karenmarie: buckling up for a wild ride in 2025 - part II

Welcome to my second thread, and may the Universe protect us from the chaos demon and his minions.

It’s a shock. Twelve days into one of the most dangerous periods in US history, and things are simply unbelievable.

Eight ways to describe me and books: bibliolater, bibliomaniac, bibliophile, lectiophiliac, bookworm, Book Dragon, biblioflâneuse, and librocubicularist.

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@lizzied, Peggy, wrote “If I’m kind, I’ll get the day I deserve.” I’m going to try to implement that. No guarantees, but I may get through an hour or two before snark and unhappiness overcome my desire to be a better person.

The Good: Family, friends, kitties, books, and soccer in constantly-rotating order. Smut, of course, and book sort team/Friends of the Library. Jenna got married in November to her girlfriend Hwan and they live about 35 minutes from us. They are so good together, and I love having them over and even went to their apartment recently then out to lunch.

The Bad: The inauguration of the chaos demon. The world seems to be imploding, and my pessimism has me believing that it’s going to be much, much worse before it gets better. The next four years are already dangerous, embarrassing for our country, and damaging to our federal institutions.

From the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Doomsday Clock. This information was published on January 29th when the clock was set to 89 seconds before midnight, apocalypse. 89 seconds is the shortest time to apocalypse since the clock was created in 1945. Rather than try to quote parts or even the whole thing, I’m going to provide the link for those with the stomach to read it: Doomsday Clock 2025

The ugly: What’s going to happen in the world given the instability in countries one would consider stable - France, Germany, Canada, South Korea. The Israelis are committing genocide against the Palestinians, although the cease fire continues to hold, although tenuously. The polarization within the US is absolutely beyond anything I’ve ever seen. Can you say Right-wing Populism? And when you search for it on Google or duckduckgo or whatever, do you see that in the Wikipedia article there’s a photo of the chaos demon?

I read and am a charter member of the Redbud and Beyond Book Club, started in 1997. Our 2024-2025 Book Club Year.
Aug – The End of the Affair by Graham Greene – started, abandoned.
Sep – Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – finished. Loved.
Oct – Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain – after 3 attempts to start it in September, finally devoured it in time for my RL book club meeting.
Nov – Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie. Was stunned by this book.
Dec – Foster by Claire Keegan – Started, abandoned. Memo to self: Listen to an audiobook before acquiring it. A very strong Irish accent just didn’t work for me.
Jan – James by Percival Everett – finished, loved.
Feb – Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell – well, I’ve read 8 pages and won't go to book club. Abandoned twice, but back on the shelves in a show of optimism.
Mar - The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict
Apr – The Good Lord Bird by James McBride
May – Dinosaurs by Linda Millet – my book choice
Jun 8 - book selection

I have been married to Bill for almost 34 years and am mother to Jenna, who turned 31 last year and is married to Hwan, 29. Or, as we have put it recently, bio daughter and bonus daughter.

My father’s mother, Nellie Patrick Pomeroy, and her mother, my g-grandmother, Alice Maud Hopps Patrick. Alice was born in 1856, my grandmother in 1882. Photo from the late 1910s? When I knew my grandmother in the last 8 years of her life she was conservative and the epitome of a very elderly grandmother. But look at this hat! I love this photo.



Zoe Rose between books out and Christmas Bells in, December 2024 and Washburne Ryder being lazy, January 2025.



My goal last year was 150 books, recognizing that I’m powering through the smut. I still really, really enjoy reading this subgenre of contemporary fiction/romance and will continue until it no longer interests me. It’s getting more challenging to find books as I’ve refined my targeted trope(s), but I’ve become a great detective. This year’s goal is 200, which is still based on reading smut. So far 26 read and 13 abandoned.




I was looking for a photo to post on this thread, found my g-grandmother and grandmother, then found a typed snippet of a poem in the same box. I thought Cousin Leota wrote it, but to play it safe I looked it up and lo and behold! It’s a poem called “I’m Fine Thank You” circa 1953 by Constance O’Neon. I can’t find anything else about her. This poem is in message 10 below.

News avoidance about 85-90% of the time, but I am occasionally dipping my toe in when I need my dose of schadenfreude, aka epicaricacy, and continue to revel in any and everything that politically or legally injures Trump or warns me about Terrible Things To Come. I’ve unpaused my NYT subscription, and am getting WaPO for $1/week for a while.

And, finally, I need to express gratitude for what I have - family, friends, intangibles and tangibles - every single day.

Currently Reading:

The Measure by Nikki Erlick 12/22/24 Audible audio book narrated by Julia Whelan 11 hours 2022 - maybe abandoned... haven't decided
My Only Regret by Leigh Lennon 3/10/25 Audible audio book narrated by Jon Solo and Chris Chambers Dallas and Banks Love is Love 2 2021
Reckless by Nicole Edwards 3/11/25 Kindle Cam and Gannon Pier 70 Book 1 2015
Too Many Beds: A Trope-Subversive Gay Romance Anthology 3/5/25 Kindle 2024
The Federalist edited by Jacob E. Cooke 5/28/22 656 pages hardcover 1961

read

**abandoned His Prince by Cora Rose** 228 pages Facile, cutsey, chaotic emotions that didn't always make sense.
**abandoned The Club by Rina Saint** 100 pages One of the main characters, in the closet, all of a sudden comes out dramatically and publicly at a sex club. The dynamic between him and the other main character was a bit too kinky for me, and I don't hate kink.
1. The Sinner's Sanctuary by August Jones 1/3/25 1/5/25 427 pages Kindle Christian and Gibson Doormen of the Upper East Side 3 2024
2. Crossroads by Riley Hart Narrated by Sean Crisden 1/3/25 1/5/25 Audible 7.5 hours Nick and Bryce Crossroads 1 2015 really 4.25
3. A Little Bit by L Waltree 1/5/25 1/5/25 310 pages Kindle Warren and Eli 2024
4. Ruined by Vanessa Waltz 1/5/25 1/6/25 382 pages Kindle Luca and Dominic Sinners of Boston 1 2024
5. Test Drive by Riley Hart 1/5/25 1/7/25 Narrated by Sean Crisden Audible 6 hours Justin and Drew Crossroads 3 2016
6. Hard to Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn 1/7/25 1/10/25 Audible audio book narrated by Sean Crisden 6.75 hours Owen and Brady Haven Coves' Series 1 2019
7. How to Hack a Hellhound by Shannon Mae 1/7/25 1/8/25 234 pages Kindle Quinton and Liam Hellhounds of Paradise Falls 2 2025
**abandoned Taken by the Lord of the Nocturne Court by KA Merikan** 80 pages
**abandoned Never Have I Evan by DJ Jamison** 107 pages
8. James by Percival Everett 12/23/24 1/11/25 303 pages hardcover 2024
9. Commitment Issues by Bradley Brady 1/11/25 1/12/25 350 pages Kindle Evan and Scott Commitment Issues 1 2017
**abandoned Man of Honor by Parker St John** 182 pages 1/10/25 Kindle Gage and Wyatt
10. Dead Draw by Layla Reyne 1/12/25 1/14/25 237 pages Kindle Marsh and Levi Perfect Play 1 2022
11. Pull Back by JD Sampson 1/14/25 1/14/25 147 pages Kindle Bodhi and Morgan Hollywood Endings 1 2020
12. The Vertigo Effect by JD Sampson 1/14/25 1/15/25 170 pages Kindle Bodhi and Morgan Hollywood Endings 2 2020
13. The Two Shot by JD Sampson 1/15/25 1/17/25 201 pages Kindle Bodhi and Morgan Hollywood Endings 3 2021
14. Deep Focus by JD Sampson 1/15/25 1/18/25 184 pages Kindle Bodhi and Morgan Hollywood Endings 4 2023
15. Six Degrees of Lust by Taylor V. Donovan 1/18/25 1/19/25 366 pages Kindle Sam and Machlan By Degrees 1 2020
16. One Man's Trash by Marie Sexton narrated by John Solo 12 hours Taylor and Warren Heretic Doms Club 1 2017
17. Hearsay by Taylor V Donovan 1/21/25 1/22/25 240 pages Kindle Derrick and Roman Bylaws 1 2014
18. Benji by NR Walker 1/22/25 1/23/25 196 pages Kindle Kindle Benji and Nolan The Wylde Street Boys 1 2025
** abandoned When We Collide by Avril Ashton ** 167 pages Zander, Vince, Scotty
** abandoned Six Degrees of Separation by Taylor V. Donovan ** 208 pages Mac and Sam By Degrees
** Love the Sinner by Avril Ashton ** 110 pages Gabe Pagan
** Silver & Gold by Katherine Diane 47 pages ** Seth and Raider Seth & Raider series 2
19. Disaster Stray by FA Ray 1/24/25 1/24/25 280 pages Kindle Luke and Sebastian Rainbow Rescue Cat Cafe 2 2024
20. Reckless Hearts by Jax Calder 1/24/25 1/25/25 412 pages Kindle Seb and Marcus Rainbow Redemption Book 2 2025 4.5
21. The Other Brother by Jax Calder 1/25/25 1/26/25 290 pages Kindle Ryan and Cody 2022
22. The Fixer by Charity Parkerson 1/26/25 1/27/25 244 pages Kindle Chad and Journey Damaged Devils 1 2023
** abandoned A Matcha Made in Hell by FA Ray ** 68 pages facile, no character development
23. Under Construction by Juliet M Dixon 1/27/25 1/28/25 505 pages Kindle Dennis and Chris Straight to Him 1 2025
24. Back With the Tide: Memoirs of Ellen Douglas Bellamy By Ellen Douglas Bellamy 1/23/25 1/30/25 54 pages trade paperback 1940
25. Savage by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank 1/28/25 1/30/25 301 pages Kindle Lachlan and Cooper Park Avenue Kings 1 2025
26. A Simple Mistake by Alice Winters 1/30/25 1/31/25 361 pages Kindle Liam and Gabriel Deadly Mistakes 1 2025
** abandoned Save Me by Beck Grey ** 97 pages
** abandoned Sold by Ace Fawn ** 43 pages
** Tender Strokes by Diane Vale ** 41 pages
27. MateHub: Legend by Marie Reynard 1/31/25 2/1/25 342 pages Kindle Richard and Hunter MateHub 1 2024
28. Something About You by Riley Hart narrated by Sean Crisden 1/23/25 2/2/25 Audible audio book 7 hours Saint and Lucky Saint & Lucky 1 2018
29. Accidental Bonds by Marie Reynard 2/1/25 2/3/25 454 pges Kindle Victor and Elijah Elemental Bonds Book 1 2023
30. The Southerner's Book of Lists by Jim Erskine 2/3/25 2/3/25 128 pages paperback 1996
31. Mixed Motives by Leslie Macadam 2/4/25 2/4/25 73 pages Kindle Henry and Keane
32. Born Again Sinner by Daryl Banner 2/2/25 2/6/25 Audible audio book 10 hours Trey and Cody Spruce Texas Romance 2 2018
33. Raising Hell by Daryl Banner 2/6/25 2/7/25 329 pages Kindle Mathew (sic) and Charlie 2018
34. The Husband Experience by Maya Jean 2/7/25 2/7/25 150 pages Kindle Eli and Colby Sweet Southern Book 1 2024
** abandoned Guardian Angel in Leather by KA Merikan ** 20 pages
** abandoned Ho Ho Homicidal Maniac by KA Merikan ** 74 pages
** abandoned Notorious by Leslie McAdam - re-read ** 141 pages
** abandoned Bloom by NR Walker ** 104 pages
35. Crown of Disguise by Lola Malone 2/7/25 2/8/25 291 pages Kindle Dominique and Gaël Initiation Series 1 2023
36. Crown of Steel by Lola Malone 2/8/25 2/12/25 406 pages Kindle Régis and Arthur Initiation Series 2 2024
**abandoned A Different Light by Morningstar Ashley ** 100 pages
**abandoned Open Mind by Luna David ** 9 pages
**abandoned Sick Bargain by Nordika Night ** 189 pages
**abandoned Shameless by Lola Malone ** 71 pages
**abandoned Bonds of Denial by Lynda Aicher ** 8 pages
37. Cambros by Juliet M. Dixon 2/7/25 2/7/25 49 pages Kindle Alex and Cory 2024
38. Pretty Broken Doll by Bree Wiley 2/12/25 2/12/25 348 pages Kindle Shilo and Ryan 2025
39. Getting Lucky by Daryl Banner 2/7/25 2/15/25 Audible audio book narrated by Chris Chambers and Alex Kydd 12 hours Lucas and James 2018
40. Bad Intentions by Ella Frank 2/15/25 2/15/25 Audible audio book narrated by Tim Paige and Aiden Snow 6.5 hours Gabe and Marcus Intentions Duet 1 2021
41. The Mercenary and the Mortician by Alexandra St. Pierre 2/12/25 2/15/25 760 pages Kindle Cal and Ryan The Silent Hollow 1 2025
42. One by Paulina Ian-Kane 2/15/25 2/16/25 291 pages Kindle Michael and Raph Angels of Wrath Book 1 2023
43. Six by Paulina Ian-Kane 2/16/25 2/18/25 306 pages Kindle Ollie and Rague Angels of Wrath Book 2 2023
44. Happily Never After by Ava Olsen 2/18/25 2/18/25 222 pages Kindle Aaron and Harrison 2025
45. Three by Paulina Ian-Kane 2/18/25 2/20/25 339 pages Kindle Rami and Hunter Angels of Wrath Book 3 2024
46. Five by Paulina Ian-Kane 2/20/25 2/20/25 341 pages Kindle Gabe/Bez and Lori Angels of Wrath Book 4 2024
47. Mighty Quill by Emmaline Strange /2/21/25 2/24/25 398 pages Kindle Thor and Cassian Sanguis et Fauna 1 2022
48. Wake Me Up Inside by Cardeno C 2/24/25 2/24/25 313 Kindle Zev and Jonah Mates Collection 1 2015
49. With This Ring by RS McKenzie 2/25/25 2/26/25 297 pages Kindle Carter and Kaison Opposites Attract 1 2025
**abandoned Redeeming Rafe by Sloane Kennedy ** 81 pages
**abandoned Friction by Kindle Alexander** 323 pages
50. Wild by Adrienne Wilder 2/26/25 2/28/25 338 pages Kindle Carter Keenan and August 2017
51. Out, Proud, and Prejudiced by Megan Reddaway 2/28/25 3/1/25 346 pages Kindle Bennet and Darius 2018
52. Shelter Me by Megan Reddaway 3/1/25 3/2/25 Kindle Leo and Cole Heven Book 1 2017
53. Honor, the Duel, and Indiscretion: The Life of Elizabeth "Betsey" Pollock Devereaux Jones (1818-1879) by W. Davenport Robertson 3/5/25 3/5/25 40 pages paper published in "North Carolina Historical Review," vol. CI, no. 4 (October) 2024
54. The Killer Who Kept Me by Davidson King 3/5/25 3/6/25 224 pages Kindle Em and Soros 2025
55. Run To Me by Ashlynn Mills 3/6/25 3/6/25 248 pages Kindle Nate and Jace 2025
56. Estranged Heart by Ashlynn Mills 3/6/25 3/3/7/25 346 pages Kindle Silas and Elijah 2025
57. Taken By My Dad's Bodyguard by Candace Lark 3/8/25 3/8/25 78 pages Kindle Otto and Myers Sin City 1 2023
58. Vile Heart by Lola Malone 3/8/25 3/8/25 80 pages Kindle Camren and Davian Vicious Valentine 1 2025
59. Distant Heart by Lola Malone 3/8/25 3/8/25 91 pages Kindle Ilya and Rexton Vicious Valentine 2 2025 own
60. Caught by Leo Rivers 3/8/25 3/8/25 75 pages Kindle Evan and Silas Mating Run 1 2025
61. Rivals by Leo Rivers 3/8/25 3/9/25 91 pages Kindle Viktor and Nick Mating Run 2 2025
**abandoned Be Mine, Bloody Valentine by Skyler Snow** 43 pages
62. Pounding Skin by LA Witt 2/15/25 3/10/25 Audible audio book narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo 9.5 hours Jon and Matt Skin Deep, Inc. 2 2019
63. Shifter for Brains by F.N. Manning 3/9/25 3/9/25 258 pages Kindle Lucas and Chase Supernatural Affairs 2 2022
64. Black Moon by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes 288 pages 3/10/25 3/10/25 Kindle Linden and Colt Wolf Moon Rising 1 2021
65. Lost and Pound by Lilo Quie 3/10/25 3/11/25 103 pagesKindle Nico and Shilo Love Sync Mates Season Two 8 2025
**abandoned NOX by Adrienne Wilder** 178 pages

reminder to self: add to @@kenner1953 with reading dates

read II

adds - 306 last year

1. Audible - Silk & Sand by Katherine Diane
2. Audible - Crossroads by Riley Hart
3. Audible - Guns 'n Boys by KA Merikan
4. Kindle - Colonel Chabert by Honoré de Balzac
5. FoCCL - The Complete Parallel Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books published by the Oxford University Press
6. FoCCL - Cicero Select Letters Volume I
7. FoCCL - Cicero Select Letters Volume II
8. Audible - Hard to Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn
9. Amazon - All of Us Strangers by Taichi Yamada
10. FoCCL - Introduction to Islam by Frederick Matthewson Denny Fourth Edition
11. FoCCL - French in 10 minutes a day by Kristine Kershul
12. Kindle - Commitment Issues by Bradley Brady
13. Kindle - Dead Draw by Layla Reyne
14. Kindle - Toward Eternity by Anton Hur
15. FoCCL - Sir John Dering by Jeffery Farnol - sad copy needed a good home
16. Karen - The Writing of the Gods: The Race to Decode the Rosetta Stone by Edward Dolnick
17. Karen - Marsupial Frogs by William E Duellman
18. Re-added from being culled - The Future by Naomi Alderman
19. Re-added from being culled - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
20. Audible - One Man's Trash by Marie Sexton narrated by John Solo
21. Kindle - Save Me by Beck Grey
22. Kindle - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
23. Amazon - The Poems of Catullus: A Bilingual Edition by Gaius Valerius Catullus (Author), Peter Green (Translator)
24. Audible - Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Zucchino
25. Audible - Hard to Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn
and thus ends January's acquisitions, to be reviewed later in case I missed any.

26. FoCCL - How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci by Michael J. Gelb
27. FoCCL - The How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Workbook by Michael J. Gelb
28. FoCCL - The New American Bible by the Catholic Bible Publishers
29. Audible - Getting Lucky by Daryl Banner
30. FoCCL - The Hunter by Tana French
31. In House - The Calvert Party Encyclopedia by Calvert Distillers Company
32. In House - We Made It! Recipes from Aunt and Uncle's 50th Wedding Anniversary
33. In House - Collection Seventeen Kitchen Pamphlets
34. FoCCL - In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child
35. FoCCL - The Cask by Freeman Wills Crofts
36. FoCCL - Great Stories of All Nations ed by Maxim Lieber
37. FoCCL - The Bedside Book of Famous American Stories ed by Angus Burrell and Bennett A. Cerf
38. FoCCL - Time Travel: A History by James Gleick
39. Amazon - Bonded in Death by JD Robb
40. Kindle - The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro
41. FoCCL - Starborn by Roberto Trotta
42. FoCCL - A Reading Diary by Alberto Manguel
43. FoCCL - Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris
44. FoCCL - When Will there Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
45. FoCCL - Beloved by Toni Morrison
46. Amazon - The Library at Night
57. Kindle - Taken By My Dad's Bodyguard by Candace Lark
58. FoCCL - The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu translated by Royall Tyler 2 vol set, slipcased

...
So, here's the thing. While visiting Judy's thread, she mentioned adding all her Kindle books to her catalog. I looked at my Kindle books purchased, and it ends up being 159 books more than what I had in my catalog. Well, shit. So have I added them here as a separate tally, and am not counting them as books acquired in 2025. I in addition to tagging them "Kindle", I've also tagged them "Catch-up Kindle".

1. Cold Lonely Courage by Soren Petrek
2. The Works of Elizabeth Gaskell by Elizabeth Gaskell
3. The Book of Souls by James Oswald
4. Keeper of Secrets...Translations of an Incident by Anjuelle Floyd
5. World War II: London Blitz Diary by Side Thompson
6. Commitment Issues: A Modern Romance by Bradley Brady
7. Acrobat by Mary Calmes
8. High Five by Janet Evanovich
9. Angle of Investigation: Three Harry Bosch Stories by Michael Connelly
10. Suicide Run: Three Harry Bosch Stories by Michael Connelly
11. Common Sense by Thomas Paine
12. Savage Nights by D. Gagliani
13. Four Days with Hemingway's Ghost by Tom Winton
14. The Scavenger's Daughter by McIntyre
15. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
16. Reunion by Jeff Bennington
17. Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton
18. First in Their Hearts: The Life of George Washington by Thomas Fleming
19. Timesplash by Graham Storrs
20. Simple Simon by Douglas Pearson
21. Scriber by S. Dobson
22. Blind Her With Bliss by Nina Pierce
23. The Fifth Avenue Series Boxed Set by Christopher Smith
24. Prelude to Reveille: A Vietnam Awakening by D. Sawyer
25. It's Murder, My Son by Lauren Carr
26. Crux by Rocha, Kit
27. Cake Icing, Butt Budder and Tea Lids by Renee Andrews
28. The Philanthropist's Danse by Paul Wornham
29. Smartie Breedlove by Sam Finney
30. Shift by Zack Mason
31. The Hangman by Louise Penny
32. Solomon vs. Lord by Paul Levine
33. The Drought by Lily White
34. Pirates of Savannah: The Complete Trilogy by Britt, Sandie
35. The Tourist Trail by John Yunker
36. A Day of Small Beginnings by Pearl Rosenbaum
37. The Sot-weed Factor by Ebenezer Cooke
38. Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
39. Cocaine Blues (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Book 1) by Kerry Greenwood
40. Hostile Witness by Rebecca Forster
41. Fire and Ice by Dana Stabenow
42. Secrets by Liz Schulte
43. John Carter: Barsoom Series by St. John, J. Allan
44. Running Blind by Lee Child
45. Die Trying by Lee Child
46. Echo Burning by Lee Child
47. A Wanted Man by Lee Child
48. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
49. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
50. Birdman by Mo Hayder
51. The Treatment by Mo Hayder
52. Perfect for You by Kathia
53. I Hope You Find Me by Marie Dawson
54. High Heat by Lee Child
55. Lost and Found by Marie Dawson
56. Belshazzar's Daughter by Barbara Nadel
57. Consenting Adults: Short Stories About Life, Love, and Lust by Lea Lopez
58. A Chemical Prison by Barbara Nadel
59. Wool by Hugh Howey
60. A Perfectly Good Family by Lionel Shriver
61. Strike From the Deep by Bob Branco
62. In A Small Town by DiGiacomo
63. The Shining by Stephen King
64. The Host: A Novel by Stephenie Meyer
65. True Crime by Allan Collins
66. The Zona by Nathan Yocum
67. Neon Mirage by Allan Collins
68. Alas, Babylon by Brin, David
69. Control by Lucia Jordan
70. 35 Slow Cooker Beef Recipes by Jean Pardue
71. Reamde by Neal Stephenson
72. 43*: When Gore Beat Bush - A Political Fable by Jeff Greenfield
73. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
74. Merlin's Furlong by Gladys Mitchell
75. Shadow Woman by Linda Howard
76. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
77. Mystery Girl by David Gordon
78. River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh
79. Good Men by Jennifer Weiner
80. My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni
81. The Last Passenger by Alfaro, Andrés
82. Wild Ride by Mayer, Bob
83. Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
84. The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume
85. Girl Jacked by Christopher Greyson
86. Clarissa Harlowe by Samuel Richardson
87. Spies, Sadists and Sorcerers: The History You Weren't Taught in School by Dominic Selwood
88. The Paranormal 13 by various
89. Tales of a Traveller by Washington Irving
90. We're All Damaged by Matthew Norman
91. The Black Robe by Wilkie Collins
92. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
93. The Time Machine by G. Wells
94. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
95. Sons and Lovers by Herbert) Lawrence
96. The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
97. The Special Power of Restoring Lost Things by Elizabeth Mauk
98. American History in 50 Events by Henry Freeman
99. Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein
100. The Art of War by Giles, Lionel
101. Bleak House by Charles Dickens
102. Slave Narratives Collection by Douglass, Frederick|Equiano, Olaudah|Truth, Sojourner
103. 100 Books You Must Read Before You Die - volume 1 by various
104. Galusha the Magnificent by Crosby Lincoln
105. Hemingway Didn't Say That: The Truth Behind Familiar Quotations by O'Toole
106. Tam O' the Scoots by A L Burt Company
107. Witch Hunt, Silver Bullet, and Hotter Than Helltown by SM Reine
108. Bella Poldark by Winston Graham
109. Dead Simple by Peter James
110. The Monogram Murders by Christie, Agatha
111. This Side of Paradise by Scott Fitzgerald
112. The Man Who Could Be King by Ripin Miller
113. Kings of Broken Things by Theodore Wheeler
114. All the Little Children by Jo Furniss
115. No. 17 by Jefferson Farjeon
116. A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Brown, Martin|Kobayashi, Risa
117. Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
118. Henry Wood Detective Agency by Brian Meeks
119. The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
120. The Things We Don't Say by Ella Carey
121. Licensed to Thrill 1: Hunt For Jack Reacher Series by Diane Capri
122. Sense and Sensibility by Brock, H M
123. Happy Doomsday by David Sosnowski
124. The Dark Heart: A True Story of Greed, Murder, and an Unlikely Investigator by Broome, Agnes
125. The Dry by Jane Harper
126. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World--and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Rosling, Ola|Rönnlund, Anna Rosling
127. The Frame-Up by Scott Molin
128. Future Perfect: A Skeptic’s Search for an Honest Mystic by Victoria Loustalot
129. Dangerous Ages by Rose Macaulay
130. Mystery at Geneva: An Improbable Tale of Singular Happenings by Rose Macaulay
131. What Not A Prophetic Comedy by Rose Macaulay
132. War with the Newts by Wyllie, David
133. Stars in His Eyes by West, Adrian Nathan
134. The War Poems of Siegfried Sassoon by Siegfried Sassoon
135. Ragtime by L. Doctorow
136. Headlong Hall by Love Peacock
137. The Monk by McEvoy, Emma|McEvoy, Emma
138. Siddhartha's Brain: Unlocking the Ancient Science of Enlightenment by James Kingsland
139. Nine Elms by Robert Bryndza
140. We of the Never-Never by Jeannie Gunn
141. The Souls of Black Folk: Original Classic Edition by Du Bois
142. The Professor by Charlotte Brontë
143. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Ward, Humphry
144. Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell by Emily Brontë
145. The Capture by Kathryn Lasky
146. Lockdown by Peter May
147. The Devil in America by Ashante Wilson
148. Tomboyland: Essays by Soloway, Joey
149. Inside Job by Connie Willis
150. Attack of the 50 Foot Indian by Graham Jones
151. The Saltmarsh Murders by Gladys Mitchell
152. Speedy Death by Gladys Mitchell
153. Represent! (2020-) #1: It's a Bird by Morales, Mark|Martinez, Alitha|López, Emilio
154. The Red House Mystery by A. Milne
155. The Ethics by Elwes, R. H. M.
156. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
157. The Personal Librarian by Murray, Victoria Christopher
158. Tied Up by Jesse Fuchs
159. Why Love Matters by Jay Northcote

culls - 219 last year

1. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
2. Impulse & Initiative by Abigail Reynolds
3. Prayers for Peace by Karen Blincoe
4. The Southerner's Book of Lists by Jim Erskine
5. Boundaries and Protection by Pixie Lighthorse
6. Better Homes and Gardens Crockery Cookbook
7. Lean and Lovin' It by Don Mauer
8. In the Kitchen with Rosie by Rosie Daley

While looking for American Gods by Neil Gaiman so I can start eliminating his books from my catalog, I decided to get rid of a few more:

9. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
10. Touchstone by Laurie R. King
11. A Fearsome Doubt by Charles Todd
12. Uh-Oh by Robert Fulghum
13. It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It by Robert Fulghum
14. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
15. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
16. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
17. Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll
18. Darcy & Elizabeth by Linda Berdoll
19. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
20. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
21. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
22. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - yes, duplicate
23. Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
24. Justice Hall by Laurie R. King
25. The End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
26. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
27. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
28. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillengrand
29. We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper
30. In The Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
31. Spying on the South by Tony Horwitz

YTD Statistics through January

26 books read
18 ebooks, 4 audio books, 4 paper books
6194 pages in completed books
32.25 hours in completed audio books

13 books abandoned, 1478 pages abandoned, 0 hours abandoned

Avg pages read per day, YTD = 200
Avg pages read per book, YTD = 238

Books of the Month: James by Percival Everett
MM romance: The Other Brother by Jax Calder

Books by Month
January: 26 books read - 18 ebooks, 4 audio books, 4 paper books

Author
Male 8%
Female 84%
Undeclared * 4%
Non-Binary 4%
* - can't find info anywhere

Living 96%
Dead 4%

US Born 25%
Foreign Born 29%
Undeclared * 46%
* - can't find info anywhere

Medium
Audio Book 15%
e-Book 70%
Paper Book 15%

Source
My Library 31%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 69%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
Galley Proof 0%
Re-read 0%
Series 88%

Fiction 96%
NonFiction 4%

Author Birth Country
Australia 6%
Canada 4%
New Zealand 8%
Puerto Rico 8%
UK 4%
Undeclared * 45%
US 25%
* - can't find info anywhere

Original Decade Published

1940-1949 4%
2010-2019 23%
2020-2025 73%

Genre
Historical Fiction 4%
Memoir 4%
MM Romance 92%

Average Rating
3.0 - Good 1
3.5 - Very Good 7
4.0 - Excellent 14
4.5 - Outstanding 4
5 - Masterpiece

Average Rating 3.90
Books acquired YTD (last year 306) 25
Books culled YTD (last year 219) 3

5895 books cataloged on 12/31/24

January Lightning Round

Any in bold are NOT MM romances, few and far between as they are.

It also occurs to me that quite a few of the smut books have warnings about triggers that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

**abandoned His Prince by Cora Rose**

Facile, cutsey, chaotic emotions that didn’t always make sense.

**abandoned The Club by Rina Saint**

One of the main characters, in the closet, all of a sudden comes out dramatically and publicly at a sex club. The dynamic between him and the other main character was a bit too kinky for me, and I don't hate kink. Didn’t care about how the romance concluded.

The Sinner's Sanctuary by August Jones 1/3/25 1/5/25 Kindle

Third in the Doormen of the Upper East Side has doorman Christian becoming the PA to billionaire Gibson at the suggestion of Gibson’s estranged but still supposedly happily married wife. Christian and Gibson go to Rome on a trial run of the new working relationship, but it becomes sexual right away. They navigate the job, the insta lust/kink, and learn about each of their back stories. Christian is tormented by the death of his girlfriend at age 17, Gibson is tormented by his relationship with his wife. Power plays among the rich and powerful, power plays between Gibson and his wife, and the ever-growing relationship between Christian and Gibson make for a satisfying book. I was particularly interested in seeing how one power play resolved and how Christian and Gibson could have their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex and BDSM.

