karenmarie's reading in 2023 - part I

Welcome to my first thread of Two Thousand and Twenty-Three!

The Good: Family, friends, kitties, books, in constantly-rotating order. Treadmill work has been iffy because of the ruptured Bakers Cyst I’ve been dealing with since October. However, I’m having a visit with an orthopedic surgeon on January 5th to evaluate for knee replacement surgery and, I hope, schedule it. Jenna’s home. She started a job in September 2022 and it’s turning out to be a very good fit for her. I love having her here and realize that this may be the last time we get this much time together.

The Bad and the Sad: Covid is barely contained. Ukraine is still fighting for its survival as an independent country. Women’s rights in the US are under continuing attack. Racism is alive and well and able to easily organize on the Internet. The haves keep wanting more and more and the have nots keep getting shafted more and more.

The Ugly: The Gang of Psychos continue to work hard to destroy our Republic. Even though I have always disagreed with most of their policies, at least they weren't right-wing nut jobs until you-know-who reared his ugly, evil, puerile head.

The encouraging: The overturn of Roe v. Wade has woken some folks up, even members of the GOP.

I’ll be 70 this summer. Like everybody else who gets there, I think “How did I get to be old? Not in a bad way, just a real way.

I am so glad I’m retired, and am beyond grateful that I don’t have to venture out to work to earn a living ever again. I paid my dues. Every day I don’t work is a cause for celebration.

I read and am a charter member of the Redbud and Beyond Book Club, started in 1997. We started meeting in person again last May. This book club year ends in April, with May to pick 11 books – one for each member – for the 2023-2024 year. I am President for our local Friends of the Library. I gave my resignation, effective June 30, 2023 at the July meeting. I’ll stay on the Board as Immediate Past President for however long the next President serves, then completely leave the Board and just stay on the Book Sale Team. The Book Sale Team meets on Tuesday to sort donations for the upcoming Spring 2023 sale.

I have been married to Bill for 31 years and am mother to Jenna, 29. The three of us live in our own little corner of paradise on 8 acres in central North Carolina USA.

We have three kitties. Inara, Zoe, Wash. Couldn't resist including Jenna with this pic of Wash.


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The picture I used for our 2022 Christmas card.
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My goal last year was 75 books, based on what I thought would be a tough reading year because of my health. Ha. I read over 300 books, mostly on my Kindle, mostly using Kindle Unlimited. They were, as my daughter calls them, smut, and my friend Karen in Montana calls porn. *shrugs* I really, really enjoy reading this subgenre of contemporary fiction/romance and will continue until it no longer interests me. This coming year’s goal is back to 100, but depending on what I read in January, I may up the goal. I’ll still set the pages read to 30,000, but that’s not an official goal, only a guideline.

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New Year’s Resolutions – 2023

Health:

Lose a minimum of 20 pounds.
Work out for cardio health 3 times a week when appropriate given potential knee surgeries.
Get knee replacement surgery (ies?) and assiduously follow through with all PT and other requirements.
Reduce red meat consumption and increase salmon and other healthy fish consumption.
Continue low-sodium lifestyle and gradually work to reduce sugared items to 2-3 times a week.

Reading:

Read 5% nonfiction this year if continuing with startling numbers of contemporary fiction - i.e., romances, otherwise 10% if the romance trend tapers off.
Inventory all book shelves in house, ruthlessly cull that which I won’t read/re-read and which Jenna won’t want when I’m gone. ~123 shelves = 10/month.
Finish The Federalist Papers, Pilgrim, re-start and finish Run With the Horsemen, a gift from Peggy.
Read A Brief Introduction to the New Testament by Bart D. Ehrman with friend Karen in Montana.
Maybe read Don Juan by George Gordon, Lord Byron, with Peggy.

House:

Get the Parlour back under control by making a decision about each thing in the room and immediately following through properly: keep and store, toss, donate.

Inter-personal:

Be in better touch with family and friends. I tend to isolate when stressed.

General:

As Judy says, pay attention.
Express gratitude for what I have - family, friends, intangibles and tangibles - every day.

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2023. I have high hopes for my daughter living at home and socking money away for the eventual move to an apartment of her own. I have high hopes for my knees with knee replacement surgeries. The new normal for Covid will, I hope, be continued vigilance and an eventual regimen of yearly vaccines as we do with flu. With politics, who knows, but I hope the Democrats continue to keep the Gang of Psychos in check as much as possible and the world does not implode via Putin/nuclear/Ukraine, Kim Jung Un in North Korea ditto nuclear, and the Middle East with Israel and Iran ditto nuclear. See a potentially devastating theme here?

Books Read - last year was 324

1. Glamorous by Romeo Alexander 12/31/22 1/1/23 202 pages Kindle
2. Commitment Issues by Ali Ryecart 1/1/23 1/2/23 372 pages Kindle
3. Take My Breath Away by Ali Ryecart 1/2/23 1/3/23 395 pages Kindle
4. Out of the Shadows by Ali Ryecart 1/3/23 1/4/23 364 pages Kindle
5. Loose Connection by Ali Ryecart 1/4/23 1/5/23 354 pages Kindle
6. Corporate Bodies by Ali Ryecart 1/5/23 1/6/23 318 pages Kindle
**abandoned Release by Ali Ryecart** 106 pages
**abandoned Time for Love by Laura N. Andrews** 84 pages
**abandoned Imperfect by Ali Ryecart** 52 pages
7. Hotline by Quinn Anderson 1/6/23 1/6/23 276 pages Kindle
8. Alaska by Cate Ashwood 1/6/23 1/7/23 182 pages Kindle
9. Bishop Ridge by Cate Ashwood 1/7/23 1/8/23 187 pages Kindle
10. Copper Creek by Cate Ashwood 1/8/23 1/8/23 198 pages Kindle
11. Bet on Love by A.F. Zoelle and Ariella Zoelle 1/9/23 1/10/23 178 pages 2020
**abandoned First Comes Marriage by Shira Anthony** 145 pages
12. Ex-Factor by CJ Bishop 1/10/23 1/10/23 22 pages Kindle 2022
13. Hot Boss by Scarlet Blackwell 1/10/23 1/11/23 110 pages Kindle 2021
14. The Mechanic and the Surgeon by Steve Milton 115 pages Kindle 2015
**abandoned Captured by Scarlet Blackwell** 82 pages
**abandoned Ironhearted by Cate Ashwood** 156 pages
15. The Best Man Problem by Jace Hadley 1/11/23 1/12/23 248 pages Kindle
16. Show Me Wonders by Riley Nash 1/13/23 1/14/23 327 pages Kindle
17. Hold me Under by Riley Nash 1/14/23 1/15/23 336 pages Kindle
18. Christmas Special by Riley Nash 1/15/23 1/16/23 261 pages Kindle
19. Gruff Touch by R. Cayden 1/16/23 1/17/23 170 pages Kindle
20. Off Limits by Riley Hart 1/18/23 1/18/23 265 pages Kindle
21. Trusting Tanner by Nicky James 1/19/23 1/20/23 197 pages Kindle
22. Not So Nice by Emma Lyon 1/20/23 1/21/23 215 pages Kindle
23. Reunion by Lynn Van Dorn 1/21/23 1/22/23 312 pages Kindle
24. Rebound by Lynn Van Dorn 1/23/23 1/23/23 381 pages Kindle
25. Be My Mistake by Lynn Van Dorn 1/23/23 1/23/23 92 pages Kindle
26. Wild By Nature by Lynn Van Dorn 1/23/23 1/23/23 134 pages Kindle
27. Damage Control by Lynn Van Dorn 1/24/23 1/24/23 426 pages Kindle
28. Delicious by Stella Starling 1/25/23 1/26/23 249 pages Kindle
**abandoned, 8 books** 693 pages
29. Sem by Cora Rose 1/27/23 1/28/23 276 pages Kindle
30. Whit by Cora Rose 1/28/23 1/29/23 290 pages Kindle
31. Emery by Cora Rose 1/29/23 1/29/23 294 pages Kindle
32. Luke by Cora Rose 1/30/23 1/30/23 276 pages Kindle

Currently Reading:

Pilgrim by Timothy Findley 6/20/22 486 pages hardcover 1999
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith audiobook 11/1/22 2022
Not What It Seems by Nicky James 1/27/23 Kindle 2021
Lex by Cora Rose 1/30/23 Kindle 2022
The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde 1/24/23 23 306 pages hardcover 2020
The Federalist edited by Jacob E. Cooke 5/28/22 656 pages hmakeardcover 1961

adds - last year was 371, with way too many Kindle books. Kindle Unlimited will reduce that number significantly this year. I hope. We'll see.

1. Kindle - Dangerous Books For Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels Explained: Expanded Edition by Maya Rodale (BB from Meg)
2. Kindle - The Mechanic and the Surgeon by Steve Milton free :)
3. Kindle - Hot Boss by Scarlet Blackwell
4. Kindle - The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem
5. Kindle - Remember Him by Steve Milton
6. Amazon - Livid by Cai Emmons
00 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle - got rid of all L'Engle's books in a fit of pique, just found them all, want to keep this one, but won't count it against my acquisitions. A happy surprise finding it.
00 New Testament - family Bible never entered into LT before
7. Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem
8. Everything You Need to Know When I'm Gone
9. The New Testament Greek and English edited by Kurt Aland et. al.

culls - only 88. I hope for more this year with my resolution to completely inventory my catalog yielding books that need to be rehomed.

1. The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
2. American Sphinx by Joseph J. Ellis
3. The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay
4. The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay
5. The Darkest Road by Guy Gavriel Kay
6. The Chameleon's Shadow by Minette Walters - duplicate
7. Montana 1948 by Larry Watson - trade paperback - duplicate
8. The Bishop's Secret by T.C. Fairley
9. The Billionaire's Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace
10. Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks
11. Sons by Evan Hunter
12. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
13. The Player by Brad Parks
14. The Fraud by Brad Parks
15. Say Nothing by Brad Parks
16. Eyes of the Innocent by Brad Parks
17. Faces of the Gone by Brad Parks
18. The Politics of Rich and Poor by Kevn Phillips
19. The Forgotten War: America in Korea, 1950-1953 by Clay Blair
20. A History of the Twentieth Century by Martin Gilbert
21. Waking Raphael by Leslie Forbes
22. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - mass market paperback, 50th anniv edition, duplicate
23. The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George
24. Complete Works of Lewis Carroll - yellowed
25. Fowler's Modern English Usage - everything I'd ever need is online

YTD Statistics Through December 31

324 Books Read
17 of them on my shelves before 1/1/22 and not rereads
35 books abandoned, 4101 pages abandoned
93099 pages read
107 audiobook hours
Avg pages read per day, YTD = 255
Avg pages read per book, YTD = 287

Book of the Month: Hopelessly Bromantic and Here Comes My Man by Blake Lively

Books by Month
January - 4 paper books 1312 pages, 1 audiobook 19 hours
February - 14 paper books, 2473 pages
March - 10 paper books, 3193 pages, 1 audiobook 19.5 hours
April - 9 paper books, 3173 pages, 1 audiobook 18 hours
May - 36 e-books, 13344 pages including 2 books abandoned with 252 pages counted
June - 31 e-books and 1 paper book, 10,849 pages, including 1 book with 49 pages abandoned
July - 37 e-books and 1 audio book 36 hours, 10,030 pages including 1 book with 111 pages abandoned
August - 31 e-books, 8,550 pages, including 7 books with 749 pages abandoned
September - 34 e-books and 1 audio book 14.5 hours, 9,211 pages plus 6 books abandoned with 515 pages
October - 34 e-books (again!), 5 books abandoned with 910 pages
November - 37 e-books, 1 paper book, 9544 pages plus 3 books abandoned with 409 pages
December - 40 e-books, NO paper books, 9066 pages plus 9 books abandoned with 1,048 pages

Author
Male 11%
Female 89%

Living 99%
Dead 1%

US Born 81%
Foreign Born 19%

Platform
Hardcover 4%
Trade Pback 4%
Mass Market 3%
Audiobook 2%
e-Book 87%

Source
My Library 46%
Library 2%
Kindle Unlimited 51%
Borrowed from a friend 1%

Misc
ARC/ER 0%
Re-read 1%
Series 85%

Fiction 98%
NonFiction 2%

Author Birth Country
Australia 6%
Canada 2%
England 9%
Germany 1%
Ireland 1%
Sweden 1%
US 80%

Original Decade Published
1870-1879 0.3%
1950-1959 0.3%
1980-1989 0.3%
1990-1999 2.1%
2000-2009 10%
2010-2019 48%
2020-2029 39%

Category
Contemporary Fiction 69%
Crime Fiction - Mystery, Thriller, Suspense 7%
Fantasy 1%
Graphic Novel 0.3%
Historical Fiction 21%
Informational Nonfiction 2%
Poetry 0.3%
Science Fiction 0.3%

Acquisition/Source Date
2007 - Joined LT, added 1853 books 2
2011 8
2013 1
2018 1
2019 2
2020 1
2021 5
2022 111
All other 193

Average Rating
2.0 - Bad 4
2.5 - Average 6
3.0 - Good 28
3.5 - Very Good 42
4.0 - Excellent 157
4.5 - Outstanding 46
5 - Masterpiece 1

Average Rating 3.85
Books acquired YTD 371
Books culled YTD 88

edited to add: Starting # of books in catalog: 5516

December Lightning Round

Firecracker by Lucy Lennox and May Archer 11/30/22 12/1/22 Kindle

Small town rivalries are at the heart of this story of Flynn ‘Firecracker’ and JT, who have a love-hate relationship. When JT returns to the small town to try to get Flynn to sign with his company for distribution rights to Honeybridge Mead, we realize it’s truly love. It takes the heroes a bit to get there, along with sibling problems, mother problems, and potential relationship sabotage. HEA and caveat emptor re sex.

Boyfriend Goals by Riley Hart 12/1/22 12/2/22 Kindle

Milo, neurodivergent, inherits his biological mother’s mother’s bookstore/building. The other half is rented to a tattoo parlor owned by Gideon, who lives in the upstairs apartment. These two divergent men immediately care for each other, and with a few ups and downs, have their HEA. I really liked the way the author writes about Milo’s autism and the way Gideon understands and accepts him. There are a few low-angst family issues and random bits of humor. Very sweet, and caveat emptor re sex.

Off Plan by May Archer 12/2/22 12/3/22 Kindle

Doctor Mason Bloom flees a broken engagement to take a posh position on an island getaway. Problem is, it’s a run-down eyesore with just enough people left to keep it going. Sort of. Fenn Reardon, nephew of the town mayor who fled to the island 5 years earlier after a romantic betrayal, picks him up from the airport. Immediate sparkage, lots of fun and eccentric characters, buried treasure, and HEA. May Archer has a good way with situation and dialogues – belly laughs all the way, along with a sigh or two for True Love. Caveat emptor re sex.

On the Run by May Archer 12/3/22 12/3/22 Kindle

Mason’s best friend, Toby, flees NYC after a compromising photo of him appears although you can only see a distinctive tattoo on his shoulder. He comes to visit Mason, who, along with Fenn, has gone to NY to see new niece or nephew, I can’t remember which. He gets access via a neighbor to the guest house, where Fenn’s cousin Beale is staying to oversee renovation efforts. Sparkage, misunderstandings, endearing Whispering Key folks. Once again, Archer has a good way with situation and dialogues – belly laughs all the way, along with a sigh or two for True Love. Caveat emptor re sex.

Off Key by May Archer 12/3/22 12/5/22 Kindle

Beale’s older brother Rafe has loved straight BF Jay since they were teenagers. Jay left to become a successful singer/songwriter. Bisexual Rafe married Jay’s sister Aimee. Jay’s really gay and has also loved BF Rafe forever. Amusing road trip to visit Aimee, where we meet Chet, and etc. Sweet, with only a bit of the eccentric Whispering Key characters. HEA and caveat emptor re sex.

Roommate Arrangement by Saxon James 12/5/22 12/5/22 Kindle

Eccentric fantasy author Beau has been in love with his best friend’s older brother, Payne, for 20 years. Payne found out his husband was cheating and fled to his hometown and is crashing on a single bed in his nieces bedroom. Having a room to rent from Beau seems ideal, and it is. It’s a little over the top with Beau being rich and Payne needing a jump start with a wilderness camp with his half of the sale of his and his ex-husband’s townhome. Standard fare, liked but didn’t really love it, although the origami birds with little messages on them that Payne leaves around for Beau are charming. HEA, caveat emptor re sex.

Hostile Takeover by Lucy Lennox 12/6/22 12/6/22 Kindle

A drunken prank gone terribly wrong, Grey is blamed for something Ellison did and loses a cushy job and is blackballed from some power circles. Years later Grey gets his final bit of revenge, this time against Ellison’s father’s company and Ellison. However, sparkage, HEA, and caveat emptor re sex. The character of Ellison is particularly well-written and sweet, and Grey’s strengths become his weaknesses for a bit. I was happy to read how Grey protected Ellison contractually, punishing Ellison’s father again after the father tried to sacrifice Ellison in his choice of power over his son.

Virgin Flyer by Lucy Lennox 12/6/22 12/7/22 Kindle

Teo has been in love and waited for Chris forever. Chris won’t commit. Teo meets Jack on a hookup to lose his pesky V card, and because Teo wants things kept anonymous they don’t know how to get in touch with each other when they’re really attracted to each other. They meet months later when Teo has to fly with Chris’s grandfather on a business trip and Jack’s one of the pilots. The flight has problems, Grandpa has a heart attack, and etc. Neither Teo nor Jack want a relationship with each other – Teo because of Chris, Jack not at all, but True Love wins out. I liked their dynamic and Jacks caring. Caveat emptor re sex.

Borrowing Blue by Lucy Lennox 12/7/22 12/822 Kindle

First in the Made Marian series. Blue Marian comes to the vineyard where his sister Simone is marrying John, and meets John’s brother Tristan, who owns the vineyard. Instant sparkage, instant everything… family drama in spades. The characters are vibrant, there’s humor and love and strong emotional writing and scenes. Caveat emptor re sex.

Taming Teddy by Lucy Lennox 12/8/22 12/8/22 Kindle

Second in the Made Marian series. Jamie Marian lives in Alaska, monitoring local fauna. Teddy is a nature photographer who wants to photograph Jamie. Jamie rebuffs all his attempts, so one day he just shows up. Instant attraction, lots of good photos, Teddy leaves because Jamie wants a committed relationship and Teddy feels that his nomadic lifestyle would doom any permanent relationship. Teddy keeps coming back, eventual HEA. Throw in Jamie’s ex, Teddy’s relationship with is father, and a good read was guaranteed. Caveat emptor re sex.

Jumping Jude by Lucy Lennox 12/8/22 12/9/22 Kindle

Third in the Made Marian series. Jude Marian is a country star, deeply closeted. Derek is his body guard, also, deeply closeted. Stalker threats, ex-boyfriend threats, sparkage, romance. Highly satisfying, lots of fun. Caveat emptor re sex.

Grounding Griffin by Lucy Lennox 12/9/22 12/10/22 Kindle img src="http://static.librarything.com/pics/s7.gif">

Fourth in the Made Marian series about Griffin, adopted son of Thomas and Rebecca Marian and Sam. Griffin is afraid of commitment because of his traumatic childhood, Sam is estranged from his parents. There is a misunderstanding, good career things for both, and lots of back and forth with Griffin and commitment. It was a bit tedious and preachy there for a bit, frankly, but HEA and caveat emptor re sex.

Hopelessly Bromantic by Blake Lively 12/11/22 12/12/22 Kindle

Wow. Just Wow. First of The Hopelessly Bromantic Duet. TJ gets assigned to a job in London, meets Jude his first day there. Immediate sparkage, date arranged, but it turns out that they’re roommates and won’t jeopardize their friendship. Until the last week, when TJ gets reassigned to NY. Ahem. They decide to not be in touch until they’re both successful. Seven years later, both are successful, they get back together, but there’s a complication and TJ runs. Ten months later Jude needs a fake boyfriend, TJ needs a fake boyfriend, and that leads to book two, Here Comes My Man. The absolute yearning, love, lust, and emotions portrayed in this book are stunning. Caveat emptor re sex, caveat emptor re tears you might shed.

Here Comes My Man by Blake Lively 12/12/22 12/13/22 Kindle

Conclusion to The Hopelessly Bromantic Duet. Jude and TJ navigate the famous/infamous roles they’re both in – TJ is a successful author and Jude is up for an Oscar. Their secret yearnings for each other over the years and current feelings and opening up to each other emotionally are a pleasure to read. Continuing and expanded sparkage, HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Uncharted Desires by M.M. Phoenix 12/13/22 14/14/22 Kindle

Blake and Sawyer have to work on a paper together for college. Sawyer requires Blake meet him where he works, a sex club. Blake’s supposedly straight, gets turned on watching two men. Sawyer’s gay, things go from there. Shortcutted emotions, situations. Voyeurism kink. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Husband Gambit by L.A. Witt 12/14/22 12/15/22 Kindle

Wanted: Fake husband, to earn $1.2 million to be legally married for one year. Jesse hires Hayden to force Jesse’s homophobic father to prove publicly that he’s willing to cut his gay son off so that the father’s too damaged to run for political office and implement homophobic and racist policies. Jesse’s family is over-the-top dysfunctional, Hayden’s over-the-top poverty stricken, and it’s all quite wonderful, actually. They fall in love, of course, and there’s a wonderful denouement and HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Rules of Engagement by L.A. Witt 12/15/22 12/16/22 Kindle

Dustin is immediately attracted to a man, Brandon, after being married to a woman for 10 years and then divorced for 6 months. Serious sparkage for both, but Dustin questions whether he’s attracted because Brandon’s the opposite of his ex-wife or simply because he’s Brandon. Lots of angst, not helped by Dustin’s family’s rejection of his relationship. Well written emotions and dialog, HEA, caveat emptor re sex.

