin is that again and how are they related by marriage to the main character of this story?"), the ride was thoroughly enjoyable. Some stories worked better than others, of course, but overall it was one of my best reading experiences so far this year.

Thanks to Beth and Kim for sharing the experience!

Well, at this rate I'm on track to fall far short of 75 books this year, but it is what it is.

I'll now return to Russell Banks' The Magic Kingdom and see if I can finish it by Tuesday. Monday morning I'm flying to Seattle for a very quick work trip, flying home Tuesday night. Hopefully I'll get some reading time on the plane and in the hotel that night. And I do have the weekend....

I'm still agonizing over the exact timing of my retirement but committed to broaching the topic with my boss before our annual February trip to Kaua'i. I'm surprised by how much angst this decision is causing me, but here's an important element of said angst: it's now about whether I want to retire. It's about the impact on others. It's about my team and various project or activities that are kind of mid-stream. So, I'm trying really hard to focus on What. I. Want.

We're getting a wee bit of snow today which we desperately need. The winter wheat (I live in the nation's leading wheat producing county) needs that blanket of snow to protect it from harsh cold temps and provide important moisture in late winter/early spring when it melts. Plus, if it's going to be winter, I'd just as soon it snow. We've had too much cold rain for my taste.

Okay, off to do laundry and read. Happy Saturday everyone!

Re: your retirement, Ellen - there will probably never be a good time to do it, especially given the nature of your job. Something will always come along, and if you don't prioritize yourself, no one else will. You are right to say you need to focus on what YOU want. I know it can feel selfish, but sometimes it's imperative.

Anyhoo! It's nice to see a check-in from you. I imagine you're counting the days until you leave for Hawaii!

>73 EBT1002:, >74 katiekrug: What Katie said. Take it from me, you don't want to wait to leave until you AREN'T considered an essential part of the team.

>73 EBT1002: No one ever died with the last words on lips 'I really wish I'd worked more'. Just saying.

I'm glad you loved The Candy House; it was one of my favorite reads from last year, and I enjoyed revisiting it. And yes, BE SELFISH.

Re: retirement: what everyone else said.

The organization will adapt, and you will be off having fun in the next stage of your life.

Somehow or other I have missed your thread until now, Ellen. I hope to keep track of you from here on out.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Just adding my 2 cents here. What everyone says is RIGHT. As long as there is a university, there will be students. As long as there are students, they will have needs. As long as they have needs, there will be professionals to deal with and meet those needs. It's called *society*. You have done amazing things there, important things. But it doesn't always have to be you. Please remember that you have needs, too and you are responsible for those as well, perhaps more so than all the rest. And you have a right to move on without guilt. I promise you, you won't be sorry. You won't have regret. As Nike said, just do it.

>73 EBT1002: One thing I have realized, Ellen, is that when I worry too much about the number, I don't get the books finished. Enjoy your reading and the number will take care of itself.

Leads me into the retirement issue. I don't yet have a feeling that I want to consider retirement but this is about thinking about yourself. Only you know best when and how is the best time for you to do so and importantly how you want to fill your days when you aren't working.

Have a lovely weekend, my friend. x

6. The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks 4 stars

"One cannot live a lie without believing that one is surrounded by liars and nothing is what it seems and no one is who he or she claims to be."

This fictional account of a Shaker community in the swamps and hammocks of central Florida (just about an hour south of where I grew up), set in the first couple decades of the 20th Century, is told by 89-year-old Harley Mann, narrated onto a set of reel-to-reel tapes and "discovered" years later in a library archives by the author. Harley came with his mother and younger siblings to the Shaker community at New Bethany as a 12-year-old boy. He instantly became enchanted and obsessed with 19-year-old Sadie Pratt, a non-Shaker living among them as she battles consumption. Eventually Harley and Sadie become secret lovers even as Harley battles jealousy and suspicion about her relationship with Elder John, the handsome and charismatic leader of the celibate and peaceable community. This leads to the drama foreshadowed (so many times) by the narrator as he leads us toward the sad but satisfying denouement.

The novel is 332 pages long and better editing might have brought it down to 300, but the story is interesting, the setting vivid, and the writing as lovely as I have come to expect from Russell Banks. Most of you know that I have a soft spot for a story set in Florida, especially if it captures the state before the swamps were filled and before the pine scrub flatlands were pretty much all covered with asphalt and cement block. Regardless, this was a worthwhile read and, especially for the last 75 pages or so, hard for me to put down.

Katie, Linda, Caroline, Beth, Laura, Shelley: to quote the Carrie Fisher character in "When Harry Met Sally," you're right, you're right, I know you're right.

Indeed, I do know you're right. There will never be a time when all the projects or initiatives are wrapped up and we're just trying to figure out what to do next.

I have a meeting with my boss February 8. I simply have to start the conversation.

Stasia, lovely to see you!