Crossroads by Riley Hart Narrated by Sean Crisden 1/3/25 1/5/25 Audible 7.5 hours

Nick owns half of a duplex that has a shared yard. He owns his own restaurant and is divorced from Jill, who cheated on him. Bryce buys the other half of the duplex and when Nick goes over to introduce himself, they immediately become friends. Bryce is the disappointment of his family, and he’s kept up the pretense of a relationship with his friend Christy because it’s easier than disappointing his family again. They are both shocked when, after a couple of weeks of spending more and more time together, Bryce kisses Nick. Nick immediately freaks out, but comes back for more. And more. And all of a sudden, two nominally straight men are gay for each other. I really liked this one because the feelings and doubts and fears and concerns were portrayed in what, to a straight woman, seemed like they could really happen. Both families are Not Happy, and yet Nick and Bryce forge ahead with their relationship. There’s a wonderful, strong HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

A Little Bit by L Waltree 1/5/25 1/5/25 Kindle

Warren is a first-year graduate student, studying law so he can carry on the family dynasty. He’s in the closet, controlled by his US Senator mother and his retired US Senator grandfather. He lives on campus. Eli is an art student, a wild thing, still devastated by a family trauma 2 previously. Eli works at a bookstore, Warren comes in. Insta lust, with Warren a deer in the headlights but not running away as Eli coaxes a consensual hookup out of him. Warren stalks Eli until they eventually decide to have an enemies-with-benefits relationship. Things get serious on both sides, family issues intrude, they stop seeing each other, more family issues, and etc. I found it engrossing, the characters vivid, and I particularly loved the fallout in Warren’s family. They get their well-earned HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Ruined by Vanessa Waltz 1/5/25 1/6/25 Kindle

Luca, part of an Italian Mafia family, was kidnapped and kept hostage by the Russian Mafia for ten years. He escaped, returned home, and was brought into the family but not really trusted. He works for Dominic, doing anything Dominic wants. Luca hates him and tries to kill him in a stupidly unsuccessful way that doesn’t make sense, given how he was trained by the Russians. Long-repressed attraction both sides comes out, lots of dancing around each other, lots of action, violence, and killing. Meh. I kept reading it because it was better than the ones I had recently abandoned. Caveat emptor re sex.

Test Drive by Riley Hart 1/5/25 1/7/25 Narrated by Sean Crisden Audible 6 hours

Justin learns that his father, who had announced that he’d abandoned his wife and two children before he ‘married’ Justin’s mother and had him, had cancer and was dying. He had moved to be with his first two children. Justin put his life on hold and went to his father to take care of him. While there, one night he hooks up with Drew. Imagine his surprise when he sees Drew at a family event – Drew is the brother of Justin’s newly-found sister Shannon. They hide their connection. Justin’s falling apart, Drew starts emotionally supporting him. Their initial attraction grows and they start secretly seeing each other. Meanwhile, the family’s going through all the stages of impending grief. Justin and Drew finally announce their ‘relationship’, but Justin moves back home after his father dies. They try a long-distance relationship, but they come to the realization that their relationship is important and they’ll figure out everything else. Caveat emptor re sex. I’m not really doing justice to this book with this description, but I really liked it.

Hard to Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn 1/7/25 1/10/25 Audible audio book narrated by Sean Crisden 6.75 hours

Owen was bullied in high school by 4 guys, kept it hidden. His current relationship with Justin has apart, but they are still living together. They’re best friends and that will never change. Brady has returned to town, at the end of his rope after 13 years of being away. He’s hired by Justin, who doesn’t know about the bullying. When Owen learns of this he goes crazy, but decided to let Justin manage the renovation and stay away from Brady. Tht doesn’t work out, they’re attracted, and Brady finally admits that he knew he was gay in high school but couldn’t come out because of his father. They’re attracted and slowly work on building a relationship. Caveat emptor re sex.

How to Hack a Hellhound by Shannon Mae 1/7/25 1/8/25 234 pages Kindle

Hellhound silliness. Quinton was kidnapped by a sex trafficking ring but rescued by Liam, part of a local hellhound pack, while Liam and the pack are there to rescue Quinton’s friend. Quinton and his friend are moved onto the property to keep them safe as Quinton and Liam try to find the higher ups in the ring to break it. Liam figures out that Quinton is his mate, protects him, and they eventually break the ring and get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Taken by the Lord of the Nocturne Court by KA Merikan**

Paranormal silliness wherein Kyranis saves Luke’s life. He doesn’t remember that he tried to kill himself and was saved by Kyranis on the promise of sharing his shadow. This is a bit weird for me, and it gets weirder. Luke’s kidnapped when Kyranis needs to cement his position in the Nocturne Court by marrying him. There’s sex and forced marriage and etc. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Never Have I Evan by DJ Jamison**

Evan is a tech geek who hits on Dawson at a party. Dawson has been hired as an assistant coach for the football team. He was injured and his dreams of an NFL career went sideways, but he’s back on track. He’s straight, and completely misses Evan’s attempt to hit on him at a party. They meet when Dawson’s students are part of a beta test for a program Evan’s working on with the high school. Dawson is attracted, doesn’t know why. Evan’s given up on him… and blah blah.

Commitment Issues by Bradley Brady 1/11/25 1/12/25 Kindle

This is the first of a 3-part series, but at this point I will stop at the first book. Bradley describes his Commitment Issues novel series as "rom-com-dram-edy"; a reflection of the complexities of love and relationships in the 21st century. Evan’s friend and Scott’s coworker Mel sets them up on a date. They are getting along great but Evan has a minor meltdown when he says he can’t go through this again, the dates and disappointments and the starting all over again. Scott decided to shortcut everything, and proposes to Evan at the restaurant. Evan accepts. They’re happy with their decision, but everybody else in their lives is appalled. They work through the getting acquainted, the differences, the arguments, and eventually get their HEA. In the meantime, Evan’s sister Sally has been engaged to politician Tom for 5 years, but he’s happy to let things stay as they are. Mel is married to Carl yet leaves him one night. Scott’s friend Frankie, his dead partner’s BFF, interferes but things settle down, and he sees someone he’s known for 40 years in a new light. Scott and Evan’s relationship gets the most play, but the other three relationships are interesting in and of themselves and in how the characters interact with Scott and Evan and each other. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Man of Honor by Parker St John**

Gage left town when Wyatt rejected him, moving to Las Vegas. He returns home after his adoptive father dies, still angry with Wyatt and the world. He rescues a young woman from some local thugs, takes her to the family’s safe house, is attacked by the thugs, but crawls to Wyatt’s house. Wyatt takes care of him, and etc. I don’t mind a sweetheart or two, but this one was just too schmaltzy for me. Caveat emptor re sex.

Dead Draw by Layla Reyne 1/12/25 1/14/25 Kindle

A joint FBI-cop sting is blown, supposedly by Marsh, FBI cyberhacker. He concocts the improbable plan of marrying Levi in order to be involved with Levi’s working the case, while Marsh is working a different case. Levi is drowning in grief for his wife, trying to raise his 14-year old son, and buried under a mountain of medical debt from his wife’s cancer and death 2 years previously. So, they get married, work the cases, which, of course, turn out to be the same case. Adventure, violence, steamy sexy times… it was okay. Marsh, alone in the world, loves Levi’s loud, eccentric, loving family. So many cliches. They worked, but only to a ‘very good’ rating from me. Caveat emptor re sex.

Pull Back by JD Sampson 1/14/25 1/14/25 147 pages Kindle

Four book series, Hollywood Endings. Bodhi and Morgan have been in a relationship for less than a year, with Bodhi, an FBI agent, living with Morgan, a movie/TV star. They are attending a party and realize that the young guest of honor, who worked with Morgan on his TV series, hasn’t shown up. They call her cell phone, no answer, and then drive to the house where her mother is sloshed and doesn’t know where her daughter is. This one had quite a few twists and unexpected turns. At the same time Bodhi is trying to work the case, his relationship with Morgan is once again tested as Morgan realizes how dangerous Bodhi’s job is. They’re both falling in love. I liked the solution to the missing teenager and the working of their relationship. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Vertigo Effect by JD Sampson 1/14/25 1/15/25 Kindle

Morgan and Bodhi go to a supposedly haunted hotel to film an episode of Morgan’s TV series, Hart’s Desire. A film missing since the 1930s is found, people are deeply disturbed by it, especially Morgan. The film is an early example of subliminal conditioning. Bodhi has to save Morgan twice, and once Bodhi starts figuring out that it’s not ghosts, he soon figures out what’s going on. There’s a murder, too. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Two Shot by JD Sampson 1/15/25 1/17/25 Kindle

Morgan is guest-starring on a crossover series on a different sound set than normal. His assistant River is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a bomb seriously injures her. Morgan questions everything, including his relationship with Bodhi. Caveat emptor re sex.

Deep Focus by JD Sampson 1/15/25 1/18/25 Kindle

Last of the series has Bodhi and Morgan planning a wedding when Bodhi’s sister calls him in a panic because a live stream of one of her favorite influencers has the influencer being kidnapped in real time. Bodhi takes Morgan with him once he figures out where the kidnap car is because Morgan can get in touch with law enforcement and direct Bodhi through streets that Morgan knows. Morgan’s contacts help him find the motel where Lark is being held. Bodhi rushes the room, the kidnapper’s gun goes off but misses Bodhi and Lark. Bodhi has no choice but to shoot him, but he doesn’t kill him. That’s the preface to the criticism Bodhi levels at live streaming services whose goal is viewers and therefore money. Bodhi and Morgan have a falling out and Bodhi leaves, supposedly just for a night or two. But he doesn’t respond to texts or calls, and he's been forced to turn in his weapon and badge. A live stream goes on with Bodhi in jeopardy, a voting countdown on a bomb, and Morgan beside himself. The FBI, police, and hackers save the day, and Bodhi and Morgan realize that above anything else they want to be together. Caveat emptor re sex.

Six Degrees of Lust by Taylor V. Donovan 1/18/25 1/19/25 Kindle

Sam is an FBI Agent in charge of a team trying to find and stop a serial killer of gay men. While at the airport, he sees Mac, and it’s instalust. He gives Mac his business card. Mac is as stunned as Sam, calls him, and they have a hookup where the sex is off the scales. Sam is only into hookups because of his past, Mac wants to settle down with a man and raise a family. However, he promised his family he’d not come out for 5 years, up in 3 months They are, of course, pressuring him to commit to 3 more years, hoping he’ll be pressured into marrying a woman and getting the gay out of his system. By now Mac is having nothing to do with this. He and Sam text and meet up and create a set of non-relationship rules, which Sam needs in order to keep seeing Mac. Mac agrees to the rules in the hopes he can change Sam’s mind about being in a relationship. I particularly liked the back and forth and Sam’s figuring out that he wants Mac for keeps. Mac hasn’t told him about the family and his promise, but by the end of this first-of-two books, they are in a committed and monogamous relationship. Sam’s case and Mac’s hometown of Houston are colliding with evidence that the serial killer is working there and in other states, too. Sam’s got his sister/son living with him, Mac spends a lot of time with the children of his friend who now acts like a sister to Mac/daughter to his parents. She’s pressuring him too. They’re both pressured by work and family, trying to figure out what they really have. I loved the tension, am trying to figure out who the serial killer is, because there are hints and even some chapters from his POV. Caveat emptor re sex.

One Man's Trash by Marie Sexton narrated by John Solo

What could have been just a romance between two broken men became more with Taylor’s acting out of his issues and Warren’s compulsion to help people because of his issues. Taylor’s a rent boy, actually a serial boy toy. He gets kicked out from a friend of Warren’s, who takes him in, and they agree that Taylor gets room and board for sexual favors on demand. Taylor doesn’t mind this, actually craves it. Warren works as muscle for women of the streets, does some legitimate work, and gets by. Their interactions start out transactionally, but each starts having feelings for the other. There is a series of events – some relating to Taylor’s acting out, some relating to a junkie’s coming into their lives, and etc. By the end of the book, we understand their issues and backgrounds, and the push to honesty and push back by each gives a tension that is irresistible. This audio book is 12 hours, and each hour drew me in more. Caveat violence, heroin withdrawl (not from either MC), BDSM, and sex.

Hearsay by Taylor V Donovan 1/21/25 1/22/25 Kindle

Roman is a partner/owner of a prestigious law firm, Derrick is on the fast track to become a junior partner. They’re attracted to each other for years, and eventually Roman indicates that if Derrick were to be in Central Park for lunch at a particular location… The ‘date’ becomes several, until Derrick gets ghosted. He has no understanding of why, and is devastated. Roman never indicates what the issue is, never interacts alone with Derrick again. Things change, of course, and their relationship grows. There are also some legal repercussions to Derrick as a volunteer at a LGTBQA+ safe house for boys, and I found myself interested first off in why Roman broke off a potential relationship/love of his life and then the threat to Derrick. Roman’s breaking things off makes perfect sense because he’s trying to protect Derrick, Derrick is having none of it. The legal issues are not done by the end of the book, but with Roman’s power as an owner with his 2 friends/partners behind him, we know Derrick will be okay. Caveat emptor re sex.

Benji by NR Walker 1/22/25 1/23/25 Kindle

Benji is a rent boy. Nolan is a legal assistant in a prestigious law firm. He and his friend go to a private club one night and he sees Benji and his two friends outside. He and Benji exchange glances, and he doesn’t go over to Benji only because his friend turns him back to the club. Later, a very drunk Nolan leaves the club and decides to drive home. Benji runs out in front of his car escaping two thugs, Nolan hits him grazing blows. Benji insists on no hospital, so Nolan takes him home. He starts caring for Benji and agrees to keep Benji’s whereabouts secret for a week and to pay him for his loss of street income. Sparkage, of course, involvement, of course, and when Benji’s identity is unmasked, Nolan and his powerful friends protect Benji. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned When We Collide by Avril Ashton**

Gads. Too many coincidences. Zander, a cartel boss, has gone under cover by owning a mechanic’s shop to lure his uncle out. Scotty is a stupid young man who tries to rob the mechanic’s shop, thinking nobody’s there. He’s got his gun pointed at Zander, who challenges him. Just as he’s going to grab the gun, Vince, a cop whose car needs attention, opens the door, getting shot. It goes downhill from there, with the three of them forming a romantic relationship. Lots of ‘He’s mine’, ‘They’re mine’. Stunning sex from the stupid young man. Really? Blech. Caveat emptor re sex.

** abandoned Six Degrees of Separation by Taylor V. Donovan **

Second in the By Degrees series. I wanted to like it, wanted to see how Mac and Sam got their HEA, living in the same state, in the same house, but too many coincidences, too many secondary characters who we’re supposed to immediately love. Cavet emptor re sex.

** Love the Sinner by Avril Ashton **

Gabe, a detective, is interviewing Pagan (last name), a criminal boss, whose sister was murdered. Instant attraction, fighting it, giving in, trying to keep criminal activities separated from cop stuff. I didn’t care enough to keep going. Caveat emptor re sex.

** Silver & Gold by Katherine Diane **

I ran out of steam on this second in the Seth & Raider series, just not caring how they got their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Disaster Stray by FA Ray 1/24/25 1/24/15 Kindle

Sweet and steamy story about Café worker, exotic dancer, and rec park dance teacher Sebastian, who is good enough to take home for a night but not keep. We hear this way too much during the book. Luke is a high school teacher, completely in the closet, but who sees Sebastian when Sebastian is cleaning homophobic slurs off the outside of the Café. He offers to buy Sebastian a drink, they go to a straight bar. Sebastian thinks Luke is straight. This is Luke’s story about coming out, with Sebastian’s understanding and help. Caveat emptor re sex.

Reckless Hearts by Jax Calder 1/24/25 1/25/25 Kindle

Seb is a nerdy college geek and Marcus is his sister’s best friend. They hook up and keep hooking up, although Marcus is not willing to tell Saskia, spoiled rotten as she is, that they are an item. Saskia and Marcus go on a summer trip to the US, but Marcus stays there, becoming a fashion model and then a film star. Seb becomes a biologist and stays in NZ. They hook up over the years, but keep their romance a secret. Finally, Marcus sees the light, makes a grand gesture, and they get their HEA. Saskia grows up, too. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Other Brother by Jax Calder 1/25/25 1/26/25 Kindle

Let’s see. Ryan’s mother and Cody’s father were married and had two daughters. They divorced, acrimoniously. Each remarried. Ryan’s mother remarried and he was born within two months of Cody being born after his father remarried. The parents’ combativeness and competition ruin both their young lives. However, they are attracted to one another over a summer at Cody’s family’s beach house. Ryan teaches uptight and pressured Cody to surf, and Cody tutors Ryan in chemistry. They keep it a secret because it would probably start a family war, until one of the sisters gets pregnant and married and the entire family dynamic changes. I really liked the dynamic between Ryan and Cody and their personal growth. Ryan’s family is absolutely astounded at how responsible he becomes when he decides to become a paramedic after Cody admires his calmness under pressure when Ryan rescues a little girl at the beach. HEA and caveat emptor re sex. We get a 2-year epilogue, but I’d like to say here that I’m extremely irritated at authors who entice you with weddings or 7-years-down-the-road epilogues if only you’d join their mailing list. Grrrr.

The Fixer by Charity Parkerson 1/26/25 1/27/25 Kindle

Chad’s days as an escort to earn money while in college turn into an emotional and physical prison when he hooks up with the wrong man. The Senator marries Chad’s mother and threatens to hurt her if Chad doesn’t keep their relationship a secret. Years later an organization wants to take down the Senator, and follows/rescues Chad. He finds out the reason, there’s a lot of angst and violence, and Chad and Journey, the fixer of the title, eventually get together. Caveat emptor re sex. I don’t plan on reading any more of the 16-book series.

** abandoned A Matcha Made in Hell by FA Ray **

Gads. Simplistic, no character development. Too many cute puns and cliches.

Under Construction by Juliet M Dixon 1/27/25 1/28/25 Kindle

Dennis Kim is the son of a Korean businessman in the US, allowed to build an environmentally sustainable building after towing the line with his studies, degrees, and architectural designs before this chance. Chris becomes his site manager. It’s instant hate, which of course is really instalust. Dennis punches Chris after a particularly nasty verbal set to, and they start hooking up. It’s only sex, and both are straight… sigh. However, the author does a pretty good job of making their physical attraction believable. They start spending more time together, then tooth brushes end up in bathrooms, they start spending nights, and etc. Oh, and there are kitten rescues, too. It turns out that Chris is a tool being pressured by his father to take down the Kim ‘empire’, and Dennis doesn’t understand why Chris distances himself. Lots of emotional angst, lots of cutesy nicknames, but the story holds, the plot is ambitious and engrossing. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Savage by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank 1/28/25 1/30/25 Kindle

Cooper comes to NYC to find the drug lord whose product killed a friend of his. While following some the men who work for him, he gets rescued and sees all the men except for the driver die spectacularly at the hands of a masked vigilante. The vigilante tracks him down and comes into his studio apartment, and has his wicked way with Cooper. In the meantime, Lachlan, who owns a security business, meets Cooper at a café and gives him his card. Cooper does not call him for the date that Lachlan has given him the business card for. However, after Cooper’s apartment is trashed, he calls Lachlan for protection. He whisks Cooper away to keep him safe in a penthouse in a building owned by a group of very powerful men, including Lachlan. Sexy times with Lachlan, finding out what the key card Cooper took from the original scene is for, luring the drug lord into a situation where he and his crew will not come out alive. Lachlan is my kryptonite as I occasionally mention – strong alpha male, rich, drop dead gorgeous. In the end Cooper learns that Cooper and his vigilante are the same man – something we know from the beginning, so no spoiler. They’re it for each other, so HEA. Caveat emptor re sex and violence.

A Simple Mistake by Alice Winters 1/30/25 1/31/25 Kindle

If you’ve never read Dexter or watched Dexter, you won’t know how normal a serial killer can be when not actually killing people, although he/she/they are sociopaths or psychopaths. Liam is a psychopath. He’s the only detective who makes his partners cry or quit but who pretty much always solves the cases. He doesn’t have social skills at the best of times, but he is immediately attracted to his new partner Gabriel. He and Gabriel work on cases together, then Gabriel catches him in the act of killing someone. He tells Liam to quit the department and not kill anybody else. Liam agrees because he loves Gabriel obsessively, completely, and willing to sacrifice much for his beloved. He buys and owns/runs a diner for a year. Then, there is a series of cop kidnappings. Nobody has come out alive yet, and when Gabriel is one of the next ones taken, Liam becomes as cold as ice. He is rehired because his Sargent wants the killer caught. Liam discovers where Gabriel is and rescues him. The killer taunts both of them, and the hunt is on. I am drawn to gay serial killers and assassins for some reason, and how the innocent men who love them come to understand them and love them at the same time. There is a sassy cat named Lucille Pawl who Liam nicknames Lucy Fur because of her craziness around everybody except Gabriel. There’s violence, body parts, blood, and etc. Caveat emptor re sex. I can’t wait to read the second in the series. It comes out in March.

** abandoned Save Me by Beck Grey **

Shallow story of an FBI agent who falls in love with his witness. Witness goes into witness protection. Improbable happenings. Not worth the effort.

** abandoned Sold by Ace Fawn **

I have read MM romances where a man is sold and eventually falls in love with his owner and the owner falls in love with the man. I have abandoned a few, really liked a few. This one, however, is really squicky. Nope, nope.

** Tender Strokes by Diane Vale **

I just couldn’t get into the main characters, one a musician and college music major and the other a college maths major. Caveat emptor re sex, although not between the main characters.

402 books read

1 Masterpiece
79 Stunning
187 Excellent
72 Very Good
47 Good
12 Average
4 Bad
0 Very Bad
0 Don't Bother
0 Anathema

Best Fiction
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Review
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Review
Damaged Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie Kindle January Lightning Round
Endless Stretch of Blue by Riley Hart Kindle April Lightning Round
The Muse's Undoing by August Jones Kindle September Lightning Round

Best Nonfiction
The House of Being by Natasha Tretheway Review
The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin by Gordon S Wood Review
Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by the Countess of Carnarvon Review
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie Review
Johan Amos Comenius 1592-1670 by František Kožík Review

Top five overall for the LT Top Five Books of 2024 List
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Review
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Review
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie Review
The House of Being by Natasha Tretheway Review
Damaged Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 1/29/24 1/29/24 Kindle January Lightning Round

…...

.. Here is a poem which preaches the practical benefit of positive thinking as we grow old! I understand that the poem was written around 1953 by Constance O’Neon.

I'm Fine Thank You

There is nothing the matter with me
I'm as healthy as can be.
I have arthritis in both my knees
And when I talk, I talk with a wheeze,
My pulse is weak and my blood is thin,
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.

Arch supports I have for my feet,
Or I wouldn't be able to go on the street.
Sleep is denied me night after night,
But every morning I find I'm all right,
My memory is failing, my head's in a spin
But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.

The moral is this - as my tale I unfold,
That for you and me who are growing old,
It's better to say, "I'm fine" with a grin,
Than to let folks know the shape we're in.

How do I know that my youth is all spent?
Well my 'get up and go' has got up and went.
But I don't really mind when I think with a grin,
Of all the grand places 'my get up' has been.

Old age is golden, I've heard it said,
But sometimes I wonder as I get into bed,
With my ears in the drawer, my teeth in the cup,
My eyes on the table until I wake up.
Ere sleep overtakes me, I think to myself
Is there anything else I could lay on the shelf?

When I was young, my slippers were red;
I could kick my heels right over my head.
When I got older, my slippers were blue;
But still I could dance the whole night through.
But now I am old, my slippers are black;
I walk to the store and puff my way back.

I get up each day and dust off my wits,
And pick up the paper and read the 'obits'.
If my name is still missing, I know I'm not dead -
So I have a good breakfast and go back to bed.

-

Welcome!!

Happy new one! I have to go back and read through all the goodies up there, but I really wanted to be first.

YAY! I made it just in time unless somebody else is typing faster than I am!!!!!

LOVE your grandmother's hat!!!

I'm looking forward to the rest of your early thread doings, so go at it! My first word was kinder to me again than yours was - making up for those 5s and 6s for the last several months, I think.

Happy New Thread, (((((Karen)))))

ETA: Yep. Mamie beat me to it. Since it's Mamie, it's OK.

>12 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Congrats on making your claim to being first. Read away - all the good bits are finally in.

>13 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Alas, part of a minute too late, I guess. Hugs to you, too.

Thanks re my grandmother's hat. I know I've mentioned it before, but my grandmother insisted we call her Mom, not grandmother, because according to family lore (I was too young to remember), she thought grandmother made her sound old. She was 79 when I was born, so yes, she was not really young. My mother was Mommy. She lived with us, so it was Mom and Mommy. Mom died in 1964, and it took me 'til my late 20s, ~1982, to call my mother Mom.

Happy New Thread, dear friend. Nice lightning round and it looks like you enjoyed the bulk of them.

"I get up each day and dust off my wits,
And pick up the paper and read the 'obits'.
If my name is still missing, I know I'm not dead -
So I have a good breakfast and go back to bed."

^I like the poem too.

>10 karenmarie: LOL

I love this! New-thread energy is established...new YEAR energy, in fact.

*smooch*

I'm here, Karen. By chance, but comfortable with that. I'm off to Home Depot in a couple of hours. Bookcases, don't you know. I stopped by the Wanamaker's General Store for a snack and left three books in the Little Free Library. I know you won't be surprised that several books jumped into my truck. One of them was a clean hardcover of The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, which you touted and which I then added to The WANT! List™ (last July).

Speaking of Wanamaker's, the spectacular department store in Philly is being closed in March. Macy's has been the occupant for years, but can't sustain operations there.

          

Happy New Thread Karen. And happy reading.

Hi Karen my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend.

Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread, Karen.

Happy new thread!

Happy New Thread, Karen!

Happy new thread, Karen! You started a new one before I got a chance to respond to your previous one. Yes, we do need to get together for lunch again. It has been a while! My life has gotten crazier so far this year than I expected, but I'll definitely make time for you. Wilmington's Lie is definitely worth discussing. I'm glad you were able to find it (for free!) on Audible.

ETA: I meant to also say that I LOVE that poem in >10 karenmarie:.

>17 weird_O: I hadn't heard the news about Wanamaker's/Macy's Bill. That's an iconic building, for sure and it's a shame to see that happen. The surrounding area used to be a bustling retail center with both Wanamaker's and Strawbridge & Clothier but it's a shell of its former self now. The so-called "Fashion District" near the former S&C is nothing to get excited about (and almost became a basketball arena, but never mind).

>15 msf59: Hi Mark, and thank you. I enjoyed twice as many as I abandoned. And thanks re the poem.

I have eight birds on the nyjer seed feeder, and dozens in the Crepe Myrtle. Cardinals and finches on the feeders, and a lone Canada Goose was heading NNE, looking for her/his flock perhaps.

>16 richardderus: Thanks, RD! I’m feeling pretty good right now, truth be told. *smooch*

>17 weird_O: Hiya, Bill. Good luck in the book case mission. Glad you found a clean hardcopy of The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin. As you say, I touted it.

Oh my goodness, that building is gorgeous. Reminds me of some of the old department stores in LA and even out here, although they aren’t/weren't quite as spectacular. I used to love walking into them and occasionally having someone hand out free samples of colognes if I was on the right floor if entering from a mall entrance.

Thank you Robyn, John, Silver, Paul, Anita, Deborah, Irene.

>24 atozgrl: ‘Morning, Irene. Yes, let’s make it so. I can head that way. Let’s PM about it, and I’m glad that in the midst of your 2025 craziness we’ll be able to make time. I’m glad you liked the poem.

>25 lauralkeet: ‘Morning, Laura! I spent half a day (!) in Philadelphia on my way to Connecticut in 1977, and was able to actually touch the Liberty Bell. No, I didn’t get arrested, it was perfectly find to do so then.

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After the excitement of setting up my new thread with January stats and lightning round, I read and puttered. I requested The Mitford Affair, March's book club read. I am seriously not interested in fictionalized biographies/memoirs, and the woman whose book this is has done it more often than not. The one exception that I loved was Zelda by Therese Anne Fowler.

I filled two bird feeders but looks like I need to go out there this morning and fill the other two. Probably even to add to the sunflower seed feeder again since it's now down to half. So's the nyjer seed feeder again, but we'll see about carrying two bags, 2 cakes of suet AND a half-gallon jug of nyjer seed out. Once again we were happy with A Touch of Frost. Reading and doom scrolling and sleep. 6 hours perhaps.

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>Well, I thought Arsenal and Man City were playing at 10:30, as did Bill, but I woke up to a notification on my cell phone at half time with the score. I haven't looked at any more notifications and am going to head Bill off at the pass when he comes out so that he can NOT see the final result and we will be able to watch it later. Drat.

Looks like what I saw, which was only part of the notification, was the women at halftime. So, yay. We'll watch the match at 11:30.

Other than that, filling bird feeders, reading, figuring out what to do with boneless skinless chicken thighs for dinner. Lemon chicken in the air fryer or on the stove? Some kind of low-sodium-ish version of a teriyaki? Potatoes or rice, too.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. It will be a quiet AM for me, although I will do some laundry and walk Juno. This afternoon the family will be playing pickleball again. They have a sitter for Jack. We will then come back here for a nice dinner that Sue prepared. Everyone seems to be enjoying this family time.

I always enjoy your feeder reports. I just don't have much new to report. My usual- housefinch, juncos, cardinals, doves, chickadees, blue jays and the occasional downy.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you, too. Quiet morning, laundry, walk with Juno. Sounds like a nice quiet lead up to PB.

I haven't seen any Juncos recently here, but all the others you've mentioned have been recent visitors.

I've posted this here just in case Mamie wants a non-vegetarian white chili. I haven't made it since I started my low-sodium-for-life regimen, but it would be easy enough to convert to low sodium, especially since it already uses dried beans.

Simple Hearty White Chili
Ree, The Pioneer Woman

3 cups cooked chicken
1 whole medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 4 oz cans chopped green chilies
1 pound dried Great Northern beans, rinsed
8 cups chicken broth
1 whole jalapeno, sliced
1 ½ T ground cumin
½ t Paprika
Salt to taste
White pepper to taste
1 cup whole milk
2 T masa
Grated Monterey Jack, to taste
Sour cream for garnish
Cilantro for garnish
Guacamole (optional)
Pico De Gallo (optional)
Corn Tortillas, warmed

In a dutch oven over medium-high heat, saute onions and garlic for 2 minutes. Add chopped green chilies, then rinsed beans. Pour chicken broth into pan. Add sliced jalapenos. Season with salt, pepper, and cumin. Place lid on pot and reduce heat to low.

Cook for 2 hours or until beans are done. Halfway through the cooking process, add 3 cups of cooked chicken.

When beans are tender, mix milk with masa and pour into the chili. Cook for an additional ten minutes to thicken. Check seasoning and adjust, adding cayenne pepper and paprika if desired.

Add Monterey Jack Cheese to the pot and stir to melt.

Serve chili with cilantro, sour cream, extra cheese, even pico de gallo and guacamole. Roll up warm corn tortillas and serve on the side.

>26 karenmarie: That was a surprise about the score scare! Do they time delay the match for the US?

Anyway, happily you failed in your ongoing attempt to cause my Kindle to explode from all the books you add to it. No. Really. Complete failure. Not so much as one. Zip. Zero.

Really. *saunters casually off trailing huge poofy clouds of innocence*

Happy new one, Karen!

>30 richardderus: The notification only showed a score, 0-2, and I knew they were playing at the Emirates, Arsenal's home field, so I thought Bill and I got it wrong. And the match just ended with Arsenal beating City 5-1. The matches are not time delayed.

No books, eh? Nary a one, eh? Since you don't review them, I have no idea of how much or how often you misrepresent the truth...

>31 katiekrug: Hi Katie, and thank you.

>32 karenmarie: Madam! I shall thank you not to use terminology suited to discussing Repulsivecans when you are disrespecting me! I do not "misrepresent the truth" I choose not to tell it. No weaseling around for me. I make my choices and I own them.

Happy new thread, Karen!

Happy new thread, Karen!

I loved the hat with the roses.

>29 karenmarie: I was surprised to see that milk is an ingredient of this chili. But then, I've never made my own chili.

Sounds like a good day after all, Karen, and Arsenal triumphed!