Rain by L.A. Witt 12/16/22 12/16/22 Kindle

Two years later, Dustin and Brandon are planning to marry although it’s not legal in the US for same-sex couples to marry. Out of the blue, Dustin’s estranged brother Tristan approaches Brandon at work to have Dustin call him. The brothers are reunited. Brandon, who’s been estranged from one of his brothers for 16 years ever since he came out, goes to his brother’s house out of the blue. His brother tells him that unless he stops dating men, specifically, Dustin, he’s not his brother any more. Brandon knew, but confirms, that he won’t give up Dustin for anyone, and lets go of hoping for a rapproachment. I love how the search for peace with birth families plays out. Dustin and Brandon’s HEA is confirmed and strengthened. Caveat emptor re sex.

Country Mouse by Aleksandr Voinov and Amy Lane 12/16/22 12/17/22 Kindle

Hookup between just arrived American and local Londoner turns serious. Supposedly Dom is really a Sub, a very young man is actually a Dom. Sweet and sexy, caveat emptor re sex.

If It Drives by Aleksandr Voinov and L.A. Witt 12/17/22 12/18/22 Kindle

7th in the Market Garden Series. Limo driver Callum works for London banker James. Lines get crossed, roles are experimented with, HFN, caveat emptor re sex.

Quid Pro Quo by Aleksandr Voinov and L.A. Witt 12/18/22 12/18/22 Kindle

1st in the Market Garden Series. Short story with rent boys Tristan and Jared hiring out together to ‘Rolex’ during a slow Chritsmas holiday night. Caveat emptor re sex.

Take It Off by Aleksandr Voinov and L.A. Witt 12/18/22 Kindle

2nd in the Market Garden series. Rematch of Tristan and Jared with ‘Rolex’, caveat emptor re sex.

If It Flies by Aleksandr Voinov and L.A. Witt 12/18/22 12/18/22 Kindle

3rd in the Market Garden series. Spencer goes to Market Garden to hire a rentboy. He gets more than he bargained for in Nick, a Dom. Things turn romantic, scaring Nick off. Satisfactory ending, caveat emptor re sex.

Capture & Surrender by Aleksandr Voinov and L.A. Witt 12/18/22 12/19/22 Kindle

5th in the Market Garden series, has Market Garden owner Frank attracted to his newest hire, Stephan. Capture & Surrender is part of the paintball games Frank invites Stephan to. Serious sparkage, serious emotional issues with both Frank and Stephan surviving the loss of their long-term boyfriends but finding their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Payoff by Aleksandr Voinov and L.A. Witt 12/19/22 12/19/22 Kindle

6th in the Market Garden series, the final novella with Tristan and Jared meeting up with ‘Rolex’ for a final time. Interesting time for Tristan to have emotional issues, but Rolex leaves the hotel room for a while so that Tristan and Jared can figure out their relationship then give Rolex his money’s worth. HEA for Tristan and Jared, possible HEA for Rolex in On the Clock, 8th and final book in the series. Caveat emptor re sex.

On the Clock by Aleksandr Voinov and L.A. Witt 12/19/22 12/21/22 Kindle

8th and final in the Market Garden series. Surprisingly flat, with ‘Rolex’ hooking up with Jason after Tristan and Jared leave Market Garden. Banter that wasn’t particularly sparkling, barter that got to be rather tedious, and unexplained love. HFN, caveat emptor re sex.

His First Time by Tal Bauer 12/22/22 12/2/22 Kindle

Three short stories of sexy encounters, caveat emptor re sex.

Let the Wrong Light In by Avon Gale 12/22/22 12/22/22 Kindle

Avery, a bubbly, outgoing young architect, works for an older, cold, and repressed Project Manager named Malin. Avery’s project plan gets rejected, he blows up at Malin, then things change. They start having an unhealthy, kinky, secret relationship. Many ups and downs. Avery’s relationship with his friends and co-workers is written with laugh-out-loud dialogue. I was cheering for Avery and Malin by the end and was not disappointed. HEA and caveat emptor re sex.

His Kind of Love by Kate Hawthorne 12/22/22 12/23/22 Kindle

Ugh. Joel is sweet and innocent and works in a book store. Gabriel sees him and obsesses over him and sets up a scenario in which Joel flees to his grandmother’s – who just happens to live next door to Gabriel. Way too many tears, way too over-the-top-emotions. HEA despite both of them being ridiculous, caveat emptor re sex.

Whiskey Business by Avon Gale 12/23/22 12/23/22 Kindle

Sweet story of distillery owner Ryder, openly gay in a very small town in Kentucky, who sells the family recipe for bourbon to a conglomerate. City boy Adam, closeted, comes to audit the business for the company. Immediate sparks but Adam returns to Lexington because he can’t see things working out for them. Things change, and we get the HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Rent Boy by J.P. Oliver and Peter Styles 12/23/22 12/24/22 Kindle

Closeted Jacob hires rent boy Evan to relieve him of his pesky virginity. Instead, they are both attracted to each other, spend time together, even go on a date or two before any sexy times. I particularly love Evan’s bohemian and loving family. HEA and caveat emptor re sex.

The Bride's Brother by J.P. Oliver 12/24/22 12/24/22 Kindle

Julia is marrying a billionaire and meets with the wedding planner, who thinks her brother is her fiancé. Her brother is closeted, Toby is out and proud, one of 5 gay brothers. Misunderstandings, sparkage, HEA, caveat emptor re sex.

Road to Romance by Peter Styles 12/24/22 12/25/22 Kindle

Luke and Max have known each other since college, work at the same firm. They get sent on a road trip to hand deliver a package, 40 hours round trip. Enemies turn to lovers, lots of great dialog and sweet emotions. HEA, caveat emptor re sex.

Sin Deep by Jodi Payne and B.A. Tortuga 12/25/22 12/26/22 Kindle

Harley flees his home in Texas, takes over the apartment of a friend who’s gone to Europe for a while. He goes to a club, is attracted to a man 15 years older than he is. They immediately bond. All well and good, but this turned into major kink. I kept reading despite the kink, am not sorry I read it. Harley’s sweet, Winter’s also sweet. There are well-written subtle hints about both of their backstories which made up for some of the ick factor. Caveat emptor re sex.

Pretenders by Alexa Land 12/26/22 12/27/22 Kindle

Wesley hires Ash to be his boyfriend at Wesley’s brother’s wedding to his former fiancé. Instant sparkage, satisfying scenes with former fiancé and brother. Lots of fun dialogue and funny as heck family of choice events, including a marching band dressed in penis costumes. Caveat emptor re sex.

Kept Man by Alexa Land 12/27/22 12/27/22 Kindle

Micah, disgraced ex-rocker on house arrest for assaulting a cop, hires Jasper to live with him for 6 months until he’s off house arrest. He’s hired for companionship and sex. Well, of course there’s sparkage and things get serious. I particularly liked more of the family of choice antics from Pretenders. HEA, caveat emptor re sex.

Kaden by RJ Scott 12/27/22 12/28/22 Kindle

Movie star Ryan has a PR problem, so hires fake boyfriend Kaden. Ryan’s bad PR comes from a leaked video, misinterpreted as homophobic, but really about an abusive ex-boyfriend. When another man is abused by the same ex-boyfriend, Ryan wants to help. Oh, and sparkage between Kaden and Ryan, of course, leading to HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Darcy by RJ Scott and Meredith Russell 12/28/22 12/28/22 Kindle

Darcy is hired to be the boyfriend of a woman who’s being hounded by her family to marry and settle down, regardless of the fact that her research is her first love. Abby’s brother Adrian and Darcy have immediate sparkage but have to wait ‘til the week-long wedding Darcy’s been hired for to end. Good enough, not stunning, although Adrian’s insecurities and Darcy’s alpha male characteristics make for fun reading. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Thief and the Gangster by Alexa Land 12/28/22 12/29/22 Kindle

What a hoot. Adriano, a mobster, picks up Jack, a thief, at a bar and takes him home for serious fun. While going to take a shower, Jack sees an open jewelry box and steals Reno’s Rolex – sentimental for Reno but worth serious megabucks. Reno tracks him down but has to go home to Vegas to take care of some family stuff and takes him with. Fun shenanigans, and the family of choice from Pretenders and Kept Man are the bio family in this one. Caveat emptor re sex.

Bonds of Denial by Lynda Aicher 12/30/22 12/31/22 Kindle

Rock(ford) is a security guy for a club, deeply closeted. He sees an escort, hires him, and things are very … rocky… for quite a while. Eventually they develop a relationship. Carter wants out of the escort biz, Rock wants to come out of the closet, family angst, relationship angst, HEA and caveat emptor re sex.

324 books read

1 Masterpiece
51 Stunning
181 Excellent
48 Very Good
30 Good
9 Average
4 Bad
0 Very Bad
0 Don't Bother
0 Anathema

Best Fiction
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
The Adults by Caroline Hulse
Should We Stay or Should We Go by Lionel Shriver
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Hopelessly Bromantic and Here Comes My Man by Blake Lively

Best (only) Nonfiction
Woke Racism by Dr. John McWhorter
The Book of General Ignorance by John Mitchinson
The Story of Human Language by Dr. John McWhorter
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow

Top five overall for the LT Top Five Books of 2022 list:
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Woke Racism by Dr. John McWhorter
The Adults by Caroline Hulse
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

…...

Happy New Year and welcome one and all!

Morning, Coffee Sister! Todays' coffee is gingerbread. I loved reading through your goals for 2023, and now I need a nap. Just kidding - but I admire your examination of how you want to go into the year and how you want to come out of it. I think actively listening/paying attention and remembering to be thankful are key to so much in life. I wish you the best of luck in achieving each of your goals, my friend. I'm looking forward to following your journey. And over 300 books read last year!!! I am in awe.

Mamie! thank you for being my first visitor. Yay for gingerbread - all those lovely fall spices. Makes me want to make my grandmother's gingerbread, with cream cheese frosting. Hmm. I have all the ingredients...

Thanks re my goals, and sorry I induced a nap. *smile* I'm going to leave those goals up all year on each new thread and see how many of them I attain. Ahem. The 300+ books were mostly contemporary fiction = romance = racy. No apologies, that's where I am right now. Yes, paying attention and being thankful are going to be watchwords for every day.

Wordle 561 5/6* Blech. Alphabet soup. adieu, crime, while, white, whine

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Friends visiting today at 2 p.m., in the meantime soccer and getting ready for their visit.

I'll visit threads later.

Wishing you a comfortable reading year in 2023, dear Karen.

It wouldn't be the same around here without you, dear lady. xx

I love reading romance, and why would you need to apologize? A romance book is just as legit as any other book - a story is a story is a story.

Good gracious, Horrible, you took your sweet time getting set up, didn't you?! Almost the whole first morning of 2023's been and gone. Now, I realize that the Elderly need some space to get things done but really now you could've done at least some of this yesterday and been just a touch less poky!

*smooch*

Happy, healthy 2023!

Happy new year and new thread, Karen.

Happy new year, Karen! Good luck with All the Things!

Happy New Year, Karen! I enjoyed reading through your intentions for the year.

Happy New Year, Karen! We are closing out another wonderful year of books and banter and I am looking forward to sharing another with you, along with the occasional bird sighting. I hope we continue our daily repartee. I did join a birding group this morning at the Arboretum. Very few birds but nice getting out for a long walk on the first day of the New Year.

Hope you have a great year of reading!

Happy new year, Karen. I hope 2023 is a good year of reading for you. And that your new knee is bionic!

Happy New Year, Karen!

I like your new category of The Encouraging. We need that!

Happy new year, Karen!

Happy new year!

Happy new year, Karen! Got my star all set.

Karen O

Happy New Year, Karen!

Happy new thread Karen!

Thank you all for visiting my thread yesterday. Between setting up for our friends to visit, their visit, then cleanup and subsequent extreme tiredness, I didn't get back here like I wanted. When I woke up at 4 this morning, I thought I'd go back to sleep, but my brain started buzzing with the idea of visiting my dear LT friends. So, kitties fed, kitty door opened, coffee made and being enjoyed, here I am.

>12 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! Thank you so much. I feel the same way about you. It’s been a joy getting to know you over the years.

>13 Crazymamie: Thank you for your words of support, Mamie. I have really gone off the deep end and feel like I should reel it back in but am powerless to do so. Not working too hard to do so, though. I HATE shoulds. I still think that my November 2021 heart attack and subsequent recovery, efforts to be healthier, and other family issues have made me only want to read Happily Ever After or at least Happy for Now books. Quite a few of these books talk about deep subjects while also being titillating, and having abandoned quite a few Poorly Written Books last year, at least feel that I’m somewhat discerning.

>14 richardderus: I did, RD, but always wait til the first day of the New Year. My mornings are now complicated by my wonderful daughter, who usually wanders into the Sunroom just when I’m getting going on LT. As much as I love you all, I never tell her to go away so that I can play on LT.

Elderly. Well, as shocking as that is to me, I have to agree. I am elderly and will turn 70 this summer. My goal is to age gracefully and try to not complain too much, although I agree with the sentiment that getting old isn’t for sissies. Happy, healthy 2023 to you, too. *smooch*

>15 jessibud2: Hi Shelley, and thank you.

>16 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie.

>17 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura, and I’m glad that you enjoyed reading about my intentions for 2023. I figure if I keep them out there in the real world, I just might accomplish some/most of them.

>18 msf59: Thank you, Mark. We are, aren’t we? I also enjoy our daily greetings/updates. You’ve started the new year off right with a birding group. I’ve also really enjoyed watching you become a Serious Birder and sharing your sightings and activities with me over recent years.

>19 thornton37814: Hi Lori, and thank you.

>20 BLBera: Thank you, Beth. Reading is my major passion and I’m hoping for a good reading year too.

>21 EllaTim: Thank you, Ella, and I’m really settling into a format I like for my first post of a new thread. Goodness knows that there has not been too much that is Encouraging in the world in recent years. It’s like 9-11-2001 here in the US, when we were attacked by extremists. It had never happened before, and when my husband called me at work to tell me to go to the cafeteria and watch what was on the TV, he said “The world will never be the same.” I thought he was being a tad dramatic, frankly, but, if anything, he understated the effects on us here in the US, and indeed, on people in every country in the world.

I have to say the same about Covid, although not being one incident, has gradually become a defining series of events and mindset of the 2020s. Traumatic to all of us in different ways and, at least for me, a reminder that, in the words of Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody from the Harry Potter Books, I need to maintain Constant Vigilance. It is exhausting, frankly, to this First World Baby Boomer, and I have to remind myself to be gentle to myself and other people even more than I ever tried to.

>22 drneutron: Hi Jim, and thank you. You’re the best, for managing our group, and providing such a welcoming and safe space for readers and talkers.

Speaking of which, although I was too busy to get back to LT yesterday, I did take a snapshot of all the threads at 10:11 a.m. US EST. There were 1,596 posts across all people who had threads by then. Some I follow, some I don’t, but today I plan on at least reading everybody’s thread and trying to get caught up! It may take 'til tomorrow as I have a pretty big To Do list for today, but I'll persevere.

>23 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita.

>24 klobrien2: Hi Karen, and thank you! I’ll have you starred by the end of today, too.

>25 ronincats: Hi Roni! Love your star, and thank you.

>26 quondame: Thank you, Susan.

>27 Berly: Hi Kim, and thank you for the fireworks.

Wordle 562 5/6* adieu, flint, wrist, shirt, skirt

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Our friends Geoff and Diane visited for 3 1/2 hours yesterday. We had a feast - charcuterie board, mini croissants to make cute little sandwiches with, deviled eggs, grilled teriyaki chicken tenders, fruit platter, cookies, cheese ball/crackers, and three types of olives that I was happy to finally open, put out, and now leave for Jenna to finish off (I only ate 1 almond stuffed green olive and 3 black olives!).

Geoff and Bill chatted over on their end of the coffee table, and Diane, Jenna, and I chatted on our end. I truly love Diane, and was amused, as I frequently am, by how adept she is at turning the conversation back to herself at every opportunity. Sometimes it irritates the crap out of me but not yesterday, and I had a wonderful time visiting with them.

Today is some final clean up. I have to re-establish my online presence with Social Security. I had a password problem several years ago, let everything lapse, and called them before Christmas. They sent me two envelopes - one with instructions on how to change my email address, and the other on how to change my password. The woman's explanation left me dizzy, so I told her I'd simply call again in the new year and have someone take me through it. She said that was perfectly acceptable - I'm sure she thought I was bordering on senility. But really - the level of detail she was trying to give me at such a fast clip was impossible to absorb. *smile*

I need to record my first book read of 2023, and start the book I chose for book club, which will meet at my house on Sunday the 8th to discuss. The book is The Book of Disappearance, by Ibtisam Azem, translated by Sinan Antoon.

Bill says he's going to work, but I think he's confused and really has the day off. We'll see. Jenna definitely has the day off and needs to make a Walmart run and do some laundry. I might go to Wally World with her. We'll see.

Coffee in hand, and on that extremely verbose note, I'll click Post Message and wander off to visit.

Hello and happy new year! Like you, I didn't get around to visiting people's threads as much as I'd have liked to last year. (I didn't have quite the health problems you did, but I did lose most of September to illness/hospital/surgery.) Anyway! Here's to a less eventful 2023 all the way around.

Hi Ursula! Thank you and Happy New Year to you, too.

Less eventful is good. 🤞

Friend Karen told me this joke last night. For some reason it got to me, and I howled with laughter, shared it with Jenna, shared it via text with my sister, and shared it with Bill just now.

How many flies does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Two.

The problem is getting them in the light bulb.

Morning, Karen. Dark and foggy here. I hope it clears up for our birding group walk this AM. Our walk yesterday went well, some really nice folks and the weather was damp but mild. The problem was- the birds were scarce. I had more at my feeders when I got home. Jeesh...

>31 karenmarie: Cute!! 😄

Happy new year, Karen!

Morning, Karen! You were up and at 'em early! I got a giggle that when I checked the touchstone for The Book of Disappearance up there it brought up Lemony Snicket's The Wide Window.

Your get together yesterday sounds like a complete success. Nicely done, and I love the menu.

>28 karenmarie: Ummm, you *do* know your touchstone's pointing at a Lemony snicket book, right? Just a heads-up!

I Wordled in 3 today because the vowel was a gimme. I was pleased that the word had so many layers. (heh)

It was a love Sunday, I see, and here's hoping the Social Security people don't make it any harder than it has to be to deal with them.

>32 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Overcast and bleak here. I don’t mind bleak, though – winter is my second favorite season after autumn. I hope your birding group walk goes well/went well this morning. Sorry yesterday’s walk had few birds. Thanks re the joke. As a rule, I am not fond of jokes, but this one kept me chuckling and giggling for an hour or more.

>33 DianaNL: Thank you, Diane! The same to you.

>34 Crazymamie: I fixed the touchstone for The Book of Disappearance. Thanks. I was looking forward to yesterday and was glad when it was done.

>35 richardderus: Fixed, RD, thanks to you and Mamie. Yay for your Wordle in 3. I’ll be calling SS tomorrow.

…
I inventoried another shelf of books, L27. I’m reading a particularly good romance – Commitment Issues by Ali Ryecart.

Jenna’s upstairs playing on her PS5.

>31 karenmarie: Love the joke! : ) Hope you don't have any Commitment Issues...

>2 karenmarie: I hope you enjoy Pilgrim as much as I did, Karen!

I wish you a wonderful New Year! Thank you so much for your encouragement in 2022. It was very much appreciated.

Hi Karen, over for a little visit! Happy reading in 2023!

>37 Berly: Hi Kim. Thanks. I did have Commitment Issues in the best way. I'm reading the second in the series, Take My Breath Away and enjoying it almost as much.

>38 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! I am still on my contemporary fiction/romance bender and need to get back to it. It was your reading it with Peggy that got me on to it, you know. Thank you and the same to you. And, you're welcome.

>39 mdoris: Hi Mary! Thank you and the same to you.

Wordle 563 3/6* adieu, attic, antic

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This morning I've got Book Sort Team at 9, and whatever other errands I need to run in town - can't think yet and am working on my first cup of coffee.

Morning, Karen. Raining here. I hope I get to work inside at Rehab today. Our bird walk went great yesterday. I had 22 species (some of the group had more), including 2 different swans, a bald eagle, kingfisher, a few bluebirds and a pair of singing Carolina wrens. Not shabby for January.

Enjoy that book fondling.

>40 karenmarie: Brava! I didn't, thank goodness, think of your word #2, or it would've been 4day.

Happy reading!

Hello, Karen - I missed morning. I had a bunch of errands I was going to run today, but I have tabled them until tomorrow. Except for the pharmacy run - I did pick up Abby's meds. One more day of lazy before I jump back into real life.

>40 karenmarie: I am still on my contemporary fiction/romance bender and need to get back to it. One of the great things about books is that they patiently wait for us!