And Paul, thank you for both those threads of wisdom. I kind of cracked myself up after I'd posted about the number of books so far and then I flew through the last third of The Magic Kingdom. In some ways, my "thing" about retirement and my "thing" about reading as much as I like both fall in the theme of selfishness. Taking time to read, as everyone here knows, is a profoundly selfish (and I mean that in a good way!) act because it requires everyone around us to Leave. Us. Alone.

So. I am practicing being selfish.

You all are the best. Thank you so much for your collective support!!!

I've been perusing my shelves since finishing The Magic Kingdom. I have a couple books from the library and I do think I'll dig into one of those next. It's What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez. I really liked her novel The Friend.

Alarm gets set for 3am when I go to bed tonight. Leave for the airport at 4am, flight at 5:10. That timeline for getting a flight out of Pullman is one of the things I like about living here. (Trust me, there are plenty of things I do not like about living here.)

Happy Sunday everyone!

Speaking as one who didn't want to retire because the project wasn't finished, I am happy to report that my boss ignored that and forced the issue. As soon as I left the building, I felt the weight of all that stress simply vanish.

Tikkun Olam is the Jewish way of saying "the world needs fixing, and it's our job to fix it." In the words of the Talmud: "It is not upon you to finish the work, but you are not free to ignore it." You haven't been ignoring it. But the work will never be finished.

Safe travels, Ellen. The Banks novel sounds good.

I'll only add one thing to what others said about retirement. Don't wait so long to retire that you can't enjoy it. I've seen many university colleagues push retirement too late in their lives, and they've either become critically ill or died soon after retiring, missing out on the joys of not setting an alarm, not being able to travel, not being able to pursue those other dreams in their lives.

>84 EBT1002: Happy travels and travel reading, but ooof about the 3am start Ellen.

Wordle 589 4/6

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raise, wilts, disco, fishy

>84 EBT1002: That is normally my sort of time of day but I wouldn't really want to be traveling quite so early. Safe journey, Ellen.

>89 EBT1002: applause! see how easy that was? 😃

Have a great trip!

Safe travels, Ellen. I did a rare DNF of The Furrows. I just could not engage in it. I had not heard of The Magic Kingdom. Sounds like a good one.

I will be retiring effective March 1, 2023. I am happy with my decision even though I know that financially it would have been better to wait another 1 and 1/2 years. Lots of things played into my decision, but one of them is, that there is only so much time allotted to a life, and I have some things I want to do before I just stay at home and read. The world of higher education is high pressure. Most people don't know that, but it is all about performance, performance, performance. Evaluation after evaluation. Evaluation of performance, evaluation of procedures, and evaluation of programs. That is a constant grind. There is no down time. I also know that an institution of higher education is all about turnover and change. Students, professors, professional staff, all cycle through the system. Whatever decision you make the bureaucracy will continue to grind. Somebody up-thread said it right when they said there is always work to be done. That will never stop. You will stop before the bureaucracy does.

Wordle 590 4/6

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adieu, least, brace, crave

This really is addictive.

>95 EBT1002: - Yes. Yes it is. :-) Welcome to the club.

Wordle 591 3/6

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Wordle 592 3/6

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adieu, chord, scold

Trip to Seattle was productive and fun. Bought several books at Third Place Books in Seward Park (more about that soon). Dined at two excellent restaurants. Home very late last night.

I'll finish What Are You Going Through tonight.

Hi Ellen, I am a belated visitor, apologies. I am going to add >82 EBT1002: to my wishlist, sounds good.

I would also add to the vote to prioritize yourself re leaving. Several very senior staff have left my institution whilst I've been working there. People move on. And your team have the advantage that they have been trained and supported by you.

>99 EBT1002: Glad it was a good trip Ellen.

I started reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks this morning. Only one chapter in, I can already tell it’s going to be a good read!

I'm glad you had a good trip!

Yay for Horse. I'm not going to reread it at this time, especially as my RL book club will be reading it this summer. I'll look in on the thread, though.

Two more for you to try (or not) Dordle: https://zaratustra.itch.io/dordle
Quordle: https://quordlegame.com/

Wordle 593 4/6

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react, flour, drips, shirk

Well, I'm headed back to Seattle tomorrow. 5am flight over, back home at midnight. I have a "thing" on my scalp and some of you may remember I had Moh's surgery March 2, 2020. Such a memorable date. Anyway, the dermatologist could see me in May ... or tomorrow. Done.

I get time on the plane to read and books and I'll relish the whole day to myself in the city. Im not yet sure how I'll entertain myself.

>105 EBT1002: I hope that isn't a problem that leaves you scratching your head for too long, Ellen (sorry!).

I hope it is easily treatable and it is always better to take the first consultation date possible.

Ellen, I hope your medical visit is productive and takes care of the issue.

It's so nice to see you posting here again! How's Carson doing these days?

Enjoy your day despite it having a medical bent Ellen. Fingers crossed for that. Yes, sooner rather than later is always better for those things.