That poem! It's too true to be funny, but I'm laughing anyway. Might as well!

Enjoy your night. I'm off to finish *Room/View*.

Morning, Karen. We had fun family time yesterday and Sue made an excellent dinner. Back to the usual routine- Kids & PB. I hope your Monday goes smoothly.

>33 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear. My, my. Sensitive much? Let’s see. I’ve only been up since 9:15 after getting sketchy sleep ‘til 5, but how about hold your ‘horrible/book-bulleted MM cards close to your chest?

>34 drneutron: Hi Jim, and thank you.

>35 EllaTim: Hi Ella, and thank you. I have never thought the roses were real, but of course they are – my grandmother was ferociously proud of the rose bushes that separated their property from that of their neighbors. I think I have a photo from the early 20s that references the rose bushes, can’t find it on my laptop. Guess it’s probably in the same box that houses this photo. I might look...

>36 ffortsa: Hi Judy – white chili will always have some form of milk or cream in it. I use dairy products. I suppose almond, soy, or oat milk could be substituted. The chili I usually make is with ground beef and diced petite-cut canned tomatoes.

I don’t eat chili in restaurants, haven't since the 1970s when I started disliking cooked green peppers. I seem to vaguely recall asking if a restaurant’s chili had green peppers in it, and most did, so I just took it out of Restaurant Rotation. Virlie's has chili, and I'll ask if theirs has green peppers in it. It looks tasty.

>37 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. It was a satisfying and productive day. I just did some more searching for Constance O’Neon, and can only find other references to her poem, not any book published of her poems or an anthology with that poem in it, although anthologies would be harder to discover. I even tried Google…

Yay for A Room With a View. Those two kiss scenes are wonderful. I’d completely forgotten that Maggie Smith was in it.

>38 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark. So glad Sunday PB and family dinner went well. Routine is not a bad thing sometimes.

I think I'll need to take out a second mortgage for the nyjer seed that's being consumed at alarming rates.

There's a Downy on the suet feeder and many Cardinals, finches, and even a Carolina Chickadee or two having second breakfast right now.

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After the fantastic Arsenal win, I filled/topped off all the bird feeders. I made hamburgers/air fryer french fries for dinner. While I was in the kitchen anyway, I made a batch of Ritz Rollo Sandwiches. We watched an episode of A Touch of Frost, and then I headed upstairs.

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No plans to be outside the house today, so most likely will only refill the bird bath and schlep to the mailbox to get The Poems of Catullus: A Bilingual Edition. it's been languishing in the mailbox since Friday.

So, reading, spreadsheets, a bit of adulting but not much.

>39 karenmarie: *unruffles* Better.

RitzRolo sammiches? Paging B. Dylan! It's funny how influential a BookTokker he is when it was food he was tokking about. His ammonia cookies short was really amusing. The idea is more disturbing than the reality since baker's ammonia is an ancient ingredient.

Catullize well! *smooch*

Hiya, RD!

We aim to please.

I just watched the Ammonia Cookies short (again), and actually have ammonia carbonate here at the house. Of course, his recipe calls for coconut, which Bill won't eat... but do I make everything so he can eat it? No.

I may have to get more if I actually make this recipe, since I transferred whatever I bought to a glass Shilling Spices jar and relabeled it however long ago. However, I can pulverize it in a baggie... and it only requires a teaspoon.

>41 karenmarie: If one used more than a teaspoon in anything smaller than a commercial batch, it'd be inedible! I hope they're scrummy in all their coconutty glory.

Good morning, Karen! I'm getting up impetus to walk and make a quick jaunt to the PO. Otherwise, I hope not to do anything much today - again. I need to get coconut milk at some point in order to use your wonderful Indian cookbook!!!!

*RwaV* has Judi Dench too, and Dernholm Elliot. It's a splendid movie!

Enjoy your day and happy cookies!

Afternoon, Karen! I'm all caught up with you now - must do a better job. I really love the hat up in the topper - so full of fabulous. Had fun reading through all the goodies you posted - stats, lightning round, poem that made me laugh out loud. LOVED reading through the exchanges between Richard and yourself. And thank for that recipe - I favorited it so I can find my way back.

I also don't eat chili out - mainly because it is so easy to make at home and you can tweak it to your own personal taste.

Baker's ammonia is new to me - look at me learning!

Hoping your Monday is kind to you, dear one.

>39 karenmarie: regarding the chili, I wouldn't hesitate to use cow's milk, just never thought about it before. My chili is usually RED.

>26 karenmarie: We will definitely have to make plans! I would head on over to PM you now, except it's late and I'm tired. Tomorrow.

The goose reminds me of something similar we saw within the first few years we were in our house. One day a lone goose flew over us, honking madly. He/she made a couple of passes over the house, honking all the time. My exact thought at that time was that the goose had lost his/her flock and was looking for them. I wondered if maybe they took off while the loner was sleeping, and he/she was desperately looking for them.

>39 karenmarie: Today is one of the few days where I actually got Wordle in fewer steps than you did! It took me 3 today.

I hope you get a good night's sleep tonight!

Happy new thread!

Morning, Karen. Taking a break from PB and will take care of a few things around here after dropping off the kids. Back below freezing today but really can't complain.

>42 richardderus: I have enough to make hundreds of batches, RD, although I suppose there are other cookies that use it. Cakes, too? Enquiring minds and all that.

>43 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Sorry I didn’t get back here yesterday. I hope you were successful in your PO errand and even the coconut milk. Yes, lots of wonderful people in that movie for sure.

>44 Crazymamie: Hi Sister of My Heart. I’m pretty sure my grandmother would have made it. She was born in 1882 in a very, VERY small town in Nebraska – Talmadge. 2020 population was 198. It’s never been near a large town, and although it might have been close to train tracks in the late 1800s, it’s doubtful. My day was good, glad you got to learn something new, and 👍 for not eating chili out.

>45 ffortsa: Hey Judy. Red or white. With beans or not. Salted beef, ground beef, brisket, chicken for white. I think chicken might get lost in a red chili, but have never tried it. Lots of ways to make chili. I make mine con carne.

>46 atozgrl: Looking forward to meeting up, Irene. Poor lonesome geese, although they used to just migrate through here. Now they’ve discovered the joys of mild winters and new territories and many flocks are year-round. Congrats on your Wordle result. Last night’s sleep was perhaps 5 hours total between dozing and actually turning the light out. Sigh.

>47 ArlieS: Hi Arlie, and thank you.

>48 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you. Things around the house and the kids are all good adulting things. I hope you get some book time, too.

It's between bird breakfasts right now, although I do have a few small'uns. No cardinals or woodpeckers or etc.

Wordle 1,326 3/6* trope, thong, tooth

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Yesterday was blissfully unproductive. I did find a very small and actually quite irritating book of lists to read yesterday, The Southerner's Book of Lists. It's for my Shelves challenge.

...
Book sort, Virlie's. Grocery Store for ONE thing. We'll see if it remains one thing. Drive through at the bank for cash, Senior Center to FINALLY start using the treadmill.

By the time I get home I'll be glad to get back into jammies. I want to make boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer, don't know what recipe to use, with Claire Saffitz's recipe for roasted Yukon Gold potatoes. We'll see how lazy I really am.

>49 karenmarie: You can use baker's ammonia (called "hartshorn" in Days of Yore) any time you use baking powder. It's got its own, powerful!, smell so permaybehaps don't use it in subtle things or in great quantity. It does BAD things to lemon-flavored baked goods. Rank, stinky results your aim? Make a lemon genoise with baker's ammonia! *gag*

Hoping your grocery run stays manageable, sweetiedarling.

Oh! Thanks, Richard. I never chased down what hartshorn was, so thank you and Karen for checking one more thing off my ignorant list.

Good morning and good afternoon, Karen. Hope book sort is fun and profitable (!) and that Virlies is tasty and fun. I.Am.Going.Now.To.Make.A.Couple.Of.Business.Phone.Calls.That.I.Have.Put.Off.and Off. Well --- after I speak to Richard.

Enjoy the rest of your day!!!

>51 LizzieD: Oh yes. Putting off those calls is a favorite avoidance of mine. I finally called the people making my new orthotics because I hadn't heard from them, and it seems they tried to call me on Jan.21! I have no record of that, and wonder if they have the phone number wrong. At least now I will get the new orthotics on Thursday.

Happy new thread, Karen. Love the picture with the hat but it's the only picture I can see in your topper. Not sure if it is just me.

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. Last work day with the kids. I did fill the finch feeder yesterday, after much neglect but I don't think my nyjer seed is very fresh. I will have to pick up more. Do you see many goldfinches?

>50 richardderus: I just looked up baking ammonia cookies on duckduckgo, and oh my! Lots of wonderful cookies. And, I love that it’s also smelling salts, a.k.a. hartshorn. Used so many times by Georgette Heyer.

Do you speak from experience about a lemon genoise?

The grocery store run was manageable, but I did buy Bill 2 12-can boxes of Diet Pepsi because it was BOGO. I’m such a nice wife.

*smooch*

>51Hi Peggy. Richard is a font of knowledge, that’s for sure. I hope your phone calls got the desired results.

>52 ffortsa: Hi Judy. I’ve learned that phone call avoidance usually benefits the callee than the caller. Yay for new orthotics. Not to say that I'm not a world-class call avoider, of course.

>53 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. You should be seeing a banner on pretty much anywhere you click on LT explaining that there’s a problem with pictures and directing you to the thread discussing it.

>54 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you, too. Yay for last day with the kids.

I’ve been seeing Goldfinches to actually realize that they’re goldfinches only recently with some of their color. Mostly the males of course, but I have noticed a few vaguely-olive-ish-colored females.

Speaking of the feeders. It’s breakfast time at Triplefield Farm – the unofficial name for our property. I’ve got sparrows, Carolina Chickadees, Cardinals, a Red-Bellied Woodpecker who just left. The sunflower seed feeder is already down by 4/5 from the other day, the suet down by ¾. Even the last-resort wild bird seed feeder is down by ¼. I’m going to need nyjer seed again soon.

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Let's see. Yesterday. So long ago. Book sort went well, although I ran out of steam about 10:15 because I only had about 3 hours of sleep. There were lots of books, so we didn't get to Virlie's 'til about 11:10, so a good long visit at Virlie's. Take out for Bill, then I went to the grocery store to only get pepperjack, but got a few more things than that, but not too many. Boxes of soda for Bill are still in back of the SUV.

I did not do my back any favors yesterday. I brought home 2 huge Bibles - The Jeremiah Study Bible and The New American Bible, a Catholic translation from 1970. The very cool thing about the Catholic translation is that there is a 7 3/16" x 9 13/16" heavy cardstock Apostolic Blessing on the Pavelicich Family. It's actually quite gorgeous, and will stay with the Bible, of course.

I also came home with How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci and How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Workbook by Michael J. Gelb. I was only going to bring them home so I could clean some easily-removable stuck foodstuff (?) on one of them, but in looking at them just now, I'm going to keep them. I was honestly only going to bring home the book, not the workbook too, but they're a set and I envisioned putting them in the cubbies next Tuesday. Oh well. The first now has some Goo Gone doing its miraculous job.

I was lazy. Didn't make the chicken. Can't make it this afternoon because I have a 4 p.m. PT appointment. I may make it and the potatoes for a late lunch.

Other than that, puttering, reading, spreadsheets. I will find another short-and-sweet book for my ROOTs challenge and personal Shelves challenge. That's one book per shelf of cataloged books. Two down! Over 100 to go.

>51 LizzieD: It was a weird word I encountered once too often to ignore in high school...baker's ammonia I knew about because Mama ran institutional kitchens.

>55 karenmarie: Hi Horrible...the da Vinci set sounds really interesting, so I see why it needed to be repatriated to a proper home.

I speak from the bitterest possible experience indeed. I tried to make a vegan genoise with psyllium and baker's ammonia. *gag* Stick to eggs...though that makes genoise even more of a luxury item.

Oh yes, Karen. I've seen hartshorn referred to as smelling salts. What an education! No baker's ammonia in my Mama's kitchen, Richard. I have to admit that it sounds totally unappetizing.

I hope that you slept better last night although you don't mention it, Karen. You have no idea what LAZY is, my dear. I could teach you, but you don't want to know. I did make one of my phone calls yesterday for 21 minutes, most of which I spent on hold. I was told that the process for completing the last piece of business for Mama's estate did begin in January as promised and that I could look for the check when it came. I was through for the day. Now I must do call #2, which I expect to go even less well. I think I'll go for Chinese to carry me through the last of the week - or maybe not.

>56 richardderus: Cool.

>57 richardderus: Hi RD! Friend Karen from Montana and I spoke this morning and I explained that I am keeping the da Vinci books. I then reminded her that I ... ah... have liberated books in my checkered career. She said she loved English - rather than steal she said I should use re-home. Repatriated works, too. And thus guilt has been assuaged.

Ugh to a vegan genoise. Ugh to vegan anything that usually calls for animal protein.

>58 LizzieD: Hey Peggy. actually slept about 7 hours straight. Amazing and happy making. Heh to lazy...

Glad you got one of two phone calls made yesterday. I hope call #2 goes better. Chinese as a reward sounds lovely.

Afternoon, Karen! I missed morning by a few minutes. I also did not know about hartshorn, so this is an educational thread. I agree that Richard is a font of knowledge.

Phone calls make me crazy, so good to you and Peggy for getting to them. I usually end up yelling at the phone "speak to a representative" - it's almost impossible to talk to an actual person anymore. Crazy making.

>60 Crazymamie: People cost money. Machines do, too, but the amortization schedule is more profit-friendly.

>58 LizzieD:, >59 karenmarie: I must say it's nice to be positively acknowledged by women for knowing something for a change. Usually I get the cyber equivalent of rolled eyes and a curled lip paired with a dismissive sniff.

>55 karenmarie: I had a copy of How To Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci, but as soon as I saw it presented homework I donated it to the library. I've done enough homework, and this is the kind I especially abhor.

>61 richardderus: Totally get this, and the machines are quick if what you need is on the menu, but it almost never fails that what I need help with is not one of the options. This makes for a very Mad Mamie.

I wanted to drop by and let you know that my mother and I tried the 6 dice variant for Yahtzee while I was in Longview. I definitely prefer it, but my mother is not so sure - probably because of how many years she has been playing normal Yahtzee. Thank you so much for sending over the score sheet for it. I made multiple copies so that my mother can play it several times.

Have a wonderful Wednesday evening, Karen!

Dylan's on live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pafYO2fghBQ

>1 karenmarie: "...my pessimism has me believing that it’s going to be much, much worse before it gets better." I fear you are correct. Sigh.

Hi Karen. As always you are roaring along with your reading. Thanks goodness for good books and safe community, eh?

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. Glad to hear that you get to see goldfinch at the feeders. I have not seen any at the feeders in months but I have not kept up with the nyjer.

I am joining a bird walk early this AM. It may be a little slippery out there. We had a little freezing rain over night. I will then go to Brees and scoop up Jack. He will stay with me through the afternoon and Sue will take over when she gets home.

>60 Crazymamie: ‘Morning, Mamie! I’m glad that every once in a while things can be learned on this thread – either from myself or visitors. Oh, and I usually try “human” or “person”, not always successfully. On a cell phone, sometimes 0 still works. It is crazy making.

>61 richardderus: You’re right about people costing money, RD. Jenna works for Nothing Bundt Cakes, which until last Sunday had a no-work-on-Sunday policy. It gave everybody a known guaranteed day off, but they’ve now started being open on Sundays. I’m trying to give the benefit of the doubt about increased staffing, but I don't think her boss will actually properly staff the additional hours. She dryly mentioned on the phone yesterday that her boss lives in a mansion. I say Jenna’s working an extra day this week so that other employees can work Sunday and know that she’ll be working Sundays soon, too.

You get kudos here and on many women-owned threads, RDear. I learn new words and concepts from you all the time.

I roll my eyes and curl my lip, figuratively or actually, when I get a Y-chromosome human mansplaining to me.

>62 ffortsa: Hey Judy. I haven’t dipped into it yet, but it may end up like Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, which moved with me from SoCal in 1991 and was ignored even before then. I abandoned it after 2 chapters, although drawing something upside down breaks the how it should be drawn vs the actual lines, angles, curves, and shadings that truly are eye-to-medium transfer.

I couldn’t agree more with you about homework. That’s why I have become terrible about group reads – they smack of homework to me and I internally freeze up most times. Even book club books make me twitchy, even my own choice.

>63 Crazymamie: Our placid Mamie becomes vMM – very Mad Mamie. Understandable. i think we all become mad. I rarely show it here on LT because I can hide behind words, but I have a terrible temper. I try to keep it reined in. Last time it came out was at book sort, where I dropped the F-bomb. It was highly satisfactory, by the way.

>64 alcottacre: I’m so glad you were able to share it with your mother, Stasia. I can understand not being sure. It took us quite a while to automatically know the difference between Tower and Villa and to go for 5 of a kind that was not Yahtzee. You’re very welcome.

>66 EBT1002: Oooh, thank you, RD. After 2 minutes and 19 seconds, which is all I could handle before finishing my first cup of coffee energy-wise, I realize two things: he’s on serious uppers AND he has a husband?!??!!! He said he got his husband hooked on Peanut Butter Styrofoam Cookies, aka Magic Peanut Butter Cookies. I found the short on YouTube, but also found some god-awful short by a guy using Dylan's cookbook. Is nothing sacred? Thank you, by the way. I’ll get back to the live stream sooner or later.

>66 EBT1002: Hi Ellen. Infinitely worse every single day, I’m afraid. And what’s this about turning Gaza into a resort? I realize that yes, he’s throwing out shit to hide the real things he and his minions/traitors are doing, but still.

Good books and safe community. That is LT in a nutshell.

Speaking of LT, after the weirdness with pics, which seems to be back under control now, I sent a message to ConceptDawg with a two-part recommendation. I said that if they’d already thought of it and rejected it or put it on the list to ignore what I said, but he said they were great ideas and he’d bring them up at their next meeting on Monday after all the craziness dies down. I’m chuffed…

>67 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you. I don’t see any at this exact second, but perhaps that’s because the nyjer seed feeder is eompletely empty except for dregs in the tray. The sunflower seed feeder is completely empty, too. Guess what I’ll be doing today?

Yay for a bird walk. Be careful – we don’t want Mark to fall. Jack scooping sounds fun.

Wordle 1,328 5/6* trope, punch, puffy, pubic, pupil

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I watched part of the Arsenal Newcastle Champions League match, which they lost individually and as an aggregate and so are out of Champions League. I then schlepped off to PT, which was good and for which I'm now paying. I'll take pain meds soon.

Before I started watching Arsenal, I made a marinade for and prepared the pan of b/s chicken thighs. Bill had homework - set the wall oven to 425F at 5 p.m. I got home 2 or 3 minutes after it was ready, so I immediately put them in the oven. I then made the Yukon Gold potatoes, but I only microwaved them in the bag, with EVOO, S&P, and basil. A very nice meal indeed.

We watched A Touch of Frost, a friend called to tell me that she had a blood clot in her lungs, but I guess those don't directly affect the heart, because they didn't put her in the hospital and after putting her on Eliquis, told her to rest quietly at home and that it would dissolve or get reabsorbed or whatever and go away. Really?

And then Jenna came over to get her birth certificate AND finally put the Christmas-Tree-In-A-Bag into the garage storage room.

When she came in she smelled the chicken and loved it, so after she told me it smelled wonderful, I put 2 leftover thighs into a baggie and sent them home with her. Got hugs, too, so there's that.

...
Nothing to leave the house for today. Nothing to actually do except read, putter, and play with spreadsheets.

Several parts from The Federalist No 55, written by James Madison, in my copy of The Federalist, edited by Jacob E. Cooke.

February 13, 1788

To the People of the State of New York.

…

THE number of which the House of Representatives is to consist, forms another and a very interesting point of view, under which this branch of the federal legislature may be contemplated.

Scarce any article, indeed, in the whole Constitution seems to be rendered more worthy of attention, by the weight of character and the apparent force of argument with which it has been assailed.

The charges exhibited against it are, first, that so small a number of representatives will be an unsafe depositary of the public interests; secondly, that they will not possess a proper knowledge of the local circumstances of their numerous constituents; thirdly, that they will be taken from that class of citizens which will sympathize least with the feelings of the mass of the people, and be most likely to aim at a permanent elevation of the few on the depression of the many; fourthly, that defective as the number will be in the first instance, it will be more and more disproportionate, by the increase of the people, and the obstacles which will prevent a correspondent increase of the representatives.

...

The truth is, that in all cases a certain number at least seems to be necessary to secure the benefits of free consultation and discussion, and to guard against too easy a combination for improper purposes; as, on the other hand, the number ought at most to be kept within a certain limit, in order to avoid the confusion and intemperance of a multitude. In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever character composed, passion never fails to wrest the sceptre from reason.

Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.

...
Here I am again, going to try to finish The Federalist this year. This paper is a combination of naïve and perspicacious. It talks about the initial sixty of the House of Representatives and mentioning up to four hundred. We settled on four hundred thirty five in The Apportionment Act of 1929.

>69 karenmarie: ...and need to lift the cap entirely. It's not 1929 or 1959 anymore. Travel is the next-best thing to instantaneous with the internet. No more do we need to allow the 18th century to force us into an antidemocratic (and purposefully anti-Democratic) corset with too much whalebone.

*smooch*

>49 karenmarie: Good evening, Karen! I have belatedly made it back over to your thread. I can't keep up with LT this year. We definitely need to make plans for a meetup. I'll PM you.

Yes, we see flocks of geese regularly. One flock has decided it likes our church yard and has taken up residence. The church is now asking anyone who has dogs that like to chase geese to come by in the afternoon (I forget which day or days they wanted people to come).

I've been making chili with ground turkey recently, as one way to cut down on red meat. It works for me.

I learn a lot from you and Richard here on LT. There are many things discussed that I hadn't heard of before. I certainly did not know what exactly smelling salts were.

I am also one of those guilty of phone call avoidance. Sigh. It's something I have never liked. Made worse in recent years with having to sit on the line waiting for someone to pick up. Or dealing with the phone trees.

>68 karenmarie: I'm sorry about Arsenal. And I hope your friend is doing alright! It does sound odd that they just sent her home. The chicken and potatoes sound Yum!

>59 karenmarie: I hope the good sleep continues, and you get the same tonight!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368250

Hi, Karen. I don't even know what I'm replying to by now, so I'll just write what's in my head and depart!

I'm delighted that you slept well!!!!!!!!!!

I'm ALWAYS happy to learn stuff, Richard. I recall a brief conversation with a very bright young man who told me that people who know things are boring. I said,
"I'm sorry you think that. I've noticed that you know quite a lot."

My main fury - maybe displacement? - has been for the media. WHY are people calling 45/7's notion to take over Gaza a plan????? He has no plans. He has no policies. I turned Rachel Maddow off Monday night when I had heard about 2 minutes of the new National Dem. Party's rah-rahing like it's 1956. I'm thinking she took him seriously too. Leadership, please! We need leadership. (I don't mean from the media.)

I haven't made the second call yet. I did gather the information I'll need. AND! The final check from call #1 came today. I think that is the very last thing for Mama's estate.

I think I"ll get ready for bed!
Sleep well again, (((((Karen)))))!

>73 LizzieD: When I saw a clip from Trump's press conference where he was talking about Gaza, my first thought was that he had dementia. It sounded like the time when my mom thought she had won Publisher's Clearinghouse and wanted to buy up all the old Victorian houses on the block and get them fixed up. Truly crazy.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Not surprising- the bird walk yesterday was canceled due to very icy conditions. By noon most of the ice had melted. I scooped up Jack at 1:30 and we visited a nearby library again. He was such a good boy and Sue enjoyed him through the evening. I am playing PB this AM. Sue will tend to Jack but we will have him until early afternoon. Enjoy your day.

>70 richardderus: I’m wondering how a huge number of representatives would work, but the limit basically envisioned in 1788 is ridiculous 237 years later.

Should the physical number of Reps at the Capitol for business be limited to one rep per state, party determined by which party has the most Reps in the state? That does give Dumbfuckistan larger representation than it should have, though. There are several states that only have one Rep, after all, unfortunately most of them part of the Red Scourge. Hmmm. And I like the analogy of too much whalebone in the corset. *smooch*

>71 atozgrl: Hi Irene! I can’t keep up either, so we’re Wordle and TO – thread overload sisters.

I’ve never heard of the Church-sanctioned-chase-‘em-away-with-dogs method of trying to get the geese to leave. Beats all the yahoos out there being sanctioned by their Church to use their pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, bow and arrows, or other methods of destruction to disrupt them.

Now that pictures seem stable again and my 704 Gallery pictures load in a reasonable time, I just found the Anniversary Geese pic from the early 2000s. Just the two, they flew in and settled in our middle field, pre-horses/pastures, for perhaps 15 minutes on our wedding anniversary.



Heh. Phone trees. Press 1 to do this, 2 to do that, and after listening to the entire menu there’s nothing that really tells you which key to press or what number to say for what you need. And most don’t even have the press 0 for customer service or even the secret handshake ‘human’ or ‘person’ option.

At least the Arsenal loss was not in the Premier League race. Each year English teams are given the honor of being in non-league competitions – Arsenal were the Champions League and the EFL (Carabao) Cup this season.

Louise said to give it a few days before we chat again, so I might call her tomorrow or Sunday.

>72 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

>73 LizzieD: I love seeing your posts, so no matter what or how much/little you write, I’m happy.

Congrats on getting the final check from your mama’s estate, getting that all completed. Yay for gathering the info you need for Call #2.

If media would call him out more that would be wonderful, but they’re getting more and more intimidated. I am still mostly in avoidance. Have there been any attacks on media that criticize the chaos demon/his minions – physical or cyber – since they started dismantling our government on the 20th of January?

>74 atozgrl: I think the spirochetes have done damage on top of his three mental disorders - "malignant narcissistic personality disorder, hyper manic temperament, and dementia."

>75 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you. Sorry the bird walk was cancelled. I know how much you love being outside. Glad Jack will be visiting ‘til early afternoon. Have a good time at PB.

Wordle 1,329 3/6* trope, filth, swath. I was flummoxed with the TH at the end that didn't involve an O or wasn't already used until I saw the keyboard layout on the screen, saw the SWA together, and that was it.

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I filled bird feeders, worked on my spreadsheets, read, reheated leftovers, and etc. yesterday. I did not leave the house. We watched another episode of A Touch of Frost last night.

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I have an appointment with the other doctor closer to home this afternoon, who I have to consult with prior to the medical procedure that the woman doctor so stunningly wasn't able to perform. This is a man, who I normally don't like messing around, but needs must and he's only 11 miles away, not 35.

The morning will be all the fun stuff I like doing, A Touch of Frost again tonight.

Morning, Horrible. I'm All for a HUGE house because I want to see us grow multiple parties to break the horrifying duopoly of rotten-souled corrupt politicos. Spreading it wider means making the ownership of power that much harder to accomplish. Hence, also, why "They" won't allow it to happen.

I'm delighted, always, to have a positive impact on people's knowledge base. There are those who do not accept that for whatever reason.

This morning I got another message on Goodreads, !!, saying I should make a collection of my reviews available in Kindle form. Not for the first time...it's a vanity-grooming idea, but money is better spent elsewhere and why would anyone want one?

>68 karenmarie: The funny thing is, I am very good with keeping my cool with actual people - it's just the automated systems that make me lose my temper. Birdy and Abby think it is so funny because I start out so polite and then escalate to Mad Mamie. It's a sickness.

Hooray for the Christmas tree in a bag making it into storage!!

Hoping the doctor's appointment goes well. I'm sorry that you have to deal with someone you would rather not. (hugs)

>77 richardderus: YES! The two party system does not work and really, it has never worked. Even George Washington knew this

>78 Crazymamie: On the other hand, I'm not sure the 11 party system has ever worked any better.

>68 karenmarie: Very cool that ConceptDawg liked your ideas!

• >77 richardderus: Hi RDear! Down the rabbit hole of multi-party systems. My initial thought was Eeek! No! Look at England. Look at every country where votes of no confidence plunge the countries into chaos. Look at France. Especially look at Israel. But then I found a website that had this:

Are two-party systems more stable than multiple-party systems?
o While two-party systems may offer stability, multiple-party systems provide greater representation and diversity of political viewpoints.
• How do countries prevent political fragmentation in multiple-party systems?
o Countries often implement electoral reforms and coalition-building mechanisms to mitigate political fragmentation and ensure stable governance.
• Can multiple-party systems lead to political extremism?
o While diverse political ideologies may exist within multiple-party systems, strong democratic institutions and public engagement help mitigate the risks of political extremism.
• What role do minor parties play in multiple-party systems?
o Minor parties can influence policy debates, serve as a voice for marginalized groups, and sometimes hold the balance of power in coalition governments.
• How do multiple-party systems impact voter decision-making?
o Multiple-party systems offer voters a wide array of choices, requiring them to carefully consider each party’s platform and ideology before casting their ballots.

But you’re right. Not even one independent party in the US has ever really had an impact that I can think of offhand.

There are many of us who appreciate your thoughts and stunning vocabulary.

If you’re asking me about collating your reviews in Kindle form, it seems like a very large undertaking. I know you’ve edited a book – hardcover only as far as I can see – so Kindle would be a whole new ballgame for you. Would you use your long reviews or perhaps only your Burgoines? What’s Goodreads reason for the suggestion? The kindness of their hearts? Moola? I’m a cynic and don’t know what relationship you have with Goodreads, so enlighten me O Wise One. *smooch*

>78 Crazymamie: Ah, Mamie. I completely understand about real conversations vs. customer service conversations. I rarely get yelling angry on the phone because I don’t deal with CSRs often, but I admit I can get an edge to my voice and express strong opinions. Mad Mamie actually sounds fun because many CSRs don’t actually listen to you and/or try to cheat you on behalf of their companies.

Yes, Jenna wrangled it into the storage room. I had one idea for how it should go but it was actually too long for there, so we angled it in while still leaving walking/getting-to-stuff space.

Thanks for the hugs. See below.

I’ve read two books about George Washington and don’t recall his opinion on two party systems. Well. Hmmm. I think he didn’t believe in party systems at all?

>79 ffortsa: Heh. Yes, Judy. The eleven-party system. As an outsider looking into multi-party system countries, all I see is chaos and votes of no confidence and wrangling and gridlock. Not unlike our two party system, although we don’t have the votes of no confidence.

>80 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, and thank you. I was pleased that even in the midst of chaos he read what I wrote and gave me a good reply.



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So, yesterday's doctor visit. Bottom line: Something that needs to be done, no short term urgency. This is the result of an incidental finding from the CT scan I had during my Terrible September of 2024. It surprised me that I would like a male OB-GYN doctor more than the train-wreck and scatty female OB-GYN doctor I saw in October and January. He spent 40 minutes with me. He'd read all the results and visit summaries/notes on myuncchart and was ready. He warned me he talks fast, but that was fine with me. He offered to show me things but I told him I'm squeamish and I'd pass. He said that was fine. He explained why he wanted to continue the process, which is a hysteroscopy. It's outpatient, but I need someone to drive me home after the 4-6 hours. (prep, procedure - maybe a D&C, recovery). I'm not panicked any more. He said he wanted to perform this procedure because if we didn't, there was the possibility of a cancer developing in the next 5 years or so. He is pretty sure there's no cancer because of something to do with blood flow to the thickening. So. March for the surgical consult and April 7th for the procedure.

Other than that, stress about the appointment, tiredness after (just emotional), dinner, A Touch of Frost. I got pretty good sleep, probably about 6 hours or so.

...
There is absolutely nothing I have to do today. There's no Premier League soccer this weekend, no Arsenal in Champions League this weekend. They have a bye 'til February 26th.

