52 Responses

1. Hanging out with my in-laws in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. Yesterday I checked out my mother-in-law’s book shelves and realized she has a section devoted to Jennifer Crusie – with two copies of Welcome to Temptation! After all, one is not enough.

   1. I have a reading copy that I gift away as needed and a signed copy that Jenny sold some years ago. That one is NOT TO BE TOUCHED UNDER PAIN OF DEATH.

      1. You have a signed copy?? So jealous!!

         1. It is one of my most prized possessions. Jenny sold a bunch off years ago for a fund raiser for … Planned Parenthood? My only signed books besides a Tamora Pierce and now a CM Nascosta. I think. That last one might just be a stamp.

   2. One is not enough! Admittedly, all my copies are electronic One e-book, one copy as part of The Jennifer Crusie Collection, one copy in my Downpour audiobook library, one copy in my Audible audiobook library, and one copy as MP3 files on my hard drive(s). I used to have a copy as an MS Reader file (from Fictionwise ebooks).

   3. Excellent. Books tell a lot about a woman.

2. It’s been a pretty low key week, with not much accomplished creatively. I give myself grace, though, since the gifting of the signature quilt took a bit out of me. I’ve been working hard at work though, doing training every afternoon for eager trainees. People don’t know how much having verbal interaction and questions really help with an on-line training session. If the participants turn off their cameras and just listen – which I realize is some people’s learning style – it feels like you are talking to the air or to stones, and it isn’t much fun. This group I’m working with this week, however, has questions and tangents that allow us to explore things more deeply.

   Next up is prepping for my retreat this weekend. Hopefully, I’ll be inspired!

   1. The online stuff can be really hard if you’re not getting anything back from participants, can’t it. I occasionally do online school visits, and honestly, I don’t enjoy them at all. With an in-person visit you get so much energy back from the kids, and the adrenaline carries you along, whereas online I feel as if I’m pedalling frantically and getting nowhere.

      1. That’s exactly right. There’s no ability to “read the room” and get visual clues as to what is getting through, or not. In person is going to be better. You just have to get around the other obstacles, like travel or the person’s unwillingness to be in the same room with others.

   2. If your retreat is a quilting one, I’m a bit jealous. I’d like to go on one this fall but I failed to organize it. I will be getting away this coming weekend though. Anniversary trip with the hubby.

3. Today we have another heat-advisory-stay-indoors-in-the-a/c-if-you-can day. So I am finally going to tackle the kitchen cabinets which are full of things (how many glasses does one actually need??) that should go to someone who will actually use them. I will listen to “Fast Women” (again!) so it won’t actually feel like work.

   1. The answer to how many glasses is “more than you would think, and whatever size of clean that glasses you have is the wrong one at the moment.” Probably proving I should wash more glasses by hand rather than waiting for a full dishwasher load. Not to mention the competition for space on the top dishwasher rack.

      1. Sigh. “that glasses” should be “glasses that”.

         1. LOL! You are so right! My hope is that by cutting back we will re-use glasses and fill up the top dishwasher rack more “mindfully”. I.e. re-use “ongoing” glasses! 🙂

            1. I reuse the same water class longer than I probably should. And then my sister comes to visit for a weekend and leaves a trail of them behind her like a fragile version of Hansel and Gretel. A happy medium is probably a good goal.

            2. I’m always putting half full glasses of stuff in the dishwasher and then people say “wait, I was drinking that”. Sure didn’t look like it to me.

            3. But Lupe, if your sister ever gets lost in the forest, you will at least be able to find her.

   2. Replying to Tammy about throwing out half finished drinks – I am always shaking my head over the drinks my kids & grandkids purchase with hard earned money & don’t finish. I don’t drink colas but if I buy coffee, tea or lemonade – even from McDs – I am drinking every last drop I paid for.

4. I have been in training for the upcoming system change at work and I am feeling fairly anxious about it. It is a significant change and my employers decided to have us trained by other employees who have sat through it rather than representatives from the new company. The results have been…mixed. I am trying to stay positive, but Ugh.