Wordle 594 3/6

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heart, tails, tasty

Completed sitting in a Starbucks in the U District near my old place of employment. 😀

Good luck at the doctor's, Ellen. I'm sure you'll find some way to occupy you in the down time. :)

Instead of whiling away your time, I see you are Wordling. : ) Good luck at the docs.

Wordle 595 5/6

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media, strip, topic, until, unlit
Hmph

I'm wiped out from the long day yesterday but it was worth it. Good news regarding my scalp -- a small spot of irritation but nothing to worry about. Whew.

I picked up a couple books: Snow by John Banville in a Little Free Library and Violeta by Isabel Allende at the Elliott Bay Books airport branch. I also purchased a new jacket and ordered some progressive reading glasses from Warby Parker.

I also got to see my old Seattle therapist and it was SO helpful in terms of my retirement drama. In addition to just deconstructing my ambivalence, she reminded me that when I moved from Seattle to Pullman, it was an intentional sacrifice that would allow me to retire sooner!! Also, she helped me remember that my plan all along was to work for five years. "You've done it!"

So this Wednesday I talk with the boss. Not "I'm thinking about retiring." Rather, "I'm going to retire."

Prudence has the bubbly in the fridge for Wednesday evening. 🙂

>113 EBT1002: - It sounds all good, Ellen! Productive in all the best ways. And you rewarded yourself, too! Yay for it all!

Today we did two things we've been meaning to do since we moved here.

First we went out to this Artisans' Barn in Uniontown, WA, a berg that makes Pullman feel like a metropolis. It was so cool. A ceramics class was underway and I brought home an info sheet about the classes. I'm going to register for a 10-pack of classes. Im so excited.

Then we went to the Appaloosa Horse Museum in Moscow, ID. It was really rather interesting, perhaps more so because I'm reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks. The Appaloosa is historically connected to this region, The Palouse, and the Nez Perce, Palouse, Wanapum, and Yakama tribes.

Now I'm tucked up in bed, played Wordle, read a bit, took a nap. Carson is curled up on my foot. Dinner out tonight.

>113 EBT1002: What a satisfying way to get a reminder of what the priorities are!

Happy weekend!

It sounds like your visit with your old therapist was a productive one. I am glad you have decided to retire!

A ceramics class sounds very neat. There is one in my small town as well and I always tell myself one day i'll do it.

Your cat is adorable ^.^

>113 EBT1002: Yay!

>115 EBT1002: Sounds like a great day.

>113 EBT1002: So glad you got to have that meeting with your therapist who could help you remember your stated goals and talk you through the retirement dilemma. Bubbly for Wednesday!!! Hurray!!

>115 EBT1002: I am only two chapters in to Horse but a great start. The Museum sounds fun and so does the ceramic class. : )

Enjoy dinner out.

What a great therapist, Ellen. I’m glad you were able to meet with them and get the clarity you needed.

We can all raise a glass to you on Wednesday!

So much good news! I'd love to visit the Appaloosa Horse Museum. The horse lovers in my family have always been partial to that breed.

>113 EBT1002: >115 EBT1002: Well that's all great news Ellen. I look forward to hearing the cork has been popped on that champagne. And your visits sound perfect. I did a ceramic's class a few years back and really enjoyed it.

>114 jessibud2: It was indeed good, Shelley. I may have over -rewarded myself, actually. The jacket is a Cotopaxi. It was 40% off but still.... 😬

So nice to see you here, Ellen!

>116 quondame: It was really helpful, Susan.

>117 figsfromthistle: I'm super excited about the ceramics class, figs. I took one when I was in graduate school and loved it. I've always said I would give it a try again so here is my chance! It will be a good way to enjoy some of what this area has to offer while we're still here.

>118 madamediotte: Thank you! Carson is pretty needy but he's also so very sweet.

>119 BLBera: Thanks Beth.

Time for breakfast. Prudence is making waffles. I'll be back later.

>120 Berly: Hi Kim! Dinner out last night was fun. Then we watched a couple new episodes of "Death in Paradise" (brain candy).

>121 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura. I'll certainly come check in on Wednesday and let y'all know how it went. I'm determined but still having to take deep breaths now and then. :-)

>122 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, the museum is kind of sweet. It's quite small but it has done a pretty good job of integrating information about the tribes on whose land we are squatting, their relationships with the horses, and such. Still, I'm sure there is important information and/or perspectives missing....

>123 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks Caroline. I'll loop back and update you all when Wednesday is done!

>125 BLBera: Thanks Beth. It's fun to be spending a bit of time with my LT buddies these days.

Today is laundry day. P and I will go to the women's basketball game at noon. We have the UConn vs South Carolina game on the Telly but I can't watch it. I hate UConn so much and I always feel like the refs are biased in their favor.

I'll read some in Horse today, and it's time to completely change out the cat litter. Leftovers for dinner. Nothing terribly exciting for this gray, rainy Sunday.