I might try to persuade Bill to make a trash run because he's put it off way too long. Otherwise, reading, puttering. I bought a Conair Paraffin Bath a while back and have been using it on my hands, but just used it on my thumbs yesterday, and oh! Felt so good, and I'll do it again this a.m.

I'm considering low-sodium spaghetti sauce w/ground beef and angel hair pasta, garlic toast for supper, but we'll see. Laziness vs. something I want to eat that isn't Healthy Choice.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. "There is absolutely nothing I have to do today." I am with you, my friend. Sue is out of town visiting a friend, so it is just me and Juno. Thanks for the medical update. I think you are making the right decision.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you, too. Yay for a nothing-has-to-be-done day for both of us.

The birds are decimating the nyjer seed feeder. Sunflower seed feeder is down by half, too. I can see perhaps two dozen birds on feeders, flitting about, in the Crepe Myrtle, all the usual suspects.

Thanks for affirming my decision. I'm happy to have made it myself yesterday, but I appreciate support.

Karen, I too read your medical update and think you're on the right path. I'm glad you had such good rapport with the doctor. I've always had female ob-gyns but in both cases a male doc delivered my children (due to on-call rotation). And they were both great in the delivery room. And yet I still choose women when making routine appointments.

Enjoy your easy-peasy day.

>81 karenmarie: Morning, sweetiedarling. Stress when in the face of a medical procedure is totally relatable. I am still waffling about getting my cataracts done after being forced to cancel my appointment due to transportation difficulties. It's simple, it's fast, it's safe, this eye practice is top-rated in the county. I'm just anxious as hell about it. It will be Just Fine, like your procedure this April.

Goodreads wants money, of course, but the people who suggested it were group members of two of the ones I belong to over there. It was a lovely compliment but, with over 2000 reviews written, it's a bleedin' daunting task! Plus, really and honestly, why would someone want to buy a collection of book reviews across decades and genres and by an obscure amateur?

The two-party system is, as it was predicted to be, an abject failure at ensuring fairness, reason, and broad representation. It's just as chaotic as larger numbers of parties because how many government shutdowns have there been/been threatened again? How many manufactured debt crises? How many factions that need appeasing are there? Explain, please, how those factions are somehow better than other parties?

Neither this nor its concomitant necessity of ranked-choice voting will be enacted until the guillotine does her bloody work of murdering a few hundred oligarchs. I expect to be dead before it even makes it into the public screaming stage.

I am SO RELIEVED that you have found a competent, caring doctor that I don't know what to do. Thank you for the update, and I'll feel better about you now. Only my last OBGYN was female, but she was the one who persuaded me to look into Forteo for osteoporosis before it got worse. I'm forever grateful to her.
Enjoy your day!

>85 richardderus: I was petrified before my first cataract surgery, Richard. In fact, on the day I thought that my blood pressure was too high for the operation. Both eyes went well and I am thrilled with the results. My only faint regret is not getting my lenses for reading and close work and wearing glasses the rest of the time. Reading glasses are OK but the opposite of the way I lived the rest of my life.
Enjoy the compliment of Goodreaders suggestions and continue to do what you want. There.

It's great that your new OBGYN is so communicative and congenial. I've had both male and female GYNs over my lifetime, and some of the female ones were worse than the male ones. At the moment, I see a woman who has on staff a wildly competent nurse-practitioner I like a lot. The problem is scheduling - appointments are months out, and I realize I'd better make the next appointment when I'm in the office.

>81 karenmarie: Hi Karen! I would like more than two parties because I don't think having just two is working. I don't want the crazy mess of a large number of parties like Italy, but I would like a centrist party. >85 richardderus: I agree with a lot of what RD says here. And I want ranked choice voting NOW!

I am so glad to hear that you had such a good doctor's appointment and that you've got a plan now. It really does sound like the right way to go.

I'm so glad you found a doctor you trust -- and one who trusts and respects you!! We'll all be crossing our fingers for April 7.

Joining the chorus of those wishing we had ranked choice voting. Oregon actually had it on the ballot this past November. I was struck by the signs opposed to it posted on the same split rail fences as MAGA banners.

>74 atozgrl: grandiosity at its best, I guess?

PS, I love days where I have absolutely nothing to do!

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. I plan a fairly lazy AM but I will do a quick Costco run. I like to get there right when they open so I am in and out. No dawdling for the Warbler. Then book time until later this afternoon, when I will got to Bree's to watch the first half of the game. Sue will be back home but not sure if she will join me.

I am also starting The Woman in White today. 😜

>84 lauralkeet: Hi Laura! Thanks for the confirmation. I had a female ob-gyn for my pregnancy, but like you, a male doc was on rotation and delivered Jenna. I had to have an emergency C-section, and he was great. If I need to continue with an ob-gyn after this procedure/follow up, I’ll definitely see him.

>85 richardderus: I can understand your feeling anxious about cataract surgery, RDear. I hope you can find the wherewithal to schedule the surgeries soon.

I didn’t worry for a second that anything would go wrong, and I only had two issues with it: so many drops on different schedules to keep track of and waiting for complete healing before getting a new glasses prescription. I had them a week apart on Mondays in December 2014. And, it won't surprise you to know that I used spreadsheets to track when to take the drops.

Ah, got it. I personally do not read collations of reviews, only reading reviews here on LT. How does Goodreads want money? I’m officially a member, but honestly, I don’t even sign in when I look for an author to find birth country for my spreadsheet. Authors of the MM genre are frequently cagey about where they’re born for some reason. I look on Amazon first, then Goodreads, then their personal website. After that, it’s Undeclared.

I suppose that two-party and multi-party republican democracies (lower case, not the whack-job traitors) can and are all corrupted by power, money, and control.

It will be interesting to see how things play out as the chaos demon and his owners try to make us a whites-only, male-controlled, evangelical Christian kakistocracy, although they wouldn’t use the word kakistocracy. I wonder where our country will be when it’s time for me to shuffle off this mortal coil? I hope it's in good enough shape for Jenna and Hwan to live safely and openly and happily.

>86 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. Me, too. I stopped going to an ob-gyn when I turned 50, using my male GP for the various and un-fun things that need to be done on a regular basis. He still orders mammograms for me. I’m glad your ob-gyn persuaded you to look into Forteo. There are always one or two doctors in our lives who make a huge positive difference.

You’re like me – I should have stayed officially near-sighted instead of becoming officially far-sighted.

>87 ffortsa: You’re right, Judy, and the fact that he apologized for being 6 minutes late to our appointment then giving me 40 minutes was refreshing.

I always make chiropractic and PT appointments when leaving the office. Follow-up appointments with various and sundry doctors through the UNC Healthcare/Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan that I use are easy to make as I’m leaving the office. I get email reminders and text reminders because of using the mychart Android app. I can even schedule my own appointments, but have never done so. Bill has, though.

>88 atozgrl: Hi Irene! Two isn’t working, but the attempts to inject a third party into the mix has never been successful. I don’t see it gaining traction all of a sudden. Ranked-choice voting seems to be there but stagnant. Thanks re the medical plan.

>89 EBT1002: Hello Ellen. Trust and respect – yes. And thank you for finger crossing for the 7th. I just read up a bit on RCV, and it’s fascinating.

>90 LovingLit: Do-nothing days are definitely the best, Megan. 😊

>91 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you, too. Ah yes, get in and get out Costo runs. I hope you’re successful. Ah, I hadn’t grokked that the Super Bowl is today. I hope it’s exciting, and I hope the Chiefs win.

Yay for starting The Woman in White.

Bird report: Red-Bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Cardinals, sparrows and finches, Mourning Doves. A 20-pound bag of nyjer seed is arriving today, and part of tomorrow's errands will include buying a 50-lb bag of black oil sunflower seeds at the local farm and garden.

Wordle 1,331 4/6* trope, buxom, bound, bonus

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I baked the last of the eggnog cookies - refrigerator cookies - but made them large and sprinkled colored sugar on them prior to baking. They were okay, but I threw the last roll out. I inventoried and made sure I had all the right covers for 3 of my cookbook shelves in the kitchen for some strange reason. Culled two cookbooks.

I especially liked the episode of A Touch of Frost we watched last night, S4 E1.

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I'll be filling the feeders today, experimenting on an Oatmeal Cookie recipe by only using Crisco and not butter. I also just found a Crisco-only recipe, and will decide which one to use. I'm meeting a lactose-intolerant friend tomorrow in the afternoon, and want to have cookies she can eat. We'll smuggle them into the venue...

Spreadsheets, grocery store, cookies. No book club - the venue I'll enjoy tomorrow with one book club friend is just not conducive to a 10-person book club meeting and I've decided to boycott all meetings there, regardless of who is the hostess. Plus, of course, I abandoned Hamnet again.

I may inventory and make sure I have the right covers on the other three kitchen shelves today, K21-23. Yesterday was lots of fun.

Oh, and I want to make London Broil and baked potatoes.

We'll see how much of this actually gets done.

>92 karenmarie: mmm! Baked potato with partially incinerated cattle flesh. Love that combo...perfect blend of starch, fat, and fiber (the skins).

Goodreads has a paid-promotion system available in tiers suitable to all the players in the bookiverse. They'd offer me an "Author" profile, ways to wart and annoy some subset of the millions who have accounts there at Z dollars per unit of population, ad banners on the main page if I had enough to pay, etc etc. All those millions of readers from across the globe are the reason to be cagey about where you're from, where you live, etc etc because there are plenty of data scrapers operating there and it's damn near certain the scrapers are selling data to repressive regimes for further action. People I knew in gender/sexual minorities from religious hellholes are gone. I hope, but don't necessarily believe, they haven't been Disappeared. Being open about yourself in the age of total surveillance is risky for us all. For some far more than others, for quite some time now.

🌟Counting Hoya stars.

Andrew Ziyuan Zhang photographed the collage showcase of 74 species of Hoya.

Happy new thread Karen!

>81 karenmarie: I am glad that the OB-GYN doctor has a pleasant demeanour and that he takes the time to explain everything.

Morning, Karen. I had a nice time at Bree's house yesterday. I stayed until halftime. I even played with Jack for a bit. He is usually preoccupied with his cousins when they are over. Sorry your Chiefs lost but it was a great win for the Eagles.

I have the "kids" today. I need to skip PB. I have Plantar fasciitis in my right heel. It has been developing for several weeks now but it has got painful and I really felt it on Friday when I played. I may have to skip Wednesday too, much to my chagrin. 😒

Hi Karen, happy new thread (just getting in before you hit 3 figures! :D). I've been MIA for a few weeks, just life, nothing horrendous with me but plenty of horrendous doomscrolling. I don't know where to start with what is happening on your side of The Pond. I am happy to see a number of avenues of resistance, and hope fervently that they are not crushed with the weight of what they need to do.

>93 richardderus: I saved the partially incinerated cattle flesh and baked russet potatoes for tonight. Did you know that there are 43 russet cultivars? I do not know which kind I have in the kitchen. Love crunch baked potato skins.

Sadly, I wasn’t even thinking of danger to authors. I completely understand.

So gorgeous, thank you for sharing the Hoya and Zhang’s photo.

>94 quondame: Hi Susan, and thank you.

>95 figsfromthistle: Hey, Anita. At least with big HMOs here in the US becoming somewhat of a rarity, alas. My sister is in Kaiser in SoCal, and it’s rather ridiculous most of the time.

Fortunately, my doctors always give me the time I need. Of course, sometimes it’s because I have a list of questions or concerns on my cell phone that I always warn them about at the beginning of the appointment. 😊

>96 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark. Bill was willing to watch the Super Bowl, but we actually forgot once it was TV time. I was already on my way upstairs when Bill mentioned it, and at that time it was 17-0 or something like that. I’m happy for the Eagles, just sad that the three-peat may never happen. What a blowout.

Oh no! Plantar fasciitis. I’m so sorry and hope that you can do all the things needed to make it go away as quickly as possible. I had it quite a few times in the late 1990s and early 2000s, once in both heels at the same time. Whether one or two, pure agony. So. Books and Juno?

>97 Jackie_K: Hi Jackie. Glad nothing’s horrendous for you. You’re probably doing more doomscrolling about what’s happening here in the US than I am. We’ve got a literally demented President, lock-step minions and followers, and so much danger to our country that it’s staggering to contemplate.

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I started working on the last 3 shelves of cookbooks in the Kitchen - inventorying and confirming covers. I made Oatmeal Raisin Cookies that do not use butter or milk - I was going to simply replace the butter with more Crisco in the recipe I have but found one online. It's good, really good, just a bit more tedious than my Betty Crocker one. i'll try the BC one later this week.

I did not make dinner. By the time I'd filled all the bird feeders and played on LT and read and made cookies, I decided that it could wait 'til tonight.

A Taste of Frost. Reading. Listening on cell phone to audio book. And then there was the 4:30 a.m. excitement of a Library Alarm. ADT called but I missed the call. Came downstairs, turned off the alarm on the control panel, checked the Library and didn't see anything out of order. Went back upstairs and called ADT. By then Jenna texted me to see if we were alright. She's listed as emergency contact. Sadly, it also woke her up. We texted a bit.

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I read for a bit after the alarm situation, and then slept 'til 9:25, when Jenna called to tell me that she was done with her Social Security Office appointment. The hospital screwed up on her SS card - only putting Jenna, not Jenna Marie. Her DL and other documents all say Jenna Marie, and with needing things to be consistent for a RealID, thought now was the right time. It went great, she was out even before her official appointment time.

I have chiropractic appointment today. I'm also going to stop at the PO, which is just across the street from the chiropractor, to pick up a Passport Application. No reason to have one beyond Jenna's getting hers last year. I'll also pick up a prescription and visit with friend Tamsie at The Belted Goat and smuggle Oatmeal Raisin cookies in to go with our coffee. I was going to go grocery shopping after visiting, but need to get home in enough time to start baked potatoes to go with London Broil. Groceries tomorrow.

You busy woman, you! I'm glad that you're young, relatively speaking....

I'm sorry about that library alarm. I hope it doesn't misfire again...very upsetting at 4:30 A.M.!
How remarkable that Jenna was able to get a mistake corrected in record time! Congratulations to her and your SS rep!

Enjoy your day, Tamsie, the BG, and your cookies. At that point I'd go home, so more power to you!

Lots of !s today in honor of your industry.

The visits having eventuated, and it approaching time to partially incinerate cattle flesh and bake your Umatillas (most likely; late-season commercial baking potato choice for its high yield/low blight susceptibility), I shall wish you a good Monday.

Mahomes and Chiefs management are MAGAts, I'm afraid.

'Morning!

I got up late and won't get to be back here on LT until after book sort, Virlies, and grocery shopping. I need to get the shopping list ready and etc.

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Morning, Karen. I might just take the week off, of playing PB. It pains me to say that but I need to deal with this other pain first. Ugh! The Woman in White is off to a very good start. Just sayin'...

Oh yeah- I saw my first owl of the year. A brief look at an Eastern Screech Owl. He ducked back in his tree hole before I could snap a pic. This one has been reported at this location for awhile.

We are bracing ourselves for our first big snowstorm, that arrives tomorrow. Hoping it isn't as bad as they are predicting. 🤞🤞

>101 karenmarie: Fondle happily and shop efficiently, enjoy Virlie's, and *smooch*

Morning, Karen! I am all caught up with you, and I had a good time doing it. I am so happy that the doctor's appointment went well. I think you are making the right choice. Hooray for a doctor that apologized for being late and didn't rush you. Abby has an excellent PC doctor that is such a good listener, and it makes all the difference in the world.

Interesting about the cataract decisions - I will eventually need this as I have had baby cataracts for years. I am filing away what you and Peggy say about the choice of lenses. I am also near-sighted, and just assumed the best choice would be to correct for far vision.

Sorry about the Library alarm - 4:30am is painful.

Hoping your errands go smoothly and that today is kind to you.

>99 LizzieD: Happy Yesterday, Peggy!

The alarm didn’t go off last night, but I didn’t get much sleep anyway for some reason. 5 hours perhaps?

>100 richardderus: I didn’t do anything for dinner last night. We winged it, each responsible for her/his own meal. I am sorry to read about the Chiefs being MAGA trolls. Guess it’s good that the Eagles won, then, right?

>102 msf59: I’m sorry to read that your heel is giving you fits. I hope the time off PB helps you recover. Yay for your first owl. I see that you’re going to get weather.

>103 richardderus: Fondling and eating and POing and Pharmacying and Grocerying accomplished. I came upstairs and after we got everything either in the freezer or refrigerator, I went upstairs. The pantry elves put up the pantry stuff. *smooch*

>104 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Thanks re the doctor’s appointment, and glad that Abby has such a good PC. GP. PCP. I hope your baby cataracts stay that way for quite a long while. Thanks re the alarm. The alarms went smoothly, but my back is giving me fits right now. I just took a tramadol.

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The french fries are in the air fryer, the London Broil is room temp and patted dry, waiting to start cooking it.

We will watch A Touch of Frost again tonight, and I'll go up early.

>105 karenmarie: Oh myyy, as Takei would say...the broiling of London is nigh...the potato is newly airblasted...it's on!

*smooch*

I trust that the t'dol has done its work, that you have enjoyed your meal, and that after a pleasant evening with Jack, you'll be able to sleep longer and better!

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. They needed me to cover another driver's shift on Friday so I switched it from today. Well, they closed the school today due to arriving snow which will hit early this afternoon. It is supposed to be heavy wet snow but I don't think our snow totals will be that bad. Of course I am hoping for that outcome.

I got another owl yesterday. Details on my thread...Enjoy your day.

ETA: I had 11 species of birds at the feeders yesterday. The only semi-regular that was missing was the nuthatch. They may have sensed the approaching snowstorm.

>106 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear! Dinner was had. It was good. *smooch*

>107 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I’ve gotten to where I only take Tramadol when things are pretty dire, which means that it at least seems to be more effective. We enjoyed the meal, the episode with Jack Frost was quite good, and I think I slept about 7 hours total.

>108 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you, too. Bad luck that they closed school after you had switched. I see that weather.gov says 2-4 today and 1-2 overnight. I hope it’s the lower of the totals, of course. Stay safe. Wow, owls galore.

And I can hardly believe 11 species on your feeders yesterday. I wish I could differentiate the LBBs and LGBs. As a rule, these are the species I recognize here at the feeders: Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Tufted Titmice, White-Breasted Nuthatches, Downy and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, Mourning Dove, Blue Jays, Goldfinches, House Finches, Purple Finches. Cowbirds, but not for quite a while. Indigo Buntings, and etc.

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After I got upstairs (with an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie), I read, doomscrolled, and dozed. I have been highly amused at Man City's ill luck since Haaland told Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta to "Stay humble, eh?" after their win earlier in the season. Man City's had a terrible run of bad luck, including losing to Real Madrid yesterday after being up 2-1 at the 81st minute. And the Arsenal fans had a special chant for Haaland after the game where Arsenal beat Man City 5-1 recently. Not at all socially acceptable, but highly enjoyable to watch on YouTube, as were the Real Madrid - Man City highlights.

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I have PT today at 2 p.m. I might use the treadmill at the Senior Center before then. It's supposed to rain all day. Leftover London Broil, possibly roasted Yukon Gold potatoes. Reading, spreadsheets, etc.

>109 karenmarie: I grew up eating roasted potatoes made with olive oil, garlic, and rosemary. It wasn't until I was almost 20 that I learned this was potatoes Parmentier. Still don't use that name for 'em but still *adore* that combo. Even better when sausage and red peppers are added!

...now I'm hungry...

Morning, Karen! I am so sorry about your back. Any better today?

>110 richardderus: "...now I'm hungry..." Me, too.

>110 richardderus: Ummmmmm.....nice!

Enjoy your day, Karen, and pace yourself. (You know about my participatory advice. I know that you take care of yourself, and I'm GLAD!)

>109 karenmarie: Checking in on you, Karen. Good luck with PT today!

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. How is that back? It looks like the schools did not have to close yesterday since the snowstorm really never happened. I guess it was just a precaution. We did get a couple of inches, enough to shovel and another inch or so last night.

It is Jackson Day, so it will be extra sweet. I am still deciding what to do with him, since I will have him all day. Looking forward to warmer weather, so we could do outdoor stuff.

>110 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear! I bailed on roasted potatoes and actually baked the Yukon Golds. They were creamy inside and crispy on the outside. Yum.

Sausage – whimper! Red peppers – yes, but Bill wouldn’t eat them.

I do not like cooked green peppers at all, and on the way out of Virlie’s on Tuesday asked the owner if his home-made chili had green peppers in it. He said a small amount and asked if I get indigestion. I said no, just do not like the texture of the skins. Ah well, I’ll just keep on making my homemade chili.

>111 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! My back was okay. This morning, however, after PT yesterday, is tender.

>112 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I paced myself. PT and making dinner only. Taking care of ourselves always seems selfish, especially if we live with other people, but I always remember the pre-flight reminder to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping someone else.

>113 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. Thank you for checking in and the good wishes for PT.

>114 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and Sweet Thursday to you, too. My back is tender after PT yesterday. I’ll take some pain meds and use some CBD roll on in a bit, and as a last resort will use ibuprophen. My cardiologist would frown, but my GP trusts me to only use it if really hurting. I think I took some 6 weeks ago? 600 mg.

I’m glad the storm wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Yay for Jackson Day. I hope you’re seeing a bit of relief with your plantar fasciitis.

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It rained quite a bit of the day. PT was productive, and I had no other errands. Came home, got lazy, again, about roasting the Yukon Gold potatoes, and we had London Broil and baked Yukon Gold potatoes. It's really the same way I make roasted russett potatoes - Toaster oven at 425F, wash/dry potatoes, prick with a fork, coat with olive oil, bake 'til done, checking about halfway through by inserting fork to see where they are. These took about 60 minutes. Russets take about 75 minutes. Watched an episode of A Touch of Frost, then reading, doom scrolling, and sleep. I think I slept about 6 hours or so. Not straight, but 2 and 4.

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Nothing planned outside the house. My maternal grandmother was born on this day in 1909.



edited to add: The last picture is 4 generations - my mother, Jenna, me, Grandma.

Morning, Karen! What lovely photos of your grandmothers nd how wonderful that you have them.

You bake potatoes the same way I do, but I always put them in at 400. I will have to try the higher temp. We always just put the big russet potatoes in for 75 minutes, and they are usually perfectly done. Sometimes, if they are very big, they need a bot more time.

The rain is at our house today - it's been storming here.

>115 karenmarie: Taking care of ourselves always seems selfish, especially if we live with other people, but I always remember the pre-flight reminder to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping someone else.

I agree. While I believe it logically, I find it hard to do. Working on it.

>117 ffortsa: A time comes when you can't do anything else unless you take care of yourself first. I expect it comes sooner and is more dire the more you neglected yourself when you were younger. It's a hard lesson to learn! At this point taking care of myself is all that I'm doing. I like it a lot and hope that I don't get so accustomed to it that it's my forever normal! I'd like to be useful to somebody else again.

It has rained here, Karen, is not now, but will be again - likely as I set out for study club and errands.

I love the pictures too,but do check your own birth year!!!!!!

Enjoy your day!

>115 karenmarie: Grandmother was a stylish lady!

>60 Crazymamie: *shaking head* Yeah, I sure here you about voice droids, presumably designed to make certain the customer is irate by the time they do reach a human, if that ever happens.

>1 karenmarie: >66 EBT1002: *big headshake* The only thing I can do, mostly, is avoid the news to keep my mental health, and do my bit for creating a recession by spending as little as possible, in the anticipation of higher prices and lower income.

>74 atozgrl: I'd find it very unsurprising if Trump were medically judged to have dementia, and relieved from his duties. But he's been so erratic even when in his right mind, a diagnosis would be difficult. How can you tell a wish fulfillment delusion from a self-aggrandizing lie?

What a lovely picture of the 4 generations, Karen! I eat Yukon Gold potatoes nearly every day. But I buy the little mini potatoes that boil up quite quickly and just eat them boiled. With a wee bit of butter.

>115 karenmarie: Love the pics! Thanks for sharing them, Karen.

>121 vancouverdeb: I love Yukon Gold potatoes too. I bake them - no olive oil or butter on mine, thanks - and have been known to grab them out and just munch on them.

Great photos of your grandmother, Karen.

Here's the Valentine's Day readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368424

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. I had a fine time with Jack yesterday. We went to a kid's museum for a few hours. He keeps me busy. Not much reading got done but it was worth it. Only 2F out there. I am working for someone else today. I am bundling up and I hope the kids are too.

>116 Crazymamie: ‘Morning, Mamie! Thanks re my grandma. We have tons of photos of so many relatives and us… hardly any of them are digitized, alas.

I usually put potatoes in at 400F and if they aren’t halfway done at about 30-45 minutes, crank it up to 425F. In this case, I started them at 425F because I wanted to eat at a particular time, then cranked them up to 450F. They were sooo good. I always flip them when I check for how done they are.

We had rain yesterday but no storming. I did notice that there was a lot of water on the porch, so it must have stormed overnight.

>117 ffortsa: It is hard, Judy. I feel like I’ve gotten more selfish since I retired, but I still try to not put everything in terms of me. Good luck taking care of yourself first. Occasionally. Randomly.

>118 LizzieD: Now, Peggy. You are useful to lots of people. Me, for one, other LTers, your DH, your kitties!!!, Bobbie, other friends, your church… you get the idea.

I hope the rain didn’t time it to interfere with your study club and errands.

The dates are when the pics were taken – about 1913 because my grandmother looks to be 3-4, 1928 because that’s the year she married my grandfather (they ran away to Muscatine, Iowa), 1938 because Grandma doesn’t look pregnant with my Uncle Doug who was born in 1939, and 2003… oops. 1999. Grandma’s 90th Birthday Party. Photo comment edited, fixed above. Darn it. Aye, aye, ma’am! Day enjoyed. *smile*

>119 quondame: Oh yes, she was. She sewed clothes for herself, my mother, and my aunt. I think the bonnet was made by my Great-Grandmother, though.

>120 ArlieS: Hi Arlie. I seem to have become that old lady who has to speak with a human being all the time when trying to resolve issues. I don’t usually go to a website to write to them. And I’m very patient about waiting online to actually get a human. I communicate with my doctors via mychart's messaging system.

I assiduously avoid the news – only getting bits and pieces when I unintentionally see a cell phone notification from our local news channel or friend Karen or Bill simply MUST tell me something horrendous that’s going on.

Bill and I don’t purchase too many disposable income items. Books do not count of course.

Here’s the 25th Amendment’s verbiage on removing a sitting President:

Section 4
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

No judge, no actual medical opinion needed, but the interpretation of the first sentence/paragraph leaves a lot to be desired.

>121 vancouverdeb: Hi Deborah. Thank you. I bought a 5-lb bag of medium-sized Yukon Gold potatoes. We’ll definitely be having them more often, and, although I will be the only one eating it, I think I might make potato salad with them. I need to hard boil some eggs first… I bought a small steamer bag of them two weeks ago just to try them, used the microwave as directed, and we had them with unsalted butter and literally a sprinkling of salt.

>122 alcottacre: Hi Stasia, thank you and you’re welcome. Yay for Yukon Gold potatoes.

>123 EBT1002: Hello Ellen, and thank you.

>124 SilverWolf28: Thank you, Silver!!

>125 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and Happy Friday/Valentine’s Day to you. I’m glad you had a fine time with your grandson yesterday. 2F? Yikes. Yes, I remember that you switched your days. He didn’t have to work it because of the weather, and here you are in 2F.

All the usual suspects on my feeders. The nyjer seed feeder is already down by 1/3. It's busy here at Bird Central.

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I literally did not get out of my jammies yesterday. I filled bird feeders, read, worked on 2025 books read and smut spreadsheets, lightning round, and puttered.

I was told to stop taking the 81mg aspirin last October, and got the two unopened bottles out and into my SUV to take to one of my fellow book sale team members next Tuesday since he takes two per day. I knew I saved them for some reason.

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Two cards and some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are waiting on the coffee table for Bill.

Just the usual today.

>126 karenmarie: I see it's New Streak Saturday coming up. Invoking 25§4...installing dimbulb dingleberry in the presidency...strikes me as frying pan→fire. Hard for me to think that Muskolini wouldn't just flat-out ignore the yutz, and take right on over...
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...oh wait...

>127 richardderus: Indeed, Richard!

Good morning while it still is, Karen, and Happy Valentine's Day! I'm off in a minute to the bank to close Mama's estate account. It makes me a little teary for her. Without COVID around, she could have enjoyed her last years to the hilt. I'm really not complaining. We had so much an easier time than most people.

Wish you a Fine Friday!

>128 LizzieD: It's hard to do the last thing. We have an outstanding notice from the state that there's a check with my mother's name on it that we can claim, but my brother is executor and he has stalled for years.
Also, i still have her ashes in a box on my bookshelf. It's nominally where she preferred to end up, so that's sort of funny. She died in 2015.

Happy Valentine's Day, Karen!

>115 karenmarie: I love those pictures of your grandmother! She was certainly pretty. Thanks for sharing them.

My chili recipe calls for a 1/4 cup of chopped green pepper. I don't even notice it when eating the chili.

Sorry about the Wordle skunk today. I got lucky and thought of the right word at 3.

>115 karenmarie: What wonderful photos, especially the one with four generations.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend

>127 richardderus: Hiya, RD! Yup. Almost new streak Sunday, too. I keep forgetting about Musk. I shouldn't, because he's so dangerous. Vance wouldn’t be the fire, but he would. He already is, I guess.

>128 LizzieD: Hi Peggy, and thank you for the Valentine’s Day greetings. I can understand your emotions about your mama’s estate account. I hope you got it settled and the relief outweighs the regrets. COVID also prevented me from coming to visit you both.

>129 ffortsa: I’m grateful that I was my mom’s executor, Judy, because otherwise my BiL would have cheated me, through my sister. I was able to settle every legal thing in 2017, the year after she died. We did sue the mortuary and actually won, although we didn't get what we were asking for. They settled. Sorry that there’s that last thing hanging about your mother’s estate. If that’s where she wanted her ashes to be, she got her wish.

Bill’s dad’s ashes are here, upstairs in the landing closet, I think.

>130 atozgrl: Hi Irene, and thank you. I wonder what the ¼ cup of green peppers contributes to your chili recipe. I almost got skunked again today, but guessed right of the two words I thought it would be. Yay for your 3.

>131 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita, thank you. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, too.

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Much puttering. Much reading. Some distress over a molar with a filling in it - it now has a crack and OF COURSE my dentist's office is closed on Friday. It's sensitive to heat and cold and pressure, so I'm chewing soft things on the right.

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Arsenal play Leicester in 5 minutes, so off I go.

>132 karenmarie: Forza Arsenal! May the tooth-fix be easy and soon.

Still recovering. Not getting worse, blessedly. I'm going out to get some general stuff on the principle that wasting a $4 off coupon is dopey. Mask Ho!

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. We both had a good time with Jack the past 2 days. It is quiet around here without him. We got more snow and there will be more later. At least it is coming down an inch or 2 at a time.

We are getting our taxes done today, at a community college. They do it there for free. First time we are trying it. Meeting friends for dinner later. Enjoy your day.

>133 richardderus: Hi RDear! Arsenal won, 2-0, although it was a nail-biter until the 81st minute when Merino scored, and then icing on the cake when he scored again at the 87th minute.

I'm glad you're not getting worse, and hope the $4 coupon trek gets you some fresh but not contaminated air. Yay for the mask.

>134 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday. I'm glad it's been good times with Jack. Of course it's quiet without a boy around the house... I'm glad the snow is coming down in dribs and drabs so that shoveling can occur.

Good luck with the taxes. I need to see if we have all Jenna's stuff since she wants our accountant to do their taxes. If so, all we need to do is get Hwan's W-2.

Enjoy your dinner with friends.

So far my day's been enjoyable. I anticipate it to continue.

