karenmarie reading and occasional nonsense in 2026 - Part II

Welcome to my second thread of 2026. I’ve recycled the theme from my threads of 2017, which I saw SuziQoregon use in 2016 and liked. I’m up for nonsense and reading to help dull the pain of where our country is this February of 2026.

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

Book Worm, Book Dragon, Book Angel

If you cut me open, you will find volume after volume, page after page, the contents of every one I have ever read, somehow transmuted and transformed into me. Alice in Wonderland. the Magic Faraway Tree. The Hound of the Baskervilles. The Book of Job. Bleak House. Wuthering Heights. The Complete Poems of W H Auden. The Tale of Mr Tod. Howard''s End. What a strange person I must be. But if the books I have read have helped to form me, then probably nobody else who ever lived has read exactly the same books, all the same books and only the same books as me. So just as my genes and the soul within me make me uniquely me, so I am the unique sum of the books I have read. I am my literary DNA.

Howard's End on the Landing by Susan Hill

The Good: Family, friends, kitties, books, and soccer in constantly-rotating order. Smut, of course, and book sort team and sales/Friends of the Library. Oh, and the HBOMax series Heated Rivalry, which I’ve now watched 2 times.

The Bad: The chaos of illiterate people, illiterate people in power, the world allowing the threat of fascism again, and most religions and their pursuit of a world with only their religion in it.

The Shadenfreude: The New York Times reports DJT’s approval rating on February 8, 2026 is 56% disapprove, 41% approve. Melania has tanked.

From the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Doomsday Clock. This information was published on January 29, 2025 when the clock was set to 89 seconds before midnight, apocalypse. 89 seconds was the shortest time to apocalypse since the clock was created in 1945. It’s now set to 85 seconds to midnight. 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 2026

The ugly: Everything political in the US at the national level and quite a bit at the local level in almost every state. ICE.

I read and am a charter member of the Redbud and Beyond Book Club, started in 1997. This is the schedule for our 2025-2026 Book Club Year.
Jul – Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro **abandoned at 56%**
Aug – The Awakening by Kate Chopin – read in my 20s, remembered the ending, and just no
Sep – Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie – read the intro and first chapter and no again
Oct – The Future by Naomi Alderman – loved it. Gave it 4.5 stars.
Nov – The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon - abandoned
Dec – Yellowface by RF Kuang – appreciated the writing, loved how the MC was portrayed, although I disliked her
Jan – How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith – loved his method of 7 different places, lots of good info 4.5*
Feb – Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope - OMG. Word vomit. I bailed after 10 pages.
Mar – The Women by Kristin Hannah Sigh. I got that wrong - not WWII, but Vietnam War era. I read 2 pages.
April – How to Read a Book by Monica Wood - my book, so I'd best get cracking soon since I have book sale at the end of this month
May – book selection for 2026-2027

I have been married to Bill for 34 years. I am mother to Jenna, who turned 32 last August and is married to Hwan, who turned 30 last June. Bio daughter and bonus daughter have moved to Washington State. I’m happy for them. I’m unhappy that they are 3 time zones away from me.

Jenna Christmas Selfie 2016.



Zoe and Happy Baby Kitty Wash. 1-22-2020.



My goal is still conservative, 250 books, but more than last year’s goal of 200. I still really, really enjoy reading MM romance – aka smut – 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. I’ve read 36 books and abandoned 16, total pages read 13066.





News avoidance is still about 85-90% of the time.

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

Currently Reading:
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood 3/18/26 273 pages hardcover 2024
Island at the Edge of the World by Mike Pitts narrated by Mike Pitts 2/16/26 12.25 hours Audible mine 2026
The Early Middle Ages by Professor Philip Daileader narrated by Philip Daileader 2/26/26 12 hours The Teaching Company CDs mine
The Federalist edited by Jacob E. Cooke 5/28/22 656 pages hardcover 1961

read

001. 3.50* An Omega for Christmas by Sam Abbot 12/31/25 1/1/26 87 pages 2017 ebook KU Matthew and Grey Alpha and Omega Stories 5
002. 3.80* Ruined by the Bodyguard by Jenny Pineapple 1/1/26 1/1/26 167 pages 2025 ebook KU Grayson and Wyatt
003. 4.20* Unhinged by Onley James 12/30/25 1/1/26 306 pages Kindle Adam and Noah Necessary Evils 1 2021 *reread* mine
004. 3.40* Pascal and the Forger by Avril Ashton 1/2/26 1/3/26 274 pages Kindle Mathieu and Win 2023
005. 4.00* Psycho by Onley James 1/1/26 2/3/36 283 pages Kindle August and Lucas Necessary Evils 1 2021 *reread* mine
006. 2.80* Anonymous Alpha by MM Farmer 1/3/26 1/4/26 233 pages Kindle Evan and Sable Bangers & Mash 7 2023
007. 3.20* The Wrong Omega by MM Farmer 1/4/26 1/5/26 232 pages Kindle Ty and Winslow Bangers & Mash 2 2022
008. 4.00* Top Secret by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy 1/5/26 1/7/26 272 pages Kindle LobsterShorts and Sinner 2023
009. 4.00* Ruthless Titan by EV Olsen 1/7/26 1/8/26 406 pages Kindle Ryan and Connor North Shore Titans Hockey 6 2025
010. 3.70* Masked Marionette by EV Olsen 1/9/26 1/9/26 88 pages Kindle Jasper and Adrian 2024
011. 2.50* Apple Pie by West Greene 1/9/26 1/9/26 27 pages Kindle Noah and Lincoln Slice of Forever 1 2022
**abandoned Alpha Unleashed: Two Werewolves for Sebastian by DJ Heart ** 283 pages
**abandoned Christmas Heat by MM Farmer ** 148 pages
012. 4.60* How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith 12/30/25 1/11/26 hardcover 293 pages and Kindle 2021
013. 4.30* Saddle to Sunup by Emmy Sanders 1/10/26 1/11/26 315 pages Kindle Oakley and Lawson The Darling Brothers 3 2025
**abandoned Alpha's Claim by Oliver Kingsley ** 121 pages
**abandoned The Holiday Exchange by Christina Lee ** 52 pages
**abandoned Salad on the Side by Karenna Colcroft ** 88 pages
014. 4.80* Finance Bros by August Jones 1/12/26 1/13/26 448 pages Kindle Ryan and Malcolm Bay Area Bros 1 2025
015. 4.85* The Liar's Reckoning by August Jones 1/13/26 1/15/26 605 pages Kindle Unlimited Silas and Graham Doormen of the Upper East Side 4 2025
016. 3.80* Money Shot by Eden Finley and Saxon James 1/15/26 1/15/26 314 pages Kindle Unlimited Finn and Curtis 2025
017. 4.10* Game Changer by Rachel Reid 1/16/26 1/16/25 378 pages Kindle mine Scott and Kip Game Changers 1 2018
018. 4.90* Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid 1/16/26 1/17/26 342 pages Kindle mine Shane and Ilya Game Changers 2 2019
019. 4.00* Tough Guy by Rachel Reid 1/17/26 1/18/26 288 pages Kindle mine Ryan and Fabian Game Changers 3 2020
020. 4.40* Heartbreak Hockey by S Legend 1/18/26 1/19/26 438 pages Kindle Unlimited Jack and Mercy Heartbreak Hockey 1 2023
021. 4.00* Common Goal by Rachel Reid 1/19/26 1/20/26 320 pages Kindle mine Kyle and Eric Game Changers 4 2024
022. 4.20* Ice Dance Hockey by S Legend 1/21/26 1/23/26 463 pages Kindle Unlimited Rhett and Logan Heartbreak Hockey 2 2024
**abandoned A Cowboy Holiday by Lane Hayes ** 87 pages Sickeningly sweet.
**abandoned The Curse Before Christmas by Eli Easton ** 97 pages Ugh. Krampus doll
023. 4.00* Breakneck Hockey by S Legend 1/23/26 1/25/26 427 pages Kindle Unlimited Casey and Sutter Heartbreak Hockey 3 2024
024. 3.70* Hidden Scars by Andi Jaxon 1/26/26 1/26/26 456 pages Kindle Unlimited Preston and Jeremy Darby U Hockey Boys 1 2022
025. 3.60* Textual Confusion by Fifer Rose 1/27/26 1/27/26 Kindle Unlimited Asher and Marcus 2024 **reread**
**abandoned Iced Out by CE Ricci ** 142 pages
026. 4.70* Bean by Nora Phoenix and EM Lindsey 1/27/26 1/27/26 322 pages Kindle Unlimited Bean and Jarek Honorably Discharged 2 2024
**abandoned Omega for Rent by Liam Kingsley ** 108 pages
027. 3.20* The Quirky Vet by Casey Cox 1/27/26 1/28/26 214 pages Kindle Unlimited Muir and Fitz Vet Shop Boys Down Under 2 2024
**abandoned Iced Out by CE Ricci ** 142 pages
**Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope ** 10 pages
028. 4.90* Heart by Jesse H Reign 1/29/26 1/30/26 344 pages Kindle Connor and Lennon 2026
**abandoned His Pretty Omega by Raven Matthews ** 189 pages Emotions too strong too early. A bit twee.
**abandoned The Billionaire Bear's Feisty Fox by Asher Wylde ** 132 pages
**abandoned Hawk by Jacki James ** 51 pages
**abandoned Too Hot to Handle by JD Light ** 27 pages
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
029. 4.20* EWB (Enemies with Benefits) by NR Walker 1/31/26 2/1/26 353 pages Kindle Unlimited Marshall and Valentine reread 2023
030. 4.40* Switched by NR Walker 2/1/26 2/2/26 277 pages Kindle Unlimited Israel and Sam 2016
**abandoned Puck Hard by Brooklyn Cate** 117 pages
031. 4.30* Darling by Scarlett Drake 2/2/26 2/3/26 366 pages Kindle Unlimited Christian and Asher Famous Young Things 3 2025
032. 3.90* Pretty Mess by Lily Morton 2/3/26 2/4/26 418 pages Kindle Unlimited Wes and Cormac 2025
033. 2.50* Omega's Forever Home by Lacey Daize 2/4/26 2/5/26 108 pages Kindle Unlimited Kent and Beau Harris Cove Billionaires 1 2021
034. 3.80* Omega's Flaw by Sasha Silsbury 2/5/26 2/6/26 234 pages Kindle Unlimited Jamie and Carter Prime Match 5 2026
035. 4.30* Role Model by Rachel Reid 2/5/26 2/7/26 341 pages Kindle mine Troy and Harris Game Changers 5 2021
036. 2.40* Hunted and Claimed by Morgan Vale 2/8/26 2/10/26 475 pages mine Damien and Rowan 2026
**abandoned Breathe by Sophia Soames ** 202 pages Unpredictable behaviors in a way I didn't like. Stupid, actually. Luke and Ryan
037. 3.00* Rothko: The Color Field Paintings by Janet Bishop 2/10/26 2/10/26 68 pages Kindle Unlimited 2017
038. 4.80* Hamartia by Scarlett Drake 2/9/26 2/12/26 396 pages Kindle Unlimited Raphael and Jaehyun Famous Young Things 1 2023
039. 3.00* Claimed by the Quarterback by Margot Hart 12/12/26 12/12/26 65 pages Kindle Unlimited Eli and Rowan (Ro) Hale University Omegas 1 2025
**abandoned Pah! by Cora Rose and EM Lindsey ** 62 pages Dex and Rome, who's actions aren't those of even a remotely sane person
**abandoned A Present for Parker by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga ** 90 pages No spark, nothing beyond the predictable
**abandoned The Punk by Kelly Fox ** 19 pages
040. 3.20* Accidentally Mated by Phoenix Cross 2/12/26 2/13/26 123 pages Kindle Unlimited Greyson and Miles ROAR Dating Agency 1 2025 too many reverents
**abandoned A New Year's Pandemonium by Jennifer Carter** 57 pages
**abandoned More than KPOP by Dante Blackwood** 75 pages
041. 4.00* The Mechanic and the Surgeon by Steve Milton 2/14/26 2/14/26 115 pages Kindle mine **reread** Joshua and Ritter Collins Avenue Confidential 1 2015
042. 2.00* The Billionaire Alpha's Surprise Omega by Bonnar King 2/15/26 2/15/26 206 pages Kindle Unlimited Jamie and Nicholas 2026 the word detail? too many reverents weird timeline re Jamie being 12 weeks pregnant to waddling, several scenes appear twice in different words
043. 3.30* The Christmas Switch by Briar Prescott 2/15/26 2/16/26 236 pages Kindle Unlimited Gabriel and Josh 2024
044. 2.80* Kissing the Grump by Baylin Crow 2/16/26 2/16/26 47 pages Kindle Unlimited Elliot and Forrest 47 2024
045. 4.20* A Suitable Consort by R Cooper 2/16/26 2/17/26 147 pages Kindle mine Mattin, Arden, and Mill The Suitable 'Verse 1 2021
046. 4.60* Fishy Riot by Lindsey Black 2/18/26 18/26 223 pages Kindle Unlimited Taylor and Sietta 2017 4.6
047. 2.30* My Ex's New Boyfriend is a Murderer by Gaia Tate 2/19/26 2/20/26 128 pages Kindle Unlimited Miles and Kieran Miles & Kieran 1 2023
048. 2.90* Bedroom Lessons by Milana Spencer 2/21/26 2/21/26 240 pages Kindle Unlimited Hayden and Nick Love Letters 2 2025
049. 2.60* One Wild Heat by Kelex 2/21/26 2/21/26 219 pages Kindle Unlimited Bellamy and Quinn Alphas of the Western Provinces 1 2019
**abandoned Enemies with Benefits by Romeo Alexander ** 171 pages
**abandoned The Best Man's Secret by Ana Ashley ** 41 pages
050. 4.95* The Long Game by Rachel Reid 2/7/26 2/22/26 437 pages Kindle Mine Shane and Ilya Game Changers 6 2022
051. 3.00* The Alpha Wolf Rancher's Runaway Omega by Ashler Wylde 2/23/26 2/23/26 220 pages Kindle Unlimited Wesley and Zack 2025
052. 2.20* Bitter Sweetheart by Jenny Pineapple 2/23/26 2/23/26 78 pages Kindle Unlimited Caspian and Nate My Last Valentine 4 2025
053. 3.90* His Snowbound Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 2/24/26 2/24/26 190 pages Kindle Unlimited Thorn and Baal Beguiled Omegas 2 2025
054. 4.95* The American Civil War by Professor Gary W Gallagher narrated by Professor Gary W Gallagher 11/20/25 2/25/26 The Teaching Company 2000 24 hours CDs mine
**abandoned Feinted Love by Elle Keaton ** 28 pages
**abandoned Daddy From Flames by Ashe Moon ** 108 pages
**abandoned Mated to the Wrong Alpha by EJ Waugh ** 25 pages
**abandoned Love and Moonlight by Killian Ford ** 45 pages
055. 3.60* His Marked Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 2/25/26 2/26/26 319 pages Kindle Unlimited Fenrir and Oberon Beguiled Omegas 4 2026 trans alpha -> omega
056. 4.70* Quiet by Zile Elliven 2/26/26 2/27/26 316 pages Kindle Unlimited Isa and Briar Enchanted University 2 2021
057. 2.50* The Lion's Sunshine by Caitlin Ricci 2/27/26 2/27/26 189 pages Kindle Unlimited Toby and Knox Golden Pride 1 2026
058. 4.00* Bedside Manner by CG Macington 2/27/26 2/28/26 206 pages Kindle Unlimited Jax and Max The St. Judes Medical Series 1 2026
059. 4.00* Conflict of Interest by CG Macington 2/28/26 2/28/26 195 pages Kindle Unlimited Preston and Lucas The St. Judes Medical Series 2 2026
060. 3.20* Client Privilege: When Protection Becomes Forbidden Passion by CG Macington 2/28/26 2/28/26 311 pages Kindle Unlimited Alex and Damian 2025
061. 4.30* Broken Obsession by Chani Lynn Feener 3/1/26 3/1/26 341 pages Kindle Unlimited Eden and Ares Vicious Vices 1 2025
062. 4.40* X Marks the Spot by Willow Dixon 3/3/26 3/4/26 417 pages Kindle Unlimited Xave and Damon Silvercrest U 4 2026
063. 3.80* His Prize by MM Farmer 3/4/26 3/6/26 77 pages Kindle Unlimited Darby and Kieran Omegas After Dark: Omega Auction 1 2025
064. 4.70* Moderating Love by Jax Calder 3/6/26 3/6/26 89 pages Kindle Unlimited Travis and Devin Queer Ways to Fall in Love 1 2026
**Feinted Love by Elle Keaton ** 71 pages
**The Shots You Take ** by Rachel Reid ** 200 pages
065. 4.20* Chance Match by Wendy Rathbone 3/6/26 3/6/26 147 pages Kindle Unlimited Jace and Storm Perfect Match Agency 2 2023
066. 4.10* Owning Jett by Lucy Lennox 3/6/26 3/7/26 337 pages Kindle Unlimited Jett and Locke Made Marian Legacy 3 2026
067. 4.30* HEA: Happily Ever After by Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox 3/7/26 3/8/26 272 pages Kindle Unlimited Hugh and Locke After Oscar 5 2024
068. 4.00* Good Stepbrother Bad Stepbrother by Jenny Pineapple 68 pages Kindle Unlimited Lucian and Austin The Red Corner 1 2026
069. 3.20* One Winter Night by Jenny Pineapple 3/8/26 3/8/26 54 pages Kindle Unlimited Dominic and Julian Dominic & Julian 1 2024
070. 2.50* Dark Desire by Jenny Pineapple 3/8/26 3/8/26 53 pages Kindle Unlimited Jack and Tristan My Last Valentine 3 2024
071. 4.40* Mr. Important by Lucy Lennox and 3/8/26 3/9/26 390 pages Kindle Unlimited Reagan and Thatcher Honeybridge 2 2024
**abandoned Only the Small Bones by CP Harris ** 113 pages
**abandoned the Misfits of Copper County by Lucy Lennox and May Archer ** 171 pages
072. 4.10* Villain by Chani Lynn Feener 3/10/26 3/11/26 310 pages Kindle Unlimited Nix, Yejun, West, and Lake Demons of Foxglove Grove 1 2024
073. 4.00* Martyr by Chani Lynn Feener 3/11/26 3/11/26 298 pages Kindle Unlimited Nix, Yejun, West, and Lake Demons of Foxglove Grove 2 2024
074. 4.10* Saint by Chani Lynn Feener 3/11/26 3/12/26 266 pages Kindle Unlimited Nix, Yejun, West, and Lake Demons of Foxglove Grove 3 2024
075. 4.00* Sinner by Chani Lynn Feener 3/12/26 3/13/26 285 pages Kindle Unlimited Nix, Yejun, West, and Lake Demons of Foxglove Grove 4 2024
076. 4.00* Claimed by Design by EA Adams 3/14/26 3/14/26 109 pages Kindle Unlimited Curt and Leonid The Chase 2 2026
077. 2.50* Knot Club by Ansley Ellis 3/14/26 3/15/26 56 pages Kindle Unlimited Wren and Sully Knot Club 1 2026
078. 3.30* My Rival Mate by Lexie Slater 3/15/26 3/15/26 99 pages Kindle Unlimited Sam and Devan Westbridge Mates 3 2025
079. 4.75* Echo by Chani Lynn Feener 3/15/26 3/16/26 437 pages Kindle Unlimited Rabbit and Baikal Devils of Vitality 1 2023
080. 3.00* A Bestiary by Toulouse-Lautrec, introduction by Philip Hofer 3/17/26 3/17/26 47 pages
081. 3.40* His Dark Paradox by Avery Tu and Kota Quinn 3/17/26 3/19/26 260 pages Kindle Unlimited Nuri and Silver 2022
082. 2.80* Bone to Pick by May Archer 3/19/26 3/20/26 129 pages Kindle Unlimited Theo and Porter Sunday Brothers 5 2023
083. 4.70* Devil May Lie by Chani Lynn Feener 3/20/26 3/20/26 450 pages Kindle Unlimited Madden and Berga Devils of Vitality 6 2024
084. 4.40* You Will Never Know by Chani Lynn Feener 3/20/26 3/21/26 278 pages Kindle Unlimited Hunter and Odin A Whisper in the Dark 1 2022
085. 4.40* Don't Breathe a Word by Chani Lynn Feener 3/22/26 3/23/26 179 pages Kindle Unlimited Hunter and Odin A Whisper in the Dark 2 2023
086. 4.40* Don't Let Me Go by Chani Lynn Feener 3/23/26 3/24/26 250 pages Kindle Unlimited Hunter and Odin A Whisper in the Dark 3 2023
087. 4.00* Going Up by Amy Lane 3/24/26 3/24/26 74 pages Mine Zach and Sean 2013
088. 3.70* Dominant Blood by MJ Kim 3/24/26 3/24/26 258 pages Kindle Unlimited Yujeong and Suha 2026
089. 4.90* Stormy by Wren Wilds 3/24/26 3/26/26 522 pages Kindle Unlimited Tex and Stormy 2026
090. 4.20* Double Dared by Raquel Riley 3/26/26 3/27/26 504 pages Kindle Unlimited Tru and Dare 2026
091. 4.60* It Started With a Text by Jax Calder 3/27/26 3/27/26 125 pages Kindle Unlimited Anthony and Nick Queer Ways to Fall in Love 2 2026
092. 4.00* Claimed by Fate by EA Adams 3/27/26 3/28/26 115 pages Kindle Unlimited Remy and Darryl The Chase Book 1 2026
093. 3.10* Claimed by Fear by EA Adams 3/28/26 3/29/26 114 pages Kindle Unlimited Dalvin Min-Ho The Chase Book 3 2026
094. 4.20* Omega's Flush by Sasha Silsbury 3/29/26 3/29/26 193 pages Kindle Unlimited Theo and Dom Prime Match 6 2026
095. 3.40* The Omega's Song by EA Adams 3/29/26 3/30/26 115 pages Kindle Unlimited Colm and Rafael The Valenti Family 4 2026
096. 4.20* Claimed by Blood by EA Adams 3/30/26 3/30/26 120 pages Kindle Unlimited Dae-hyun and Deveon The Chase Book 5 2026
097. 4.40* Feral Vow by Ash Wilder 3/30/26 3/30/26 91 pages Kindle Unlimited David and Evander Feral Hearts 1 2025
098. 4.10* Alpha's Demand by Ash Wilder 3/30/26 3/30/26 87 pages Kindle Unlimited Brody and Emmett Feral Hearts 2 2025
**abandoned Cinders by Harper B Cole, Trisha Linde, Colbie Dunbar ** 91 pages
099. 4.20* Howl of Possession by Ash Wilder 3/30/26 3/31/26 92 pages Kindle Unlimited Callen and Dre Feral Hearts 3 2026
100. 4.30* Snowed in With the Alpha by Ash Wilder 3/31/26 3/31/26 90 pages Kindle Unlimited Rax and Ray Feral Hearts 4 2026
**abandoned In His Defense by River Frost ** 228 pages

...
101. 4.40* Swipe My Alpha by Lexie Slater 3/31/26 4/1/26 93 pages Kindle Unlimited Jude and Rhys 2026
102. 2.00* My Alpha's Secret by Rosa Swann 4/1/26 4/1/26 62 pages mine Wilder and Sterling Second Chance Mates 2017
103. 4.50* Emberbound by Ash Wilder 4/1/26 4/1/26 131 pages Kindle Unlimited Neil and Tylor Feral Hearts 5 2026
104. 3.50* Gone Wild by Jesse H Reign 4/1/26 4/1/26 305 pages Kindle Unlimited Lucien and Branson Wild Hearts 1 2026
105. 4.70* Romeo Falling by Jesse H Reign 4/1/26 4/2/26 342 pages Kindle Unlimited Jude and Romeo 2024
**abandoned Claimed by Wrath by EA Adams** 77 pages
106. 4.50* Saint Laurent's Sins by Lola Malone 4/2/26 4/4/26 376 pages Kindle Unlimited Louis and Noah 2025
107. 4.00* Arab 142 pages
108. 3.30* Marriage Contract 138
109. 3.40* Seduced 36

read 2

adds - 361 in 2025

1. Kindle - Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave, Written by Himself
2. Audible - A Coin for the Ferryman by Megan Edwards, narrated by Mark Ashby
3. FoCCL - Wilmington's Lie by David Zucchino
4. FoCCL - The Worst Case Scenario: Expert Advise for Extreme Situations by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht
5. FoCCL - Animal Farm: The Rest of the Story by Forrest C. Greenslade, PHD
6. FoCCL - O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker
7. FoCCL - Haggadah for the Liberated Lamb by Roberta Kalechofsky
8. FoCCL - Captain's Dinner by Adam Cohen
9. FoCCL - The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly
10. Kindle - Apple Pie by West Greene
11. Kindle - Game Changer by Rachel Reid
12. Kindle - Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
13. Kindle - Tough Guy by Rachel Reid
14. Kindle - Common Goal by Rachel Reid
15. FoCCL - Arcane Carolinas: Folklore, Urban Legends, and Tales of Modern Weird from the Carolinas Volume 1 by Charlie Mewshaw
16. Audible - Up the Down Staircase by Bell Kaufman narrated by Barbara Rosenblat
17. Audible - The First Salute: A View of the American Revolution by Barbara Tuchman, narrated by Wanda McFaddon
18. Audible - The Island at the Edge of the World: The Forgotten History of Easter Island by Mike Pitts
19. Kindle - Role Model by Rachel Reid
20. Kindle - The Long Game by Rachel Reid
21. FoCCL - Islam by Karen Armstrong
22. FoCCL - Only Yesterday by Frederick Lewis Allen
23. - 26. Peggy - First Four in the Clara Vine series by Jane Thynne
27. Kindle - Hunted and Claimed by Morgan Vale
28. Kindle - A Suitable Consort by R Cooper
29. FoCCL - California 2.0 by Thom Bryant
30. FoCCL - Once in Golconda: A True Drama of Wall Street 1920-1938 by John Brooks
31. FoCCL - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
32. Kindle - Don Juan by George Gordon, Lord Byron
33. Audible - The American Civil War by Professor Gary W Gallagher
34. FoCCL - Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years by Paula Fredriksen
35. FoCCL - 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About the South by John Shelton Reed an Dale Volberg Reed
36. Kindle - The Room I Paid for by Crea Reitan
37. FoCCL - Myrtle Beach Cookin' by United Methodist Women United Methodist Church Myrtle Beach SC
38. FoCCL - Inglis Fletcher of Bandon Plantation by Richard Walser
39. FoCCL - Looking for Alaska by John Green
40. FoCCL - Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers
41. Audible - Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
42. FoCCL - The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
43. FoCCL - Miracles and Wonder by Elaine Pagels
44. FoCCL - Agatha Christie by Laura Thompson
45. FoCCL - Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra
46. FoCCL - The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church by The Protestant Episcopal Church
47. FoCCL - Coyote Cafe by Mark Miller
48. FoCCL - The Catch by Mick Herron
49. FoCCL - Chinese Poetry Translations From the Chinese By Arthur Waley Hardcover Illustrated Chinese Poems. by Arthur Waley
50. FoCCL - World War I, the "Great War" by Professor Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius
51. FoCCL - The Jews in the Twentieth Century: An Illustrated History by Martin Gilbert
52. FoCCL - So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
53. FoCCL - Hiroshima by John Hersey
54. FoCCL - Code Breaking: A History and Exploration by Rudolph Kippenhahn
55. FoCCL - Lincoln's Smile and Other Enigmas by Alan Trachtenberg
56. FoCCL - Suspect Identities: A History of Fingerprinting and Criminal Identification by Simon A Cole
57. FoCCL - Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations by Georgina Howell
58. FoCCL - Library: An Unquiet History by Matthew Battles
59. FoCCL - The Carolina Table: North Carolina Writers on Food by Randall Kenan
60. FoCCL - Native Carolinians: The Indians of North Carolina by Theda Perdue
61. FoCCL - An Arab Philosophy of History: Selections from the Prolegomena of Ibn Khaldun of Tunis (1332 - 1406) by Charles Issawi
62. FoCCL - A History of the Borgias by Frederick Baron Corvo
63. FoCCL - American Heritage History Of The 1920s & 1930s by American Heritage
64. FoCCL - Eyewitness: 150 Years of Photojournalism by Richard Lacayo and George Russell
65. FoCCL - Stanley Spencer by Elizabeth Rothenstein
66. Kindle - Saint Laurent's Sins by Lola Malone

culls - 193 in 2025

1. If You Exist by Lillian Moats
2. The Jumblies by Edward Lear Drawings by Edward Gorey
3. Chasing Shakespeares by Sarah Smith
4. Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews
5. Dear Committee Members by Julia Schumacker
6. Wet Pussies: Hilarious Snaps of Damp Cats by Charlie Ellis
7. Big Cocks: Hilarious Snaps of Prominent Poultry by Charlie Ellis
8. Calico by Lee Goldberg
9. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
10. Healthy Aging by Andrew Weil, MD
11. Eve In Hollywood by Amor Towles
12. The Women by Kristin Hannah
13. The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
14. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

YTD Statistics through January

28 books read
27.5 ebooks, 0 audio books, 0.5 paper books
8832 pages in completed books
0 hours in completed audio books
14 books abandoned, 1535 pages abandoned, 0 hours abandoned

10367 total pages read

Avg pages read per day, incl books abandoned: YTD = 334
Avg pages read per book, only those completed: YTD = 370

Book(s) of the Month:
How The Word Is Passed by Clint Smith
Heart by Jesse H Reign

Books by Month
Jan - 27.5 ebooks, .5 paper books Used both media for How The Word Is Passed

Author
Male 4%
Female 76%
Undeclared * 18%
Non-Binary 2%
* - can't find info anywhere

Living 100%
Dead 0%

US Born 20%
Foreign Born 36%
Undeclared * 44%
* - can't find info anywhere

Medium
Audio Book 0%
e-Book 98%
Paper Book 2%

Source
My Library 27%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 73%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
Galley Proof 0%
Re-read 11%
Series 68%

Fiction 96%
NonFiction 4%

Author Birth Country
Australia 4%
Canada 25%
Grenada 4%
Undeclared * 40%
US 27%
* - can't find info anywhere

Original Decade Published
2010s 11%
2020s 89%

Genre
Contemporary Fiction 0%
Crime Fiction 0%
Historical Fiction 0%
History 0%
Humor 0%
Informational Nonfiction 4%
Memoir 0%
MM/MMM/MMMM Romance 96%

Average Rating Expanded to include .1 stars.
.1-.5: Anathema 0
.6-1: Don't Bother 0
1.1-1.5: Very Bad 0
1.6-2: Bad 0
2.1-2.5: Average 1
2.6-3: Good 1
3.1-3.5: Very Good 4
3.6-4: Excellent 11
4.1-4.9: Stunning 11
5 - Masterpiece

Average Rating 3.96
Books acquired YTD (361 acquired in 2025) 18
Books culled YTD (193 in 2025) 8

6232 cataloged on 12/31/25

January 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 or scenarios that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

3.50* An Omega for Christmas by Sam Abbot 12/31/25 1/1/26 87 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Matthew is a rejected omega, who works as a barista in the town managed by his former pack. Grey is the pack alpha of a neighboring pack, there to negotiate with Kelvin, and is attracted to Matthew. Kelvin doesn’t want Grey to have Matthew even though Kelvin has another omega. Grey rescues Matthew when Matthew flees Kelvin and they become trapped by a blizzard in Grey’s cabin. Being that this an Omegaverse mpreg book, Matthew goes into heat, they bond, and Matthew becomes pregnant. Baby, happpiness, caveat emptor re sex.

3.80* Ruined by the Bodyguard by Jenny Pineapple 1/1/26 1/1/26 167 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Wyatt is the spoiled son of a very rich man, whose bodyguard, Grayson, has finally had enough of Wyatt’s shenanigans and when Wyatt is betrayed his best friend and his girlfriend, Gray steps in to keep Wyatt grounded. They begin a relationship even though they’re both sure Wyatt’s parents will not be pleased. However, they are pleased with how Wyatt’s become responsible and finally seems happy. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.20* Unhinged by Onley James 12/30/25 1/1/26 306 pages Mine, a reread.

First in a 7-book series, with father Thomas Mulvaney and his six adopted psychopath sons. Each has his own way of manifesting his psychosis and his favorite way to kill the people Thomas sets them free to kill because they will never be brought to justice. This first book starts with Thomas meeting Adam as a child, diagnosed as a psychopath and adopted by Thomas. By day Adam is involved with Thomas’s charity work. Years earlier he killed Noah’s father, who was a pedophile. Noah is barely surviving, working for one of the men who abused him as a child. He does not remember this abuse and does not remember that his father also abused him. He is determined to find out who killed his father. He and Adam meet and Adam is instantly smitten by him and wants to keep him for his very own. Being a psychopath, he’s been taught to mimic human emotions and behaviors, which he uses on Noah. Noah is smitten with Adam’s power, strength, and attraction to himself. They start a romantic relationship, which Adam’s brothers and father do not like at all. However, as they research what happened to Noah and find out that his abuse is part of a much larger pedophile ring, Noah proves to the family that he loves Adam and is valuable to the family. Adam keeps Noah safe and the family goes to extraordinary lengths to break the back of the ring. There’s a lot of humor in this book with Adam trying to attract Noah, Noah understanding more about Adam than one would expect, and their very unusual HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.40* Pascal and the Forger by Avril Ashton 1/2/26 1/3/26 274 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Full of holes, with emotions all over the place. Win was rescued by Mathieu when Mathieu kills the rich man Win is being paid to have sex with. Ten years later, Win has already broken up with Mathieu after Mathieu cheats on him. Oh, and Mathieu is Haitian mobster royalty. Win’s now married to one of Mathieu’s rivals. There’s much pining by both of them for the other. Honestly, I just read it and it’s still vague and confusing. Houses are bombed, people are killed, people are deliberately shot but not killed… by the end they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Psycho by Onley James 1/1/26 2/3/36 283 pages Mine, a reread.

Originally read in July of 2022. Next brother to be obsessively attracted to someone he’s just met is August, a tenured professor and killer for the family. He meets Lucas, a new professor, kicked out of the FBI when he touches a coworker and sees that the coworker is a serial killer. Nobody believes him, he’s institutionalized and released from the FBI. He and August literally run into each other and Lucas is horrified because he can ‘see’ that August is a killer. As he is wooed by August, he is charmed by August’s deliberate attempts to do ‘boyfriend’ things. August believes his clairvoyant skills and Lucas learns about August’s family and that August only kills those who are outside the law. In the meantime, Lucas is working hard to find the women killed by the FBI agent, who has now come to taunt Lucas as a preface to killing him.

“I want to keep him.”
“Bruh. Those are thinking thoughts not speaking thoughts,” Noah coached. You can’t just go around telling strangers you’ve imprinted on them like some werewolf in a Twilight movie. They won’t get it.”
August shrugged. “He already knows I’m a psychopath”.

August’s family helps bring the FBI agent to justice. August and Lucas get their clairvoyant/psychopath HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.80* Anonymous Alpha by MM Farmer 1/3/26 1/4/26 233 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Evan is a famous pop star. He hires an ESA – an Emergency Support Alpha – to safely and privately take him through his heat. Everything goes fine until a video is leaked of their time together, with editing to make Evan sound like a cold and calculating star who doesn’t value his fans. Sable takes him back with him to his house, where they try to keep their sanity while discovering who leaked the tape. Sable remembers drones outside, and even the hint of a camera inside, now that he came to think of it. Evan is known, Sable is not – hence the title, Anonymous Alpha. As they hide out and deal with Evan’s manager and everybody else who wants a piece of him, Sable and the owners of Bangers and Mash protect him and give him resources to move forward. As this happening, they fall in love, of course. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.20* The Wrong Omega by MM Farmer 1/4/26 1/5/26 232 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Ty is an ESA who has been hired to help an omega through heat. He goes to the hotel and discovers an omega clearly in distress, almost incoherent with pain and fear. Ty assumes that this is his client and takes him inside to the suite that his company, Bangers and Mash, has reserved for Ty and his omega. As time goes on, and Winslow’s heat intensifies, Ty figures out that Winslow isn’t his client but needs him. Winslow comes out of heat accidentally bonded to Ty. Oh, and Winslow’s brother is rather despicable if adorable and clerly ADHD. He has no filters, clings to Ty and Winslow like a limpet. As Ty tries to protect Winslow while dealing with trying to persuade a potential partner to Bangers & Mash to join forces, Winslow unintentionally attracts the worng man, his brother starts growing up and gains a vocation, and Ty AND Winslow fall in love. Sweet and sexy. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Top Secret by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy 1/5/26 1/7/26 272 pages Kindle Unlimited.