I forgot to post the stack of books I purchased on last week's first Seattle trip:

Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
Queenie: Godmother of Harlem by Elizabeth Columba and Aurelie Levy
Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
White Shadow by Roy Jacobsen
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
The Final Case by David Guterson

>129 EBT1002: It's ages since I read anything by Guterson Ellen. Nice haul.

Nice haul, Ellen. I have The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida on my shelf. Maybe that can be a future shared read??? Your day sounds perfect to me.

Wordle 596 4/6

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horse, plane, anime, dance

Inspired by my current read. Not sure it was very helpful.

>130 Caroline_McElwee: Snow Falling on Cedars may be the only thing I've read by Guterson, Caroline. It was, of course, an amazing novel. I believe there is a county in a state in the southeast U.S. (Kentucky? Virginia?) whose school board has banned it. Interracial romance and reckoning with the internment of Japanese Americans, you know.

>131 BLBera: I'd love to plan a shared read of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, Beth! It seems like it'd be good for discussion.

The Cougs won the basketball game so that's good.

I changed out the cat litter.

We had some chips and guacamole.

Now we're watching more women's hoops -- Utah at Oregon. I hate the Ducks.

34F and raining. We need snow!!!

>133 EBT1002: Snow Falling on Cedars was challenged in schools in California, Washington, Idaho, Texas and Ontario as well.

I love that in the stats for Wordle, there's a countdown of hours, minutes, and seconds until the next Wordle is available.

>135 laytonwoman3rd: Mind-boggling.

>135 laytonwoman3rd: You know, Linda, I read Snow Falling on Cedars a long time ago, relatively soon after it was published. I think I'll give it another read.

In 2024, as part of my retirement reading list, maybe I'll focus (partially) on books that have been banned.

>135 laytonwoman3rd: That is preposterous, Linda. I may go and read something by Guterson in protest.

I applaud your retirement decision, Ellen, because you have clearly given it very long and careful consideration. I'm not ready for that step yet myself but I hope when I am I have the confidence and support that you have managed. xx

>138 EBT1002: I read it way back then, too, and was thinking it might warrant a re-read. I saw the movie as well, but I don't think I cared much for that.

Hi Ellen! So glad that you have clarity on your retirement decision. And looking forward to having you closer to Portland.

What Rhonda ^ said. : )

>129 EBT1002: I've got Ducks on hold from the library. My daughter recently read it and really liked it - she commented how big the physical copy was though!

What Rhonda and Kim said ^. :)

>133 EBT1002: Let's talk later.

>131 BLBera:, >133 EBT1002: I just started the Seven Moons of Maali Almeida last night. Hope you two get started soon so that I can join your discussions!

Wordle 597 5/6

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arise, pilot, hitch, fifth, ninth

Ugh.

How are you coming along with Horse, Ellen? I should finish it tomorrow. It has been excellent.

I am loving Horse!!! I did make myself put it down this morning to go walk on the treadmill (which I now do watching The Great British Baking Show). I'm about halfway through and life is such that I may end up completing it on Saturday's flight.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

AND .... I told my Chief of Staff this morning!! She was very supportive and handled it just beautifully. I will tell the rest of my exec team this afternoon and then I'll tell my boss tomorrow. I realized that, since the only thing on the list of "reasons to keep working" is my team, why not tell them first?

>139 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. I feel so solid about the decision now. It has been an agonizing decision to make, though, that is for sure!

>140 laytonwoman3rd: Prudence happens to have picked up a used copy of Snow Falling on Cedars at our used bookstore here in town. I think she is planning to take it to Hawaii to read there. I'd like to do a group read/reread, maybe in April or May?

>141 banjo123: and >142 Berly: Thanks Rhonda and Kim!

>143 ursula: Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands is quite a chunkster, Ursula. I'll need to prop it up with a pillow in my lap to read it!

>148 EBT1002: I told my Chief of Staff this morning
Woo hoo! Way to go Ellen! You will be sooo glad you did this.

>144 BLBera: Thanks Beth. I really appreciate all the support I've been getting on this melodramatic decision-making process!

>144 BLBera: and >145 vivians: Shared read of the Seven Moons of Maali Almeida in March? Can we shoehorn it in?

>147 msf59: Horse is an excellent read, Mark. I'm about halfway through and loving it!

Wordle 598 4/6

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adieu, atone, aware, apple

I actually felt like I lost weight, when I made the decision to retire. Too bad that wasn't actually true but it sure felt like a weight was lifted. Good for you!

>148 EBT1002: Good for you!

>149 EBT1002: I will definitely consider reading along with Cedars if you do it in April or May.

>148 EBT1002: Do you have to do extra on your treadmill as you are now tempted to more baked goods Ellen?

Yay for sharing your news with your team first. Will be thinking about you tomorrow, and listening for the pop ... bubble.

Whew. I told my whole exec team -- there was shock, the "f" word got tossed about a bit (not at me, but in dismay), and ultimately there was nothing but understanding and support. One of them, who got a bit teary-eyed, said "you're the best boss I've ever had, hands down."
They *almost* made me want to change my mind.

