Laura (lauralkeet)'s 2026 Reading - Part 5

Scenes from Occitania:
A path along the Canal du Midi, a village square market, and of course coffee and pain au chocolate

Welcome to my cozy reading nook! I'm Laura, retired and living with my husband Chris in an 18th century farmhouse in northern Virginia with our two dogs, Alys and Ellie. Our two adult daughters are both married and live in Brooklyn. We spend a lot of our time gardening and working on various projects around the house. Knitting is my other hobby, which I post about here occasionally. If you’re so inclined you can see more on my thread in the Needlearts group.

In October I’ll celebrate my 20th Thingaversary, and 2009 was my first year doing the 75 Book Challenge, which makes 2026 my eighteenth year in this fabulous group! I haven’t achieved the 75-book “goal” since 2020 and I’m glad nobody cares about the numbers here, because I’m more likely to finish the year in the mid-60s. I read more books when I was still working, which either says something about my job or confirms the adage about being busier in retirement. Regardless, I love this community and plan to be around for a long time.

My reading leans towards contemporary fiction and various series (mostly mysteries), with some non-fiction thrown in for balance. I’m also planning to read more classics, specifically the women authors who influenced Jane Austen (here’s a list of books featured in Jane Austen’s Bookshelf.

Books Featured on This Thread
26. The Things We Never Say
27. Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol 1

Series Progress

Active series as of April 1 (updated quarterly):


A snapshot of my active series sorted on the "progress" column.

Series completed/current in 2026:
* Blandings Castle

Series started in 2026:
* Dark Iceland

Series abandoned in 2026:
* Inspector Gamache

Currently Reading & On Deck


Lonesome Dove | Journals of Emma Lion Vol 2

26. The Things We Never Say

Whew! Welcome to my new thread. We're leaving Tuesday night for a week in southern France, hence the thread-topper. Here's what I'm currently reading and planning to take on vacation:



Lonesome Dove | Journals of Emma Lion Vols 1 & 2

I've been meaning to read Lonesome Dove for a long time, repeatedly putting it off because of its length. Chris recently read it, loved it, and has been pushing me to read it already so we can watch the TV series starring Robert Duvall. I started it a day or so ago and am, of course, completely sucked in. But it's a chunkster, so I'll pack it in my suitcase.

I've also been tempted by the many LTers enjoying the Emma Lion novels so I bought the first two on Kindle for airplane reading.

Today, and for the next few days, I'll be doing getting-ready-for-vacation things like laundry, tidying up the house, and getting my hair cut.

Over to you now!

Happy Saturday. Laura. Happy New Thread. We are doing a shared read of Lonesome Dove in August. I think this will be the 3rd time I have read it. I consider it one of the best books I have ever read. The mini-series is also excellent with perfect casting.

Have a fantastic trip!

>6 lauralkeet: You've neither read NOR watched Lonesome Dove????? Oh, my, are you in for an extended treat. And what Mark said.

I finally read Lonesome Dove a couple years ago and loved it. I bet you will too!
Just FYI, those Emma Lion books read VERY fast - like it will only take you a couple hours to read both.

Oh, and Lonesome Dove made me forget to comment on your first post.....I will now have to make a run to Wegman's for pain au chocolat for tomorrow's brunch. They better not be sold out.

Happy New Thread! Have a fabulous trip.

Wishing you safe, trouble-free travels and a wonderful time in France. Enjoy!!

>7 msf59: Hey Mark ... I will probably miss the shared read which is a shame because I would have enjoyed it. Although I'm not sure I could have resisted Chris' continued pressure for that long.

>8 laytonwoman3rd: I know, I know Linda! You were the one who put it on my radar in the first place. And as I was writing my post I thought "Linda is gonna pounce on me for this." Sho nuff, you did lol. Part of the reason Chris is applying so much pressure is that he really wants to watch the series, but knows better than to do so before I've had a chance to read the book.

>9 japaul22: That's good to know, Jennifer. I usually try to sleep on the way over, or at least keep my eyes shut most of the time, so the Emma Lion books might wait for the return trip. But then I might need to bring Lonesome Dove along too. Or watch more movies. Hmm ...