An interesting premise. Keaton’s girlfriend Annika, asks Keaton for a MFM threesome for her birthday, Keaton, a college jock and frat member, signs up for an app, where he goes by LobsterShorts and meets SinnerThree, a bisexual male. They start texting and sexting. Luke is also college student who’s got a full scholarship but is struggling to pay for room and board. He joins a fraternity because he can get reduced rent in the fraternity by doing so. His neighbor on the third floor is an obnoxious jock who plays loud music all the time. They seriously dislike and don’t respect one another. Keaton is President of the Frat, Luke finds out that the President gets free room and board. and immediately puts his hat in the ring. In the meantime, Keaton and Annika have a hotel suite for the threesome, but she chickens out when they are there and their third is outside the door. Keaton steps outside the door and it’s Luke. Total shock and unhappiness on both sides, but their texting and sexting makes them realize that they are emotionally and sexually attracted to one another. They secretly start hooking up. It eventually comes out very few people are happy about it except for Luke’s mother and Annika, who has now regained her friendship with Keaton. Enemies to lovers, a hard-fought-for happy ending. The texting and sexting in the beginning chapters are laugh out loud fun. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Ruthless Titan by EV Olsen 1/7/26 1/8/26 406 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Roll-your-eyes premise has college hockey teammates Connor and Ryan not really knowing one another until Connor forces Ryan to marry him to keep Connor from being forced into a marriage to cement a business merger for his father. He kidnaps Ryan and they get married and return as though nothing’s changed until Connor takes Ryan to the press conference to supposedly announce his engagement to the daughter of the proposed business partner. Needless to say, it doesn’t go well, and Connor keeps being threatened by his parents. The threats escalate, but Connor staves them off and starts hiding his assets from them. In the meantime, Connor and Ryan start bunking together and Connor quickly learns that Ryan’s traumatized and cannot stand to be touched At.All., except for when he’s playing hockey. He starts protecting Ryan at practices and at the games. The team learns that they are married and they start protecting Ryan, too. They start having feelings for one another, and Connor realizes he’s GFY for Ryan. Connor’s family takes Ryan, where he is used as bait for Connor to come home, where he knows he and Ryan won’t come out of it alive. Connor and Ryan have powerful college and other friends, and they’re saved while Conor’s parents don’t make it out alive although Connor isn’t the cause. Other enemies del the final blows after Ryan and Connor escape. Needless to say, Connor and Ryan fall in love and decide to stay married. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.70* Masked Marionette by EV Olsen 1/9/26 1/9/26 88 pages Kindle Unlimited.

I read this one at night and was sorry I did so. I made sure the blinds were drawn, as the horror kept escalating. Jasper is enticed to go to Adrian’s house with the temptation of a weekend of wild sex. Jasper sees hints of people, sees things that don’t make sense until he realizes that he’s the newest sacrifice to the demon of the house itself. Scary. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.50* Apple Pie by West Greene 1/9/26 1/9/26 27 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Noah loves Lincoln but Lincoln doesn’t know it, Lincoln loves Noah but Noah doesn’t know it. After a particularly brutal deployment, Linc returns and confesses that he loves Noah. Noah tells him the same. One more deployment where they are engaged, then Linc comes home with a marriage proposal for Noah so that he can come on his next deployment. Sweet and spicy short story. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Alpha Unleashed: Two Werewolves for Sebastian by DJ Heart ** 283 pages

Sebastian signs up for a program that gives him money to help his mother get treatment for cancer. Several years later, pretty much after he’s forgotten he signed up, he’s notified that his contract has been bought by Viggo, a rich alpha. Oh, and Viggo has a mate, another alpha, named Bjorn who is currently lost to his human side and is only acting out his wolf. Sebastian is brought into the fold, discovers that Bjorn has been attacked and has a silver-like substance that negatively affects him. Once the substance is removed, he’s interested in Sebastian, too. Weird, with an interesting premise but ultimately not interesting enough to continue. Size and … well, size… differences between Sebastian and the two alphas. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Christmas Heat by MM Farmer ** 148 pages

Another in the Bangers & Mash series is poor pitiful omega with job problems and who drives his SUV into a snowbank. Goes into heat, calls in an Emergency Support Alpha, Teddy, and it goes from there. Rather boringly, IMO. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.60* How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith 12/30/25 1/11/26 hardcover 293 pages and Kindle Unlimited.

I was going to write a full review, but this is enough space to say that I loved the premise of Clint visiting hundreds of sites that were involved with slavery one way or another and settling on 7 to explore in depth:

Monticello Plantation
The Whitney Plantation
Angola Prison
Blandford Cemetery
Galveston Island
New York City
Gorée Island
And, epilogue

Each is well researched and his personal experience at each and the interviewed he conducted make for fascinating, horrific, and embarrassing reading. The only one I knew anything about was Monticello Plantation and Thomas Jefferson.

Of all the hundreds of facts that were presented, two stood out to me:

1. There are broken chains, symbolizing emancipation, at the base of the Statue of Liberty, near each of her sandaled feet.
2. Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866. Eighteen sixty-six. And I, sweet entitled white woman from California, had never heard of it until about 15 years ago.

Not easy reading but more easily digested as the 7 places and the epilogue. My only complaint is that some of his descriptions of people were unsettling and even a bit cruel.

4.30* Saddle to Sunup by Emmy Sanders 1/10/26 1/11/26 315 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Oakley and Lawson have been best friends since they were little. Oakley’s gay and has secretly been in love with Lawson since they were little. Lawson marries a woman and has a daughter, Wendy. Oakley is supportive of the marriage and loves Wendy like she was his own. However, he leaves with his partner. Lawson gets a divorce. Lawson desperately misses his person, Oakley, and once he finds out that Oakley and his partner (never named) split up, he brings a trailer for the miniature cow Belladonna and tells Oakley he’s moving home. Oakley comes home to the house he owns that has conveniently become tenantless. He works as a hand on Lawson’s family’s ranch. Bits of drama, Lawson gradually realizing he's in love with Oakley and starts spending more and more nights with him after they start a sexual relationship. Eventually they both realize everybody’s been holding their breaths about when they’re going to REALLY be together, and they get their HEA with Wendy, Belladonna the cow, and the rest of their families. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Alpha's Claim by Oliver Kingsley ** 121 pages

Rowan has been hiding for 10 years. He’s a rare male omega and is terrified of being discovered. He uses suppressants and is a vet. However, Kieran, the alpha of the Silverpine Pack, scents him and realizes he is an omega and also he’s his fated mate. He persuades Rowan to visit the pack and see if being a member of a pack again is something he wants. Kieran also promises to protect him from other packs seeking him out. Well. We have an unplanned heat, a bonding between Kieran and Rowan, a pregnancy… and I just couldn’t continue. Rowan seems oddly persuaded to visit the pack, oddly accepting of Kieran helping through the heat, and totally accepting of his pregnancy and probable role as the mate of Kieran. I either wanted more acceptance from Rowan right away or more resistance after he’s on Kieran’s pack’s lands. It seemed facile. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Holiday Exchange by Christina Lee ** 52 pages

Dawson owns his own small coffee and pastries business. He’s twins with Nathan. Every day he sees Briar come in for coffee and a pastry and is attracted to him. However, one day he sees Nathan with Briar but realizes Nathan is in ‘break up mode’ after 3 months. Briar, however, has told his parents he’s bringing a boyfriend home. Dawson agrees to be the fake boyfriend. Dawson loves small towns and everybody knowing everybody, Briar has escaped it because he felt isolated. When they are at Briar’s parents’ they help with the tree cutting business, navigate the very small bed in Briar’s childhood home, and all of a sudden it became way too predictable and didn’t have any edge to it. They are attracted to one another, but there’s no caveat re sex before I abandoned it.

**abandoned Salad on the Side by Karenna Colcroft ** 88 pages

Sorry, RD. This one didn’t do it for me because a human is turned into a werewolf and seems nonchalant about his new status and life. He’s vegan, which is amusing at first. The story devolved into pack politics and tiptoeing around the attraction between him and the alpha of the pack.

4.80* Finance Bros by August Jones 1/12/26 1/13/26 448 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Ryan and Malcolm are former step-brothers. They bonded upon their parents marriage until they didn’t. Ryan told Malcolm he loved him and Malcolm freaked out and bullied him the rest of their high school career. Fast forward after they’ve both gotten degrees and have both accepted internships with a prestigious asset management company. They are both freaked out and the hate flows. However, they and a young woman named Bailey are put together on a project – each intern has been given $100 and they must do whatever they can, legally but with no other rules, to grow it over the course of the internship. They are panicky until thy come up with the idea of Malcolm giving finance advice shirtless and holding his girlfriend’s cat. Bailey knows how to work social media, Ryan starts making videos too, holding Malcolm’s cat. Malcolm and his girlfriend of 10 years are on a break. As Ryan and Malcolm rehash their disastrous teenage years and enmity, Ryan realizes that he still loves Malcolm and Malcolm realizes that he's at a minimum bisexual and probably gay. They start spending more and more time together and exploring their sexuality together. They take on a fourth intern, Nathan, after the group he’s in starts imploding. As they start growing their brand and monetizing it across platforms, They figure out how to work together professionally and grow their relationship personally. By the end, their team has amassed almost $1 million net, winning the project. Malcolm has quit the internship, but they’re so successful that Ryan doesn’t accept the offered job. Several years later they’re wildly successful and have just bought a new house together. They see love, happiness, success, and babies in their future. I loved the project and how the three, then four of them were logical and persistent and savvy and created their business. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.85* The Liar's Reckoning by August Jones 1/13/26 1/15/25 605 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Fourth in the Doormen of the Upper East Side series. High-price escort Silas is hired by Graham. Graham is running for US Senator on the Republican Ticket, a member of an extremely conservative/rich/influential Catholic Family. On the night before his marriage to a woman, he wants to have his first and only gay experience before he never gets a chance to. He and Silas have a night that is memorable for both of them. Two coincidences – Graham and his now-wife Avery move into the East Side building where Silas is a doorman, and Avery recommends that Graham go to a local gym, where Silas also works. After both freaking out about seeing each other again, Graham pursues Silas and they start a sexual relationship, first in a hotel, then in an apartment Graham owns that nobody but his parents know about and they probably have forgotten about it anyway. Avery knows Graham is gay. They both want children, so Avery dominates an extremely awkward sexual relationship so she can get pregnant. She secretly is trying to ‘convert’ Graham, but knows about Silas. She succeeds in getting pregnant. Graham stops seeing Silas. Avery loses the baby, Silas and Graham start their relationship up again and Graham moves Silas into the apartment. They are video-taped and the tape released. Graham is forced to stop seeing Silas by his powerful father and Silas loses his gym and doorman job. There is a lot of drama and more plot twists, all run through the prism of Silas and Graham having off-the-charts chemistry and first Silas and then Graham falling in love. Silas loses his escort job because of a political shift that the owner doesn’t want to deal with. He is at the end of his rope after Graham repudiates him and he is forced to move into a small apartment. He cannot forgive Graham and refuses to see/talk with/text Graham. However, they eventually get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex. This has been a wonderful series so far. I hope the author continues with it.

3.80* Money Shot by Eden Finley and Saxon James 1/15/26 1/15/26 314 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Finn, brother to bride-to-be Melanie, moves to Edmonton, Canada since he’s restless and he feels like there’s nothing in Chicago for him anymore. Melanie’s fiancé David’s best friend Curtis will be his best man and the two of them are thrown together with some early planning. Unbeknownst to Finn, his favorite porn star Gunner is Curtis. Curtis does not know that one of his favorite fans is Finn. Finn is a relationship kind of guy, Curtis is relationship-phobic. Various and sundry subplots occur, but the biggest is that once they figure out the porn connection, Finn agrees to do a video with Curtis. And they continue to do so until Curtis gets so stressed about his feelings for Finn that he cuts him off completely. Finn flees to Chicago. He has to return when Davis and Melanie decide to move their wedding up to 2 weeks from then because David’s mother and Curtis’s adoptive mother’s Alzheimer’s makes them realize that they need to do this before they lose her completely to her disease. Eventually all’s well that ends well. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.10* Game Changer by Rachel Reid 1/16/26 1/16/25 378 pages Mine.

First in the 7-book series and phenomenally popular series on HBO Max called Heated Rivalry has Scott, a deeply closeted NHL team captain going into a smoothies and etc. shop where he meets Kip, the barista. Kip makes him a blueberry smoothie and when Scott comes out of his slump, he is superstitious enough to believe that he needs a smoothie before his next home game. He goes back, they are attracted, and eventually he asks Kip to his penthouse apartment. They have a secret affair. Eventually Kip wants more but Scott is reluctant to go public. Kip becomes deeply dissatisfied with the secrecy even while understanding it and knowing that it was part of what Scott needs. Scott figures out that Kip is more important than hockey and they get their HEA when he comes out in a very public way. There is more to the book, of course, with Kip’s friends being kept in the dark except for friend Elena, Scott and Kip texting and sexting while Scott is on the road, and Kip trying to decide what to do with his life because being a barista doesn’t use his History Degree. Funny, sweet, sexy. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.90* Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid 1/16/26 1/17/26 342 pages Mine.

Second in the 7-book series and phenomenally popular series on HBO Max called Heated Rivalry .Shane, a Canadian, and Ilya, a Russian, have been on-ice enemies ever since they both signed with their second-tier Canadian league teams. So, ten years. Behind the scenes, they started hooking up whenever they were in the same town and staying at the same hotel. Ilya is openly bisexual, Shane is deeply closeted. Their hookups become trysts, and as they start learning about each other’s lives, they eventually fall in love. They have a Plan for eventually having an open relationship, but it’s not even remotely feasible until they see Scott come out with Kip, see Game Changer above. Their plan is not obvious, yet it is believable. Sexy times, steamy times, tear-jerking times. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Tough Guy by Rachel Reid 1/17/26 1/18/26 288 pages Mine.

Third in the 7-book series and phenomenally popular series on HBO Max called Heated Rivalry. Ryan is an NHL enforcer whose job it is to disrupt the other team’s plays and even hurt them if necessary. Privately, he’s gentle, kind, and closeted. Ryan never stays long with a team, always traded. Ryan’s traded to Toronto and buys an upscale apartment in the LGBTQ+ Village. Fabian is flamboyantly out. Ryan runs into Fabian, a boy he almost had a kiss with in high school, and they eventually start up a relationship. This one is rather sweet and sexy. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* Heartbreak Hockey by S Legend 1/18/26 1/19/26 438 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Switching series, this first in the Heartbreak Hockey series has Jack and Rhett in love and planning on a life together with marriage and kids. However, Rhett dangles an engagement ring in front of Jack with the condition that he leave hockey and become a house husband and dad to all the little future hockey players. Jack chooses hockey instead although it breaks his heart. One night he is in a bar and hooks up with Mercy, and it’s the best night of their lives. Jack leaves a note and is gone before Mercy gets up. Imagine their surprise when they meetup at practice, Jack a player and Mercy the coach. They try oh so hard to keep things professional, but it doesn’t work out. They fall into bed and each others lives. There’s nothing against them being in a relationship, and Jack is happy to adopt and be adopted by Mercy’s extended and unconventional family, up to and including Mercy adopting his dad’s newest baby after the mother leaves. Everybody knows Mercy’s dad loves making babies but not keeping them or caring for them. Jack falls in love with … Stanley – get it … and although Rhett tries to win Jack back, Jack is in love with Mercy. Lots of alpha male posturing from both Mercy and Rhett. Great extended family details and future tie in to the second book, with Logan the ice dancer being brought back into the clan. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Common Goal by Rachel Reid 1/19/26 1/20/26 320 pages Mine.

Fourth in the 7-book series and phenomenally popular series on HBO Max called Heated Rivalry. Eric is a silver fox NHL hockey player gearing up emotionally to retire. He’s also recently divorced from a woman and wants to test out his bisexuality. Kyle is a graduate student and NOT interested in a long-term relationship after a breakup. Eric hangs out at the bar where Kyle works and they hook up. Kyle is perfectly happy to teach Eric some things, Eric is perfectly happy to learn those things, but pesky feelings get in the way. Both deny them, both are miserable. Lots of fun sexy times and a sweet and non-hockey ending. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.20* Ice Dance Hockey by S Legend 1/21/26 1/23/26 463 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Second in the Heartbreak Hockey series. Rhett is still deeply in love with Jack, who is with Mercy. Logan, Mercy’s half-brother, flees his unhappy home and starts living with Mercy and family. He’s very young and acts out his fear of abandonment. Mercy completely understands this, since their mother abandoned Mercy and two of his siblings. In the meantime, Logan gets ice time at the same practice rink as Rhett, and they immediately clash over ice time and then their enemies-to-lovers behaviors. Rhett eventually figures out that what he feels for Logan is so much more than what he felt for Jack. Rhett is also dealing with his father trying to control his life by manipulating Jack’s team into preventing him from moving up to the NHL and cutting Logan out of his life. Gay soap opera! It’s fun and serious and sexy. Logan/Mercy/Jack’s family bring Rhett into the fold eventually, and Rhett and Logan get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned A Cowboy Holiday by Lane Hayes ** 87 pages

Sickeningly sweet. Young ranch owner Tanner hires the vet who was taking care of the herd of cows he bought. Axel the vet lives in a trailer with his daughter, Phoebe, and plans on moving back to Texas in the spring. Emergency vet services are needed, Axel comes in the middle of the night. Tanner and Axel get together, there are fun times at a carnival, Phoebe, “Phee”, is cuter than a button, and just … No. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Curse Before Christmas by Eli Easton ** 97 pages

Office worker Patrick is given a Krampus doll in the Christmas gift exchange at the company he just started working for. After 3 accidents in the same night has Patrick in the same ER with the same doctor with Patrick lusting after the ER doctor and the ER doctor, Gray, lusting after Patrick . Gray drives him home instead at the end of his shift of trusting him to any more Ubers. They then go on a while ride of trying to figure out what’s going on. I knew Krampus was involved, I shouldn’t have borrowed a book with Krampus involved. Krampus is Ugh. Caveat emptor re sex?

4.00* Breakneck Hockey by S Legend 1/23/26 1/25/26 427 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Third in the Heartbreak Hockey series. Top Dog (Sutter) and Kitten (Casey) are sworn enemies on the ice but meet on a hookup app, not realizing who the other is, and start sexting. Once they meet up and realize who the other is, Sutter wants Casey, Casey’s not sure but gives in to Sutter’s demand that they finish what they started with sexting. It goes from there, with it becoming more than hookups. Each starts understanding the other, and they eventually fall in love. Serious alpha male and submissive behaviors, and lots of rough sex. It shouldn’t be a surprise that I really liked it. A lot. And as I came to understand their backgrounds as they did, I could see the more-than-sex attraction. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.70* Hidden Scars by Andi Jaxon 1/26/26 1/26/26 456 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Jeremy plays hockey for Darby U. Preston comes in to the semester late, but also plays hockey and is standoffish and rude to everybody. They are assigned as roommates, and as Preston is so mysterious and eccentric, Jeremy is intrigued. However, it’s not until Preston’s personal life starts falling apart around him that Jeremy, warm and sweet off the ice, starts taking care of Preston. Preston comes from money, his father has strange control over him, and he tries to keep his sister Lily protected. There are several chapters where Preston’s dad is abusive and tortures him. I read one of them, then was happy to skip those chapters and return to where Jeremy starts caring for him and getting involved with him sexually. It’s more convoluted than many MM romances. Suffice to say that Preston and Jeremy get their hard-won HEA. Caveat emptor re rough sex.

3.40* Textual Confusion by Fifer Rose 1/26/26 1/27/26 Kindle Unlimited.

A re-read, originally read in December of 2024, given 4*. This is what I wrote then:

A fun trope – Asher gets a new phone number to escape his ex-boyfriend/stalker. This phone number is one that Markus uses with his hookup/contract. Asher texts back, they text back and forth. Asher eventually has to admit that he’s a guy, not a woman, and it turns out that Markus already knew that for some reason. Markus is an alpha male billionaire. Asher is going to school and working as a baker in a café. Ex-boyfriend makes more appearances, Asher and Markus have a contract, Markus takes care of Asher, Asher feels bad about being dependent on Markus, emotional make up scene. HEA. Caveat emptor re sex. Oh, there’s a Daddy kink in there, too… I didn’t particularly like that bit, but I substituted Sir for every Daddy and the dom/sub thing worked fine for me.

Nothing new to add except that the Daddy kink squicked me out more this time, hence the drop in rating.

**abandoned Iced Out by CE Ricci ** 142 pages

On ice hockey enemies to secret lovers. Honestly, I shouldn’t have tried it after Heated Rivalry. In fact, I may never be able to read another On ice hockey enemies to secret lovers again. Sigh. I think there was sex by page 142, but honestly don’t remember. Memorable, right?

4.70* Bean by Nora Phoenix and EM Lindsey 1/27/26 1/27/26 322 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Bean has been honorably discharged from the Army with a TBI – traumatic brain injury. He has no short-term memory. None at all. He lives with other friends/discharged soldiers with various issues themselves, and they help take care of him while he helps take care of them. One night he hooks up with Jarek, who’s finally put himself out there after a horrible breakup. They go their separate ways but then Jarek sees Bean again and Bean doesn’t recognize him but they hook up again. Bean explains his memory issues, and takes Jarek home to meet his ’brothers’. Jarek learns how to support Bean and starts to have a romantic relationship with him. Bean gets into a drug trial, and by the end of the book he can remember Jarek’s name and a few things about their life together. Absolutely stunning descriptions of frustrations, coping mechanisms, and blossoming love. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Omega for Rent by Liam Kingsley ** 108 pages

Riley is an omega for hire, and Chase needs him for a fake boyfriend relationship to keep his father off his back. The fake part of the relationship goes down the tubes when their chemistry is off the charts and Riley turns up pregnant. Chase will have to figure out that Riley is more important than business or his father. Ho hum. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.20* The Quirky Vet by Casey Cox 1/27/26 1/28/26 214 pages Kindle Unlimited.

Muir and Fitz are both vets, both in the same clinic. They are best friends and platonic soul mates until they aren’t. They drunken get married in a pop-up wedding chapel and are shocked to find out that annulments aren’t as easy to get as they want. They try to keep the marriage secret but can’t. And, Muir needs to stay married so that when his Gramps dies, which will be sooner than later, he inherits his property. He’s not mercenary – he loves his Gramps. Everybody in the small town they live in is thrilled that they’ve finally figured out that they’re in love and have been in love forever. So sweet, so sexy. Caveat emptor re sex.

**Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope ** 10 pages

Ugh. One chapter that could have been two paragraphs. Stilted and verbose. I do not mind books from this time period, but this one is just ridiculous and I can’t figure out why Trollope is so popular. It’s definitely a me problem.

4.90* Heart by Jesse H Reign 1/29/26 1/30/26 344 pages Kindle Unlimited.

The book starts out with Lennon stalking Connor. He knows where Connor will be when, knows where he lives. Knows what he orders at the coffee shop. He admits to being obsessed, but we don’t know why he’s obsessed. Yet. Connor lives in a 2-bedroom apartment and wants a roommate. Lennon takes one of the phone number tabs from the sign and when he interviews with Connor, Connor accepts him as a roommate. He’s absolutely shocked. Connor is presented as dreamy, full of life and care for his friends, appreciative of every single thing in his life. Lennon is nonplussed by this but terribly attracted to Connor’s light and true spirit. Lennon is sad and depressed and Connor senses this. They get to know one another. I won’t give much more of the plot except to say that it’s sweet and sexy and full of life. Me giving a book a 4.9* rating means a lot since I’m so stingy with stars. This one is beautiful and lyrical and sexy. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned His Pretty Omega by Raven Matthews ** 189 pages

Alex attends a weekend getaway hotel New Year’s Weekend. Seth is there to ring in the New Year with a hookup. He leaves before speaking with Alex the next morning because his best friend has gone into labor. Two months later, he turns up pregnant but has no idea how to get in touch with the alpha he spent the night with. Ah, coincidence! His best friend, Bennett, recognizes the Alpha. Seth just so happened to take a selfie with him that night. Seth has a chip on his block and storms into the Alpha’s office. He doesn’t want to get rid of the child yet isn’t certain he wants Alex in his life. However, Alex embraces potential fatherhood and Seth unconditionally. The emotions are too strong too early. I wasn’t interested enough to continue. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Billionaire Bear's Feisty Fox by Asher Wylde ** 132 pages

Fox shifter has to come groveling to the bear shifter who can and does buy him out, but with a condition. They have to pretend to be boyfriends in order to keep the business in the bear’s hands. Things start changing, with romantic and sexual feelings showing up. This one bothered me. *shrug* Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Hawk by Jacki James ** 51 pages

Mika has run from an abusive ex and hidden away in Vesper, Texas. When his ex discovers him, pretty much accidentally, Mika turns to Duncan. The writing wasn’t compelling and it was really hard to get over the descriptive abuse Mika took. I’m sure there will eventually be sex, so future caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Too Hot to Handle by JD Light ** 27 pages

Omega shifter has secret feelings for his brother’s ex. Way too much complication in way too few pages. I’m sure it sorts itself out, but I didn’t care enough to continue.

419 books read


1 Masterpiece
41 Stunning
189 Excellent
112 Very Good
40 Good
23 Average
10 Bad
3 Very Bad
0 Don't Bother
0 Anathema


Best Fiction
James by Percival Everett Review
Dinosaurs by Lydia Millett Review
The Future by Naomi Alderman Review
Tilt by Emma Pattee Review
The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith Review

Best MM/MMM/MMMM Romance
Omegaverse - Matehub: Legend by Marie Reynard - February Lightning Round
Romance - To Catch A Firefly by Emmy Sanders - June Lightning Round
Stepbrothers - Chokehold by Leigh Rivers and Harleigh Beck - September Lightning Round
Hockey - Last Guy on Earth by Sarina Bowen - October Lightning Round
Western - Red Dirt Heart by NR Walker - December Lightning Round

Best Nonfiction
Back With the Tide: Memoirs of Ellen Douglas Bellamy Review
Honor, the Duel, and Indiscretion: The Life of Elizabeth "Betsey" Pollock Devereaux Jones (1818-1879) by W. Davenport Robertson - March Lightning Round
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green Review

Top five overall for the LT Top Five Books of 2025 List
Dinosaurs by Lydia Millett Review
Tilt by Emma Pattee Review
The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith Review
To Catch A Firefly by Emmy Sanders June Lightning Round
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green Review

…...

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I decided to not push my luck with my foot, so am not at book sort/Virlie's. I have an appointment at 1 p.m. for a massage. I need to get gas and pick up a prescription before or after - haven't decided yet. I might make panko salmon and multigrain rice (in my handy dandy rice cooker!) for dinner.

Shetland, doomscrolling, reading.

At last! Welcome!

I'm first! I'm first!!!! Thrive and rejoice through the thread, (((((Karen)))))!

>10 karenmarie: I remain stunned you've skipped your sacred book-fondling time, Horrible. I saw it on your last thread and was sure I'd come here to see you'd changed your mind. Your foot's worse than I thought, obvs. Feel better, sweetiedarling!

Third will do for me. Hiya, Karen.

Happy new thread :)

Happy new thread, Karen!

Happy new one, Karen!

Happy new thread, dear Karen. xx

>12 LizzieD: Yay for being first, Peggy! Thank you. Many hugs to you, too.

>13 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear. Sunday night and half of Monday I debated going to Urgent Care, but a frozen corn bag on my foot and downing Tylenol and Tramadol Sunday night reduced the pain significantly. I didn’t change my mind about book sort and Virlie's and am convinced that NOT being on my feet for 2 hours, not schlepping from parking lots to the Library and Virlie’s, and not putting gas in my SUV helped my foot recover. It’s still the teensiest bit sore, but I hardly notice it now. *smooch*

>14 weird_O: Third is honorable. Hiya back, Bill.

>15 figsfromthistle: Thank you, Anita.

>16 quondame: Hello Susan and thanks.

>17 drneutron: Thank you, Jim. Thank you, too, for all the work you do for our group.

>18 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul. Thank you. Leeds looks to be safely away from relegation. Bill watched the Chelsea game and was excited that your team scored two late in the match to tie it.

Wordle 1,698 3/6* trope, begin, vegan

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Did a bit of updating of my RL book club's 2025-2026 book club year's schedule and published it. Did a bit of planning for what to have Trevor work on today. I made Panko Encrusted Salmon Fillets and multigrain rice cooked in my handy dandy new Rice Cooker. Both were yummy. Read and etc.

...
Trevor's supposed to come over this morning and stay through 1:30 or so to help Bob get the antique book case - dubbed Thing Three - brought in and placed.

>19 karenmarie: Welcome, Thing Three! Enjoy your new life in your kind's Paradise.

What are you leaving Trevor in your will? He deserves something great.

I hope your commonsensical resting behavior keeps paying fruit in low-pain days ahead. *smooch*

Happy new thread, Karen! I'm glad to hear that your foot is much improved. And envious of your new book case. Of course, I wouldn't have a place to put one like that.

>20 richardderus: Thing Three arrived safe and sound. He's settling in nicely. I need to write a codicil, I guess. There are a couple of other bequests I should formalize, too. *smooch*

>21 atozgrl: Hi Irene, and thank you. The long wall in the living room has had quite a few things on it in the almost 28 years we've been here, but it's now finalized. 5 book cases and an antique sewing machine with an air purifier on it.
Wordle 1,699 5/6* trope, afire, curve, nurse, surge

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Momentous day. Thing Three arrived safe and sound, and Trevor was here to help Bob get it out of the trailer, into the house, and slotted in place.

The books in the book cases on the long wall are getting re-tagged.
E1x -> W1x
E2x -> W2x
C1x -> W3x (Thing Three, new book case)
C2x -> W4x (Thing Two)
B1x book case is C1x book case, Thing One, now empty

I realize that this retagging effort makes most of you shudder, but it makes me happy.

Below: New home for Thing One. Thing Three and Thing Two.





Books taken out of Thing One, which is now in Breakfast Room, slated for Thing Three.



And after all the efforts above are completed, the designations Thing One - Thing Three will be retired.

Trevor also got trash and donations out of the upstairs, packed Bill's SUV with trash and recyclables, pulled all the things that were in the bottom of the corner shelves in the Kitchen out for me to keep, donate, trash. He moved Thing One to the Breakfast Room.

I think I did a bit too much yesterday because my foot is a bit painful. Not a lot, just some. I read, watched Shetland and etc. And I watched Heated Rivalry for the third time. I know, I know...

...
This morning is for reading, puttering, and moving 20 of the books designated S-Desk into their new home in the Breakfast Room. I also need to put the shelves back into Thing Three and possibly put some books in it.

I have a massage at 12:30. Arsenal play Brentford at 3.

And etc.

>22 karenmarie: HR episode 4 does not get enough luuuv. Ilya's intense, desperate jealousy is apocalyptic in his world: Shane is MINE ONLY MINE is a realization that Storrie plays so very well, and is the hinge for the entire series. He *will* have Shane as his own. Poor closet-case Shane is doomed, doomed to come out from that moment on. It's the moment that makes episode 5's Emmy-worthy, Peabody-worthy underpass scene possible. Absent Ilya's volcanic rage at *his*man* being with anyone not named Ilya episode 6 and its transformative healing catharsis happen. Unstoppable force is uncorked by poor, unlucky Rose Landry.

I'm busily cleaning up January's unwrittens, reading the last few March books I'll do, polishing the Februarys left...I'm using the anxiety of waiting for others to do things I've set in motion to keep myself moving on this in-the-month gig I'm trying out.

I hope your lads prevail over whoever Brentford might be. *smooch*

Here's the Valentine's Day readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378586

Happy New Thread! 🧵

>23 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear! I agree about episode 4. I watched the whole thing it again Wed and Thurs nights, sigh, and that underpass scene absolutely brought tears to my eyes. Williams is a good actor, Storrie is a great actor. I still don’t get Arnaud and Robbie GK as Scott and Kip, though.

Glad you’re keeping busy with reviews. I can’t believe they still haven’t let you know. Arsenal tied Brentford, which only puts them up 7 points over Man City, not the 9 we were hoping for. *smooch*

>24 SilverWolf28: and >25 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you twice!

Wordle 1,700 5/6* trope, smoky, bloom, moody, mooch

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I cleaned the shelves of Thing Three and placed them back inside. I put a few of the S-Desk books on top of Thing One, now in the Breakfast Room. The massage went well. She worked my glutes and some muscles or ligaments or tendons (?) behind them. Not pleasant to actually go through, but lying face down in a quiet room with soft music and the smell of cedar and the different oils/lotions she was using was perfect.

Arsenal and Brentford tied. Arsenal went up one, then Brentford scored from a sideline throw-in. Honestly, it was beautiful, just for the wrong team.

Shetland, chatting with Jenna, doomscrolling, reading, and watching the last 4 episodes of Heated Rivalry again made for a busy night. But I did get about 5 1/2 hours of sleep.

...
I have an appointment with my chiropractor at 9. I need to pick up a few critical groceries, including but not limited to coffee and grapes, pick up a prescription, then get home before Trevor gets here. I told him 10:30 - 11, so I don't really need to rush.

Updating my spreadsheets and Lightning Round and the Friends of the Library online bookstore inventory in Excel, and etc.

>26 karenmarie: Morning, Horrible, I'm glad Arsenal pulled it off but it was an ugly one (according to my Bsky Arsenalians). I know it was deeply gratifying for you to get the organizing done.

Re: your spoiler when I heard Artaud say "I love you so fucking much" to Robbie GK it felt to me like he was method-acting by addressing his paycheck. Theirs is not the chemistry that powers the show.

I agree with you about Storrie. Season two should only be as good...if it's better I'll be shocked.

>27 richardderus: 'Morning the next day, RDear! Oooh, Bsky Arsenalians. I just tried for half an hour to create an f***ing bsky account and got caught in a I am Human and username loop. I've submitted a request. Sheesh.

You could argue that Scott has been so repressed in expressing emotions that he can barely get Kip out onto the ice, much less tell him he loves him. Kip's "I love you, too" and their melodramatic, histrionic, exaggerated, and frenzied hug just didn't sit well with me.

The response to it by Shane and Ilya and the Famous "I'm coming to the cottage." line are hands down the best thing about Scott and Kip's entire story.

Wordle 1,701 5/6* trope, snowy, afoul, blood, bloom

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Early chiropractor appointment, grocery shopping. Why is it when I have 5 things on my list do I decide that it's time to spend $240? Prescription, then home.

Trevor came over about 10:30. Had him bring things out onto the Guest Bedroom bed from the hot water heater storage area behind the Guest Bedroom closet. Obviously, stuff I'd forgotten about. We got about 1/3 of it out, most of it Christmas stuff. I also had him clear away some things from the Media Room Landing and set up a card table/chair/lamp there. We brought out photo albums and boxes of pictures from the floor of the Media Room Landing closet. I have homework.

Started re-tagging books from C2x to W3x. Nap, dinner, Shetland, chatting with Jenna and Karen. About 6 hours of sleep.

...
I need to mail the Congratulations on Getting Your Green Card to Hwan then visit Bob's Antique Barn to give him the check for the book case. He might not be open. If not, I'll mail it on Monday.

More re-tagging, reading, and etc.

>28 karenmarie: I hope your request goes through, but isn't https://bsky.app/profile/karenmarie53.bsky.social your account? That account is following me and I assumed it was you....

I'm thinking about walking to the library to donate some good hardcovers to the booksale, but might postpone it until tomorrow. *smooch*

Here and gone while hoping that you got your list completed and had room for some Karen-time!

(Our visitor arrived a bit after 2:00 this afternoon and left about 5:00. We enjoyed her, but my eyes got very tired sitting quietly and listening to her and my DH discuss genealogy.)

Happy new thread! Lots of book organizing going on and it makes me think I need to spend some time with my own shelves.

>29 richardderus: Hmm. I guess it is probably me, but I can’t find a single record or note to tell me what email address I used or what the password is. *shrug* Still waiting to hear back from the bluesky folks.

I hope you were able to get the books donated or will have the wherewithal to get it done today. *smooch*

>30 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I got my errands done, wandered around the antiques barn. Bob used to have quite a few sets of dishes but now only has one set. People don’t want good china. Most young people don’t want much of anything. I didn't buy anything!

If it’s not your jam, then a 3-hour discussion about genealogy would be boring for sure.

>32 Whisper1: Hi Linda! Thank you for the lovely image. Separate but related, I just finished Rothko: The Color Field Paintings and for some reason it reminds me of this image.


Slow Swirl at the Edge of the Sea. Mark Rothko 1944.

>33 witchyrichy: Hello Karen! I had lots of fun with tagging yesterday. I’ve gotten things mostly under control. Enjoy your shelves!

Wordle 1,702 3/6* trope, basil, skull

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Valentine's Day cards and candy. I got Hwan's card mailed and the check written. The Antiques Barn was open, so paid off the book case. Changed book case designations and re-tagged all appropriate books. Fun. Steaks and baked potatoes for dinner. We were too full for dessert.

Reading, doomscrolling.

...
Arsenal play Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup in 45 minutes. Other than that, not too much. Reading, puttering. Shetland.

I'm not watching Arsenal, but I will join you in reading with great pleasure this afternoon!!!

(I debated long and hard about using my last GC $ to get the Rothco book. Then I chose Britain After Rome instead. HUGE SIGH. The note I put out for the people at the other 1002 hasn't been disturbed, and there's mail in the box, so I still don't have either book. BOTHER!!!

Good luck to Arsenal!

Hi Peggy! Nah, I can't see you watching Arsenal. They're up 4-0 at the half.

I'm sorry that there's been no response from the other 1002. Mail in the box, too. Worrisome, but they might be on vacation.

It's cold and rainy and I'm glad I'm inside.

>34 karenmarie: I hope you're feelin' the high.

*smooch*

Morning, Karen. Happy New Thread. I am back and I brought the warm weather with me. It was beautiful yesterday when I landed and it will be 60F today. You can't beat that for February.

I hope all is well in NC.

>7 karenmarie: I am glad to see that you appreciated How the Word Is Passed as much as I did, Karen.

Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866. Eighteen sixty-six. And I, sweet entitled white woman from California, had never heard of it until about 15 years ago.