Tomorrow, the boss.

>157 EBT1002: I am so glad! Good luck today.

I just entered my first wordle guess, what I thought was a pretty good starter word. Not one single yellow or green square. 😳

I am on page 211 of Horse. I just finished the chapter where Sallie, the mare Lexington competes with in his first race at Metairie, dies in the night. So beautiful and heartbreaking.

Wordle 599 5/6

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outer, plaid, claim, slain, flail

Really????

>161 EBT1002: "Really????" was my response too. And my grid looked a lot like yours even thought I had 3 useful letters to begin.
Wordle 599 5/6

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aisle, plain, claim, flair, flail

>149 EBT1002: Oh. regarding Snow Falling on Cedars, I tried reading that book ages ago, and found it so painful at the time that I put it down. Maybe I'll join you and see if I can get through it this time.

Wordle 600 5/6

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adieu, clean, share, skate, stage>

TGIF, Ellen. How was your discussion with the boss?

Good morning everyone. What a couple of days it has been. All the retirement stuff has gone kind of predictably.

I told my boss on Wednesday. I was so strong. "I'm going to retire." She was congratulatory and clearly shocked and a bit freaked out. Her leg started jiggling big time. So now I know her "tell."

Not 15 minutes after I left her office she texted me, asked if we could talk a bit more. In that conversation, she asked if I would consider delaying my retirement until the end of the calendar year. She didn't think they could get someone in to fill this "university mission critical role" by August. I said I'd consider it, and I did.

Yesterday I sent her an email, explicitly copying myself, saying that at her request I will delay my retirement until the end of the fall semester with two provisos: that I get to take a 3-week vacation in September (hello Ireland) and that my last day at work will be Friday, December 15, 2023. The italics were to make clear that, even if they don't have a successor in place, I'm not working past that date. I watched a colleague get sucked into "just two more months" and I'm not doing it.

This feels good and right. It feels like taking care of myself and it feels like doing this with the integrity I've always tried to bring to my work. My team is relieved and I think this will be better for them. Prudence is both disappointed and supportive. And I feel like I'm still in a powerful position with regard to advocating for things that matter. Frankly, the university has serious challenges right now: fiscally, reputation-wise.... Not all of it has been within our control but some of it has been about how the institution has responded to things publicly. I also know that yet another black eye is on the way. It may hit next week while I'm in Hawaii. Oh well. I care about the impact on my team but I continue to care less and less about the university itself.

I may sound less upbeat than I feel. A separate thing at work yesterday definitely fell in the category of "reasons to get the f*ck out" but I'm actually feeling solid. Ten months. December 15. No looking back!

And this time tomorrow I'll be on my way to Kaua'i. Aloha!!

That sounds like a very positive outcome, Ellen.
Do you have that Johnny Paycheck song on your playlist? You know, "Take this Job and Shove It"? It might help keep you motivated. But yeah, Kaua'i and Ireland will do that too.

Queen Bee!!!! 😎

Wordle 601 5/6

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about, media, deals, heard, heady

Grrr. I saw the word and almost used it as my fourth guess, but second-guessed myself when I saw what I actually used as my fourth guess. Not sure that makes sense but those of you who do Wordle will probably understand. I'm definitely on a 5-streak. 😕

>166 EBT1002: Well ultimately a good outcome, and one you can live with, and Ireland to give you a breather. Not to mention your current breather. Have you shaken out your grass skirt...

Good for you, Ellen! December 15th isn't really that far away.
Enjoy your trip! Hope you packed some good reading material!

Great news. Enjoy Hawai'i - and don't forget the shaved ice.😁

Kudos, Ellen. You've done yourself an enormous favor, having the retirement plan all laid out. Whatever comes along in the next 10 months, I'm sure it will be easier to handle knowing exactly how much longer you have to cope. AND now you have the boss's "tell"--that may come in handy. Also, she owes you now.

What Linda said >173 laytonwoman3rd:.

I'm happy for you to have a plan. The time will fly by!

Enjoy Hawaii!

Hurray! Job well done. I like the italics emphasizing your final day. : ) Have a blast in Kaua'i!!

Congrats! I am glad that you have a definitive date! Have fun in Hawaii!

Wordle 602 3/6

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alone, sited, debug

Yes!

That must be such a relief, Ellen. Finally after much soul searching a retirement plan in place. Enjoy your break in Hawaii!

Thanks for the retirement update. That sounds like a solid plan; and I bet that knowing you are a short-timer will make the job feel less stressful.

Congrats - great news, and so glad the communication part went so well. Hope you're both enjoying Hawaii!

Wordle 603 3/6

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aisle, cigar, giant

I finished Horse by Geraldine Brooks. I gave it 4.5 stars. I loved it despite feeling a bit emotionally manipulated.

Started The Cape Cod Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor, first published in 1931. Not yet sure what I think...