>115 karenmarie: So great to see these photographs of the February 13th Birthday that was shared!

>135 karenmarie: Hope was in vain. Not better but pretty much miserable when awake. The idea of going out was just not gonna happen.

>132 karenmarie: I am not sure what the green pepper adds to the chili. There must be some flavor to it, but not something I really notice. I'm sure the recipe would be fine if that was omitted.

I'm sorry to hear about your tooth. I hope you can get it taken care of quickly. But hurray for Arsenal!

>115 karenmarie: What a wonderful photo!

>81 karenmarie: Hi Karen, I apologize for being out of touch and just now seeing the message of a much needed surgery. I am glad you are following through with this and will have the surgery. I waited and developed pre-cancerous masses. They performed surgery two days after finding the cells.

You are indeed a very wise woman! All good wishes to you.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. Everything went well yesterday. Bree and Sean joined us for dinner at a brewery and then we came back here for games and beverages. Late night for the Warbler.

Heading into the city this afternoon, to see our cousin's new baby. I think she is only a month old.

>136 m.belljackson: Hi Marianne! Belated Happy Birthday. I’m glad you liked the photos.

>137 richardderus: RD, I’m so sorry you didn’t feel well enough to go out. I hope today finds you turning the corner. *smooch*

>138 atozgrl: Hello Irene. I guess if you already have green peppers in the house it doesn’t hurt to add it. I might even get bold and try a cup of Virlie’s chili on Tuesday. Thanks re my tooth, and yay for Arsenal.

>139 Whisper1: Hi Linda, and thank you.

>140 Whisper1: I’ve done a lot of procrastinating in my life, some of it medical/dental, but nothing in recent years. Just get on with it. Doesn’t mean I’m not seriously stressed, just taking care of things. Thank you.

>141 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you. Sounds like yesterday was a fine one. What a great reason for going out.

We're under a thunderstorm warning, although it expires in a few minutes. But we've had some heavy rain, and right now there are wind gusts. The birds are timing things to come to the feeders when they aren't swaying too much and hanging out in the Crepe Myrtle of other safe haven during the gusts. We've had a few power flickers. As Bill said, this is March weather, not February weather.

Finches and one male Cardinal right now. Much bickering on the nyjer seed feeder. Every feeder needs attention today. The Triplefield Farm Bird Restaurant is hopping.

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Can you say soft foods? Scrambled eggs and microwaved Yukon Gold potatoes for dinner last night. Reading, all the usual things. Zoe Rose projectile vomited on me while we were watching A Touch of Frost, which got my attention. She was on the TV tray to my right, and got me, the sofa, and the rug real good. She seems fine this morning.

...
Scrambled eggs and a potato again this morning, although oatmeal sounds good.

I was thinking about going grocery shopping, but not with the weather unsettled like this. Lots of reading, some puttering. There's a stack of mail, mostly Blue Cross Blue Shield, which needs attention.

Good afternoon, Karen! I think we're past the danger point with the weather and trust that you are too. It wasn't too bad for us.

So sorry about Zoe Rose's sharing with you. I hope she is now 100%; you too!

I'm off to feed our cats, and then I may nap! Enjoy your afternoon and evening!

Rain!? You had/have rain? I feel iced in. All the trees are icicled. Car and truck, too. Driveway's iced over and I'm pretty sure that the car—antilock brakes chattering all the way— would just slide out onto the road. Gosh, I may have to read something. Oh, the horror!

Just kidding about the reading horror. I've got several books going, including one about Jesus, another about a map thief, a weak art collection, so...there's that.

Trust you will have a happy time.

Morning, Karen. We had a good Sunday. Always nice seeing a new family baby. No school today. Still taking a break from PB. I think the rest has done me good. I plan on playing on Wednesday. We have an arctic chill for the rest of the work week. Single digits today and tomorrow. Brrrrr...at least no more snow in the forecast.

>143 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Yes, by the time you’d written, it had settled down except for a few wind gusts. Still didn’t want to go out, though. 😊 Zoe seems fine, just went out the kitty door for a morning adventure.

Kitties and naps! I hope the feeding and napping went well.

>144 weird_O: Hiya, Bill. I don’t think I want ice, because that is so much more dangerous than snow, of course. You’re icebound. I’m sorry you only have a couple of books to choose from… I just made a note about the Aslan book to see if my friend Karen in Montana has it… if not, it might make a good present for her sometime down the road.

>145 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Glad you had a good Sunday. Babies are always nice, although I have such a small family that I think I’m done with the family tree adds unless Hwan and Jenna decide to have a niblet… Hwan mentioned the idea of having a child over Thanksgiving weekend – at our property, at night, looking at the universe. Surprising, but Jenna said that if a partner wanted a baby, as long as Jenna didn’t have to carry it, she’d be up for it.

I’m glad you’re coming along re the plantar fasciitis. I know how resting up makes you yantsy. Wednesday, eh? Brrr for the arctic chill.

Wordle 1,339 2/6* trope, trail. There are 36 words that begin with TR. I wanted to see what vowel was being used, thought about train, but it and trait had already been used, so trail it was.

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I wasn't even that productive yesterday, just wallowing around with minor tooth pain and feeling a tad sorry for myself, to be honest. I read pretty much all day, looked at the empty bird feeders and was a bad bird mom. Had scrambled eggs and a microwaved Yukon Gold potato for dinner. Read, chatted with Karen around 9:30 p.m. or so. Got a good night's sleep. 7 hours? I never actually pay attention to when I turn the light off, but think it was before 2 a.m.

...
I got a call from my dentist's office at exactly 8 a.m. this morning. Fortunately I was already coming up from what I think was a meaningful/symbolic dream (which, of course, I can't remember), so was coherent enough to tell her that 11 wouldn't work, but 3:30 would. So, I shall take 2g of Amoxicillin at 2:30, and leave for Carrboro about 2:40. In the meantime, I have a shock wave appointment for my trigger thumb at 10:30 and my annual appointment with my cardiologist a 11:20. I'd like to get the bird feeders filled today and box up 2 shipments I need to return to Melaleuca to take to UPS. Today? Maybe. Tomorrow or Wednesday? More likely.

Reading and puttering and feeling sorry for myself when I get home after the dentist's office, probably more scrambled eggs for dinner, and A Touch of Frost.

However, an impulse buy showed up on the Sunroom steps last night - a mandoline. *happy dance**

And, while pulling Slow Horses to possibly actually start it, I found one of my copies of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. I didn't remember having this copy, so opened it up. It's a mass market paperback that I must have had since I lived in New London CT, since I found this bookmark in it:

De-lurking to say hi and good luck with the dentist appointment. Dental pain is never fun.

Morning, Karen! I am so sorry about the tooth, and even sorrier that you had to wait it out over the weekend. Hooray for an appointment today - lots of appointments, actually, so I hope they all go quickly and smoothly.

A mandolin? Like for slicing?

I love Slow Horses - I need to get back to that show, so thanks for reminding me.

That bookmark made me smile.

Well, you are now with your cardiologist, and I'm sure that is going well. I wish that the thumb shocks were obviously and already more helpful. AND may your dentist be both gentle and efficient and the work effective! You are more than allowed to baby yourself when you finally get home!

Well, you know how to spell. I was picturing you tuning your new stringed instrument, but I see that instead you have a slicer. Always learning around here!!!!!

Question: Is "Old Possum" the best thing that Elliot ever wrote???

(((((((KAREN)))))))

>146 karenmarie: I really need to read the Mick Herron series at some point too. I hope you enjoy Slow Horses!

I am feeling sorry for myself today too - stupid CFS - so maybe Mondays are meant for it?

I hope you pull through at the dentist office today with a minimal amount of pain and that it goes away quickly.

>146 karenmarie: Karen, I hope all of your appointments went well today, and that you are feeling well tonight. As for Wednesday, the weather forecast sure looks like none of us will be going anywhere that day. It looks like you may get all snow, and we are likely to get snow and a mix again. Sigh. I'd rather have all snow.

Wordle in 2 for me too!

Tooth pain! Noooo, may it be All better cheap and easy by now. I can't brain anymore, I haz the dumb. Recovery still means snoozing so I am obediently doing just that.

Morning, Karen. Yep, I am feeling very "yantsy" these days but I am getting more reading in. I hope to play tomorrow. Only -5F out there at the moment. Very cold for the remainder of the week.

We began the initial paperwork for setting up our Trust yesterday. Something we have wanted to do for awhile. It is expensive but it locks everything in place and will make things easier for Bree and Matt.

Glad to hear that Jenna is up for having a child, even if she doesn't have to do the carrying.

>147 elorin: Hi Robyn. Thanks re the dental appointment details below.

>148 Crazymamie: ‘Morning, Sister of My Heart! Thanks re my tooth. The pain was tolerable – only up to a 3 of 10 if I accidentally got cold or heat on it or applied pressure. Thanks re the appointmens, too.

Yes, a mandolin. Exactly for slicing, and, this one for more and since I saw this one first: Mandoline

You’re welcome re Slow Horses, and I love that bookmark – it turns out that there are two in the book, so one will go in my bookmark collection and the other stays in the book.

>149 LizzieD: Hi Peggy, and the cardiologist visit went well – deets below. The thumb shock wave treatment didn’t happen, but not for a bad reason. I did eventually baby myself after I got home.

I have 4 by Eliot. I also love The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. I still need to read Murder in the Cathedral. I thought I had a copy of The Screwtape Letters, which I’ve read and loved, but alas.

Nonfiction not so much, since he was a Christian apologist, and I’m not a Christian. I don’t have time now to see if he wrote any non-Christian-related nonfiction, but will later today or perhaps tomorrow.

Thank you for the hugs. Definitely needed. (((((((Peggy)))))))

>150 alcottacre: I’m sorry about the CFS, Stasia, and thank you re the dentist visit. I’m determined to start Slow Horses today, but it’s a busy one so am not sure.

>151 atozgrl: Hello Irene, thanks. I definitely feel good right now, which is not a bad thing. Yuck for Wednesday. Congrats on your Wordle in two!! As you can see below, I barely saved myself from a skunk.

>152 richardderus: Yessssss, RD, but none right now, and I don’t anticipate any again for a while. Extraction, implant, crown. I sorrie yu haz the dum. I hope your day of recovery went well and that you’re more chipper today.

Wordle 1,340 6/6* , trope, slime, imbue, issue, inure, indie

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The chiropractor's office forgot to change my appointment to Monday. I know it was Monday because I had a massage appointment for a massage (oops - gotta cancel that because of the weather) and so while they dithered around, it became too late to have it AND get to the cardiologist on time.

The cardiologist's appointment went well. Learned a few things, told her a few things, and we decided that I'm going back on carvedilol - a beta blocker - for my heart. It is used for low blood pressure, but she says that it will not drop my blood pressure significantly AND she says that the syncope was not from low blood pressure. Since she looked up some readings by the EMTs and first thing in the hospital, and I believe her. The ER doctor has a lot to answer for by taking me off 2 meds that are for heart health in addition to blood pressure. The other is for reduced ejection fraction, something that's been there since at least the heart attack and was confirmed last September in the limited echocardiogram they did. *eye roll* Fortunately, I have an almost completely unused bottle of carvedilol here at the house so started it up last night. She's writing me another prescription, though, for when I need it again.

The dentist. Sigh. Okay, he's a great dentist. They fit me in, he numbed me up and looked, then told me that part of my tooth had chipped off below the gum line, causing the pain. Not nerve pain, fortunately, so don't need a root canal, but he recommended extracting my tooth. I can then decide whether to leave it or get an implant and crown. I'm inclining towards the implant, crown for a variety of reasons. So $281.

Bonus: He said it wouldn't hurt any more and it doesn't. Last night it was still calming down from the numbing and general irritation, but today no problems at all. I can eat on that side, too. I have a consultation with the doctor who's going to do the extraction on March 19th.

I ate a regular dinner last night - taquitos and salsa. It's high in sodium, but I stayed within the 2000 mg sodium for the day.

...
Book sort, Virlie's, grocery shopping, bank. I was going to go grocery shopping anyway, and need to get two things for Bill's birthday dinner but am going full tilt-boogie shopping anyway so I probably don't have to go out before Jenna and Hwan come over on Sunday to meet Bill's friend Frayser.

My cleaning ladies are coming today, too, so it's WAY TOO BUSY for my liking. Harrumph.

Book sort is always wonderful, though, especially now that I only have to hoik my left hip up on one of the tables to sort books, then can carry the ones we keep to the cubbies and just turn my back and put the rejects in the Thrift Shop box.

Off I go!

>154 karenmarie: I'm already tired from your description of your day! I'm behind a week from being so sick, but heck, it's just time so let's ignore it.

I'm pretty much better, though, so glad to know you're back on the meds that will help your heart survive the onslaught of reality. *smooch*

>154 karenmarie: Self-care takes a lot of time these days, doesn't it? I've scheduled my future PT for 8:15 AM to give me the rest of the day open, but all of the stuff to remember to do is a drag. Why can't I just be OK, the way I was when I was 35?

Afternoon, Karen! Sorry about the busy day - I hate those. And the dentist - oof. I will say that Craig is very happy with the implants that he has had done - a bit of an ordeal, but worth it in the end. Hooray at least for no pain.

Hoping today can go quickly and smoothly for the busy part and then slow down so you can treat yourself to something indulgent. Hugs to you, my dear friend.

Well, I'm happy that the tooth has relented. Broken below the gum line sounds strange to me. Did he have any guess about how that might have happened? Do you? I suspect that you'll be much happier with an implant than not. I'm late and need to start starting to go to bed! I'll speak better tomorrow, I hope!

(Screwtape Letters is C.S. Lewis, whose name you may just have omitted in your post above. He was quite an apologist and theologian. I've semi-studied Elliot but never read *4 Quartets* at least, and I should.)

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. ^ Looks like we keep cross-posting. Jeesh...After dropping off the kids, I am going to see how I do playing PB. I sure miss it. Wish me luck.

>155 richardderus: Hiya, RD! I was tired of it to, just thinking about it. Everything worked out well, though. I’m sorry you’re behind, glad you’re getting back up to snuff. Yes, it’s only time…

Back on the carvedilol Tuesday night. Unless I have a negative reaction, which I shouldn’t, I won’t notice that I’m taking it – either physically or financially. *smooch*

>156 ffortsa: Hi Judy. Yes, it does. Way more than we’d like. 8:15 AM. Well. Including this morning, that’s when I’m getting some of my best sleep. But I can understand the wanting to get the stuff out of the way. Ah, to be 35 again! To be 50 again! I was carrying a 10-year-85-pound daughter up and down the stairs with her wrapped koala-like around me. No hesitation, no need to hold on to the railings. I was still doing cartwheels in our yard, too.

>157 Crazymamie: Hello Sister of My Heart! Yesterday’s busyness has become two days of not having to go/shouldn’t be going anywhere.

Yesterday’s indulgence was upstairs reading/napping, with a heated corn bag at my feet. Hugs back at’cha.

>158 LizzieD: Me, too, Peggy. Tooth pain, ugh. As soon as my (young, cute, married, red-headed, 3rd generation) dentist looked at it, that’s what he said it would be. Broken below the gum line. He didn’t have a guess as to how it cracked, but I have a filling in it, tend to eat crunchy things (maybe not so much any more?), and as Wendy the assistant said, I’ve been using it for about 60 years. But still…

I’ve gotten several opinions about a ‘hole in my head’ vs. an implant/crown. Pretty much split (get it, split?) 50/50, but I’ll get the crown. Done and dusted, decision made. I hope you slept well.

You’re absolutely right. The Screwtape Letters is not T.S. Eliot. It’s C.S. Lewis. 3 of the 15 books I have by Lewis are nonfiction. I don’t know what I was thinking.

>159 msf59: Mark! I’m so very sorry. I was beleaguered yesterday morning, trying to make sure I did everything and had everything needed for my long day that I didn’t even see your post. I apologize.

>153 msf59: Hi Mark! A day late, but hopefully not a dollar short. I guess the upside IS that you’re getting more reading in. I hope today’s PB doesn’t bother your plantar fasciitis. -5F. Brrrr.

Good luck with the Trust. And yes, the idea of a grandchild was surprising. I’ll believe it when see it.

’Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you. Sorry about missing you yesterday. Good luck with the PB! If it hurts, stop!!!

I've got 2 male Cardinals, and a female Downy visiting, along with a sparrow of some sort. I saw a Carolina Chickadee earlier, as well as two Mourning Dove huddled close to one another in the Crepe Myrtle.

Wordle 1,341 4/6* shack, gaily, madly

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Book sort was shortened so that we could have the March 20-22 book sale planning meeting. After that they were going to do a bit more sorting, but I went to the bank and then to Virlie's instead. They all arrived about 11:30, so I'd been waiting there quite a while. I read one of my MM romances on my cell phone until they arrived. And then, because they were mobbed, I guess, we didn't get our food for 25 minutes or so - very unusual for it to take so long. by the time I got out of there, had a full shopping cart at the grocery store checked out, and etc., it was 1:45 before I got home. My cleaning ladies were already here. Groceries in and up, reading, napping, and etc.

I brought home several books yesterday.

Time Travel by James Gleick. Beautiful hardcover w/dust jacket. The first 10 pages have very neatly done highlighting, but other than that it's immaculate. The dust jacket needs a bit of Goo Gone.
In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child. Like new hardcover w/dust jacket.
Great Stories of All Nations edited by Maxim Lieber & Blanche Colton Williams. It's in sad shape and I didn't want to see it pulped. Published in 1927. there's a handwritten note in it from Paul & Elsie Haber (not famous, it's just that it's easy to read the note and their names) thanking Dr. Muss, the book's owner for lending it to them. The note was written 10-23-1933.
The Cask by Freeman Wills Crofts, in good shape except that the spine and front cover are almost completely separated from the book itself. Another book owned by Dr. Muss.
The Bedside Book of Famous American Stories edited by Angus Burrell and Bennett. A. Cerf, published in 1940.

...
It looks like today's weather event may or may not be 1-3" of snow/mixed precipitation. We're on the edge of it from the west. However, it now looks like we'll have some snow tomorrow. It's Bill's birthday, and it would make him happy to have snow.

I need to make a cheesecake, I want to make oatmeal raisin cookies, and various bits of adulting need to occur.

>160 karenmarie: I need to eat a cheesecake, I want to eat the oatmeal raisin cookies, and screw adulting...it's 24°/-4C out there, so nuh-uh on that.

Glad to hear your dentist appointment went well. An implant is a good thing.
Happy Wednesday.

Hooray for screwing adulting! Again, I can give lessons where needed!

You had a busy day, my dear. I think I'd go with a crown too. What I mean is that I've always gone with a crown, and I can't see the greater benefit of an implant at my time of life.

Happy baking! Happier reading and puttering!!! Hope Bill gets enough snow to delight him and not so much as to impede y'all up there in the north! We expect at least a little ice, and a little goes a long way, I say.

Ya got me. Time Travel: A History by James Gleick. I've got four of the books Gleick's written, and my only effort to read one (The Information) resulted in a broken brain. I fought The Information and The Information won. I do have a memory of reading something he wrote that involved Richard Feynman. Checking the LT data, I found Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman by Gleick. It was published in '92, well before I signed onto LT. So I'd bet I borrowed it and read it. But I don't have a copy.

Sheesh. See? The brain is broken.

Afternoon, Karen! Hoping Bill gets his happy making birthday snow. And hooray for not having to go anywhere today - we can be lounge twins.

>161 richardderus: I love this post!!

>161 richardderus: I'm with Richard! Cheesecake. Yum. Oatmeal Raisin cookies. Yum.

I hope Bill gets snow for his birthday.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday- Please, no apologies are necessary. Things get lost in the shuffle. It is a social place. My foot was very sore after playing yesterday but after icing and stretching it slowly felt better. It does not feel bad at all this AM, although I have also stretched it and iced it.

It is Jackson Day. I will go out to Brees a bit later and hang out for a few hours. He will not spend the night here, this time. Oh yeah- Happy Birthday to Bill.

>161 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear! Yay for the cheesecake you and I know – graham cracker crust with a sour cream/vanilla/sugar layer on top. I still need to make it. Everything’s out warming up to room temp. The oatmeal cookies got made. Brrr. We had weather, still have stay-in-the-house weather. And it wasn't snowing when I started responding here, but is a bit now. Nothing serious but still. Snow on Bill's Birthday.

>162 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. I’ll get an implant/crown. I hope your Wednesday was a good one.

>163 LizzieD: Very little adulting got done yesterday, Peggy. In fact… except for making oatmeal raisin cookies, which was more fun than adulting, nothing much got done.

Implant/crown – see below. Snow report below. I didn’t check to see how much ice you got.

>164 weird_O: Yay. A BB for you, Bill. I never kept a reading journal before 2008 and it being easy to do here on LT. We’re in the same boat.

>165 Crazymamie: Hi Sister of My Heart! We only had a 30% chance of snow before noon, and it started lightly snowing a while ago. It’s 27F, so it will at least stick for a while. I lounged quite nicely yesterday, hope you did, too.

>166 EBT1002: Cheesecake tonight, Ellen. Oatmeal cookies yesterday, today, and etc. Yes, we’ve got a bit of snow coming down. A surprise, frankly.

>167 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you. I’m glad PB didn’t set you back – stretching and icing are the ticket. Yay for Jackson day. Thank you re Bill’s Birthday.

The birds are hungry. Since yesterday the nyjer seed feeder has been almost emptied. Sunflower seed feeder down by half, wild bird seed feeder down by 1/3. I've seen a Downy female, she's here right now, 8 male Cardinals, many female cardinals. Mourning Dove, finches, and sparrows, too.

Wordle 1,342 3/6* trope, ovary, roach

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I took my usual Betty Crocker 40th Anniversary Edition Oatmeal Raisin Cookie recipe and then made them according to the dairy-free recipe I made last week - scant 1/4 cup of dough, rolled, then slightly flattened. They took 17-18 minutes to bake, turning the cookie sheet halfway.

Lots of snow, no ice. We got about 1 1/2 - 2" yesterday, and it's lightly snowing right now.

I'll eat a bit of brekkie, read a bit, then make the cheesecake. Bill liked his cards and box of individually wrapped Pecan Turtle wanna-bes - Russell Stover Chocolate Pecan Delights.

Dinner will be a filet mignon for Bill and a sirloin steak for me, with Omaha Steak au gratin potatoes, green beans. Cheesecake. I ordered snow, and we got it. *smile*

No going out. The roads are a total mess. They say to stay in. Fortunately, we'd already planned to do just that.

Copied from RD's thread... couldn't resist.

>168 karenmarie: I'm glad, and not surprised, that appealed to you. We will take them down best this way...using pride and vanity as the weapons they always are. Can't be quick enough to save millions, possibly billions, from the misery to come. That makes me tired, and sad, and so I'll trot off to the feedin' trough now, thank you kindly.

Hi, Karen! I'm on my way to Richard's thread, so you scooped his scoop. I like it better than my song for our beloved collie-mix, Cubby the Noofer. She was "Super Collie Nooferistic Let's Pee on the Rosebush"

Meanwhile ---- the KING calls Zelensky a Dictator. Really????? I know how we got here, but how the HELL did we get here???

Sorry. I wish you another relaxing day indoors!

>169 richardderus: Oh yes, it definitely appealed to me, RD, sad as it is that we've come to this about the President of the United States.

>170 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I love your version for Cubby the Noofer. Fantastic name - fun to say out loud. So sad, so very sad, that we're here.

Nice day indoors so far. Cheesecake made, cooling down before putting into the refrigerator. I've added some catch-up Kindle books, >4 karenmarie: above.

The birds are going nuts.

Upstairs for a bit to hang out, read, nap.

>168 karenmarie: Hi Karen! It sounds like you are having a wonderful day and everything good for Bill's birthday. Please give him my birthday wishes. Hurray for cheesecake and oatmeal cookies! Dinner sounds great too.

I have PM'd you about tomorrow. We can postpone if it's best for you.

It sounds like you got about the same weather that we did. We may have gotten slightly more snow than you. Our birds have been eating everything too. I'll have to refill feeders tomorrow.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368676

Morning, Sister of my Heart! Happy Friday! I could have sworn that I posted here yesterday but nope. I am so happy that Bill got snow on his birthday. And cheesecake! And your dinner sounds most yum.

I napped most of yesterday, so now I am ready for Friday fun. I cannot wait for Mexican takeaway, but it's just after 7am, so I'll have to.

Friday happiness to you, dear one.

>168 karenmarie: >170 LizzieD: here in Scotland there's a very famous newspaper headline after a big football match some years ago when Celtic (huge team in Scottish Premiership) were beaten by a smaller team, Inverness Caledonian Thistle. "Super Caley were fantastic, Celtic were atrocious"!

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Of course, I had a good time with Jack yesterday. He just wanted to hang at the house in his jammies and that is what we did. We both did coloring books too. I haven't done that in awhile. 😀

Since, I am a glutton for punishment I am going to play PB this AM after my chiropractic adjustment. Did you get much snow? I heard some places in NC got upwards of a foot.

172. Yesterday was busy and good, Irene. I passed on your birthday wishes. I was pleased with how the steaks turned out – a top sirloin for me and a bacon-wrapped filet mignon for Bill. Both were 5 ounces. I followed the directions recommended by Omaha Steaks and they came out absolutely perfect. I’m going to try that method on steaks and London Broil in the future. Sear 2-3 minutes in a heavy oven-proof skillet with a bit of cooking oil on one side only, ‘til browned. Turn over, place the skillet in a 300F oven for the # of minutes in the chart, let rest 3-5 minutes. Super easy. I could have wept with how good mine tasted.

I PM’s you back just now, Irene. Sad to say, that in the category of “Karen needs to play it smart”, I’m taking $1000 for the win. My driveway is fine – sometimes it’s problematic – but there are potentially dangerous spots in the 3 roads I need to take to get to Hwy 64. I do not need a slide into a ditch or oncoming traffic.

>172 atozgrl: I’m going to fill the bird feeders in a while. I only have a bit of black oil sunflower seed, so will have to get more. I’m supposed to see my PT at 5 today – even though I’m worried about noonish and have cancelled with you, I think that getting above freezing for the afternoon will be okay. I’ll stop off and get the 50-lb bag then, I think. If I need to cancel with Max, I will.

>173 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you!

>174 Crazymamie: ‘Morning, Mamie! Sister of My Heart! Beverage Sister Extraordinaire! Things did go well yesterday. Napping yesterday makes me smile. Good for you. Mexican takeaway sounds marvelous. Give everybody at the Pecan Paradisio hugs from me, most especially yourself.

>175 Jackie_K: Hello Jackie! Love it – another rift.

>176 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you. Wow. Jack hanging in his jammies? Your very active 3-year old grandson? Yay for coloring books, too. I hope the PB goes well.

We got perhaps 1.5-2” on Wednesday, a dusting yesterday. Both were more than enjoyable to watch coming down. I think the higher totals were nearer the Virginia border. There was ice further south of here.

Wordle 1,343 2/6* trope, clove. I've always wanted to use this word, and after eliminating close and clone because they've already been used, had success with this one.

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Steaks, green beans, and these weird little au gratin potato balls that came with the Omaha Steaks Christmas box from our niece/wife, frozen then baked at 425F for 30 minutes. I didn't like them at all, Bill loved them. I made all 4 that were in the box, one's left over.

Touch of Frost, piece of cheesecake. A good day. Upstairs, and etc.

...
Bill didn't get much sleep last night, but it has more to do with him getting comfortable in bed than in anything else. He'll be able to nap today, although that will mess up his sleep tonight.

No cooking for me today, no baking for me today. Reading, updating spreadsheets, putting Catch-up Kindle books in my catalog, and etc.

I've come up with a good method to add the Kindle books I own that I haven't added to my catalog already, >4 karenmarie:, so will continue that today. I'll wait 'til they're all in before updating/finalizing the total.

I need to start thinking about Sunday's events - Bill's friend Frayser will be here around 10 a.m. to get caught up with him, see Jenna for the first time in 7 or so years, and meet Jenna's wife Hwan. Frayser lives about 2.5 hours away.

The menu is pretty easy - Low sodium Savory Honey Baked Chicken Thighs, twice-baked potatoes (so easy to get ready ahead of time), vegetables. Late lunch, 2ish. For dessert, Jenna's going to bring over one box of Bundtinis® by the Dozen from her work. No baking for me, and we love Bundtlets so will love the Bundtinis®.

>177 karenmarie: No baking AND you get to eat bundtcakes (albeit teensy ones)? Made of win. My infection's better enough that I scarcely notice it. *whew* My ribs still hurt, though...

Splendid weekend-ahead's reads, smoochling.

Re: T.S. Eliot -

From The University of Chicago Magazine:

As a student in Norman Maclean's Modern Criticism class...
he also told an anecdote that has stuck with me.

When T.S. Eliot was at the U of C for a lecture series (either in 1950 or 1959),
Maclean asked "Tom" what he meant by the term "dissociation sensibility,"
which Eliot had coined in his 1921 essay on the metaphysical poets.

After hemming and hawing, Eliot confessed that he had forgotten.

That anecdote may have stuck with me because it shows that Maclean possessed such a good "crap detector" (Hemingway).

>179 m.belljackson: LOVE IT!!!! ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!!! (I hit a wrong key and seemed to be loving my own post. Now I've fixed it. Sheesh!)

>175 Jackie_K: Another super one! I'm also checking you out, Jackie. I didn't realize that we had an honest-to-goodness Scot among us.

Hi, Karen! Sounds like good days lined up for you, and I'm glad. Be careful out and around. DH is on his way out, having been confined here for two whole days. We'll walk when he gets back.

>177 karenmarie: Yum! The steaks sound wonderful! I'm glad they turned out so well for the birthday dinner. I'm sorry Bill didn't sleep well though.

Sunday's menu also sounds good. You all eat a lot of tempting things!

I hope PT was good. Have a great weekend!

>177 karenmarie: Excellent Wordle Two!!

Karen, WOW! You've had quite a few health issues. I'm glad you didn't need a root canal. Last week, I had one. I've been in pain since. I called the dentist office early this morning because I think I have an infection. They were closed today, but gave a message re. how to reach the dentist. After not hearing from him all day, I called the number again. He finally called at 6:15 to call in a prescription to my pharmacy that closes at 7:00!

While I am glad he called, I was frustrated that I'm in a lot of pain and he took a lot of time until he called.

Your menu for Sunday sounds yummy. I miss the days of entertaining. But, I also remember the stress of preparation and clean up.

>168 karenmarie: I love the sign!!! So very sad that it's true. I'm truly concerned about our country. Tonight I watched just a bit of the news. Trump was exceedingly rude and terribly bossy to the Governor of Maine who said her state would not tolerate some of his policies. He threatened there would be no funding or support for Maine!!! To listen to him simply brings chills.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/21/trump-maine-governor-cou...

>154 karenmarie: I know there was a lot you said in this post, but I was struck by the phrase I only have to hoik my left hip up....
I get what you mean, but where I come from to hoik (though, I am not sure haw it is spelled) is to spit. In wondering what I would say in place of your hoik, all I can think of is yoink!!

>168 karenmarie: love that play on words as well. Seems accurate from afar, possibly more so to those of you up close.

>178 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear. I have an emergency desert in the freezer – a Dutch Apple Pie – but Jenna offered the Bundtinis®. Yesterday she wrote that their new flavor, Cookies ‘n Cream, would be available in the bakery and at the mall on Sunday, but she could get them early, so I asked her to get us two of them as part of the dozen, sacrificing the carrot cake ones.

Wait. Infection? I just thought you had some kind of creeping crud. Off I go…

Thanks re the weekend’s reads. I have tried to read more than smut this week, but have been wildly unsuccessful at it so far. Here’s a fun quote from my current book, Friction: One of the characters was trying to not think about sexy times with his boyfriend, and this is what the author wrote:

I didn’t want to push too hard. With my gaze pinned to the floor, I forced myself to think of unpleasant things. War. Extremism. Poverty. Tomatoes. Sour Cream. Tomatoes mixed with sour cream… There we go.