That's OK. I live in Texas, where Juneteenth originated, and I had never heard of it until about 15 years ago either. I am not, however, sweet. I am a white woman though - from Pennsylvania.

Happy new thread!

>39 alcottacre: Growing up in Austin in the 1970s I heard about Juneteenth in junior high school social studies class, say 1971 or 1972. It got bigger as the 1970s wore on. It's still one of my calendar axes.

Wouldn't've been if I'd stayed in Cali. Happy new week, Horrible.

>35 LizzieD: I just read the blurb about Britain After Rome. It is too expensive for my blood, but I found a book about the Staffordshire Hoard on Kindle Unlimited: The Staffordshire Hoard: Gold of the Anglo-Saxon Kings. I also went down the rabbit hole of Pamela Zagarenski again, thank you Linda >32 Whisper1: 🥰, and have now discovered her greeting cards. Sigh.

>37 richardderus: I’m still feelin’ it, RD. Stayed 4-0, but it gave two Arsenal goalies clean sheets – Kepa Arrizabalaga and Tommy Setford. I usually watch highlights on YouTube, even if they lose, but watching Arsenal completely own Wigan Athletic just didn’t appeal. *smooch*

>38 msf59: ‘Moring, Mark! Welcome back. Yay for your warm weather. It’s already 48.6F here, going to a high of 54F. Congrats are in order - I saw your bird report but didn’t reply on your thread yesterday. I’ll come visit in a bit.

All’s reasonable in NC. Not horrible, not good. Mostly emotional angst, usually late at night when my defenses are down. Everybody in my fam is okay or good, though.

>39 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. Oh yes, it was a stunning read. Hmmm. Not sweet. Okay. Generous hearted, smart as a whip, acerbic, camera resistant, endearing, etc. I did not realize you’re from Pennsylvania. *smile* Thanks re my new thread.

>40 richardderus: I bet they don’t teach about Juneteenth in Texas schools now. News-resistant as I am in recent … years … I read about the Democratic upset for a state senate seat in Senate District #9 by 16%, fantastic news for us blue-ies.

Wordle 1,703 3/6* trope, snort, roost

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Read, moved most of the books tagged S-Desk to Thing One, now renamed B1x, where x is 1-4. Watched Arsenal beat Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup, 4-0.

Watched Shetland. Read, doom scrolled.

...
I am irritated that I have to go to a follow-up visit to the Spine & Pain Associates in Sanford - a 30-mile one-way trip. They are rather insistent as they always are, but all I'll do is talk with Jennifer. No exam, no visit with the doctor. I have to put gas in the SUV, go to the drive-through at the bank and the pharmacy, then head south. Grrr.

Otherwise, reading, and etc.

>41 karenmarie: I'm sure you're correct about the descent of Texas into deeper and deeper scumbaggery, despite Taylor Rehmet's stunning win. Only eleven months to serve, but then the Gross Old Pedophiles will have the district in their sights. I hope he can hang on.

I loathe those "we'll refuse to see you if we can't charge you twice" visits.

Wigan is a place I was sure Orwell made up for The Road to Wigan Pier's title. Turns out they's plenty Englishmen livin' there. Looks grim to me. Sending *smooches*

>39 alcottacre: I'm another entitled white woman from California (doubt anyone has ever used "sweet" to describe me though) and I heard about it around the same time.

>42 richardderus: I hope he can hang on, too, RD, and inspire other Dems to run and other people to vote for them.

Yes, I had a $20 copay yesterday.

The Road to Wigan Pier is muckracking along the lines of How The Other Half Lives. I bought the paperback in 2014 but it's not in my catalog. I do not know why.

Home, reading, napping, Shetland, chatted with both Karen and Jenna.

Wordle 1,704 4/6* trope, claim, fauna, squad. Previously used 4-11-22.

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Forgot the bank was closed for President's Day, but got gas, the prescription, and then the visit. However, I now have an appointment for March 9th at 2 p.m. for the next set of left side L3-L5 shots.

Shetland and reading most of the night. Not enough sleep, for sure.

...
Book sort, Virlie's. Bank for cash, cleaning ladies. Reading, puttering, and etc.

Morning, Karen. Jackson Day got switched to Thursday. Bree will make that her office day. So, I will tend to the kids and then come home and take care of a few things here. Of course, book time is in the plans too.

I bought a bag of bird seed, so everything has been topped off.

>44 karenmarie: Morning, Horrible, sorry about your too-early start. I'm getting a dose of gloom outside. It's above freezing so no complaints. Enjoy the book-fondling and your delayed Virlie's gratification. *smooch*

Hi, Karen. I am still around, but I'm not being as productive book-wise/reading-wise as I once was. So be it.

I did succumb to a Taschen sales blitz and now am waiting impatiently for my books to arrive. UPS has 'em in Nashville, but isn't forecasting when an UPS operative will be tossing them in the snowbank at the end of my driveway. Somethin' to look forward to.

>43 RebaRelishesReading: Hello, Reba! I’m actually not very sweet either, although I do have my moments. Yes to being from California, although the way politics are going these days getting to a blue state, like my daughter and her wife did last August, might be a longer-term goal.

>45 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! I hope you had a good day yesterday, even without Jackson. Kids, errands, and books doesn’t seem unreasonable to me. *smile*

>46 richardderus: Ugh. Here I am again today, RDear, way too early. I’m going to try to break a stay-up-late pattern that’s been getting out of hand. So the plan is lights out no later than midnight. *smooch*

>47 weird_O: Hi Bill! I’m so glad you’re still around, sorry about not being quite as book/reading-wise as you once were. Book sale books are quite wonderful, aren’t they? Get going, UPS!

Wordle 1,705 3/6* trope, axion, mogul

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Book sort was really busy. There were 12 of us and we didn't finish until just before 11. I admit to visiting Rita the Librarian for a bit, but did my fair share of books, too. 9 of us went to Virlie's. I stopped off for cash for the ladies on the way home. They came, cleaned, and left. I took a nice nap and did a bit of reading upstairs. Dinner, Shetland, and then going to bed too late. Once again.

...
There's no need to leave the house today. I plan on reading, puttering, replenishing bird feeders, and going through things Trevor's brought out - from the hot water heater storage behind the Guest Bedroom closet or the corner cabinet in the Kitchen. Perhaps a nap, although my usual nap time of 3-5:30, some of which is usually reading, isn't available today because Arsenal, first place in the table, play the Wolves, last place in the table, at 3 p.m.

Shetland and etc.

Morning, Karen. I have been having some issues with my left leg, with swelling and some discomfort. This started in Florida. I probably shouldn't have played PB on Monday but it didn't bother me then. I will take a break today and see how it is on Friday.

Not a lot of feeder activity yesterday but the flicker stopped by- visiting the suet and the birdbath.

>48 karenmarie: Do you need to watch Arsenal trounce those last-placers on a day when you need the nap so much?

A lot of books to sort! I love that your county has so many books to share.

*smooch*

>34 karenmarie: I am considering hiring someone to help me empty the library shelves to clean, cull and organize. I have tinkered but not done a complete clean for at least a decade.

>7 karenmarie: >34 karenmarie: >39 alcottacre: >40 richardderus: In 1956, Virginia, where I live, instituted Massive Resistance to Brown v. Board by largely closing their public schools. A school in Virginia was also part of the Brown v. Board lawsuit. Yet, many Virginians, native or come heres, have no knowledge of this history. I think I have heard something similar for the Tulsa Race Massacre. I need to get back to Zinn's history.

>51 witchyrichy: We are trained where to look, what to give our eyeblinks to, so things uncomfortable or inconvenient to Power aren't hidden exactly but de-emphasized.

Hi Karen my dear, Happy New Thread dear friend.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. Bree has things covered today so she didn't need me. I will see Jack on Saturday. I do miss the little guy.

>49 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you. I’m sorry about your left leg. I hope that resting it yesterday helped. My feeders really need attention, and there are only a couple of Cardinals and Fox Sparrows scrounging around.

>50 richardderus: Hiya, RD! I should have napped. They tied, 2-2, and Arsenal’s lead has dropped to 5 over Man City, who’ve played one less game than Arsenal. Sigh.

There were enough books that it took 12 of us ‘til just before 11 to get them all done. It is truly amazing to me that we get enough donations each of two times a year to offer ~18K books/CDs/audiobooks/vinyl/sheet music. The Book Sort Room is getting packed to the gills already, and the sale isn’t until March 26-28. We usually cut off donations a couple of weeks before the sale.

There are quite a few reasons for the volume of donations. Top two are that we’re close the UNC Chapel Hill – former professors – and rich readers living in Fearrington Village. There are other reasons, too, but those top the list. *smooch*

>51 witchyrichy: I think that’s a great idea, Karen. You’ll enjoy the emptier and clean shelves and the donations you’ll make to your local Friends/Library/thrift shop.

I know, of course, about Brown v The Board of Education. I hadn’t heard of Massive Resistance or the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. Similar is the Wilmington Massacre of 1898. All vicious attempts by white supremacists. Of particular note, especially in my mind, is that these racists all espoused Christianity. They clearly talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk.

I have A People’s History of the United States on my Kindle.

>52 richardderus: 1898, 1921, 1956… 70, 105, and 129 years ago. Easy to get lost as accounts get buried and people who were involved die. *smooch*

>53 johnsimpson: Hi John! Thank you so much.

>59 SilverWolf28: ‘Morning, Mark. I’m sorry you won’t get to see Jack ‘til Saturday. Will you show him some of your Florida trip bird photos? I don’t imagine that you would be able to show him all of them, but perhaps a few particularly interesting ones, including the Burrowing Owls.

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I worked on sorting things in the Guest Bedroom and in the Dining Room. Most gift bows and Christmas wrapping stuff I don't want any more got sorted out, but I don't know what to do with 10 sets of Christmas lights, all of which work, all rolled nicely and in one box. was going to get rid of most of the platters and serving plates, but have simply stacked them so that Trevor can put them back in the corner cupboard for now.

Arsenal and Wolves, Shetland, reading and napping, chatting with Jenna and doomscrolling made up the rest of my day.

...
Trevor will be here in about half an hour. Trash from my continuing efforts in the Guest Bedroom downstairs and into the garage, loading of Bill's SUV with trash, and various and sundry small things including bringing down all the Tupperware from the cabinet in the Kitchen so I can match things up with what's in the Dining Room. I'm going to donate most of my Tupperware to the Thrift Shop but need to do a final match on storage/lids so I can throw the rest away.

I also want him to take some of the bags of clothes from Jenna's Bedroom and bags of books currently in the back of my SUV to the Thrift Shop. I'll give him extra for gas and time.

Not as much as I'd like to have gotten done before he got here today, but them's the breaks.

After he's gone for the day, I need to go to the grocery store to get things for Bill's Birthday Dinner tomorrow and take some of Jenna's Hwan's mail to the PO to mail to them. I'm pretty sure one of the mailing's Hwan's Green Card, so will mail the envelope fastest delivery and with tracking.

All the usual things for the rest of the day after that - reading, puttering, and etc.

>52 richardderus: Exactly. Our state standards mention it, but I'm sure it is never included in the tests.

>55 karenmarie: I only ever get so far in Zinn before I am just too annoyed to continue.

Something Must Be Done About Prince Edward County is an interesting personal look at massive resistance from the perspective of a grandchild. Sadly, the Bible was often used to support slavery and segregation.

>56 witchyrichy: Why would they bother telling the inconvenient truth?

>55 karenmarie: All the containers in a typical house probably number in the dozens at the minimum. They're the most incredible, invisible lifestyle-enabling objects we make as a culture. The ability to store perishables is the main reason we're staying healthier after surviving longer than our generations of ancestors are accounted for.

I had an x-ray yesterday...it was a handheld device that came out of a backpack, beamed its rays onto a pad wirelessly connected to a laptop, and the results were instantaneous. It's a far cry from the entire room in a hospital with lead-apron clad acolytes making film records of one's internal structure.

Arsenal was careless, and paid the price....

Anyway, enjoy the clear-out as it progresses. *smooch*

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/378812

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Well, I am glad I go into immediate care yesterday- I have a blood clot in my left leg. At least I know what the issue is and can start the treatment, which is taking a blood thinner. It will take time but it will not impede my walks or PB. I am still taking a break at least until Monday. This is the first time this has happened to me.

Hooray for your fox sparrows. I wish I could see one in the backyard.

>52 richardderus: and >56 witchyrichy: There’s a searchable database of NC approved textbooks that I’ll look at in a while. I’m now curious.

>56 witchyrichy: So do you restart the Zinn or continue on until you get annoyed again?

>57 richardderus: Yup, RD.

>58 richardderus: Containers and refrigeration… You could do an archaeological analysis of advances in plastic storage with the Tupperware/Tupperware wannabes in my house. I’m going to get rid of most, if not all of the oldest containers. My next purchase will, for the 2nd time, be more of these:

Glass Storage Containers

That is so cool about you getting the x-ray in-house. I had to go in for my most recent x-ray – a mammogram - but it wasn’t painful like it can sometimes be with mammograms. The tech and the equipment are the key.

Arsenal careless… you’ve got that one. That second goal for the Wolves was an own goal by Calafiori after Raya went over Gabriel but didn’t catch the ball, which bounced around before finally going into the net, along with Calafiori. *smooch*

>59 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you!

>69 karenmarie: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you, too. Oh my. I am so glad you went to Urgent Care. We don’t mess around with blood clots. Is the blood thinner temporary or longer-term? I’m on Eliquis twice a day.

I just had a Red-Bellied Woodpecker looking for food on my empty feeders and get chased away by what I think was a Mockingbird. After doing a bit more here on LT I'm going to replenish all the feeders.

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Trevor came over for a bit. He brought down some trash from the Guest Bedroom, packed up Bill's SUV with trash and recyclables, and brought down the top 2 shelves of Tupperware so I can match up bits and pieces with what's still in the dining Room. Then I'll make the decision about what gets donated and what just gets tossed. He gave me a bird feeder hanger - shepherd's crook style - and I have to decide where to put it. It's courtesy of Rita the Librarian.

I went to the PO to mail a cardboard mailer with some critical bits of mail to Jenna and Hwan and got another sleeve of Manatee Forever stamps. The clerk didn't know what a manatee was, because when I asked for animal stamps, thinking they wouldn't have manatee stamps, he brought over ugly whatever animal stamps. I mentioned that I had gotten manatee stamps there, and the other clerk said they had manatee stamps. It's like going into the grocery store, and having people not recognize a fruit or vegetable.

Grocery store after. They'd moved the Panko, and I hadn't bought Bisquick in so long it took me twice down the row before I found it near the bottom.

Nap, dinner/Shetland. Chatted with Jenna, chatted with Karen. I wrote Bill's Birthday cards - one from me, and one from the cats.

...
Made coffee, fed the cats, put Sister Shubert's Cinnamon Rolls into the oven. Brought out Bill's cards and present - two Hanes t-shirts with pockets since his others are getting rather ratty. We had coffee and a cinnamon roll while chatting, gift/card giving, and watching a bit of women's curling.

I've already filled all the bird feeders, and after a brief break to eat actual breakfast and read, will make cheese cake, Bill's preferred birthday cake.

Dinner will be Bill's request: Panko b/s chicken (white for him, dark for me), Arborio rice, Bisquick biscuits, and gravy. I'll need to start around 3:30. It was amusing to have the rice discussion - I have Basmati, Sushi, Arborio, Brown, Mogami 8 Blended Whole Grain Rice mix, plus millet. Bill finally decided on Arborio, although Sushi was also discussed.

>61 karenmarie: Ho-maid cinnabunz! All the Y.U.M.

I hope you enjoy the rest of Friday, sweetiedarling.

I've never seen Sister Shubert's cinnamon buns. Haven't looked, but now I will, doggone it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BILL!!!!! Finishing that 7th decade is serious business. I wish you both joy as he works into his 8th!!!!!

Enjoy your day. I'm curious about rice other than white polished, wild, and brown. I'm not curious enough to invest in it though.

Plastic containers.... another small bane of my existence if I bothered to think about them, so I don't. Enjoy your day, (((((Karen)))))!

"Is the blood thinner temporary or longer-term?" It looks like it will be 2-3 months. I will learn more when I see my primary on Monday for my annual.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Heading out to Brees later this afternoon. I just checked the feeders- nothing but squirrels. 😒

>63 LizzieD: (((((Peggy))))) They are quite yummy. I made them for the first time to take to Book Club as a treat earlier this month.

I use Arborio rice for risotto and rice pudding. I use sushi rice on the advice of my bonus daughter, to mix with 8-grain multigrain and millet. Bill and I both like the combo, but he wanted to play the Southern Card for his birthday and have rice and gravy.

I’m not a fan of wild rice at all anymore and won’t spend money on it. It's not rice, anyway. it's a grass. *smile*

>65 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you. The only negative thing I find with Eliquis is that I bruise more easily. A small price to pay for no blood clots.

You see your PCP on Monday for your annual exam, I see my cardiologist on Monday for my semi-annual visit.

Sorry about the squirrels, yay for Jackson.

I've got House and Purple Finches, a Carolina Chickadee, a Tufted Titmouse, and a Fox Sparrow. The tray feeder is especially popular - there are one each male and female Purple Finch and a Fox Sparrow. Yesterday I replenished it with nyjer seed, sunflower seed, wild bird seed, and whole raw peanuts.

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Sooo busy yesterday. Cards, presents, Cinnamon Rolls, cheesecake, Panko Chicken, Arborio Rice, jar gravy, and Bisquick drop biscuits. Shetland. Both Jenna and my sister Laura had nice long chats with Bill. I was upstairs by 8 p.m., read, doomscrolled, finished re-watching Heated Rivalry. I didn't wake up 'til 9:30, and that was to my alarm.

Absolutely nothing on the schedule today except to finish getting the Kitchen back under control and continuing the Tupperware match game. I think I have a bag of Tupperware in another hiding place. Media Room? Garage store room? Hot Water Heater storage? Attic? Media Room Stairs Dormer? Other?, so can't donate stuff yet. Bother.

Reading and puttering, leftover Birthday Dinner, leftover cheesecake, Shetland and etc.

>41 karenmarie: I am pretty much from all over, but I was born in Pennsylvania :)

>43 RebaRelishesReading: I am glad that Karen and I are not alone, Reba!

Happy belated birthday to Bill from me! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, Karen!

>66 karenmarie: Sweetiesmooches, do you recall from your dim and distant past...1963, to be precise...if there was some sort of mass psychosis event...maybe in response to the missile crisis...that led to people making and consuming sparkling beef borshcht? Dylan found a "recipe" for it:
https://youtube.com/shorts/PtSEs08NV2A?si=CHXRd3MR-g1hIg7_

*smooch* from pre-blizzard Long Beach

>67 alcottacre: Hi Stasia. Happy Sunday to you, and I hope you’re having a great weekend. Thanks re Bill’s birthday.
As I pointed out to Bill the other day, white women are second class citizens, but only just behind white men. I’m pretty sure we’re still in a better position in all aspects of economics than every other class of person here in the US.

>68 richardderus: Hiya, RD. Hmmm. I was 10 in 1963. Pretty sure I hadn’t eaten beets by then and probably hadn’t had anything ‘sparkling’ except for glasses of soda or cans of soda on camping trips. Beef, however, was a major part of my diet. I saw the post, but haven’t watched it yet. Mass psychosis… it would have to be in order for that to be a thing.

Wow. I just looked at your weather. 18-30” between now and tomorrow. Cozy up with books, reviews, YouTube, and coffee.

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I was whupped yesterday after the Birthday Festivities. Let's see. I did look for the bag of Tupperware in every place it could be with the exception of the attic. Jenna made me promise years ago to not go up to the attic. I lollygagged. I read. I dozed. In looking at the hot water heater storage behind the Guest Bedroom closet, I discovered way too many boxes of Christmas decorations inherited from family members that we are currently not using. Sigh. I made leftover Birthday Dinner and we each had a piece of cheesecake after the first episode of Shetland. I got about 8 hours of sleep. Yay me.

...
Arsenal play Tottenham Hotspur at 11:30. Reading, puttering AND lollygagging, working on The Tupperware Problem are also on the agenda. Winging it for dinner and more Shetland.

>69 karenmarie: Enjoy the Hotspur game! Did the Flying Spaghetti Monster reach His Noodly Appendage down to jog your memory as to the tupperwhereabouts?

I'm off to make comfort food. I love canned lima beans cooked with yellow rice when it's icky outside. *smooch*

Morning, Karen. I ended up staying the night at Bree's. Sue is dealing with another cold, so stayed home. I got plenty of playtime in with Jack. He still very bossy but still so much fun. As soon as I got there, he ran up to me- gave me a high five and said "Lets play"!

Glad you are having so many cool visitors stop by your feeders. I just saw a chickadee out there. I have not seen one out back in awhile.

>69 karenmarie: Growing up our Christmas decorations were pretty much limited to lights and ornaments for the tree. When we were driving to what would be my father's last Christmas, we missed the house because it had a reindeer and a Santa figure out front. The caretaker was trying for a take over, was my take. I hadn't hired her but I was the only one who had issues with her.
We still don't have much more in the way of decorations, but have accumulated lots of lights over the years. And last year Mike and Becky got an entire new collection of ornaments they liked. And did they clear out the old ones?

I have an early appointment with my cardiologist and then a Friends Board Meeting and only got up in enough time to Wordle and drink a bit of coffee.

I shall return sometime after 12.

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Morning, Karen. I hope all goes well at the cardiologist. Keep us updated. I am playing PB and then getting ready for my annual physical early this PM.

>73 karenmarie: Have a successful morning's adulting, Horrible. *smooch*

>70 richardderus: Thanks RD! Arsenal beat them, which made me happy. The Tupperwares haven’t been found, but there’s no guarantee I didn’t get rid of them years ago. When Trevor comes over on Wednesday I’m going to ask him to look in the attic.

Yay for comfort food. Looks like you’ve been getting hammered. Bomb Cyclone, eh?

*smooch*

>71 msf59: ‘Afternoon, Mark! I’m sorry Sue’s sick again, glad you got more Jack time. Let’s see – A Downy on the suet feeder, sparrows and male Purple Finches. Also, one female Cardinal at a feeder and three males in the branches of the Crepe Myrtle.

>72 quondame: We were pretty much the same as you, Susan. We did have stockings to put out for Santa to fill, but that’s it.

Of course they didn’t clear out the old ones. Same as I haven’t cleared out the old ones that I just discovered. Most of them will go, though.

>74 msf59: ‘Afternoon, Mark! The cardiologist visit went well. Oooh, playing PB? I hope PB and your annual physical both go well.

>75 richardderus: Hiya, RDear! Thanks. I adulted with the best of them, and got home about 15 minutes ago. Cardiologist and Friends Board Meeting.

...
Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1. I read, puttered, napped, and etc. We winged it for dinner and watched Shetland.

...
Cardiologist, picking Rhoda up, Board Meeting, taking Rhoda home. Time to get in my jammies, eat a bit of lunch, then work a bit on the Guest Bedroom and read/nap/doomscroll.

Happy newish (well, to me it is) thread, Karen. Nice to see the clear out is ongoing.

Hooray for a good cardiologist visit, Arsenal's win, winging dinner, and all the rest. I'm too sleepy to say more except good night, good Karen!!!

Morning, Karen. PB and my annual went swimmingly. I am a healthy boy. The doc thinks the blood thinner will take care of the clot with no problem. I have a couple of different tests to follow up with on other things, otherwise all good.

It doesn't look like Bree needs help with Jack today so I will tend to the kids and then do some solo birding, despite the chill.

>77 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg, and thank you. I'm persistent. 😊

>78 LizzieD: Hello Peggy, and yes. Successful.

>79 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you. Yay for both PB and your annual. Sorry about no Jackson, but you got a good dose on Saturday/Sunday, right? I hope Sue's recovering. Yay for solo birding.

Many sparrows, a Downy at the suet feeder, a Red-Bellied in the Crepe Myrtle, both a male and female Cardinal, and a female Goldfinch, FOY.

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I agreed to let a baby cardiologist see me first, after the nurse took my vitals and confirmed the list of my meds. The baby cardiologist was good and I actually liked her. She listened to my heart and etc. Then, when my cardiologist came in we agreed that I'd take a very low dose of Losartan (instead of the cough-causing lisinopril) and increase my dose of atorvostatin. Prescriptions are called in and should be ready tomorrow or Thursday. $0 each, can't beat that.

Picked up Rhoda, and we had a pleasant chat on the way to the Library. The Board Meeting was snooze-worthy, and they're actually doing things I don't particularly like. I told Rhoda I wanted to resign from the Board if Heather, our President, doesn't run again and becomes Immediate Past President, but she said if she 'had' to stay, I had to stay. We'll see. Regardless, neither of us will resign from the book sort team.

On the way out, I was standing in front of the 'new to the Library' carousel. I noticed The Long Game, 6th in the Game Changers series/Heated Rivalry series, said I'd just finished the book and watched the series for the 5th time. Rita the Librarian, also standing there, was amused. I know, I know... Schlepped Rhoda back to Galloway Ridge, had another pleasant chat. Home again, read, napped, and etc. I did not work on the Tupperware, nor did I do anything else productive.

Shetland, reading, started Heated Rivalry again, doomscrolling. I got about 6 hours of sleep.

I enjoyed the videos of Jack Hughes scoring the winning goal for the US men's hockey team for the Gold Medal, beating Canada.

...
Back to the Library this morning for book sort, the book sale planning meeting, then Virlie's. I'll go to the grocery store for a few things, then home. It's 23.5F right now, pretty cold for us.

Hi Karen. Tell me more about the baby cardiologist. I mean, I know she wasn't an actual baby, I was just wondering if she was an actual cardiologist, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner. I've started seeing the nurse practitioner at my PCP's office. I really like the PCP, but sometimes it's nice to discuss concerns with a woman. It's astonishing how young these people are now isn't it? lol.

>80 karenmarie: We're similar temperature-wise, which is weird. It's ordinary for me to be in the lower 20s in February but certainly not you!

I hope Jacob Tierney doesn't go All diva about getting the writing done for s2. He's letting the astounding wave of love and passion dissipate the more he faffs about.

Enjoy book-fondling and Virlie's! *smooch*

I've gotten behind on the threads again. >66 karenmarie: Belated happy birthday wishes to Bill. It sounds like it was a good day, with lots of good food.

I need to go through stuff in my kitchen cabinets to see what I no longer need and can donate. I probably ought to replace some of my storage containers with glass ones. But this is lower on the priority list than other sorting and tossing that really does need to be done.

>80 karenmarie: Hurray for a good visit to the cardiologist!

Morning, Karen. The solo birding was a bit of a bust. It was cold, windy and the birdies were hunkered down elsewhere. Although, I never regret a walk in the woods. I did briefly spot a red-headed woodpecker.

PB early. Then meeting my cousin for lunch. Book time will find a place in there somewhere too.

>81 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. UNC is a teaching hospital/system, and occasionally they ask if a resident can conduct the appointment or sit in on the appointment. I rarely say yes, but did so on Monday for some reason. She had obviously consulted with my cardiologist prior to coming in. She’s got her MD. We discussed most of the important things, and then the cardiologist joined us. Here’s the ‘baby’ cardiologist’s online CV in the UNC system, just for S&G:

Preventive Medicine Resident
Dr. Pranati Panuganti, MD, MSc completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at UNC, where she developed a strong interest in cardiovascular health and disease prevention. She earned a BS in Nutrition from the Gillings School of Global Public Health, and went on to receive her MD and MSc in Primary Care and Population Medicine from Brown University. Through combined training in Preventive Medicine Residency and Adult Cardiology Fellowship, Dr. Panuganti aims to build a career as a primary care cardiologist and public health researcher focused on cardiovascular disease prevention.

As regards men vs. women – with the exception of my PCP, who I’ve had since 1998, so 28 years, I have preferred women until the horrible female OB/Gyn two years ago. I now have a great, young (40s) OB/Gyn only 10 miles away. I’m pretty sure that my cardiologist is going to be retired from patient practice within a year or two, and actually hope to get Dr. P., as she is happy to go by. She appreciated me saying her full name after looking at her name tag, though.

>83 richardderus: Hudson Williams was asked what his favorite scene was from S1, and he just looked back at the interviewer, who asked “Will there be more of that in S2?” and Hudson said “Yes.” So I’m presuming that they’ve already got at least a preliminary script.

>84 atozgrl: Hi Irene! Thanks re Bil’s birthday. Today’s finalizing The Tupperware Project. Trevor will be here in about 45 minutes or so. Thanks, too, re the visit with my cardiologist.

>85 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you. Sorry about yesterday’s Solo Birdie Bust. I’m always impressed with Red-Headed Woodpecker sightings. I’ve never seen one, although I know there was/is a pair sighted at a neighbor’s property.

Yay for PB and lunch with your cousin. Books, too, of course.

I’ve got one Carolina Chickadee, although I had Cardinals and Sparrows earlier.

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Book sort took 'til 11 and we still have a rack to go. We were supposed to have the Spring Book Sale planning meeting, but our fearless leader and his wife were sick. We chose to not have the meeting without them. Virlie's was a small but cherce group, 6 of us. Home, work on The Tupperware Project, reading, napping, and etc.

...
Trevor will be here in half an hour or so. I need to eat brekkie, visit a few threads, and make final decisions about Tupperware.

After he leaves, I need to go to town to pick up 2 prescriptions and go grocery shopping. And then all the usual things.

>86 karenmarie: How much Tupperware do you have?! I'm going to need a census so I can justify your environmental sins to Pomona when I meet her. Gotta know what I need to intercede with her for. *smooch*

>69 karenmarie: I’m pretty sure we’re still in a better position in all aspects of economics than every other class of person here in the US. I am pretty sure you are right!

Is there really a difference between puttering and lollygagging?

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

>86 karenmarie: We've had a red-headed woodpecker visit our feeders. We had them several years in the spring. Unfortunately, it has been a number of years now since they visited. But it was a thrill to see them.

>86 karenmarie: Thanks for that explanation, Karen. My docs are mostly female now, too. Waaaay back in my childbearing years I had a female ob/gyn but both times when I went into labor a male doc was on call and handled the delivery. Some things are outside one's control ...

Have a great day!

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. I only have to deal with one kid this AM so it should be easy peasy (like it normally is. LOL.) Then off to play PB. Leg has been feeling better. Still some swelling but I hardly notice it. I won't be able to give blood until I am off the blood thinner. I am bummed about that- I have been on a roll the past 3 years.

>87 richardderus: Well, RD, let’s just say that we filled up a 13-gallon trash bag with recycle Tupperware and a 13-gallon trash bag to take to the thrift shop or the swap room at the dump. Plus what I’m keeping. I need to get all that that Tupperware into the cupboard. It’s on the Kitchen counter. Tupperware is the generic term - I've also got a couple of large nesting sets of storage containers, and all the filled storage containers currently in the refrigerator and the pantry.

I’ll take a pic of the cupboard when I get it under control.

>88 alcottacre: Yay for the top tier of second-class citizens, right, Stasia?

puttering: to do things in a relaxed way, without rushing or trying very hard
lollygagging: to dawdle, move slowly or engage in idle play when something needs to be done

Very similar, but with subtle differences. 😊

I hope your Wednesday was wonderful and that your Thursday is the same.

>89 atozgrl: Hi Irene. Red-Headed Woodpecker colors are so dramatic, aren’t they? Sorry they haven’t visited in a while. BTW, our book sale is March 26-28. I'll be in the Childrens Room or in the back study room where we're selling our Online Bookstore books.

Here's a booksale pic currently on our website. It doesn't include art/music/fine arts and childrens books, both in separate rooms. All together, though, ~18K items. Twice a year. Amazing, isn't it, that we get so many donations. And this is only the books we keep.



>90 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. You and I had the same experience of labor. My official ob/gyn was a woman. There were 4 doctors in the practice, 2 women, 2 men. And, of course, at the final stages of labor, when I needed a C-section, a man was on call. He was a good doctor, but still. I wanted MY doctor. You’re right. No control over the situation and their schedule.

I hope your day was great, too.

>91 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you. Nice, light kid schedule, then hard at it PB, right? My mother gave blood for decades. It pleased her.. I have had one experience in giving blood, and after taking malicious advice from some college ‘friends’, didn’t eat that morning and ended up flat on my back and then sipping OJ and eating cookies. My college roommate, who had driven us there, was also flat on her back. I’ve just never wanted to do that again. I know it wouldn’t be bad, but still. Trauma is trauma.

Bird report: Purple and House finches, Fox Sparrows, male Cardinals, and a Downy Woodpecker. My feeders need replenishing.

Wordle 1,713 4/6* trope, budge, naive, lance

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Trevor did all the Tupperware Project things I done. I now have my Dining Room back - table and chairs in place, nary a piece of tupperware. He also took everything out of my SUV that needed to be donated or recycled, and the box of papers will get burned at a friend's fire pit. I picked up 2 prescriptions and went grocery shopping. We watched Shetland. We'll watch the last 2 episodes of the last season available tonight. And then, of course, we need to find something new-to-us to watch. Spoke with Karen, got decent sleep.

...
It's raining, so I might not get the bird feeders replenished. I'm waiting to hear back from Rita the Librarian about lunch. Reading, puttering and/or lollygagging, and etc. I forgot to mention that I brought home 3 books from the book sort on Tuesday:

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. Excellent trade paperback copy. I read Circe and loved it.
Once in Golconda by John Brooks. I'm endlessly fascinated by the 1920s and up to WWII.
California 2.0: What if Counties were More Like States? by Thom Bryant. Like new.

>92 karenmarie: Wow Karen, that photo is incredible! I bet fondling all those books is such fun, no wonder you volunteer there!

Happy belated birthday to Bill. I hope he has a brilliant 8th decade.

>92 karenmarie: THAT PHOTO IS INCREDIBLE!!!! I'd be in HOG heaven. Hunting for and finding miracles is a huge thrill! I think we can count on my looking online.

I wish I had liked *SofA* more, and at this distance I'm not sure what left the negative feeling. I suspect that I was persnickety about the writing. The recent retelling I really enjoyed was Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls. Anybody who is pernickety about her writing is way worse than I am!
I have Circe but haven't gotten to it.

Happy Thursday! (You putter. I lollygag.)

>92 karenmarie: The Song of Achilles! Your first time reading it? I was utterly enthralled. I have even re-read it!

I wonder if we're not heading for the future posited in California 2.0 around the country. It's feeling like it.

I love the photo! The county's full of real readers, obvs.

>92 karenmarie: Thanks for letting me know about the book sale dates. I think I may need to pass this time. I've picked up so many books at previous sales (and elsewhere) that I've got unread books still in bags and not enough shelf space for them. I'd probably better work on reading what I've already got. It truly is amazing all the donations that you get. I might need to donate some more to you.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379026

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience giving blood. Completely understandable. No one else in my family gives blood either. WTH? It will hit 60 here today. Back to winter for the weekend. It seems like this winter is going out with a whimper and I am perfectly okay with that.

I will tend to those feeders when I get back from PB.

^I love the library pic up there.

>93 Jackie_K: Hi Jackie! I know… so many books. After setup and just before the sale always me happy. Thanks re Bill and his 8th decade.

>94 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy. HOG heaven it is. People are appreciative, too. Song of Achilles will cost me $3, the cost of a trade paperback at the sale. The only thing I have is the Regeneration series by Barker, as yet unread. Thanks re my Thursday. I think I did both…

>95 richardderus: Yes, RDear. First time reading it. Wow. You actually re-read it. Impressive.

Thanks re the photo. (unfortunately) we do get dealers at the sale, but there are fewer of them than in the past, and they’re going to be Very Cranky at this sale because we’re banning totes and oversized bags. They are a safety hazard. Plus, dealers are arrogant about their right to just leave them in aisles and etc. This time they’ll have to use regular paper bags, which the folks in the Counting House will transfer to the totes/bags, keeping track of the $$.

*smooch*

>96 atozgrl: I completely understand, Irene. I’ll miss seeing you. Donations are always welcome.

>97 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

>98 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you. It’s amazing that an experience in 1971 affected me so much. Oh well. Yay for PB and attending to your feeders. Thanks re the pic of the book sale just before the sale begins.

Nary a bird…

Wordle 1,714 4/6* trope, milky, biddy, dizzy

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It's amazing how much my work ethic kicks into gear when I don't do anything productive. All I did yesterday was read, have lunch with Rita, read some more, nap, eat dinner, watch Shetland, and etc. We're done with the series. Bill's making noises about Grace. Looks like 5 seasons.

I've got a CT scan this morning, to monitor something that came to light when I was in the hospital in September of 2024. It could have been major had it not been identified, but so far it's pesky and nothing serious.

I will put the Tupperware up and I will make dinner tonight. Maybe. Probably. I don't know. (watchers of Heated Rivalry will recognize how Ilya answers questions.)

>99 karenmarie: Ilya has the excuse of not speaking English as his first language. He's so cute in the show saying that to Shane when he's talking him down from the spiral. I read GAME CHANGER and thought how utterly bewildered I'd've felt had I read it first without knowing what Rozanov means in the world she is building. I mean, who cares about some guy on another team we see exactly once when he talks to Scott in Vegas?

Another reason the series got it exactly right. It's a looong goddamned time to 2027.

Enjoy your day, Karen! I slept in and now much feed cats!

I hope your CT is clear of every bad thing. I more than hope that!!

Wordle in 5 for me today, and since it was the hundredth in this current streak, I was glad. Congrats on your 4!