Oh, and ... I just booked this little "condo" (that doesn't really fit the place we stay, but I don't know what else to call it) for twenty-four nights in January/February 2024!! #EmbracingRetirement

24 nights!!!! Yes!! Glad to see you embracing your Retirement commitment. : )

>182 EBT1002: Sounds good to me too. Congratulations!

>182 EBT1002: Yes! Maybe we should have a reading retreat.

The 'condo' booking sounds just perfect as the start of your liberation from work Ellen.

Wordle 604 3/6

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raise, stale, usage

Aloha living must be good for me. I've had three three-spots in a row.

Wordle 605 3/6

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louse, south, sound

I'm enjoying this streak of threes. And this was a fun word to start with. 😀

I envy your streak! I feel like I used to get more 3s than I've been getting lately. 3s still beat out 5s on my little bar chart, but 4s are "winning". Darn it.

Happy aloha! What books did you take for the beach?

I was lucky to get Wordle today. I had the last four letters and there were 7 possibilities for the first. My intuition is off, but I squeaked it in 6....

Wordle 606 5/6

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suite, shoal, slang, sadly, salsa

This was a tricky one for me.

I've been slogging my way through The Cape Cod Mystery this whole week. Ugh. I'll be happily leaving it behind.

I brought A Death in Vienna by Frank Tallis and The Orchardist, both of which I really want to read. I also have Demon Copperhead queued up but the wifi doesn't seem to be strong enough for my kindle to get connected.

So, it has been a good week so far but not necessarily in terms of reading.

The 2.5 stars I'm giving to The Cape Cod Mystery feel generous. The solution was rather fun, but the narrative was slow. In my opinion, if you're going to re-publish a novel originally published in 1931, you can edit out the oh-so-casually used n-word. And I just never cared whodunnit.

>193 EBT1002: Agreeing Ellen.

I hope you are resting and having fun though.

Too bad you got a dud mystery. At least you get to read it in a great setting. What flavor of shaved ice have you enjoyed?

Wordle 607 3/6

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A Death in Vienna is much better!

JoJo’s Shave Ice has been out of ice cream all week. We’ve gotten shave ice twice (it’s almost as good without ice cream underneath all that lusciously sweet ice) but we’ll go back today as they’re supposed to be back in stock. I tend to get tropical flavors: mango, lilikoi, coconut, pineapple. Prudence likes the Ha Coffee.

A Death in Vienna and shaved ice cream sounds great! That also sounds wrong. LOL

It's our last day on the island and it's a rainy one. We'll read, do the mandatory shopping for gifts to take home (it's absolutely not acceptable to return to the office without chocolate covered macadamia nuts!), watch for whales. If we get a break in the rain, we'll wander down to "turtle cove" to look for honu.

One thing I haven't reported on is the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles that come up on Poipu Beach to rest every night. They used to come up after sunset but the volunteer Honu Guard told us yesterday that they're coming up earlier. At 4pm yesterday there were already four resting on the sand. The other night I stayed long enough to see 18 of them! They're huge and magnificent. They're also a Threatened species and I worry that their change in behavior is either climate related or just human pressure related. This island has been discovered by so many tourists. Count Prudence and Ellen among them. As P said the other day, "I know we (humans) are loving this island to death, but I do love it."

We've booked for 24 nights next January/February. We try to tread lightly but I know we're part of the problem.

Sounds like a fun vacation! Safe travels back.

The turtles sound awesome.

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Safe travels, Ellen. The turtles sound amazing.

Love that you got to see the turtles!! And that you are booked for next year again. And you are a genius on the Wordle!

>199 EBT1002: Ooo, I do hope there will be some turtle photos Ellen. The symbol of longevity, I hope that includes their own, but share your concern.

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aimed, align, aboil, avail

This one had me nearly stumped.

Flying home today. All set with A Death in Vienna and several NYT crosswords set up on my iPad. It is in the 30s in Pullman.

300 days until retirement. 😀

Safe travels!

Home.

Time for ZZZZZZZZZZZZ......

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Zzzzzz-ing was difficult but now I’m sitting up in bed with coffee. It’s so gray and cold here. Carson is cuddled up under the covers with me. He was fussy for a few hours but seems to have settled back into his best life — a weekend day with two moms at home.

We’ll go to the last home game of the women’s basketball team at noon, do some grocery shopping and laundry. I really should go into the office for a couple hours to wade through the week’s worth of email but I may just go in extra early tomorrow.

I’m almost done reading A Death in Vienna, which has been very enjoyable. I’ll definitely continue the series. I’ve enjoyed the PBS series, Vienna Blood, as well.

I have Demon Copperhead queued up on my kindle and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow waiting for me at the local library.

Glad to know you are safely home and Carson is happy!

Welcome home, Ellen! Your vacation sounds fabulous, especially those turtles.

Welcome home, Ellen. I hope your first day back isn't too stressful.

Welcome back!