>41 msf59: Hi Mark! Ooof, rain. I hope your Rehab work was indoors. Yay for the bird walk, and definitely not shabby.

I fondled many books and came home with one for friend Karen in Montana. Seven of us went to brekkie/lunch after.

>42 richardderus: Hiya, RD. Ah, I get your reference to my 2nd word leading to 4 had you used it. Twinsies, aren’t we?

>43 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! 4 minutes into afternoon works for me. I had two errands I could have run today that I also chose not to run. I hope the rest of your lazy day was wonderful.

>44 alcottacre: You’re absolutely right, Stasia. They wait patiently for us.

Hi Karen, Happy new year of reading to you! I’m looking forward to following your thread.

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. Heading out directly to so some early AM owling. Yep, I am a nutty one.

>46 Copperskye: Hi Joanne! Thank you twice. I'm looking forward to following you, too.

>47 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Yay for early owling. The early birder sees the owl, eh?

Wordle 564 5/6* adieu, gavel, paler, later, layer

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After I got home I did a bit with books, took a nap, chatted with child on her way home. She stopped into town and got a haircut. She was rather shaggy, and although it is rather severe, it suits her and she likes it. Watched a Premier League match, Brentford/Liverpool, played earlier in the week, then upstairs to read and sleep.

Jenna just left for work and Bill's up and going to leave in about 10 minutes. The House To Myself - yay.

Coffee in hand, books to read, and I'll be re-shelving more books in the Library. Lots of puttering will be had. Still have to call Social Security for help getting my online presence re-established.

Cherish that time alone in the house!

Hi Katie! Thank you. The house is quiet. Bliss.

Oh yes, I never asssume that Bill will actually go into the office, and he keeps making retiring noises, like it's a unilateral decision and not a joint decision. Sigh.

Discussion of the fourth class of powers lodged in the Constitution. Two quotes from The Federalist No 43, written by James Madison, in my copy of The Federalist, edited by Jacob E. Cooke.

January 23, 1788

To the People of the State of New York.
…
At first view it might seem not to square with the republican theory, to suppose either that a majority have not the right, or that a minority will have the force to subvert a government; and consequently that the federal interposition can never be required but when it would be improper. But theoretic reasoning in this, as in most other cases, must be qualified by the lessons of practice. Why may not illicit combinations for purposes of violence be formed as well by a majority of a state, especially a small state, as by a majority of a county or a district of the same state; and if the authority of the state ought in the latter case to protect the local magistracy, ought not the federal authority in the former to support the state authority? Besides, there are certain parts of the state constitutions which are so interwoven with the federal constitution, that a violent blow cannot be given to the one without communicating the wound to the other. Insurrections in a state will rarely induce a federal interposition, unless the number concerned in them, bear some proportion to the friends of government. It will be much better that the violence in such cases should be repressed by the superintending power, than that the majority should be left to maintain their cause by a bloody and obstinate contest. The existence of a right to interpose will generally prevent the necessity of exerting it.

…

I take no notice of an unhappy species of population abounding in some of the states, who during the calm of regular government are sunk below the level of men; but who in the tempestuous scenes of civil violence may emerge into the human character, and give a superiority of strength to any party with which they may associate themselves.

The first quote makes me realize that I need to get back to the mental state where the language of 240 years ago is easy for me to read. This was a painful reminder that putting down The Federalist Papers after Oct. 3, 2022 was not a good move. I'm now halfway through the 86 papers. I'd like to finish by the end of June - that gives me 6 months - 26 weeks - to read 43 papers. Not too onerous, right?

The second quote reminds me of the evil purpose of Trump and the stupid and gullible people who followed him on January 6, 2021. Although it still galls me to say it, thank goodness for Mike Pence, who actually did his duty and did not cave in to the tremendous pressure from Trump and his minions.

Thanks, RD, for the nudge.

I can't believe I missed a day, and now I can't catch up. And I have to go. I'll try to be back later, but I'm sorry that the soup got in your Wordle today. Hope your day is good and pain-free!

Morning, Karen! Wow to that second quote!

Who got the haircut?

HI Karen and Happiest of New Years!

I also got caught in the Wordle alphabet soup today but with a different series alien, later, lager, laser, layer

One of the cable channels had an online marathon of all the episodes of West Wing between Christmas and New Year's. I watched them here and there and then DVR'ed the last few seasons. I miss that show. I miss that feeling of being governed by intelligent people.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Karen!

>52 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Ah, let’s all stay behind together, eh? I’m slowly making my way around the threads. I know you have to go to your ma’s house. Give her my love. My day’s been good – taking thank yous and a birthday card for my sister to the mailbox, doing some laundry, making deviled eggs for J and myself, reading and finishing another romance. Tears in my eyes over this one. Sigh.

>53 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Good afternoon to you. Yes. It pinged hugely with me. Jenna got the haircut. I got a haircut last week, only a trim, but the first time I’ve gotten my hair cut since March 17, 2020. A book club and book sort team friend, Steph, told me she really liked this place in town and to make an appointment with Abby, so I did, and was happy with Abby and the result. Plus, she was not exorbitant. Jenna said that if I liked her to make an appointment for her, so I did that, and Jenna went last night on the way home. She likes it, I think, and if not, then she can find someone else for the next time.

>54 streamsong: Hi Janet, and thank you. I love how all of us get to the word differently.

Ha. Governed by intelligent people. You don’t miss it until you don’t have it, eh?

Happy New Year! You are off to a great start with a book a day! I am trying not to be envious of my retired friends. Some days it's harder than others!

>56 karenmarie: I cut my own hair throughout the last two years. Part of me wants to go back to the hairstylist and part of me says Why? I have to decide soon because it's getting long and driving me crazy. Also, it's really hard to cut hair at the back of your own head, especially if it's short. ; )

Hi Carrie! Nice to see you here. Thank you, the same to you.

I continue to be apologetic about the genre of books I'm reading - contemporary fiction, specifically gay romances - but it's the only thing that I really want to read right now so I persevere. Thank goodness for Kindle Unlimited.

I retired when I was 62 years, 6 months, and 29 days old. Our combined finances allowed it. We visited with our (awful, replaced) financial advisor in October 2015. I had been making "I want to retire in a year or two because this place is killing me" noises, which I mentioned again to Bill in the parking lot on the way out of Bernie's office, and he said "Hell, KP, you could retire now." From Bill's mouth to God's ear... I retired three months later.

I loved my work 'til I didn't, and hope that you love your work as an academic librarian so much that the only thing that's a problem is envy of your retired friends. We were there, in the trenches, too, and it will be your turn when the time's right.

Wordle 565 4/6* adieu, honey, steep, sleek

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Important day. I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon at 1 p.m. today for a "New Total Joint", meaning evaluation for a knee replacement surgery.

In the meantime, coffee, saying bye to Jenna in a while, reading, and etc. Zoe Rose is patiently waiting right next to me for me to put my feet up on the desk to provide lap space while I read and drink coffee.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. My owling went well yesterday. I will post more about it, over on the thread. Bree has to go into the office today, (her once a month visit) so Sue will go at 8 and I will replace her around noon and then I will have my full shift tomorrow. It sounds like he has been a very good boy. My feeders have been very slow the past couple of days.

Make sure you let us know how the knee evaluation goes. 🤞

Morning, Karen! I hope the orthopedic appointment goes well. I'll be thinking of you today and checking back to see how it went.

I hope the visit with the surgeon is helpful, Karen.

>59 karenmarie: I'm crossing, I'm crossing, I'm crossing...only good news required, goddesses.

*smooch*

Have a Thunderous Thursday, Karen! I hope the orthodontic appointment goes well.

Not sure how I missed your thread! Happy Thursday and hope the ortho goes well. I very much thrived after my hip replacement in 2019 and wondered why I had waited so long.

>54 streamsong: I miss The West Wing so much and still watch it now and then.

>59 karenmarie: I'm reading outside my current preference, but only because Victoria Goddard doesn't have 200 books about Cliopher I can stay lost in, and Jemis & co aren't quite as absorbing.

>60 msf59: Hi Mark, and happy Friday to you. Yay for the owling. Enjoy your time with Jackson. See below re my knee.

>65 witchyrichy: Hi Karen. Nice to see you here.

>66 quondame: Hi Susan. I have several authors who I wish had written 200 books about their characters – offhand I’m thinking of Dorothy L. Sayers and Peter Wimsey and Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane, Rex Stout and Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin in the 1920s and 1930s, more of Agatha Christie’s Mr. Satterwaite and other lead characters, not necessarily more Poirot or Miss Marple. Hmmm. More by Georgette Heyer and … you get the idea.

Mamie, Katie, Richard, Stasia, Karen, thank you for your good wishes and finger crossings, and etc. All for naught. This surgeon says my arthritis is not severe enough for surgery even though the ortho PA and the sports medicine doctor I saw last year said I’m a candidate based on what they saw in my x-rays and visits and would be surprised to hear that this surgeon - who was not at all empathetic, not at all sympathetic, not all caring, not at all concerned at my reaction - … says I’m not.

His After Visit Summary is a combination of things he omitted to discuss with me that he says he discussed with me and things he didn’t say about the PT that he should have. He says I refused x-rays but didn’t put in that he agreed during the visit that x-rays 3-months after the last set weren’t worth doing because there wouldn't be enough change between them. He didn’t explain why he gave me 24 PT sessions over 3 months, which will most likely cost me $35/visit = $840/out of pocket. I had to look it up on the AVS - gait training and quad strengthening to see if this helps relieve some of her symptoms. He said he was sorry twice, but it was lip service and he wasn't looking at me when he said it. I was so upset I left the office before his nurse came back into the room - something I've never, ever done before. I called when I got home and left a message for her to call me back in case there were any things I needed to do to finish the visit 'properly'. Haven't heard back yet. Probably won't.

I am beside myself, but getting calmer. Or not. My Medicare/Blue Cross Blue Shield allows me to use Duke resources, and I might call them today to see if I can get an opinion from them. I’ve never, ever used Duke before, although they are almost as close as UNC Healthcare. A friend recommends a supplement for chronic inflammation that I had tried two years ago and have just re-subscribed to.

Book club is here at the house on Sunday, so there's final menu prep, shopping, and etc. Snacks instead of a meal since we've changed the time from 7-9 pm to 2-4 pm.

Wordle 566 3/6* adieu, title, belie

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Coffee, reading my book club book, The Book of Disappearance, which holds not one iota of appeal. I might cheat by Sunday if I can't - skim and lie by omission. It's my book so I should read it, but by the time I describe it, the author, and the translator, and let everybody else discuss it, they might not realize I haven't said I didn't finished it. It will probably be the first book abandoned in 2023.

So, back to Corporate Bodies. Jenna will be up in about 15 minutes. She works from 7-4 on Fridays, so she'll leave about 6:10 today instead of the normal 6:40.

Morning, Karen! I am so very sorry about the doctor's visit yesterday. I hate that he treated you like that and that it was such an angry making moment. I am angry and sad for you, and hope that you can get another opinion from someone else.

Snacks instead of a meal sounds perfect. Sorry the book is not one that is calling to you. Crossing my fingers that no one directly asks you if you finished it. Please to report back.

Hiya, Mamie!

Thank you for the sympathy.

I've got the snacks menu pretty much sorted except for a dairy-free sweet. One of our members, Judy, got Alpha-gal syndrome about 10 years ago. From the Mayo Clinic website:

Alpha-gal is a type of food allergy. It makes people allergic to red meat and other products made from mammals.

In the United States, the condition usually begins with the bite of the Lone Star tick. The bite transfers a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into the body. In some people, this triggers a reaction from the body's defenses, also called the immune system. It causes mild to severe allergic reactions to red meat, such as beef, pork or lamb. It also can cause reactions to other foods that come from mammals, such as dairy products or gelatins.

Judy can't have meat, gelatin stuff, or dairy - which includes, of course, milk and butter. Maybe carrot cake w/o cream cheese frosting on one pan's worth? I've served zucchini bread and angel food cake over the years, but want something winter-spice-ish.

I have heard of this! And just recently. Kaitlyn's younger brother has it, and he is just 23. He goes hunting all the time and got bitten by that tick. It's terrible - his reactions are severe.

I think carrot cake sounds like a good choice.

I'm sorry that Kaitlyn's brother got it. 23. So young. But it's easy to adjust one's diet, if not a lot of fun. Of course, for a hunter, that's really sad if it's deer he goes for.

Yup. I like the idea of carrot cake. And, to keep it even simpler, I think I'll just make it in one 9"x13" pan and dust it with powdered sugar just before serving. Also, one book club member might bring some macarons if she can confirm that the ingredients list doesn't contain dairy. She served them at the December meeting, had lots left over, and they'll defrost nicely.

Different issue, but I am conscious of every bit of sodium I put in my mouth.

It's a bummer for sure - he loves to grill, and was a big fan of red meat, so it's a huge change for him.

That sounds perfect with the carrot cake - good thinking!

I hear you about the sodium.

Karen, I'm so sorry to read about your doctor visit. Like Mamie, it pisses me off just reading your account. I hope you are able to get another opinion with a doc who treats you with more respect.

Good luck with the snacks. I was going to recommend an olive oil cake my daughter makes, but it contains milk so nope. I think the powdered sugar on carrot cake idea is a really good one. Sometimes the cream cheese frosting can overpower the cake and with powdered sugar you'll get all that nice spice-carrot flavor.

Oh, Karen, that sucks. I'm so sorry about the sorry excuse for a doctor. Definitely get a second opinion!

Oooh, I'd love carrot cake without the frosting. Sign me up!

What. A. Jackass.

I'm so sad that this attitudinous twerp has cost you more time and more pain before you can get the surgery that others agree you need.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Aw, bummer about the evaluation and the ass-hat doctor. I definitely recommend getting a second opinion and then taking it from there. Heading out in a little while for my Jackson day. He was little angel boy yesterday and started to cry when I left. 😄

Seconding that second opinion recommendation. My daughter-in-law-in-waiting had a recent similar experience - first doctor was a brushoff, second one actually listened and communicated.

Hi Karen,
I've been lurking here, off and on, and only today realized I hadn't starred your thread ~ done now, though.
I join all the previous posts regarding that downright obnoxious doctor: >75 richardderus: echoes exactly what I was thinking. Not that our outrage will change anything, but please know that you mustn't doubt yourself.

I would say he was gaslighting you and in my neck of the woods, that has happened to me, twice. Once with a dentist and once with a referral to a doctor when I had a cancer diagnosis (I'm well now, just so you know). I reported these professionals with a written summary to their respective regulatory organizations.

Here, these organizations are the Colleges of Dentistry and of Physicians and Surgeons. I was telephoned by the head dude at the dentistry organization and he assured me they would not be "circling the wagons" and advised me how to submit the paperwork. There was no cost involved.

Turned out there where other similar complaints on the books for these individuals. Both were disciplined by their respective regulatory branches which control public safety in the related practices. The dentist retired early. I neither know or care what happened to the surgeon. Karen, I really feel for you. It is terrible to encounter such arrogance. Here's to finding better support elsewhere. 💖

Now I forget what I originally came here to say... seems frivolous in the light of the foregoing.

I think it was relative to the trouble downloading certain books to your Kindle.
MickeyFine posted helpful advice on my 2021 thread, which was very helpful: if the e-reader doesn't have the same ISBN for the book as you are downloading, the e-reader won't accept the download.

In my case, I have a Kobo, which is the brand that all the Overdrive books use in Canadian libraries. I've found that when I can't match ISBNs, the work around was to download the *.ascm file onto my laptop (Mac Notebook Pro) and open it to download the e-pub. Then I connect the Kobo to my computer and drag both the *.ascm and e-pub files to the reader icon on the computer. Obvs I have Adobe Digital Editions authorized on my computer, so I can legitimately open e-books.

There are probably better computer whizzes on LT to describe this process and perhaps this procedure won't work in the USA... and maybe you didn't need my blather! All the same, good luck!

>67 karenmarie: Oh, I am so sorry to hear that the surgeon visit did not go well.

Have a fantastic Friday! Hopefully it will be better than Thursday turned out to be. . .

How frustrating to wait so long to talk to the surgeon only for him to be dismissive. That happens far too often. I hope you are able to get an appointment for a second opinion soon.

Your posts about your romance reading reminded me of a book that I read, Dangerous Books for Girls: The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels Explained. I think you would find it interesting.

Ouch. Sorry to hear the surgeon was so rude and dismissive. Even if the second opinion is the same, some empathy should be required of these professionals! Good luck with the next round.

As for the Alpha-gel issue, I have heard that it wears off eventually, although eventually could be years. At least it's triggered by food that's fairly easy to avoid, if unpleasant to be barred from eating.

>67 karenmarie: What a complete jerk. I hope you can end run the *#$*@ expeditiously.

>69 karenmarie: Oh, I have a friend with Alpha-gal in the SCA and it does interfere with her enjoyment of the feasts. I'd never heard of the tick connection, but as some of our major events are camping, that's an added peril.

It's so ridiculous that surgeons are often the worst, because you have to put a lot of trust in them. Sorry he was a jerk, and hope you can find someone better to talk to.

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with the surgeon Karen.I hope you manage to find someone better.

>72 Crazymamie: Thanks re the carrot cake, Mamie. And about sodium – it’s hidden in so many things. You may not want to read about how much sodium is in in canned vegetables, tomato sauce/paste, cheese, baking soda, baking powder, preserved meats (pepperoni, prosciutto, sausage, bacon, etc.) and pickles/olives. Chips, deli cookies. Cream cheese, most frozen meals. Table salt - I switched to Morton Lite Salt decades ago.

>73 lauralkeet: Thank you, Laura. I’m trying to channel my anger and upset. Fortunately, I’m hosting 9 women for our book club meeting tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., so am focused on the menu and logistics right now. Monday will be time enough to see about a second opinion in the Duke health care system. I’m already scheduled for 16 of 24 PT visits at the local hospital where I had my cardio rehab last Dec-Mar.

Milk, milk solids, gelatin. They’re hiding in so many things. Thank you for thinking about the olive oil cake, though.

>74 katiekrug: Thank you, Katie. I’ll do a bit of online research on Monday re Duke orthopedics. I haven’t made a carrot cake in a long time, and I’ll save you a piece. *smile*

>75 richardderus: Sigh. Yes, he was. He could have made the bad news so much more palatable, although I was never going to leave there anything but Extremely Upset.

>76 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! I hope your Friday was good, and happy Saturday to you. Oh – sweet boy to miss his Grandpa’s leaving.

>77 drneutron: Thanks Jim for your DiL’s experience. I’ve never sought a second opinion before, but I live in a medicine-rich area with UNC Healthcare and Duke Healthcare all within an hour's drive.

>78 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy! I appreciate your acknowledging a hidden fear of mine – that my knee/calf problems aren’t severe enough for surgery. I realize that’s ridiculous with all the pain I’ve gone through in the last year, and the opinions provided that I'm a good candidate for surgery, but still.

Oh my, didn’t realize you’d had cancer – I’m glad that you immediately added the status in parentheses. I may or may not make a formal complaint. Thoughts for another day. Thank you for your support.

The trouble downloading the short story from the author’s website was irritating but I downloaded it to my computer and read it there. In fact, I need to add it to my pages read total… I’m impressed with how you get books downloaded if there’s an issue.

>80 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, and thank you. See below re yesterday.

>81 Familyhistorian: Dismissive and arrogant, Meg, is how I perceived him. I was almost in tears in there, and he just stood there. Next week! Second opinion work.

*blinks* You just gave me a BB, which is now safely on my Kindle. First book of 2023.

>82 ffortsa: Hi Judy, and thank you. Yes, even a second opinion that doesn’t indicate surgery right now would be disappointing if it was delivered with more than a clear dismissal.

Judy has had Alpha-Gal for a decade or more. I’ll have to ask her about its possibly wearing off eventually. Of course Judy’s in her mid-70s, so I’m thinking that she’s accepted it as her lot in this life.

>83 quondame: Thank you, Susan. I like the idea of end-running him. Ah yes, there’s probably a lot of red meat at SCA events. What I’ve read about Alpha-gal is that it’s only caused by tick bites.

>84 ursula: Thanks, Ursula. Onward and upward!

>85 SandDune: Thanks, Rhian, and I’m gong to pursue a second opinion next week.

Wordle 567 3/6* I'm rather proud of this one! adieu, stoke, lemon

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Yesterday got interesting about 11 a.m. when Jenna called. She never calls during her work day. I immediately asked if she was alright and she said no. She felt so sick she couldn't drive home and would I come get her? I got there an hour later, put my poor darling in the passenger seat of my trusty Es-Ca-Pay, got her home, upstairs with crackers, a Bubly, and a corn bag. We tested her for Covid which was negative, thank goodness. Turns out it it's probably a virus of some sort - various symptoms NOT cold-like, combined with Eve hitting, as she puts it. She was much more herself later on in the day, although still a bit puny.

The thing about my being rejected for surgery is that is so much worse emotionally than it might be otherwise because my husband went to see an orthopedic surgeon 2 years ago for his knees. At the time he was told it wasn't bad enough for surgery even though it's bone on bone. Only when I started talking about being able to get surgery early this year, and after me nagging him for all of 2022 to go to the walk-in clinic, which he refused to do, did he talk to the walk-in clinic folks last week, forward the visit notes to them, and they set HIM up for an appointment this coming Thursday for the same evaluation as I had with the same f***ing doctor two days ago. He sits on his can for 2 years, I do all the work, have all the injections, etc., go to all the appointments, and he might get surgery before me. Peggy noted in a DM to me that if he gets it it might be bias for men's health over women's health, which I pooh-poohed, but she just might be right.