>100 richardderus: Hey RD. I thought Scott and Kip's story in book 1 lead seamlessly into the second book, the first book of Shane and Ilya's story. My favorite scene where we see how Ilya's first language isn't English? It's when Shane is asking him how old he was when his mother dies, and his hesitation before answering is delayed. To me, he's clearly translating back to Russian, answering to himself in Russian, then translating back to English before he says "Twelve." Total addict, here.

And as far as the TV series goes, the music is perfect for every scene, for every plot twist. I'm especially addicted to T.A.T.u.'s song "All the Things She Said" in E4, performed by T.A.T.u and Harrison.

I don't think the wait 'til 2027 will be fun, but I think it will be worth it as long as Tierney and Reid control the narrative. *smooch*

>101 LizzieD: Hi Peggy, and thank you. The CT got performed without more than one hitch - they couldn't link the order placed by my doctor months ago to the scheduled use of the room today. They left me hanging for a bit while it got fixed. Getting an IV of contrast is always exciting - various portions of your body heat up.

I got home a while ago, got back into my jammies, and have been working on spreadsheets and my February Lightning Round.

The American Civil War by Professor Gary W Gallagher narrated by the author 11/20/25 2/25/26 The Teaching Company 2000 24 hours mine

4.95*

From Amazon:

Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood - and the United States was truly born.

If you've ever wanted to understand the Civil War, this series of 48 startlingly evocative lectures by a leading Civil War historian can serve as both an ideal single course or a solid starting point for further exploration - a richly detailed examination of how this great conflict affected every person in America. For you'll gain not only a deep knowledge of what happened, but new insights into why.

You'll learn how both sides' armies were recruited, equipped, and trained, and about the hard lot of those they took prisoner. You'll hear how soldiers on each of those sides dealt with the rigors of camp life, campaigns, and the terror of combat. And you'll understand how slaves and their falling masters responded to the advancing war, as well as the desperate price paid by the families so many left behind.

Though this series of lectures goes far beyond a simple examination of battles and generals, it also offers detailed analyses of the strategic and tactical dimensions of the Civil War's most important campaigns. At the same time, it never forgets that the conflict involved far more than pins on a map - and indeed claimed a greater cost in human lives than all other American wars combined.

Why I wanted to read it: I acquired this from the Friends of the Library, and after reading Tilt by Emma Partee I decided that I wanted a nonfiction audio book. I’m endlessly fascinated by the Civil War, so decided to listen to 24 hours about the Civil War.

48 lectures, half an hour each, starting with the background for the secession. For every discussion of Northern resources, or goals, or battles or hardships, there is a corresponding discussion of Southern resources, goals, battles, or hardships.

I found the mention, several times, of how the aim of the war for Southerners, nominally about states rights but really about keeping slavery, was ironic in that the Confederate government needed to become and became completely controlling and invasive in Southern states and lives. The need for conscription, taxation, confiscation, and etc. completely overrode the argument for states rights.

Not mentioned here, but easily discoverable with a quick duckduckgo or Google search (if you must), is the Confederate Constitution. It explicitly protects the right to own slaves in the states and in any territories acquired by the Confederacy. So, not about slavery is a complete crock.

Victories on both sides, European influence on both sides, changing perceptions of why the war was being fought by each side, all laid out in glorious and seemingly well-sourced detail. The cost of the war on both sides, the paroling of prisoners, the POW camps, the role of slaves and free black men, naval battles, detailed discussions throughout of Lee and other officers, Davis, Lincoln, Grant and other officers. The impact of the assassination of President Lincoln. The support of Northerners for the war and the support of Southerners for the war are dealt with in detail. There are anecdotes throughout, readings from diaries and letters, and discussion at the end of how the myth of the Lost Cause was created and why. This is worth listening to again and again, to hear new things, interpret things differently, and try to understand more about the most devastating and still-influential conflict in American history.

Professor Gallagher is not a natural narrator in the fact that he sometimes misspeaks and has to correct himself and has a somewhat high-pitched voice that too a bit of getting used to. This actually became endearing and I could see myself sitting in a lecture hall listening and appreciating his passion and knowledge.

I also quickly came to see that his strong desire to learn and keep learning about the war brings excitement and love of subject to these lectures.

Six word review: Refreshingly opinionated and well-documented history.

>102 karenmarie: It's a scandal how much the message of HR's intense popularity is being ignored by those in power. Did you already see Tierney's CBC interview?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I-9P7kjl8s
The popularity itself is covered as a weird little aberration, a strange pop-culture blip that'll fade quickly. Not quite how I'm seeing it.

My WiFi's back! Thank all those useless gods.

>104 richardderus: Hey, Richard! If they got your WiFi back up they must not be totally useless :)

>105 RebaRelishesReading: ...assuming "they" did the work, which being useless *and* non-existent I think is unlikely....

Okay, lots of "Things" moving around and lots of tests performed, but everything seems to be headed in the right direction, so Yay!!

>103 karenmarie: 4.95 rating, huh? That's a solid endorsement! I am not big on history, but this one sounds pretty good. Added to my WL. : )

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Sean and I had a Boy's Night out last night. We went to a concert and yes beer was involved. Good times. We wanted to invite Matt but he works late on Friday. It looks like we are just bumming around today which is okay with me.

>104 richardderus: I did not see the interview until just now. Thanks for sharing the link. ‘Naughty’, ‘spicy’, ‘celebration of queer joy’. 👍

Yay for getting WiFi back. *smooch*

>105 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba. Not completely useless, although Richard only has to put up with them for less than a month now.

>106 richardderus: Seeing the back of these folks is so fantastic for you. They served a need.

>107 Berly: Hi Kim! *smile* Yes, Things and tests. I am extremely stingy with stars and have only ever given 12 books 5* out of the current 6,261 on my shelves.

The thing about this book is that although it must, because of the sheer scope of what he could talk about exclude so much about the war, it still was more detailed than anything else I’ve read or watched.

Good news! I just found it on Audible, and with my Audible membership it was free. So, I bought it so I have the flexibility to listen to is via cellphone/blue tooth speaker or the CDs.

>108 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you. Yay for a boy’s night out. Bumming around today is not a half bad idea. I had something I had to do every ‘work day’ this week and am glad for no outside obligations today.

Cardinals and Fox Sparrows only right now.

Wordle 1,715 4/6* trope, cairn, umbra, hydra. They've snuck a new word in. Not on the original list of 2,309 words.

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CT scan went pretty well - they had to delete my appointment and add a new appointment so it linked to my patient records, which took about 10 minutes, but everything else went well.

Reading, napping, and i made air fryer FF and hamburgers. We started Grace and liked the first episode well enough to continue. It turns out that I have books 1,3,6,8,9 on my shelves. The first episode is based on the first book, Dead Simple. I always amaze Bill when I have books for series that we watch.

...
There's not a single thing I absolutely have to do today. So nice.

>109 karenmarie: So nice indeed! I expect you'll be rebingeing HR. Try Shoresy...ya never know maybe there's a Canadaphile in you.

*smooch*

ENJOY your day, (((((Karen)))))!!!

Have you read Shelby Foote's massive Civil War trilogy by any chance? (I marched every foot of the way through the first book with the common soldiers and haven't had the energy to move on.) How about Children of Pride, letters of a Savannah family from before the war through to the end? The only drawback of these 3 volumes is that we don't get details about big family gatherings because they were all there with no need to write about them.
Neither of these may hit your specific CW-era interests, but they are my cup of tea with scones!

>109 karenmarie: Yes, noted about Rchard's escape to (hopefully) a happier place. I'm glad for him because it really doesn't sound like that place, and especially that roommate, were awful.

>92 karenmarie: >95 richardderus: I loved Circe and The Song of Achilles.

>103 karenmarie: I am a huge Civil War buff. I even own a small piece of the Cedar Creek Battlefield. The series is available through my public library via Hoopla. Thanks for the review.

>112 RebaRelishesReading: It will provide privacy. I think I prefer that to happiness.

>113 witchyrichy: Circe was an excellent read indeed!

Hi Karen, it’s been a while. Catching up on threads and I don’t remember them being so long LOL your reading list is impressive and I do love the new book case. I’m on the look out for one because I have a new reading nook. Yep, a room totally devoted to just reading.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. We have some food shopping to do, along with some laundry. Matt & Hannah will be coming over this afternoon for an early dinner and some game-time. I haven't seen either of them in several weeks. My son is not the social type.

I enjoyed a solo bird walk yesterday. 19 species which is not bad for a chilly winter morning. No real surprises, although I did get both white-throated sparrows, along with white-crowned sparrows. Both will be heading north soon.

>110 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear! Damn it. How did you know I’d start HR for the seventh time? I limited myself to the first episode last night. Shoresy is on Hulu, which we get as part of Disney Plus, which we get free as part of our Spectrum Platinum ‘cable’ service, which we have to get in order to get the hi-speed WiFi for our 51-house ‘consortium’ in rural Chatham County. I figured out which of Bill’s email addresses he used, have unsuccessfully tried the two passwords I know. Ball’s back in his court.

I’ve always ‘loved’ Canada. We’ve got dear LT friends who live there, my friend Dawna and her wife Leslie moved to Nova Scotia after the idiot in chief got elected the second time (she has dual citizenship), and quite a few MM romance writers are Canadian. Including Rachel Reid, of course. *smooch*

>111 LizzieD: Thank you, Peggy! I had a good day. I have not yet read Foote’s massive Civil War trilogy, but have the original Random House editions, published in 1958, in pristine condition, with very minor chipping on the spine tops of the dust jackets. They are from the Friends of the Library, of course. I’ve got quite a few books about the Civil War. Most of them as yet unread, of course. I’m looking at you, Mary Chesnut’s Civil War, and the copy of Children of Pride, gifted to me by you. Sigh.

>112 RebaRelishesReading: and >114 richardderus: Old Stuff, Richard’s unappetizing roommate, will have to torment someone else after March 27th, won’t they?

>113 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Fascinating about owning a small piece of the Cedar Creek Battlefield.

>115 richardderus: I loved Circe, and it’s one of the few books I actually borrowed from the Library.

>116 beeg: Beeg! So nice to see you here again. I just flagged your first thread of 2026. Welcome back.

My reading list is almost exclusively MM (gay) romances, a genre I took up with enthusiasm in 2022. Good news about a new reading nook.

I hope you can find a wonderful book case. Getting the right one is so important.

Believe it or not, I have no wall space for book cases unless I start getting rid of other furniture, which I don’t want to do. I have shelves on Thing One, which is now in the Breakfast Room, and shelf space I can co-opt in Bill’s Media Room (which he doesn’t use any more). And, there are sooo many old mass market paperbacks I can deaccession from the Retreat.

Wordle 1,716 4/6* trope, mange, slide, fluke

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Major puttering, reading, and etc. I decided to move all the books I've set aside for Karen to the bottom two shelves of Thing One to free up space on the Little Yellow Table in the Sunroom. It now has 24 copies of 18 different Louise Penny titles sitting on it, set aside for Karen's cousin Helen. I'll take the lesser-quality duplicates to the Friends on Tuesday.

...
Arsenal play Chelsea at 11:30. Chelsea isn't a threat, but Man City is only 2 points behind Arsenal, both having played 28 matches.

I need to replenish all the bird feeders and clean out and refill the bird bath and work on YTD statistics and my February Lightning Round.

I might, just might, read in the hammock this afternoon. It's almost 70F outside even this early, so it's tempting.

>118 karenmarie: Oooh, a hammock day is even possible! How fun will that be, today or another day soon, first of the year.

I Know You, smoochling; you're hooked. You chose well IMO but hooked is hooked. Jared Keeso will be interesting to see your reaction to when Bill sorts out the Hulu password. He's Shoresy; he's also the frontrunner to play Ryan when they do that storyline...I think you'll see why.

Oh, it's the 31st now. I'm unamused at the inexperience of these folks making my life more complicated but I found out in enough time that it's all just grumpy-making not problem-introducing.

Popped in to see what the answer to yesterday's wordle was. I was so distracted yesterday by the newest shenanigans that I gave up before using all my guesses. And then it was after midnight and so I lost it.

Miss you and all my LT buddies - keep thinking I'll make it back soon.

Connor Storrie on SNL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJAIEym5FvM

It was the good sketch.

HI there--

Well, I am stuck home with pneumonia. The good news is I can use these next few days to get caught up with all my LT friends!! : )

>122 Berly: Kim, oh no! Get well soon!

Morning, Karen. It looks like I snuck in there again yesterday. Damn- I am good at cross-posting. Looks like a mild week, with well-needed rain. Sunny here now, as I get ready to head out for PB. Sue will go hang with Jack this AM. I will take my turn tomorrow.

>117 msf59: Sorry I missed you here, Mark! Happy next day to you. Errands then kids. Sounds like a reasonable day to me. 19 species is impressive. Yay for the sparrows.

Cardinals, a Mourning Dove, House Finches, unidentified Sparrows, and many Cardinals. I filled my feeders yesterday so there’s no excuse not to visit. A Carolina Chickadee just got chased away by a female Cardinal.

>119 richardderus: It turned out to NOT be a hammock day, but only because upstairs sounded more appealing. Soooo hooked on Heated Rivalry.

I just installed Disney+ on my cell phone and got Bill to give me the one-time security code. Found Shoresey and I’m in. I’ll watch the first episode later.

I can see Keeso as Ryan Price. I wonder who they’d cast as Fabian? I’m sorry they’ve moved the goalpost on moving in. But in will be in, right?

*smooch*

>120 streamsong: Hi Janet!! I’m glad to be your Wordle Source here in the 75ers group! What were the newest shenanigans? Boundary lines? Horses? General red folk fuckery in your county? Other?

You know, you don’t have to keep a thread and feel obligated to writing reviews and responding to messages. We (I) would just love to see you here so we can be supportive and oh, yes! Talk about books.

>121 richardderus: Well, RD. We’ll have to agree to disagree. I loved seeing his body, as always, and appreciated his flexibility, but nope. In fact, so far, the only clips I’ve liked are the ones with Hudson Williams and the US men’s and women’s gold-medal winning hockey teams. I might try to watch more but am not sanguine about getting rewards for eyeblinks. This is mean of me: Once, just once, I'd like to see him melt down or snarl or otherwise be a diva. I'm not sure it's in his nature, but if not, then he's an exceptionally sunny human being. *smooch*

>122 Berly: Kim! Nooooo. Germs be gone. Please get better sooner than soon.

>123 quondame: Hi Susan.

>124 msf59: Sigh. 'Morning. Yes, I responded upstream to yesterday’s missed message. I’m so sorry. Yay for a mild week. Enjoy PB and tell Sue hi from me.

Wordle 1,717 3/6* trope, salve, slime

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Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1. Thank goodness for offside, which disallowed a Chelsea goal. Whew. I replenished bird feeders, read, doomscrolled, puttered, lollygagged, watched Grace, chatted with Jenna, and chatted with Karen.

...
For just a second I thought it was Sunday, had to confirm that it's Monday. The joys of retirement. No obligations today, but I do want to work on the Guest Bedroom - I had Trevor bring things out from the hot water heater storage behind the closet and many things are out. I also want to read, finalize my YTD statistics, and post it and my February Lightning Round.

>125 karenmarie: I think you're in the majority on SNL this week...no one is full of praise for anything about it. I thought his gymnastics background was on full display and found his OTT mugging on top of that funny.

Not really sure what made me think of this while I was giggling through his performance but my slightly dismissive response to Kip and Scott really took a turn after watching SNL. I think they're giving what would be praised and lauded performances in another show, but they're up against two next-level performances and so got less than their fair share of my, and critics', approval.

Fabian would need to be a largely unknown actor, so...? Keeso is (in the world outside Canada) largely unknown. If he plays Ryan I think that won't last. Of course that plotline ain't even in s2 so who knows when/if it'll come to the screen.

Enjoy whatever the heck day this is. I only know it ain't the 31st.

Hiya, RDear. I like Connor Storrie more as the brooding Ilya, not the never-stops-smiling, cheerful, astounded with his success actor. I watched the Seth Meyers segment with Storrie earlier today.

The story of Scott and Kip is critical in Shane and Ilya's story - "I'm coming to the cottage." It's powerful enough to be its own book, of course. However, Arnaud is a terrible casting choice, and Robbie GK is only marginally better. There's no real chemistry between them, IMO. Robbie's performance is more subtle and nuanced than Arnaud's, and Kip's intelligence and sweetness come through.

Fabian is larger-than-life and needs to be someone over-the-top. I think that any actor associated with Heated Rivalry will have international fame.

Hmm. What about season 3 being Ryan/Fabian, Eric/Kyle, and Troy/Harris, interweaving Shane and Ilya? Or, would the universe implode if a HR season was not almost exclusively S&I?

But at least we're in March now.

*smooch*

YTD Statistics through February

60 books read
58.5 ebooks, 1 audio books, 0.5 paper books
16078 pages in completed books
24 hours in completed audio books
28 books abandoned, 2600 pages abandoned, 0 hours abandoned

18678 total pages read

Avg pages read per day, incl books abandoned: YTD = 317
Avg pages read per book, only those completed: YTD = 311

Book(s) of the Month:
The American Civil War by Professsor Gary W Gallagher
The Long Game by Rachel Reid

Books by Month
Jan - 27.5 ebooks, .5 paper books
Feb - 32 e-books, 1 audio books

Author
Male 4%
Female 67%
Non-Binary 1%
Undeclared * 18%
* - can't find info anywhere

Living 100%
Dead 0%

US Born 20%
Foreign Born 37%
Undeclared * 43%
* - can't find info anywhere

Medium
Audio Book 2%
e-Book 97%
Paper Book 1%

Source
My Library 23%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 77%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
Galley Proof 0%
Re-read 8%
Series 70%

Fiction 97%
NonFiction 3%

Author Birth Country
Australia 8%
Canada 20%
Grenada 2%
UK 5%
US 23%
Undeclared * 42%
* - can't find info anywhere

Original Decade Published
2000s 2%
2010s 15%
2020s 83%

Genre
Contemporary Fiction 0%
Crime Fiction 0%
Historical Fiction 0%
History 0%
Humor 0%
Informational Nonfiction 5%
Memoir 0%
MM/MMM/MMMM Romance 95%

Average Rating Expanded to include .1 stars.
.1-.5: Anathema 0
.6-1: Don't Bother 0
1.1-1.5: Very Bad 0
1.6-2: Bad 1
2.1-2.5: Average 6
2.6-3: Good 7
3.1-3.5: Very Good 7
3.6-4: Excellent 18
4.1-4.99: Stunning 21
5 - Masterpiece 0

Average Rating 3.74
Books acquired YTD (361 acquired in 2025) 33
Books culled YTD (193 in 2025) 11

6232 cataloged on 12/31/25

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 or scenarios that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

4.20* EWB (Enemies with Benefits) by NR Walker 1/31/26 2/1/26 353 pages Kindle Unlimited reread

Sometimes I re-read a book unintentionally, but I was feeling at loose ends and deliberately went back to this book, which I read in October of 2023. Here’s what I wrote then, giving it 4*:

Valentine and Marshall hate one another, have since they were ten years old. Marshall’s father’s company was bought out by Valentine’s father and Marshall’s life changed dramatically. Currently they’re on competing rugby teams after hours. Valentine runs one of his father’s company’s divisions, the construction business, and they’ve just bought out the company Marshall works for. After a rugby match, and in the bar, Valentine rescues Marshall from a potential bit of violence, but they have a sexual encounter there. Valentine suggests an ongoing setup, secretly, as he is not out. The sparkage is definitely there, but Marshall starts taking care of Valentine too – making sure he eats properly, helps him with panic attacks – and Valentine starts caring for Marshall. There’s a lot to unpack here because of Valentine being closeted and enduring verbal abuse from his father. Marshall doesn’t like the secret nature of their relationship but respects Valentine’s need for it until things get out of hand, the cat’s out of the bag, so to speak, and we eventually get the HEA. Speaking of cats, Valentine’s cat Enzo immediately likes Marshall, and there are quite a few cute scenes with them and Enzo. Caveat emptor re sex.

I don’t have anything to add to this, except to say that I enjoyed it pretty much the same, but am using tenths of stars now, so gave it 4.2*.

4.40* Switched by NR Walker 2/1/26 2/2/26 277 pages Kindle Unlimited

Israel is a perpetual disappointment to his father and has an emotionally closed off mother. He’s been raised by nannies and chaffeurs. He works for his father with the goal of taking over the business. He’s 26. He finds out that was literally accidentally switched at birth and is not the biological son of his parents. He's absolutely staggered and relies even more than before on his best friend Sam. He doesn’t know that Sam’s been secretly in love with him forever. Israel and Sam meet his birth mother and Nick, the other switched baby. Each is shocked at how he ‘belongs’ appearance-wise to the other family. Temperament, too. It’s a lot to process, and there are quite a few confrontations and sharing of secrets that explain Israel’s parents’ disconnect and coldness. In the meantime, Israel realizes he loves Sam romantically and they start a relationship that makes them both happy. The families ultimately meet. It’s not a typical situation, and yet by the end there is connection and bonding. Israel and Sam get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Puck Hard by Brooklyn Cate** 117 pages

Tate is a young NHL goalie, Zane is a former player. Zane approaches Tate, who is trying to figure out if he’s straight, gay, or bisexual. Turns out that he’s at least bisexual, and the night is sexy and emotional for both. However, Zane has quite a few secrets and is ordered to leave. He leaves Tate sleeping and doesn’t leave Tate a note. Tate’s game starts suffering and, holy irony, Zane’s called in as a goalie coach. I mean, he did play, but now he’s trying to get info on organized gambling’s hold in the NHL while trying to keep his father safe and the FBI satisfied with his efforts.Ugh. Tate’s furious that Zane’s supposed to coach him, Zane’s trying to rein in his feelings, juggle Tate and the FBI, and it just got to be too much. Too much waffling and sexual encounters that could either of them fired or, in Tate’s case, traded or released. Not interesting enough to continue. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* Darling by Scarlett Drake 2/2/26 2/3/26 366 pages Kindle Unlimited

Christian is a British politician demoted to serve as the Ambassador to the US. He’s still grieving his wife’s death, realizes his son and he are distant, and is feeling his age. He goes into a book store and runs into a gorgeous young man, Asher, and they are both attracted. Christian is closeted, Ash is out and proud and a porn star. Christian doesn’t know this at first and comes to his apartment to see the paintings that Ash’s done. There is playing around and strong feelings. They’ve taken things a step further, when Christian has a minor heart attack. Ash pretends to be his son to get to see him in the hospital. Christian’s son Leo also comes and is surprised to have a ‘brother’. Lots of sadness, lots of angst. Christian can’t/won’t come out, Ash can’t live that way, and they break it off. That eventually doesn’t work, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.90* Pretty Mess by Lily Morton 2/3/26 2/4/26 418 pages Kindle Unlimited

Wes is kicked out of the only home he’s ever known by some very rough people that his brother owes money to. He doesn’t know where to go, but he’s offered a room by another university student. He takes him up on it. Wes is staggered by where Julian lives and learns that Juliian is a high-priced escort. He’s in a long-term situation with a rich and powerful man. He invites Wes to the Jack of Clubs, an exclusive club where very rich men make offers of one night or a long-term contract with the pretty young things that offer themselves. Cormac goes through the owner, as is proper, to offer Wes the night for $70K. Wes is staggered by the amount – it can pay off some of his brother’s debts and help him finish paying for his last semester at university. Cormac takes him to a private room upstairs, where there is chemistry and attraction enough for Cormac to offer Wes a flat for whatever length of time he wants to keep Wes. Cormac is cut off and only uses Wes for sex, but Wes’s personality is so bright and optimistic and full of sunshine that over time Cormac starts letting his walls down. The sex between them is phenomenal and the author really knows how to write good sex scenes. Wes keeps wanting more, Cormac keeps himself safe from feelings until a series of events causes them to both realize that they love one another. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.50* Omega's Forever Home by Lacey Daize 2/4/26 2/5/26 108 pages Kindle Unlimited

A rather shallow novella that tried to do too much and wasn’t well-written enough to ‘qualify’ for novel-hood in my opinion. Beau, an omega, was mistreated at home, so ran away at 18 and had been supporting himself for the last 6 years, moving every couple of years simply to see more of the country. He stops in Harris Cove and gets a job as a bartender. He is living in a rather ratty motel, but is cheerful and looking forward to getting his own apartment. One of his customers is Kent. They’re attracted to one another and on impulse Beau invites Kent to go to the beach with him the next day. They are hanging out when Beau’s foot gets sliced up on a sharp rock. Kent goes all alpha on him, getting him treated by his own doctor, and, after seeing where he lives on the 3rd floor, both realize that staying at Kent’s house is better. It’s a huge house with its own access to the beach. Beau is somewhat overwhelmed, but both he and Kent start having feelings and realize that they’re in love. The dialog made me stabby by being so predictable without having a lot of heart. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.80* Omega's Flaw by Sasha Silsbury 2/5/26 2/6/26 234 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jamie, an omega, is a journalist who has been working on an expose of the Crane Family, who are rich, powerful, entitled, ruthless. At a live TV interview, the host has sabotaged Jamie by bringing in the heir apparent to the dynasty, Carter Crane III. They immediately recognize one another as their fated mates and it’s broadcast live, with no mistaking what happened. Carter realizes that Jamie’s going to go into a heat and wants/needs to protect him. Jamie has no other options but to somewhat gratefully accept the ‘help’. They hide out in a cabin owned by Carter and the spark becomes a conflagration of want, need, bonding. This is a scorching enemies-to-lovers omegaverse romance featuring an ambitious journalist omega and a fallen golden boy alpha. Expect racing hearts, passionate arguments and a hard won HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* Role Model by Rachel Reid 2/5/26 2/7/26 341 pages Kindle mine

Fourth in the Game Changer series has Troy, very grumpy completely in the closet, being traded to the worst team in the league and Harris, sunny and out PR guru trying to work on Troy’s public persona. They’re attracted to one another and start spending time together and secretly meeting up. There’s a terrible scare where the team plane loses one engine and has to make it safely to ground. Everyody thinks they’re going to die, including Ilya, now team captain since he’s transferred to Ottowa to be near Shane in Montreal. Staggering off the plane, calling loved ones… Powerful. However. This is the first book of the series that felt like … less … to me. Harris is sweet and sexy and has a medical condition that’s managed but occasionally scary. Don’t get me wrong – I had to read it to get more of Ilya and, by extension, Shane. Troy and Harris are almost a byproduct. Caveat emptor re sex.

036. 2.40* Hunted and Claimed by Morgan Vale 2/8/26 2/10/26 475 pages Kindle mine

Omega Rowan is somehow held responsible for his brother’s debts and is ‘invited’ to the Crimson Chase. Alpha Damian wants Rowan and rigs the Chase and threatens enough people to ensure that Rowan is his. He tells Rowan this, promises him he’ll capture him and make him his. Rowan needs to survive the Chase and doesn’t make it easy on Damian but eventually capitulates. They bond after Rowan sets conditions that Danian is ensorcelled enough to agree to, and Rowan gains power and influence. They move quickly to permanent bonding and declarations of love. Honestly, it was okay, but just weird enough to keep me on edge and not really like it more than the 2.4* I gave it. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Breathe by Sophia Soames ** 202 pages

Unpredictable behaviors in a way I didn't like. Ryan has abandoned his online career as a porn star known as JoeyHole. I kid you not. He’s started community college and lives at home. Luke is in community college too, and from having watched A LOT of gay porn, knows about JoeyHole and wonders what he’s doing here as just plain Ryan, college student. Eventually Ryan has an existential crisis, buys a house he doesn’t love, drops out of college and ghosts Luke, who he had come to appreciate. Luke has his own problems, flying under the radar with his siblings after his parents go to jail. One’s out, the other’s in. They’re both demanding. Luke’s trying to keep 4 siblings alive and safe. So, by now neither major character means much to me, even with 202 pages read.

3.00* Rothko: The Color Field Paintings by Janet Bishop 2/10/26 2/10/26 68 pages Kindle Unlimited

Richard has been posting Mark Rothko’s paintings for quite a while now, and I was finally able to download the Kindle Unlimited version of this book so that I could attempt to see if I could come to appreciate Rothko’s work. I read the Forward by Rothko’s son Christopher and the Introduction by San Francisco Museum of Modern Art curator of painting and sculpture Janet Bishop. Both pieces irritated me almost beyond measure, since I thought that they were trying to describe something that only the agitated mind of Rothko could understand. I Here is a quote from the Forward:

… watershed of 1949, my father had been making fully abstract compositions, works radiating color and suffused with emotional substance. These Multiforms are bold works, harnessing the dynamism of hand and brush from previous periods, with newly vibrant colors that communicate a sense of abandon. They push and clash against one another in amorphous shapes that barely contain their content.

To me, this sounds like an art major trying to impress a professor. I’ll say right here that I admit to being a modern art philistine.

However, I looked at each painting, trying to see what Richard sees, trying to see what so many people value and feel emotion from. First of all, I absolutely love his 1944 painting Slow Swirl at the Edge of the Sea, which is almost in the book to critique against. Of the Multiform paintings, I like #7 (1953), Untitled (violet black, orange on gray (1953), and Earth and Green (1955) well enough to make note of for this review. I can now say I have seen the Multiform paintings of Mark Rothko, and not ignorant anymore.

4.80* Hamartia by Scarlett Drake 2/9/26 2/12/26 396 pages Kindle Unlimited

I only figured out that hamartia is a real word about halfway through the book. I’ll make it simple for anybody who wants to pick this book up. The pervasive feeling of huge potential risks is there for almost the entire book.

The term hamartia derives from the Greek ἁμαρτία, from ἁμαρτάνειν hamartánein, which means "to miss the mark" or "to err". It is most often associated with Greek tragedy, although it is also used in Christian theology. The term is often said to depict the flaws or defects of a character and portraying these as the reason of a potential downfall. However, other critics point to the term's derivation and say that it refers only to a tragic but random accident or mistake, with devastating consequences but with no judgment implied as to the character. Wikipedia

Famous KPOP star meets rock star. They have serious sparkage. Jaehyun is beyond famous and completely controlled by his PR team and the other entities that have a stake in keeping the image of the band intact. Raphael is the nominally straight head of a US rock band who has broken up with his movie star girlfriend. He meets and pursues Jaehyun until Jaehyun finally capitulates and they carry on a secret affair. There’s a surprise in Raphael’s life that takes him back to the US, but he says he’s coming back. Jaehyun distances himself so he won’t be hurt when that happens, but realizes that love conquers all and they get their HEA. The book held my attention because of the strong characters – Raphael, his girlfriend, his bandmates, and Jaehyun. It’s instalove on Raphael’s part, strong wooing to get Jaehyun to feel the same. Caveat emptor re sex. Hamartia is a real word and in one of its meanings appropriate to this book

3.00* Claimed by the Quarterback by Margot Hart 12/12/26 12/12/26 65 pages Kindle Unlimited

Rowan (Ro) is in the dance program at the same college that Eli is the star quarterback for. They are in the same class this semester and unassuming Ro is taken with gentle with Omegas Eli. Its a really sweet novella. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Pah! by Cora Rose and EM Lindsey ** 62 pages

The first two books in this series were fantastic. This one, not so much. Dex is Hearing and is part owner of a gym that is hearing impaired friendly. Rome is almost completely deaf and uses the gym. He hates Dex on principle, but one night comes to Dex in the locker room after everybody else has left and barely consensually has sex with Dex. This happens a couple of more times, and all of a sudden Rome’s gone to Paris for 3 years. He knew this when he was experimenting with Dex. And at that point I was furious with Rome and felt very sorry for Dex. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned A Present for Parker by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga ** 90 pages

Parker, a bull rider, has been kicked out by his mother for being gay. She keeps his dog, his trailer, and most of his belongings. In desperation, he goes to his best friend Spencer and husband, who take him in but the guest bedroom is not available for a couple of days. Their friend Heath offers to put Parker up. Sparks on both sides, but not discussed or mentioned until finally they can’t take it any more. Sparkage, and sex, and etc. I loved the first several books in this series, but the tension has gone out of it. We get an abbreviated account of Parker’s lonely cowboy life. We get an abbreviated account of Heath’s lonely attorney life. I know where it will go, I know how it will go, and I won’t be finishing it. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Punk by Kelly Fox ** 19 pages

I read 19 pages, so am counting them. The first 19 pages were not memorable in any way whatsoever.

3.20* Accidentally Mated by Phoenix Cross 2/12/26 2/13/26 123 pages Kindle Unlimited

Greyson is the alpha head of a pack of wolf shifters, who are demanding that he settle down and create a dynasty. Miles, who hasn’t presented yet as beta, omega, or alpha, is signed up for the shifter mixer by a friend (?). He feels forced by the rules to stay, where he and Greyson figure out rather quickly that they’re fated mates. Greyson takes care of Miles through a heat, they bond, and eventually marry. Sort of cute, but not memorable. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned A New Year's Pandemonium by Jennifer Carter** 57 pages

Omega drinks too much and wakes up married to a gentle and shy Alpha. Too cliched, too predictable without the snap that would make it readable. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned More than KPOP by Dante Blackwood** 75 pages

Probably read this too close to Hamartia by Scarlett Blake, which I gave 4.8* to. A tad different because it’s an obsessed fan who always sits in row Z seat 47. One day he holds up a sign, the KPOP star has seen him before during shows but now pays attention. Secret romance because the fascist people who ‘own’ the group keep close tabs on all the members. Choose me or the group, says the fan… Pass. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* The Mechanic and the Surgeon by Steve Milton 2/14/26 2/14/26 115 pages Kindle mine **reread**

Here’s what I wrote in January 2023, and nothing’s changed:

This one had so many laugh-out-loud moments, with snark and clever humor. Matchmaker Alissa, starting up her matchmaking business, gets landed with the Ritter, a successful gay man with a very bad rep and more notches on his bedpost than fit. He is interested in settling down. Alissa knows of a sweet young man, a mechanic, who works on her car, and convinces Ritter to meet Joshua. Rocky start, but Joshua knows what he wants, and doesn’t give in right away. This gets Ritter’s attention, and there’s slow-burn sparkage and a joyous HEA. I really liked this book for its introspective nature for both Ritter and Joshua plus, of course, the sex. Caveat emptor re sex.

042. 2.00* The Billionaire Alpha's Surprise Omega by Bonnar King 2/15/26 2/15/26 206 pages Kindle Unlimited

Mailroom Jamie goes into heat at the worst possible time and has unprotected sex with Billionaire Nicholas. He’s pregnant, Nicholas tries to control and manage him, which Jamie doesn’t want. Nicholas is nonplussed. They tussle. This one is beyond poorly edited, with the word detail about 100 times in the book where adjectives, adverbs, nouns should be. And can I have $1 for every time the word reverent is used? It’s a word I particularly dislike in MM romances and it’s overkill here. And, a disconnect – Jamie is described as 12 weeks pregnant then on the next page as waddling. There are also scenes in two different forms one after another. Sigh. Not a bad story – completely predictable trope – but. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.30* The Christmas Switch by Briar Prescott 2/15/26 2/16/26 236 pages Kindle Unlimited

This one was a lot of fun. Gabriel and Josh work together and can’t stand one another. They are tasked with decorating for the department Christmas Party. There’s an incident with Christmas lights, and all of a sudden Josh is in Gabriel’s body. He assumes Gabriel is in his body. They learn that the other one isn’t so bad, and have romantic feelings for one another too. They get zapped back into their bodies, and get a HEA. I really liked this one although it was confusing for a while because of whose POV it was in which body. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.80* Kissing the Grump by Baylin Crow 2/16/26 2/16/26 47 pages Kindle Unlimited

Sweet short story has Elliot working as a barista and Forrest as a grumpy self-employed stickler for his schedule. They clash, then they don’t. A tad too much too soon, sort of, but, it’s a short story, after all, and lots has to get included quickly. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.20* A Suitable Consort by R Cooper 2/16/26 2/17/26 147 pages Kindle mine

Fantasy, MMM. Mattin works as a clerk in the king’s palace. Arden, the King, has a husband, Mil. Over the years, they’ve decided that they want to add a third to their marriage. They task Mattin with vetting candidates, although they have truly and secretly settled on Mattin. This one has a lot of psychological nuance and power plays within the palace, which I enjoyed. And, the romantic situations are very well written. After overcoming political resistance, Mattin’s disbelief that they could find him attractive, and Mattin being attacked, they all three get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.60* Fishy Riot by Lindsey Black 2/18/26 18/26 223 pages Kindle Unlimited

I absolutely do not get the title. Riot squad Taylor is called on to protect a politican at a rally but sees a son who rarely makes public appearances. Taylor is suspicious about Sietta’s appearance. Sietta’s younger brother sneaks a flash drive out and gives it to Taylor, who eventually gives it to the IT people at the Riot Squad. They are all appalled and sickened by the videos of Sietta being beaten and tortured by his father because he’s gay, plus documents and videos incriminating the father and older brother. Sietta gets rescued and latches on to Taylor, who latches right back. As the criminals are rounded up and the government steps in, Sietta and Taylor get romantically. I really liked it. Taylor’s family is involved in his life way more than he wants, and Sietta is charmed with them and them with him. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.30* My Ex's New Boyfriend is a Murderer by Gaia Tate 2/19/26 2/20/26 128 pages Kindle Unlimited

Miles is unemployed and living on a friend’s couch. Her brother Kieran shows up, and Miles gets invited to his ex-s engagement party, which makes no sense whatsoever. Kieran, the gorgeous and famous brother offers to be his fake boyfriend, they go and discover murder and mayhem. HFN. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.90* Bedroom Lessons by Milana Spencer 2/21/26 2/21/26 240 pages Kindle Unlimited

Hayden is a freshman in college and has been dumped after two weeks by his girlfriend, who says he’s not good in bed. Hayden is too naïve to realize she means sex, thinks she means that he tosses and turns and hogs the covers. He advertises for someone to teach him how to be good in bed. Nick thinks Hayden means sex, of course. After trying to figure it all out, with hilarious misunderstandings and situations, Hayden really wants Nick to be his boyfriend. Nick is cautious, an introvert, and not interested in being a boyfriend. Hayden’s well off, Nick’s very poor, which also leads to tension. They eventually work it out. Sweet and sexy. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.60* One Wild Heat by Kelex 2/21/26 2/21/26 219 pages Kindle Unlimited

Bellamy, an omega, rents office space from Tanner, an alpha, brother to Quinn, CEO of the family business. Bellamy realizes that he is going to have an almost uncontrollable heat because he hasn’t gone off suppressants in 4 years, and Tanner agrees to let him use the family cottage. Quinn has been pushed past his limit by his grandfather, who is insisting that he marry his boyfriend Charles, a beta. Quinn heads off to the family cottage, and when they are in the same house, sparks fly and they spend 5 days off the grid and having unprotected and stupendous sex. Bellamy realizes they’re fated mates, Quinn doesn’t because of the scent suppressants Bellamy hasn’t stopped taking. Family mayhem and misunderstandings occur. Charles threatens Bellamy. Fortunately, Quinn finds out, and neutralizes the risk. HEA, baby. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Enemies with Benefits by Romeo Alexander **

Troublemaker Mason returns to town for a visit and escapes getting arrested by Jace, his sister’s former boyfriend. She has a 9-year old son, broke up with boyfriend Jace 9 years ago. Mason’s gay, Jace’s been in denial about his sexuality. Ho hum. Too obvious, too many coincidences and unbelievable situations. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Best Man's Secret by Ana Ashley **

Best man River has to tell his best friend Adam that his girlfriend has left him at the altar. Devastation, resolution to use the honeymoon to escape the kerfuffle and just be besties together. Meh. Other authors have done this trope more justice.