The PBS series Vienna Blood has piqued my interest in the Vienna of the pre-WWI era as well. I have managed to find several works of fiction and nonfiction about that time that I want to read. I have a couple of the books by Frank Tallis and I guess I should devote some time to reading them now that I will have a bit more time for reading. (Only 7 more days of work until I am retired!)

>199 EBT1002: Sounds lovely! When we went to Malaysia we saw turtles in the sea, but we didn’t see any adults come up on land. We put our names down to be woken up if any came ashore to lay eggs but none did in the time we were there. (I always thought turtles all laid their eggs at the same time, and the babies all hatched at the same time, but apparently not the species that nested in the beach where we were staying). The hotel had all the buildings back from the beach so that the babies weren’t confused by the lights. But anyway, they put all the eggs in a turtle nursery to keep them safe from predators and then the evening of their hatching they released them onto the beach, so we did seem the baby turtles scurry down the beach into the sea, which was a highlight of that holiday.

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Back to work today.

I finished A Death in Vienna last night although P and I also watched a couple new episodes of “Death in Paradise.” Total brain Candy but easy going when I can feel the stress creeping in around the corners.

Today I start Demon Copperhead. Yay!

I loved Demon Copperhead; it's one I might have to own...

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I've only read the first three chapters of Demon Copperhead but I'm loving it so far. Honestly, yesterday was a perfect first-day-back to remind me of why I'm retiring. I came home angry and distracted.

P and I had a delicious dinner and watched women's basketball (Stanford vs UCLA) and another "Death in Paradise." I didn't even have the energy to read for a while in bed before sleep.

This morning feels better. I've had my quiet reading time and I'm mustering the stamina I need for another 297 days. I can do this.

>222 EBT1002: you can indeed do this, Ellen. The end of the year will be here before you know it.

Also, can I say how wonderful it is to have you back as an active member of the group? Real life intervenes for all of us from time to time, and I get that. But I really missed having you around and I'm thrilled every time I see new unread messages on your thread.

>223 lauralkeet: Laura, thank you for those kind words! I'm enjoying being back, trying to visit even a couple of threads each day. Carson and I are having to negotiate access to my lap, of course. 😉

You can do it, Ellen.

BTW, I have Feb. 23, Thursday at 8 p.m. my time for our Zoom.

>225 BLBera: Got it. Thanks Beth. I'll be there!

Demon Copperhead is wonderful! It's the kind of read I long for.

Yesterday was better. So, I can indeed do this.

Today is cold and windy with a little bit of snow. I've got a long day on tap with a meeting with student government at 5:30. I also meet with my boss this afternoon. We'll see how that goes. I feel like she's always careful to be on her very best behavior with me. Interesting.

There is a group that gets together rather randomly to do wine tasting. It's called 5:01 and is one of the highlights of living here. We're having this group over on Saturday for a "margarita smack down." Sort of The Great British Baking Show without celebrities. It should be fun ... and, truth be told, I'm a wee bit worried about the level of alcohol consumption. We'll have lots of food and I'll make sure there is water and other nonalcoholic beverages for folks to include in their intake. Prudence is making her stuffed jalapeño peppers. Yum.

>227 EBT1002: oh how fun! I understand your concern but it sounds like like you have a good plan. I suppose you could also offer yourself as a chauffeur at the end of the night, should it be required.

Here is my new fun anticipatory fantasy:

I purchase my t.p. from Who Gives A Crap and it means I occasionally have a pretty large box to use for whatever (the t.p. is delivered in 48-roll boxes, no plastic). By around next November, I'll place one of these empty boxes in my study at home. When I wear something to work and think "nope, I don't need to keep this any longer," I can wash it, fold it, and put in in the box for later transport to the local thrift store.

This is truly a wonderful thought.

>228 lauralkeet: Well, that would require a bit of restraint on my own part.... hahaha

Hi Ellen...how have I not visited for so long?! Oh...right...those pestiferous strokes. I'm delighted for you and P that 15 December is set in stone. It's stress-reducing in the highest degree to have a made decision to build on.

Sending hugs!

>229 EBT1002: We have that as well - maybe I should try that too.

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Crazy.

Hi Ellen! No excuses, I starred you and haven’t come by for a visit yet. The pics of Carson are absolutely adorable. Carson’s heated bed is a riot. Spoiled much?

>4 EBT1002: I have read the Val McDermid – she’s so wonderful, loved The Thirteenth Tale, and still have not read Hamnet, on my shelves, so need to get cracking on that before getting/reading The Marriage Portrait.

>32 EBT1002: Seven years? Wow. Time sure does fly. I wish you luck in re-embracing a healthier eating lifestyle. I personally am on a reduced-sodium regimen for the rest of my life, and after 15 months, it’s gotten quite easy. Definitely helps with the blood pressure.