So today is grocery shopping, a bit of light housework, and making a cheese ball and carrot cake for tomorrow. Or - mini-cupcakes? I have a mini-cupcake pan, could make them instead.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Sorry to hear about Jenna. Hoping for a quick rebound for her. We had a good time with Jack yesterday. We are heading out to the place where we store the camper today, so we can do some final winterizing tasks. We just never had a chance to get out there and we thought we might use it again. We are hoping to take it out in April sometime.

>86 karenmarie: I understand your problem with salt, Karen. I have the same problem with sugar. I am allergic to it and finding foods that do not contain any is problematic.

I am so sorry about the doctor situation. It is beyond ridiculous!

I hope Jenna is feeling better and back to being herself soon.

Despite everything, I do hope you have a wonderful weekend!

>86 karenmarie: Mini cupcakes! That way you could frost some, leave others heartlessly nakedly barren for the weirdos.

Quick-heal vibes for poor Jenna. That kind of storm of sickness is so unnerving.

Peggy's probably right.

*smooch*

I hope Jenna feels better soon, poor thing.

And I'm one of RD's weirdos who would like an unfrosted cupcake :)

Chin up and enjoy your book club prep!

Morning, Karen! Sorry to hear that Jenna is not feeling well - so great that you were able to go and pick her up and bring her home.

I know what you are saying about labels - I do read them very carefully because between Kaitlyn, Abby and myself, we have several allergies where the culprit can be a hidden ingredient. It is truly crazy how much salt and sugar are in every day items. I should make more of an effort to cut back.

Like Richard, I'm thinking Peggy is probably right. Abby has had several horrible experiences with male doctors that were very condescending and rude to her. I know that if Craig went to them, he would not have the same experience - age and sex do make a difference with some physicians.

I am surprised that Bill is going to see the same doctor that was so rude to you.

Meg got me with that same book bullet - it's already loaded on my Kindle.

As far as cupcakes vs cake, I say do whichever is easiest for you.

Hoping that today is kind to you.

Bloody hell! I was reading someone's thread an hour or so ago, and Sandy (as in SandyAMcPherson) commented in a post at how enraged she was about your abysmal session with that surgeon. Hadn't read about it on your thread. Hmmm. Your thread—one that's important to me—I did not have starred. Jesus boom, as they say.

Corrected. Apologies to you. But also to me, 'cause I value how attentive you are in reading and responding to my posts.

So now I must go back and reread your thread, make some notes, and decide if I have any comments that'll be worth your time to read.

Surgeons! I am sorry to hear about your visit. I vote for a second opinion. Good luck, Karen.

Hi Karen my dear, i have finally got to your 2023 thread, i am dropping my star off and will be a regular visitor this year. Sorry about your visit to the surgeon and his refusal to do anything, Karen is in the same position regarding her knees but will have to wait until she retires in five years time unless they get dramatically worse.

We are both fine and Felix is his usual lovable self, he now gets comfortable on the sofa arm next to me and goes to sleep, although if i am out of my seat for a length of time, he gets off the arm, gets the cushion flat and goes to sleep in my spot, little devil.

Apart from the disappointment of the surgeon, i hope all is well with you, Bill, Jenna, Inara, Zoe and Wash and send love and hugs to you all and kitty skritches for the three lovely furbabys.

Karen, I am sad that you had such a rude doctor. I've had my share of them. Second opinion is necessary, with the hope it will be a nicer, kinder soul.

>86 karenmarie: I can't say how many times my symptoms have been dismissed with a lose some weight and Mike has immediately been scheduled for PT, surgery, drugs for the same symptoms. By the same MD, a woman whose practice I have left, but also since.

It occurs to me that many doctors request feedback, and you could provide some pointed comments. Also that there are other ways in which you could 'review' this surgeon's attitude and behavior online, to warn people of his unsympathetic, impersonal attitude. It might help someone decide to see someone else first.

>87 msf59: Hi Mark! Thanks re Jenna – she thinks it’s a mild virus and is feeling lots better. Glad you’re winterizing the camper and already have plans to take it out in April.

>88 alcottacre: Sugar is such a bad thing for most people, Stasia, but I’ve never heard of anybody actually being allergic to it. Thanks re the doctor and thanks re Jenna.

>89 richardderus: I must admit that I did a 180 and am back to a cake. Couldn’t find mini-cupcake papers today at the grocery store. I’ll make it in the morning. Tonight Jenna and I prepped the cheese ball – tomorrow is shaping, chilling again, then pecans at the last minute. Also made the albacore salad. Yup – I so think Peggy’s right. Sucks, because unfortunately, the mathematical formula of XX 90 Thanks, Katie. Jenna’s feeling lots better. Unfrosted carrot cake for tomorrow for sure. Big sigh, thank you, and I’m enjoying the prep and will be glad when it’s tomorrow about 5 p.m.!

>91 Crazymamie: I was glad that she called her mom, who was home and could go get her. She looked so puny when she came out to the car…

At least these days companies are required to provide ingredient labels, right? Some things are rather obscure, though, so you really have to know what you’re looking to avoid. The clinic set him up with the same doctor.

Now, in addition to being coffee sisters, we’re BB sisters with Meg’s book.

Cake’s always easier, of course, and without mini-cupcake papers, it’s what I have to do anyway.

Today was pretty good – reading, grocery shopping, food prep, and watching a previously recorded Premier League match- Leeds vs. West Ham. Fantastic match, ended up tied. Result in spoilers just in case somebody plans on watching it like we did, way after the fact.

>92 weird_O: Hiya, Bill! I just starred your thread today after reading that you finally set one up. I’d been checking, hadn’t seen it, but lo! And behold! You’re now threaded.

>93 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. I will get a second opinion, and Bill, bless his heart, got in touch with a friend of ours who had knee replacement surgery in the fall of 2021 with Duke. He gave Bill the Surgeon’s name and phone #, so early next week, I’ll be busy.

>94 johnsimpson: Hi John. Thank you. I’m sorry about Karen’s knees - I certainly empathize. It’s a shame that I have to become more crippled before this trainwreck of a surgeon thinks I deserve knee replacement surgery.

Yay for Felix, sweet boy. Yes, otherwise we’re hanging in there and are really quite lucky in our lives, all things considered. Sending love and hugs to you and Karen, and special kitty skritches to Felix.

>95 Whisper1: Hi Linda, and thank you. You’ve had incompetent doctors, and I’m sorry to hear about the rude ones. Thanks for affirming the need for a second opinion, as have so many of my dear friends here.

>96 quondame: I was listening to NPR the other day, with a piece on this very subject, Susan. Men still get prioritized, believed, taken care of. I’m sorry you had it proved with you and Mike.

>97 ffortsa: Hi Judy. I’ve sort of waited to get the “feedback” email, but haven’t gotten one yet. If I do, they’ll get a snootful, for sure.

Wordle 568 5/6* had a stupid moment when I chose leapt after knowing that A could not be the third letter. adieu, place, leapt, spear, opera

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Coffee, a bit of reading, a bit of thread visiting, then prep for today's book club. There will be 8-10 of us. One's coming off of a cold, and one had Covid in December and still feels exhausted but her doctor assures her she's not contagious.

>98 karenmarie: Hi Karen, I was interested in you watching the EPL and particularly my club Leeds United. As you know we have an American coach as well as the USA skipper in our ranks. I am gearing up for today's cup game at Cardiff - a place we have a terrible record in a competition we have not done well in for more years than I care to remember.

Have a great Sunday.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. Not a whole lot planned for the day. A few chores and then books and football. Glad Jenna is feeling better. Enjoy your day.

>100 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! I've become very interested in Premier League football, although Arsenal is my team - simply because Jenna has loved women's Arsenal for 10 or more years and so without thinking it through I chose Arsenal. Good choice for this year standings wise, although I love watching Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams and all the World Cup squad. I must admit that American gridiron football is becoming much less fascinating to me...

>101 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you, too. Enjoy the books and football after chores. Thanks re Jenna. Today is book club here, of course, so after I mess about here on LT for a bit and read for a bit it will be prep until folks arrive 2-ish.

>102 karenmarie: Ladies are of course entitled if not expected to change their minds occasionally?!

Ah, well, Mr. Cranswick, I have always maintained that I reserve the right to be inconsistent. *smile*

This is the first year I've seriously watched PL, and who knows - I may choose another club.

Jenna just came downstairs and I shared this discussion with her. She is now insistently telling me that I can pick another team, it just cannot be one of the Mans - City or United or Tottenham. I could pick them, but she would fight me during the fixtures. There are the derbys and she just doesn't like the Manchesters.

Just stopping by to wish you a good day with your book group.

I am sorry to hear about the doctor. I encourage you to leave feedback various places, including the hospital where he may be in residence, and shop elsewhere since it seems your insurance allows it. I was so fortunate to find the ortho I did right out of the gate. He was kind to me and skeptical about the medical community: for instance, he told me not to waste a lot of time or money on PT post-replacement. The best thing, and he was right, was to just start walking and getting back into normal life.

Hi Karen, and thank you for your words of sympathy and encouragement.

I am going to start thinking about things relating to my knees and Bakers Cyst tomorrow. Today is book club, then relax. No more social obligations for a while.

I just finished another romance. In 15 minutes Jenna and I will start making a carrot cake. Life's ... tolerable.

Morning, Karen! Hoping that your book club meeting goes smoothly today.

Carrot cake. Yum. I envy you the house smelling like it.

>104 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, what has Jenna got against the "Manchesters", this from an avid United fan, up the Red Devils, lol.

Dang Karen--I am so sorry to hear about the jerk of a surgeon. I sincerely hope your new Dr. recommendation from your friend works out. I am following your journey with particular attention because after my recent knee surgery (and I am already bone on bone in a small area) my surgeon recommends knee replacement next time. So, I don't have the Dr. obstacles you have but I am still interested in the procedure and recovery stuff when you actually get it scheduled. In the meantime, wishing you a great second opinion.

And as to allergies, I was allergic to 90 out of 100 items in the skin testing as a youngster. And I regularly wind up in the hospital with a reaction at least once a year. My allergies have gotten much better, and I treated some of them with acupuncture (and they are now gone!) and it has gotten much easier to read ingredients and get some respect at restaurants. But still. Hard to navigate.

Have fun at bookclub!!

Karen, I'm so sorry your surgeon gave you the brush-off. Definitely get another opinion. My doctor quit her practice last summer and I had to scramble (and then wait) to find a new doc. I saw him on Thursday and was so glad that he seemed generally interested in my health and went out of his way to encourage me to share any worries. There are good and kind physicians out there. I hope you find one.

I was hoping for a report on your book club meeting. I won't tell anyone you didn't finish the book. ;-) I read the description and it sounded mildly interesting but the ratings weren't great. I'm sure they loved the cake!

Happy New Year of Reading...and health. XO

Just stopping in to see whether you've reported on the book club. I know how much they must look forward to meetings at your house. I hope it was an interesting meeting. The food was wonderful!

I also hope that Jenna is completely well by morning and truly ready to go back to work.

Sleep well!

Morning, Karen. How was Book Club? I had a good Sunday, did some chores and read quite a bit. My Bears lost so much this season that they garnered the number one draft pick, so there was a silver lining after all. B.A.G.

I am heading out to do some owling in farm country. I miss my main birding buddies- Mike & Karen. They are enjoying the warmth of Florida for a big chunk of this month. Going solo...

>107 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Yesterday got away from me, as you can tell. See below re book club. You’re right – the house smelled wonderfully cinnamon.

>108 johnsimpson: John, I have no idea what she has against the Manchesters. It’s not the men really – she prefers watching the women and somehow or another a player moved to or from Arsenal, or they beat Arsenal during critical fixtures over the last 10 (?) years, or there were trades… I just texted her to ask, don’t know when she’ll have time to reply since she’s at work. But I shall get you an answer!

You and Paul, both “United” fans – he Leeds and you Manchester. I suppose it was naïve of me, but I thought cricket was the only thing you watched besides Tour de France.

>109 Berly: Thanks, Kim, and thanks re a second opinion. And I know about your allergic reactions and am sorry for them. I’m glad they’ve gotten better.

>110 Donna828: Thank you, Donna. See below re book club. And thanks for your wishes for my year. XO – I love that and use it all the time with Jenna and my sister.

>111 LizzieD: I was so whupped last night after book club that I was upstairs by 6:30. Jenna still has a wonky stomach, but she went to work today. Of course we had left her car at work, so I actually had to get up to an alarm so I could take her to work. She did the actual driving, and I did the unthinkable – used my cell phone location services and Google Maps to navigate home. I immediately turned Location Services off – I hate Google knowing where I go all the time. Sleep was interesting, as in not much of it, actually.

>112 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy day after Sunday. I’m glad you had a good day. Ah, number one draft pick. Bill was lamenting last week that the Panthers won just enough games to screw up their draft choices. Yay for more owling, sorry it’s solo, hope it’s successful.

Wordle 569 X/6* Gaack. adieu, fiery, niche, tithe, niece, biome. Pixie. Sigh.

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There were 8 of us at Book Club. One of the eleven was out of town, one still had a cold and didn't want to share, and the other had Covid in December, had something she had to do at church yesterday and didn't think she had enough energy for both.

Final menu was grapes and strawberries, dried apricots and Power Up Antioxidant Mix, cheese ball, albacore salad, 3 kinds of olives (left over from last Sunday), and carrot cake. Water, sweet tea, unsweet tea, white wine (no takers), and red wine (four of us polished off a bottle).

Most of the people liked the book. Several commented on the choppy translation and grammatical errors. One of them writhed every time she read one, another noted them but didn't let them bother her. Lots of good discussion about the disappearing of Palestinians through a mysterious something - a couple of the women couldn't get past that (are clearly not SF or fantasy fans) and others took it in stride. We had a great general discussion of the British Mandate, the 1948 creation of the State of Israel, the internal and external forced migration of Palestinians, the 1967 war, and current day problems.

Sometimes book club is simply a "I liked it", "I didn't like it", but this was one of the better discussions. Everybody stayed til just about 4.

This is the schedule for the remainder of our book club year:



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So I'm back home, in jammies, drinking coffee. After a bit of LT, I'll do some reading, of course. No errands per se today except to perhaps call the surgeon friend Carl used. Interestingly, he went to my alma mater - Pepperdine - although I'm sure he's young enough to be my son. I went to the now-defunct Los Angeles campus, he no doubt went to the Malibu campus.

Oh, I'm glad you had a good discussion about the book!

Glad book club was so good!

I see you're reading The Boy in the Field in April. I thought it was very good - hope you do, too!

Morning, Karen! I would have happily had a glass or two of the white wine. Glad the meeting was a success. Sorry that it wore you out. Hoping that today is kind to you and that you can just takeout easy. Jammies is an excellent start.

>114 ursula: Hi Ursula. I am too, since it was my selection.

>115 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. Good to know you liked The Boy in the Field.

>116 Crazymamie: ‘Morning, Mamie! I was going to have some of the white, but since nobody else opened it, opted for a glass of my usual favorite, red. I’m relaxing today. I may go work out later and/or pick up a CD from the ortho clinic of x-rays to take to the appointment I just got with friend Carl’s knee replacement surgeon Dr. Watters. He’s a Dukie, so completely out of the UNC Healthcare system. They’re very efficient – I thought it would take weeks or months to get an appointment and I have one for WEDNESDAY. I hope I can get the CD today or tomorrow. I’m waiting on a call back about picking it up.

So, no more homework today. *happy dance*

>117 karenmarie: I was feeling a little secondhand apprehension leading up to the meeting since you got it from my thread last year!

>113 karenmarie: I'm glad that you have another book club meeting under your belt and can maybe relax on that score for another year. I'm sorry that Jenna had to go back to work at something less than 100%. Hope she regains her mojo and comes home feeling a lot better.

I hadn't registered the topic of *Disappearance*. If you want real science fiction/fantasy (which I think you don't), you should read Sheri S. Tepper's The Fresco in which a race of aliens from the Intergalactic Federation notices earth and sends representatives to give humanity its best opportunity to shape up and acquire member status. If they fail, they will be left to the races of predators who will eat them. One of their first big actions is to make Jerusalem disappear. The population is left in the desert within walking distance of help, according to each person's ability to walk. Almost simultaneously, Muslim countries experience an ugly plague. When they wake up one morning, all the women look exactly alike - no burkas needed. They are promised a gradual return to individual appearance as the politicians offer women compensatory opportunities for gaining gender equality.
Tepper was primarily a feminist, but she wasn't afraid to tackle organized religion or anything else. Especially in her later years, she wrote a bit cutesy, but I continue to love her and restarted this one sometime during our pandemic. I need to get back to it.

Oops. Way late going on and on about an old favorite!
I'm sorry for your Wordle today. I lucked into it at guess 5. I hate them for those last two letters, which we saw last week.

>98 karenmarie: Yeah, I got the lucky straw there. I cannot tell you how hard it is to find anything any more that does not have sugar in it. Luckily I can tolerate small amounts with no consequences.

>113 karenmarie: I read The Midnight Library last year. I hope you enjoy it.

I hope you have a marvelous Monday!

>113 karenmarie:, Hi Karen my dear, in our youth Football and Rugby League were our winter sports and Cricket was our summer sport, now Rugby League is a summer sport, Football starts earlier and earlier and ends later and later and Cricket seems to get sidelined a bit. The days of someone who played Football and Cricket are long gone.

Coming in late to catch up here, Karen, but so happy you have an appointment so soon and hope it goes much better than the last!

>119 LizzieD: Sheri Tepper as an up front feminist was so blunt and full of magical thinking type plots that those books aren't the ones I re-read. While still pointedly feminist in other F&SF, or sometimes more just anti-male chauvinist piggery, she can spin such great fantastic yarns.

Happy reading in 2023, Karen!
Arriving late due to my eye troubles.
Sorry you had such a bad experience with the knee doctor, I hope you find a better one.

>118 ursula: I’d forgotten that I got that particular BB from you, Ursula – it led to a great discussion.

>119 LizzieD: Thank you, Peggy. I love hosting, love having my turn over for a while. Jenna still feels a tad puny this morning. Both of us have cast iron stomachs, as my grandmother used to say, and any stomach upset is completely out of the norm. She even chewed two Tums yesterday.

A BB! Due from Amazon on Saturday. The only other book by Tepper that I have read is Family Tree, which I read in 2002 as part of my RL book club. I liked it a lot, seem to remember being gobsmacked in the middle… anyway. You’ve sold me.

Today’s Wordle is 5. Sigh. Better than a skunk.

>120 alcottacre: So are you also allergic to artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup? I have already read The Midnight Library, just need to refresh my memory of it from various online sources before our February 12th meeting. Yesterday was good because I got an appointment for this week for knee replacement surgery evaluation.

>121 johnsimpson: Hi John! Thanks for the explanation. All sports here in the US seem to be extending their seasons – my cynical self says it’s only for the revenue.

>122 ronincats: Hi Roni and thank you.

>123 quondame: I will try to read Peggy’s recommendation this year of Tepper’s The Fresco. For me, buying books has nothing to do with actually reading books most of the time. *smile*

>124 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita, and thank you. I’m so sorry about your eye troubles – one of the most scary things imaginable for those of us who read paper or e-books. I’m hoping this doctor, who I see on Wednesday, is good.

Wordle 570 5/6* adieu, prior, trick, briny, grimy

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I've decided to pass on book sort today because the CDC has put my county on High Risk and the idea of being in that smallish room with up to 11 people, some seriously social butterflies, gives me the heebie jeebies.

So I got up to an alarm unnecessarily, although it's always nice to see Jenna in the morning and give her a hug and kiss good bye.

Morning, Karen. Struck out on my owling yesterday. My target was the snowy owl, so I was combing farm fields. I have seen them there before in the winter. The only bummer is that it is a long drive out there and then driving the farm roads. I easily put on over 120 miles. Hey, it was a nice morning anyway.

Getting ready to head out to Rehab soon. That's all I got...

>113 karenmarie: The Midnight Library! I have a copy of that, but it's squirreled away in...checks notes...box 18. I read just last week in the NYTimes that Matt Haig, now in his 40s, was diagnosed recently as autistic and ADHD. Holy library paste! The factoid was mentioned in passing in an interview focus on a different aspect of his work. But I'd like to learn more about that.

>125 karenmarie: Hi Karen! I hope your appointment with the new surgeon turns out better than with the old one!

I’m sorry that you had to stay away from the book sorting. Wise decision, but not fun. I stayed home this evening as well, still tired from Covid, but also I don’t want any infection right now.

>125 karenmarie: I am much more likely to buy a novel I've already read than one new to me - $.99 $1.99 ebooks from Amazon sometimes being exceptions, but mostly not. With book piles all over, physical books other than reference just aren't a draw.

>126 msf59: Hi Mark! Sorry about no owls on your owling. Wow. 120 miles. With no owls the only thing that would have made me happy about that was listening to The Ink Black Heart for a couple of hours. Hope Rehab went well today.

>127 weird_O: Hi Bill! I wonder how much of Matt Haig’s life has been stressful because of undiagnosed autism and ADHD. Get Box 18 out… opened… and pull The Midnight Library. Orders from on high, of course.