>10 laytonwoman3rd: Mmmm I haven't had a pain au chocolat in a while. Since a local French-style cafe closed, I've had to rely on Wegmans but it's very much out of the way. Trader Joe's sells frozen ones that actually aren't bad, but they didn't have any the last time I was there. Needless to say I'm looking forward to having one (or more) soon!

>11 elorin:, >12 RebaRelishesReading: Thank you both!

Happy new thread, Laura.

Wishing you smooth travels and fabulous weather for your week in France!

Happy new thread, Laura!

>1 lauralkeet: What a delightful way to start the day!

I was, like many, very surprised by how much I enjoyed Lonesome Dove. Sounds like you are having a similar experience :)

Safe travels and happy new thread.

Happy new thread, Laura.

Great topper and a little green with envy at seeing you basking in the wonders of La Belle France.

Happy new thread, Laura! I hope you have a wonderful vacation, and safe travels.

I am looking forward to finally reading Lonesome Dove with Mark in August. I've never read the book, but I did see the series when it first aired and I loved it.

>14 MickyFine:, >15 quondame:, >17 BLBera:, >18 PaulCranswick: Hi Micky, Susan, Beth & Paul thanks for the "bon voyage"!

>16 katiekrug: Right, Katie. Years ago in my early LT days, I was actively reading prizewinners and nominees. But I was also obsessed on reading a certain number of books in a year so Lonesome Dove wasn't gonna happen. I now see the error of my ways ...

>19 atozgrl: Hi Irene, thanks for chiming in. I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one!

Good morning ...

It looks like it will be a beautiful day today.

Tonight we're going to a program about bats at a local nature reserve. There will be a talk about bats and echolocation, and then we'll go outdoors to experience it firsthand using handheld acoustic monitors. The nature reserve is the only site in the county that's a known sanctuary for the endangered Northern Long-Eared Bat. Should be interesting.

Today I need to do the pre-vacation laundry and make sure all the dog stuff is ready to take to the kennel on Tuesday. I'm going to head outside to check on the garden and help Chris with a few things.

Happy Sunday everyone.

I remember really liking Lonesome Dove but I read it so long ago I don't remember anything about it :(

>22 RebaRelishesReading: Reba, check out Mark's post in >7 msf59: about a shared read in August. Go for it!

>21 lauralkeet: - That sounds like a very interesting program. I love bats. In the old location of the resort we go to in Mexico, there was an arch at the entrance to the patio/bar area and every night at dusk lots and lots of bats would fly out to go looking for food. I found it fascinating (and always made sure I was at the bar at the right time). Hope you have a good vacation.

Lonesome Dove is a good one -- haven't watched the series yet though. Might have to fix that. ; ) And hurray for the upcoming trip to France! I've been there three times -- love it. Should go again now and see if my Duolingo has helped at all. LOL.

>21 lauralkeet: So cool! The bats, not the laundry.

I’m two books into Emma Lion and I’m enjoying them. There was a sale at Chirp for the first five so I took a chance.
Enjoy your trip! I’m in Ireland now, heading to Liverpool tomorrow, then up to Scotland for another week. I’ll wave to you across the channel, lol.

>24 dudes22: It was really interesting, Betty. The leader's is a scientist who has been studying bats for several years, both locally and as part of larger efforts. He gave us a lot of background on bats and the species present in Virginia, and then showed us data from the 10-year study he's leading, collecting data on the presence and migratory patterns of bats at several monitoring locations across the county. Then we went out into an open field where a couple people had their high-tech tracking devices which could tell us when a bat was nearby, and its species. Most of them stayed hidden although we did see a couple fly out into the open.

>25 Berly: There's nothing cool about laundry, that's for sure! Nice to see you, Kim.

>26 raidergirl3: Hi Elizabeth, seems like everyone is enjoying the Emma Lion books. That's a good sign. And wow, your trip sounds great!! Enjoy.

I listened to the first Emma Lion book yesterday. It was diverting enough, but was obviously mostly set-up for what is, presumably, to come.

Safe travels and have a great trip!

I have a hair appointment this afternoon and I hope to get most of my packing done today even though we don't leave home until 3pm tomorrow. I also need to do some cleaning/tidying, including checking the fridge for stuff that should be thrown out before we leave. Pretty exciting huh?

I'm hoping for a relaxing evening knitting while watching TV, and of course reading Lonesome Dove.