4.95* The Long Game by Rachel Reid 2/7/26 2/22/26 437 pages Kindle Mine

Sixth and currently final book in the Game Changers series. Shane and Ilya have founded a charity that has children’s hocky summer camps and donates the money to suicide prevention and other mental health clinics and support systems. Ilya, as a free agent, is now on the NHL Ottawa team. They see each other all the time. Shane is blissfully happy within the scope of not being out with his boyfriend, Ilya is dealing with issues relating to his mother’s suicide when he was 12 and wanting to be out NOW but respecting Shane’s need to stay closeted. There are sweet subplots revolving around the summer camps, with guest spots by some of the players mentioned in books 1-5. There is competition between the Shane and Ilya. And then, the unthinkable happens, they get unintentionally outed when Shane’s friend Hayden is filming a selfie to a fan and it catches them making out in the background. There’s no doubt that it's them. The Commissioner of the NHL threatens them. Their PR agent drafts a statement. And etc. … and Ilya gets a dog. They bicker about their diets. We’re so in love with them by now that everything in the book feeds our desire to see the truly, fully, happy ending. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.00* The Alpha Wolf Rancher's Runaway Omega by Asher Wylde 2/23/26 2/23/26 220 pages Kindle Unlimited

Wesley is caught on Zack’s land, drinking water from a horse trough. He’s clearly on the run, clearly pregnant. Yup. Mpreg. Zack is a taciturn man, happy to work his land and only deal with people on his own terms. However, he takes care of Wesley, feeding him and giving him shelter. One day Wesley confides that his former alpha is after him, and knows he’s pregnant. He wants Wesley and the pups. Wesley knows if he goes back his life will be one of imprisonment and control. Tension is high and eventually the alpha shows up. He takes Wesley away, but in a plot twist that grinds audibly, the alpha is killed and Wesley returns to Zack. HEA, pups. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.20* Bitter Sweetheart by Jenny Pineapple 2/23/26 2/23/26 78 pages Kindle Unlimited

Interesting short story with Caspian and Nate using each other to foil their parents’ plots. There are true feelings between them, and HFN. The author quickly builds a strong plot, vivid characters, and twists that need resolving. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.90* His Snowbound Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 2/24/26 2/24/26 190 pages Kindle Unlimited

One in the Beguiled series. Feener’s books feature strong alphas who coerce and control their omegas. However, their omegas want this by the end of the book, without Stockholm Syndrome. Thorn is an omega faced with inherited debt and a seriously ill younger brother. He signs up for the White Hunt. If he successfully makes it to the sanctuary or he’s captured by an alpha, his debts are paid off. He’s at the end of his rope and when he receives the invitation he cannot refuse. He doesn’t know that Baal has been stalking him for years and sees the White Hunt as a way of getting him. He does get him, they have a bit of power balance struggle. Thorn capitulates, but they both get a HEA, both surprised that there’s love and a fated mate bond. Caveat emptor re sex and dubcon.

**abandoned Feinted Love by Elle Keaton ** 28 pages

Style, shortcuts, and nothing that grabbed me immediately kept me from regretting putting this one down.

**abandoned Daddy From Flames by Ashe Moon ** 108 pages

Not Daddy-Little, but a pregnant human adopted by three dragons who keep the city save by putting out fires and etc. I enjoy fantasy and creative license with behavior and plots, but this one dragged quickly and was rather twee, even with dragons.

**abandoned Mated to the Wrong Alpha by EJ Waugh ** 25 pages

Noted here but without a single thing to keep me interested. An omega who loves one alpha but is supposed to mate with another alpha for political reasons.

**abandoned Love and Moonlight by Killian Ford ** 45 pages

I was feeling at loose ends, MM romance-wise, and decided to re-read this book, originally read in February of 2024. The extreme grumpiness and extreme sunshiny characters struck me wrong this time and I didn’t want to see how they figured each other out and got romantically involved.

3.60* His Marked Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 2/25/26 2/26/26 319 pages Kindle Unlimited

Another in the Beguiled Omegas series. This book is the first one that I recall finishing and wanting to finish where one of the characters, Fenrir, was an alpha and forcibly transitioned to omega. So, a trans omega. Oberon is in an auction to buy Fenrir’s first heat and pays an exorbitant price for this honor. There are dangerous politics, dangerous people, and incredible pressures and tensions on them, but they overcome them and acknowledge that they are fated mates. I appreciated how Fenrir asks for and gets Oberon to buy the organization that kidnaps and sells alphas and omegas so that he can change it, not dismantle it. Caveat emptor re violence and sex.

4.70* Quiet by Zile Elliven 2/26/26 2/27/26 316 pages Kindle Unlimited

Neither Isa nor Briar are aware of any magical elements in their pasts and meet at college. Isa stands up to conservative right wingers at a rally. Briar rescues him before he gets harmed. Isa immediately ‘gets’ Briar, who’s autistic and rarely speaks. He is consumed with his art. Isa is hiding in plain sight from his evangelical and abusive family, pretending to working on a History and Religion degree when he’s really signed up as a theater major. Their school worlds interact quickly, with Isa modeling for the art department and Briar becoming more and more enchanted and obsessed with him. Isa, in his turn, is also fascinated with and attracted to Briar. We learn about the fae nature of both of them, how this enhances their bond, and after some really disturbing discussions of evangelical/religious abuse including threats of conversion therapy and an insane asylum, they get their HEA. They are so sweet together in addition to being so hot for one another. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.50* The Lion's Sunshine by Caitlin Ricci 2/27/26 2/27/26 189 pages Kindle Unlimited

The Amazon blurb:

Toby wasn't looking for love when he stumbled into a biker bar during the worst storm of the year. He was looking for shelter, a phone charger, and maybe some fries.
What he found was Knox—six feet of possessive lion shifter who took one look at Toby in his soaking wet cat cardigan and decided mine.

One night changes everything. But when Toby discovers hints of Knox's past, he wonders if he's really special or just the latest in a long line.

Knox has never claimed anyone before. Now he just has to prove it.

From one day to the next, Toby goes from basically in love to completely ghosting Knox. Knox discovers why and works to prove that he’s more than just in it for an extended one-night stand. Sweet, sexy, without much real tension. However, the scene where Knox and his pride show up at the Library for Toby and drag queen Glitterbomb reading for The Drag Queen Children’s Hour is laugh-out-loud. Tattoed, leather-wearing, and massive bikers cutting out paper dolls and letting little kids climb all over them is well-written and vivid. Knox proves he is serious about Toby and Toby really wants it to be true. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Bedside Manner by CG Macington 2/27/26 2/28/26 206 pages Kindle Unlimited

Maxwell is an uptight, entitled, and extremely talented surgeon, part of the family whose endowments to the hospital influence everything. Maxwell has no personal life to speak of, but doesn’t really seem to need it. Being Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery is his life. Jax, on the other hand, is the Head of Trauma, in the trenches every day and loving it. Due to a remodeling, they have to share an office. If you’re old enough, think of The Odd Couple, with Max being Felix and Jax being Oscar. There’s a blue-tape dividing line and much snark. The dialog is sparkling and tension-filled, the situations predictable but well done. They end up respecting each other’s technical skills, and after Max begs Jax to come as his plus one to a fundraiser controlled by his mother, they see each other in a better light. Sparks fly. Hospital emergencies, closet encounters, and attraction combine to create something well done with laugh-out-loud dialog and situations. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Conflict of Interest by CG Macington 2/28/26 2/28/26 195 pages Kindle Unlimited

Maxwell’s younger brother, Preston, The Spare, is a dilettante with an eidetic memory. At a family luncheon both Max and their father Alistair basically tell Preston he’s worthless except to sit on the family’s board of directors, upstairs, and basically out of sight, out of mind. He takes this as a challenge and gets his MD in 3 years. He becomes a resident intern at the hospital, where he meets Lucas, Chief Resident. Lucas has clawed his way up from the bottom and immediately gives Preston the dirtiest and grossest things to do, not trusting that he will not run away screaming. Preston doesn’t complain, keeps on keeping on. They start a secret relationship. However, there are miscommunications and words that hurt, and Preston decides to abandon ship and join the board. In an emergency situation he comes back since everybody’s needed, trades the boardroom back to scrubs, and reconciles with Lucas. They get thir HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

059. 3.20* Client Privilege: When Protection Becomes Forbidden Passion by CG Macington 2/28/26 2/28/26 311 pages Kindle Unlimited

Alex has escaped an abusive relationship and been hiding out from his abuser, Marcus. Marcus wants him back. Marcus is a very powerful man, but Alex goes to a legal aid office and gets referred to Damian, a powerful lawyer. It’s a battle of wills between Damian and Marcus. Marcus owns judges and policemen, but after actually winning a reprieve, goes somewhat insane, tracking down Alex in a motel. Alex calls Damian and keeps his phone open so that Damian can record Marcus’s threats and admission of jury tampering. This one is more legal maneuvering and slow-burn attraction than sexy times, as Damian has a client-lawyer relationship to maintain and Alex is skittish from his abuse most of the novel. However, caveat emptor re sex.

Well, I know one thing for sure - I could probably help clear out some of the 18K books. I mean the BlackHole is 16K at the moment, so it could just absorb some of the 18K, right?

>125 karenmarie: For just a second I thought it was Sunday, had to confirm that it's Monday. The joys of retirement. Happens to me all the time. I told Kerry we need one of those trackers that they had in all of the elevators on the cruise ship we were on a couple years back. Then maybe we would remember what day it is!

Have a marvelous Monday (it is Monday, right?), Karen!

>127 karenmarie: I know what you mean, Connor is the one I'd fix up with a grandson but Ilya...*hubba hubba* The expression on Ilya's face when he's jealous of Rose...*fans self*

S2 being The Long Game is established, though I can deffo see how Tough Guy *or* Common Goal could thematically blend into the storyline the way Game Changer did. Both are clearly about the cost of the closet, so is The Long Game, and either could be complementary to Ilya and Shane doing the heavy lifting/trailblazing this time. I admit I'd like to see your idea for an exclusively Hollanov s2 and a mixed-up s3 (permaybehaps including Unrivaled) but...would Crave trust the audience to follow into that s3? Is HBO gonna stay hands-off that long?

>129 karenmarie: More for my smut list! Thanks!

Morning, Karen. You never have to apologize for missing my post. I know it wasn't intentional or least I hope not...LOL!

It looks to be a cloudy week with rain possible each day, which we could use. It will also be unseasonably mild which I am okay with.

I tend to the kids and then I start my Jackson Day. Sue enjoyed her time with him yesterday.

>130 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! 16K black hole. 2K tbr. So many to choose from! My cataloged tbr, books on my shelf/inmy Kindle/on Audible is 3,028, so I hear you.

I make a game out of which day of the week it is – try to remember logically just after I wake up, if that fails I look on my cell phone or laptop. I don’t remember if I ever saw it or not, but I’m reminded of the movie If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium.

I hope you had a marvelous Monday. Yes it was, and I thought it was Sunday pretty much all day. Today is Tuesday!

>131 richardderus: Oh yes, Ilya looking at photos of Shane and Rose is well done.

I really hope that Tierney can maintain creative control. I think most of the world currently not involved in Trump and Israel's/Iran's War will be up in arms.

BTW, I watched the first episode of Shoresy last night. The opening scene with his 3 roommates is ROFL, and the scene with Shoresy and baby player 17 powerful. I had a hard time with the accents, and the French with subtitles took a bit of getting used to. The Massachusetts joke wore a bit.

But Keeso as Ryan Price? He looks too sweet and friendly. And perhaps not large enough? I seem to remember that Ryan is a hulk. However, Ryan is an enforcer only on the ice, so perhaps Keeso’s sweetness is needed for the non-ice bits. *smooch*

>132 quondame: My job here is done, Susan. *smile*

>133 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you. I hate missing one of your posts because I should check every single time before I post from Word since it can take a while to get the post ready – visiting threads, rabbit holing, or otherwise being diverted. Never intentional, of course.

Your unseasonable mildness translates into highs in the 70s tomorrow and Thursday and the low 80s on Friday and Saturday. When I replenished the feeders on Sunday I heard the chorus of peepers down at the creek.

Yay for Jackson day! So you do boy things. And the Library. What does Sue do with him? Same or different?

Fox and possibly other Sparrows, a multiplicity of Cardinals, a male Purple Finch, and a Mourning Dove. Oh, and a House Finch or two. I also just saw a Red-Bellied Woodpecker chase somebody out of the Crepe Myrtle.

Wordle 1,718 6/6* trope, welch, laden, liken, liven, linen

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I did a bit of adulting yesterday in addition to posting stats and the February Lightning Round, but only here at the house on my laptop. I read, puttered and lollygagged, and worked a bit on the things from the hot water heater storage behind the Guest Bedroom closet. I found a wooden recipe box that looks like one of Bill's Mama's or grandmother's, that when I looked on the bottom of it saw that Jenna had written her full name. Gotta keep it, of course. I can get rid of the wooden salad bowls. They're clearly from 50s, because even the serving bowl is smaller than most plates/individual serving bowls we use now.

Grace, and etc. I got almost 6 hours of sleep.

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Today is book sort for an hour, then the book sale planning meeting. Then Virlie’s. My cleaning ladies come. I am taking a package of Peeps for Rhoda, my springtime tradition. She loves them the way I do - cured. In other words, we open up the package and let them dry out for a while. Fresh Peeps are still better than most non-chocolate candy, but I try to maintain my standards.

Reading, and etc.

>134 karenmarie: *convulsive shudder*

I'm glad you're digging Shoresy! I think Keeso is big enough...plus he's sharp, the way Ryan is. Bulking up is easy, said the man who doesn't have to do the work; but it's doable, and as you noted, there's a sweetness in Ryan that he uses his enforcer persona to mask. I saw some speculation that Common Goal is a more likely pairing with The Long Game not Tough Guy...I can't believe how invested I feel in this decision to be honest. The last time I got this interested in the inner workings of a show was Firefly. I so hope that was not an omen....

Enjoy book-fondling and Virlie's, and chuck them ol' wood bowls right on out.

*smooch*

>134 karenmarie: A lot going on here and in your life, (((((Karen)))))! I AM going to order a Rothko book, probably the field paintings one, as soon as the $ comes in mid-month. I am.

As to the days of the week. Every day is Saturday except Sunday. At least, I do have Sunday to make a definite start to a new week! Ah, retirement!
I'm always amazed when you are happy with 6 hours of sleep. That little puts me off for several days. I was just getting over Saturday night when I somehow stayed up too late last night. I get through the day well enough on 8 and am a dynamo with 9 hours. (I no longer want to be a dynamo, so I'm very careful not to aim for 9!)

What is Jenna's full name??? Ah, individual serving bowls from the 50s! No wonder people are so much more likely to be obese these days! The little bowls in my MIL's Fiesta ware hold no more than 3 bites.

Enjoy your very full day!

>135 richardderus: Hiya RD! Convulsive shudder for Peeps?

I think Arnaud bulked up a bit to play Scott, according to YouTube shorts he’s done. No jinxing the series by mentioning Firefly to this Browncoat! *smooch*

>136 LizzieD: Always way too much going on, Peggy. I miss the halcyon days when I first retired at the end of January 2016, the first 3 months before Bill got permanently laid off. My peace of mind has been pretty much shattered ever since, with a few halcyon-ish weeks or months here and there.

6 hours of sleep is still wonderful although I’ve been occasionally getting up to 8 recently. I like your definition of the week days – every day is Saturday except Sunday. For me every day is Saturday except for Tuesday.

Portion sizes are absolutely crazy these days compared to in previous decades. I have some of Bill’s Mama’s glass storage containers with clear glass lids. The biggest one is 6” x 8”.

…
Book sort, book sale planning meeting, Virlie’s, cash for ladies. They got here early and left before I got home, and will come for their money on Friday.

>137 karenmarie: Indeed, those...items...are, um, well...I can't lie: Revolting. As are marshmallows in general.

I hope we get Tierney's best this coming season. It's a big pool he's summoned into being so the waves made by dropping a rock of blandness in it could swamp a lot of boats. It will be as it will be but I really want him and these wonderful actors to build on their success.

*smooch*

Morning, Karen. "What does Sue do with him? Same or different?" On Monday, they just hung at the house before school. Sue is very active with him and takes him different places. I took him to a children's museum yesterday but it felt kind of rushed before I had to take him to school and he didn't want to go. LOL.

I bet you are enjoying that weather. Nearing 50F here today. Getting ready to head out to play PB. Nothing to report at the feeders. WTH?

>138 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear! All marshmallows? I can see you not liking store-bought. I usually don't like store-bought either. But, I've never had homemade marshmallows, and just looked up a recipe. Sugar, water, gelatin, sugar, corn syrup, powdered sugar for dusting. Here's the awful stuff added to store-bought marshmallows: dextrose, modified corn starch, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, artificial and natural flavors, and Blue #1.

I'm hopeful about season 2, too. Tere are so many things we don't have control of in this world, and S2 of Heated Rivalry is but another one.

>139 msf59: 'Morning Mark, and happy Wednesday to you. Thanks for the Sue/Jackson update. Glad they mix it up. And, I'd want to stay at a museum instead of going to school, too!

Female Cardinals, a Carolina Chickadee, and a few sparrows. There's a male Cardinal in the Crepe Myrtle.

Wordle 1,719 3/6* trope, theta, theft

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Such a busy day! Book sort was for about an hour. I found Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years by Paula Fredriksen and 'bought' it for me.

We broke to have the book sale planning meeting, which went until 11:20. Virlie's, bank for cash for the ladies, then home. Unusually, they came early and were gone by the time I got home at 12:45.

My book sale homework was to ask for and get donated bookmarks we use at the sale. Here's the one we gave out in the fall of 2024 for the spring 2025 sale. The ones we hand out in the spring are on orange paper.



I called the owner of the print shop re the bookmarks since we need them in 3 weeks, asked, and she agreed to print/donate 1000. I sent her a confirming email with the deets. I did not realize it was Primary Election Day, and when I called her, she was 'working' at one of the precincts and reminded me that I had to vote in my precinct. I had to vote by 7:30 p.m. before the polls closed, in my precinct. It's rarely busy, and when I went over to the church, there was only one person ahead of me to get their ballot. The whole trip took half an hour. How oblivious am I that I didn't realize it was Election Day? News avoidance!! Good news, though. Democrat Roy Cooper took 92% of the Democratic vote and will face a Republican scum endorsed by Trump, who only got 64% of his primary vote. If Cooper wins in the fall, he'll take Tillis's seat and flip it.

After that I went upstairs and read/napped. Jenna called while I was up there to inform me that the missing mailing envelope I'd sent almost two weeks ago, currently MIA but flagged as delivered, turned up in the mail box above their mail box. We were all getting frantic because it contained what we thought might be and actually turned out to be Hwan's Green Card. Jenna saw the carrier at the boxes, went downstairs while she had that section open, saw that the box above theirs was filled to overflowing. The carrier checked the mail piece by piece, and they both saw the envelope. She gave it to Jenna. Thank goodness. Replacement cards can take up to 6 months and there's a $500 charge one. So we can all breathe again. Jenna can now close the open 'ticket' they had with the PO too.

BTW - how many of you realize that the USPS is a .com website, not a .gov website? How much energy is the regime spending on privatizing it, in addition to the war started and the East Wing bulldozed?

Downstairs for all the usual dinner things. We're still enjoying Grace.

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Friend Karen bought 2 books from a local to me retired pastor and I'm going to his house later today to pick them up. I'll mail them to her in the next box of books I send to her. Whenever that is.

A bit of grocer shopping after that, then home.

>140 karenmarie: Hearing Tierney taking about s2 with two straight hockey bros on their podcast gave me a boost in a weird, quietly hopeful way. People are not going into the ugliness meatgrinder the way I thought they were. In spite of the crap being fed to us, real, ordinary people are not slavering, ravening hate machines. Go know from this.

The idea of flipping Tillis' seat gives me the extra happy. Almost enough to offset the nauseated retching ick of thinking about marshmallows. Ho-maid ones are merely gross, not repugnant and recoilsome.

I've got "My Moon My Man" stuck in my head. *smooch*

Oh my. We didn't vote yesterday. I saw only local election signs not for our precincts and didn't think about a state primary. Dumb and dumber.

Btw, I had one of Sister Shubert's cinnamon rolls this morning thanks to you. Bliss! I also love that I can thaw them one at a time. I'm hoping the icing will last a couple of months refrigerated. It's sweet enough that it should, and I like that the rolls themselves are not too sweet. That was another gift, and I thank you!

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. The usual this AM- kids and PB. Later this afternoon a bunch of us pickleballers are meeting for beers at a new Irish brewpub. Like I mentioned before- it is such a fun group of people.

My feeder activity continues to be lackluster. I am thinking of ways to spark more life into the backyard. The squirrels are sure loving it though.

>141 richardderus: Hey, RDear! Since I’m obsessed with Heated Rivalry, I just found the podcast What Chaos? with Tierney discussing season 2. I think that’s the one you mean.

Ironically, Tillis is one of the few Senators who, after kissing Trump’s arse for way too long, voted against a recent bill, got backlash, and said enough is enough.

Drat you. Earworm! First note, I recognized where it was in HR… *smooch*

>142 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I’ve missed primaries over the years, and it always makes me feel 'dumb and dumber' after the fact, too. I’m grateful I was made aware that it was the state-wide primary. There are occasionally Pittsboro-proper elections that I’m not eligible to vote in.

Ah, yes, the bliss of Sister Shubert’s Cinnamon Rolls. You’re welcome.

>143 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you, too. Kids and PB and beers. Not a bad day.

Sorry about your feeders. Right now I’ve got a male House Finch, a Carolina Chickadee, several sparrows, and a Junco.

Wordle 1,720 4/6* trope, plied, apnea, sheep

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Braved the lair of the extremely conservative pastor in town to pick up two books for friend Karen. I'll mail them to her. I told her last night that I'm never going to his house again, because I made the mistake of trying to engage with him over religion, although he started it. I didn't lose, per se, he didn't convert me, but I felt dissed.

Cosmic question - why do so many who hold religious beliefs feel that if you don't believe the same way they do that you're JUST PLAIN WRONG. FULL STOP. ? Sheesh.

Home and hadn't realized that Arsenal were playing Brighton. They won, 1-0. Man City drew with Nottingham Forest, so although Arsenal have played one game more than Man City, they Arsenal are top of the table, 7 points up.

All the other regular things. Chatted with Karen. Doomscrolled, read, etc. I got about 7 hours of sleep.

...
Nothing on tap except for reading, puttering, lollygagging, and possibly working on stuff from the Guest Bedroom. I need to catch up on my spreadsheets and Lightning Round and also work on some things for the upcoming book sale.

If I want to get out there's grocery shopping. Major excitement, right?

>144 karenmarie: Who's 7 points up, Man City or Arsenal?

Because religion is a system of awarding prestige. Because religion is a social control mechanism. Because men don't like women who question their gods-given Authority by not agreeing with them.

It is a symptom of capitalism's death throes that religion still has force; it's very very useful to Them for the hoi polloi to bend the knee and bow the head for rewards deferred and uncollectable until after death removes the rewardee.

While shopping you should listen to Quinn's Ember & Ice. Might fill the HR gap...I'm glad you saw Jacob chatting with his hockey bros. Had I not seen it for myself I would've sworn what happened there was impossible, those guys clearly watched and invested in the show. ...what...??

Feist is fun to listen to, no? *smooch*

>144 karenmarie: Because fundamentalists are told that their whole reason for existence is to convert the heathen. If they can't manage that, they are not good enough and not acceptable in their very controlling milieu. Because they can't be wrong; one minute crack, and the whole edifice tumbles. Because they are sure. (Ironic, that, because certainty obviates any need for faith.) I could go on, but I won't.

I'm sorry he turned that kindness to Karen into a bad experience for you. I was wondering whether he'd ever offer anything that I'd be interested in, but I see that that won't happen.

Thom Tillis. I put off writing to him because from time to time he shows evidence of awareness. (Did you hear him call for Kristi Noem's resignation and promise to force an investigation of her leadership?) He voted against the Senate's war power's act though, so I will at least email him and Rep. Rouzer. GAH!

I did get out to buy groceries yesterday, to my great astonishment. I was so late that I stopped at El Zerape and at last got this month's mixed grill taco salad - such a treat! Hope your day is equally successful!

>125 karenmarie: I've been staying up until midnight when the new Wordle is released, solving it and going to bed. It's my bed alarm-clock. :) Friday night I had just started it when there was a commotion with the horses. A couple of them had breeched the gate and were in the yard calling to their friends who were all yelling back
to them.

Went outside, moved horses to where they should be, came back in fully intending to finish Wordle and go to bed. BUT - while I was out He-who-shall-not-be-named started the invasion of Iran and I got caught up in a live stream video for hours. Anyway, Wordle never did get finished that day even though I had several letters.

Ummm... https://deadline.com/2026/03/jacob-tierney-alexander-netflix-series-heated-rival...
Well, it was inevitable he'd need to do something else. I hope the rumor that the script's out of his drawer is true. I didn't like the book a lot. The Golden Mean wasn't even a full four stars for me...and now, seventeen years later it gets a full-series order despite there being literally bajillions of better stories better told languishing, nay moldering, for want of his attention.

*sigh*

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379251

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. It was a good time hanging with my fellow pickleballers. The rec center where I go is closed for PB today so I will try a different place. Nearing 60 today but rain off and on. We need it.

The first things I saw in the gloomy yard this AM was a cardinal and a rabbit.

>145 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear. Arsenal are 7 points up. I just changed my previous post to clarify. Yup regards religion AND capitalism. I’m not quite sure what can successfully replace capitalism without trying other failed economic systems.

I’d seen YouTube teasers for Quinn’s Ember & Ice and just found it for free on audioaz.com. Yay. I also just found the entire playlist for Heated Rivalry. *smooch*

>146 LizzieD: Thank you, Peggy, re fundamentalists. Karen and I agree that I’m a heathen so I guess I’m their target audience. I’ve had sooooo many bad experiences with Christians. I’ve always joked that I’ve got a face that could launch a thousand conversions.

Good experiences with Christians are you, Karen, our cousins David and Rebecca and their two children/spouses/children, and most Christians here on LT. ❤ I’ve met you, Stasia, Jenn, and Janet. My only meetups, and all with Christians no less!

The original impetus for me to meet Jimmy Pharr in person was some books by Bart Ehrman. I had seen Jimmy advertise them for sale on the Chatham Chatlist. I went over to his house and bought a few books - some for me, some for Karen. He then decided to sell The Pulpit Commentary (23 Volume Set) by H. D. M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell | Oct 1, 1985 978-0917006326978. Karen wanted it. I bought it for her, and she reimbursed me for it and shipping. I mailed all 23 volumes to her over time, the last batch early this year. Since then she’s dealt directly with him, but these are the first two books she worked with him to actually buy, two by Ehrman. It was just my mistake to offer to pick them up and mail them when I mail her another box of books. Never again – I told her she’d have to have him mail books to her. These two are heavy, too, darn it. They'll go media mail in a UHaul book box.

‘evidence of awareness’ - I love it. Tillis has done a few things that are not right-wing Gang of Psychos crazy over the last couple of years, but NOT voting to keep the warmonger in chief in line was a terrible mistake.

Yay for grocery shopping. I need to go – perhaps today. I’d like to also stop at the Library to make some informed decisions regarding how to set up the Online Bookstore Books for sale in the large study room in the back of the Library. There are two long tables in there. We probably need at least one small table for people to peruse books at and possibly another small one for the book sale person staffing the room. That would be or Eliza, with backup by Sarah. And today, who knows? I might find another book or two in the donations boxes/bags that are calling my name.

And then groceries. Or, I could do this all tomorrow.

>147 streamsong: Hi Janet. I’m sorry you didn’t get to finish the Wordle because your horses got frisky and escaped. And then sorry that you got caught up in watching another illegal war.

>148 richardderus: I haven’t read The Golden Mean, RD. Author Lyon is Canadian, Alexander the Great and/or Aristotle were gay or bisexual. A familiar theme? I hope he's a superman and can juggle one of the best things to ever happen to Canadian TV and a more obscure time period.

>149 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you!

>150 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you. Good luck on your PB venue search. It’s supposed to get to 82F here. I’ve already seen a few wasps. Sigh.

Yay for the Cardinal and a rabbit. Karen and I discussed spirit animals the other day. I don’t know mine officially, but it very well may be a Cardinal since I have so many here at the house all the time.

I can see 3 males and 2 females. There’s also a Tufted Titmouse and a sparrow or two.

Wordle 1,721 3/6* trope, align, gunky. Gunky is not on the original 2,309 word list.

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Yesterday I did a whole bunch of nothing. No puttering or working through stuff in the Guest Bedroom. I did not cook dinner. I did not fold laundry. There was much reading and lollygagging, Grace, then more reading and doom scrolling.

I did chat with Jenna for about an hour and a half. She and Hwan decided that this job was not working out for them, so Jenna quit. Too bad in a way - kitties - but a longer commute than anticipated and much more exposure to Washington germs that neither of them have gotten used to yet. So, for the foreseeable future, until Jenna gets bored with not working, she'll be a housewife. They are both happy with this decision. I've always said feminism is about choice, and Jenna's currently choosing to be a housewife. It does seem a bit weird to me, but they both seem happy with it.

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The aforementioned Library/grocery store run, or not. Reading, puttering, lollygagging. And etc.

>151 karenmarie: That's too bad about Jenna needing to quit, but as it was a decision not a crisis so....

I just think it's going to result in loss of focus on...well...never mind it's always good to get your hay baled while the sun's shining. He deserves the success. Please, please Erato, gift Jacob Tierney of Heated Rivalry smuttiness renown some semi-divine inspiration!

I'm glad you found the soundtrack. Philippe B is enjoying some renown at last, and Margaret Lewis' utter invisibility might be ending. The light this show is shining is wonderfully broad focus.

*smooch*

I also am sorry that the job didn't work out well for Jenna, but kudos to the two of them for deciding what will work for the time being.

MY BOOK IS HERE! MY BOOK IS HERE! I thought it was supposed to be huge, but it's only 366 pp of tiny text with no pictures or illustrations, always the reason I want the dead tree rather than a Kindle copy. I could have saved myself a lot of time and $. Nevertheless, THE BOOK IS HERE, and I'm going to read it NOW!!!!! I will also try to be more careful in my research when I feel the need to get another history.
Apparently, the neighbors are never going to give up the first copy or have thrown it away OR the postal supervisor misread the GPS. I'm not sure how badly you wanted Britain After Rome anyway.

Enjoy your day! Congrats on your Wordle in 3!

Hi, Karen, I'm catching up again. I got laid up by some stomach bug this week, and I've fallen behind again.

>140 karenmarie: Even if I avoided the news all the time, I'd find out about the elections because the Apex offices where the Senior Center is also serve as an early voting site. That makes it very easy to vote early.

It was great news about Cooper. You rarely see someone get 92% of the vote. I sure hope he can win the seat in November.

>151 karenmarie: You forgot me again! We did meet up a couple of times for lunch, besides seeing you at the book sales. (Sorry I'm going to miss the one this month.)

I too am sorry that the job didn't work out for Jenna. It sounded like it would be perfect for her. But as Richard said, it was a choice, not something forced.

We're flip-flopping on Wordle. I got the LINEN one in 3 because I didn't check any lists. But today it took me 6. It was one of those alphabet soup days, and this time I should have checked the used words list.

ETA - I also meant to say, I'm sorry that pastor acted like such a jerk. That, to me, is not a Christian way to treat people.

Wordle 1,722 2/6* trope, vogue. Pure luck and a good Wordle Words spreadsheet.

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I'll be back. Arsenal played at 7:15, but neither of us was inclined to get up to an alarm, so Bill recorded it. He was up at 5:30, but I didn't come downstairs 'til 8:45.

I don't know the results of the match, I don't think Bill does either.

>152 richardderus: Not a crisis, no, RD. Tierney has quite a bit on his plate, now, doesn’t he? And there’s trickle down rewards for sure. *smooch*

>153 LizzieD: Yay for your book, Peggy! Ugh for tiny text and no illustrations. I’m getting ready to deaccession mass market paperbacks. I’m fascinated by the Staffordshire Hoard, of course. Thanks re my day. It was lazy. Today looks to be the same. Thanks re Wordle in 3, too.

>154 atozgrl: Hi Irene. It’s not an excuse, but I think the reason I unintentionally keep forgetting you is that we’ve never met at either of our houses. I’ve been to Jenn’s house twice and Peggy’s three or four times. Janet was in Missoula with my friend Karen, so not NC. I’ll try to not do it again, because I love the time we’ve spend in person together.

I’m sorry you’ve had a stomach bug, hope you’re fully recovered. I don’t avoid all the news, but try so hard to avoid as much as I can. Yes, Cooper! 92%.

Flip-flop Wordling is fine with me. Sorry it took you 6.

At one point during my visit with the pastor he said something like “Boy, you sure have animosity towards Christians.” I cannot tell a lie, it’s mostly true. Many reasons, some explicated here over the years, some more obscure.

>156 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday. Yup. Now the forecast is for 83F today. Then 77, 79, 84, and 86. I’d love low 60s. Enjoy your afternoon with the cousins. Yay for color. I’ve got female and male Cardinals, and a female Cowny on the suet feeder. Sparrows, too.

...
Yesterday was feeling guilty for not going grocery shopping. Plus all the good things - reading, lollygagging. We watched another episode of Grace. I got about 6 hours of sleep, so there's that.

...
Bill's bringing home lunch, so I'll sit with him while he watches another FA Cup match. Don't know which one it is. After that, replenishing the bird feeders and the bird bath, possibly doing a bit of stuff upstairs besides reading and napping. Last week and this week were stressful and I think I'm just needing extra rest.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. 82F? Wowza. That is a bit warm. We are enjoying low 60s which is still pretty darn warm. A quiet AM here and we are visiting with a cousin and his family this afternoon. It is in the city which I don't care for but what are you going to do.

I just had a blue jay in the yard and along with a male cardinal for some well-needed color back there.

So Rachel said on What Chaos! that s2 is books 6 and 5, Role Model. *sigh*

Still, you're watching Shoresy so it's all good.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. We have bright sun and deep blue skies. It was still nice to get a decent amount of rain. I will do a quick Costco run and then do some laundry. A few of our camping group are playing indoor pickleball later this afternoon. It should be fun. It is also Bree's birthday. We will miss seeing her but we have plans for a party soon.

>156 msf59: Hi Mark! Today’s supposed to get to 77F. I hope your visit went well. It is especially pleasing when we can see dramatically colored birds, isn’t it?

>157 richardderus: Hiya, RD! I can see books 5 and 6 for S2. I’m pretty sure that it’s Troy Bennett who gets mentioned when Ilya and Shane are watching a game. Ilya says he’s quiet and probably going to be traded soon. With Ilya being willing to move to Ottowa to be closer to Shane and Troy there to get romantically involved with Harris, it sets up S2 nicely, IMO.

I’m not watching Shoresy. I only watched S1 E1 but might go back to it. *smooch*

>158 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you. Yay for a gorgeous day in Chicagoland. A few errands then PB and wishing Bree Happy Birthday sound like a good Sunday to me.

I have 3 male Cardinals – one in the tray feeder, one on the suet feeder, and one and one on the wild bird seed feeder. There are a few Sparrows on the ground.