*smooch*

>179 m.belljackson: Hi Marriane. I love that anecdote. Crap detector AND Eliot’s honesty. I’m trying very hard to keep all the synapses alive and firing in my brain so that I can keep remembering things.

>180 LizzieD: Hello Peggy. I met Jackie in the ROOTs group. She’s also the lovely person who sent the Jesus bookmark several years ago: >9 karenmarie:.

I hope the days are good. Dare I say that I’ll be glad when it’s Monday and I only have a Friends Board Meeting AND the chiropractor?

DH and cabin fever. Bill used to get cabin fever until his mobility got severely reduced. I’ve never had cabin fever that I can remember, and am already looking at next week’s schedule. Not a single day of not having to go out for one reason or another. Saturday March 1st is the first day.

>181 atozgrl: Both Bill and I were making happy sounds as we were eating those steaks, Irene. We have two more for another day.

I rarely cook, perhaps once or twice a week. This is an unusual spate of visits and birthdays.

PT was good. Thanks re my (busy) weekend – I hope you and your DH have a great weekend, too. Has the new windows prep already begun?

>182 EBT1002: Hi Ellen, and thank you. Another good one today – I’m convinced I was channeling the Wordle Gods because it’s the first word I thought of after seeing the yellow and green. It hadn’t been used. I love the 5-letter green reveal.

>183 Whisper1: Linda, you and me both with the health issues. It’s getting really REALLY tiring and irritating. Yours are so much worse than mine – even my current lower back/SI joint pain, although having started in September, is nothing to your horrible back pain over the years, all the surgeries and etc.

Ugh to the root canal. I have had two of them in my life. Two too many, of course. I’m so sorry your dentist’s office didn’t respond quickly enough to avoid serious pain/infection. I have a small pharmacy here at the house – some amoxicillin to be used prior to any dentist office visit, meloxicam, tramadol (which I frequently use), and the last precious 5 oxycodone pills to be used in emergencies only. I guess I’m fortunate that I only had a cracked/split tooth. My dentist removing the broken piece alleviated all the pain. I was a crybaby over the numbing shots though.

The stress and cleanup are multiplied since I have to do things in phases, but the planning and excitement are still there.

Ditto about the chaos demon and his dementia-fueled threat to our country, his kakistocracy and coup by Musk, our embarrassment in the world, the world’s concern about our situation, and our losing our clout and role on the world stage. We are diminished by him.

>184 LovingLit: Hi Megan – I might have used it incorrectly, but you could argue that the first meaning is almost accurate, especially the without style bit:

hoik
noun
1. A wild hook shot played without style.
2. Spittle.
verb
1. To play such a shot.

I am so sorry I’m up close to this shit show/nightmare.

Wordle 1,344 2/6* trope, cream

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I cancelled lunch with Irene yesterday - I was not convinced that I could safely get to the highway without skidding into oncoming traffic. I also thought about the road I take to get into the shopping center where the restaurant is, remembered all the trees shading the road, and yup. Decided to not go there, literally and figuratively.

I did go to PT, though. He called about 1:20 to see if I wanted to come in at 3 instead. Yes, I did. PT went well and after I went to the local farm and garden and bought 50 lbs of black oil sunflower seed and 40 pounds of wild bird seed. They're in the back of my SUV. I think I'll ask Jenna to put the seed into the metal trash cans in the garage for me tomorrow. Supper, A Touch of Frost, and etc. I love the episodes where Frost fights management in addition to solving the crimes. He's particularly cranky right now in addition to being more empathetic.

...
Prep for tomorrow's visit by friend Frayser and bio and bonus daughters. All the other usual things.

Anybody want a card for a 69-year old's birthday? I forgot to take one card out of my shopping cart before ordering Bill's birthday cards and it showed up yesterday. Blank inside, the outside says

I'm not
69
I'm 18 with
51 years of
experience

PM me with your name and address. *smile*

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Jackson in his jammies is still a very active boy. Grandma Sue had a good time with him yesterday. The camping group is getting together later this afternoon to play PB again. Then dinner, followed by some live music. Should be a fun day.

Sorry you had to cancel with Irene but you probably made the right call.

>185 karenmarie: Morning, Horrible! I'm glad you erred on the side of caution, and it's not even a positive feeling totally vitiated by my utter outrage that you'd forego carrot cake, the most perfect confection yet created by humankind, for mere...cookie, chocolate cookie no less, flavored bundtinis.

It says here. *shudder*

Well, your character flaws aside, that smutdude's dislike of tomatoes and sour cream gave me a big chortle for utter unrealism (I mean really? that's like not liking dill!), so thanks for that too.

That card's totes adorbs.

De-lurking. Stay warm and safe. I haven't had any implants but I am considering a bottom denture so I have to research them. Happy belated birthday to your husband and a fabulous visit with your daughters.

Happy Saturday, Karen!

>185 karenmarie: "We are diminished by him." Yes, this. Exactly this.

Sorry you had to cancel lunch with Irene, but I am so happy you opted for better safe than sorry.

Hoping that today is kind to you.

Good afternoon, (((((Karen)))))!

We are diminished by him. Exactly! and only for a start! "People are going to die needlessly," says Brownie, and "not just because of dismantling USAID," say I.

I liked the instructions for dealing with people who disparage DEI too. Ask, "Exactly which one do you not support and why?" I don't even know where I saw that, maybe here?

>185 karenmarie: Hi Karen, we've got plenty of opportunities to do lunch another time, I'm just glad you could stay safe. I'm glad to know that PT went well. I've done a little bit of cleaning up in preparation for windows, but not as much as I need to. I've got big books I'm reading now, and reading is taking more of my time.

>190 LizzieD: "People are going to die needlessly" That's exactly what I said when I heard that the only employee with EMT qualifications was fired from one of the national parks. Now that location will have to rely on external local responders for rescues, which no doubt will delay any response.

>186 msf59: ‘Morning 24 hours later, Mark… Happy Sunday to you. I hope your PB, dinner, and live music (beer too?) day was great. Thanks re my safety-first decision.

>187 richardderus: Thanks, RDear. But I couldn’t sacrifice the white chocolate raspberry, or the red velvet – Jenna’s favorite kind of cake. I admit to cookies ‘n cream curiosity – I’ve never ever eaten anything cookies ‘n cream that I remember.

Oops – I actively like dill in anything but dill pickles, which I only eat every once in a while with the chicken salad platter at Virlie’s. I’m not a true 5th generation Czech-American, since one of the favorite potato soups of my mother’s side of the family is Koprová which has copious amounts of fresh dill. Thanks re the card. Irene has PMed me that I could save it for her birthday in September… I could also save it for my sister’s birthday in 2026.

>188 elorin: Hi Robyn. Safe and warm are two biggies here at our old folks home. 🤗 Ah, sorry about having to do the denture research. Thanks re Bill’s birthday and the visit with my daughters. Friend Frayser will be here in about an hour, so I need to get going soon.

>189 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, and thank you. Yesterday was kind and productive for me. When I thought about Koprová, just now, I thought of you. I’ll try to post my g-grandmother’s recipe soon. You mentioned that you love potato soups.

>190 LizzieD: ‘Morning, (((((Peggy)))))!

I’m afraid that I am not following what you said and I’ve tried to live by recently - “If I’m kind, I’ll get the day I deserve.” I’m not being kind when I say that I really hope all the wing nuts who voted for the chaos demon get hurt financially in the next 4 years. Unfortunately, many people who didn’t vote for him will get hurt, too.

I do not actively engage with those who voted for him, actually. My sister and I do not discuss politics, I do not discuss politics with Bill’s friend Carl, and although most of on the book sort team are Democrats, there are at least 2 others I know who should have known better. They just have to suck it up and listen to us disparage the Gang of Psychos and their chief idiot. That’s good about DEI, though.

>191 atozgrl: Thanks re PT, Irene. Hmm. Books, or new window prep? Books winning at least until you know when they’re scheduled to be installed is not a bad thing. Of course, then you and your DH will scurry around…

Wordle 1,345 3/6* trope, overt, otter. Overt's already been used, but I deliberately used it to see what fell out since I haven't had enough coffee yet.

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I made the marinade and started marinating the boneless/skinless chicken thighs yesterday. I also set the dining room table and cut up broccoli. I decided to make it easy on myself with baked potatoes instead of twice-baked potatoes. All I really need to do before Frayser gets here is sweep the kitchen floor.

...
And so Frayser at 10, the daughters between 11:30 and noon. Jenna mentioned that they might want to stay late so Hwan can test a telescope prior to an official research project outing in Chapel Hill. If so, they'll be here after sunset, which is 6:07 p.m.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. We had very good time with our friends yesterday. Such a great bunch. Sue is going to a family christening today and I am going to have a lazy one with Juno and the books.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you, too. Glad you had a good time yesterday, yay for books and the excellent watch dog Juno. *smile*

...
So here's a recipe for Koprová, my Great Aunt Lillian's.

Czech Dill Soup - Koprová

Peel 4 medium sized potatoes and dice. Boil in 2 C water. 1 tsp. salt. and 1/2 C dill greens. Boil 4 eggs. When potato mixture is boiled make a thickening of 1 1/2 tbsp. flour, 1 1/2 C sour cream, 1 tbsp. butter. When slightly thickened, add 4 boiled eggs diced. Be sure to add enough salt because it brings out the flavor. Garnish with a little paprika. Mrs. Milton Chadima (Lillian)

I imagine it can be multiplied since they were feeding farmers and farm hands.

>194 karenmarie: I expect that was a company recipe, because the thickening was so expensive. Dill in anything that's got sour cream in it is gorgeous! I'd probably use tarragon and chervil in that recipe, though, to get the egg/chervil/tarragon resonances. That flavor with sulfury yolks...!

Happy-Sunday *smooch*

Happy belated birthday to Bill, I hope he and you had a great day.

Wet and windy here. Scotland looks amazing in the sun, and even in the cold and frost etc, but this rain and wind just makes everything look grey. Dreich, they call it here. I'm staying indoors and giving thanks for central heating.

Many thanks for the Czech Dill Soup, (((((Karen)))))! I'll surely try it although I guess I'll have to use dill weed and seeds instead of fresh leaves. We used to have them but no more! I'll have to cut down on the eggs too because I'm not crazy about them, but we'll see!

I trust that you're going to have a wonderful day!

Afternoon, Karen! Thanks for the recipe - I have copied it so I can try it out. I love dill.

Hoping that today is a relaxing one for you.

Morning, Karen. I had a good day hanging with Juno yesterday. We also had a Zoom meeting with our tour guide for our upcoming trip. He knew his stuff. This is going to be epic.

I am finally getting back to Trail Watch today after taking off a couple of months. It will get to 50F, so it should be perfect. I will head to the forest preserve, after I drop off the kids.

>195 richardderus: I’m glad you like the recipe, RDear. You can eat all mine in this life, although if I was making it, I’d use my favorite herb, basil, instead of the dill. I do like tarragon, though. Don’t have chervil in my spice rack. *smooch*

>196 Jackie_K: Hi Jackie, and thank you re Bill’s birthday. It was a great day all around. I have learned a new word – dreich. It applies here, too, just not today. Today’s clear with 25F right now, going to 63F.

We’re grateful for central heating, too. I hope your indoors day was a good one.

>197 LizzieD: You’re welcome, Peggy. I assumed dill greens was fresh dill weed… We did have a wonderful day, thank you.

>198 Crazymamie: ‘Morning, Sister of My Heart. You’re welcome. Everybody was gone by 5 p.m., so we relaxed after that.

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Frayser arrived just before 10. We chatted, but I mostly left it to Bill and him so they could get caught up. They met at their fancy private still-only-boys high school, Woodberry Forest, in Virginia in 1972. The daughters arrived just before 11:30, and we all hung out in the living room until I was in and out of the kitchen, sometimes with Jenna and Hwan's help, til we sat down about 2:30 for late lunch. Everybody loved everything - low sodium honey baked boneless skinless chicken thighs, baked potatoes, broccoli, and succotash. Hwan had never had succotash before, so they took some home.

We had the Bundtinis® in the dining room, so tasty. They are about 4 bites each. I had a cookies 'n cream, which was good, but I still prefer chocolate chocolate chip. The box has a flavor key that gets handwritten in, to identify which are which.

Hwan and Jenna left about 4 or so, Frayser by about 5. Bill and I watched another episode of A Touch of Frost, and overnight an elf cleaned up the dishes except for the serving platters and bowls, which I said I'd get today.

...
Friends board meeting at 10 a.m. I thought I might not go since I have a chiropractor's appointment at 11 a.m. and will have to leave at 10:40, but I'll probably go.

After that, quick stop to get red grapes and maybe, just maybe, use the treadmill at the senior center. I'm going to really work on buying a treadmill for here at the house.

>199 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! I’m so glad your upcoming trip is under control. Yay for the good day with Juno. Our friend Frayser has a cat named Juno.

I hope your Trail Watch day goes well.

All the usual bird suspects. I had Jenna put the seed in the metal trash cans in the garage yesterday, so will be able to fill the feeders this afternoon.

drat. double post. It seems to be happening to more than just me lately. I'll save this one as a place holder for later.

I am quite behind here so I will just say Happy Monday!

Morning, Karen! Your Sunday sounds like it was full of fabulous.

Hoping you can make a home treadmill happen - you would love the convenience of it.

>202 karenmarie: I'm guessing there's some new instability because they've introduced the "Attach Review" feature to posts. Betcha that's been a real load of work for the programmers. I'm right pleased with the feature itself since I can now add my upgethumbings to reviews without any extra steps.

Have a lovely Moon's Day, sweetiedarling.

(((((Karen))))), I hope you're home soon and will be able to relax into your afternoon and evening. We're fine. I have nothing at all to say. Remarkable that I'm not trying to say it!

>200 karenmarie: Sounds like a great afternoon with a topper of elfs!

Morning, Karen. Four of us were on Trail Watch, taking advantage of a mild AM, with a delightful walk in the woods. Some of the trails still had snow and ice but we were able to walk along the edges. I also saw my FOY American crow and hairy woodpecker. I am getting together with some birding buddies this AM, after the "kids". It looks like another mild one. These buddies also play pickleball with me. Yes, I am a Warbler, on and off the internet. LOL.

>203 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita. Thank you.

>204 Crazymamie: ‘Morning, Mamie! Yes, Sunday was a good one. I really need to get serious about the treadmill. First step is to find the best place for it.

>205 richardderus: Might be right, RD. They’ve changed a lot lately, some of which I like and some of which I don’t, but letting something be dropped into a message makes sense for the double posts.

>206 LizzieD: (((((Peggy))))) I got home about 12:30 or so. Having nothing to say is way less important than hugs.

>207 quondame: Everybody had a good time, Susan, which is the most important thing. Next is that everybody likes the food. Both occurred, fortunately. And the elves! They came again last night and washed several of the pots that I’d used.

>208 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you. I'm glad I scrolled up after I posted >209 karenmarie:, also glad Trail Watch was delightful. Yay for two FOYs. Enjoy your BBA (birding buddy adventure).

Wordle 1,347 4/6* trope, freak, drier, dryer

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Went to the first 40 minutes of the Friends of the Library Board meeting. Chiropractor's appointment, grocery store for just a few things, drive-through at the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for Bill, then home.

I spent quite a bit of the afternoon working on a spreadsheet I ended up not using. It was for adding the catch-up-Kindle books, but I have a better method now with the Amazon app on my cell phone and 3 tabs on my browser open. I've added 80. Lots to go.

Jenna called on the way to class. We had leftover everything from Sunday for dinner. Easy peasy. I spent an hour with the catch-up-Kindle books after we watched an episode of A Touch of Frost. Talked with Karen and read.

...
Book sort and then Virlie's. Home again, reading, puttering.

>209 karenmarie: I so admire your organizing nature. I'm always struggling between the desire to know what the data can tell me and the lack of skill at manipulating it.

If I synchronized my *actual* Kindlebrary with any online database I'd incur a visit from the resource police. I shudder to think of the task of weeding out duplicates alone! Then of course we have the reviews...getting them all in one place...*reels*

I've had a desire for years now to index my blogged reviews and, honestly, just looking at the task gives me a semi-lethal blood-pressure spike. You're a figure of legend, but not one I can emulate. *sigh*

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. We had a very nice walk yesterday, despite the muddy trails. Very mild. I saw my FOY titmouse and yellow-rumped warbler. Feeders have been quiet, with the warmer temps. I took the day off. I am meeting a few postal retirees for lunch today.

>210 richardderus: RDear, my business career was based on left-brain thinking. This included spreadsheets, organizing, controlling, manipulating, finding patterns in, and reporting data.

I thank and blame Judy for my newest project of getting all my Kindle purchases (including those I paid $0.00 for into my catalog. "My books" in my content library on Amazon has 525 entries - a few of which are still probably samples which I'm deleting, but mostly true books. Of the 21 tabs at the bottom of the display option, I've completed 5. I have 16 to go. See if I have in LT. If so, good. If not, find ASIN and try to add. If that ASIN isn't found, I add by hand or just use another Kindle version, although the latter goes against the grain.

If I lived closer to you, we could spend time indexing your reviews. I could bring Bundtlets and I could even drink French Roast although I prefer medium roast. I could give OS ugly looks, too.

We each have our strengths. One of yours, of course, is writing and an extensive and impressive vocabulary.

*smooch*

>211 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you. I'm glad the muddy trails didn't deter you. Yay for your FOYs.

My feeders are hopping. A female Downy and two finches on the suet feeder, 5 LBs (little birds) on the nyjer seed feeder. A Jay was hanging out in the Crepe Myrtle a bit ago, and I just saw a female Goldfinch. No Cardinals right now, which is a surprise.

Wordle 1,348 4/6* trope, lurch, rabid, award

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Book sort was busy but we finished up around 10:20 or so. There were 11 of the 13 of us. Lunch was 6 of us, and I really enjoyed it. We were there for perhaps an hour and 20 minutes, more time than usual.

I noticed a trade paperback by Alberto Manguel and have decided to keep it - A Reading Diary. It has light pencil markings so not good enough for the book sale, but I can erase the pencil markings. I also just bought a new paperback copy of The Library at Night.

I have posted this pic of his library before, but have found another one I like because it has a comfy-looking sofa.





I also snagged a brand new hardcover of Starborn.

After I got home I cleaned and filled the birdbath, added more catch-up Kindle books. Napped, chatted with both Karen and Jenna, and read.

...
Sigh. I have a CT scan today, the further checking out of something found during My Very Bad September. I won't know anything today, and it will probably be a "Let's keep monitoring but do nothing." situation. I will be my usual don't look at the result online self. It's like reading the warnings on a prescription pamphlet - you'll worry, misinterpret symptoms/signs, and be hugely stressed. Also, considering the fact that nobody has come forward since September and said "Do this NOW!" or "Danger, danger, Will Robinson!", I'm only moderately stressing.

It's at 2:20 at the local hospital. I love going 11 miles instead of 25 or more. Parking's good, and the people seem more caring.

Other than that, it's cataloging, reading, puttering.

Morning, Sister of my Heart! I will be thinking about you today, and I have set an alarm for 2:20pm, so I will be with you in spirit. I am sorry for the stress and worry, but thankful for only 11 miles to journey and a more caring staff.

I have added The Library at Night to The List.

(((((((Karen)))))))!

I didn't know that the world had an Alberto Miguel! I'm off to research NOW!!!

>213 Crazymamie: Hi Sister of My Heart! Thank you. In spirit will help, believe me. Yay for a new List item for you.

>214 LizzieD:(((((((Peggy)))))))!

I was thrilled when I first learned of him and his 40K+ personal library.

...
I just added 14 catch-up-Kindle books, from 2017.

Now, it's time to be self-indulgent and lie down/read for 75 minutes.

I forgot to mention up above that I got 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep last night. *happy dance*

Not knowing is the stressor to end all stressors. I hope they sound the all-clear quickly.

Bring me carrot-cake bundtinis and I'll go through all ~1800 posts in a few hours! Well, weeks. Maybe months.

Probably years. I hate that kind of task as much as I hate laundry. Still, carrot-cake bundtinis....

All purely notional as over 1000 miles separate our homes. Would be fun, though, wouldn't it? *smooch*

My alarm went off - thinking of you and holding you in my heart.

>216 richardderus: Me, too, RD. I want the all-clear.

1800 posts. Well. That's just a few, isn't it? That is a lot of bundtinis. It would be fun, for sure.

>217 Crazymamie: Thank you, Mamie. Home again in jammies. Carla the CT scan technician was efficient and the scan itself took all of 5 minutes - one without contrast, one with.

Back to entering catch-up-Kindle books, I think.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. I hope you enjoyed another good nights sleep. I have a lazy AM ahead of me and then I might see Jackson later on. We will see how it plays out. Still enjoying these mild temps. Just saw a couple of juncos but the feeders have been quieter with these warmer days.

>219 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you. I did enjoy another good night's sleep - 'only' 6.5 hours, with one slight interruption, but I'll take it. Yay for a lazy AM.

My feeders are crazy busy right now. There were 7 on the nyjer seed feeder when I first came in, now 'only' 4. Many Cardinals, sparrows, finches. There's a female Downy on the suet feeder, had a male Red-Bellied earlier.

Wordle 1,349 3/6* trope, boule, lodge

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It took longer to put the IV in and have me lie down in the correct position than the actual scan itself. After I got home, I worked on more catch-up-Kindle books, watched A Touch of Frost with Bill, and etc.

...
I'm having lunch with friend Jan today - we'll go to Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, both get almost the exact same thing; Greek salad, no onions, with grilled salmon. The only difference will be that she'll get the dressing that comes with and I'll get balsamic vinaigrette.

Some time today Bill and I will watch the Arsenal match from yesterday, although I unintentionally saw the result when looking at something else.

More catch-up-Kindles, reading. And etc.

>220 karenmarie: Morning, Horrible, glad the scan was so utterly ordinary. I'm happy that it's a fun-lunch day for you. Enjoy that salad!

Hi RD!

I'm just hoping the result is ordinary, too - nothing to deal with, just something to watch until I die from other causes. In my 90s. Peacefully, and not in pain. Not asking for much, am I?

Alas, lunch has been cancelled. Jan has a cough and no energy. Now it will be the end of March-ish until we can see each other.

Having said that, it means more jammies time, more catch-up-Kindle work, reading, spreadsheet updating, and possibly starting focaccia for a refrigerated overnight first rise.

Morning, Karen! SO glad the procedure went quickly and smoothly. Sorry that lunch got cancelled. I approve of your plans for dying - it's good to be specific when asking the Universe for things.

I am very excited about the focaccia.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/368860

HI, (((((Karen))))). I came by in a rush this morning and didn't speak, I don't think. I'm sorry that you and Jan couldn't have lunch. More jammies time is a good thing.

We had an ordinary day, thank goodness, in which I accomplished nothing but writing and mailing a couple of checks and dropping by Aldi for chocolate, their current coconut macaroons and butter almond thins, mushrooms, and a cucumber. I hardly think this counts as accomplishment.

I'm a bit excited by focaccia too. I think I saved a recipe somewhere but never tried it. Are you doing rosemary, garlic?? Yum!

Good wishes for another 7 hour night of sleeping for you!!!!!

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Another good nights sleep? Rootin' for you. I had a good time with Jack yesterday afternoon. We even got a little backyard birding in, even though his attention span is small. We saw most of the regulars, although the blue jay wouldn't come out in the open.

Sue and Bree are going away this AM for a girls weekend in MI. They are both looking forward to this. I am playing PB. Books and Juno in the PM.

>223 Crazymamie: Hello Sister of My Heart! Thanks re the procedure. I actually think I used the wrong word - it was a scan. Me too, re lunch.

I’m glad you approve of how I wish to shuffle off this mortal coil. My goal has always been to live to my 90s, even when I was very young, say late teens. I’ve simply added on peacefully, not in pain.

Alas, focaccia. My yeast didn’t proof. It's only been in the freezer since Covid... I’ll buy some when I’m out today at PT, although that will be late in the day. I hope to get it proofing overnight after I get home.

>224 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

>225 LizzieD: (((((Peggy))))) mailing checks is a good thing. I checked (get it – checked – an unintentional pun that I just noticed) to see whether I had to write a Spectrum check this month and confirmed that I didn’t. I pay that bill every other month. I love your very specific shopping list.

The recipe I’m going to use has rosemary but not garlic, although the author uses tons of garlic in pretty much everything else savory. I watch his shorts (well, that came out wrong!) on YouTube but found his website and the recipe here.

No Knead Focaccia

I need yeast and fresh rosemary. I should really buy a small rosemary plant since I've started using it more frequently, but not today. We used to have huge ones off the back deck, along with catnip and basil. I forget when we changed how we used that planting bed.

>226 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you, too. 5 hours of sleep not 7, but I’ll take it. It was uninterrupted and I did doze a bit after I went upstairs, so say, perhaps, 6 total. I’m thrilled to think about you and Jackson birding in your back yard.

I hope your alone time goes well. I also hope PB/icing/massaging is happy-making. Books and Juno sound like an excellent afternoon for you.

Wordle 1,350 5/6* trope, claim, bushy, gully, fuzzy

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Since I didn't have lunch out yesterday, I puttered and read and added catch-up-Kindle books. Jenna and I worked on confirming what documents were here at the house for her taxes. We've always had hers done when we've had ours done, but now that she's married, she's confirmed that our accountant can/will do Korean-citizen/US university-grant-money joint returns. She'll pay for them, too. 😊 Looks like I need to scan what's here so she can email everything together.

I also want to return 2 don't-want Melaleuca backup shipments. One has to be returned today or I don't get the return credit. And why, you ask, did I wait so long? I've done way too much adulting recently and needed to balance it out with all the fun stuff.

So. PO, grocery shopping for 2 things - I'll report back on how many actually made it into the shopping cart and got paid for - then PT at 3 p.m.

If I'm motivated, starting the focaccia. Then, all the usual things.

Checks! I wrote a check for my oral surgery on Wednesday (to avoid almost $80 in cc fees) and had trouble remembering how to write-out long numbers. I looked in the check register and the last check I had written was in December of 2023. Crazy!

Have a good Friday, Karen.

Hi Katie! Sorry about the oral surgery, smart move to avoid cc fees. Wow to the last check being a year and 3 months ago.

Thanks re my Friday - the very same to you, too.

Morning, Horrible! I think replanting a rosemary shrub border sounds like the way to go, since it's almost the equal of salt in culinary versatility...then again I'd plant an entire bed of dill so maybe I'm not the best source of your validation. Enjoy the puttering and suchlike the day ahead holds. *smooch*

Good morning, (((((Karen)))))!!!!! We have A LOT of rosemary and could likely find a plant for you to take back with you when you come!

Your focaccia recipe is even easier than the one I bookmarked. I like the obvious observation that you can make it thin and crisp or thick and bready. I wouldn't have thought of that.

Good luck with your errands this afternoon. We very mindfully do not go out on Friday afternoons because of more and crazier traffic. I will be working on chicken salad for the weekend and finishing FP #3.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. My son bailed on me last night but he is supposed to stop by this afternoon to hang with the old man for a bit. I have not seen my enigmatic son in several weeks.

A cold front blew in late yesterday, dropping our temps to the low 30s but it looks like we will rebound quickly. I will have a lazy AM with Juno.

>230 richardderus: Hallo, RDear. Happy next morning to you. I like the idea of planting rosemary outside and letting it get huge (again). I think I know the close-to-the-house perfect place. My aversion to fresh dill lets me say that if we were ever on a desert island together, you could have ALL the dill. I’ll take all the chocolate. *smooch*

>231 LizzieD: (((((Peggy))))) I’d love to have a plant from your yard. We have quite a few plants that we planted with family in mind, now I’ll have my first plant with a dear friend in mind.

The only thing different about Friday traffic late in the afternoon is that once I get to US Hwy 64, the early commute home and weekend getaway traffic is noticeable. Yum to chicken salad. Hmmm. Another thing I need to make, although the recipe I have used in the past, from friend Michelle, has cubed sweet pickles in it. Perhaps sweet pickle relish, and less than the entire jar in the recipe.

>232 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark. Happy Saturday to you, too. Sorry your son bailed yesterday. I hope your enigmatic son came to visit. I also hope your lazy a.m. with Juno goes well.

I’ve got almost completely empty feeders again. All the usual suspects looking irritated. Two Red-Bellied Woodpeckers flirting, at least one Carolina Chickadee.

Wordle 1,351 2/6* trope, hover

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PT went well, I'm feeling it a bit today. He had me do dynamic balancing - taking side steps in the hall wearing a canvas belt that he was holding onto - in addition to all the regular things.

I did get to the grocery store and only got 2 things more than the yeast and rosemary.
...
I have a 60-minute massage today at 11:15 to make up for the one cancelled on the 19th. I need to take all Jenna's tax documents to the Library to scan because it will be easier to do it there than home.

I need to fill the bird feeders and start the focaccia cold proofing. More catch-up-Kindle books to add, reading, and working on my February stats.

...
In other exciting news, the CT scan was not definitive. My GP said it could be one thing or another, and of the two, since he offered it as an option, I chose 'let's wait 6 months and have another scan'.

>233 karenmarie: Not the kind of excitement I was hoping for from the scan. Still, no one's running around screaming with their hair on fire, so that's good.

All the dill for all my chocolate?! Yes, please. Enjoy the massage, in lieu of my shipment of *shudder* chocolate. *smooch*

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. Matt came over yesterday. We had a good time hanging out. I wish we could do this more often. I am taking my Aunt to church and then chillin' for the rest of the day. Still fighting this cold. Hoping for a rebound tomorrow.

>234 richardderus: Hi RDear. Frankly, me, either. However, now I will not worry about it for 3-6 months. I appreciate the lack of urgency. What I should probably do with the *shudder* dill is do to myself what I do with Jenna - offer $1 to try it. It's been so long since I tried anything with dill in it that my taste buds have changed. Jenna faithfully tries asparagus every once in a while, and I give her $1. she still doesn't like it. *smooch*

'Morning, Mark. Happy Sunday to you, too. I'm glad Matt came over for some dad/son time. Since you've never mentioned going to church regularly, it's a mitzvah from you to your aunt. I hope you can conquer the cold today.

Since I filled ALL the feeders yesterday, I'm seeing all the regulars right now. Two male Cardinals stand out.

Wordle 1,352 4/6* trope, bleat, fetch, deity

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I almost got to everything on my list. I am remembering that a 60-minute massage is not enough because after I asked her to work on my back, hands, and feet, that didn't leave much time for all the rest of the good things she does. 90 minutes are scheduled for each of the next three visits. I wish I could get one a week, but the budget only allows for one a month.

Focaccia got started and put into the refrigerator. I did go to the Library to scan Jenna's tax documents, but I'm very unhappy with the way their system works, although it's a vast improvement over what they used to have. One sided, feed one at a time. I'm too cheap to have Adobe Plus, so couldn't easily combine the pages. I almost want my printer to die so that I can get one that does a few more things than this one does, but for most things, this Brother, which cost about $100 lots of years ago, still does the trick. I called Jenna and told her that if she got me the two PDFs she had, I'd drive down to Sanford tomorrow and drop them off at the accountant's. Gives me a chance to get out for more besides the usual errands/medical appointments AND, bonus, if the donut shop is open (can't remember if it is on Mondays or not), I'll get some of the best 'indie' donuts in the world.

I finished adding my catch-up-Kindle books, need to confirm that I got them all, decide if I want them all on this Kindle or not. I still have two old Kindles. One's here and usable, but the other is still at a friend's. He's supposed to try to fix the AC charge port but I haven't reminded him about it in a long time. What I should actually do is just put them all on THIS Kindle while removing them from the previous two. If this Kindle dies, which is shouldn't any time soon, I'll just get a new one and get them all on Karen's Fifth Kindle.