>28 katiekrug: Thanks Katie!

Happy new thread! Have a fun trip!

Happy new thread, Laura!

>23 lauralkeet: We'll see -- right now I'm having trouble thinking beyond dinner. I still have it on the shelf though so perhaps maybe.

>31 foggidawn:, >32 drneutron: Thank you!
>33 RebaRelishesReading: lol I get it.

~~~

I have nothing much to report today, other than finishing up my packing and twiddling our thumbs until it's time to leave. From this point forward I'll be lurking around the threads but not posting regularly. See you later!

Bon voyage! Hope the travel is easy and the temperatures drop a bit!

Have a wonderful trip, Laura!! I'll keep an eye out for any posts you manage.

Enjoy your trip to France, Laura! Sound lovely!

Happy New Thread Laura my dear, hope you are having a good time in France.

Wishing you bonnes vacances, Laura!

Ahhhh -- you're on the coast of France where I hope you're enjoying beautiful weather as well as the great food, lovely wine and pleasure of good company!!

A week in France! Happy sigh. I hope you're having a marvelous time!

Hello everyone, and thanks for keeping my thread warm! We had a wonderful vacation and arrived home this afternoon. I'll be back tomorrow to catch up on threads and post more here.

Welcome home!!

>42 lauralkeet: Welcome back! Wishing you a wonderful sleep in your own bed.

Happy Friday, Laura. Welcome home! Looking forward to hearing about the trip. Hooray for the hoopoes!! 😎

Hi Reba, Micky, and Mark. Thanks for being patient with me. My re-entry into the real world has been more difficult than usual, a combination of fatigue and a few things coming at me all at once.

We really enjoyed our time in France. I think I mentioned before that we were traveling with my brother Chuck and sister-in-law Kristen. We stayed in a pretty house in a tiny hamlet called Babio. The house has a small pool and a lovely garden with a view of the countryside. Our friends Jon & Melanie manage the house as a holiday rental, and also run a small B&B in the area.

The weather was amazing, sunny and warm with low humidity nearly every day. We had a much fuller schedule than I anticipated, but all in a good way. Jon took us and some other guests on a boat down the Canal du Midi. Another day we visited the beautiful village of Minerve, had lunch in a fabulous restaurant, and then visited a winery. We also went on a 5km canoe trip down the River Orb, near the town of Roquebrun.

Mark mentioned hoopoes in >45 msf59:. We didn't go birding specifically, but saw two hoopoes flitting about in a field near the house -- a lifer for us. We were driving by in a car, so we didn't get a photo but you can Google it.

Speaking of photos, here's a few: a group shot (from front to back: Kristen and Jon, me and Melanie, Chris and Chuck), boat trip on the canal, Minerve, and Roquebrun.

While our days were busy, I still managed to fit in some reading time now and then. On the day we flew out we didn't leave home until about 3pm so I actually read the first Emma Lion book to pass the time. For the rest of the trip I read Lonesome Dove, including on the flight home when I logged more than 100 pages. Nothing like 8 hours of free time eh? I'm about halfway through the book now and loving it. On the return flight I also watched Hamnet, which was outstanding.

Lovely pictures, Laura. Sounds like a great time.

Great photos, Laura!

Thanks for sharing the photos, Laura. It sounds like you had a great time and packed a lot in.

Welcome home, Laura! It sounds like you had a great trip. The scenery there is lovely.

Sounds like a wonderful trip and it looks like the weather was gorgeous. I'm glad you all had a good time.

Great photos, Laura! It sounds and look you had a great time.

Thanks for sharing the photos. It looks and sounds like a wonderful trip.

(does anyone ever comment on you and Kristin looking a lot alike? I had to go back and double check that it was brother and sister-in-law you were with, not sister and brother-in-law!)