Wordle 1,723 4/6* trope, bingo, combs, lobby

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We watched Arsenal beat Mansfield Town to get to the FA Cup quarterfinals, 2-1. Reading, lollygagging, then actual work in the Guest Bedroom. Napping, and more reading, Grace.

...
I was supposed to go to book club today to discuss The Women by Kristin Hannah, but I only read 2, yes TWO pages of the book. I'll see everybody next month here to discuss my choice, How to Read a Book by Monica Wood.

I plan on replenishing the bird feeders and fill the birdbath. I'm also might make dinner tonight. Work in the Guest Bedroom? Read, lollygag, and etc.

Hello Amw100, Tony! Thank you for the DM. I tried to post a reply, but it's telling me that you do not accept comments. Perhaps you can change that, but for now here's what I wrote:

Hi Tony! Thanks for visiting, and I'm glad you like my pics. I have way too many of them, of course, mostly cats-who've-owned-us and various members of my family. I'm down to 2 kitties, mother and son gingers 8 and 7 years old respectively.

You have a fascinating Library. Thank goodness I do not have Dawkins, Heyerdahl, Roberts, or Oliver on my shelves per your Profile!

We both have the tag crime fiction. I used to try to be more specific with thriller, mystery, suspense, but finally gave up and lumped them all together. Same for science fiction and fantasy - they're now combined into speculative fiction.

Onward and upward!

Karen

>159 karenmarie: You made it two pages. Ya shoulda gone. Though Monica Wood's about 6000x better as a craftswoman than Hannah, so blame you I do not.

*smooch*

I'm hoping Shoresy will work its magic on you.

I'm terrible at reading books for book clubs. I finally just set something up with my friend that we only meet once I've read it. That happens every couple of months or so.

You got me with Gallagher's Civil War course, karen. I found it on the streaming service through my library so I'll be getting to the beginning of the course soon.

Too bad about Jenna's job. It sounded so wonderful with all those kitties but travel time really eats into a day.

Morning, Karen. We had a good time playing PB with our friends and then we all went out for dinner and beers. It will eventually get up to 72 today but windy. Unbelievable, right? I saw some sandhill cranes fly over the house yesterday.

Hooray for How to Read a Book. I loved that one.

>161 richardderus: I was coming back from the grocery store when I should have been at Book Club. I’m happy with the way I spent my time.

I’ll be taking The Women back to book sort. I’m looking at How to Read a Book right now, will take the dust jacket off and put it up for safekeeping.

*smooch*

>162 The_Hibernator: Hi Rachel! That’s a good way to have an intelligent discussion about a book – after you’ve actually read it. I only finish about 60% of book club books. It’s disrespectful of the woman who chose it, but there’s too much smut to read these days, and has always been too many OTHER books to read rather than continue with what to me is a stinker.

>163 Familyhistorian: That makes me very happy, Meg! I know your interests are varied. I’ll bet this one has to do with one or more ancestors who participated in The Civil War, right?

Beween travel time and exposure to sooo many germs, I’m happy that she and Hwan made a decision that works for them. And just think! There’s someone out there who is happy to get such a good paying job with benefits AND kitties.

>164 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Yay for PB, dinner, and beer. I am, as always, envious of the Sandhill Crane sightings. And yes, 72F is pretty unbelievable. It’s supposed to get up to 77F here. My forsythia is in full bloom.

Thanks for the How to Read a Book love.

I have no bird visitors right now, but heard a Pileated Woodpecker’s earlier this morning.

Wordle 1,724 4/6*trope, stalk, satin, hasty. Dumb - I used S as the first letter when it had already been a yellow in the first position.

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I made a major grocery store run yesterday afternoon. I read, I did all the usual evening things. I spoke with Karen, and we commiserated over the possible coming of WWIII.

I paid 50¢ more for gas yesterday than the last time I bought gas. I rarely try to gas station shop, but saw gas for what I had paid for it two weeks ago at one station, tried there, but they were out.

I dated a guy once who lectured me on why I should gas station shop. At that time I had a Chevron card and bought gas there exclusively. He would have been so controlling had I not dumped him.

...
I have the every-three-months steroid shots in L3-5 on my left side - right hip-ish - at 2 p.m. This is the first time that the shots haven't completely worn off before the new shots.

Spreadsheets, Lightning Round, perhaps spreadsheet homework for the book sale. Grace and etc.

>165 karenmarie: Oh, that sounds like progress on the hip front (so to speak). I think the idea of this war was to make the oil bastards richer. The prices are up on oil refined last year, so they can get their gouging in before they hike prices permanently.

I'm such a cynic.

Enjoy your general-purpose day! *smooch*

>155 karenmarie: Well, that makes sense. Unfortunately, my house isn't fit for visitors right now. I really do need to make time this year to tackle the clutter downstairs and get the first floor presentable. I too have really enjoyed our conversations when we have gotten together. I wish Peggy was closer so that all three of us could meet on a regular basis.

>159 karenmarie: How funny. My book club is reading How to Read a Book this month, and The Women next month.

>165 karenmarie: I was lucky. I had to get gas last Monday. I had been planning to do that while I was out for yoga class and other errands. When the war started, I was afraid the gas prices would have gone up by Monday, but the local station still had a pretty good price. It has really shot up since then, so I guess I got in just under the wire.

I'm off to shower, but I needed to speak at least - to congratulate you on your perseverance in reading 2 pages of K.Hannah. I might have made 2 paragraphs.

I'll also note that only Irene's Touchstone goes to the M. Wood *HtRaB*, which I happily have on my Kindle, so no harm done as far as I'm concerned. Same with *W'men*.

Oh, how I wish I were closer too so that the 3 of us could get together for talk! That's not quite true. What I wish for is astral projection or something so that I could get to you and get home in a trice or two. I hope the steroid shot was not awful and will be effective. Do some of your best when you get home, dear (((((Karen))))).

>168 LizzieD: The default touchstones for an unusual number of my book club books this year do NOT go to the book I intend, so I have to remember to change the touchstone every time I refer to them. It's a pain.

I like your idea about astral projection, or maybe the transporter in Star Trek. That would make things a lot easier.

Morning, Karen. Back to the kids today and then off to Bree's to hang with Jack for a couple of hours. Birding Book Club tonight, to discuss The Feather Detective. Nothing much to report on the feeders. There was a red-bellied woodpecker hanging around which was cool.

>166 richardderus: Hiya, RDear. The idea of every war, even if originally inspired by something noble, always gets back to money, power, territory, and/or ideology, doesn’t it? *smooch*

>167 atozgrl: Hi Irene! My house is fit for visitors if I have half an hour to make sure 5 rooms are under control. Fortunately, my cleaning ladies keep the major stuff under control.

Great minds, book club-wise!

I paid $3.39+taxes for gas yesterday. I saw it from $3.26 to $3.39, but I saw one gas station in Sanford where it was $3.09 – a small one on Carthage St. Unfortunately, I had already filled up so I wouldn’t run out on the 60-mile round trip.

>168 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Ah, great minds work alike. The only Hannah book I have on my shelves right now is Between Sisters. I’m torn – I’d deaccession it in a heartbeat except it was a gift from my sister. However, she sent it directly from Amazon, so didn’t inscribe it. There’s a topic for you – now that so many people have books drop shipped and don’t actually touch them before sending them, will inscriptions dramatically or are inscriptions rarer than I think.

I have one Dawkins I want to keep that wouldn’t be on your shelves, The God Delusion. I admit to having The Ancestor’s Tale, but will probably deaccession it this week.

If Irene were willing, we could take a road trip. It would be exhausting if one day, better if it was overnight. It’s about 2 hours from my house, don’t know how far from Apex. Astral projection or transporter really would be wonderful, wouldn’t they?

Steroid shot(s) went fine although these were a tad more painful than other times. Not horrible, just more painful, especially when he had to find L4-L5 twice. So far no cortisone flare.

>169 atozgrl: Most books I catalog aren’t the first few touchstones. I’m a detective, though, and usually find them.

>170 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you. Busy day! Have fun with Jack and I hope your book club has a great discussion. A forensic ornithologist! Sounds fascinating. Our Library has it, but it’s out and has a request for it. I’ll pass for now, but added it to my wish list.

I love watching woodpeckers. You saw one yesterday, and I forgot to mention that I heard one drum in the woods north of here.

Wordle 1,725 4/6* trope, shock, shook, shoal

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I was happy with yesterday's result at Spine & Pain Associates, but their administrative side was a tad chaotic, as per usual, and the doctor had to try twice with L4-L5. Ugh. Like I wrote above, though, no cortisone flare so far, probably won't be one. I stopped off at the Library to drop off duplicates of Louise Penny books and did a few measurements in the back double study room, which is where we'll be having the On-Line Book Store books. Home, reading & napping, all the usual evening things.

...
Book sort and Virlie's this morning. I'll chat with The Kudzu of the Library, Sarah, this morning, if she's there. I want to show her the rough map I drew yesterday. I call Sarah that because she has her fingers in Every Single Thing Imaginable, both on the board and on the book sort team. Terrible, aren't I? The Eliza, the other book sort team member associated with the Online Book Store, is out of the country for 3 weeks.

I need to do a few things upstairs so that Trevor has a few things to do tomorrow. I'm debating on whether to re-watch Heated Rivalry again. *eye roll*

>171 karenmarie: How many reheats is too many? You got at least sixteen months to slog through until fresh smut's delivered...pace yourself. Maybe get your fix at AO3? I hear some of the Shane mpregs are *wild*!

I hope you never call Sarah "Kudzu Lady" out loud...that could be most embarrassing. *smooch*

I'm off to feed them, Karen, but stopped by to speak. Hope your day is progressing very pleasantly!

My only question is why I wouldn't have Richard Dawkins on my shelves..... I would; I just don't because I'm not sure I need him, at least not right now.

>171 karenmarie: I think gas is pushing over $4 here (but I just smile and plug my car into our solar generated power). I did gt a shock at the grocery store the other day though when I discovered that ground beef was $10.99 a pound!!!! Thanks Donald :(

>171 karenmarie: I would not mind a road trip at all, we would just have to schedule it at a time that works. Of course, I would have to check with my DH too. But I would love to meet Peggy!

I'm glad that the result at the Spine doctor was good, though I'm sorry you had to deal with their administration and one difficult shot. It sounds like it was good overall though. I hope everything was good at book sort today and that your whole day went well.

I don't know how I missed your report on the steroid shot, but I echo Irene. I'd LOVE to have the two of you here overnight!!!!! Mama's house is available to you although you might be more comfortable in a motel. Her shower makes me claustrophobic.

Morning, Karen. Lots and lots of rain here but sure beats lots and lots of snow. Very stormy last night with hail but our area was hit too bad.

Of course, a good time with Jack and book club went well and everyone enjoyed this bio of a very interesting and devoted woman. Try to read it sometime. Off to play PB soon...

Glad your medical appointment went well.

>172 richardderus: Hi RD! I started my 7th reread. *blinks* Shane mpreg. The mind boggles. Sarah wasn’t there yesterday. I actually wanted to see her in order to play with the layout for the room. *smooch*

>173 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Just fed our two and opened the kitty door. Yesterday went swimmingly. I need to deaccession The Ancestor’s Tale. It’s in the Library on an accessible shelf. Possible meet up with Peggy – sometime in April perhaps?

>174 RebaRelishesReading: Hey Reba. Gas is now $3.56 in my county on average. It was $2.89 last week. I just checked out the grocery store I shop at, and the 80/20 ground beef I buy is $6.60/lb. I don’t buy the fancy or organic beef. The most expensive one is ‘PRE Grass-fed 95% Lean 5% Fat Ground Beef’, $9.99/lb. You’re in an enviable position – solar-powered electric car. Jenna and Hwan have 2 cars – one gas and one gas/electric.

>175 atozgrl: I’d love to have a meet up with Peggy, Irene. The soonest I could do it would be April. Thanks re the shots. I didn’t mention that their follow up appointment for me is in their Pittsboro office. They’ve never offered them there before, even though I know they have had that office since before my first knee replacement surgery PT in 2023. They share office space with my PT. Yesterday’s “BV” – book sort and Virlie’s – was good, and basically my whole day was good. I hope your day was marvelous.

>176 LizzieD: As much as I love hanging out in your mama’s house, I personally would prefer a motel simply because I can spread my crap out everywhere. *smile*

Wordle 1,726 3/6* trope, theta, teddy

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We officially asked for no more donations to the Friends for the book sale two weeks ago, but still had a rack and a half to go through. Sorting finished up at 10:55, getting all the racks back into the sort room took those folks til about 11:15. Virlie's was busy. I got out of there about 12:30, and back home about 12:45. I did some sorting and decision making in the Guest Bedroom. Then, a bit of a nap and all the usual things.

..
Trevor comes today around 10, so between blowing or sweeping out the garage, putting trash into Bill's SUV, fixing a door latch that inexplicably has started not closing completely, and helping me with the Guest Bedroom, will have plenty to do.

Arsenal play Leverkusen today at 1:45. It's a two-game aggregate, and this is the first leg.

Then all the usual things.

Happy Day, Karen! I wish it may be as satisfying as yesterday. What good news that you can get your next shot In P'boro! I know what a difference it makes to get my eye shots here.

Congrats on your 3!!!

I neglected to say, "Come! Come anytime!!!!"

>178 karenmarie: Leverkusen! I want Florian Wirtz for my birthday this year please and thank you.

*smooch*

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. I snuck in here again yesterday. I am turning this into an art form. 😜

Kids and PB. The usual. We are having our first frosty morning in more than a couple of weeks. Hey, I mentioned this over on my thread- If you would kindly snag me that copy of The Light Between Oceans that would be great and I can return the favor by sending along The Far-Flung Life. Could that work?

>177 msf59: All I can do is apologize when I miss you up there, Mark. So. I apologize for not checking before I do my first of the day post.

We’re supposed to get a cold front coming through today with potentially severe storms and power outages.73F today and freezing tonight, 32F. I’m so glad you had a great time with Jack and enjoyable book club meeting. Enjoy PB.

>179 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy, and I hope you had a happy day yesterday, too. 18 miles round trip instead of 55… and I know how much better it is for you and your DH that you can get your shots ‘East of I-95” instead of … Fayetteville?
Thanks re my 3.
Let’s start planning a visit soon!

>180 richardderus: Hiya, RDear! You’re behind the times. Wirtz left Leverkusen for Liverpool last year. Here's my favorite hottie from Arsenal. I prefer his looks, but Wirtz isn't half bad either.


Florian Wirtz – Liverpool Ricardo Calafiori – Arsenal

*smooch*

>181 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you. Kids and PB. Okay. We’re going to get down to 32F tonight.

If The Light Between Oceans is still in the cubbies and not boxed up, sure. I’m going there either today or tomorrow for a book sale reason so can look.

No birds are visiting right now.

Wordle 1,727 5/6* trope, eying, abled, quell, smell

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Trevor came over 10-ish. I had him bring trash and donations down to the garage. He loaded up Bill's SUV with trash and recyclables. I had him bring phase II of the things in the hot water heater storage (behind the Guest Bedroom closet). Lots of fun stuff - some of Jenna's baby clothes that I kept, old school papers, and a box of Wilton Character Cake Pans given to us by Bill's friend Randy (who was the baker in their family). Jenna couldn't have been any older than 9 or 10, so 20 years?

We watched Arsenal draw with Leverkusen. They play the second leg on March 22nd in North London, and and the team with the most goals total moves on. If they're tied at the end of regulation, overtimes and penalty shoot outs.

A quick 30-minute nap and reading, then all the usual things. I chatted with Karen, too.

...
I've got a massage today at 12:30, yay. After that I might do a bit of work upstairs, then possibly make some dinner. I haven't decided yet what to make.

>182 karenmarie: German chocolate cake, of course. The only dinner one needs to eat on a day where the high and the low are as far apart numerically as the ordinary high ought to be...40°...is one that's got no appreciable nutritional value.

Okay, Wirtz is closer now, so shipping him to me is a little cheaper! Cool...when's delivery? Calafiori's a muffin, for sure, but the sleeve's not workin' for me....

I don't know if you have already watched the Empty Netters' Livestream of their reactions to "The Cottage" but it was so sweet, so lovely, and so emotional I was retransported to my own first viewing of it.

Get a lovely massage today!

'Morning, RDear! Happy Thursday.

I don't like Calafiori's sleeve but I don't hate it. I don't like Ben White's sleeve but I don't hate it. The ink I hate is Richarlison's on his neck.



I also actively dislike tattoos of people's faces because I haven't seen one yet that doesn't give me nightmares.

I might track down the Empty Netters' "The Cottage" reaction. And, have you seen how Hudson Williams does a very credible "I'm coming to the cottage?"

*smooch*

>184 karenmarie: ...vinegar and regular milk will do the same job, you know...

The face/neck tatts gross me out, too. Calafiori's sleeve is just ugly.

Hudson doing "I'm coming to the cottage" was in the same feed that showed me the Empty Netters' livestream. He screenshotted them saying "these guys make me cry" so of course I had to go see why.

They recently made a hockey 101 miniseries to explain their Maineiacs' love for the sport to all us smuthounds who're encountering it for the first time. Admirably basic. I still don't care.

This mp4made me laugh out loud.
on Tumblr.

>183 richardderus: Calafiori has a sleeve???? Oh. I honestly didn't notice. Yeah. I don't particularly like that, but it wouldn't be a deal-breaker.
>184 karenmarie: That is definitely off-putting.

Hello, Karen!!!! I hope you have a satisfying day and a wonderful massage!!! The storm is coming through right now, but it's not particularly awful. It's time for me to feed cats though, so I'm off.

I'm no fan of tattoos, especially on the head, but that dislike pales in comparison to a young woman I saw recently who had silver studs on her lower face creating a sort of smile around her actual mouth (a dozen or so of them). To say I was horrified would be an understatement -- but then that may have been what she wanted.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379488

>183 richardderus: Hiya, RD! Wednesday high 87.2F + 25.9F last night low = German Chocolate Cake?

The only sleeve I really, really like is @@ursula’s. She posted it several years ago. It’s gorgeous.

I’ve watched a bit of What Chaos podcast but not Empty Netters podcast. I’m not sure that I need or want more discussion of the series right now.

Aye, aye, lovely massage. Mission accomplished.

>185 richardderus: I’d forgotten about the vinegar and regular milk trick, but I only have organic fat free milk. I’m thinking whole milk makes more sense for this type of recipe?

I only like two full sleeves. The first is @@ursula’s. I forget which year she posted pics of it, but I think she was still living in Istanbul. The other is one of the women who waits tables at Virlie's. I'm endlessly fascinated by it.

Hudson doing “I’m coming to the cottage.” is more than credible.

>186 richardderus: That is a riot. And that’s one of my favorite Connor Storrie smiles in the entire series.

>187 LizzieD: Hallo my dear Peggy. I did have a satisfying day and the massage was almost worth what she’s charging for it now. $155 + tip...

The storm came through and left us with .64” of rain. Filled the bird bath nicely although I should really clean it out and put fresh water in it.

>188 RebaRelishesReading: I can’t bear facial studs either. If horrified is the goal, then she met her goal.

>189 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you!!

Wordle 1,728 3/6* trope, unset, eaten

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The massage was wonderful. Driving through almost torrential rain to get to it wasn't fun, but I have a safe vehicle with good wiper blades. Heck. I even keep 3 umbrellas in my SUV - small and medium collapsible and full-sized Volvo golf (I was given the Volvo umbrella when I bought my last Volvo in 2008 or so. I haven't done an inventory of the umbrellas in the house, but there are at least 5.

All the usual evening things. I turned the light off at 12:30, but woke up at 5 and have been up ever since. Can you say nap?

I chatted with Karen last night. She's in crisis mode because a dear friend is moving away from Montana, so I was the designated emotional support friend.

...
It was 25.2 when I got up this morning. The prediction was 32F, so there will be quite a few unhappy people because of the hard freeze. Even now it's only 25.5F.

I have a chiropractor appointment at 11:45 and will stop at the Library to get some signage pages copied for the sale. I hope to see Rita to say hi and if there are any donated books that want to live with me, that's a good thing, too.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Hooray for the massage. I haven't had one in years but I do keep up with my chiropractic adjustments. I have an appointment this AM before PB. Thanks for checking at the library for me.

Keep warm and snug. 25F is cold.

>190 karenmarie: Oh hey that's funny, I was just wandering around here killing time at lunch and I was summoned! :)

I found my post (went looking because I wasn't sure the images were still available but they seem to be!): https://www.librarything.com/topic/347013#8045627

I'm super flattered that it's one of the only ones you like! I still love it as much as the day I got it, and I get a lot of compliments on it. Would 100% get tattooed by him again if I had the opportunity.

>190 karenmarie: I love >186 richardderus: because he conveys what that poster saw so well in his body language. Stunning smile, pure happy delight. The "compatible" moment was so utterly endearing, too, and a great reminder he's conducting this love in translation.

Podcasts endure. I'm glad you've had a good massage! Not so glad it was so blinkin' cold there, how many pipes got frozen, how many plants got stressed to death. It's 33° here but that's pretty much the low end of normal.

Since low-fat milk is the standard form of buttermilk, and since the acetic acid substitute for lactic acid works by clumping the proteins in milk not be fermenting them, even your weird milk should work. Maybe not as well....

*smooch*

>191 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Massages and chiropractic are two of my not-so-secret vices. Chiropractic twins! You’re welcome re the book. I braved the wild racks for you, and here’s what’s in the sort room right now. Racks of sorted books in boxes and the wall o' cubbies. Books are put in correct cubby, then boxed. It's a gauntlet to get to the cubbies when the racks are back in the room. When we're working, they're easier to get to. Trade paperbacks, excluding crime fiction, are in the last set of cubbies on left. 3rd cubby down.



>192 ursula: Hi Ursula! Both yours and the woman at Virlie’s sleeves are gorgeous color. All-black ink sleeves leave me cold. I am proud that I remember a post from January 2023. Are you considering any more tattoos?

>193 richardderus: … love in translation. Yes. And, of course, I love this bit of conversation in E2. Shane being boring is an ongoing joke.

Shane: “When did your English get so good?”
Ilya: “I ah, I read the New Yorker now.”
Shane: “Really?”
Ilya: “Yeah, New Yorker is boring.”
Shane: “My dad loves it.”
Ilya: “Ah, so... so being boring is genetic.”
Shane: “Genetic.” with the sweetest, so-gone-for-you smile.

It was 34F when I got up this morning at 7:45. Frozen pipes and stressed plants… that plus I always worry about people who don’t have the wherewithal to keep warm.

You’re right about buttermilk. Weird… I grew up on whole milk, switched to 2% in the 70s, then switched to nonfat (“blue”) milk in 1990. Now I cannot use anything else to drink or have cereal with except nonfat. Anything else feels like a layer of fat is lining my throat. TMI… *smooch*

Wordle 1,729 3/6* trope, singe, ankle

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Chiropractor, Library, home, nap. I made Vegetable Beef Soup and Bisquick drop biscuits for dinner. I know, I know... Bisquick.

Grace, reading, doomscrolling.

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The only thing I really want to do today is watch Arsenal play Everton at 11:30, although I might do a bit of work on the boxes/tubs/etc. from the hot-water heater storage behind the Guest Bedroom closet. Leftover soup and biscuits and Grace for dinner.

Jenna and Hwan got snow yesterday. Jenna wrote that Hwan was devastated (her word) and she was thrilled.

>194 karenmarie: ...why is snow devastating...? Drop biscuits, now, those're devastating. With butter especially. Oh, and how is it you're a total Kerrygold girlie but you drink cow-lymph with added water instead of decent full-fat milk?

One thing people of our generation don't seem to process is that Korea and Japan are closer to Siberia and Alaska and the Arctic than our mental image of "Asia" based on Vietnam/the Philippines/Taiwan summons.

Poor Shane. He's such a Good Boy℠ and is so gone on a genuinely free spirit...he's going to spend his life not allowed to rest on his comfy assumptions. Ilya will never let up on his adoring nose-tweaks.

*smooch*

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Wow! That is a lot of books to sort. Looks like the post office. Pretty impressive.

A relaxing AM here but we will be heading out later to have our taxes done. We have them done at a community college where students work on them for free. It worked really well last year. Sue has plans with friends later this afternoon and Matt will come out and hang out with me.

I'm excited and impressed with the sort room!!!! HOG HEAVEN!!!

Hope you and Bev can get together soon and that Arsenal wins! (((((Karen)))))

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. A few chores and book time are on tap for the first part of the day. We are attending a wake later this afternoon. A fellow postal worker's husband passed. He was a really good guy too. A sad event but at least I can mingle with a few postal buddies.

>195 richardderus: I’m not quite sure why Hwan thought it was devastating. She’s from Seoul and lived in Beijing for ~11 years as a child, so hey! Snow. Both she and Jenna really feel the cold, as do I, so inside with warmth offsets the cold outside.

We enjoyed the drop biscuits again last night, although this time I split and toasted then and THEN used Kerrygold Unsalted. Well. Cow lymph. Fat—free cow lymph works for me. I used to call it blue milk because it looked so thin and bluish.
Shane is a good boy and prefers to let Ilya dominate and control the sexual situations. Reid and Williams have spoken about Shane’s being on the spectrum, too. Reid has a neurodivergent child.

*smooch*

>196 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you. The books you see are what we retain every 6 months. Our sale starts on the 26th and people are supposed to hold donations ‘til after the sale, but There were perhaps 20 bags of books and 4-5 stacks when I went in there to look for The Light Between Oceans for you. It varies, but we usually reject 5-6 boxes of books every Tuesday. They are driven to the Chatham PTA Thrift Shop in Pittsboro. They keep some to sell and, unfortunately, sell the rest by the pound.

Ugh to taxes. We spend too much with a woman who’s done our taxes for 25 years or so. She did them when they were extremely complicated, and does them now when they are less so.

Such social creatures! I hope you had a great time with Matt and I hope had fun with her friends.

>197 LizzieD: Unfortunately, the room does not smell like books, Peggy, because people are in and out and the books are stored in cut boxes such that only the spines show. For the sale, those boxes are laid out. This pic is from 2018.



Bev and I are meeting tomorrow. I’ve suggested 3 p.m., after she and Biscuit return from the vet. I wrote that I don’t like getting up to an alarm, which may confuse her…

Arsenal won, 2-0. Nervous making match because it was 0-0 ‘til the 89th minute (of 90) when sweet baby Max Dowman, 16 years and 73 days, sent a pass cross pitch. The Everton goalie couldn’t touch it as it dropped right at Hincapie’s stomach. He simply let it roll down and passed it to unguarded Gyökeres, who tapped it in. And then insult to injury for Everton, they theoretically had the last play of the match in the 97th minute with a corner. They brought their goalie down, which is what you do. Martinelli headed it in front of Dowman, who slipped past two Everton players and scored. Youngest player to EVER score in the Premier League. And that’s since the league started in 1992.

>198 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you. Chores, books, a wake. Sad reason, but good to see postal buddies.

I’ve got a male House Finch and a few sparrows.

Wordle 1,730 3/6* trope, crude, grade

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Arsenal, going through 4 boxes of Bill's Dad and Stepmother's Christmas decorations. I'm getting rid of all the potentially dangerous old lights, a few ornaments. I'm keeping Christmas stockings, tree ornaments, 2 Beany Babies, a few other Christmas-themed soft animals, and etc.

We had leftover soup and toasted biscuits and watched Grace. That was the last episode of the last season although they're filming the next season to show next year.

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Going through boxes, reading, working on a spreadsheet for the book sale, and etc.

Wow! Busy woman!!

Your team is amazingly organized. Our local library now has a sales table all the time but no big sale. I haven't been down there in years. At any rate, everything was jumbled together; hardcover and paperback were the two categories.

CONGRATS on your Wordle 3 again today. Wordle 5 for me. Oh well.

You and Bev have fun tomorrow. (I talked to Bobbie yesterday. She had told Bev about how much she enjoyed meeting you for lunch. They travel a lot, and when they're home, they have a lot to do to their house, so that's the way it is.)

>199 karenmarie: So, you're slobbering your pinny over the new Scott and Kip spinoff show I'm sure. I understand HR s2 now got delayed another year or two so they can focus on getting us a sixteen-episode season of SKip by January! Aren't you excited?

Oh, and Arsenal just lost All their best players.

*eville chortle*

>194 karenmarie: >201 richardderus: I have just started reading the Heated Rivalry book series. Finished Game Changer and now on to Heated Rivalry. Have you two read the books or just watching the series? They are fun.

Morning, Karen. Waking up to snow. 2-3 inches. Goofy March weather. 50s yesterday- 20s today. Sue might be having a Jackson Day- I will be off to play PB and take my turn tomorrow.

BTW- I found a used copy of The Light Between Oceans. It looks like a few people will join me on a shared read.

>200 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! Saturday sounded busier than it actually was, since except for HAVING to watch Arsenal, everything else was voluntary.

I remember going to one of the first Friends sales at the old Library. Jenna was probably 4 or so. They had perhaps 5 tables set up in their multi-purpose room. I can’t remember if I bought anything.

Thanks re my 3. Today is my turn for 5, mostly due to alphabet soup. Oh well indeed.

Bev and I are meeting at 3 p.m.

Frankly, I tried really hard with Bobbie. She just plain ghosted me when all she had to do was text “We travel a lot, and when we’re at home we’re very busy. Nice meeting you.” Having said that, I've ghosted people too.

>201 richardderus: My SKip response

There’s no chemistry, Arnaud mostly looks like a gangly baby giraffe, and is an 8 on the Overacting Meter. I’m so sad.

Having just typed a response to Karen’s message below, I think they’re delaying S2 because book 7 won’t be published ‘til June of 2027, delayed because of her Parkinson's. It was originally supposed to come out at the end of September.

There are several key Arsenal players whose contracts expire in 2026. Some will be let go, some will renegotiate. I’d only consider Martinelli and Trossard ‘BEST’ players, although Jesus is in the mix too (not the Bible one, but ZHay-zeus). You scared me.

*smooch*

>202 witchyrichy: Hi Karen. I’ve read all 6 books once and watched the series mumbledy-mumble times. I tried to read The Shots You Take but abandoned it. Perhaps too close to reading/watching Game Changers/Heated Rivalry. There’s apparently another standalone – Time to Shine. She published Game Changers books 2018-2022. The two standalones are 2023 and 2025. The seventh Game Changers book is due out in June of 2027.

>203 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark. 2-3 inches of snow. Okay. We’re going to get down below freezing for 3 nights starting tonight after a Level 4 Weather Risk today – possible severe thunderstorms, wind, and even tornadoes. I hope Sue gets a Jackson Day. I’m so glad you found a used copy of The Light Between Oceans.

Male and female Cowbirds are in the tray feeder. I've also got one female cardinal and several sparrows.

Wordle 1,731 5/6* trope, fraud, drank, drawl, drama

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Reading, puttering, working on the spreadsheet for the Friends. More work on boxes. And etc.

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It's going to potentially be a nasty weather day. Zoe was clawing and nibbling on my knee and whining, so I opened the kitty door for them. Once they both come back in, I'll close it. I was afraid she'd abuse me all day.

I have several errands in town and am meeting Peggy's friend Bev at The Belted Goat at 3. Bill and I tried a true crime series, but it's awful and I've blocked the name. We need to find something for tonight.

I might work on the Friends spreadsheet, read, and work on boxes.

>204 karenmarie: *chuckle* Steve Carell has given us so many memes!

I know you know about The Kingfisher (hilarious name for a queer puckslut bar), so permaybehaps that's the vehicle for SKip...the show could revolve around the place and the boys in it could be the stories...? It would keep Arnaud in the background role where his OTT style is not awful to watch. Plus the guys all showing up there as signs of support as well as clear statements of availability might be fun to play with.

We're in fog ATM so I'll be glad if we get a windy day later on to clear it out. Heavy air is unpleasant. *smooch*

I hope you and Bev find a lot in common, Karen, or at least a lot to interest you in each other. I don't think that Bobbie is aware of having ghosted you, but I wish she had been more forth-coming. We are who we are, and you are one who generously made the effort. My group is closer for these past ten years than we were in the forty before that. Oh well.

I hope we escape the worst of the weather today. I can take cold but not tornados!

>205 richardderus: Hiya. Curiously, I'm not fan girling over the spinoff idea with Scott running the bar. He's supposed to stay in hockey to break the barrier. *smooch*

>206 LizzieD: Well, my dear, she got tied up in emails and dog visit followup paperwork and lost track of time. I stayed 25 minutes past when we were supposed to meet. I was looking forward to meeting her and frankly, I'm miffed. I'm still looking forward to meeting her as soon as I stop acting like a teenage girl.

She asks me to suggest a new date and time. I just said any of the dates I'd previously listed were still good. We'll see what she says.

>207 karenmarie: Scott's 40 (on TV). Too old to play, and goddesses know the only way sclerotic systems change is when they're lit on fire from without. If he stayed in the management of any team, or the league, they'd have him fancy-titled and neutered within hours. The show most likely won't happen, there's always the rush to do more when something hits but most of it won't ever get past being talked about.

*smooch*

Morning, Karen. Only 14F out there but the good news is it will be 60F on Friday. I am sure the cold stuff will be making it way to you. Be prepared. I am switching Jackson Day until tomorrow, per Bree's request.

Would you be interested in my copy of A Far-Flung Life?

>207 karenmarie: Oh NO. I'm sorrier than I can say, dear Karen, that two of my dearest have done you wrong. I will not try to pass along the joy of knowing you to anybody else. DOG visit?????? I'd begin to take that personally right there. Besides, I don't remember Bev ever having a dog; it was always cats, and I wonder what Biscuit thought of it. Anyway, she is worth knowing, but you are the one who doesn't need new friends in a new place. I'm sorry.

Cold and sunny here, and I have a Wordle 3 and a Tully cat who is yowling again after we thought he was at death's door over the weekend.

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

>208 richardderus: Hey, RD! Did you see what Storrie and Williams wore to the Vanity Fair Oscars Party 2026? OMG. Williams, no, no, no. Just no. Storrie, lose the (fake) fur and please SMILE ffs. It does not look like Storrie in real life if he’s not smiling. *smooch*

>209 msf59: ‘Afternoon, Mark! So cold. It was cold here, but not as cold. Yes, please, to A Far-Flung Life. I’m endlessly intrigued with the Australian outback. Thank you in advance.

>210 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I may have assumed dog, but in actuality none of our texts say dog. We’re now meeting up Friday at 2 p.m. at The Belted Goat. I got over my snit and am looking forward to meeting her.

Please don’t apologize for your friends. Bobbie was fascinating and I’m sure Bev is, too.

Cold and sunny here, too. Gorgeous out, although it’s only 41.5F even now. I’m sorry you had a scare with Tully, and hope the yowling is a sign of friskiness.

Wordle 1,732 3/6* trope, spank, clasp

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Meetup with Peggy's friend didn't work out, but we're on for Friday. Other than that, mostly laziness.

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I must have turned the alarm off when it went off at 6:30 instead of pushing snooze, because I woke up at 8:51. We volunteer at the Library from 9-11. I knew that they barely start sorting by 9:10 or so, so did a few quick things and got there by about 9:12. They were almost done when I got there because we had so few donations. That was okay - we had breakfast at Virlie's. After that I had a followup appointment after my shots on the 9th and got cash for the ladies.

They just left, so it's time to get back into jammies. Arsenal play Leverkusen at 2 in the Champions League.

>211 karenmarie: Breakfast at Virlie's...didja have Dylan's latest shuddersome sludge, the mini tuna puffs?

They're still very young. It never shows more than in those 'fits. ::eyeroll:: *smooch*

Impressive pics up thread of the book loot that the team gets to sort, Karen. >165 karenmarie: I do have an ancestor or two who fought in the US Civil War, one was an interesting man who lost touch with his birth family for 40 years and then discovered one of his sisters.

>212 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear! Yes. I saw them. Ugh. I do like things with canned tuna, but those abominations will never be among them.

They're mid-20s, so they're given a pass. But whoever's dressing them needs to get a grip. *smooch*

>213 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. For some reason we get a lot of donations, frequently from folks who live in Galloway Ridge, a rich people's enclave about 7 miles north of downtown Pittsboro. Some of those folks were professors, others are rich folks who read a lot of fiction and history.

Wordle 1,733 2/6* trope, amply. The Wordle Gods told me to try a word with P as the 3rd letter, then I thought "We haven't had a word that begins with A for a while. Alpha, amply, apply were not yet used, and I went for the word that did not have duplicate letters. This is without coffee.

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Book sort, Virlie's for a quick bite of breakfast and then I had to head over to the followup appointment re the steroid shots I got recently. Yesterday's game was at 4, my bad. Arsenal won, 2-0, so move on to Champions League Quarterfinals. Reading, and doomscrolling and chatting with Jenna and Karen.

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Possibly grocery shopping. I need to go into the Pharmacy to straighten out a prescription. Reading, of course, possibly making decisions on things Trevor brought out from the hot water heater storage area behind the Guest Bedroom Closet.

Morning, Karen. Waking up to a little more snow but a warm-up begins later today so the snow should all be melted soon. I will start my Jackson Day in a little while. My copy of A Far-Flung Life is yours. Just give me some time to get it over to the post office. I am sure you have plenty to read.

Absolutely nothing at the feeders and I checked twice. Not even a junco.

>214 karenmarie: Fashionistas really need, in general, to get a grip. Hudson in that...train...looked like he'd gotten up too fast while sleeping on safari in Africa and near strangled himself in the mosquito netting. Connor's stolemuff was stupid but didn't look like a failed murder attempt.