>128 EllaTim: Hi Ella, and thank you. I’m worried, but doing the right thing in seeing him. I’m sorry you’ve had Covid, sorry you’re tired from it.

>129 quondame: I’m not buying too many physical books right now, Susan, what with Kindle Unlimited and still reading contemporary fiction = romances. I can understand not wanting/needing physical books right now.

I am quite behind on your thread but I think I am caught up now. Sorry to hear about the doctor/specialist. I hope a second opinion will be more helpful and that the doctor more sympathetic.

Good night, Karen! I'm off to bed, but I'm happy that you're going to read *Fresco*. I had nearly finished my latest reread, but I had to start over, and that's what gets my time. I'd rank *Family Tree* as one of her mid-level ones. Meanwhile, it's a sad thing that 22 years after it was published, *Fresco* is as topical now as it was then.

Hope Jenna is 100% by tomorrow! I haven't dared check the COVID map, but we can't be far behind you, I'm afraid. Take care!!!!

>130 karenmarie: I could extricate The Midnight Library from its safe place, but then all the books I got for Christmas, feeling threatened by this interloper, this librarian-come-lately, will start something. Saying catty things. Threats. You know: We were here first. Wait your turn. Oh, you know how books can be.

Less than 50 pages in Lessons in Chemistry. I've nothing pressing tomorrow. I could finish those few pages tonight. Sleep in then.

I took my car for its estimate today. I was struck by the changes in collision practice since the last time I wrecked a car. (There is a degree of pride in the length of time that's passed since that last wrecked car.) The estimator came out to the car, looked it over, checked under the hood, and took a lot of photos with his phone. Several hours later, I got an email with the workup, which he also sent to my insurers. I have an appointment to drop off the car at 10:30 a.m. Feb 6, and a promise of twice-weekly text-message progress reports until the work is done.

Weird coincidence: The operation is a new occupant of a building has been a body shop for more than 50 years. I had a Fiat repaired there in the early 70s. The folks who fixed the Fiat are still in business, but it a different location. The persistence of memory...

Boring.

>133 weird_O: twice-weekly text-message progress reports until the work is done.
That sounds like a big repair job, Bill. And yet your car is drivable right? Is it just body damage? How long do they think it will take to do the work?

Inquiring minds want to know ...

>131 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita! Thanks re the Mean Surgeon. I have a 10:30 a.m. appointment today for the second opinion.

>132 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! The Fresco is due on Saturday. There are way too many books that are, unfortunately, still topical when they shouldn’t be. Racism, misogyny, homophobia and other LGBTQA+ phobias are still religion-infused and rampant. Ageism, too, has its place here in the US. You’re smart to not check the Covid map. I know you’re already going above and beyond to keep your mama, your DH, and yourself as safe as possible.

>133 weird_O: I do know how books are, Bill, and right now mine are mostly in a state of rebellion that I’m Kindling my heart out and ignoring their gorgeousness on my shelves. Lessons in Chemistry sounds like a lot of fun, but I’m going to only add it to the Wish List and not immediately buy it.

Interesting that they’ll be repairing your car instead of totaling it. Fun that the new occupant is in the building where you got your Fiat repaired 50 years ago. Not boring.

Wordle 571 5/6* adieu, glade, dread, cedar, sedan

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Jenna left for work 20 minutes ago, Bill's leaving in 10. House to myself although I'll be gone ~3 hours in the middle of it. Good reason, though.

Good morning Karen.
I just realized that I thought I was on Bill's thread when I posted >134 lauralkeet:. Reading your update made me realize my mistake. Sorry about that!

Good luck with your appointment today. I hope you come away with a clear plan for your knee.

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. Rehab went well. It was a beautiful January day. Things are really slow at the center, so not a lot of animals, which, of course is a good thing but typical of this time of year.

We are having some painting done in our family room/Mark's Man Cave in the next 2 days, so there will be a minor interruption in my routine. My son's fish tank over- flowed upstairs (this was about a year ago) and leaked down here. No major damage but it needs to be some patched in a few spots. I may still try to get out and do some birding too.

I hope your appointment today is more satisfactory than the last one, Karen!

Do well today, Karen, and let us hear!
I am, of course, rereading The Fresco from page one. Couldn't resist.
I don't see what you might have done differently about your Wordle in 5. I got it in 4 only because of my first word and some luck.

*crossing all known and now extant crossable bits for a good surgeon meeting*

>134 lauralkeet: >135 karenmarie: Oh gracious. It's kind of equivalent to a flesh wound. My bad if I misled folks that it was a really big deal. The estimate for repair is around $3 grand, not much these days. The shop has a routine for keeping customers informed, and saying I'll get updates every couple of days overstates how long it will take. Assuming they have all the necessary parts in hand when the work starts, I'd guess it'll take only two or three days. Here's the ding:



I wanted to tell you about Judi's experience talking to surgeons when her breast cancer recurred. She was disenchanted with the doc who did a lumpectomy when the cancer was first discovered. During a meeting with one surgeon, she told him she had fired her first surgeon. That got his attention.

>141 weird_O: thanks Bill! That's a nasty dent but not as bad as I first thought.

Back in a while to answer properly, but THIS surgeon took the proper type of x-ray that showed the bone-on-bone problem with my knee and I'm approved for surgery. Have no details, but I'm sooooo happy.

>143 karenmarie: Yay! So happy for you!

Karen O

>143 karenmarie: - Excellent!

Such great news, Karen! I am so happy for you.

Great news!

WHEW!!!!!!! I'm so happy that you found a human surgeon that I don't know what to do!!!!!!!!!

>143 karenmarie: So happy with you, Karen!

As it shuld have been from the start, but YAY!!

>143 karenmarie: Three cheers, Karen❣️ So happy to hear this. Yay, yay, yay.

>146 Crazymamie: What Mamie said LOL.
That's fabulous news, Karen!!!

>144 klobrien2: Thank you, Karen!

>145 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie!

>146 Crazymamie: If my poor knees were up for it, I’d have been jumping for joy! Thanks, Mamie.

>147 drneutron: Thanks, Jim.

>148 LizzieD: Yes, Whew! A human surgeon. I’m beside myself.

>149 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita.

>150 richardderus: Yes. There have been some very upset moments since last Thursday, but today made up for it.

>151 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks, Sandy!

>152 lauralkeet: Fabulous news, indeed, Laura. Thanks.
…
So the type of x-ray this doctor ordered and had performed right then and there is something called a Rosenberg x-ray. I had taken in the most recent x-ray from October 2022 on a CD. After the new x-ray was taken, he showed me the x-ray I brought in showing space between the bones, and then the Rosenberg x-ray, which showed clear bone on bone. So why, you ask, didn’t the Mean Surgeon order a Rosenberg x-ray? Who knows.

And Dr. Watters’ office called back today and I’m on the schedule for surgery on March 9th. She said that was the first day he had openings, so I took one on that day. No reason to wait.

Yes! I join all who are thrilled for you, Karen. Happy happy joy joy. Ya know?

Happy Day! You are approved for surgery, and you had a more positive experience this time. Amen!

Bone on bone sounds very painful.

>154 weird_O: Thanks, Bill.

>155 Whisper1: Thank you, Linda. Amen indeed.

Wordle 572 6/6* last guess could have been leant, in which case it would have been a skunk. adieu, blare, leach, leaky, least, leapt

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Lunch with Rita the Librarian today unless she has to bail, then probably a PO errand and grocery shopping.

In the meantime, getting books read updated, coffee, visiting threads, and reading.

Happy Thursday it is, Karen. Very glad to read your surgery is sceduled in March!

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. You missed me up there yesterday. Payback? Grins...I am sure you had a lot on your mind with the doctor visit. Glad you had much better and more realistic results. Also glad you are on the calendar for surgery. Enjoy your luncheon.

That's great that you were able to schedule the surgery so quickly! What a relief.

Hooray that your second surgeon appointment went so well! I'm glad you got the date all properly set and the waiting will soon be over.

It reminds me a bit of an orthopod appointment with a PA I had a few years back after I tore my MCL and ACL. I had been told to wait a year and then they would decide if the MCL should be surgically tightened. I had been in a lot of pain, which the PA kept insisting was due to severe arthritis. I told him, no, the scans had shown very little arthritis which is why I was a candidate for that particular surgery. I was so mad! On the way home, I decided he must have been looking at the wrong chart .... and that is what I wrote on the satisfaction survey I received from the clinic a few days later along with giving him goose eggs on all the parameters (did he answer my questions, did he listen to me etc.) I was so shocked when the PA called me at home to discuss the survey! He said the only way to get to the bottom of it was with another MRI. So I waited about a week and then called to give the MRI people a bit of a nudge .... and the PA hadn't ordered a MRI. Grrrr! When the MRI was done, it showed I had a huge bone bruise from the joint flopping around and hitting my shin bone.

Dropping a star here! Good news about your surgery! :)

>125 karenmarie: Yes, and no. Some of the artificial sweeteners I can tolerate, but not all. I try to stay as far away from HFCS as I can.

>143 karenmarie: Great news!

>153 karenmarie: I am so happy to hear that your surgery is now scheduled. That has got to be a load off your mind!

Hi Karen my dear, so glad that you have surgery scheduled for March, at last a surgeon who does things properly. Sending love and hugs to you all and Kitty skritches for the three lovable felines.

>157 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! It was a happy Thursday, reading, puttering, having lunch with Rita. More below. And thank you re the surgery.

>158 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, it was a sweet Thursday. Oh, yikes to missing you above – looks like I missed an entire bunch of messages. Sigh. Okay, catch up.

>137 msf59: I’m glad Rehab went well. Hmm. Wonder why it’s a slow time of year? People inside so less animals to find? Enquiring minds and all that. Yikes to the overflowing fish tank, so patching and painting for sure. Hope it went well.

>138 katiekrug: Belated thank you for the good wishes, Katie.

>139 LizzieD: Yes, ma’am. My copy arrives tomorrow, but no guarantee that I’ll start it. I’m still enjoying Wordle – today took 4.

>140 richardderus: Your crossing of all known and now extant crossable bits helped, RD. *smile*

>141 weird_O: Ah, now I can see why it wasn’t totalled, Bill. Flesh wound indeed. I love Judi’s story – it’s nice to keep ‘em on their toes. I had an extensive list in my cell phone of symptoms when I woke up that morning and the four reasons I felt I needed surgery – both not needed because this doctor knew what he was doing.

>142 lauralkeet: I know – I was envisioning much more mayhem. One of my Volvos had to get totaled because a deer and I met on a rural road. The deer died after hitting the right front, grill, and windshield.

Okay. Back to normal programming.

>159 katiekrug: Frankly, Katie, I can’t believe how quickly this is moving. Call for an appointment for an evaluation on Monday, have appointment on Wednesday where the surgeon approves the surgery, and a call back later the same day to schedule the surgery.

>160 streamsong: Hi Janet, and thank you.

Your appointment was a nightmare. And even before that – being told to wait a year to decide whether to tighten the MCL or not – *shudder* I wonder if they’d have said that if it was a man – more and more I’m coming to the conclusion, based on experiences of friends and recent articles/NPR stories and even my own recent experiences, that there’s a bias against women’s pain and women’s health needs. But I digress.

I’m glad you filled out the survey and glad that it got the PA’s attention. Boo hiss to the MRI-scheduling incompetency, glad it provided the answer.

2 years after I had cataract surgery in 2014, so 2016, I needed YAG laser capsulotomy - clearing up of the membrane surrounding the intraocular lens implant when it became cloudy. The nurses and the actual, REAL, doctor were fine, but there was a twink intern, who looked at my eyes and said something like "I don't think this is cancer, but it might be." when he looked at my eyes and ordered a specialized vision test right then and there that added another hour to the time we were there AND came back 'negative'. What he saw and his ordering the test were horrible but his ... glee... at seeing something out of the ordinary was beyond poor beside manner - it was vicious and unnecessary. I was beside myself, got through the procedure with the REAL doctor, then answered the survey positively for the doctor and wrote as many characters as I had available to complain about the intern. I never heard back, ever, so stopped answering surveys from UNC Healthcare. I told my PCP this when I had my annual exam with him later that year because he said he'd appreciate it if I would answer the survey and said he understood. I don't know if it's personal or Covid-related or something else, but I have not gotten a single survey in recent years. I did, however, take the survey sent to me about my visit Wednesday with Dr. Watters.

And my optometrist said that what the intern saw was a normal condition of my eyes that he already new about - possibly related to my Fuchs dystrophy - and that he shouldn't have scared me like that. Even if he thought it might be cancer, he should have handled me/it differently.

>161 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! I went to visit you yesterday and got diverted before I could post a message – back I go! Thank you so much.

>162 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. Thanks re the surgery. Regarding HFCS – I’m going to review the processed things that I do eat again to see how many of them have it. I know for sure that I consciously switched to “Simple Blend”, i.e., no HFCS, ketchup a year or more ago. Okay. New mission.

>163 johnsimpson: Hi John, and thank you so much. Sending love and hugs to you and Karen, and kitty skritches back to Felix.

Wordle 573 4/6* adieu, quota, rural, human

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Jenna left for work at 6:10 to get there for the early Friday hours of 7-4. Bill is apparently staying home - it's still dark at that end of the house. Alex comes today to clean the house, and with Bill home, I'm going to go out and run a series of errands because there will be no alone time to cherish. Pharmacy, PO, grocery shopping, Library to do a bit of book sorting without the Tuesday crowd.

In the meantime, coffee, quiet, LT, reading.

"Wonder why it’s a slow time of year?" Pretty easy to answer. The center gets busy in the spring and fall, during both migrations and the rearing of young, when all animals are at risk. In the winter most animals are hunkered down, out of harm's way. Nice to have a lull.

Sweet Thursday, Karen. Jackson day for me. Looking forward to it.

Ah, thanks for the explanation.

Yay for a Jackson day. Enjoy your time with the niblet.

Morning, Karen! Happy Friday! I am so happy that you were able to get your surgery scheduled not too far out. That is just so great.

Good luck running your errands today - may they go quickly and smoothly.

>153 karenmarie: Me, I'm Joining in with happy dance for you, too.

>164 karenmarie: Re Physician-patient interactions... I have long believed medical-school training is still back in the dark ages regarding women's health and patient treatment sensitivity.

Still catching up on your thread, Karen, but wanted to let you know that your comment re the BB made me laugh. Even better that I got Mamie too! BTW what does Jenna have against the Hotspurs?

>164 karenmarie: I don't think it is just conjecture that men still get treated differently than women. If I need a vet appt quickly, I get my husband to call. They like me but are more willing to give me the run around.

>167 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, a day late. Thank you re the surgery. I mailed the pussy calendar to friend Karen in Montana and went grocery shopping. Grocery shopping is always a much bigger deal because of Jenna living here, but a small price to pay, both $$ and effort. Came home, put stuff up, said good bye to Alex the house cleaner, watched the first half of an old Arsenal West Ham fixture, then prepped for lemon chicken for dinner. Dinner, a bit more of a different old soccer fixture, reading, sleep. I was up reading at 3 when Inara got sick. I had enough presence of mind to put down an old towel so she wouldn’t get sick on a wool blanket on the cedar chest. Inara migrated to Jenna’s room, I thought the cat was being done being sick, but she had dry heaves and woke Jenna up. Sigh. We’re all a bit low energy this morning. But… coffee.

>168 SandyAMcPherson: and >169 SandyAMcPherson: Thanks, Sandy! I won’t disagree with you at all – in thinking back over a lifetime of interactions with doctors there have been some that bordered on malpractice and many that clearly showed misogyny.

>170 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. I’d actually like to read it soon. Hotspurs are Arsenal’s North London Derby rival, so it’s just a rivalry thing. Although I must say that I do love Hugo Lloris, Spurs goalie because of the job he did at the World Cup except at the very end. Like here in central NC, for college basketball it’s Bill’s UNC Tarheels rival the Duke Blue Devils.

>171 witchyrichy: Wow about the vet, Karen. At our house, I do all the vet work and since Dr. Cindy loves our Inara Starbuck, we get seriously above-and-beyond service.

Wordle 574 4/6* adieu, bloat, loamy, koala. I admit that I perused the list of 2,309 eligible words and then confirmed that each was not already used. Too tired this morning to give it much brain power.

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Coffee, LT, reading. Soccer. Christmas will get put up. Various and sundry small things will get done.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. I was waiting for you to get up. Grins...As expected my Jackson Day went well. He never fails to make me smile or laugh. Not much planned for the day- house chores, errands and book time. I plan on checking out some football later too. Enjoy your day.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you.

Got up late, got to LT late. I've had coffee and brekkie and gotten trash ready for Bill to take to the dump. It's a bird fest out there right now, and the sunflower seed feeder is already down 1/3. I need to get the 50-lb bag of seed into the metal trash can in the garage - I could ask Jenna to help but can manage on my own if I put perhaps 20 lbs in by scooping it, then dumping the rest.

Chores, errands, book time, football all sound good. We're watching a bit of soccer right now. I might go into the living room to watch a bit with Bill before he heads out. There's also American gridiron football on this weekend, but without the Panthers, and with soccer, I'm not really inclined to watch, even my backup team the Chiefs. Sigh.

Good morning, Karen. I hope you have a good Saturday - sounds like it will be fairly restful. Mine too :)

'Morning, Katie!

Yay for your restful Saturday. I like the idea of you, TW, Nuala, and Leonard chillin'.

I'm feeling a bit more energized, so will do a bit more puttering than I initially thought I would. Of course, I might crap out in the afternoon, but that's okay with me. Tonight's wing-it, so everybody's on their own for dinner.

Morning, Karen! I ever did go to the grocery store this week, so I was all set to have to go this morning. Then Craig said he had some errands, and one of them was to the Publix, so did I need anything. Um...YES! So now I don't have to go, and I am very happy about it.

Hiya, Mamie! Nothing bad about delegating at all. Yay for you.

...
I just finished a wonderful book. I'm actually going to review it because the story is way more important than the sexy bits.

>177 Crazymamie: / >178 karenmarie: - I'm imagining Mamie handing Craig a miles-long list a la pictures of Santa Claus with the naughty or nice list, LOL.

>178 karenmarie:, >179 katiekrug: Ha! I kept it simple because if he is uncertain he usually calls me or buys one of every kind just to be sure. He had two recipes that he is wanting to make, so was going there anyway. The bad part is that the kitchen will be a complete wreck when he is done, and he will come home with a ton of things that were not on the list. The good part is that I don't have to go to the grocery. I'm calling it a win.

>179 katiekrug: and >180 Crazymamie: Definitely a win, Mamie! Keeping lists simple works here, too, although Bill doesn't do the full-tilt-boogie grocery shopping any more for a variety of reasons.

16. Show Me Wonders by Riley Nash





From Amazon:

Wait for me. Never let me go.

I fell in love with Jackson Moreno in hell, the only two survivors trapped in a catastrophic tunnel collapse. But when rescue comes, I discover he has secrets darker than I could have guessed. He disappears from my life as quickly as he came, and I can’t afford to chase after him when I have to raise my daughter alone.

I fell in love with Jackson Moreno six years later, on a bright summer afternoon, cleaning the lobby of a small-town bank. But he’s still running, and I’m struggling to keep my little family afloat.

I fell in love with Jackson Moreno in three feet of snow, surrounded by garbage and filth, after we lost everything. Because sometimes a tatted bad boy and a shy dad who loves knitting are destined to be together, no matter how many years and miles and memories pull us apart. No matter how many times we have to start over.

If we refuse to be broken, I believe someday we’ll find each other for the last time.

An epic, moving story of second chances and love that defies all odds, featuring a double gay for you relationship full of first times, hurt/comfort, a demisexual main character, and mental health representation!

This book contains some mature content related to mental illness and violence.

Why I wanted to read it: The description on Amazon was intriguing. I saw it while clicking around looking for new authors for my since-last-April contemporary fiction, romance binge.

The format is alternating chapters between Oliver and Jackson and takes place over many years. I like it a lot that this book takes things slowly, develops the characters and plot fully and vividly.

Caveat emptor re sex.

First sentence for Oliver, first paragraph for Jackson:

Oliver
I died this morning.

…

Jackson
I shouldn’t fall asleep, but making it the forty feet or so to the luggage area in the next car is the most tiring thing I’ve ever done. It’s not the dead weight after he passes out; his skinny body feels like nothing in my arms. It’s this place. Where I grew up, you stayed vigilant all the time if you wanted to live. Your senses kept watch even when you slept. The blindness here has my alarm bells going off onstop, and it’s wearing me out.

The emotional content of this book is absolutely riveting. It’s not for everybody, heck, I can’t imagine a single fellow LTer wanting to read it. But I have to review it because I’ve been gobsmacked by it since the first page. Oliver’s emotional baggage yet strong love for and caring of his daughter meets up with Jackson’s emotional wasteland after his caring for his sister turns tragic to create a mutual bond of need and love. Jackson keeps them alive in the aftermath of the tunnel collapse, yet they are separated, Jackson to return to prison, Oliver to return to caring for his daughter and dealing with his mental health issues. He's agoraphobic, and the author's treatment of this rings true for me because I had an aunt-by-marriage who was agoraphobic.

Once Jackson’s out of prison, he roams the country, thinking he’s lost Oliver forever.