>49 kidzdoc:, >50 BLBera:, >51 atozgrl:, >52 MickyFine:, >53 vancouverdeb:, >54 RebaRelishesReading: Hellloooo everyone! Thanks for welcoming me back. I think I'm finally coming out of my travel-related brain fog, which was worse than usual this time. I'm glad you all enjoyed the photos.

>54 RebaRelishesReading: Hmmm ... I can't say that they have, Reba, but looking closely at the photo I kind of get it. In real life, Kristen's hair is lighter and she's also several inches taller. And Chuck and I don't look that much alike, we're each a different blend of our parents' genes.

Happy Worldwide Knit in Public Day! Yes, that's a thing. I'll be joining fellow Guild members at the library where they've set aside a space for us just inside the entrance. We'll be knitting, of course, and also have materials to teach visitors the basics. Chris thought this whole idea would be more interesting if it was Worldwide Knit Naked in Public Day. Silly man.

This afternoon I'll take care of a couple things in the garden and some household paperwork/admin that's piled up.

Glad to hear you are getting back into the real life groove after vacation, Laura. Enjoy your knitting exhibition :)

Hi Laura. Belated happy new thread.

Thanks for sharing photos from your France trip.

>57 katiekrug: Thanks Katie! We had fun knitting in public. Fully clothed.

>58 karenmarie: Hi Karen, and thank you! I'm glad you liked the pix.

Good morning everyone! I think my jet lag has finally worn off. Either that, or the caffeine is working better than usual. My energy level was up and down all day yesterday.

Today's agenda is pretty light, mostly admin and household tasks unless there's something Chris needs a hand with outdoors. We'll watch the Barcelona Grand Prix at some point but maybe not until evening, which means we need to stay away from news and social media to avoid spoilers.

I'm making continued progress on Lonesome Dove and loving it. But thanks to a sudden avalanche of library holds, I may need to set it aside. Before vacation I suspended all of my holds. I reviewed my list the day they were reactivated, and based on my position in line for each book I decided it was manageable. I received notice for one book, but I wasn't worried and decided to let it sit on the shelf until the deadline for pickup. Then yesterday I received emails notifying me that not one, not two, but three books are also ready. Yikes!

Here's the list:
* Buckeye
* Land
* The Keeper
* A Guardian and a Thief

I'm excited to read all of these, and hopefully return them on time since there are others waiting. My plan is to pick up all four books on Wednesday, the deadline for Buckeye. I'll read as much of Lonesome Dove as I can by then.

I still have 3 holds in progress, but I suspended them all yesterday. I'm not taking any chances!

Oh, that's an incredible list of books! Happy reading!

Happy Sunday, Laura. Glad you enjoyed your time in France. I love the pics. Everyone looks tanned and happy. What a beautiful location. Good luck with those library books and hooray for the LD love!!

>60 lauralkeet: You have some good reading ahead, Laura.

>61 japaul22: I know, right? I'm super excited about all of them. I'm trying to focus on that rather than stressing out. I really *should* be able to read 4 books in 3 weeks, and I'll enjoy it more if I'm not worrying about the due date.

>62 msf59: Thanks Mark! We had a great time and are looking forward to our next visit (not scheduled, but definitely gonna happen).

>63 BLBera: I sure do, Beth. And I'm pretty sure most if not all of my holds are LTer recommendations.

>59 lauralkeet: LOL (really).

>60 lauralkeet:. Good thing you're nice a rested from your vacation since the library has decided to up its pressure on you...but I'm sure you can read 4 books in 3 weeks! Enjoy.

>65 RebaRelishesReading: since the library has decided to up its pressure on you
That's a great way of putting it, Reba. The nerve!