Enjoy your book fondling today. *smooch*

>215 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you.

Yay for Jackson Day. Thank for for A Far-Flung Life. No rush... I do have plenty to read. *smile*

I've got a few sparrows and a big, fat male Cardinal under the feeder pole. Earlier, I had a Junco on one of the steps just outside the Sunroom.

...
I love our Forsythia. I just found a few photos. We planted them in 2014. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo for every year, but enough to show how much they love where we planted them.

>217 karenmarie: That absolutely gorgeous yellow! Yummy.

>217 karenmarie: Lovely! Lovely!!! I love forsythia too!

Oh! You had Wordle in 2 today!!! I misread and thought you said 3. Very, very, very nice!!! I played around with -al and -ful before finally trying -ly. I'm happy.

I'm also off to Aldi and Wal-Mart with a side trip to get a pendant put back on a chain for my best cousin's soon-to-be-married daughter. He gave me his grandmother's earring (screw-on!) and necklace set when I graduated from high school. I think it's time for them to go back to a Stone woman.

>217 karenmarie: I love Forsythia and those are beautiful examples! They just scream "happy spring" don't they?

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. I took Jack to a nature center. They had a kid's nature class going but Jack had no interest in joining. This is a beautiful center, situated at the junction of four rivers. They have a bunch of feeders set up too. As we were leaving I saw about 35 American white pelicans soaring in the sky. Such a beautiful sight. I also saw a few American coots. I wish I would have had time to do some "real" birding there.

I want to see my FOY fox sparrow. They will be heading north soon.

Thursday orisons, Horrible! *smooch*

>218 richardderus: Yellow bells in the spring… *smooch*

>219 LizzieD: Thank you, Peggy. I hope your shopping day was successful.

Your mention of the pendant and earrings reminded me of the lavalier pendant necklace given to me by my grandmother after her mother. I love it but haven’t worn it for decades. Jenna will not want to wear it, and I can’t imagine Hwan wanting to wear it although I might be mistaken.

>220 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, and thank you. They do scream “happy spring”.

>221 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you. Jack’s lucky to have you in his life. He will remember days with Grandpa the rest of his life.

And, pelicans. Coots. Fantastic. I hope you get your FOY Fox Sparrow soon.

>222 richardderus: ‘Morning RDear, and Thursday orisons to you, too! *smooch*

Wordle 1,734 3/6* trope, derby, rehab

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Let's see. I got my shopping list prepared. I need to embarrass myself with the pharmacy by asking them to once again fill a prescription for 3 months instead of 1. They filled it for 1 month after I spoke with them yesterday. And then the great 3-month reveal. If you fill a 90-day prescription on our insurance, you basically get 1 month free. Bill knew this, I never thought about it.

I did some serious work in the Guest Bedroom with boxes. I need to realize that it's okay to leave some things in their boxes or tubs without going through them - Jenna's school papers and Jenna's baby and toddler clothes.

Read, dozed, watched The Lincoln Lawyer with Bill. Stayed up too late.

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Ah, coffee! I'm on my second cup. I need to go to the grocery store today. Otherwise, all the fun stuff - reading, puttering, lollygagging, and etc.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/379749

>224 SilverWolf28: Thank you, Silver!

Wordle 1,735 5/6* trope, mocha, savoy, lasso, oasis. Grumble. Not on the original 2309 word list.

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Besides reading, puttering, and lollygagging, I made chicken and rice for dinner.

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Today will be busy. I'm meeting Peggy's friend Bev at The Belted Goat at 2, then heading south towards Pittsboro to get some bloodwork done, then to Pittsboro proper to go to the pharmacy, recycle glass, and go grocery shopping.

Reading and puttering and lollygagging will also occur. I do need to finalize the Online Book Store spreadsheet for the book sale next Thurs-Fri only.

Morning, Karen. It looks like it will just be warm enough to play outdoors this AM- it will get close to 70F. I know many of my PB pals are itchin' to get out there.

Sue will scoop up Jack after school and then bring him back here for a sleepover. He hasn't been able to do that in quite awhile. Enjoy your "Reading and puttering and lollygagging ".

Enjoy the day, (((((Karen)))))!!!

>225 karenmarie: Have fun today, All the busy-ness is in a good cause!

>225 karenmarie: No Saturday for the sale this time? Interesting. I hope you were able to finally meet Bev, and that everything else went well.

>226 msf59: ‘Morning the next day, Mark! I hope PB went well and that Jack’s sleepover is lots of fun for all 3 of you.

I read, puttered, lollygagged, and had a fine time out. I can see sparrows and a lone Junco.

>227 LizzieD: It was a good one, Peggy.

>228 richardderus: Thanks, RDear! *smooch*

>229 atozgrl: Hello Irene. The book sale includes Saturday. The online book sale will be Thursday and Friday only. I can see how what I wrote implied no book sale at all on Saturday.

Wordle 1,736 4/6* trope, filmy, slink, slick

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Bev and I did meet up at the Belted Goat. What a fascinating woman. She's a harpsichordist who's just relocated from Durham to Fearrington Village. We talked about books and both of our lives and barely contained it all in an hour and fifteen minutes.

Blood work has to wait 'til next week. I did not know their hours were only 8-4. I got there at 4:03. I picked up prescriptions and went grocery shopping. I left the list in the car because I was rather frazzled by then.

I'll place an online order for the rest and Bill will pick it up later today. Grrr.

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Reading, puttering, and lollygagging are on the agenda. I also need to work on the Guest Bedroom and possibly my closet in the master bedroom.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. We are enjoying our time with Jack. I am joining my birding buddies early this AM. I NEED to do this more often. Enjoy your day.

>230 karenmarie: I'm glad you and Bev enjoyed your chat! I'm familiar with the "just-too-late" syndrome, it makes me nutso!

I'll be whangin' out a few more Burgoines today. Other than that I slept poorly...stress...so will likely nap during the afternoon. *smooch*

>230 karenmarie: Ah, the online book sale is just Thursday and Friday. Thanks for clarifying that.

How frustrating to arrive for blood work just after the place closed. I have had similar experiences and it's never fun. It sounds like you will have a quiet day today after all of yesterday's busyness. Enjoy it!

Yay for Bev-meet! BOO for office hours! I've been there too.

Enjoy your day of doing as you please. I hope you like *How to Read* at least as much as Irene did: 4 stars for her, and 5 for me, I think.

>231 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Yay for Jack time and birding buddy times.

>232 richardderus: Hiya, RDear. Monday’s okay for bloodwork. I hope you Burgoined mightily. I’m sorry about the poor sleep and hope you got a good nap in. *smooch*

>233 atozgrl: Sorry that I made it confusing, Irene. The lab is only about 12 miles from home, so it’s not like I had to go to Durham or Raleigh or Greensboro.

>234 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy. How to Read a Book is coming along.

Wordle 1,737 3/6* trope, musky, basil. My favorite herb.

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I had left the shopping list in the SUV because "I miss my mind." and placed an online order. Bill picked the order up. They still didn't have Herdez Medium Salsa Casera so I just looked on Amazon. OMG. I can get 70 ounces for $9.10 + tax.

Bill and I decided to watch Better Call Saul. We had started it after watching Breaking Bad then were simply overloaded with the overall story arc and stopped.

Chatted with Karen, read, and etc.

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I'll be leaving in about an hour for book sale set up. I'm supposed to be there 'til 1, but Arsenal play Man City in the Carabao Cup Final at 12:30, so I'll leave around 12.

>235 karenmarie: I'd just the other day discovered an Arsenal fan among the adorable out gay actors I cyberstalk...I mean maintain an entirely appropriate para social interest in, tucked his name into a brain-fold to share with you later, and it's just gone. I think my brain's smoothing into a gelatinous cue ball bit by bit.

Ammy will now keep you in salsa, I can see. It's a lot cheaper in bulk like that. Plus 70oz ought to last the month at least. *smooch*

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. We had a productive bird outing yesterday. We had 30 species, with a few FOY birdies. I was going to venture out for a solo trip this AM but it is windy and chilly, with temps dropping. I think I will hang out indoors.

I had a pair of robins bopping around in the yard with a lone dove. Not much else happening out there.

Here's a quick speak before I sign out for the night. Hi, Karen!!!! Hope your day was good. Happy Book Sale Week!!!!!
Sleep well!

>236 richardderus: Hiya, RD! Thank you for devoting a brain fold to a gay actor Arsenal Fan. I cannot BELIEVE I never thought to order salsa in bulk. *smooch*

>237 msf59: ‘Morning the next day, Mark! Congrats on 30 species and a few FOYs. I hope your indoor time yesterday included some reading.

Robins. I haven’t seen any yet. I’ve only got 3 sparrows on the ground and a female Cardinal in the Crepe Myrtle.

>238 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! My day was good, thank you. Thanks re Book Sale Week! I did sleep well, 7.5 hours straight.

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I spent 3 hours at the book sale setup. It goes from 0 to 60 so quickly - tables out, tape marking where the rolling racks go, cleaning out the chair/table room. Table rack categories come out first so that boxes can go in all those categories, then the history/biography/nonfiction racks and the fiction/mystery racks, which stay up for the sale.

About half an hour of that time was spent with Eliza and Sarah to finalize the planning for having the Online Book Store books available at the sale.

And then I got home to witness the shit show that was Arsenal losing to Man City in the Carabao Cup Final, 0-2. It's not that Man City scored two goals, it's that Arsenal didn't even show up. Nothing gelled, passes got intercepted, and several of the players looked like they were zombies, especially Saka and Trossard.

On the upside, Bill and I enjoyed 3 episodes of Better Call Saul. I read and doomscrolled.

...
Nothing official on the schedule, except that I want to spend an hour or so in the book sale room moving some of the fiction to the correct racks. Mystery/suspense/thrillers go together, all other adult fiction goes together. SF/fantasy/graphic novels go together and are put out Wednesday afternoon. Some of our team members are cavalier in how much time the spend deciding where a book goes. Makes Rhoda and me crazy, because there are so many customers who only want to look at fiction or only want to look at mysteries.

I have to be in town regardless, to finally get the bloodwork today.

Back here, I want to spend a bit of time in the Guest Bedroom continuing to sort through stuff that Trevor brought out from the hot water heater closet a while back. He's coming over tomorrow and I want to have the room organized enough so he can bring the rest of the boxes out. Quite a few are Franciscan Ware Apple Pattern. They just need to come out to get inventoried then put back there after Trevor ShopVacs the area.

And Reading. And Puttering. And Lollygagging.

>239 karenmarie: I like Apple! The whole shitshow that was the greed era's dawn killed Franciscan's business. I'm still salty about the whole era.

Have fun doing the things and forgetting the humiliation of that loss. *smooch*

Hiya, RDear. I just posted on your thread. Happy Monday to you.

The Apple we have is from Bill's family. Most of it has serial numbers. Once it got bought out it was never the same. We only have 4 small dishes that a friend of Bill's gave us as a wedding present. We used The Apple 'til ~1996, when Bill got bored with it (!) and we start accumulating and using Mikasa Garden Harvest, which is still our every day dishware.

I will have fun doing the things today.

*smooch*

I'm glad you'll have doing your today's things. I should also go for blood work for my Prolia next week. I should do it today since I have a letter to mail that should go into the PO.
Sorry about Arsenal.
Delighted about your 7.5 hours!!!

You are being so diligent about clearing out! I donated 7 books to the library and patted myself on the back. Sigh. I've got to choose a portion of closet shelf and just go through it, and try not to put too much stuff back.

I have a lot of things to post on BuyNothing, and I'm sure some of them will go like the proverbial hotcakes. But I've got to get them photographed and listed first. Then my new iron rule - if no one wants it, donate it to Goodwill or someplace similar.

Morning, Karen. Kids early then Trail Watch (Bree doesn't need me today). I need to get back to volunteering. I have been slacking off. Looking forward to leading a bird walk tomorrow too.

I watched the first season of Better Call Saul and felt like I didn't need to continue it but I was drawn back to it a couple of years later and finished the series. It was a good decision. I thought it was excellent. A great companion piece to Breaking Bad.

>242 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I hope you were successful in getting your errands run.

>243 ffortsa: I’m trying, Judy, I’m trying. I just signed up for BuyNothing, we’ll see. Putting stuff back’s the problem, isn’t it? Good luck!

>244 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Sounds like a good day. Nice to know about Better Call Saul. We loved Breaking Bad. I never want to watch it again.

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Bloodwork went fine. I stopped off at the Library to find fiction books in mystery and mystery in fiction. I found quite a few, unfortunately. I also found one of Erik Larson's books in fiction. I schlepped it over to history/other nonfiction/biography-memoir.

I found two books for me - I'll count them as one for volunteering yesterday and one for volunteering tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll do a bit of shopping after helping set up the Online Book Store sales area.

Miracles and Wonder by Elaine Pagels
Agatha Christie by Laura Thompson

I did a bit more work upstairs, Better Call Saul and etc.

...
Trevor was supposed to come over today but something came up. I gave him a few dates for next week.

So today will be more work in the Guest Bedroom, finalizing the Online Book Store list to have available at the cashier table and with us and the books.

Reading and etc., too.

>245 karenmarie: Not like you not to have your Virlie's day, I thought as I read your plans...but of course it's The Sale so things're unsettled. Still felt weird to me, it interrupts another flow in my own life when you're not doing the usual.

It's the way I know we're old friends. What interrupts your routine is noticeable to me, too.

*smooch*

Like Richard, I wish you a good but unusual Tuesday!

I confess that I own a couple of Elaine Pagels and have never read either. *sigh* Also *oh well*.

ETA: Humph. I did read *Gospel of Thomas* and was intrigued by it. My favorite part was how his Jesus had a sense of humor.

Morning, Karen. I had a good time doing Trail Watch yesterday. A nice walk along the river and I ended up seeing 21 species, including a pair of male bluebirds which of course were beautiful. I am leading a bird walk this AM, which will also be along a river on a nice paved trail. Right now I have 12 participants. Wish me luck. I always want to make the people happy.

>246 richardderus: Yesterday was definitely a weird Tuesday. I’m sorry this crazy week for me disrupts a flow in yours, RD!

I’m so glad we’re old friends. I started posting to this group in 2008. You’ve been calling me Horrible since at least 2013. *smooch*

>247 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! It was unusual but productive. I have 7 different titles by Pagels and have read 2 of them.

I also just pulled my copy of Lost Scriptures by Bart D. Ehrman. I see you have it in your catalog, too. Have you read it?

>248 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday. I’m glad TW went well. 21 species. I was thinking of Bluebirds the other day. They’re year-round here, but I don’t usually see them ‘til late spring at the soonest. Yay for the Bird Walk. Good luck! I imagine that your bird walks are fun, informative, and species-filled.

I’ve got 3 Cardinals. There were several other species on the ground, but they all got startled and flew away when our generator started it’s Wednesday morning self-test.

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Let's see. I got caught up on my list of books read on this thread although I have 2 more to add. I made a different recipe of mac'n'cheese. I think I'll just give up. It was okay, but nothing to write home to mother about. Bill and I watched 3 episodes of Better Call Saul. I read and doomscrolled.

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I need to finalize the Online Book Store spreadsheet. Eliza, bless her heart, has added four books this week. She doesn't know me very well, because she said don't worry about getting them onto the paper list of books.

I also need to get my spreadsheets and possibly even my Lightning Round caught up if at all possible.

I want to leave about 1:15 or so to meet Eliza and Sarah at the Library to set up the Double Study Room as the Online Book Store Room.

Reading, and etc., otherwise.

>249 karenmarie: Enjoy your set-up day, Horrible...and I only call you that for cause, as you in your wicked wicked heart know, you biblioholism-enabling demoness.

*smooch*

ETA listening to these dudebros discussing how much they liked Heated Rivalry when they read it together was very educational. My prejudices about what they were gonna think were refreshingly subverted.
https://youtu.be/CwGgWMf1xsQ?si=tgNCMd5bD48iucfq

Good morning, Karen. I see that you're very busy today. Heavens!!!!! I wish you well with all of it. (I always look forward to your Lightning Round!)

Sorry about the mac'n'cheese. I gave that up long ago and just buy Stouffers every couple of years or so if I get a craving.
Does Eliza know you at all????? I will hope to get to your online book store tomorrow.

I haven't read the Ehrman. As well as I remember, it was a Kindle deal that I snatched up with no hard and set plans to get to it. Someday!

Congrats on your Wordle in 4. 3 for me today. We do see-saw.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. The bird walk went well. I think all the participants were pleased. We had 35 species (not everyone saw all of them). Highlights were a pair of eared grebes in the lake (rare for our area) and a couple of kestrels. There was also supposed to be a common loon in the lake but it must have departed.

Kids and PB today. Books and Juno in the PM.



-Eared Grebe (NMP)

>250 richardderus: Hiya, RDear! I'll get back to the HR discusion, thanks. *smooch*

>251 LizzieD: 'Morning, Peggy! Frankly I think Eliza sort of floats above the earth, in her own little world. She's not detailed in the same way I am, which, of course, makes me crazy.

Congrats on your Wordle in 3. It took me 5 today.

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Alas, no shopping was done. Spent way more time with the Online Book Store Room setup. Too much last minute hashing out of how to use the laptop - can't really place online orders for a variety of reasons, so everybody must pay at the front cashier station, where they will take 10% discount if the customer is a member of the Friends. The Member Price on the website rarely matches 10%. Sigh.

...
I'm in the Childrens Room first thing, then over to the Online Store. Lunch a 11:30 - but schedules are made to be broken so we'll see how things actually play out.

I'm going to try to do a teensy bit of shopping as soon as I get there. We'll see.

I think I may have slipped in on you again...

Oh, that grebe!!!

I hope the sale is going smoothly. It is past time for me to eat my second meal of the day, so I'm going to. THEN maybe I can look online!!!!!

>252 msf59: That Grebe is gorgeous! I've never seen one.

>253 karenmarie: Sorry that you didn't have a chance to shop on Wednesday. I hope everything went well with the sale today.

-Hooded Grebe

^After reviewing the photos of the grebe, we decided that we saw a hooded grebe, not an eared grebe. Hooded grebes are a bit more common during migration. As you can see, they are very similar.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/383150

>252 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! All I can do is apologize. Glad the bird walk went well. 35 species. How far do you walk? Is it flat or hilly? Wow. The Eared Grebe is stunning. I hope Kids and PB and Juno made your day a good’un. Sorry about the loon. I’m pretty sure you won’t ever watch it, but the last episode of Heated Rivalry has a loons - calls only- … Shane and Ilya are at Shane’s isolated ‘cottage’ – 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, gorgeous views, on a lake. Ilya has never heard a loon before, and the call scares him. He thinks it’s a wolf.

>254 msf59: 🙄

>255 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. Sale news below. Online? Only two sips of coffee so far, see below.

>256 atozgrl: Sales news just below, Irene. I know – book shopping sadness on Wednesday.

>257 msf59: Both grebes are gorgeous, Mark.

>258 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver!

Wordle 1,742 3/6* trope, adorn, ivory. Already used August 17, 2021. They are tricksy. Especially since I've only had 2 sips of coffee.

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Long but not completely exhausting day. I split my time between the Children's Room and the Online Book Store Room.

The Children's Room first thing is a complete frenzy. There were several women who immediately took all the Harry Potters and all the boxed sets. There was one woman with 3 children who bought $200 in books - and hardcovers are $2 and soft covers are $1, so you can imagine how many books had to be taken out of the bags, sorted by hardcover and softcover, tallied, slips put on bags, books put back in bags. It died down around 10:30 or so.

I had lunch from 11:30 - noon, then went to the Online Book Store Room. We sold a total of 5 books from there, the highest priced one was $12. I'm going to vote for not having it next sale - way too much effort for way too little return. However, that may change if there are any high-price sales.

I did shop for 10 minutes and found
The Jews in the Twentieth Century: An Illustrated History
So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
Sacred Games by Vikram Shandra - a like-new trade paperback in a completely gold slipcase. What's really interesting is that this book is a "Special Advance Reader's Edition". I've never seen such a gorgeous book in such a stunning slipcase for a galley proof...
World War I: The "Great War" by Professor Vejas Gabriel Liuvevicius - The Great Courses, 18 CDs, 36 lectures/30 minutes each, includes the Course Guidebook, all in pristine condition. Ruth said to just take it, so rather than spend $15 I decided to take her up on her offer.

I left a tad early because Reece said to close the Online Book Store Room down at 4:50. I closed the doors, put the signs back on each door, and pushed the chair w/balloon in front of each door.

...
I'm pretty whupped, and kept punching (not gently pressing) the snooze alarm starting at 6:10. I got downstairs at 7:30.

I can leave later today. I'll be starting in the Online Book Store Room. I was able to get quite a bit of reading in yesterday since it was so quiet there. I think we had 25 people, 5 books sold to 2 different people. One man got excited about a slip-cased book about Lotte Jacobi. He may come back today.

I'll spend some time in the Childrens Room, too. Rita the Librarian is providing Pizza. I'll bring along two Body Armor drinks, and some grapes.

I'm sure I'll get a bit more shopping in...

I'm sorry I haven't made time to visit other threads - yesterday and today.

Yesterday's sales are ~$14,500. Better than last sale's Thursday.

Morning, Karen. The paved path we took the other day was mostly flat, with a couple of smallish hills. Easy walking for the most part. Everyone hung in there.

Bree and Jack spent the night. Bree and Sue are going away for a girl's weekend in MI. I will hang out with Jack through the morning until I take him to school - so all good here. Me and Juno for the next couple of days. I am hoping Matt comes over to visit tomorrow.

Robins, sparrows and juncos...

I whisked through the online offerings yesterday, Karen, but was attracted only by the English stuff in great houses one. I'll go back later today.

I WANT to read the *Sacred Games* - started it once but put it down. I was using the glossary like a semi-literate teen trying to make something of Henry James, but I was happy doing it. Good for me at the time (and would be now for my brain's sake) because I was teaching kids who wouldn't have made the effort either.
That WWI course sounds amazing!

Take it easy for yourself today. HOORAY for even better sales day!

ETA: I got the book! *GRIN* It's a beauty, and SUCH a bargain!!!!!!!! Treasure Houses of Britain

>259 karenmarie: Not a terrible haul, was it? I'm glad you got to switch to the low-stress room for day 2's start. Kids' books attract a very...interesting...crowd. I finished Common Goal last night, and after getting past my wild urge to throttle w-i-n-kwoman Reid, found it a very moving and lots of satisfaction had read. Made me sad afresh about Rob's brain being eaten by Chat. *smooch*

>260 msf59: Happy Saturday, Mark! I think, based on your description of the path, I might try to find a not-physically challenging bird walk out here.

I’m glad you got some grandpa/Jack time AND then some Mark/Juno time.

My feeders are mostly empty and the birds seem to be boycotting, as they should.

>261 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Thank you for buying The Treasure Houses of Britain. It’s safely residing in Thing 2. I privately wrote Thing 3 to you, but my brain seems to have been on a hiatus at the time. I and the Friends are appreciative of your support, plus, you get a gorgeous book out of it! Eliza had a happy and confused look on her face when she brought it to me. Happy because of the sale, confused because of the reference to me. The WWI course is next up in my SUV. I’m still listening to The Early Middle Ages but am almost done.

>262 richardderus: No, not a terrible haul, RDear. I surprise myself at how low my desire is to look at the books this sale. A surfeit of books, or quite possibly pain from sitting in a hard plastic chair for 8 hours on Thursday and Friday and letting that drive how much I looked.

Childrens books are a goal of parents/grandparents, parents/grandparents of children who are homeschooled, and administrators or volunteers at mother/children shelters. I mostly enjoy watching the children. There is the occasional screamer or disobedient child.

I loved all 6 of the Game Changers books. Eric and Kyle’s story is particularly sweet.

I must admit that I’m doing as much as I can to avoid AI. It’s probably in the background of pretty much every app I have on my cell phone, but I try to not think about it. I'm sorry Rob's caught in the CHAT time sink. *smooch*

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Yesterday was actually fun except for the above-mentioned hard plastic chairs. I got to meet Rhoda's oncologist, who bought a cookbook for his wife in the Online Book Store Room. There were a few minutes where Eliza, Sarah, and I were able to quietly sit and discuss the OBS, spreadsheets, and strategy for what books really belong in it. We also discussed 'Blue Dot' books that don't make it into the OBS, but might perhaps have their own display in the room next time. Sadly, we see people take blue dots off or switch them with other books. Not often, but Rhoda mentioned seeing it this time.

At 5 p.m. I spent a few minutes looking at books and found these books. Since the sale had ended for the day, I'll count them as part of Bag Day.

The Catch by Mick Herron, part of the Slough House series, like new
Coyote Cafe by Mark Miller - a trade paperback cookbook with a gorgeous cover, like new. The recipes look exciting.
Translations from the Chinese by Arthur Waley, illustrated by C. Leroy Baldridge. Hardcover, contents in immaculate condition, spine faded. There is a slipcase, but I haven't figured out how to repair it yet. It's in shabby condition (not an official term!) yet has the title, author, illustrator, and publisher name on a label on the spine.
The Book of Common Prayer. 3 3/4" x 5 3/4", gilt edges, Seabury Press. It also contains The Psalter or Psalms of David. 1953.

Dinner, Better Call Saul, reading, and etc. Bill had fed the kitties and closed the kitty door, plus he got our tax documents organized.

...
Even though I didn't have to get up to an alarm to work the sale today, I didn't properly turn it off for today so woke up at 6. Sigh.

I just found and printed emails from the NC DOT with details about registration renewals for Jenna's and my vehicles for 2025. We need the tax payment details to finalize our tax documents.

The Childrens Room is, along with everything else except the Online Book Store books, included in BAG Day, $5/bag. They have to be brown paper bags we provide because some people were taking advantage and bringing in huge canvas or plastic bags. Nobody has to monitor it. Eliza told me that I didn't need to work today, and I decided to take her up on it since I didn't have an official 'job'. I'd just get in the way when they started shutting down at 2. I will go in in order to write a check for all books after the last sale and before this one, plus the books purchased at the sale. I'll also renew my membership. Not a small check, but i haven't figured out how much I owe yet.

I'm not sure when I'll go in. Probably 10:30ish. And I'll include $5 in the check for Bag Day and browse for a few minutes.

Then home, putter, lollygag, read, and nap. I'll put my acquisitions into my catalog tomorrow.

>261 LizzieD:, >263 karenmarie: Oh wow, The Treasurer Houses of Britain! We have that book on the shelves somewhere, bought in person at the amazing Smithsonian exhibition in 1985-1986. The cover photo alone brings back memories; the experience was a catalyst to our becoming anglophiles.

Fun fact: also attending the exhibit that day was Susan Lucci, who played Erica Kane on the soap opera All My Children. I was hooked on that soap in high school and college, and thrilled to note that she was very short, like me. 😀

Have a good day at the book sale Karen, and enjoy your well-deserved nap.

Hi Laura!

Books do bring back memories and connect us to friends, don't they?

The sale was going well when I got there. I had written a check for my membership AND all the books I bought after the last sale 'til the end of this one. $245 for books, including $5 for bag day today. I wasn't confident that I'd find enough to fill the bag, but I shouldn't have worried. These are the books I just brought home:

The Carolina Table: North Carolina Writers on Food
Native Carolinians: The Indians of North Carolina by Theda Perdue and Christoper Arris Oakley
An Arab Philosophy of History: Selections from the Prolegomena of Ibn Khaldun of Tunis (1332-1406) Translated and Arranged by Charles Issawi M.A.
Library: An Unquiet History by Matthew Battles
Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations by Georgina Howell
Suspect Identities: A History of Fingerprinting and Criminal Identification by Simon A Cole
Hiroshima: A New Edition With a Final Chapter Written Forty Years After the Explosion by John Hersey
A History of the Borgias by Frederick Baron Corvo
Code Breaking: A History and Exploration by Rudolph Kippenhahn
Lincoln's Smile and Other Enigmas by Alan Trachtenberg
Eyewitness: 150 Years of Photojournalism by Richard Lacayo and George Russell
The American Heritage History of the 1920s & 1930s by the Editors of American Heritage
Stanley Spencer's Paintings and Drawings by Elizabeth Rothenstein

Wow! That's quite a haul!!

>265 karenmarie: Lovely haul, Horrible! I'm quite irritated and jealous! *smooch*

>265 karenmarie: NICE, Karen!!! Very nice! I have a copy of the Gertrude Bell bio, another one for us to read together sometime!!!!!!!

Enjoy jammy time to the fullest for the rest of the weekend!

ETA: I'm thrilled with the Treasure Houses and thank the Chatham County FOL a lot for making it available!

>265 karenmarie: You certainly had a busy week! Sorry about the plastic chairs--I hope you've recovered. It looks like you brought home a good haul. I'm interested to see that there's a new edition of Hiroshima. We read the book in Junior High, and I am very curious about the new final chapter. I may have to look up a copy.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. Have you ever looked into a birding or nature walk in your area? I would be curious to hear what might be available. It could be a game-changer. LOL.

I am going on a solo walk this AM. Trying to see my FOY meadowlark, among other gems. Enjoy your day.

>266 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba. It’s an absolutely stunning fact that had I wanted to get another bag and look for more books, I would have found enough to fill another bag. Books get moved around within category, boxes consolidated, books moved from the bottom up to my eye level and down to my eye level. Every 6 months we offer ~18K books/CDs, DVDs, Blu Ray. The Rothenstein was originally priced at $16 but since nobody bought it (!), it became part of bag day.

>267 richardderus: Hiya, RDear! Thank you. I’d be irritated and jealous, too. In fact, I’m usually irritated and jealous when I see @weird_o’s hauls. *smooch*

>268 LizzieD: Hello Peggy. I know – I’m doing a Calvin & Hobbes happy dance.



I have but have not read Gertrude Bell: The Arabian Diaries, 1913-1914 and have and have read Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia. I did not realize she had written so many books.

Jammies were acquired pretty much as soon as I got home. I’m still happy that Eliza came over and told me you’d bought The Treasure Houses and put it away for me. As I mentioned to you privately, it’s in Thing 2 in the Breakfast Room. Thing 2 (aka Bxx), has your book, books for Karen, and some of my books, including most of my newest acquisitions.

Frankly, I’m still stunned at our book sales. So many donations in so many categories, so much work sorting donations by category, so much work setting up for the sale and actually putting one on. We do this twice a year, ~18K items each time.

>269 atozgrl: Hi Irene. Yes, today’s the first day I’m really able to relax. I’m also going to baby my back. My knees are fine, and my L3-5 left side are fine. It’s just my lower back in general. I lifted too many things, and those darned horrible chairs! Tylenol and Tramadol are my friends.

I even asked for help taking yesterday’s bag to my SUV. Sarah Carr, newest book sort team member who works with Eliza on the online book store and appraising books, took them out for me. She said how much she appreciated getting to know me. I told her the same. I have revised my immaturely-negative opinion of her and understand and appreciate her better after this sale. We hugged.

I was surprised to see the copy of Hiroshima. It was still in plain sight in the Oldies and Classics section.

>270 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you, too. I'm sure there is a surfeit of birding/nature walks. We do live near Jordan Lake. Enjoy your solo walk, hope you find FoY Meadowlark.

I've got mostly empty feeders, but there is a female Cardinal at one feeder and many sparrows on the ground underneath the feeders.

Wordle 1,744 3/6* trope, palsy, chump

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First thing yesterday morning, I calculated how much I owed for books based on the private comments in my catalog since the last sale. I included $5 for a bag, which as you can see above, I was able to fill. I renewed my membership. I came home and cataloged my new book children, which always makes me happy. Nap, and etc.

...
Nothing on the agenda. Nothing I have to do, although I should replenish the bird feeders. It's still cold - 31.1F - so I'll wait 'til it gets warmer.

I want to read, putter, and lollygag. The Guest Bedroom is calling me. I want to get things that Trevor already brought out sorted so that when we can get him to come out this week, he can bring out the rest of what's in the storage area. There are still probably 20 boxes, including the Franciscan Apple. He'll shop-vac the area. I'll do the last round of donate/save/throw away.

Major areas still on my list:

1. Jenna's closet
2. Retreat closets
3. Media Room Stairs attic storage
4. Media Room landing closet
5. Media Room
6. Media Room storage/set up area
7. attic
8. Parlour
9. several shelves in the Pantry

I'm also thinking of moving the treadmill up to the Retreat, which entails moving the leather chair/ottoman to the Media Room. Not this week, perhaps not in April. But it's in the back of my mind.

...
Book sale report: Preliminary numbers are $21,866 in sales. That's what we used to sell before Covid. There will be a few expenses, but almost $22K is outstanding.

>271 karenmarie: That is a jaw-dropping haul, Horrible! One might almost think people aren't as enamored of ebooks as we're being told.

Well, no matter to us today, we're just celebrating the joy of y'all's results. Sending hugs and smooches.

>272 richardderus: Hey, RD. The demographic at this sale, and at most sales, is dealers, seniors, and people who buy childrens books. With the exception of a few specially priced books and sets, it's $4 and $2 for hardcover books (Thurs and Fri), $3 and $1.50 for trade paperbacks (Thurs and Fri), and $5 for bag day.

Thanks for the hugs and smooches. *smooch* and hugs back to you.

Wordle 1,745 2/6* trope, comet. I was looking for old words that contained e,o,t because I couldn't find any unused e,o,t words. I was surprised that comet was the word.

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I was extremely lazy. Reading, lollygagging, and puttering-adjacent activities. No lifting or true puttering was done. 😊 My back was still complaining.

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No plans to leave the house today. I still need to rest my back, darn it - biofreeze, CBD ointment, Tiger Balm, tylenol, tramadol. Reading and updating March Lightning Round.

Morning, Karen. I enjoyed my solo walk yesterday. I managed to see 24 species and a few FOY birds, including a couple of meadowlarks which were also singing.

The Kids are on spring break so I am off of that duty. I will be playing PB this AM.

>273 karenmarie: All worthy activities when in pain...enjoy them all, sweetiedarling.

>274 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, happy Tuesday to you. I'm glad your solo walk was so productive. Yay for PB.

>275 richardderus: Hi, RD. I had a real hard time not doing anything ... productive. Of course, reading is productive, and updating spreadsheets and Lightning Rounds is productive, but I didn't do anything else except be in pain and hang out on the sofa in the Library. *smooch*

Wordle 1,746 2/6* trope, swamp

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No lifting or other puttering. Guilt reared its ugly head, but my body didn't cooperate. My back was still complaining in a major way. Darned Presbyterian influence while I was growing up - my maternal grandmother who lived with us until I was ten and my mother, who went back to church in her 60s. Grumble, grumble.

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No book sort/Virlie's today. Our book sale follow up meeting is next Tuesday after a bit of sorting. My cleaning ladies are coming so I need to get cash, but I won't go inside the bank, just use the drive-through. And then, silly me, I RSVPd to the first-ever neighborhod Women's Luncheon at noon. I will be so happy when it's about 2:15-2:30 because all the things for the day will be over and I can get into jammies.

W00T! Congratulations on ANOTHER Wordle in 2, Karen!

We Presbyterians are good with courting guilt, but we're not alone. I could give lessons though.

I'm awfully sorry your back is bad and hope that the luncheon doesn't make it worse. Then Happy Day!!!!

I'll hope to do nothing today and only Prolia tomorrow, a hair cut on Wednesday, and Lizzie and Wm. overnight Saturday. Then watch out next week! Cousins coming, study club, and eye shots. Whew.

And now -------- CATS!

>199 karenmarie: WOW! What a book fair! I would not be able to contain myself. You brought home some great books.

I haven't been on LT for a bit. Sadly, Grand daughter Kayla and I lost our beloved cat Meow, Meow. She was only four years old. The vet discovered asthma soon after we brought her into our home. For that amount of time, she was taking steroids which, for the most part, kept some of the nasty attacks away. The vet warned that this treatment was a slippery slop.

Even with daily meds, she had break-through attacks. In the end, the treatment impacted her organs, and we made the difficult, but right choice, to transition her. I'm usually not prone to depression, but these last few days have been tough. She was everywhere around the house. I keep looking for her.

I'm sorry to reads that you are having health issues. I'll be thinking about you, and hoping you are well soon. Books are great when we are not feeling well. We can rest in a chair and read, which sometimes keeps the pain at bay.

I send all good wishes.

Morning, Karen. I am so sorry to hear about your back issues. A real bummer. Do you think it will require PT? I hope you get some relief soon.

A cold rainy start to April here. I will muddle through.

>277 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! Thanks re Wordle in 2 – today it took me an alphabet-soup 5.

I know that guilt is not Christianity’s sole domain, and Presbyterians don’t ‘win’ the guilt stakes within Christianity either.

Thanks re my back. There was a major improvement yesterday. More about the luncheon below.

You’ve quite a few things on your calendar. Whew is right. Ah yes, all seven of them of the feline family members. Give them all kitty skritches from me. 😊

>278 Whisper1: Ah Linda, I am so sorry about Meow Meow. 4 is so terribly young for a kitty to 'go to kitty heaven', as I put it. I’m a firm believer in putting the kitty’s well being ahead of sentimental feelings about keeping her/him alive for OUR emotional well-being. The difficult and right choice takes strength. Brava for putting Meow Meow first. I completely understand looking for her and hope that you and Kayla let time do a bit of healing.

I definitely have enough books for resting in a chair and getting lost in a good story or intellectually involved in a good piece of nonfiction.

I send all good wishes to you, too.