The coincidence of them meeting up again in Iowa seems as natural as life itself. Jackson makes a decision that keeps him with Oliver but creates the situation that separates them once again. This decision by Jackson doesn’t make sense to me, but in the overall arc of their relationship I accepted it, knowing I’d get the HEA they and I wanted and needed. Their reunion is logical and it’s through Oliver’s standing up to his parents and working through his issues that he finds Jackson once again, for the final time.

Oliver’s daughter Megan, with her love of reptiles and her dad, along with her acceptance of Jackson and bonding with him over guitars and his motorcycle are fun to read about. Oliver's a wonderful dad, and Jackson learns to become one. If they were real people, I’d love to know them.

Neither is successful in the common sense of the term, neither has coped well throughout most of their lives. But their absolute faith in each other and belief in beating Fate’s determination to separate them shines through and just makes me feel good all over.

Six word review: True love with sacrifice and HEA.

Yup. HEA is one word. *smile*

>182 karenmarie: Riley Nash's brand is dark, troubling, troubled people with Pasts and their strenuous efforts to fuck up everything all the time.

It works!

*smooch*

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday! Everything okay on your end? We have a family birthday party to attend to, this afternoon. Hopefully, Bree and Jack show up. It should be a good football day too. I hope you are doing good.

>183 richardderus: I'm reading another in the series by Riley Nash, Hold Me Under, and it's dark in a very different and well-written, suspenseful way. Yes, in this one Victor makes strenuous efforts to fuck everything up. *smooch*

>184 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you, too. Yes, everything's okay. I slept straight through from 11ish when Jenna came back in, had me take off my glasses 'cuz I'd fallen asleep with them on, and turned out the light, 'til 6:30. Took pain stuff then slept again 'til 8:15. Immediately made coffee and watched the last of the women's Arsenal-Chelsea fixture, which ended up in a draw, which was sad because Chelsea scored the tying goal in the 90th minute.

So, anyway, here I am, coffee-d up, eating 6 low-sodium triscuits (they're quite good, actually) with 1 oz pepper jack cheese cut up into 6 perfect-fit pieces for a triscuit. 55 mg sodium + 125 mg sodium, so good sodium-wise.

Yay for a family birthday party. You have a huge family in the greater Chicagoland area, right? I mostly envy you that, although being an introvert would make it harder for me to want to attend lots of family functions. Fingers crossed for Bree and Jack showing up.

Yes, football, but, more important, Premier League has 2 matches going on right now and Tottenham-Arsenal at 11:30, which I'll be in the living room for. *smile*

Since the Panthers are out and I'm really becoming a soccer fan BIG TIME, I'll probably pass on American Gridiron Football today except for possibly during dinnner. I'm making Vegetable Beef soup.

Wordle 575 3/6* adieu, price, spire

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Actually, we have a small family here. Sue has her brother and his family and two aging aunts. This is who we see most often. I have three cousins here, from my side. I stay in touch with them but do not see them very often.

Oh. My bad. I guess with reading about funerals and christenings, and etc., I assumed family, and not, perhaps friends.

Let's see - we have one cousin/wife and their daughter/new husband within an hour of us, one cousin/wife/daughter and their daughter/fiance/new baby about 3 hours away. Other family a bit further but still in NC, one cousin/wife we're not in touch with any more, sadly. My family is in CA and enriched by a new baby in October, my great-niece Melody Ann. I'll post a pic later, she had a rough start but is now thriving.

Hi Horrible...happy SUnday. It's still cold here, yay!, but slowly warming up to the 50s on Wednesday. *sigh* March in January.

Hiya, RDear. Good to see you, considering that you're feeling so poorly.

I love the cold and would really like some snow here. We apparently had sleet Friday night, but it was gone by the time I got up. The ground was too warm.

*smooch*

Well, where is my post to you? It should be before your 187. It didn't say anything - I just wanted you to know that I had been by.
I think it may be Mama's computer which is a bit wonky this morning. Bother!

Hi Peggy!

We're good.

I'm good, too - Arsenal is up 2-0 over Tottenham at the half.

edited to add:

Arsenal won, 2-0. Yay.

In other news, why, oh why, do third party vendors on Amazon seem to think that even in the best of condition, you cannot call a book "Condition - Like New" if it's ex-libris, has the inside cover sliced out, a Discard stamp, a mylar cover, AND a label on the spine?

Sometimes I give a vendor the chance to make it up to me privately, but apparently this vendor has done this to other people. I should have looked at the vendor first but I shouldn't HAVE to. So this time I simply executed a straight return for credit and was explicit in my description of the problem.

Harrumph. Peggy - it was The Fresco so now I have to start over.

Wordle 576 4/6* adieu, broth, crown, frock

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Pleased that Arsenal keep winning as Manchester2 and Chelsea have bought the league previously and Klopp is such a blowhard.

My team continue to have poor luck dominating in Birmingham but still losing 2-1 to Aston Villa. We will batter Brentford next up.

I don't really have any history of the Premier league, being such a new fan, so find it interesting to get your perspective on Manchester2 and Chelsea previously having bought the league. Had to look Klopp up - manager of Liverpool, of course. Yesterday's fixture was wonderful to watch. I always love it when any team I want to win gets an early lead and maintains it. Forget the good game stuff - I want my men/women to win without me stressing over it.

I did feel bad for Hugo Lloris yesterday, though, because of the OG then the second goal which he guessed right on but still missed. The announcers started talking about his age.

Best of luck battering Brentford.

Morning, Karen. We had a good time at the family gathering. Bree and Co. showed up so that was a treat. Bree also asked me to watch him for awhile this AM so I will head over there in an hour. We are going to Grand Rapids MI for the weekend, with a bunch of friends so no Jackson Friday for me. Glad I am getting my fill now.

Rain today so I won't be able to hit the trails. I am a little bummed at that.

>191 karenmarie: Good morning, Karen. I'm sorry about your copy of The Fresco. Maybe by the time you get a better copy, you'll be in the mood to try it. I strongly object to not being told that a book is ex-library, and I do mention it in seller feedback every time. Sometimes all that stuff doesn't matter to me. I can remove most of the library stuff, and I do. Other times it matters a lot. Boo. Also Hiss.
(Which vendor is that so that I can avoid it? PM me sometime, please!)

Morning, Karen! Good for you sending back the book that was not as described. I am with Peggy about ex-library copies.

>191 karenmarie: I watched Arsenal win on Sunday at a bar (people were drinking beer at 8:30 am!!) with my out-of-town friends and we had so much fun. Hope you have fun watching. And reading, of course. Sorry about the book.

>195 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, 23 hours late. I’m glad Bree and Co. showed up. Have a fun weekend with your friends, so getting your Jackson fix was critical. *smile*

>196 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. Me, too. I’m not wanting to read it enough to get a brand new hardcover and not wanting to try again with a used copy via an Amazon third party vendor, so just bought a Kindle copy of it for $6.99. As you’ve probably already figured out, I PM’d you the vendor’s name.

>197 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! I have bought ex-Library books at our book sales and at the thrift shops, but I with them I know what I'm getting into. This really irritated me, and it seems to happen about twice a year to me, all different vendors. Sigh.

>198 Berly: Hi Kim! Arsenal with beer at 8:30 a.m. Wait. You were at a bar at 8:30 a.m.? But, Arsenal, of course. I can’t believe how much fun I’m having getting into the Premier League. I’d also watch the Women’s games regularly, but except for Sunday’s, which Bill somehow or another found, we rarely get to see them. Thanks for the sympathy re the book.

Wordle 577 3/6* definitely lucked out with my starting word. adieu, adorn, adopt

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...
I'm not going to book sort this morning, now that I'm scheduled for surgery in less than 2 months. Our county is medium risk again with Covid, the book sort room is smallish, and we have now gotten so many new members that there are always 8-10. Some don't wear masks, and I'm just uncomfortable with it right now. I like touching and feeling books and enjoy the group, but just don't feel the risk's worth it right now. I've also alerted them that I most likely will not be available for the sale with it just being 3 weeks after surgery, although IF it makes sense physically and IF it makes sense Covid-wise, I'll put in an appearance as a member of the team AND as my final hurrah as President of the Friends, book sale-wise.

In other news, Bill's got a dentist appointment today so I'll have a bit more alone time - he went into the office yesterday so I puttered and read to my heart's content.

I do have a few errands to run - 3 boxes to mail (yes, Peggy, one of them's yours...) and 2 items to return via UPS to Amazon either at the independent pharmacy or the hardware store, both of which offer UPS services.

edited to add: I've been debating whether to get Spare or not. Our little Library has 3 copies and 11 holds... some Libraries have hundreds. While looking at Amazon reviews, I read this, part of a review, and was seriously moved:

I have a mother who likely had borderline personality disorder. BPD causes one to see people as all black or all white. Often in cases of siblings, one is cast as the hero and one is cast as the villain. I was the villain in my own family. At graduate school I once told a friend that I was horribly selfish. She laughed in merriment, certain I was jesting. She stopped abruptly when she realized I was not. She stared and said, you are the least selfish person I have never known, give me an example. I was dumbfounded, as no one had ever asked me that. I didn’t have one to give. That was the first moment I questioned the construct of my reality, of my role. It is hard to know something about yourself with such certainty and to discover it had always been baseless. Spare over and over reminded me of this awkward moment in my own life. I think Meghan questioned Harry’s self perception in a way no one else ever had. Kristin Ellermann

I've been Team Harry every since this whole thing blew up after his marriage to Meghan, and continue to feel that he has to live his own true life, separate from the family obligations he was born into. Still debating. I did watch Steven Colbert's extended interview with Harry on YouTube the other day, which only cemented my being on Team Harry.

Morning, Karen. I think you made the right decision with the book sale. Too risky. You will just have to fondle more of your own books. I had a nice little visit with Jack yesterday, until he fell asleep in my lap again. I am currently eating my breakfast and I will be heading out to the Rehab duties.

Hi Mark! Thanks for validating my decision. Yup, too risky. LOL - I fondled books yesterday when I started putting books back on shelves in the Library and will do more of that today. I need to get that room under control because I'll be sleeping there in the queen-sized sofa bed when I have the surgery since upstairs isn't an option.

Yay for the Jack visit. Sleeping toddlers are one of the best gifts - warm, squirmy, trusting. I hope Rehab goes well.

I will be eating brekkie 9-ish, because I need to take one of 8 meds with food. Plus, I'm pretty hungry. I only had two small dinner rolls for supper last night - yesterday's lunch of a frozen Healthy Choice thingie didn't set well - then a granola bar at 9 with my 4 evening meds, the same one requiring food.

I think 2 eggs over easy and toast sounds good. Let's see - that will be about 450 mg sodium or so because of the sourdough bread.

Good luck with your surgery. I agree that skipping book sorting is probably for the best as you don't want to run the risk of contracting covid before surgery. It's not worth the risk.

Morning, Karen! I agree with Mark and Chelle that you made the right decision about the book sorting.

>200 msf59: "You will just have to fondle more of your own books." This made me laugh!

Hoping today is kind to you.

I have my RLBG today and am wondering about attending myself. Just not excited about being out and about. I may go fondle some of my own books.

Have a good day! Hope you enjoyed the eggs and bread.

202 Hi Chelle, and thank you. One of our fellow book sorters came by to borrow next month’s RL book club. She said there were 6 or 7 folks sorting yesterday, still a pretty large a group for such a small space.

>203 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. And next day good morning to you, too, obscene a time as it is. Sigh. I’ve been up since 3:30. I did fondle more of my own books yesterday, trying to figure out how to get them all into spaces in the Library. I’ll need to move several more shelves to different places to take advantage of shelf height, but that’s a fun thing. Yesterday was kind to me.

>204 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, and yes, it’s bothersome to even have to think about this after 3 years. Let me know whether you went to RLBC or not.

The OE eggs and unsalted buttered sourdough toast, one piece with Wolfermans Strawberry Preserves, were wonderful. I’m not hungry yet, so am existing on coffee.

Wordle 578 3/6* adieu, broad, chard

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Nothing planned today except to finally read the folder that came home with me from Raleigh Orthopaedics regarding my knee replacement surgery - contacts, schedule of events, info about KRS, and the release forms needed from my cardiologist and PCP. Cardiologist's office said to have it faxed to them or bring my copy, so I'll do that the next time I'm out this week. Haven't heard back from my PCP office yet, but wasn't expecting Vonda to - she's very busy and this is lower priority than pretty much all her other calls, I think. I'll nudge her on Friday if I haven't heard back.

Reading, too, of course.

Slow and steady wins the race...

Discussion of the fifth class of powers lodged in the Constitution. The last paragraph from The Federalist No 44, written by James Madison, in my copy of The Federalist, edited by Jacob E. Cooke.

January 25, 1788

To the People of the State of New York.
…
We have now reviewed in detail all the articles composing the sum or quantity of power delegated by the proposed constitution to the federal government; and are brought to this undeniable conclusion, that no part of the power is unnecessary or improper for accomplishing the necessary objects of the union. The question therefore, whether this amount of power shall be granted or not, resolves itself into another question, whether or not a government commensurate to the exigencies of the union, shall be established; or in other words, whether the union itself shall be preserved.

Well written, well reasoned.

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. Rehab went well. I got to work inside, which I like. I am leading a winter bird walk this AM. A small group. Hope we see a few birdies. I forgot to mention- on Monday I was checking out my feeders and noticed there were no birds out there, (not really unusual) and spotted a Cooper's Hawk perched straight across from me. No wonder. I did manage to squeeze off one photo before it took off. I am surprised I don't see more hawks in the backyard. There is a buffet of birds back there.

Good morning, Karen. I'm impressed with your persistence in reading the Federalist Papers. I had to read them in college (poli sci major) and they were, um, not my favorite. The ideas and arguments are important, of course, so good on you for tackling them!

I agree that it's a good decision to skip the book sorting and unmasked people in the time approaching your surgery.

Almost no one is currently masking here in Montana. It will probably hit here again in a few months as spring and tourist season roll into the state.

>207 msf59: Hi Mark! Happy Wednesday afternoon. Good luck on the birdies, and a hawk will definitely scare everybody away.

>208 katiekrug: Hi Katie! Thanks re The Federalist Papers. I can see why they aren't your favorite, but I'm absolutely stunned by the logic, arguments, detail, and passion evinced by Jay, Madison, and Hamilton. I decided to read them as a result of listening to Chernow's Alexander Hamilton, which profoundly moved me.

>209 streamsong: Hi Janet, and thanks for the confirmation. I'd guess that perhaps a third of people are masking at the most out here. Both Karen's and your counties are currently low risk according to the CDC and mine's medium risk. However, I question the accuracy of the reporting and feel like it's probably understated.

...
I've been fondling books in my Library this afternoon, working on getting them all on shelves and with the proper location tags in LT. Fun stuff.

Oh oh, Karen. Fondling books. How sensual. (It's okay. I do it myself. Pretty frequently.)

Book sale next week; first of the year. I expect to be there when the door opens, and I hope to be among the first in. (I'm staying calm until at least the 24th. Ha.)

Happy Thursday, Karen.

I hope you got some more sleep, not waking up so early again.
Enjoy the sorting of your books to get them all into the shelves of your library.

>211 weird_O: 'Morning, Bill! Yes, my name is Karen and I am a book fondler. *smile* I derive a great deal of sensual pleasure from my books - feeling the weight, remembering things about each one, and the smell of my books.

Ooh, book sale. I do hope you find dozens of wonderful books. Have you already started planning your next bookcase?

>212 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita, and happy Thursday to you, too. As you can see, I'm up early again, but last night I got 5 hours straight sleep before waking up in strong pain. Once up, compression stocking on, new pain meds taken, I'm in good shape. I've already had half a cup of coffee.

Wordle 579 3/6* adieu, mouth, mucky

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Errands today - Library to pick up a hold of The Constant Rabbit, pharmacy, and dropping off both medical releases for my knee replacement surgery - one to my PCP and one to my cardiologist. This surgeon does not require a dental release. I also need to re-establish my online presence with Social Security with my new email address. Blech.

Fun stuff for today - reading, mucking about in my Library with my books.

edited to add: Anita, @fameulstee, had some interesting talking points on her thread several days ago, and made mention of generations. I looked the generations up again, using Wikipedia as a source, and am putting it here instead of cluttering her thread.



Jenna, born in 1993, is a Millenial.

>205 karenmarie: I did go to book group and was glad I did. It is a nice group of women and we had a good conversation about The Day the World Came to Town.

>213 karenmarie: I missed the convo on the other thread. I was born in 1962 so am officially a boomer but am very different from my friends who were born in the late 40s so tend to identify with the Gen Xers. I also used to joke about the changes over those years. When we played Trivial Pursuit, they would get all the questions about Howdy Doody and the Beatles, and I would get all the questions about Vietnam and Watergate.

You were up a bit earlier than me this morning based on your LT posts. I do love the early mornings!

>213 karenmarie: Thanks for sharing this overview of generations, Karen.
And you are always welcome to clutter my thread :-)
Frank and me are both from the last baby boomer years (1961 and 1963).

>214 witchyrichy: Hi Karen!

It's interesting what book clubs pick. Our group rarely choose nonfiction because two of our members just don't like reading it, and one of those is obsessive about reading each book cover to cover. Who wants to make their reading experience bad? The last time I chose a non-fiction book was 2011.

We've chosen 46 nonfiction books since inception in 1997 out of 259 books - 18%. Of those, I've actually read 23, so 50%. This is lower than my overall reading percentage of 57%. I at least start every book for book club, even if I don't finish it. I've personally chosen 23 books, 4 of them nonfiction.

Six of One by Rita Mae Brown
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
The Night Trilogy by Elie Weisel
The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty
Longitude by Dava Sobel
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi *
Kingston by Starlight by Christian John Farley
The Stolen Child by Keith Donahue
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro
She's Not There by Jennifer Finney Boylan
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson *
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene
The Storied Life of A.J. Fickry by Gabrielle Zevin
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls
The Book of Disappearance by Ibtisam Azem *

* didn't finish

Yup, another early morning. I woke up about about 4:15, took tylenol and tramadol, tried to go back to sleep and couldn't. *shrug* The siren call of coffee took over.

>215 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! You're welcome. Okay, I will feel comfortable posting something interesting to your thread occasionally. You're both definitely boomers, near the tail end. 1961 and 1963. I was born in 1953 and my Bill was born in 1956.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. Hopefully, you can get in a nice nap later. My bird walk went very well yesterday and we saw 24 species, including a bald eagle, bluebirds and a pair of singing Carolina wrens. What a treat, especially for January. I then took a solo trip to another location and finally found a target bird. More on my thread...

Morning, Karen! The generations are interesting. Jenna falls right in between our two oldest - Rae was born in 1992, and Daniel was born in 1994. My three oldest are Millenials, and Birdy is Generation Z.

>213 karenmarie: I will be curious to see your thoughts on The Constant Rabbit, Karen.

Have a thunderous Thursday!

>214 witchyrichy: I was also born in 1962 and completely agree!

Fun graphic, Karen. I was aware of the generations but would not be able to rattle off the date ranges.

>216 karenmarie: Interesting book club list. I've read only one! I'm in the middle of Mrs. Caliban, and that will make it two, but I've been in the middle for some time, as it's not a book club book and I keep putting it down for other stuff (odd - it's so short).

My next book club book is Small Things Like These, which is my first Claire Keegan but won't be my last. It's also short, and I read it in an hour this afternoon. I'll go over to my thread and list it.

I am generation X, but barely. Wouldn't want anything else,.

>214 witchyrichy: For me, an early boomer, the use of "Silent Generation" to describe my older siblings - and there activist contemporaries - is a bit of a joke. The 60s protests were largely led by those born before 1945.

>217 msf59: Hi Mark! I hope you had a sweet Thursday, I did. I did have a nap – 1.5 hours worth. Yay for your good bird walk and singing Carolina Wrens. Wow, AND a solo trip? You are a true birder…

>218 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! 3 Millenials, one Gen Zer. Good for you!

>219 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. Today wasn’t thunderous so much as langorous – reading, soccer, playing with books, napping.

>220 lauralkeet: I love this graphic, Laura. You and Karen are at the tail end of the boomer generation, so it’s perfectly understandable that you’re less Beatles and Howdy Doody and more Vietnam and Watergate. Being 1953, I’m pretty much both, I think.

>221 ffortsa: Hi Judy, and thanks. I love Mrs. Caliban, and I hope you love its weirdness. It’s always gratifying to finish a book for book club, isn’t it?

>222 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel! One generation behind me, one before my kidlet.

>223 quondame: Hi Susan. Another generational split – Mamie’s kids are in two and you and your siblings are in two. I was too young to really protest in the 1960s – I was 18 in 1971, just at the tail end of the Viet Nam War.

>224 karenmarie: I was 22 in 1971, but my brother and sister were in the Free Speech movement earlier in the 60s and the graduate students I knew had been active for some time. My brother's 2 children are GenX and my sister's Millennials, as is Becky, but 10 years younger.

>213 karenmarie: Have you already started planning your next bookcase? Happy that you asked, because I've planned the next three!. Even better, I'm planning to buy plywood for them in conjunction with a haircut appointment; a big regional wholesaler is maybe a mile from my haircutter. I can order in advance, then pick up the order. But...but...but even better, I checked this evening and discovered I have two sheets in the shop, so I can get started this weekend. See?

ETA generations. My sister and I are of the silent generation. My brother is a boomer, as was Judi. Two of my kids are Gen Xers, one is a millennial. Four grands are Zees, two are alphas.