~~~~~~~~~

Happy Monday!

It's a really nice day, sunny and a bit cooler, but still warm. Today we have a guy coming to do the wall tile for our bathroom remodel. It's going to take him a few days (maybe all week? unclear), so it will be disruptive but I'll get over it I guess. This morning I'm meeting the fiber guild's new Programs Chair for coffee and to talk through anything she needs help with.

This afternoon I have a couple errands to run and a phone call or two that needs to be made. Wish me luck lol.

>60 lauralkeet: Murphy's Law of Library Holds strikes again! Good luck with your reading!

Morning, Laura! Good luck with the phone calls - not my favorite item on any to-do list.

>2 lauralkeet: confirms the adage about being busier in retirement I read less now too, especially since Kerry has retired and we are spending more time doing stuff.

I am skipping a ton of your 'new' thread, Laura, but wanted to stop by and wish you a marvelous Monday!

Oh, Laura! That looks like Paradise - and France!!!!!!! Thank you for the pictures (you and Chuck inherited somebody's forehead, I think). I'm happy that you got to go and will cheer you on when it happens again!

That's a great library list, and I wish you luck. I'm such a contrarian that when I must read a book in a limited, no matter how eager I have been for it, I am suddenly overwhelmed with an irresistible urge to read something else. Always a contrarian!
Witness: I've never read Lonesome Dove either. I want to; I just never want to do it "now."

Patience with the tile guy!

>60 lauralkeet: That is quite a list! A Guardian and a Thief was excellent and I've not yet read the other three. It really is a shame that I've become so obsessed with watercolor painting. It has really cut into my reading!

Your trip sounds delightful.

Bon retour! It sounds like a lovely vacation and what a special place to return to. I spent some summers in Provence as I was an exchange student and have the happiest memories.

>67 norabelle414: Murphy's Law indeed, Nora. I think this is the most I've ever had all at once. I guess it's a nice problem to have though, right? Right!

>68 scaifea: Hi Amber, I'm pleased to report that I successfully handled a couple of phone calls yesterday. *pats self on back*

>69 alcottacre: Thanks Stasia!

>70 LizzieD: Peggy, your comment about the forehead cracked me up. Chuck was complaining about having "Dad's hairline" and I reminded him that at least he still has a full head of hair! My dad lost his at a fairly young age.

>71 EBT1002: Hi Ellen! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed A Guardian and a Thief. Some of these books have been on hold for so long I kind of forgot what prompted me to request them!

>72 AMQS: Anne! Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Provence is beautiful; we were able to spend a couple of holidays there when we lived in England. The Occitanie region has the same climate, but is much more rural with much fewer tourists.

It's Tuesday! I have an open schedule today and don't need to go anywhere. The tile guys made great progress yesterday, but at the end of the day they advised Chris that we'll need one more box of tile (this is not their fault, we probably miscalculated somewhere). Minor panic ensued. He called the tile shop and they didn't have any in stock, but one of their other locations did. Just one catch: it's in Baltimore, about 1.5 hours away. But the alternative is to order it, which would take time and require a $140 shipping charge so Chris set out at about 6:15 this morning. The tile guys will be here at 8ish and they can still make progress with the tile we have on hand, so everything should work out just fine.

As for me, I'll be keeping the dogs out of the way and then later on I'd like to tackle a few garden jobs: harvest some peas, plant some small perennials that we started from seed, and clear out some veg plants we don't need (I always start more seeds than we can use, just in case).

Still reading Lonesome Dove, which is just so damn good.

Oh dear!! Too bad about the tile but at least it sounds like with some effort and gas cost it will be solved and your bathroom finished on time.

Because of someone on LT's comments a couple of years ago I bought the other tree books in McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series. I read LD years ago and remember really liking it so reading the whole series seemed like a great idea...still does...only I haven't gotten around to it yet :(

>75 RebaRelishesReading: Hi Reba, more on tile and books below.

The additional tile was just enough to finish the job, thank goodness because a second trip to Baltimore would have been a bit much. Today they're letting the tile dry and will return to do the grout tomorrow. We're both really glad we decided to pay someone to do this because it would have taken Chris a lot longer, and let's face it probably wouldn't have looked as professional.

I have 200 pages remaining in Lonesome Dove, and will set it aside today to start reading Buckeye. I think I'll write myself a few notes about what was happening in LD so I can catch up more easily. Reba, Chris had the same idea as you although so far he's only bought the first book.

I have nothing scheduled today ... woo hoo! I need to pick up my library holds of course. I'll also do the weekly menu/grocery list planning and get the guest bed & bath ready because Kate and Tyler are paying us a weekend visit.

Poking my nose in on the Lonesome Dove series. It was my experience that none of the other books were remotely up to the standard of the original. Comanche Moon was not bad, but compared to LD, a bit of a let-down.

Can you get the streaming service Tubi? It’s free but with ads. I saw Lonesome Dove is available there if you were looking for a watch when you are done the book.
Love the France update. Do you speak French when you are there?

>77 laytonwoman3rd: Good to know Linda, thanks!

>78 raidergirl3: Hi Elizabeth, I'm not sure if we can get Tubi, but we found Lonesome Dove to stream somewhere, can't remember exactly where. Thanks though!