Bill and I watched another episode of A Touch of Frost. We still love it. Well. I still love it. Bill occasionally dozes.

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I will make the focaccia today. It's out of the refrigerator. I'll also work on my February stats/Lightning Round and etc. and do a couple of adulting things. Plus reading, of course.

>236 karenmarie: Try putting 1tsp of finely chopped fresh dill in 1T melted butter, then poured over your next batch of asparagus. I'll mail you a buck, plus the cost of the dill, or equivalent value in chocolate.

I don't care what the show is, I myownself will, at a certain point, drowse. They talk and talk and talk, and sooner or later I'm aware again and have missed five minutes. I'm depressed at the thought of another Kindle but battery life is becoming an issue. It's probably time. *sigh* I long for Lina Kahn to return to the DoJ.

Focacciate well! *smooch*

I love dill, especially on fish, in tuna salad, or on potatoes. I'd use RD's melted butter and dill over some baby reds or golds.... Mmmmm.

That said, I really don't like rosemary much.

Nice that we are all different, eh?

:)

>212 karenmarie: I am quite behind here. I hope that all went well with the CT scan!

If I would have a library like that I think I would rarely leave.....

>237 richardderus: Hmmm. Okay, I may try it. Focaccia has 7 minutes to go. It smells so good. I have been known to drowse, but only if I recline on the couch, so I’ve tried to not do that lately. *smooch*

>238 katiekrug: Hi Katie. Okay to baby reds or golds for the butter/dill experiment, too. I like Rosemary but rarely buy fresh like I’ve been doing lately. Yes it’s nice that we’re all different. *smile*

>239 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita! The scan went well, my doctor and I’ve decided to have another one 6 months from now since he’s not seriously worried about things. I’ve got too much going on right now to even consider anything else.

I would love a 10,000 volume library, or Manguel’s 40,000 volume library.

YTD Statistics through February

50 books read
39 ebooks, 8 audio books, 3 paper books
12369 pages in completed books
67.75 hours in completed audio books
24 books abandoned, 2598 pages abandoned, 0 hours abandoned

14967 total pages read

Avg pages read per day, incl books abandoned: YTD = 254
Avg pages read per book, only those completed: YTD = 247

Book(s) of the Month: Crown of Disguise by Lola Malone

Books by Month
January: 26 books read - 18 ebooks, 4 audio books, 5 paper books
February: 24 books read - 21 ebooks, 4 audiobooks, 0 paper books

Author
Male 12%
Female 78%
Undeclared * 8%
Non-Binary 2%
* - can't find info anywhere

Living 98%
Dead 2%

US Born 31%
Foreign Born 15%
Undeclared * 54%
* - can't find info anywhere

Medium
Audio Book 16%
e-Book 78%
Paper Book 6%

Source
My Library 26%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 74%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
Galley Proof 0%
Re-read 0%
Series 76%

Fiction 98%
NonFiction 2%

Author Birth Country
Australia 5%
Canada 4%
New Zealand 4%
Puerto Rico 4%
UK 2%
Undeclared * 50%
US 31%
* - can't find info anywhere

Original Decade Published

1940-1949 2%
1990-1999 2%
2010-2019 24%
2020-2025 72%

Genre
Historical Fiction 2%
Humor 2%
Memoir 2%
MM Romance 94%

Average Rating
2.0 - Bad 1
2.5 - Average 1
3.0 - Good 2
3.5 - Very Good 12
4.0 - Excellent 28
4.5 - Outstanding 6
5 - Masterpiece 0

Average Rating 3.83
Books acquired YTD (last year 306) 46
Books culled YTD (last year 219) 8

5895 books cataloged on 12/31/24

February Lightning Round

Any in bold are NOT MM romances, few and far between as they are.

Quite a few of the smut books have warnings about triggers that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

MateHub: Legend by Marie Reynard 1/31/25 2/1/25 Kindle

Paranormal MM romance is a phase within a phase for me, although the MM romance phase is now 2.5 years old and still going strong. In this book a porn star wolf shifter has a contract with a human. The tag on Amazon is The contract was simple: three months, seven scenes, zero feelings. Following it was not. Richard the shifter, is the porn star, and this is his 13th 3-month contract. Every single one has had his partners having feelings for him, and of course he would never expect to find his true mate in a human. So he feels safe entering into this one. The reason I’ve given it 4.5 stars is because of the emotional and sexual bonding that occurs. They are transactionally bonded by a mage before the contract starts and the bond will be severed at the end of it. Richard always sees the pain in his partner when the bond is severed, so there’s no way he will Get Feelings. Well, both of them start having feelings. I like the way the emotional connection is described, the lyrical writing of their times in the MateHub apartment, and yes, the steamy and lyrical writing about the sex they have. As I’ve mentioned before, writing good sex scenes is a gift, and this author is very good at it. Some of their friends are a tad twee for me, and the scene is set, if you will, for another couple to have their own book. Caveat emptor re sex.

Something About You by Riley Hart narrated by Sean Crisden 1/23/25 2/2/25 Audible audio book 7 hours

Lucky lives in the town he was born in, the baby brother and son. He loves his grandmother and the woman she lives with, Alice. Lucky finds out that Alice has a grandson and writes to him. Saint didn’t know he had family, and comes to meet her. I’d say this is an enemies to lovers trope, but Lucky is too sweet, too gentle, too much a man to be an enemy. Saint dislikes him though, and it takes them a while to overcome that. There’s a lot to unpack in this story with Lucky coming out as bisexual to his family, Saint and his grandmother getting to know one another, Saint learning why his father was estranged from Alice. There’s sadness and joy, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Accidental Bonds by Marie Reynard 2/1/25 2/3/25 454 pages Kindle

Victor is the Alpha of a wolf shifter pack. Elijah, a mage, has taken over the magic shop of a mage who, along with Victor’s father, have been banished. There is something attacking Victor’s packs lands, and in desperation he comes to Elijah to see if Elijah can fix the wards or otherwise protect from and/or otherwise remove the danger. In a powerful spell they are unintentionally tethered but not bonded, which makes for awkwardness since Victor thinks of Elijah as his mate. This book was very long, detailed, and built a realistic paranormal world. There are other packs, other mages, and an interesting problem that Elijah and Victor and packmates and mages help figure out and get rid of. Cavet emptor re sex.

The Southerner's Book of Lists by Jim Erskine 2/3/25 2/3/25 128 pages paperback This book was published in 1996 and it hasn’t aged well at all. I’ve removed it from my catalog. Trite, cutesy, perhaps historically accurate in some cases, but ridiculously stupid in others.

Mixed Motives by Leslie Macadam 2/4/25 2/4/25 Kindle

A novella. Henry is cheated upon by his boyfriend and he plans his revenge by trying to seduce said boyfriend’s father Keane. There’s a serious age gap in addition to the ick factor for Keane. However, each is on a gay dating app and they are matched up. They start dating, the boyfriend is reconciled to their relationship, and HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Born Again Sinner by Daryl Banner 2/2/25 2/6/25 Audible audio book 10 hours

Small town Texas, Trey is the gay son of the town’s preeminent minister, who preaches acceptance but ‘needs time’ to process that his own son is gay. Trey hasn’t been with a man. Cody was in the military but got severely wounded and has come home. He’s not dealing well with his injuries. His mother keeps hiring nursing help for him but they all quit until Trey. Trey doesn’t take his crap, is fascinated by him but thinks he’s straight. They spend time together and Cody finally tells Trey he’s gay. After that, they have a secret relationship. I liked this for the demons that each one has and how they overcome them separately and together. Steamy sex scenes, and on audio book they are really hot. What took ½ star away was that at the end there was a lot of religious stuff, Christian in this case, and it … marred? … an otherwise wonderful book for me.

Raising Hell by Daryl Banner 2/6/25 2/7/25 Kindle

This one was so much fun, with so much emotion, too. Mathew is the bad boy of a family of 3 children, living his own life of drinking, drugs, and working as a bartender. He gets the call that his parents have died. He is oblivious through the funeral, but when his older brother Wesley has to return to Taiwan to manage the family businesses, Mathew is forced/agrees to stay at the family mansion to take care of their little sister Helen until Wesley can return. He takes Helen to private school orientation, where he hears three girls trash talk his sister and meets Helen’s new math teacher Charlie. He has the hots for Charlie from the first minute. It takes Charlie a while to realize that he’s interested in Mathew, too, regardless of the optics of him dating a student’s big brother. Mathew says all the wrong things to Helen, is hilariously entertaining in his pursuit of Charlie and his trying to figure out how to get Helen to open up to him and to be less afraid of their older brother. Charlie eventually succumbs, becomes ravenous for Mathew. Helen eventually learns to speak up for what she wants, Mathew and Charlie get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

And here’s what I love about MM romances. They cut to the quick, deal in eternal truths, and usually come out making me happy to have read them. I particularly liked the 7-year-later Epilogue in this book.

You never know where life will take you.
Only that it will.
And you better be ready for every moment of it, because no moment lasts forever, and each and every one of them is a golden, perfect thing to cherish.
I guess this is the part where I say “the end” or something. But it isn’t the end. Don’t you realize by now that it never ends? Even when parents die. Or brothers move away. Or sisters run off to college. They’re a part of you forever, like a tattoo on your soul, or a joke you can’t stop laughing at, or a really hard drink.
Add one ounce of there’s-no-damned-recipe-for-happiness.
Add one cup of don’t-give-a-fuck.
Add one splash of that little devil sitting on your shoulder.
Get out there. Chase that crazy dream. Raise your own hell.
And always drink responsibly.

The Husband Experience by Maya Jean 2/7/25 2/7/25 Kindle

Colby wants to hire a ‘husband’ for a week to see if he can handle the idea of looking for a fake husband after the death of his husband from cancer a few years previously. Eli works at a fake boyfriend agency and after his friend Trevor panics (reason explained in book/next book) and asks if Eli can take the week, Eli agrees. He meets Colby at Colby’s beach house in Florida, and after a few fraught moments where Eli tries to be fake husband instead of acting like a real one, they hit it off sexually, romantically, and intellectually. At the end of the week there are Feelings on both sides. Caveat emptor re sex.

** abandoned Guardian Angel in Leather by KA Merikan **

Too morally ambiguous and actually poorly written for me.

** abandoned Ho Ho Homicidal Maniac by KA Merikan **

Take one kidnapped rich boy who’s rescued by a serial killer who loves Christmas and gives his captive a reindeer onesie and hot chocolate… just no.

** abandoned Notorious by Leslie McAdam - re-read **

I loved this book when I first read it, and I was in a bit of a drought when I decided to read it again. However, there’s too much stuff before the HEA.

** abandoned Bloom by NR Walker **

I go from morally ambiguous to too sweet… I love NR Walker, just not this one.

Crown of Disguise by Lola Malone 2/7/25 2/8/25 Kindle

Dominique’s life was turned upside down when his brother Damien died on the grounds of Saint-Laurent Boarding College 2 years previously. The family didn’t get answers, the death never explained, and things were clearly covered up. Dominique has spent the last two years researching a secret fraternity vaguely hinted at. He then gets a scholarship into the school and becomes involved in classes/homework, making friends with his roommate Maxime, and becoming reacquainted with Gaël, who he met on the day of Damien’s funeral in the woods. Each is fascinated with the other, Dominique not thinking he’d ever see Gaël again, Gaël knowing he’d see Dominique again. Gaël starts seducing Dominique, never non-con, but pushing Dominique hard. Dominique keeps researching the secret fraternity. This book has vivid and excellent psychological suspense in addition to the smoldering attraction between Dominique and Gaël. I needed to know how Damien died, needed to know how the romance could resolve, given the wide chasm in their economic and social classes. They get their HEA, things are explained, and caveat emptor re sex.

Crown of Steel by Lola Malone 2/8/25 2/12/25 Kindle

Second book in the Initiation series also takes place at Saint-Laurent Boarding College. Arthur is cousins with Gaël, and this book starts with Arthur and his twin brother Louis’ stepbrother Régis starting college. Régis’ mother is married to Arthur and Louis’s father, and the power dynamic of the family at home and on campus requires that he live in the on-campus suite with Gaël and Dominique who share a bedroom/bath, and Arthur and Louis, who also share a bedroom/bath. Régis has his own suite. We get vague hints of Régis’ backstory. Arthur has been tasked by his father to take care of his stepbrother and help him learn about his role in the family and the initiation into the fraternity. Régis resists, almost falls apart mentally and physically. Arthur is intrigued with his stepbrother, realizes that his growing attraction is taboo, but I’ve read enough stepbrother trope books to realize that they will get their HEA after a bit of angst and family shock. Régis backstory is tragic, and unlike the next book, which I abandoned, A Different Light, this book ratchets up the tension, both from a college, secret fraternity, attraction, and backstories. These are two characters who complement one another, work through issues, and make the ending believable and satisfying. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned A Different Light by Morningstar Ashley **

Man returns home to fix up/sell his parents’ house, he gets reacquainted with the neighbor ‘boy’ who’s all grown up. Sometimes I don’t want to learn about all the trauma/backstory of characters within the first 100 pages. There’s no tension, no “Why should I keep reading this when there’s ‘just’ sex and love at the end? Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Open Mind by Luna David **

Traveling nurse, Jamie, wants to settle down is hired by local doctor. Said doctor is seriously into kink, and his practice serves the kink community almost exclusively. Jamie will get a lesson in kink, both as a nurse and personally. I abandoned it before there was any need to write Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Sick Bargain by Nordika Night **

Unlike this book, which took me 189 pages to realize that I didn’t want to continue with it. Remiel runs to safety at Vile House, giving up his personal freedom in order to have his tormentors tortured and/or killed. Krypt is his ‘owner’. It really got silly quickly. Caveat emptor re sex. I’ve liked quite a few books by this author, but this one stopped being intriguing well before I abandoned it.

**abandoned Shameless by Lola Malone **

How seriously can I take a book where one Mafia-like gang is called the Void? *snort* Connor and Austin with college backstories that don’t include knowing that the other is a member of a gang family, must go to Paris together to work on solving a problem caused by a gang threatening both of THEIR gangs. Some plots are too trite to be allowed. Abandoned too soon to warn about MM sex.

**abandoned Bonds of Denial by Lynda Aicher **

I stupidly spent money on this Kindle book in December 2022, prior to my Kindle Unlimited enlightenment, saw it here on my Kindle again, and tried to read it again. Rock, working at a Sex Club called the Den, lusts after Carter. Once again I abandoned it before I needed to warn you about MM sex.

CAMBROS by Juliet M. Dixon 2/7/25 2/7/25 Kindle

College roommates turned real-world roommates are chronically poor and decide to have a website dedicated to them having gay sex to see if they can rake in the dough. They do, and start having emotional feelings for each other. HEA, and very, very steamy MM sex. And, all in 49 pages.

Pretty Broken Doll by Bree Wiley 2/12/25 2/12/25 Kindle

Shilo is working as an Uber driver while attending college online. One night he picks up a very drunk man, who offers to take Shilo home. Shilo goes home with him, they do sexual things but Shilo leaves the virgin he started out as. Ryann cruelly kicks him out because he only does hookups. Shilo is traumatized on top of having been traumatized in high school, becoming reclusive and having serious body image problems. They meet again when Shilo is hired to be Ryann’s PA. Shilo is passive aggressive towards Ryann. The amusing thing was how Shilo always ‘accidentally’ got Ryann’s coffee order wrong. They dance around each other. Ryann’s under a lot of pressure to marry a woman to get her company’s proprietary software. However, Shilo and Ryann start a boss/employee with benefits situationship. Shilo starts having feelings, Ryann also starts to have feelings. Parental rejection, parental pressure, etc. and etc., but they come out of it strong and together. Caveat emptor re sex.

Getting Lucky by Daryl Banner 2/7/25 Audible audio book narrated by Chris Chambers and Alex Kydd 12 hours

James is stuck in a boring finance job, and his only excitement is going to the casinos every other weekend with his 3 buddies. He sees this gorgeous young man, chases him down but he gets lost in the crowds. He sees him outside the hotel, but the young man, Lucas, is angry, cruel, and pushes James away. He says his name is Lucky. Next weekend, James goes by himself, and realizes Lucas is homeless. He entices him to eat with him, they play video arcade games, and Lucas spends the night in the only bed in the hotel room. He unknowingly cuddles around James in the night. James persuades him to come home with him, no strings attached, so that Lucas can eat enough, sleep safely, and etc. He starts working on the yard while James it at work. Soon, very soon, it becomes sexual. They’re both tentative but realize that their feelings are strong. There’s pushback from James’ friends, but James’ family embraces Lucas. I particularly like how the author got into the head of a 19-year old homeless man, with his strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics of a man and a boy. I like how the chapters, with one or the other’s PoV identified before the chapter starts, change from “Lucky” to Lucas. I also appreciated the author’s portrayal of James, resigned to living alone, resigned to his job. Lucas lights him up. There’s drama with the friends and with Lucas’ father. There’s a wonderful HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Bad Intentions by Ella Frank 2/15/25 2/15/25 Audible audio book narrated by Tim Paige and Aiden Snow 6.5 hours

Gabe goes to his best friend’s company’s party, where he is absolutely blown away by Marcus, CEO of said company. Gabe introduces himself as his own boss, Logan. Lots of flirting, and they hook up on another floor of the building. Imagine both their surprise when Marcus’s company is looking to have the law firm Gabe just joined as a PA represent them. Marcus is livid when he sees Gabe because of a possible conflict of interest. He realizes Gabe is not Logan, the partner. Logan gives Gabe twenty four hours to calm Marcus down and make sure what Gabe did doesn’t jeopardize the lucrative representation. Gabe worms his way into Marcus’s office and is thrown out. He stays downstairs ‘til Marcus leaves, and by his sheer persistence keeps Marcus from havin him arrested. At that point Marcus gives in to his attraction and agrees to continue the talks as long as Gabe is his personal servant for a week. Not THAT kind of personal servant. However, their attraction becomes physical and they the week together. Gabe wants a relationship, Marcus doesn’t feel he’s worthy of Gabe. Oh yes, and Marcus is 20 years older than Gabe. This book ends HFN, Good Intentions the second in the duet, already cued up on my Kindle.

The Mercenary and the Mortician by Alexandra St. Pierre 2/12/25 2/15/25 760 pages Kindle

760 pages. So much detail, so much backstory for both Ryan, the mortician, who took over after his father died suddenly, and Cal, who was given to Damian after Cal covered for his sister by telling the police he killed their abusive mother. Cal and his two sisters were kept in cages their whole lives before Damian, who gives Theo and Naomi everything as long as Cal becomes the contract killer Damian wants. Sort of like Orphan X… Cal sees a young boy he knows is being abused go into the mortician’s house. The father comes for the boy, Cal realizes he’s abusive, doesn’t let the boy go with the father. He follows the father and kills him, because that’s what he does. The mother is rescued and they are reunited. Ryan has issues of his own, including being able to see and hear ghosts and having a mother who’s a witch. In the meantime, Cal is absolutely gob-smacked by Ryan, who is nominally straight/asexual. Not even. Cal starts wooing Ryan, who is having none of it, but slowly realizes he is attracted to Cal. In the meantime, Damian sees his contract killer becoming lost to him. There’s retribution, saving, violence, kidnapping, torture, moderate BDSM with several kinks most people reading this would ABSOLUTELY not like. The HEA is satisfying even if there are a lot of dead bodies piled up to get there. Caveat emptor re sex and BDSM.

Angels of Wrath Series by Paulina Ian-Kane. Not for the faint of heart. Kidnapped boys used in bizarre government experiments now all grown up, functioning but with issues. There are 7 of them, named after the 7 angels of destruction mentioned in Revelation but only named in the apocryphal book Enoch. They consider themselves brothers. Each has had a number branded on his wrist. Each has a scar on his right palm signifying that they are blood brothers. At the end of book we find out that one of the ‘brothers’ has a twin we hadn’t heard about. So, 8. They all have societal-sanctioned jobs, but there is also the family business – finding people who’ve escaped justice and need to be eliminated. Very, very dark series.Each book is about one of the brothers meeting and either falling love with or otherwise ‘owning’ a romantic partner. Lots of sex, lots of violence, and a high-level plot that will span all books plus sub-plots in each book. Caveat emptor sex in each book.

Book one: One 2/15/25 2/16/25 Kindle Michael and Raph/Raphael. Raph is a fully functioning psychopath. He and the family are very protective of one of their mothers, Meg, and all of a sudden, she’s spending time with a forensic pathologist named Michael. It turns out that Michael is actually one of the original 7, but was adopted and completely lost his memories of his time in captivity. He was never branded with his number and never part of the blood brothers oath.

Book two: Six 2/16/25 2/18/25 Kindle Ollie and Rague/Raguel. Rague fights in illegal/underground venues in order to search for someone the family considers evil and who needs to be destroyed. He meets Ollie, a young man who also fights, because his father, one of the men Rague is looking for, forces him to by threatening Ollie’s young brother Sully. Rague owns his own construction company.

Book three: Three 2/18/25 2/20/25 Kindle Rami/Ramiel and Hunter. Rami designs gaming apps and, at one point tells Hunter that he has less money than Scrooge McDuck but more than Bill Gates. Rami is the family’s computer genius, able to hack and track and etc. when needed to find family members and bad guys. Hunter is now a P.I., formerly a cop, haunted by taking a fall and going to prison.

Book four: Five 2/20/25 2/20/25 Kindle Gabe/Bez and Lori. Lori is Ollie’s friend, a sassy intelligent but haunted young man. Gabe owns a law firm. Early on we learn that Gabriel is also Bezaliel. They cohabit the same body, come out at different times for different reasons. It takes Lori a while to figure out that something’s off about Gabe. I found the conversations between Lori and Gabe/Bez fascinating – beautifully written and balanced.

Happily Never After by Ava Olsen 2/18/25 2/18/25 Kindle

Aaron is the 4th generation CEO of a family-owned company. He’s under his father’s thumb, controlled by his father and the rest of the Board of Directors. He was humiliated in college his freshman year and never forgot the student who belittled and laughed at him at a frat party. Imagine his very unhappy surprise when he sees this young man being hired by his father over his protests, as a Sales Rep ten years later. Aaron is trying to expand the company’s reach, so he and Harrison go to a meet up to get a smaller company to sign with them. It’s the old ‘one bed’ trope. Lust becomes more, and there’s a sweet HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Mighty Quill by Emmaline Strange /2/21/25 2/24/25 Kindle

College student Cassian is desperate to find a room to rent, Thor has one. Cassian is on the hockey team, Thor is twink-sized. Turns out that Thor is part of a shifter family. This one’s different than any others I’ve ever read, though, because each family member shifts differently. Thor’s father is a wolf, his mother a lioness. One friend’s a swan. Thor is 20 but hasn’t shifted yet, hasn’t found his animal to shift to. His family gives him grief and heartache and humiliation over it. Thor and Cassian become good friends. Inklings of romantic interest on each side. When out one night, they come across a grotesque creature, part shifter/part human, dead. They report it. Two more, suspicious behavior by people around them both. In the meantime, they’re really attracted to one another, but Thor cannot and will not have sex with Cassian because it must be with a shifter, and the very act itself binds them for life. There’s danger, suspense, action, and sexy times. Without giving too much away, I must say that Thor’s fauna, his shifter, made me crack up every single time he shifted. It is intrinsic to the success of the story, and Thor eventually embraces his fauna, as does Cassian. Caveat emptor re sex.

Wake Me Up Inside by C Cardeno 2/24/25 2/24/25 Kindle

Wolf Shifter Zev is pack leader, gay in a culture that doesn’t approve or allow. As a young ‘cub’/boy, Zev sees Jonah, a human boy, and becomes his Pup. He knows they’re fated mates, but gay AND with a human mate seems impossible to overcome. Jonah goes away to college, unaware that Zev considers him his. They become more than friends but less than true lovers because Zev doesn’t want to seal the bond until Jonah understands about Zev. Jonah comes home. The bond happens, Zev is amazed at Jonah’s true nature, and we go from there. Caveat emptor re sex.

With This Ring by RS McKenzie 2/25/25 2/26/25 Kindle

Gay sons of rival mafia families are enemies since they knew each other existed. However, an outside threat has their fathers forcing them to marry so that the united families can neutralize the threat. Sexy times start pretty quickly, as do violent, bloody attacks on the families. Not for the faint of heart, lots of serious violence. Did I like it? Yes. Would you like it? Most likely not. Caveat emptor re sex and serious violence.

**abandoned Redeeming Rafe by Sloane Kennedy **

Mafia family (I know, I know…) loses their mother to violence and Rafe to his biological father. Fast forward 20 years and someone’s out to get the family. Turns out it’s Rafe, hellbent on the vengeance he needs because his brothers didn’t come for him like they promised. A few uncomfortable meetings, some violence and Cade follows Rafe, ostensibly to keep him from further damaging his brothers/famiies but which turns into attraction on both sides. Pretty shallow, 20 years hate turning around pretty quickly. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Friction by Kindle Alexander**

I abandoned this one at 91% read – 323 pages. Why, you ask? When I went to review the description just now, I am amazed that I lasted 323 pages. I can’t remember a single thing about the plot except that rich boy and poor boy are attracted. This is the first of a 3-part series, and at this point I’d rather it had finished up at the end of this one. I might have actually finished it. Caveat emptor re sex.

Wild by Adrienne Wilder 2/26/25 2/28/25 Kindle

I love survival stories, and this one is a good one. Carter is on a private jet with his boyfriend an entourage for a photo shoot. The plane crashes, and Carter comes to seeing bodies and devastation. He’s rescued by Keenan, who lives off grid, and taken to a primitive cabin owned by a vet, who visits once a year but leaves it stocked for whoever might need it. They need it for sure. Carter’s leg and foot are damaged and he’s delirious for 6 weeks. Keenan nurses him back to consciousness, where Carter realizes the damage to his foot and leg. They survive, clash, and eventually fall into bed together. They are resigned to being alone ‘til the vet returns, which he does in the late spring. Carter returns to civilization, Keenan stays because he’s been pursued for the last 10 years by a cartel owner who’s looking for the books and info Keenan stole from him. Carter unintentionally sets the mob on Keenan when he buys the cabin/land they stayed in. And it goes from there. Lots of adventure, lots of angst, lots of steamy times. A wolf cub named Daisy plays an important role, too. Caveat emptor re sex and violence.

Holy Moly, (((((Karen)))))! You have been busy here!!!!!!!

I'm busy nowhere, and besides that, I need a snack before bed. I wish you good, uninterrupted sleep and a fine week coming up.

Hi Karen!

Wow, you've been a busy bee with the reading! Well done you.

And I'm with you on the massage! If I won the lottery, one of the first things I'd do is schedule weekly massages. It is simply divine (but you have to get the right person).

Morning, Karen. Nice lightning round. Sue and I take turns taking our Aunt to church. She is 88. We bring our books and wait in the parking lot. That is as close as I get to church, unless I have to sneak in and use the bathroom.

Kids and then PB- this AM. Still trying to shake off this cold so I may keep it short. Back to 47F today. Yah!

>243 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! I’ve been busy if you count on obsessing on MM romances while trying to do all the medical/dental things, family/friend things, and adult things. But yes, I spend quite a bit of time reading.

Snacks before bed are a good thing. I had a small handful of raw pecan halves and a Skinny Pop about 9:30 or so last night. I think I got about 7.5 hours total, 6 of them uninterrupted.

Not being busy is not a bad thing. This Puritan work ethic we seem to have internalized to every cell in our bodies is simply not healthy. Busy yes, relax yes. We need to nix the guilt.

This coming week is surprisingly unbusy so far.

>244 PawsforThought: Hi Paws! Thanks re my February reading. Let’s see. If I won the lottery, the first thing I’d do is call our financial advisers and work with them to get a good lawyer. I am going to take Jenna and Hwan’s tax documents to our CPA today, so don’t know if I’d still try to use her or go with a different CPA. After that, I agree – arrange weekly massages and for me weekly chiropractor visits.

I love my massage therapist. She’s the best I’ve ever had, hands down. Heh. Another unintentional pun that I only realized after I wrote it.

>245 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Thanks re my lightning round. Ah, the old hang-out-in-the-parking-lot trick. I don’t mind going into non-evangelical churches, even Catholic ones although I come from a Protestant background, Presbyterian specifically. I love going to synagogue, too, although I haven’t done that in decades. I have never been in a mosque.

I hope you enjoy PB this morning and shake the cold. Yay for 47F. We’ll get to 54F, after 26F last night.

I’ve got all the usual suspects, including Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, and a female Red-Bellied Woodpecker. The feeders are already down quite a bit, but that’s okay.

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The focaccia came out pretty good. We both liked it. I think I'd do four things differently. Not sprinkle salt on it after dimpling the dough/splashing butter-water -salt mixture in the dimples. I wussed out on the Rosemary, as you can see from the picture. I should have prepared the Rosemary earlier in the process so I wasn't rushed and put lots on. I should have given it the 4 hours coming out of the fridge instead of 3 out of the 2-4, and let to do the final rise for an additional 15-20 minutes. Finally, I should have baked it 5 minutes longer or 15 degrees hotter. Probably the latter.



I filled the feeders and paid two bills online. Feb stats and lightning round complete and posted. And all the rest of the things, including getting Jenna/Hwan's tax documents ready. Oh, and I've already finished 2 books in March.

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I called our CPA first thing and will meet up at her office at 11:30. I nudged Bill yesterday and I think we actually have all our tax documents ready to hand over, too. Unheard of, but our lives are not as financially complicated as they have been in the past. I'll have Lynda work on Jenna/Hwan's first, since Hwan wants them done well before the deadline. Foreign national, chaos demon, etc. Us, not so much, as long as Lynda files extensions and we pay estimated taxes due by the filing date.

Other than that, I'll pick up the 100 additional bookmarks we need between now and the book sale advertising THIS sale. I'll also drop off what we need to hand out at the sale March 20-22 advertising the fall book sale.

Relax, etc., read, putter. I might make something for dinner, depending on my mood. It will include focaccia for sure.

>246 karenmarie: Urgh, hearing about American taxes makes me break out in hives. It seems so cumbersome. I'm so grateful that our tax bureaucracy is so streamlined. All I have to do is log into the tax agency's website, make any adjustments that should be (I should get a deduction for commuting costs) and then press "Send".

I also have no issue with being in religious buildings of any kind, despite being a staunch atheist. I find them interesting and important historical and cultural buildings. I've been in protestant and catholic churches, synagogues and mosques. Lots of pretty and interesting things to look at. As long as I don't need to take part in a service, I'm good.

Afternoon, Sister of my Heart! Look at your focaccia!! Might pretty.

Loved reading through your lightening rounds, so thanks for that.

>227 karenmarie: "I watch his shorts (well, that came out wrong!) on YouTube ..." This made me laugh out loud.

>236 karenmarie: "Jenna faithfully tries asparagus every once in a while, and I give her $1. she still doesn't like it." This made me laugh. Good for Jenna and for you.

I love dill. The Barefoot Contessa has a recipe that uses it on roasted carrots, and it's so good. But Rae is with you - not a fan of dill.

Hoping Monday has been kind to you.

>242 karenmarie: I'm reading MateHub: Legend. You are reliable as a recommender of MM romances.

Here I am late again with very little brain to say anything even if I had anything to say. I did sign the final papers to close probate. The legal sec. has to harass the bank one more time to get copies front and back of the 4 checks I wrote on the estate account last year. That's it. I devoutly hope nothing else shows up!

Oh, the focaccia looks fabulous!!!! Surely, surely I'll try it soon...........