My siblings are also Baby Boomers, as is my husband. My niece Heather was born in 1979, so Gen X, her brother Ryan born in 1981, so first year of Millenials. Heather’s wife Amber was born in 1982 and Ryan’s wife Rebekah was born in 1983, so both Millenials. The 3 children of those unions are all Gen Alpha.

>226 weird_O: Well, my goodness. The next three? I’m seriously impressed. Last year’s and the year before’s books may make it to the admittedly glorious stacks to actual shelf space. Your family really goes across the generations.

Wordle 580 3/6* adieu, alley, alter

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In theory, Bill's going to work today. Jenna's getting ready for the early Friday hours - 7 - 4. I'm on my second cup of coffee and have several errands planned for today, including release letters to my doctors, picking up the Library hold, and going to the pharmacy.

Imma also gonna read and continue and hopefully finalize getting the books in my Library under control and properly location tagged.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. I had a quiet day with the books yesterday. Sue brought Juno to Brees for the weekend. We are going to Grand Rapids MI, with our "camping" buddies, sans campers, to do some brewery hopping. A little winter fun and relaxation. I won't be online much until I get back. Enjoy your weekend.

>213 karenmarie: - Hi Karen. I liked that chart. I am a boomer and never really paid attention to the *names* of other generations. I never heard the term *silent* generation, and, admittedly, completely glaze over when I hear references to the other alphabet generations. Can't keep them straight in my head. I have no kids so perhaps that's why... ;-)

Morning, Karen!

I'm at the tail-end of GenX.

Good luck with all your errands today.

Morning, Karen! Reading your and Susan's comments made me realize that like Birdy, I am also in a generational split - my older sisters are all Baby Boomers, and I am GenX. Craig and I are also in different generations. Heh.

>213 karenmarie: I am firmly Gen X (1972) and my kids are firmly Millennials (1994 & 1995). Morgan is 1981 and technically also a Millennial, although he identifies more with Gen X. I suspect that's because of the types of media he consumed and the fact he mostly had friends a few years older than him.

>228 msf59: Hi Mark! Thanks re Friday, and happy Saturday to you. A quiet day with the books is always good, but I bet you were itching to go for some kind of walk… Have a wonderful, safe, beer-infused weekend.

>230 jessibud2: Hi Shelley. Thanks re the chart. I don’t usually pay much attention to the gens except mine and Jenna’s. I’d never heard of Gen Alpha before this chart, but now having 2 great-nephews and 1 great-niece in that cohort, will keep it in mind as they grow up. They’re currently 9, 4, and 3 months respectively.

>231 katiekrug: Hi GenX-er Katie. Thanks re the errands. I did all except the pharmacy, which could wait as all it was for was some OTC-credit reimbursed Tylenol. We have tons and tons of Tylenol in the house, but I need a new bottle for upstairs. My biggest errand was getting the Library back under control – all books properly shelved and LT tagged or culled to the Sunroom, culled from LT, and added to my culled message. It was fun but tiring.

>232 Crazymamie: ‘Morning, Coffee Sister! Generations are vague cohorts, so depending how far into a particular generation, traits may or may not show up. Heh.

>233 ursula: You’re 19 years younger than I am, Ursula. You had your kids young, and my daughter is 1 year older than your youngest, having been born in 1993. I agree with you about Media and who you associate with 100%. My daughter continually astounds people by her love and knowledge of music from my generation. She also loves old B&W movies and musicals. And my dad was 32 when I was born in 1953 – rather old for a first-time dad in those days – and his mother, my paternal grandmother lived with us. She was born in 1882, so I was raised by a Victorian and 2 of the Silent generation.

Separate but related is that people don’t usually know Jenna’s an only child unless she tells them. That’s frequently in a conversation bemoaning how only children of their acquaintance – kids or adults – show a self-centeredness and narcissism not shown as much by people with siblings. My husband’s an only, but I am one of 3, so I specifically made sure that my daughter did not internalize or exhibit the self-centered or narcissistic traits that only children frequently exhibit.

Wordle 581 5/6* adieu, pouty, plunk, flush, blurb

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Today is live Premier League soccer, puttering, take out for lunch when Bill picks some up after he takes trash and recyclables to the dump and gets his SUV gassed up.

Morning, Karen! Your Saturday sounds lovely. We're doing much the same but with football.

Good morning, Karen! Happy day to you! It's lovely here, but I wish for the rain tomorrow.

>222 The_Hibernator: Exactly, Susan! I'm of the Silent Generation (I always thought of myself as a War Baby, 1944), and was deeply involved in civil rights - as deeply as a gently-bred, white southern woman could be - but not the drug or free-love culture. *ahem* Silent, though? No! My older cousins born in the mid to late 30s were largely silent though.

Thank you for the chart, Karen. I've favorited it for future reference and your book club selections too.

Hi Karen, finally getting around to delurking on a few threads today.
I'm happy to find you are well and on a roll with managing the sodium intake. That is such a sneaky molecule the way it appears in so much of our food.
I am behind on my book reviews, too, though unsuccessful in trying not to feel bothered by that.

>213 karenmarie:, >236 LizzieD: I never heard of "the Lost, Greatest, or Silent Generations". Is that made up by some wiki person? As for those in the 1928 to 1945, I can see why silent ~ the depression years and then a World War again (so soon) would be a good reason the generation apparently seemed silent.

In some respects, those who had entered their teens lost their youth, didn't they? But then perhaps so did the the young adults in 1914. What are the kids of this pandemic who have lost their youthful freedoms to some extent, I wonder if their generation has a "name" yet? Gen Alpha seems a strange choice, since 'alpha' denotes a sense of being first, no?

>237 SandyAMcPherson: Check out Wiki, Sandy. The entry "Generation" is pretty long and backgrounds all the generation labels, how they came to be, alternative labels, national and cultural alternatives.

>238 weird_O: Yo! Thanks for that. I didn't hit the right search term when I was looking at the image Karen posted.
It is indeed long entry and I was surprised at the naming prior to "Baby boom" kids (like me).

>213 karenmarie: I hadn't been paying attention and didn't know the latest generation term is Alpha. I hope they don't keep up the alphabet trend because that is just gonna be a blur in my mind.

>216 karenmarie: I've read 9 of your book list here and they were pretty good!

I think it's a good thing to take care of yourself and isolate from the crowds and I had to laugh at the "fondling my books" image!! I can so relate!

I must admit that I’m a little sceptical of all the different generation names. Possibly because, although being born in 1961 makes me a ‘baby boomer’ I seem to disagree with most of the attitudes that baby boomers theoretically hold. And there are so many variations between individuals in each generation …. and between the values that each person will be brought up with. What does someone born in a small rural community, say in 1947, in the Bible Belt in the U.S. have in common with someone from New York or London? Surely the differences in upbringing outweigh the similarities in generation? And one that confuses me is the ‘Silent Generation’ - what is that even supposed to mean!

>235 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! I had an enjoyable day watching soccer and reading. Bill brought lunch home, so I had a grilled chicken salad. I hope the football lived up to expectations. I did watch about 20 minutes of the Chiefs/Jacksonville game, just in time to see Mahomes limp off to get an x-ray. I checked just now, see that Mahomes came back, and that the Chiefs won.

>236 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I want tomorrow’s rain, too, although I’d prefer snow. This boomer didn’t do drugs … mostly… but was definitely into free-love culture well into my early 30s. *smile* I had a great time. You’re welcome re the chart.

>237 SandyAMcPherson: Hi Sandy! Nice to see you here. Low sodium is now my lifestyle, not a quick and dirty fix to get better after my heart attack 15 months ago. The biggest changes are no pickles or olives, very small amounts of cheese at a time, no Italian food (marinara, tomato sauce, large amounts of cheese cheese and pepperoni are all out), most prepared foods, all canned foods except low sodium tomatoes. Hmmm. Limited amounts of ketchup and any salad dressings but for O&V or vinaigrette. And etc.

Sodium is very sneaky – baking powder, baking soda, self-rising flour. Salted butter. I could go on.

Book reviews should be fun, not onerous. I’m forever grateful to Mark for his Lightning Round, which I shameless adopted several years ago. I write something about every book – either full review or Lightning Round entry.

The generations are not made up by a wiki person – they are demographic cohorts generally agreed on by social scientists. It’s fascinating, actually. Here’s a good article about

Generation Alpha

>238 weird_O: and >239 SandyAMcPherson: All sorts of stuff exists out there for the generations, including different names and minor alterations in the dates associated with each. I chose one that had what I considered the best visual.

>240 Berly: Hi Kim! The cohort generations appear to be getting closer and closer together, possibly as technology has changed out lives so dramatically. They also have lots of different names, but these seem to be what’s settled in recent years.

Aren’t lists fun? Especially for 75ers, we can hardly resist them.

I’m also not meeting friends for meals in the run up to surgery. This means high school friend Jan, Rita the Librarian, and my friends on the book sort team. Bill’s not particularly happy, especially because he has three couples he’s close to the men in and I’m … not so close to the women in but don’t mind spending time with them in the normal course of things … but one couple's recently had Covid, another just came back from an extended visit to family in Wisconsin, and the third we visited with January 1st and usually only see 3-4 times a year. I’m glad you like ‘fondling my books’ and also have this lovely habit. Vice. Addiction.

>241 SandDune: Hi Rhian. Oh yes, generational cohorts are only broad brush strokes and there are always people who don’t fit exactly. There’s a very specific reason why it was called the Silent Generation – I do a lot of online searching – NOT Googling, but ‘duckduckgo’-ing – and it’s easy enough to do if you’re really interested in researching further.

Wordle 582 3/6* I would have never, ever thought of using this word without having the list of 2,309 words available, so this 3 is not particularly something to be proud of. adieu, maker, matey

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Today is Men's Arsenal soccer at 11:30. Jenna and I will finally, definitely be making my grandmother's gingerbread this morning, and we'll be having salmon for dinner.

Reading, and etc. otherwise.

Morning, Karen! Hooray for gingerbread making. I just want to say how impressed I am by your vigilance with the sodium. I know that is such a huge change, and I love reading your posts because I am learning so much.

Hoping that today is full of fabulous, Coffee Sister!

Gingerbread making! Hmm, sounds very tasty.

Read the discussion on the generation thing, interesting. I am a boomer. 1957. I definitely remember things influencing my thinking and mindset, as a teenager. I wasn’t much into protesting, but there was Biafra in the news, and the Club of Rome. There was the squatters movement, protesting lack of housing, and the start of a wave of unemployment.
My mother, born in 1926, was part of the Greatest Generation. So she was seven in 1933 (great depression), and fourteen when the war started. After the war they were the generation that had to rebuild.
She’s been frugal all her life, those early years count.
What do you remember, what was influential to you?

>241 SandDune: I think it means that the baby boomers didn't stop to evaluate what their younger aunts and uncles or older siblings and cousins were up to before naming the non-baby boomers.

>242 karenmarie: Oh, it was labeled in 1951 when it's oldest members were less than 25 years old? That's a bum deal, considering Abbie Hoffman was 15 in 1951.

>243 Crazymamie: ‘Morning, Coffee Sister! First sips taken, heavenly. Thank you. Sodium management has been and continues to be a life journey. Yesterday was fun and busy, see below.

>244 EllaTim: It was fun, Ella, and came out well, if a bit flatter than when I use (death by salt) regular baking soda. I ‘saved’ 1888 mg sodium for that pan of gingerbread.

You’re the same age as my sister, 4 years younger than me. My parents lived through the Depression, and even though my dad was an aerospace engineer and we lived in a prosperous but not wealthy Los Angeles suburban neighborhood, money was always either tight or spent frugally. My sister and I always got 7 new pair of underwear, 7 new pair of socks, a slip, and 3-4 dresses, a sweater, and one pair each of sneakers and dress (school) shoes. One pair of shorts and one pair of casual pants for NOT school with matching casual tops. The neighborhood as a whole was frugal, as clothes moved from house to house – there were 4 or 5 houses with girls in them so we always wore each other’s clothes over the years.

I remember that I was in 5th grade, so 10, when our teacher came into the room after recess and announced that Kennedy had been assassinated. Our elementary school having a mock election for the President in 1964, and we voted for Johnson. The Viet Nam War reared its ugly head by the time I was in high school. Of course, by then, I’d realized my parents were staunch Republicans and I was a Democrat, so we stopped talking about politics by the time I was 12 or so.

This realization about my political position has never wavered although I used to split my ticket and even voted for Libertarians and Independents until about 20 years or so ago. I broke that rule during the elections of 2016 to vote for a NC State Judicial candidate after I met her at a friend's house at a party. Now I wouldn't vote for a member of the Gang of Psychos if you paid me.

I’ve also been a feminist since … well… forever. I've always known my worth as a human being even if society hasn't always agreed with that assessment since I'm female, not male. And, my parents always said of course I should go to college. I specifically remember that knowledge when I was 8. They never said I should get a Mrs. degree and settle down and have kids. I actually believed them, although that’s what my mom had done when she realized she was not good enough to have a career as a concert cellist – her words, not mine.

And, to quote Billy Pilgrim from Slaughterhouse Five, ‘so it goes’.

>245 quondame: Hi Susan. The rabbit hole of generational cohort description, naming, and assigning characteristics to them is interesting but ultimately only background noise. I try, in my personal life, to NOT generalize about people or describe them in standard tropes. Here in the South that made for an interesting meal one time when Jenna was about 18 months or so and I invited a work friend, Cheryl, and her husband Kevin, to dinner. It never occurred to me to mention that they were black, because Cheryl was of my economic class and we spoke the same ‘language’ of middle-class upbringing, goals, and experiences. Plus, I was stubborn then and am still stubborn now to not describe people by their looks.

Bill, raised by unrepentant but usually-quiet-about-it-racists, was the perfect host and gentleman, but told me after how shocked he was that I brought a black couple home without having mentioned that little detail to him. I.Try.To.Not.Generalize. Bill gets comfort from generalizing about all sorts of things, which frequently drives me nuts.

His parents stopped saying the N word around me when I threatened to leave their houses. Bill’s Step Uncle called the Civil War the War of Northern Aggression, not even the usual Southern name of The War Between the States. It's been occasionally appalling to live in the South.

You mention Biafra - oh my goodness. I still remember a Letter to the Editor of the Los Angeles Times about the famine in Biafra and how appalled I was at what the man wrote – that it was God’s will that those people should die. I kept that letter, but it has gotten lost in the shuffle.

Wordle 583 3/6*

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Yesterday ended up being fantastic - nap from 10 - 11:30, Arsenal beating Manchester United by getting the go-ahead goal in the 90th minute of regulation play and holding off last minute efforts in stoppage time. I went grocery shopping so I wouldn't have to go today or tomorrow, baked the gingerbread, and Jenna and I made salmon and vegetables for dinner. Watched a bit of recorded soccer during supper. Was exhausted, went upstairs early, and dozed and read 'til bedtime.

Today is the January Board Meeting of the Friends of the Library, which is being held via Zoom. I'm not sure we'll have a quorum, but oh well... we'll have the meeting, just not vote to approve the last meeting's minutes if that's the case. I'm going to mention a nominating committee to find a new President and possibly the other elected board positions for the 2023-2024 year, which starts July 1. I'm going to flat out tell them that I will NOT conduct meetings and will NOT perform any Presidential duties after June 30. Somebody needs to step up and head the effort to find new Board members.

In the meantime, reading and getting ready for the 10 a.m. meeting.

Morning, Karen. As you can tell from my thread, we had a good trip. Back on track today- eating right, cutting back on the beer and exercising. I have an appointment late in the AM but I hope to get out for a solo walk beforehand. It looks like Juno was spoiled rotten while we were away. She really whined when Bree left.

Morning, Karen! I very much enjoyed your walk down memory lane, so thanks for sharing. I'm glad that yesterday was full of fabulous.

Good for you with the FotL stuff - you are right that it is time for someone else to step up.

I am going to add one more bit to the generations discussion with a book suggestion: 13th Gen: Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail describe the gap we are all talking about in the margins of the generational divisions. I am an early 13th gen-er in this case (1961 - 1981) and it is called that because it is the 13th generation of the United States. Wikipedia talks about the book in its entry on Gen X, basically lumping them in together.

And I think your approach is the best: take people for who they are not what they look like or when and where they were born.

Amen and Amen for taking each person as a unique individual. That may be our main work, and it's not an easy job.

Good for you in Zooming your board meeting and saying unequivocally that you are ending your presidency! I know they'd love the ease of having you do it again. Too bad!

Enjoy the rest of your day!!!!

I'm sorry your middle of the night pain has been bad. I hope the new pain killers are helping you get more sleep.

Hmmm. Thought you gave up the library presidency last year. :)

Morning, Karen. How did you do last night? Hoping it was a restful one. Nothing much to report on my end. Finishing up breakfast and getting ready to head out for Rehab.

>247 msf59: Hi Mark! Happy next day to you. I saw the beer sample board pics on your thread… Glad you’re back to eating right, cutting back on beer, and exercising. I hope you had your solo walk. Of course Juno was spoiled. *smile*

>248 Crazymamie: Hi Coffee Sister, and you’re welcome. Thanks re the Friends – as much as I’ve loved being on the Board, being Treasurer, and being President (although less so than the other roles), I’ll be glad when I’m relegated to Immediate Past President. I did say that I would not conduct meetings or perform any other Presidential duties on or after July 1.

>249 witchyrichy: Hi Karen. Fascinating. I guess according to that I’d probably be 14th generation. I’ve had ancestors here in these United States since the 1630s although I haven’t found the Mayflower link if there even is one.

>250 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Nobody said anything or asked questions when I stated my position. Since 3 members were not able to attend yesterday, two of them elected members, I said I’d send out an email today or tomorrow regarding the Nominating Committee.

I had a relaxing, mostly do-nothing day after the very short (35 minute) Board meeting. I did speak with a friend of mine after his Christmas card/letter got returned with “undeliverable – vacant” on the envelope. I texted him Sunday to ask if he and his wife were okay, and we had a nice long catch up call yesterday – they simply moved 6.5 miles from Springfield Oregon to Eugene Oregon and their forwarding address had expired. Since I don’t check FB and Howard uses it extensively, I’m sure he thought he caught everybody with his news. I've known Howard since 1983 when we both worked for Micom in SoCal.

>251 streamsong: Thanks, Janet. No fun at all, believe me. No joy with any of the pain killers beyond perhaps 4 hours at the most at a time, usually 1-3. I could ask my PCP if he could offer the next level of painkillers, but since he already knows I’m having KRS in March, he might be reluctant, with cause, and I don’t want to ask the ortho surgeon’s office. *shrug*

I did give up the Presidency, but it’s not a calendar/fiscal year, it’s tied to the county’s fiscal calendar, which is July 1 – June 30. I only have 5 more Board meetings to conduct.

Wordle 584 3/6* adieu, south, count

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Nothing official on tap for today except a bit of Friends stuff - writing up job descriptions for the elected Board Officers and the two standing committee positions - Publicity and Membership - and sending them off to the Board for comments/add/change/delete stuff. In conjunction with finalizing those, the email will ask for 3 members to form the Nominating Committee to establish which positions need to be filled for 2023.

Reading, catching up with Louise, who is back from a month in Florida, running errands with Bill at lunch time, perhaps doing the Friends stuff I need to do in the next day or so.

And, this is from The Constant Rabbit, a book by Jasper Fforde.

Chapter 1
Speed Librarying

Somebody once said that the library is actually the dominant life form on the planet. Humans simply exist as the reproductive means to achieve more libraries.

What a great start to a book!

Morning, Karen!

Love the quote! Are you reading The Constant Rabbit? The blurb makes it sound like a book for me - "Reads like a crazed cross between Watership Down and Nineteen Eighty-Four."

Good morning, Karen! I also wish that you were sleeping better. Even a few nights are debilitating, and you've been at this for a long, long time. Yet you thrive. Strong woman!

I read the first Fforde long ago and liked it OK but never enough to get back to it. *sigh* At least in this case I'm saving time and $ by being my contrarian self.

You are also the Wordle woman. I shot through it in 5 with no thought at all.

Enjoy your day!

Morning, Karen!

>254 karenmarie: Yay for an uncomplicated day.

I have had a recent unfortunate experience with pain killers. To prevent pain from keeping me from enjoying Saturday evening's excursion I took some some low dose Oxycodone, which worked but ever since every part of me that ever "took a blow" hurts, not excruciatingly but just enough to keep me from getting comfortable easily. Which seems like a devastatingly dangerous potential for those who have endured really serious blows.

>246 karenmarie: My sister-in-law Frances was on her town's library board for six years, and she spent the last three as the chairperson. The library's charter or by-laws or whatever limits a person to six years on the board. So she's OUT. And boy, is she glad.

I've fallen behind on the threads again. Either that or yours is an especially busy thread. Good to see that your surgery is only 2 months away after the kerfuffle with the first surgeon.

The Generations Chart is great. I never knew the name of the generations before mine before. I'm a baby boomer, 1952, the year before you. All my siblings belong to that generation. I have 2 brothers but the youngest one barely squeaks in there as I'm 10 years older than him. Both my parents belonged to the Greatest Generation.

>254 karenmarie: I’ve had ancestors here in these United States since the 1630s although I haven’t found the Mayflower link if there even is one. That's interesting. My first ancestor in North America went to the United States - the colonies at that time, I guess - in 1630. Where did your ancestor end up? Mine went to Massachusetts Bay Colony before moving to Rhode Island. Interesting history between those two colonies!