As for speaking French, we get by with our "tourist French," ordering in restaurants, checking into hotels, shopping, etc. But responding to followup questions can be tricky and conversational French is an entirely different matter! I enjoy trying though.

>77 laytonwoman3rd: Thank you!! (for making feel much better about not following through with the other three)

Hello, welcome to Thursday. It's raining this morning. I didn't expect that but it's fine -- we can always use the rain and it's not like I had any outdoorsy plans. On the contrary, I'm doing the weekly grocery shopping this morning. Today is also laundry day. The excitement never ends around here!

One of the tile guys arrived a few minutes ago, looks like the grout will be a solo operation. Hopefully it's also not an all-day affair. They've been great, I just get tired of having someone else in the house and having to manage the dogs going bananas.

Last night I started Buckeye. My friend Melanie (in France) recommended this book to me ages ago; she read it for a book club. We often like the same books but I've been uncertain because I haven't seen much chatter about it here. Despite missing my buddies in Lonesome Dove, I was able to get into the story quickly and that's a good sign.

"Despite missing my buddies in Lonesome Dove..." That made me smile. I am looking forward to my reread in August. August? Augustus, get it? 😊

Sweet Thursday, Laura.

>82 msf59: August/Augustus -- that's great! July would also be a good month, for a similar reason albeit a secondary character.

I'm starting to feel an urge to get the Lonesome Dove series out...

>84 RebaRelishesReading: Go for it, Reba!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The weekend is starting early for us with a visit from Kate and Tyler. They left Brooklyn early this morning, will make a brief stop to say hello to a friend, and should be here around lunchtime/early afternoon. Tyler's brother lives in DC and will be coming out our way this afternoon and staying overnight, so we'll do something fun for dinner I think. I don't have much else on my agenda today, just looking forward to a family-focused weekend.

Have a great weekend with your crew, Laura!

>85 lauralkeet: Sounds lovely -- enjoy!! (know you will, actually)

>86 MickyFine:, >87 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks Micky & Reba!

We had a lovely afternoon yesterday mostly just chatting on the terrace. Then we walked to the winery up the road and had sparkling rose and a few of their mini pizzas while taking in the view. Ellie came along and enjoyed lots of attention from both staff and other customers.

This morning Tyler and his brother are going to play some tennis before he head back to DC. I think Kate is planning to visit her favorite thrift shops in town. The weather will be sunny and not too hot, so we might do a bit of a cookout this evening. It's nice just spending time together.

That sounds like a lovely weekend. I'm inspired by your relationship with your adult children and hope I'm headed in the same direction. It's a little hard to envision with teenage boys at the moment . . . :-)

>88 lauralkeet: Sounds heavenly!!

I love it for all of you too!

>88 lauralkeet: Sounds lovely, Laura!

>89 japaul22:, >90 RebaRelishesReading:, >91 LizzieD:, >92 vancouverdeb: Kate and Tyler are now on their way back to Brooklyn. We had a really nice visit, although the time always seems to pass too quickly.

Jennifer, thank you for your very kind comments. Both Chris and I have been committed to creating a different type adult child relationship than we had with our own parents, and so far we're pretty happy with the state of things. The teen years had its challenges, but we came out the other side in a good place. I'm sure you will, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now that the young folks are on the road, I'm washing sheets and towels, tidying up, and beginning to settle back into our normal routine. I don't have a whole lot on my agenda today but will probably do a bit of gardening and get back to reading and knitting.

Happy Monday!

This morning I have a Zoom meeting with the new Guild treasurer to bring him up to speed on things the previous treasurer should have covered with him (sadly I'm not surprised, and I'm glad to have someone new in the role). We were supposed to stop in and visit some friends for a little happy hour this evening, but one of them has come down with a bug. They are a lovely couple who we enjoy spending time with, but we're also perfectly happy not to have a social obligation today. Call us homebodies ...

I've reached the final part of Buckeye, which has been a solid read. We've also been watching Lonesome Dove. I figured out we could watch the first 2 (of 4) episodes without spoilers. Robert Duvall is amazing as Gus McCrae.

>94 lauralkeet: I already have Buckeye in the BlackHole and will be curious to see what you think of it in the end.

I remember that miniseries of Lonesome Dove. I loved it! I hope you continue to enjoy both the book and the series.

Have a marvelous Monday, Laura!