You'll be happy to know that I started watching my Harry Potter DVDs tonight as sort of an antidote to rereading Silence of the Lambs, I guess. I have five other books started and like them all, but I read an interview with Hopkins and Foster on the 30th anniversary of the movie, and somehow just had to pick it up again. It's hard to stop once I start.

That's it for me. I'd love to hear that you got another 7.5 hours of good sleep tonight! Hope we both can do it, (((((Karen))))).

>247 PawsforThought: Wow, Paws, that’s fantastic re your tax structure. I wish.

I’m with you about visiting historic religious buildings, although ‘historic’ is most likely different here – nothing Christian or Jewish before ~1630 or so. The oldest Islamic congregation/building is from the 1970s. The last religious service I attended was a Mass for a friend’s husband’s death in 2019. Up, down, up, down, Catholics got to ‘drink the wine and chew the wafer’. That’s a quote from The Vatican Rag by Tom Lehrer.

>248 Crazymamie: Hi Sister of My Heart! Thank you re my focaccia. It’s totally yummy. You’re welcome re my Lightning Round.

I will try dill soon. But based on historic tastings, I’ll probably be on Team Rae. Thanks re my Monday. I’ll visit soon to see how yours was.

>249 quondame: Hi Susan. Thank you. I really, really liked MateHub: Legend, and appreciate your compliment. I’ve now read 1002 MM, MMM, or MFM romances. My tastes have refined and focused, and I am now spending more and more time finding either new authors or waiting for new books by authors I like. I mostly read MM right now, avoiding MMF and even MMM. However, I just looked at the last MMM I read, and the author, Kay Simone, has quite a few MMs to check out.

>250 LizzieD: (((((Peggy))))) Congrats on signing the final papers, sorry the bank is being recalcitrant. Thanks re the focaccia. As a non-Italian American novice, I’m pleased with my first effort.

*shudder* Silence of the Lambs and Silence of the Lambs occasionally make it to top of stack in my thought processes, but only in a ‘never again’ sort of way. The scene I remember most frequently is when Jodie Foster is in the pit and lures the dog in, causing … ? … to go crazy. Unfortunately, I cannot see anything by Anthony Hopkins, or even photos of him without thinking of some of the more gruesome scenes. I can understand wanting to ‘cleanse your palate’, so to speak, with Harry Potter.

Last night’s sleep was only about 4 hours straight, but I took a serious nap between 4:30-6:30 last night, then did a bit of dozing before finally turning off the light at 1:30 this morning. It’s a bad sleep pattern, and I’m going to make sure I don’t nap today.

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Schlepped ~30 miles to drop off both sets of tax documents, then back up to town to pick up more bookmarks to hand out advertising this coming sale and hand off the bookmark needs to hand out AT this coming sale advertising the fall sale. Quick visit to the grocery store, took the bookmarks into the Library and chatted with Rita the branch Librarian. We set up lunch plans for next Monday and I found an old book that appeals to me - The Mythology of Greece and Rome: With Special Reference to Its Use in Art, published in 1904 in London. I'll pay the $4 for it at the upcoming sale.

Home, updating catch-up-Kindle covers on LT, reading, napping. A Touch of Frost, and etc.

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Book sort and Virlie's, bank drive through, then cleaning ladies this afternoon.

Morning, Karen. Keep in mind- No nap today. I had to cancel my bird walk for this AM. It looks like rain all day. I am going to try and schedule it for next Tuesday. My right foot really bothered me after playing yesterday. Sue made me an appointment for tomorrow morning. I may get the cortisone shot.

>251 karenmarie: The tax agency here is in charge of a lot of different things, which means that they have almost all the information needed for taxes. It makes life easy.

Morning, Karen! I have not read or watched Silence of the Lambs and have no intention of changing that, although I am sure both are full of fabulous. I don't need anymore things I cannot unsee in my head.

Good luck with changing up the sleep pattern.

I need to go to the grocery store, but as usual I am procrastinating.

Hoping today is kind to you, dear one!

>254 Crazymamie: and >251 karenmarie: I don't know why I have this horror bent. I wonder whether I'm more frightened than most people in a general way, and crave reassurance of catharsis. Can't tell you. Incidentally, Karen, it's the captive who does what you remember where you remember it and not the rescuer. Strangely, what I most remember is the first conversation between Foster and Hopkins.

I wish you a very good day!

>255 LizzieD: I do like horror - that one just sounds like it would be the wrong kind of creepy for me. I used to be able to read anything, but since I have had daughters, some things are just a no for me.

I should probably just wait for the next thread but just wanted to say hello! February is a blur: a road trip and then we adopted a "challenging" dog, an abandoned hunting dog who is cute and sweet but needs socialization work.

>252 msf59: ‘Morning the next day, Mark! I never came back here yesterday… was really busy in all the good ways. I hope you can get the cortisone shot. Or completely stop PB before your trip? I know which one you’d prefer.

Separate but related. I had a plantar wart on my right foot in the late 1990s and the podiatrist gave me options. Freeze several/many times or completely cut it out, but that required a shot that, according to him, would be one of the most painful things I’d ever felt. I took that option, and he was right. However, it worked and after a bit of healing you’d never know I had it.

I did not take a nap. I got 6 hours uninterrupted sleep.

>253 PawsforThought: Your country’s system sounds really good, Paws, although depending on what the taxation rate is I might not like the amount to be paid.

>254 Crazymamie: ‘Morning, Mamie! Yes, you can live your life to the fullest, with your loving family, your dear friends here on LT, the Sister of Your Heart, and your fam/friends in the real world without ever, ever, needing what I personally consider one of the most awful things I’ve ever watched/read. The Matrix is the only other thing I can think of offhand that disturbed me as much. Thanks re my sleep pattern – no nap, to bed a bit earlier, and woke up naturally about 45 minutes ago.

Yesterday was a good day. I hope yesterday was kind to you, too.

>255 LizzieD: I admit that of all the people here on LT that I know, you are least likely to have a horror bent. Ah, I stand corrected. Thanks re my yesterday.

>256 Crazymamie: I understand the bit about having to change what you could read after you had children. After I had Jenna, I tried watching The Horse Whisperer, and couldn’t get past the leadup to the horrific accident. Abandoned forever.

>257 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Glad you stopped by. Oh my, a challenging dog. I hope it goes well with socializing her/him.

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We were very, very busy yesterday at book sort, and just finished by our 11 a.m. cutoff time. Anything left over by then has to wait 'til the next week. Virlie's was, as always, fun, and after getting cash for the cleaning ladies, came home. They were already here and left before the 3 p.m. Arsenal - PSV match. It's for Champions League, not Premier League. Arsenal embarrassed the Dutch team on their home pitch 7-1, best scoring effort for Arsenal under Arteta. Martin Ødegaard got player of the match. I worked on catch-up-Kindle covers - I'm trying to get rid of all Amazon covers there and across my entire catalog.

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We're under a level 3 of 5 risk for severe storms between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Kitty door stayed closed. We're currently under a tornado watch and a medium risk level for losing power. No plans to go out anyway, so we'll stay hunkered down.

I don't have anything official I have to do today, so will read, putter, work on covers, etc. I do want to read an article written by one of the book sort team members and published in a genealogy journal. He recently sent a PDF of it and it's about one of his ancestors - Elizabeth Pollock Devereaux Jones, 1818-1879.

Oh, goodness, storm warning followed by tornado watch. I hope you get to keep the power on.

>258 karenmarie: Sounds omnibus, Horrible. I'm glad y'all have the option to stay snugly home while the weather does its damndest to express disapproval of the political horrors NC helped inflict on the world.

Morning, Karen. Hooray for 6 hours uninterrupted sleep. May that continue. I am leaving shortly for the foot doctor appointment. I am hoping to get the shot. I will see how I feel on Friday, if I decide to play or not.

Like you, we have some crappy weather arriving this afternoon. Rain/snow mix, dropping temps.

>259 PawsforThought: Thanks, Paws. We're getting rained upon, and the wind has picked up. The squall line hasn't gotten this far yet, so we'll see.

>260 richardderus: Hiya, RD. All 4 of us are snug - two humans and two fur babies. We kept the kitty door locked.

I see that the Supreme Court has blocked the chaos demon's bid to freeze foreign aid. There is some honor among Gang of Psycho thieves. Every state that went for him should be ashamed. Even mine, alas.

>261 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and thank you! Six hours is pretty good. Good luck at the foot doctor. I hope you get the shot and that it brings relief.

Hope the rain/snow mix is more rain than snow.

We're battened down and hunkered too, (((((Karen))))). We've had a little rain and more wind, but the main front should be coming through within a half hour or so. When I last looked at radar, it wasn't showing any red. I can live with that! Batman is meowing and racing around like a crazy cat,but the other six are undisturbed - except by the Brat.

HOORAY for the Supreme Court!
My best college friend is urging participation in The Ides of Trump Campaign. People are to mail as many postcards to the White House as they want on March 15. I'm thinking that if he gets a lot, he'll be thrilled at how many of the enemy he has upset. If he gets fewer, he'll be thrilled at how little his detractors can do and how small their influence is. Most likely scenario in my mind is that word of the effort will never get to him.
I'll say again that the Dems and their sympathizers need new leadership that isn't stuck in the 1950s.

Sorry for the horror disillusionment, Karen, if that's what it is. I can't watch much of it, but I've read it forever. Maybe it's because I only imagine and don't visualize????

Stay safe and enjoy a calm day inside!

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. Back into the 30s for the next few days but we may soar into the 60s next week. Yeah, baby. I have bone spurs in both my heels but the right one is more pronounced. The treatment and shot went well. I have 2 appointments next week for treatments before the trip.

Looking forward to Jackson Day. I will scoop him up in a couple of hours and he will stay with us until tomorrow. 😀❤️

>263 LizzieD: It was basically a non-event here, Peggy. Sorry your Brat ran around like crazy. Our kitties were a bit batty for a while because they're used to going out, but I didn't let them out 'til about 2.

I agree about the Dems. Sitting on their hands up there in D.C. They should be courting sane Republicans to cross the aisle consistently.

For me it's definitely the visual regarding horror.

We stayed safe and stayed inside except late in the afternoon when I refilled all the bird feeders.

.264 ‘Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you. I’m glad you have a diagnosis and treatment plan and hope the shot works quickly. What kind of treatment did you get beyond the shot? Yay for Jackson Day.

All the usual suspects on the feeders.

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About 2" of rain, a bit of non-damaging wind gusts. I'll be interested in seeing the drought map after they update it next Tuesday. Right now my county and Irene's county are abnormally dry, Peggy's is in moderate drought.

I made chocolate chip cookies yesterday. I am now completely in love with the 'scant 1/4" cup of dough rolled into a ball then very slightly flattened, bake for 17-19 minutes method'. It takes less time getting a cookie sheet ready for the oven. Less baking even if more time per cookie sheet. The cookies came out great.

I'm worked on getting non-Amazon covers on all the other Kindle books I have that are not 'catch-up-Kindle' books. Eventually I want to get away from all Amazon covers.

I got about 6 hours of sleep again.

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Another day where I don't have to, and won't, leave the house. Puttering, reading, a few adulting things, and etc. I might even cook something for dinner.

>265 karenmarie: Happy do-nothing day, Horrible. I hope it's so bland you can't tell it from tomorrow.

*smooch*

Morning, Sister of my Heart! Hooray for a stay at home day. We had high winds move in yesterday, and they are still here, but our wind advisory is gone.

Yum to chocolate chip cookies. I have always rolled mine into a ball and then slightly flattened them - how did you do it before?

>266 richardderus: Hi RD and thank you for the bland day wishes. I hope your foot calms down. *smooch*

>267 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie! Yes to my stay-at-home day. Glad your wind advisory is gone although you still have high winds.

I was lazy, and just grabbed a bit up with a spoon and plopped it down - usually about 2T.

I am definitely of the spoon plopping school. If I ever make cookies again, I'll try the scant quarter cup.

I did make 2 of my 4 phone calls this morning, so I feel good enough to stop. Off to walk but not before wishing you a happy day, adulting-inspirer (((((Karen)))))!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/369071

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. The foot treatment is a foot Jacuzzi and then ultrasound application. It feels good at the time but I am not sure how helpful it is in the long run.

We are having a good time with Jack. Yesterday, I took him to the library and then for ice cream. Sue will mostly tend to him today. Looks like we are getting snow. WTH?

>269 LizzieD: (((((Peggy))))) This method works unless you’re taking them to a pot luck or church do, because there be fewer than two dozen, depending on the recipe. This chocolate chip cookie recipe, from a Food Lion chocolate chip bag from eons ago, made 18. Of course I did have to try the dough, and after the last cookie sheet was in the oven used a spatula to scrape up the last bits of dough just to eat, even if there were no chocolate chips in it. So, perhaps 19?

Yay for your phone calls yesterday. I hope you rewarded yourself with the walk, reading, napping, and etc.

>270 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

.271 ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you. I am sorry the foot Jacuzzi and ultrasound didn’t provide any longer term relief. I have a foot Jacuzzi here at the house that I haven’t used in 15 years or more.

Yay with Jack. I enjoy the pictures of him at the Library. I’m glad you take him frequently so that he always associates Libraries you and good times. I’m sure other people take him, too, but your special times with him are just that. Special. I filled the bird feeders again yesterday. Just had a Downy, and currently have 4 birds devouring the nyjer seed. It’s already down by 2/3. A male Red-Bellied just showed up, as well as Cardinals and a Carolina Chickadee, who’s on the suet feeder. It's taken me so long getting this message finalized that I've just spotted a Carolina Wren, too. I heard a Red-Shouldered Hawk yesterday, as well as an owl of some sort. I was too lazy to listen to the calls on allaboutbirds.

Looks like just a dusting for you, but we know that weather predictions can be wildly off target.

Wordle 1,357 2/6* trope, troop

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I ended up booking the hotel I'll be staying at when I get to join the meet up with Peggy, Stasia and her husband Kerry the week after next. I simply cannot drive down and back up in one day, so will drive down Sunday and return on Tuesday. Of course the book sale is Thursday - Saturday, and for the first time ever when I'm available on Thursday I'll only be a customer then leave in time for a massage. I booked it after the book sale schedule was set, but didn't realize it conflicted. I'm volunteering for one shift each on Friday and Saturday. Plus, books. *smile* I'll deserve resting up on Sunday the 23rd. Probably cataloging books, too.

Also filled the bird feeders, got the breakfast table cleaned off, cleaned, and covered with this marvelous round tablecloth that Bill's Mama had. The kitties will still hang out on the table, of course, can't get around that, but I like seeing no clutter in that part of the kitchen. This included getting a microwave and large box of photos off the table. I also moved the second kitty condo to the dining room so the kitties can look at the birds from there.

Finally, I baked 2 lovely russet potatoes and made 8 pieces of air fryer chicken. Two batches, we ate while the second batch air fried. We've got lovely leftovers, both chicken and potato.

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I'm debating about surprising Jenna at Nothing Bundt Cakes today. I've been meaning to do it for a while, but it depends on her schedule.

PT at 5 p.m. for sure, then possibly grocery shopping.

>272 karenmarie: A pleasantly full day, and future fun to anticipate, so this sounds like a really good weekend-starter of a day. Enjoy the Jenna meetup, if it happens, and certainly your PT! *smooch*

Good afternoon, (((((Karen))))), although it feels like morning to me!

Isn't 5:00 late for PT? I'm glad I'm not the one, but I hope you surprise Jenna today. I see a mini or so in your immediate future if you do! As eve, I'm impressed by all that you do. I remember being very busy, and I can truly say that I don't miss it at all!

I'd make my third phone call, but I'm sure that they're at lunch. *grin*

Good day to you! Enjoy the leftovers! I'm counting down the days!!!!!!!!

Happy Friday, Karen! I bet the kitties are loving the new location of the cat condo - ours always get so excited when we change things up.

Yum to the chicken and potatoes. I love potatoes so much.

Like Peggy, I'm hoping that you do surprise Jenna today - a lovely gift for you and for her.

How full of fabulous that you are going to meet up with Peggy, Stasia and Kerry!! That is just so happy making.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Jack loves the library- I just can't wait until he starts enjoying the books, instead of the other stuff. It is Bree's birthday so we will be going over there later for dinner, to celebrate.

I am going to do a solo bird walk this AM. See if I can pick up any FOY birds. Still chilly out but lots of glorious sunshine.

>273 richardderus: Hi RD! I’m ‘enjoying’ my PT from yesterday – I’ve already taken Tylenol and Tramadol and used CBD ointment on my back. Yesterday turned out to be excessively lazy. *smooch*

>274 LizzieD: Hi (((((Peggy))))). It’s the next morning, and I’ve only had two sips of coffee so far. 5 is late, his latest appointment. All of a sudden his Friday schedule has gotten full weeks in advance. I used to be able to book a reasonably-timed appointment for the next week. I hope you made the third call after they were back from lunch. Leftovers for tonight – things happened weird time-wise and I had a late lunch about 2 and was only hungry for toast last night.

I’m counting down the days, too.

>275 Crazymamie: So far they haven’t seemed terribly interested, Mamie, but maybe I’ve missed the times they’ve visited. I love potatoes, too. Baked, scalloped, fried, mashed, etc. I got very lazy yesterday, alas.

I’m thrilled that they asked m to join them. We started talks a while back. They asked Irene, too, but her schedule and unreliable car make this time a no-go, alas.

>276 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you, too. Happy Birthday to Bree! Happy a.m. bird walk! It’s gorgeous out here – blue skies, 57F -> 73. Ugh. Too warm for this time of year.

All seed feeders need attention already. The suet is holding it’s own, with a Downy on it right now.

Wordle 1,358 3/6* trope, vixen, navel

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What did I do yesterday? Oh, took a shower, read, dithered around for so long that I couldn't get to Nothing Bundt Cakes before Jenna would have left or I had to be at PT. Didn't go grocery shopping. Let's see - the only things I did do were chat with Karen, Jenna briefly, go to PT, finalize the grocery shopping list, start getting the topper for my next thread ready. I found a very sweet pic of Jenna when she was 2 years old and a cute one of the gingers hanging out together. I got 3 hours, then 5 hours of sleep. Texted with my sister from 2:55 a.m. to 4:18 a.m. my time - she's in SoCal so it was 3 hours earlier. She occasionally texts in the night for me to see the next morning, but I had woken up from the 3 hour sleep by then.

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I want to go grocery shopping today. Tomorrow I should go to book club but read 1 page of The Mitford Sisters and bailed. Arsenal plays at 12:30, so between them I think I'm going to bail on going, too. Guilt, but not enough guilt.

I found another Gaiman book this morning at the very back of a shelf upstairs with 269 mass market paperbacks on it - Good Omens. There are still two upstairs, but I might look for them tonight. One in the Media Room, two here in the Sunroom. I'm glad there aren't any behind the convertible sofa in the Library since it's too heavy for me to move.

Reading, puttering, shopping. Possibly using the last of my OTC money for this quarter.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. I had a good time on my solo bird walk, although birds were scarce. I did get my FOY pileated woodpecker, which is always a treat. The sand hill cranes are on the move too. I heard and saw them, making their way north. I plan on taking Juno for a long walk, otherwise it will be a lazy one here.

>278 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you, too. Congrats on the Pileated Woodpecker. AND the Sandhill Cranes. I'm completely envious of both sightings. We do have Pileateds out here, but not Sandhill Cranes. Enjoy your walk and your being lazy.

All the usual suspects here, and I need to fill the feeders again. Believe it or not, there is not ONE fat bird out there.

Wordle 1,359 4/6* trope, cried, freed, greed

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I found the last two Gaiman books, both hidden behind other rows of books in the Retreat. Getting down and up wasn't pretty, but it wasn't hard either, which actually surprised me knee-wise and upper body-strength wise.

Had leftover chicken and baked potatoes for dinner. Otherwise read and worked on NOT catch-up-Kindle covers. Only 333 to either confirm that I've assigned a non-Amazon cover or change to a non-Amazon cover.

Serious laziness caused me to not go food shopping again.

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Arsenal plays Man United at 12:30. Unless there's a miracle, they can't take the title. However, they're my team and unlike the NFL, I don't have a backup team and won't. I'll go grocery shopping after the game. Probably. Possibly.

I might vacuum my car out before the game.

I will read, putter, and get the culled books into one or more bags to set aside 'til after the book sale. Cutoff was the 10th, but the room's already full so we told people the cutoff to donate was moved to the 3rd.

>279 karenmarie: Another restful day! Just what your knees need. I do not know how you'll survive without Bill, though, if no coffee comes into the house...not to mention the challenge of disposing of the body and explaining to Jenna why Daddy isn't coming home again.

¡Suerte, amiga!

I wish you a good rest of the day, Karen! You owe your knees some relaxation!

I'm sorry that you didn't get pulled into the Mitfords, or maybe not. I'm a serious fan-girl of a sort. In fact, I don't know quite what the attraction is (Diana and Unity were deplorable), but I read about them and read about them with the same devotion that other people (not you) give the royal family.

Congrats on Wordle in 4. I got Stupid Skunk.

>185 karenmarie: love this card idea :)

I'm not
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I'm 18 with
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I had a busy day today with a work deadline that forced me to really knuckle down and produce fast work. We made it, but I feel a little washed out now! Possibly also added to with a school meeting to address master 16's less than perfect behaviour.... I need a bath!

>279 karenmarie: I hope all went well with the reading, puttering, etc yesterday.

Have a marvelous Monday, Karen!

Morning, Karen. One of my bosses (the son) is in the hospital so I am covering his shift for the next couple of days. It is a longer shift, for the same pay, and it includes driving the bigger van but I am glad I can help out. I am also going to squeeze in Trail Watch. My feeders have also been quiet.

Oops, sorry Karen. I thought I was posting on Mark's thread (I wrote a feeder report!) Hope all is well with you!

>281 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I did one more round of (ab)using my knees to see if something was under the bed. No joy.

I feel guilty for not trying harder, yet Too Many Books Too Little Time. I don’t think there’s anybody I care about in the public arena with the devotion you have to the Mitfords and other people have to the royal family. I do admit, though, to liking YouTube Shorts that show young Prince Louis’s antics. And Charlotte and George look pretty weighted down with their obligations.

Next month’s book club book is The Good Lord Bird. I’ve got it here at the house already. Sorry you got stupid skunked.

>282 LovingLit: Hi Megan! I’ve got it tucked away just waiting for the right time. Yikes about W’s less than perfect behaviour. I can hardly believe he’s 16. I hope you got a relaxing, candle-lit, glass-of-wine bath.

>283 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Yesterday was productive and good. Thank you.

>284 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! I’m sorry about the boss being in the hospital. You’re one of those people that employers can count on, good AND bad. Jenna’s the same way – her boss has given part-time Jenna two raises and only gives her shifts that work to her benefit (i.e., not closing on Saturday night). Hmm. Longer shift for same pay. That is less than good. I hope TW is happy making.

I had two Downys on the suet feeder earlier - one on each side. I've got a male Cardinal and a Carolina Chickadee and several finches trying for the last seeds.

>285 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! You can always leave a feeder report. I know that there have been times you’ve not put feeders out because of …?... can’t remember which bird decimates them. I’m doing pretty well, hope you are, too.

Wordle 1,360 3/6* trope, paste, spite

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Man United, having one of the worst seasons in their history, drew with Arsenal yesterday. Thank goodness for Declan Rice - he scored the only goal AND made a brilliant save. Raya, Arsenal's goalie, made several fantastic saves, too.

Books, puttering, napping. Grocery shopping. They did not have my one soft drink indulgence, Cherry Bubly, but I got everything else on the list.

I just deleted the last two Gaiman books, but if anybody's interested, they're in >5 karenmarie: above, books 9, 19, 20, 21-23, 25-26. Sad to have to say US only because of postage. PM me, full name and address.

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Chiropractor at 11:15. I'm going to forgo the last shock wave treatment for my thumb and get them to reimburse me the $75. I'm also going to schlep up the road a bit and go to a different grocery store on the lookout for the Cherry Bubly. Once home, I am really, truly, going to get the stack of culled books off the desk and onto the little yellow table.

I also need to update my spreadsheet and Lightning Round. I finished a MM romance last night that I was listening to.

And, finally, the bird feeders need serious attention.

>286 karenmarie: Cherry Bubly? Fizz without sugar or *shudder* chemistry experiments seems like a good idea.

Deaccessioning Gaiman, while it never made it into my catalog of owned books, is a sad necessity...rewarding predators after knowing how they behaved is bad policy to me.

*smooch*

You've planned another busy, happy day, Karen. Hope it goes just as planned.

I really, really enjoyed The Good Lord Bird and hope it appeals to you too. I had forgotten that it won the NBA in 2013.

I need to start doing some serious work at Mama's house instead of just schlepping boxes back to the front bedroom/storage room. Looks like it's going to be hot here for your visit!!!

>286 karenmarie: - Hi again. I had just reported seeing both a cardinal and a goldfinch on my feeder together. It has happened before but not often and never (of course not) when I have my phone (camera) ready.
The last few summers I had stopped putting out the feeder because they seem to attract pigeons. Even though the pigeons don't actually attempt to land on the feeder, they congregate on the ground and once there is one pigeon, there will quickly be many. They gather by the tons in mall parking lots and I do not want to wake up and see my lawn transformed. I know it's easier for birds to find food elsewhere in summer but it makes me sad because I really love the ones that come to my feeder. Oh well...

Afternoon, Sister of my Heart!

Hoping that your day goes smoothly and that you can find your soda.

Happy Monday! Here is my bird report:

I put up a window feeder for the cat, and we get cardinals, titmice, wrens, goldfinches (they are getting golder by the day), house finches, white-throated sparros, and juncos. The suet feeders are popular with our downy woodpeckers and rarer red-bellied woodpeckers.

I am going to put up the hummingbird feeders early this year as I will be traveling on April 1, my traditional day. Just saw the annual migration map and they are on the move!

>287 richardderus: Yup. Fizz without sugar or fake sugar. I was going to go to the store, but Bill texted me that Amazon had it for even cheaper than the cheapest price my grocery store offers it, so he ordered 2 8-packs and put it on Subscribe & Save.

Yup, Gaiman gone.

>288 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I did the things I said I would except for getting the Bubly, but I’d forgotten that the custom bookmarks being donated to be handed out at our upcoming sale were ready to be picked up, so stopped there, then took them to the Library.

Ugh to hot in mid-March. Good luck with the serious work – I, too, move things around way too much.

>289 jessibud2: Yes, pigeons. Now I remember. How sweet to see Red and Gold on your feeder.

>290 Crazymamie: Hi Mamie, Sister of My Heart! My day went smoothly. No soda acquisition, but I’ll have tomorrow – perhaps even in time for me to have one with dinner.

>291 witchyrichy: Hello Karen! Your birds sound like my birds. I need to start thinking about the hummingbird feeder. I will need to find another hanger if I want to keep what’s there with it, too.

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While dropping off the book marks at the Library, I looked at donations, and found a beautiful Viking hardcover slipcased 2-volume The Tale of Genji. It's now mine.

Wordle 1,361 2/6* trope, track

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Bill and I watched the final episode of A Touch of Frost last night. We liked the series - me a bit more than Bill - and were disconcerted to see the actress we know as Mrs. Hughes in the last couple of episodes. It's like she never existed for us before AToFDownton Abbey. We have several series we're considering next.

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Last book sort/Virlie's before the sale March 20-22. I really need to make the Beef Barley Soup I finally have everything here at the house for. The chuck roast I'm going to cut up is defrosting in the refrigerator.

Morning, Karen. Boos is still in the hospital. I will do his shift again. Unfortunately I am leading a bird walk this AM. It got rained out last week. A birding buddy is stepping up and leading the walk for me, at least until I get there. Sighs...

It was quiet on Trail Watch. I expected to see more birdy activity. It was a beautiful morning.

Hope you're about to set out for Virlie's and that it's all A LOT of FUN! (((((Karen))))) for your day!

>222 karenmarie: I like that wish, and will happily endorse it for myself.

>294 msf59: Hi Mark! I hope everything went well yesterday. My birds are quite happy. Five on the nyjer seed feeder, a Red-Bellied just leaving the suet feeder. Surprisingly, no other birds right now except for finches or sparrows.

>295 LizzieD: Let's see... yesterday at 11:47 we were all chowing down. Most of us got there by 10:50, so some of us quickly ordered breakfast, and the rest of us ordered lunch - the cutover time is rigidly set at 11. Thank you re my day, dear Peggy.

>296 ArlieS: Hello Arlie! Let's see - at this time I am going to wait another 6 months to redo the scan. My GP and I agree that nothing's changed, so we'll wait. Here's hoping we get our wish.

Wordle 1,362 3/6* trope, dough, mango

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We were busy 'til about 10:45 yesterday sorting books. There were twelve of us - way too many for that room, really, but with a lot of dodging and asking people to move away from the cubbies, we got everything put sorted or taken to the Thrift Shop. Theoretically we won't be getting any more donations 'til after the sale, but realistically there will be more donations.

There were nine of us at Virlie's - a full round table.

I got a bee in my bonnet and decided that I needed to vacuum my SUV out. We won't say how long it's been. I want to clean the inside windows, dash, and console today.

Why don't I take it to a carwash? The only ones open here right now are the kind you drive through. I'd rather do things here at the house, not worrying about people watching me. I know - it IS all about me, right? *smile* I tried getting someone to come out to the house last year, but they never replied even though they're still active in the area and I'd used them before for two of our vehicles. At a minimum my SUV will have a clean interior, and maybe even a clean exterior in the next several days.

We started a new series, Hope Street. I liked the first episode more than Bill did, although by the end he liked the female lead more than during the episode. He's so judgy.

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Nowhere to go, puttering, reading, and etc., inside.

edited to add:

Sigh. Sadness. I'm working hard to make sure all my Kindle covers are NOT Amazon covers. I will eventually get to all other Amazon covers, too.

I have, in recent days, found and chosen several covers by @@rosalita, our dearest Julia. I miss her.

Hi Karen! I can relate to your car cleanliness situation. We are really bad about washing our cars. Last fall we finally got around to doing it ourselves and vowed we would get them cleaned during the winter at the local car drive-thru car wash. Did we? Nope. And then last week there was a dust storm in TX that blew east and came down here in the rain. Our cars were covered in the rain-dust. We just couldn't stand it so Chris took matters into his own hands yesterday afternoon. The interiors still need cleaning ... god knows when we'll get around to that. Ha.

Enjoy your puttering day.

A sentence that I will never say, I want to clean the inside windows, dash, and console today. I may say, "I MUST clean .....," but never "I want to."
My DH washes the outsides of our vehicles from time to time. I bless him, but I'm definitely of the if-it-won't-come-off-with-a-blast-from-the-hose-it-can-just-stay-there school.

Hi Karen!! At least I made it here before you start a new thread. : ) Happy Wednesday. And I don't have to wash my car -- it's rain here all week. LOL

>298 lauralkeet: You surprise me, Laura – you and Chris seem SO organized and under control… I’m the opposite – want the interior done first, then the exterior. Thanks re the puttering. So far, book read, 2 removed from catalog, quite a few Kindle book covers confirmed as or changed to Member Uploaded. Onion chopped, celery sliced, carrots sliced, garlic garlic-pressed. Next up, beef being cubed, but I’ll wait for a while.

>299 LizzieD: Peggy, I never thought about ‘I want’ instead of ‘I MUST’. So funny. Regarding the exterior – every Tuesday when I go to book sort, I am embarrassed about how dirty my SUV is. EVERY SINGLE TUESDAY. It’s never been a motivation, but I really want to have at least some of my SUV not looking like Pig Pen rolled in it or on it when I come to visit.

>300 Berly: Kim! Nice to see you here. Thanks – it doesn’t feel like Wednesday. I haven’t figured out what it feels like, though. Rain is always a good excuse to not wash a car.

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I'm off to set up my new thread. See you over there!