>255 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! I’ve just started The Constant Rabbit, read the first chapter. It’s snarky, which should trip your trigger.

>256 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I wish I was, too, and this morning was pretty rough. I’m trying to be strong, but honestly, when I woke up about 4:30, I was shaking with the pain. Now that I’m up and downstairs and have had the first sip of coffee, things are looking up, and I can take some pain meds again soon.

You’re like me with the Thursday Next series, although I read the first two before not continuing the series. I have the first 6 of 7 of that series on my shelves, the first, The Last Dragonslayer in the Chronicles of Kazam series, and a standalone, Early Riser. The Constant Rabbit is a Library book. Since I almost exclusively read just to please myself, I do not (yet) feel guilty about not reading the rest of the Thursday Next series. I don’t know why I bought The Last Dragonslayer except that it is by Fforde. Early Riser just sounded good. But I’ve had it on my shelves for 3 years so far, and I had forgotten that I even own it.

Yesterday was pleasurable – ran errands with Bill in order to get some stuff using my OTC credit. We get $70/quarter, which is wonderful. We got takeaway lunch, and etc. Came home and started watching soccer when my friend Jan called. Since I’m not doing anything except grocery shopping, pharmacy, and PO until after my surgery because of Covid, she’ll come over to visit on Feb. 3rd.

Today’s Wordle was in 4. It actually became a bit of alphabet soup, unfortunately.

>257 katiekrug: Hi Katie.

>258 quondame: Hi Susan. I love things to be uncomplicated.

Wow about the oxy giving you that bad reaction. I’m really sorry to hear that and hope it’s gone when you get up today. I have some oxy/Tylenol that even taking the doubled dose of 10 mg/650 mg hasn’t phased the pain at all.

>259 weird_O: Hi Bill! We have a County Library Advisory Board, which is completely separate from the Library and the Friends. My 3-year tenure is dictated by custom, not the by-laws. I’m glad she’s got the official excuse to get out if that’s what she wants.

>260 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg! Big sigh – yes to being behind on threads. I don’t now how active mine is compared with everybody else, but I’m feeling particularly guilty right now about not visiting more threads and even before reading this this morning had made a resolution to visit 5 threads in addition to the two I visit every day come rain or shine and trying to respond to my visitors. We’ll see how good I am at it. *smile*

Thanks re the surgery. 6 weeks and one day, but who’s counting. Yay for being a Baby Boomer.

I’ve established to my own satisfaction if not officially ‘proven’ satisfaction my link to Eltweed Pomeroy, who was in Dorchester, Suffolk, MA by 1633 according to one reference I have. From that link, here’s another example: William Bartholomew, who arrived in Boston in what was then the Massachussetts Bay Colony on the Griffin in 1634. Bartholomew and Pomeroy are both 8th g-grandfathers. I’ve got ancestors all over the early colonies from what I can see. Separate from that, I’ve got a 2nd great-grandfather who was born in Vermont in 1821 or 1822. His father emigrated from Masham, Yorkshire, England, again, an unofficial thing I've proven to my own satisfaction. Robert Hopps ended up in Nebraska by the 1860s. It’s all fascinating, but I haven’t continued with my official research/documentation in years.

Wordle 585 4/6* Ugh to alphabet soup. adieu, raise, naive, maize

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Louise is back from Florida after a 5+ weeks, and I'm going to visit her later this morning. She's been home since Sunday.

Other than that, both Bill and Jenna have left for work and I've got the house to myself to putter, read, and work on the Friends stuff I started yesterday.

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. We are waking up to snow and it will continue through the day. Maybe 3-5". It could be more. This will probably keep me inside, other than to shovel or use the snowblower. Of course, I can monitor my feeders. They were hopping yesterday and I briefly saw the red-breasted nuthatch. There has also been a cat skulking around out there. It has been showing up since summer. Fortunately, it is wearing a collar with a bell.

'Morning, Mark! Happy snowy Wednesday to you. I.Want.Snow but probably won't get any now that's almost the end of January.

Sorry about the visiting kitty, although the collar with bell has to be a help. My girl kitty with a collar/bell still manages to bring things in, drat her. Sunday she brought in a huge short-tailed brown mammal. We still don't know what it was. I isolated it under 2 buckets and a heavy weight until Jenna could get downstairs and release it into the pastures. It hopped away.

i've now got a Downy getting ready to go to the suet feeder from the Crepe Myrtle, Cardinals, and more finches.

Morning, Karen! I also want snow.

So sorry about all the pain you are experiencing. I would be asking the doctor for pain meds - the worst that can happen is they say no. Pain like that causes stress, and that cannot be good for your heart. It also wears one down.

I read the first book in that Thursday Next series but chose not to continue. The one you are reading by that author might work for me - I will await your final thoughts.

Hoping today is kind to you.

I'm deflated again about your bad night, dear Karen. I don't want to wish our lives away, but I hope these next 6 weeks + a day fly by for you......actually, let's make that 7 weeks to get you on the other side of the surgery and beginning to feel a lot better. You will!!!

Enjoy your empty house day. I hope to get to a DVD today with thanks!
Wordled in 3 to make up for yesterday's lackluster performance. You did have alphabet soup and waded through it well.

Happy Thursday, Karen.

Sorry the pain is causing you bad nights. Six weeks can feel like a long time.

>264 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Happy next day. I just sent a MyChart message to my PCP asking for a different pain med. He’s pretty prompt replying, and I hope to hear back before the weekend. I even gave him the out of letting him tell me to ask my cardiologist or my ortho surgeon. I love writing those words – ortho surgeon. Yup, only a few more weeks plus PT and etc.

Yesterday was kind to me – see below. I hope your day went well – from your thread it looks like lots of stuff around moving Abby to a different room.

>265 LizzieD: Thank you, my dear Peggy, for your empathy and concern. Just knowing that I’ve got this surgery scheduled has relieved my mind, even if it hasn’t helped with the pain any.

See below re my day.

>266 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita, and thank you! I hope you had a good day. Here we are, already into Friday. It’s just getting light out here, Jenna left about 20 minutes ago, and Bill’s still sleeping since he works from home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As I wrote above, the pain is no fun at all, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel in 2023, so instead of being bat-shit crazy right now, I’m only my usual crazy.

Wordle 586 4/6* adieu, slope, berry, beefy

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Yesterday I visited with friend Louise, just back from 37 days in Florida visiting daughter Cathy/SiL John and 60-year friend Julie. I also brought back the plant I babysat for her. I was glad to return it in good shape. I had to keep it closed off in the Library because Zoe chews plants, the little weasel, and Louise had temporarily forgotten that she had me take care of it. Another neighbor took care of her orchids and one or two other plants at Louise's house, overwatered them all, and actually managed to kill one. So yay me for not killing the plant!

Other than that I read and puttered and read some more.

I have a chiropractic appointment this morning and will be getting my car inspected for my registration renewal this afternoon. Thank goodness everything's online these days since my renewal must occur on or before the 31st. I'll simply keep the receipt in my car in case I get pulled over since the tag and registration won't get mailed to me 'til sometime in February. They can check this stuff online now so I don't even expect to get pulled over at all.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. We ended up with about 3" of snow but it was wet and heavy. It was difficult to move even with the snowblower. Waking up to a light coating this AM. Another round arrives Saturday.

Bree and Sean are going to Florida for a long weekend. Bree will drop Jack off here later today and we get to hang with him for a few days. You know we will love it but it will be a bit exhausting too. I am sure I will be making updates...

'Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday and happy Jackson-for-a-few-days. Exhausting and fun. You get it all, and I know you love it.

Don't they have a couple of dogs? Are they boarding them or will the dogs be visiting, too?

Ugh to heavy snow, but at this point I.Still.Want.Snow yet realize I'll probably be disappointed. However, 🤞

They do have two big dogs. My son Matt and his girlfriend Hannah will be staying there for the weekend. There is no friggin' way that would work here. 😁

LOL. '...No friggin' way...' One grandson and one medium-ish dog are enough for you and Sue, eh?

Morning, Karen! I am so happy you messaged your PCP, and I am hoping that you get a change in pain med.

Abby is in her new room (Rae's old room). She wants a minimalist setting, hoping she will be able to get more sleep that way. We just need to move two pieces of furniture that she wants from her old room, and then we need to empty that room out. Craig is going to replace the flooring and then paint it. Abby and Birdy are going to use it as a studio - they are working on creating a GN series.

Hi Mamie, and happy Friday to you.

Musical rooms. I hope Abby's new room gives her the sleep she needs - goodness knows that sleep is high on my priorities now, too. I didn't appreciate it enough when I didn't have pain in the night and wake up multiple times because of it.

Yay for Abby and Birdy's new studio and working on a GN series. You've got wonderful and talented children, but of course you already know this.

Wordle 587 4/6* adieu, morph, worst, worry

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Suprises don't usually appeal to me, but yesterday I had a new chiropractor. she joined the practice last summer, they have three offices, and this one's closer to her home and my now-not chiropractor is based at the office two and a half times the distance away. The new one didn't stretch out my lower spine because she had me on a different table, but she did cup my lower back. I told her that if I was a cat I'd be purring. She's gentler than the other one so I didn't feel the adjustments so much, but we'll see.

Car inspection went well and I just paid my registration renewal, due on the 31st. I also just printed out the receipt and will keep it in the car in case I get pulled over, paranoid person that I am. They should have it in their onboard computer but you never know.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Sadly, we are in for a long stretch of "real" winter weather for the next week, which will definitely limit my time on the trails. Boo!

Our first night with Jack went well. Sue is sleeping with him in our guest room. He cried for awhile but I am hoping he was good for the rest of the night. He sure keeps us hopping but also cracks us up continuously.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you, too. Yes, I see that you've got snow and very cold temps coming your way. I know you get twitchy when you can't be out and about.

I'm glad your first night with Jack went well.

I wish you could see Zoe, our mommy ginger kitty. She's 2 inches away from my left arm, just waiting for me to be done in order for me to provide the lap she wants. I think I'll accomodate her, drink some coffee, read, then come back and visit your thread, RD's thread, Peggy's thread, Mamie's thread, and various and sundry other threads I owe visits to.

Good morning, Karen, and a glorious morning it is in NC!

Glad you got your yesterday's business done and very glad that you kept Louise's plant healthy. My thumbs are brown. I wouldn't dare take one although I've managed to keep Mama's one orchid and bowl of shamrocks alive for several years now.

Wordle in 4 for me too. I'm late. Did other stuff this morning before sitting down here, so I'm off to try to make up some time.

Afternoon, Karen! Morning completely got away from me. Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm hoping that Zoe got her lap time.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Zoe sounds like the perfect companion. I can't do that with Juno. Grins...

Things are going well with the Jackson visit. We had friends come over last night. Jack is strangely shy around people he doesn't know and keeps his distance. Hopefully he grows out of it. We have more friends coming over this afternoon and with little kids. We will see how he does. Juno has no problem with strangers. Our mighty watchdog.

>276 LizzieD: Hi Peggy, and happy gorgeous Saturday to you. It’s another glorious Carolina blue sky morning, isn’t it? Brisk here at 27F right now, getting to a high of about 60F.

I’m sorry you have brown thumbs, except for the orchid and shamrock. It’s always best to know our limits, isn’t it? *smile*

I used to have a better green thumb than I do now, so don’t acquire new plants very often. For some reason the Sansevieria I’ve got in the dining room is flourishing – it’s one that Zoe can’t eat, although if you look close you can see early efforts on the tips.



You’re always so busy taking such good care of your mama, I’m amazed at the amount of reading AND Wordle AND other stuff you do get done. I hope yesterday was kind to you.

>277 Crazymamie: ‘Next morning, Mamie! I completely understand that, and I didn’t even have anybody else in the house except Alex the house cleaner to deal with! Zoe did indeed get her lap time. And then, she was cute when Alex was getting ready to leave. I love that her rear paws were on the window sill and her front paws on the basket. Bridge kitty.





>278 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you, too. Well, no, medium-to-large dogs just don’t get lap time without potential injury to their owners, do they? *smile* There are other compensations, right?

Jackson’s shyness is okay in my book if it’s around strange adults, and he will eventually be taught how to recognize welcome and unwelcome attention. I hope that he enjoys the kids coming over today. As for Juno… heh. Mighty watchdog.

My Doberman Pinscher, Jet, who I had in the mid-1980s, was MY dog, although my boyfriend-at-the-time, Mark, got Jet to be HIS dog. Jet bonded with me when he was 10 weeks old and I was home from work sick for 2 weeks. He’d even growl at Mark if Mark raised his voice to me. Didn’t bother me a bit.



I've got a Blue Jay couple hanging out in the Crepe Myrtle, Cardinals and finches, of course, and a Carolina Wren on the suet feeder. The Carolina Wren was also checking out the corner of the house which has a drain pipe from the gutters, possibly for a nest? 🤞

Wordle 588 3/6* adieu, blink, flirt *happy dance*

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We've got someone from ADT coming out this afternoon so that we can get out of the stone age of our 1991 wired security system to something wireless and more secure. Before that is probably take out, but am not sure.

In the meantime, LT, chatting with Jenna, coffee, and reading.

Sounds like a happy Saturday, Karen. Enjoy!!!
I enjoy the animal pictures and that beautiful plant - even with chew attempts on the tips.

Shower day here, so I'd better get to it. Meanwhile, Wordle in 4. Your second word was genius today. My third word wasn't.

I was just thinking about a favorite family recollection. Anne, maybe 6, watching her 15 year-old sister, announced in outrage," Mama! Gayle is flurping with that boy!

'Morning, Peggy! I hope your Saturday goes well, taking care of your mama and all. Thanks re the pics and my Mother-in-Law's Tongue, aka the Sansevieria.

Jenna and I just got all the stuff we'd left in the garage up to the Media room so I can easily park my SUV again. Yes, since July. Made me twitch, but Jenna works differently than I do, so I left it until she said she realized it was in my way and it was time to get it all upstairs out of the way. Just swept my side of the garage to get the pesky leaves and etc., out, and now it's the way I like it - uncluttered and easy for me to get to the passenger side of my SUV and to the garage freezer.

Shower day here, too, but for me... Wordle in 4 is good. When I get one vowel, I usually try to find a word with 4 different consonants that uses that letter and go from there. Today was a lucky/check the 2,309 list/check words already used list. Blink and flirt were words I didn't cheat to get - just confirmed that they were official words and hadn't already been used.

Heh. Flurping. I looked it up on duckduckgo, and there are some funny AND some disturbing urban definitions. I'll leave it for now.

>261 karenmarie: Looks like your ROOTs are firmly planted in the beginning days of what eventually became the US, Karen. You've reminded me that I haven't done much research on the other lines that link to my Tripp line. That immigration can be traced to 1630. The first to come over, John Tripp, left an account of his immigration, which gave details about the ship, who he was indentured to, and where he came from. He originated in Horkstow, Lincolnshire which close to Yorkshire.

It was strange to find out about my early connection to what became the US as I am not American. My reaction was more gobsmacked than proud.

I just looked at all the uses of "flurp." Oh. Yuck. (I'm being ladylike on your thread, dear Karen.)

Afternoon, Karen! I am so late to the threads today. LOVE the Zoe photos - thanks so much for sharing.

Hooray for reclaiming your SUV space, and good for you for being patient. I am not good with patience.

Thanks for your long response to my question around the generation discussion. So interesting to see, we have a lot in common, but we also have picked different events as most influential. It reminds me a bit of a kaleidoscope, different points of view.

>279 karenmarie: Lovely cats. A cuddle or a cat in one’s lap, those are the good things!

And have a nice Sunday!

What a great looking Sansevieria plant!

You sure get a few 3's with your Wordle! (I was unlucky with 'BLURB' as well, and took 5 tries with that one.)

Re houseplants...I have got into these lately. Since our kitten is now a 3 year old, and so doesn't dig in the dirt any more, we have had success. I love having plants around! The ones in my and my lovely other's bedroom cast lovely shadows on the walls when our bedside lamps are on. I love that too.

I did think about you on Friday night when Manchester City prevailed in a close game in the FA Cup - still the league title is the one. For our part we embraced the romance of the competition and went to Accrington Stanley (of the third tier) and beat them 3-1. Leeds will add another American to their ranks hopefully over the next days with Weston McKennie coming in from Juventus.

Hope all is going well here, Karen.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. I love your story and photo of Jet. Sounds like a great companion. I got up especially early today, so I will putter around here on LT for awhile.

The visit went very well yesterday, although Jack was still shy, even around the kids. He started warming up, just before everyone left. This will be our last day with him- Sue will bring him over to our aunt's house in the early afternoon. They will keep him until tomorrow, until Bree and Sean return. He was such a good boy but he requires a lot of attention. Sue will get to relax.

Today will be books and football. Go Bengals! Go 49ers!

>282 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. Oh yes, they are. It surprises me/doesn’t surprise me. I’m also connected via my 2nd g-g-grandmother Nancy Piatt to
I’m sorry you were gobsmacked about having US ancestors.

>283 LizzieD: I know… Yuck. Being ladylike is sometimes necessary.

>284 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Thanks re the Zoe pics. I’m very happy about having my garage back in exactly the way I want it.

I’m very good at acting patient even when I’m seething inside – I wasn’t seething about the garage but it was coming to top of stack again and Jenna agreed.

>285 EllaTim: Hi Ella. You’re very welcome. There are other events that I didn’t mention otherwise I could have written a book, but another one that stands out is Watergate. Oh yes, our kitties bring great joy. Today will be whole lots of nothing. Perhaps a bit of French soccer that Bill recorded. He’s going to watch US football playoff games, but I find myself seriously uninterested. *shrug*

>286 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Anita. I leave it alone except to occasionally water it, Zoe leaves it alone, and it flourishes where it gets afternoon sun.

>287 LovingLit: Hi Megan. Newest Wordle stats. At least I get more 3s than 5s, although 4s are the most common. I’ll never get a 1 since adieu is not one of the 2,309 words.



I’m glad you’re getting into houseplants. Cat not kitten definitely helps. Your bedroom houseplants with the lights and shadows sound wonderful.

>288 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! And it looks like Man City beat Arsenal 1-0. I can’t honestly say go Man City, but if my team can’t win, I guess yours winning is okay. *smile*

Things are going okay over here, thanks. I need to visit your thread(s).

>289 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you. Jet was a great dog, I just couldn’t keep him when Mark and I broke up and I moved to an apartment. Mark stayed in our house ‘til it was sold.

Yes, you’re definitely up early. I’m glad the visit went well and that Jack warmed up even a little bit. I hope Sue gets to relax. Yay for 2 of your Bs. Like I write above, I’m seriously/surprisingly not interested in US football. My Aunt and Uncle live in the Bay area and are serious 49ers fans, Bill likes them because of Christian McCaffrey. I’ll read instead.

Wordle 589 4/6* adieu, minty, filly, fishy

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Morning, Karen! Happy Sunday. I'm planning on a whole lot of nothing today with some football thrown in. The coffee today is hazelnut.

I'm another 4der today too, Karen. You inspire me to put up my Wordle scores so far on my own thread. I've been playing longer than you, but I also have more 3s than 5s. That rates a WHEW from me.

Enjoy your day away from playoffs with book and cats!

>291 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! I just visited your thread, my dear. Happy Sunday to you, too.

Good to see the pic of Abby and Mayhem on your thread, and yay for your hazelnut coffee.

My nothing will be books and possibly some soccer.

>292 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Four is good... I'll go back in a while and look at your scores. I've been playing a long time, too, but have had a couple of issues with my scores getting reset.

Wash and Zoe both amused us already this morning by getting caught in my Sunroom cat trap - opened bottom drawer of the file cabinet, which they both, at separate times of course, went behind.

Hope you have a relaxing Sunday, Karen.

Hi Katie! Thanks - I read, watched some French Soccer that Bill had recorded, read, and contemplated things I could have done, but didn't.

My aunt and uncle are serious 49ers fans so I texted her after they lost, am glad the Chiefs won. I'll probably watch the Super Bowl on the 12th.

Wordle 590 4/6* adieu, grape, crane, crave

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Puttering, reading, Friends stuff, book cataloging perhaps. In the meantime, glorious coffee and fun LTing.

Morning, Karen. I had a good day with the books and the football, despite the 49ers tanking. The Chiefs and Bengals game was a terrific one. Quiet around here, without the boy. Only 10F here, right now and it will only reach 14F. I am sure getting the itch to hit the trails. Probably on Wednesday.

Morning, Karen!

"...and contemplated things I could have done, but didn't." I do this ALL the time.

It's Monday - remember not to make eye contact.

Hope you have a good Monday! I also think about things I should have done instead of relaxing, but never actually get those things done in a timely manner

>296 msf59: Hi Mark, and happy day after Sunday to you. Yay for football and books yesterday. Sorry about the 49ers tanking. I saw that about the Bengals/Chiefs game – Chiefs won with a field goal in the last 3 seconds or some such. Nail biter for sure. Brrr on the cold weather.

>297 Crazymamie: ‘Afternoon, Mamie! Yes, sometimes it’s better to still have a to-do list, isn’t it? Wouldn’t want to get ahead of ourselves. *smile*

Ah yes, no making eye contact. Love it.

>298 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! Thank re today – so far so good. Sometimes relaxing is better than doing. It will all still be there, after all, won’t it?