>279 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you. I admit that I was worried on Sunday and Monday because the pain was pretty severe, but yesterday's improvement gives me hope that it's 'only' strained muscles. I thought about calling my chiropractor on Monday to see if she could get me in, but so far don't need to. PT requires a diagnosis, which requires a doctor's visit. So far not necessary. Ugh to the cold and rainy start. Today's mostly floudy but with blue skies peeking out every once in a while. It's 61.9F right now, going to a high of 85F. It will be in the 80s through at least Sunday.

Wordle 1,747 5/6* trope, fight, ficus, filmy, fizzy

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My back improved dramatically yesterday. I took a quick trip into town to get cash for the ladies, then had the Ladies Luncheon at noon. There were 8 of us. Wine, water, tea, coffee, tortellini salad, 2 types of quiche, fruit, charcuterie board, and three desserts.

Lots of getting caught up and meeting our new neighbor. She brought her best friend along, too. Molli set a beautiful table, and then it was pleasant enough to have dessert and coffee outside in her gazebo. I got there right at noon and stayed 'til 2:15. The talk devolved into horses, so a small amount of boredom by the end because ... horses ... but overall I had a wonderful time and my back was not negatively impacted.

Reading and lollygagging and etc. the rest of the day.

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Nothing planned for today, so I will give my back another full day of rest. The birds will have to wait for replenished feeders til tomorrow or Friday.

Reading, spreadsheets, Lightning Round, but no lifting or otherwise putting demands on my lower back. The pain is not L3-L5, just strained muscles. Those torture chairs at the sale and lifting a my $5 bag of books on Saturday were the causes.

Sorry about your back, Karen. I can relate. I'm doing PT twice a week for vestibular issues stemming from a deteriorating lower spine. Bah.

I envy you your helpers. We had a house cleaner, but she (reportedly) declared she'd had enough. Never "officially" quit, just didn't show up. If I approach a dust cloth, I get a really severe cramp. Oi oi oi.

>280 karenmarie: Ah, horses. The hazards of living outside the city. Not that I've never encountered horse/large animal involvement here in LA, but not from anyone in my SF community.

I'm glad to hear that the back is better. Rest is such a good thing except when it's not! How are we to know?

I was especially stupid today, but I got the Prolia jab and eventually brought home the groceries. The worst was doing the self-check-out, asking for $20 back, and not getting it. THEN I couldn't find my receipt. I had put frozen stuff in the cooler, and I didn't think to check whether said receipt was stuck to one of the frozen items. It was. Found it when I got home, of course. The woman watching the check-out area said that she saw the man who was behind me take the money. Oh well. I hope he needs it more than I do. I also managed to lose the reading glasses that live in the car, but they're Dollar Tree, so just an inconvenience.
BAH!

Hope you sleep very well!!!!! I wish I may sleep very well!!!!!

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. I hope that back is feeling even better today. Yep, it is better if it is muscle related. I am heading out soon for my "adjustment" and then playing PB. I will then head out and scoop up Jack in the early PM and bring him back here. Sue is off early today and we can keep the boy until tomorrow. Another stormy one here. May flowers, right?

>281 weird_O: Hi Bill, and thank you. It’s just always something, isn’t it? I’ve just left a message for my chiropractor. I have an appointment in 2 weeks, but would love to see her tomorrow.

Ugh re vestibular issues. I hope the PT is helping. My chiropractor has treated me for BPPV before, and if I can see her tomorrow or Monday, I’ll ask her to do the Epley Maneuver too.

Being ghosted is the worst, isn’t it? I’m so sorry that dust cloths cause cramps.

I’m in a pretty good position now vis-à-vis help – my cleaning ladies come every 2 weeks and I have Trevor the Treasure, a handyman who comes when we can coordinate our schedules.

>282 quondame: I never knew anybody who had horses in LA, Susan. I didn’t know anybody who had the kind of money to have them. Here it’s easy. We had the two that Bill sold when Jenna went off to college because he wasn’t willing to do the work. *shrug*

I think we’ve got at least 15 horses/donkeys across 16 properties out here. Probably 17…

>283 LizzieD: Small relapse late yesterday, Peggy, but not as bad as Sunday/Monday.

Yesterday just wasn’t your day, was it? Yay for the Prolia, sorry about the groceries/$20/glasses. I’ve got 2 pair of prescription glasses and half a dozen pair of cheaters. One pair of cheaters is in in the SUV. I slept very well for 5 ½ hours. I hope you slept well for 8-9.

>284 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you, too. My back is tender. I just took two Tylenol 650s and Tramadol. They’re kicking in, thank goodness.

I hope the adjustment goes well and PB is tons of fun. Scooping Jack up for Grandma and Grandpa to keep him overnight sounds like the perfect time for all of you.

Our skies are blue with a few wispy clouds. It’s going to get to 83F today. Tomorrow will be the same, and Saturday will be 85F. Ugh. All our flowers are early, as is the tree pollen.

Wordle 1,748 3/6* trope, mower, sober

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Yesterday was my Uncle-by-Marriage Ted's 85th birthday, so I sent email birthday wishes. I worked on my spreadsheets and March Lightning Round. Read, and etc.

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My sister and I are going to chat this morning - her schedule is crazy so we have to plan things. I'm meeting friend Jan at Taziki's at noon. She came to the book sale on Thursday. All of a sudden, she was just there! Jan hugs are the best.

We always get the same thing at Taziki's - Greek Salad with Grilled Salmon. She gets their Greek Dressing, I get Balsamic Vinegar.

I'm going to stop at the grocery store on the way home for a few things. Busier day than I'd like, but all good things.

>285 karenmarie: I'm glad to hear it wasn't a worse backslide for your back pain, Horrible, as I'm having the same issue. Totally to be expected, of course, since I've just moved. I just hope neither of us gets *worse*.

I'm glad you're still lightning-rounding because I haven't done my 1Q26 roundup yet. Still feeling...scattered...as I try to get my days built up. I don't have to keep the old schedule because I don't need to account for shared space anymore. I got half my daily steps in before 8am! I have not heard one single commercial since I left! AT ALL!!

*joy*

I'm off to do...whatever the hell I want to do. What a concept. *smooch*

Here's the Easter readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/383354

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. I hope your back continues to feel better. We are having a good time with Jack. Sue has a doctor's appointment this AM so I will hang out with the boy for a few hours. Of course, he is adorable as ever.

BTW- I FINALLY mailed out your book yesterday. Sorry for the longer than expected delay. Just let me know when you get it. 😀

>286 richardderus: ‘Morning, Bronx guy! Anything out of the ordinary has our backs gleefully hurting, doesn’t it? I hope you’re doing better today.

I’m going to finalize my Lightning Round and YTD statistics today. I was in a frenzy earlier this week and reading things like crazy without adding them to the Lightning Round. Unfortunately for some of them, I don’t remember subtleties that caused me to give a particular rating. I’ll try to do better this month.

No more shared space! Daily steps in before 8 a.m. No commercials! Freedom. *smooch*

>287 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

>288 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you. My back’s coming along. I’m really grateful that I have 3 days of no obligations.

I’m glad The Jack Time is going well. And, no worries about the book. I’ll keep an eye out for it and let you know when it arrives.

Wordle 1,749 3/6* trope, fudge, singe

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Lunch with Jan at Taziki's was wonderful as always. We spent 2 1/4 hours together. The time just flew by. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home. It's humbling when a young, strong woman asked me if I'd like for her to put the last of the 12-packs of Diet Pepsi (Bill's, obviously, I don't drink that crap) in the back of my SUV. I took her up on it. She also took the cart back to the cart corral for me. An angel in disguise. All the usual things for the evening. I chatted with Karen, texted a bit with Jenna. I got about 6 hours of sleep.

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Nothing on the schedule besides spreadsheets and March Lightning Round.

YTD Statistics through March

100 books read
97.5 ebooks, 1 audio books, 1.5 paper books
24276 pages in completed books
24 hours in completed audio books
34 books abandoned, 3474 pages abandoned, 0 hours abandoned

27750 total pages read

Avg pages read per day, incl books abandoned: YTD = 308
Avg pages read per book, only those completed: YTD = 278

Book(s) of the Month: Stormy by Wren Wilds - can't make touchstone work

Books by Month
Jan - 27.5 ebooks, .5 paper books
Feb - 31 e-books, 1 audio books
Mar 40 e-books

Author
Male 14%
Female 63%
Undeclared * 22%
Non-Binary 1%
* - can't find info anywhere

Living 99%
Dead 1%

US Born 28%
Foreign Born 27%
Undeclared * 45%
* - can't find info anywhere

Medium
Audio Book 1%
e-Book 97%
Paper Book 2%

Source
My Library 16%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 84%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
Galley Proof 0%
Re-read 5%
Series 76%

Fiction 98%
NonFiction 2%

Author Birth Country
Australia 5%
Canada 13%
France 1%
Grenada 1%
New Zealand 2%
Undeclared * 44%
UK 3%
US 31%
* - can't find info anywhere

Original Decade Published
1950s 1%
2000s 1%
2010s 9%
2020s 89%

Genre
Contemporary Fiction 0%
Crime Fiction 0%
Historical Fiction 1%
History 0%
Humor 0%
Informational Nonfiction 3%
Memoir 0%
MM/MMM/MMMM Romance 96%

Average Rating Expanded to include .1 stars.
.1-.5: Anathema 0
.6-1: Don't Bother 0
1.1-1.5: Very Bad 0
1.6-2: Bad 1
2.1-2.5: Average 8
2.6-3: Good 9
3.1-3.5: Very Good 12
3.6-4: Excellent 26
4.1-4.99: Stunning 44
5 - Masterpiece 0

Average Rating 3.81
Books acquired YTD (361 acquired in 2025) 65
Books culled YTD (193 in 2025) 14

6232 cataloged on 12/31/25

Whoo Hooo! I'll look forward to your full report!!!!!

Hooray for Wordle in 3 and even more for a lovely time with Jan and the food at Taziki! Also, I'm glad for a helpful young woman, who was helpful if a little late on the scene. I am obliged to offer the horrible story of our former HS librarian though. Our Food Lion is near I-95. As an older but not frail retiree, she was picking up groceries there and was befriended in the store by a helpful young woman who helped her get her groceries out to her car. When she opened her trunk, the helper and her male friend, knocked her out, put her in the trunk, drove her car to a random field in Georgie, pulled her out, and beat her to death.
I'm pretty sure I've told this story before. It's always devastating to think about it.

Off to walk or feed cats!

March 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 or scenarios that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

4.30* Broken Obsession by Chani Lynn Feener 3/1/26 3/1/26 341 pages Kindle Unlimited

Here’s the blurb

Eden Baldur is after revenge.

But first, he'll have to find the people responsible for the deaths of his family, and that's proving difficult. Someone who once dreamed of singing, Eden has resigned himself to the next best thing: voice acting for the popular mobile game, Vanity. When his character ends up attracting the attention of a powerful and persuasive member of society, Eden is given a choice. Trade himself for the vengeance he's so painfully desired, or give up on ever avenging his family.

Ares Major is seeking peace.

The survivor of unsanctioned NDE experimentation, Ares has perfected the art of living in the moment. The problem? Half the time, he can't tell if the "moment" is real, or if reality is a mere construct. He's found an anchor in the popular action otome RPG game, Vanity, and spends more time living in his head than in the real world. As the last living member of his line, his inheritance ensures he'll never have to work a day in his life, but he attends Sacrum Cor University and majors in the arts to keep himself busy. When the game stops being enough to ground him, his hunt for the voice actor of his favorite character begins.

What starts as a means for escapism quickly morphs into something more, and it isn't long before Ares changes the game. Eden is nothing like what Ares expected, but he has an obvious weakness, one Ares isn't above exploiting.

Because he's playing to win.

And the prize is Eden, in his bed, and in his life. Permanently.

It could have been shorter, and there are some elements, dubcon and stalking, that most people will not like. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* X Marks the Spot by Willow Dixon 3/3/26 3/4/26 417 pages Kindle Unlimited

Damon is a university student who is also, secretly, a very successful rave DJ. Xave goes to the rave (smile), and after the rave he is kidnapped simply because he’s there near Damon. They escape and find out that they go to the same university. They’re attracted to each other, try to solve the problem of who’s after Damon, and get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.80* His Prize by MM Farmer 3/4/26 3/6/26 77 pages Kindle Unlimited

Darby is an air traffic controller who makes a mistake that almost gets people killed. It devastates him, and he signs up for a beta test program that matches omegas with alphas. He’s matched with Kieran, a much younger alpha, and they are perfect for one another. Steamy and sweet. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.70* Moderating Love by Jax Calder 3/6/26 3/6/26 89 pages Kindle Unlimited

This novella had me smiling pretty much every page. Devin is one of the moderators of blog where queer folk write about how they meet. He’s sunny and optimistic and envious of the people who fall in love. His handle is Sunshine Guy. Travis, TruthGuardian, also moderates the blog but writes the cynical responses to Devin’s posts. They’ve never met in real life. One day Travis is approached in a coffee shop by a man who wants him to have a date with his brother. Devin and Travis hit it off, and as the days go on Devin realizes that Travis is TruthGuardian. Enemies to lovers, caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Feinted Love by Elle Keaton ** 71 pages

Arnie and Tobias hooked up and several years later Tobias accidentally dumps coffee on Arnie in a coffee shop. Tobias remembers Arnie, Arnie remembers Tobias, and after some miscommunications and hurt feelings, we see where this goes. But, I didn’t care enough to continue.

**abandoned The Shots You Take ** by Rachel Reid ** 200 pages

Oh how I wanted to like this standalone romance by the author of the Game Changer series. When it’s not Shane and Ilya or other characters in their timeline I found myself getting impatient and seeing how derivative this one is. The Game Changer series came out in 2018-2022, with the 7th book due out in 2027. This book was published in 2025, clearly an attempt to capitalize on the success of the series. It fell flat for me.

4.20* Chance Match by Wendy Rathbone 3/6/26 3/6/26 147 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jace, an omega, signs up for The Perfect Match Agency in order to find a good alpha who will take care of him. He’s matched with a high-power CEO, but when he goes to the office, his and the Assistant Storm’s chemistry are off the charts. It’s predictable and fun and very much omegaverse, although without mpreg. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.10* Owning Jett by Lucy Lennox 3/6/26 3/7/26 337 pages Kindle Unlimited

Jett is a government operative, whose newest assignment is to infiltrate a suspicious billionaire house party. He meets Locke, who owns the villa and is the game master of a game called Paxis. It can be a harmless game out in the world, but this version of Paxis lets white hat world leaders communicate without words – just actions on game boards – what situations are happening or developing and what should be done by who in order to neutralize and/or shut down. In this case, arms movements can be disrupted by container shippers blocking a waterway for long enough that on-the-ground operators can move in. Jett’s pretending to be Locke’s assistant, not unrealistic when we realize Jett has the skills to pull it off. Behind the scenes, in the bedroom, Jett and Locke get involved. It’s a great combination of thriller and romance. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.30* HEA: Happily Ever After by Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox 3/7/26 3/8/26 272 pages Kindle Unlimited

Oscar, a wealthy, insecure, and unhappily single friend to the multitudes, jokes that the men who dump him always find their true loves with the next man they met. He’s been best man twelve times and has it down pat. He’s got an emotional support hedgehog named Frank (the author reminds us that hedgehogs should not be kept as pets). Hugh is a photographer, in this case the backup photographer. They decide to fake date. Hugh falls faster than Oscar, and Oscar has to come around to the idea of giving his heart again. Sweet and funny and sexy. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Good Stepbrother Bad Stepbrother by Jenny Pineapple 68 pages Kindle Unlimited

Lucien is a doctor, stepbrother to Austin, who he hasn’t seen in two or more years. He cut Austin off in order for his relationship with his fiancée to continue, but is miserable. Austin is a cage fighter who was devastated when Lucian ghosted him. One night Austin comes to Lucian with a gunshot graze and Lucian patches him up. Lucian has broken up with his girlfriend, and sparks fly between the stepbrothers. There’s a way forward for them, and a way forward for Austin, who’s coming to the end of his fighting career. I do love books by Jenny Pineapple. They’re short, rich, succinct, filled with detail and emotions. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.20* One Winter Night by Jenny Pineapple 3/8/26 3/8/26 54 pages Kindle Unlimited

Julian is a corporate lawyer and Dominic is his ex’s brother. They get stranded together in Dominic’s cabin during a white-out blizzard and sparks happen and etc. It’s okay, but nothing to write home to mother about. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.50* Dark Desire by Jenny Pineapple 3/8/26 3/8/26 53 pages Kindle Unlimited

Tristan comes to a Valentine’s Day party, looking for his best friend Jack. Jack’s ghosted him, and Tristan does not now that Jack has been in love with him forever. Situations happen as they do in these dark romances with masked house parties, and they come together and get their surprise HEA. Cavet emptor re sex.

4.40* Mr. Important by Lucy Lennox and 3/8/26 3/9/26 390 pages Kindle Unlimited

Reagan attends a masked charity gala, and hooks up with a silver fox, Thatcher. Thatcher’s masked, too, and they’re both horrified when it turns out that they know one another. Reagan is one of Thatcher’s father’s sons and Thatcher is Reagan’s boss’s boss. There’s a crisis at the division, and Reagan and Thatcher go on a road trip to repair the damage done. Reagan’s boss Layla is a conniving and controlling woman who wants Thatcher for herself. Oh, and Thatcher’s nominally straight. It’s ll rather sweet and sexy. Thatcher finally sees how he and Reagan are being manipulated. Out of jealousy, Reagan is sent away on a poor excuse of a business trip after being exposed to flu and gets deathly ill. Thatcher comes to the rescue and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Only the Small Bones by CP Harris ** 113 pages

Non-verbal human trafficking victim Ryan is taken in by the owner of Freedom Fighters, an organization that helps victims. He doesn’t usually take victims into his own home. William will eventually learn Ryan’s story, Ryan will eventually come out to William, yet I was strangely reluctant to finish it. Very emotional.

**abandoned the Misfits of Copper County by Lucy Lennox and May Archer ** 171 pages

Journalist Delaney near his sister/husband/niece. He buys an old house and hires Brewer to do the contracting. Brewer makes recommendations that he turns down, buying things that just don’t work well in an old home and etc. There’s sparkage but neither wants to act upon it until There is a series of mishaps and Brewer’s house burns to the ground. Delaney takes him in, and during a snow storm they get intimate. Brewer shuts it down completely, and that’s where I shut down completely. Caveat emptor re sex.

A four-part series by Chani Lynn Feener. The only MMMM romance I’ve not abandoned. This is the second time I’ve read it. The first time was April of last year for the first 3 books, then August for the last book when it was published.

4.10* Villain by Chani Lynn Feener 3/10/26 3/11/26 310 pages Kindle Unlimited
4.00* Martyr by Chani Lynn Feener 3/11/26 3/11/26 298 pages Kindle Unlimited
4.10* Saint by Chani Lynn Feener 3/11/26 3/12/26 266 pages Kindle Unlimited
3.00* Sinner by Chani Lynn Feener 3/12/26 3/13/26 285 pages Kindle Unlimited

4.00* Villain by Chani Lynn Feener 4/21/25 4/22/25 Kindle Unlimited
4.00* Martyr by Chani Lynn Feener 4/22/25 4/23/25 Kindle Unlimited
4.00* Saint by Chani Lynn Feener 4/22/25 4/23/25 Kindle Unlimited
Nix switches universities to find out how and why his beloved cousin Branwen killed herself. He does this by unwittingly gaining the notice of one of the Demons of Foxglove Grove on a school app Nix has hacked into. There’s immediate attraction, and Lake pursues Nix. Lake is one of three Demons, a role for seniors that the three of them and only the three of them currently hold. All three, Lake, West, and Yejun, are personally and dynastically powerful. They are all attracted to Nix, who gets deeper and deeper into his attraction to Lake and then West and Yejun. He also gets deeper and deeper into his understanding of Branwen’s life on campus and her involvement with very dangerous people. I like how Feener makes the relationship flow naturally.

4.00* Sinner by Chani Lynn Feener 10/3/25 10/3/25 285 pages Kindle Unlimited
Fourth and final book in the Demons of Foxglove Grove series has Nix, Lake, West, and Yejun still dealing with threats, Lake’s planned crowning, and Nix and Yejun’s needing to bond yet both feeling fragile from events of a previous book where Yejun abused Nix. I really wanted to like this because the first three were lots of action and we were still learning about them. It was intriguing to see how the author would resolve the tensions and issues to make this MMMM romance work. In this book, we get a rehash of what happened in the first three books, the discovery of who’s behind the attacks on Nix and who also wants the downfall of Lake. Nix and Yejun reconcile, and all four get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Claimed by Design by EA Adams 3/14/26 3/14/26 109 pages Kindle Unlimited

Second in the series The Chase. The Chase is an opportunity for omegas to earn a huge payout by allowing themselves to be chased, captured, and claimed by alphas. Each omega who signs up for The Chase is at the end of his rope one way or another, each alpha is looking for the omega he let get away.

Leonid is a professor who let his student Curt get away six years ago. He can’t get Curt out of his mind. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.50* Knot Club by Ansley Ellis 3/14/26 3/15/26 56 pages Kindle Unlimited Wren and Sully

Omega Wren is at the end of his rope and goes to The Knot Club (I’m not kidding), in order to get help through his heat. Masks are required. He does not know that the alpha who takes care of him is his best friend’s brother Sully, who he’s always had a crush on. Sully knows who he is, though. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.30* My Rival Mate by Lexie Slater 3/15/26 3/15/26 99 pages Kindle Unlimited

Sam and Devan are competing for a prestigious internship. They are assigned to work together on a thesis project. Sparks fly, there’s instalust and a highly satisfactory ending that gives them a win-win internship-wise and personally. Caveat emptor re sex.

079. 4.75* Echo by Chani Lynn Feener 3/15/26 3/16/26 437 pages Kindle Unlimited Third re-read and I keep upping my rating. 4.0, 4.5, and now 4.75. I read it last March and last June. Here’s what I wrote in March:

First in the Devils of Vitality fantasy MM romance. The author states in the preface to this, as well as subsequent books, that the protagonists are not nice or good people. It’s a made-up world in a made-up universe. Rabbit Trace is a musical prodigy, son of a worlds-famous performer. She pushes him, abuses him, torments, him, and controls him, but he doesn’t fight her. One day Baikal, heir apparent to Vitality’s mafia, sees Rabbit perform and becomes obsessed by him. He’s playing a long game and doesn’t immediately approach Rabbit. Eventually he does, though, and although his methods are morally gray, draws Rabbit to his side. They become sexually and romantically involved. In the meantime, Rabbit’s mother tries to control him one too many times, which doesn’t go well for her. The most fascinating thing about this book is that the instrument Rabbit plays, a bieska, interacts with his emotions and skills so that colors are released as he plays. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? A performer and his/her instrument providing music and color. Baikal is an alpha predator, wants Rabbit. My kryptonite – alpha male, alpha predator. Not an accident that Kal calls Rabbit his sweet bunny. Baikal protects and cares for Rabbit, and they get a very steamy and happy HEA. Caveat emptor re sex. Quite a few typos, and a fair amount of repetition of personality traits.

This time I paid more attention to how Rabbit was controlled by his mother and people she had watching him. And how well Rabbit and Baikal’s personalities meshed.

3.00* A Bestiary by Toulouse-Lautrec, introduction by Philip Hofer 3/17/26 3/17/26 47 pages

A small and ultimately disappointing bestiary. I don’t like the drawings and there’s nothing else to be said.

3.40* His Dark Paradox by Avery Tu and Kota Quinn 3/17/26 3/19/26 260 pages Kindle Unlimited

Nuri was ‘gifted’ to Silver and has always worked for him and been in love with him. Nuri realizes Silver will never care for him so offers his resignation. Silver refuses to accept it, realizes that ne wants and needs Nuri in his life. Caveat emptor re sex.

2.80* Bone to Pick by May Archer 3/19/26 3/20/26 129 pages Kindle Unlimited

Porter was failed by his professor, Theo Hancock. He shows up drunk one night with a bone to pick… they get snowed in at Theo’s cabin, and things go from there. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.70* Devil May Lie by Chani Lynn Feener 3/20/26 3/20/26 450 pages Kindle Unlimited

Madden is part of the Imperial Prince's retinue and illegally races down at the docks at night. Berga is training to be the Physican to the Brumal Mafia (yes, I know). He is not squeamish and doesn't mind inflicting pain if needed for the Brumal. One night of debauchery gets them involved in each other's lives, and the lust be becomes caring and romance. Even if it is their own special and twisted type of romance. Feener writes complex and morally gray characters, and Madden and Berga should never become involved with each other but they do. Caveat emptor violence and sex.

A Whisper in the Dark Trilogy, by Chani Lynn Feener. Goes back and forth in time, starting with Hunter being captured after ten years on the run, broke, at the end of his rope and being returned to Odin. We learn about Hunter and his family, Odin and his family, court politics, and a rather important secret about Hunter that once found out changes their dynamic. When Hunter was forced to choose between Odin and his sister, he chose his sister, and barely escaped to the other side of the planet with his life. Odin is not forgiving, and keeps Hunter trapped in his personal apartments. This is the story of their feelings towards each other, politics, danger, and romance. This is a great trilogy. Several layers of plot and so many twists you end up dizzy. They get a hard-won HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* You Will Never Know 3/20/26 3/21/26 278 pages Kindle Unlimited

4.40* Don't Breathe a Word 3/22/26 3/23/26 179 pages Kindle Unlimited

4.40* Don't Let Me Go by Chani Lynn Feener 3/23/26 3/24/26 250 pages Kindle Unlimited

4.00* Going Up by Amy Lane 3/24/26 3/24/26 74 pages Mine

Zach is trapped in a sterile life of too much work, always on the outside looking in. One day he runs into Sean in their apartment’s elevator. He is drawn to Sean's happiness and joy in life. Zach starts timing when he leaves for work in order to run into Sean. Sean talks nonstop about Zach to his roommates. Each is smitten, they start reaching out to one another, and sparks fly. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.70* Dominant Blood by MJ Kim 3/24/26 3/24/26 258 pages Kindle Unlimited

An edited version of the blurb:Ha Yujeong is a dominant alpha with a problem: he was born to top, but cursed with a desperate need to bottom. Street fights satisfy his craving for pain, but finding a partner powerful enough to truly dominate him has been impossible. Enter Yoon Suha. Ruthless, terrifying, and leader of the Phantom Syndicate, he is the apex predator Yujeong has been hunting for. Infiltrating a crime boss’s suite is suicidal, but Yujeong thrives on chaos. He wants the brutality, the overwhelming pheromones. Yet when his reckless provocation results in an accidental bond, the game changes from a one-night stand to a volatile battle for submission. Suha doesn’t take insults lightly, and he intends to teach the bratty fighter a permanent lesson in ownership. It’s no longer just about desire—it’s about control. And Suha has every intention of keeping his new pet on a very short leash.My kryptonite – alpha and omega in a tension-filled romantic/power dance. Not for the faint of heart. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.90* Stormy by Wren Wilds 3/24/26 3/26/26 522 pages Kindle Unlimited

Best book of the month. Powerful story of a young man fleeing an abusive situation, outside in the leadup to a Category 5 hurricane in the Florida Panhandle. Tex is driving back to his bar to hurricane-proof it as much as possible and passes the young man under an awning, with a motorcycle, looking desolate and lost. He persuades the young man, who he calls Stormy because of his gorgeous stormy blue eyes, to take shelter with him. Tex realizes Stormy will bolt if he does anything wrong, is at all challenging or dominant, and slowly gains Stormy’s trust. This is all during the Cat 5 Hurricane, which threatens their lives and causes damage, but doesn’t destroy the bar or hurt them. As they start rebuilding, Tex realizes that the man after Stormy is going to come for him, and enlists the aid of his friends, especially his policeman best friend, to protect Stormy and remove the threat permanently. No killing, but serious justice. Tex and Stormy fall in love. Caveat emptor re sex. Fantastic descriptions of hurricane conditions, found family, and a sweet and strong HEA.

4.20* Double Dared by Raquel Riley 3/26/26 3/27/26 504 pages Kindle Unlimited

Best friends Truen and Darien cross a line at a party one night when spin the bottle lands on them. They go into a closet and kiss. Tru is gay, Dare is ... not gay ... Over time, their friendship has ups and downs and secrets come out. The emotions are well written, the plot meanders a bit but mostly stays ... well... true. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.60* It Started With a Text by Jax Calder 3/27/26 3/27/26 125 pages Kindle Unlimited

Such a clever premise. Rock star Anthony Devine was talked into giving a tour of his home and it was posted on his official Instagram. Think Architectural Digest. Nick, self-described as his biggest fan, is offended at the display of opulence and pretence and compares it to his 5th-floor walkup. He decides to do a spoof video of Anthony’s video and posts it. It goes viral, which makes Anthny Devine’s official Instagram account go viral, with 6 million views. Anthony is made aware of the 6 million views and the cause of the views, Nick’s spoof video. He is attracted to Nick – dark curly hair, large chocolate-brown eyes, and “the cutest dimples I’ve ever seen.” Anthony is feeling out of sorts over Nick’s video. He posts to Nick’s account - NickKnackPaddyWhack.

AntD (Anthony’s private Instagram account)
Hey, just wanted to say I
really enjoyed the tour of
your apartment. The part
where you mocked me
relentlessly was good, but
I have to say your fig tree
Was the real highlight.

This starts regular and frequent texting. They get to know one another, and like one another, but Nick doesn’t believe that it’s really Anthony Devine. They finally decide to meet up after one of Anthony’s concerts that Nick has tickets to. There’s a very sweet scene during the concert, then Nick finally meets Anthony after. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.00* Claimed by Fate by EA Adams 3/27/26 3/28/26 115 pages Kindle Unlimited

First in the series The Chase. The Chase is an opportunity for omegas to earn a huge payout by allowing themselves to be chased, captured, and claimed by alphas. Each omega who signs up for The Chase is at the end of his rope one way or another, each alpha is looking for the omega he let get away.

Remy, the omega, was at a conference with Darryl. Things were going well, they were going to get together, but Darryl was drunk, saw two alphas laughing with Remy, said hateful and destructive words that ruined Remy’s reputation. Remy fled and has been living hand-to-mouth ever since. Darryl joins The Chase to find Remy and apologize, but, of course, things get heated. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

3.10* Claimed by Fear by EA Adams 3/28/26 3/29/26 114 pages Kindle Unlimited

Third in the series The Chase. The Chase is an opportunity for omegas to earn a huge payout by allowing themselves to be chased, captured, and claimed by alphas. Each omega who signs up for The Chase is at the end of his rope one way or another, each alpha is looking for the omega he let get away.

Dalvin is escaping Vernon, the abusive alpha who ‘owns’ him and their son. One of the most vivid scenes in this book is where Dalvin cuts his floor-length hair as a symbol of rebellion and way to disguise himself. He joins The Chase to find another alpha to claim him and break the bond with Vernon. Min-Ho joins The Chase after he finally tracks down Dalvin after twelve years of looking for him. They weren’t allowed to be together because Dalvin was sold by his family. Dalvin is willing for any alpha to claim him, but once Min-Ho scents him, protects him, and then claims him, they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.20* Omega's Flush by Sasha Silsbury 3/29/26 3/29/26 193 pages Kindle Unlimited

Theo and Dom were prime matches years go, but Theo fled. He’s back in a casino owned by Dom, counting cards, not expecting to be ID’d. He’s caught and Dom claims him. Theo also has skills that help him uncover the cheating ring that is bleeding his casino dry. Improbable? Yes. Fun? Yes. Enemies to lovers, and caveat emptor re sex.

3.40* The Omega's Song by EA Adams 3/29/26 3/30/26 115 pages Kindle Unlimited

Colm is offered as a forced bonding with Raf, part of the Valenti crime family. During the ceremony, bullets fly. The bond is only partial, but Raf protects his bond-mate. Lots of bullets and hiding and kidnapping. Highly satisfactory. Caveat emptor re sex.

4.20* Claimed by Blood by EA Adams 3/30/26 3/30/26 120 pages Kindle Unlimited

Fifth in the series The Chase. The Chase is an opportunity for omegas to earn a huge payout by allowing themselves to be chased, captured, and claimed by alphas. Each omega who signs up for The Chase is at the end of his rope one way or another, each alpha is looking for the omega he let get away.

Deveon is the omega, Dae-hyun is the alpha. Here’s are parts of the blurb:

A dark MM omegaverse romance featuring forced proximity, survival heat, hidden pasts, military-trained hunters, contract coercion, blizzard-bound tension, and an alpha who will tear down the entire game to protect what’s his. HEA guaranteed.

Caveat emptor re sex.

Four of the five books in the Feral Hearts Series by Ash Wilder. Novellas, all the same basic plot – Apex alpha and omega in the frozen north of the territory, dangerous and life-threatening conditions. Fated mates. Instant attraction, omega in need of protection or care. Author Wilder paints a vivid picture of dangerous conditions, strong backstories, and how each alpha was just waiting for his omega. They get their HEAs and, of course, caveat emptor re sex.

4.40* Feral Vow by Ash Wilder 3/30/26 3/30/26 91 pages Kindle Unlimited David is an exiled alpha. Evander is an omega diplomat. There are politics and instalust held in check until they can’t be held in check any longer.

4.10* Alpha's Demand by Ash Wilder 3/30/26 3/30/26 87 pages Kindle Unlimited Brody is Chief of Trauma Medicine, Emmett is an EMT who disobeys orders because he feels like he can save someone. He can’t. He and Brody are trapped in white-out conditions. Emmett is injured and Brody’s alpha instincts kick in.

4.20* Howl of Possession by Ash Wilder 3/30/26 3/31/26 92 pages Kindle Unlimited Ranger Callen tracks a blood trail and comes across a wolf in a trap. It turns out to not be a wolf, of course, and Dre shifts back to human in order to start healing after being released from the trap.

4.30* Snowed in With the Alpha by Ash Wilder 3/31/26 3/31/26 90 pages Kindle Unlimited Omega paramedic Ray’s rig overturns in a whiteout storm. He expects death, but Dax rips the door off and rescues Ray. He takes him to his cabin, where biology overcomes civilization.

**abandoned Cinders by Harper Cole, Trisha Linda, Colbie Dunbar ** 91 pages

Cinderella with omegaverse and sex… Tiago is Cinderella and Hemingway is the Prince. Twee, and not clever enough for me to want to continue.

**abandoned In His Defense by River Frost ** 228 pages

Defense Attorney Cassian and Kai sharp tongued major crimes detective work together to stop a crime family. It has no life to it, no more than stereotypes.

>291 LizzieD: ‘Good afternoon, Peggy! I finally got the Lightning Round posted, with several interruptions from friend Karen. She mentioned a movie Pillion, based on the book Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones. The protagonists are Colin played by Henry Melling (Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter movies) and Alexander Skarsgård, who played Eric Northman in True Blood based on the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris. We also talked about the Yellowstone Caldera, earthquakes in LA and Helena MT, and etc.

I am sad to read about your former HS librarian getting kidnapped and murdered. I guess it could happen here in Pittsboro. *shudder*

I hope your walk went well and that the kitties were appreciative of being fed.

Morning, Karen. Hooray for that killer lightening round. As we expected we had a good time with Jack yesterday. Bree and Sean came over later for dinner. Good times. I plan on a quieter day today. Lots of rain here.

Enjoy your Saturday.

'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday, and thanks re my Killer Lightning Round. Lots of good Jack time, and great that Sean and Bree had dinner with you, too. Quiet day for you, quiet day for me. No rain here, although rain and t-storms tomorrow afternoon.

Wordle 1,750 4/6* trope, musky, sadly, sandy

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Whole lots of nothing yesterday besides my YTD stats and March Lightning Round. Read. Dozed. And etc.

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More nothing planned for today besides reading and watching Arsenal at 3 p.m. My back is still painful.

>292 karenmarie: ...so...slow month, eh?

*smooch*

Ho!

Just want to speak and move on because it's later than it should be. Time moves so much faster than I do!

All your LRs amaze me. They're fun to read though, so thank you! I'm sorry that your back is still bothering you, doggone it. Our younguns didn't come because Lizzie pulled her back again exercising this morning. I did ordinary stuff that took up most of the day.

Hope you can sleep.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. We are having Matt and Hannah over this afternoon for an Easter dinner. Bree is hosting Sean's family at her place. We were invited too but prefer a quieter affair here. Laundry and lots of book time this AM.

>296 richardderus: Actually, with 2 full days at the book sale, it was slower than it might have been! *smooch*

>297 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I have to give Mark credit again, all these years later, for inspiring me make Lightning Rounds. I felt so guilty when I didn’t want to write a full-blown review but didn’t have a good way to say something about a book. Thank you Mark!!!

Poor Lizzie – she and I are I the same boat back-wise. I’m sorry they didn’t get to visit. Last night I got 5.5 hours of sleep.

>298 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you. Enjoy your time with Matt and Hannah. Yay for books, less yay for laundry.

Wordle 1,751 3/6* trope, golem, envoy

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Rested my back, read. Watched Arsenal lose to Southampton 1-2, eliminating them from the FA Cup. Two games in a row, two eliminations from competitions. Sigh. Started watching Heated Rivalry again. Bill and I watched 2 episodes of Better Call Saul.

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My plans include resting my back, reading, lollygagging, and writing the email to remind book club members that our next meeting is at my house to discuss How to Read A Book on the 12th. I'll also start thinking about beverages and some snacks.

I'm heading off to start my third thread of 2026. Give me a few minutes to get things set up and I'll see you over there.