>73 EBT1002: and >113 EBT1002: whether I want to retire. It's about the impact on others. It's about my team and various project or activities that are kind of mid-stream. So, I'm trying really hard to focus on What. I. Want. Well. *blinks* Whether instead of when, but glad you got back to when. My thoughts about retiring in late 2015 and when I actually retired in 2016 were and are that Nobody Is Indispensible. In the long run what you need for you and P is more important than an organization that might stutter a bit but will recover.

…skippety-skip-skip…

>206 EBT1002: Ah. A timeline. Congrats.

>229 EBT1002: What a good idea! Our next box of Who Gives a Crap tp arrives in 2 weeks, and I can just put the empty one in my closet, which I’m slowly going through.

>234 karenmarie: Karen! So good to see you and thank you for that thread perusal post. Made me smile.

I'm very set and focused on December 15. It goes public at the university the week after next. It'll be interesting to see how things shift once everyone knows I'm on my way to better things.

In the meantime, we need to get cracking on finalizing plans for Ireland in August/September. We have a trip to visit my Tennessee family in May. And I've got our little 700 square foot condo booked for 24 nights next January/February. It helps to have things to look forward to.

On tap for today: haircut, work, zoom call with Beth and Kim. Should be an okay day. It's 9F here so our poor furnace is going almost nonstop.

I'm still loving Demon Copperhead. The reading experience is nostalgic. Not because of the novel itself but because of how engrossed I am in it. Pure reading heaven.

>236 EBT1002: I'm thrilled to see you're enjoying Demon Copperhead as much as I did, Ellen. I thought it was a masterpiece.

And a day that includes a Zoom call with Beth and Kim is bound to be a better-than-okay day!!

>237 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura!

Hi Ellen. :)

I think Demon Copperhead is going to be on many prize lists this year.

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slate, round, mayor, favor, arbor

I almost guessed this in three, doubted myself instead. Then that fourth guess was just lack of concentration. Rats.

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adieu, stoic, light, minty, fifty

Great discussion of Horse, Ellen. I think we have even better discussions when we don't all agree.

I had a great time at my retirement party yesterday. Students who worked for me in the past showed up and it was great to see them. My "crew" back from the beginning of my employment here showed up as well. The biggest surprise was that my cousin and his family drove all the way from Kansas for a 2 hour party. I had flowers delivered from another cousin that was unexpected. I read a short story to the group from an E.L. Koningsburg book that I has first used with elementary school students back in the day - and I had such a good time reading it to the group. I am thinking that somewhere there might be a library or school that needs somebody to come in a read stories to kids - and I might be that person. The short story was Night of the Leonids from the book Altogether One At A Time. I hope the people listening to it had as much fun as I did reading it. Then a graduate student I had worked with on a mixed media dissertation, and is a former professional opera singer, sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." It was a really good party.

There was an article in the Chronicle in January that advised people who were retiring to have a retirement party as it was a good way to provide closure. I am not sure about that, as I have two more days of work and am facing them with great trepidation, but I can say that the party was great fun.

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raise, tours, surly, syrup

>237 lauralkeet: Demon Copperhead as a masterpiece. I think I'm going to agree with that, Laura!

>238 BLBera: I'm starting to read predictions for the Women's Prize long list and Demon Copperhead is on every list I've seen.

>242 BLBera: I agree, Beth. I also enjoy how our conversations refine my own reaction/appreciation of the book.

>243 benitastrnad: I'm so glad your retirement party was fun, Benita. My plans will go public the week after next. I know I'm entering a phase of work all its own thing. I'm determined to stay fully engaged but I think about December 15 every single day.

Last night we had a group of friends over for margarita tasting. It was great fun. I think we had six different versions that we shared. Small pours, thank goodness. Lots of good food: empanadas, taquitos, stuffed jalapeños, and lots of chips with guacamole and salsa.

This morning I had an event on campus. Now I'm home doing laundry and watching some women's basketball. Cheering for Iowa in their contest with Indiana.

>247 EBT1002:
I was going to tell you (somewhere upthread) to not worry too much about people over drinking at a tasting party. I belong to a wine club and we are very judicious about wine. Each person in the group (there are usually 7 or 8 of us) get two fingers of wine in a tasting glass. One bottle will get about that much for each person. We usually taste two kinds of wine, sometimes three. That is enough for us. That small amount of wine with good food doesn't cause any problems. We are there to taste the wine, not to get drunk.

>247 EBT1002: I love the margarita tasting idea! Adding it to my to do list for summer get togethers. Sounds so fun!

I love Women's Prize time of year. I can't wait to see what they pick. I always find some great reading by new-to-me writers.

Your party sounds like fun.

>248 benitastrnad: Thanks Benita.

>249 Carmenere: It was a really fun event, Linda. Not everyone "competed" in the margarita "contest" but everyone tasted and we all provided our thoughts about each. And, you know, just lots of storytelling and laughter.

>250 BLBera: Same here, Beth. I enjoy the Booker Prize but I think I more reliably find new novels I want to read from the Women's Prize long list.