   Not much else going on. Halloween is in full swing in the stores that we have left, so I am spending a little extra there, but it is making me happy, so that is fine. My husband is amused my some of the recent décor, which is also good. It is also trickling into the thrift stores and selling out of my etsy shop, which makes me feel ok about sourcing more. And I have finished the LBD collection and moved on to sweaters and hats. Still have a pile of wool skirts and trousers to go, but progress is being made.

   Only little things are happening on the art/craft front, but I am hoping to move the needle a bit there as well, with the long weekend.

   1. My sympathies on the computer thing. I went through something similar before retiring. We got through it, but with an unnecessary amount of grief.

      1. Thank you! I have hopes that once we are over the learning curve it will be better, but oh my, that curve is steep. I could have used another month or so of practice before we go live.

         1. This is what I do for a living – help employees adopt new systems. Doesn’t sound like your company has put enough thought into it.

            1. Definitely not. I am a classic overachiever and I am stressing about reaching the goals. I assume they went with the cheapest possible option. Otherwise we would be getting training from the people who know the system. It’s hard feeling like there is no respect for the bottom tier of the organization.

   2. When you mentioned the upcoming system change I was suddenly reminded of the chaos that occurred when our entire organization moved to “Microsoft Word” lo these many years ago (I know, I’m totally showing my age here!) No one had adequate training and though we younger employees took to it pretty quickly, the older people (i.e. management) did not. What ensued was a colossal mess with some (with hindsight) rather funny scenarios and some great (with distance) memories.
      I hope your system change will go more smoothly!

      1. Thank you! I don’t think that smooth is possible at this point. I will settle for ‘not catastrophic’. The worst part is that if we were given enough time and resources, it probably wouldn’t be so bad… Needless chaos.

5. Still in summer mode here. I’m back from a short rest/vacation on Cape Cod. Have my brother and his husband as company, but they are great guests, and my brother trained as a chef for a while. Also, I realized I just need to put the fresh sheets on the bed for them to make, I don’t have to make it.
   Yesterday I took a tremendous amount of recycling to the dump, and got the new-to-me Rav4 registered. Going to dig a few holes in the garden for some stray plants I may have purchased. My zinnia seedlings are spindly and dwindling. Maybe because the cat likes to sleep on them…
   I have some work coming down the pipeline, so that’s good.

6. I spent a lot of time trying to convince my mom that the problems she has with her computer not printing are because of the clean up the computer guys did after she got scammed and not because she needs to be administrator for her computer again (we took her off that status so that she can’t download the software the scammers use to get in and steal from her bank accounts ). In the course of the debate-by-text it became clear that she had blocked out the memory that she has let scammers in three times. She also said it was safe because “ The financial sector is protected as you know.” Uh, no. They try but it’s not perfect, and there are limits to what they can do when people take direction from scammers and pull out their own money ( I believe Lupe has posted about this). She was also upset that she kept getting an update notice and couldn’t download it—when she finally sent me a picture of it it’s from 2018 and that software has been updated 60 times since then. When I pointed this out I finally got her to agree to have the computer people come to the house to fix her printer next week. I hope she will then stop fighting to be administrator.
   I have a second step they have recommended ( using a Java blocker) but I suspect I need to wait on that until she calms down.

   Also working on getting tested for mono after DS came down with it and I either have it or a slow COVID recovery. Or something else (no, please no). And of course working on getting better.

   On a brighter note the second edition of “Unsung Heroes of the Dachau Trials” which has a chapter on my dad is now out and I’m ordering signed copies for all the grandkids.

   And we are working to help DD buy a house, which includes a loan and updating our wills since the loan is secured by her inheritance from us. The cheeriest reason for dealing with our mortality I guess. I am confident it will get paid back long before and we really didn’t want to try to hold a mortgage on an English house.

   Finally I’m working on getting our campaign support lined up —a call tomorrow that apparently spells out the most effective strategies to donate to and participate in, and then signing up for those. I will post the link separately for anyone interested.

   1. Here’s the call I mentioned .
      It was recommended to me by my cousin whose judgment I really trust and who had been involved in DC and local politics as the head of a prominent nonprofit for decades. Thursday, August 29that 8 PM EDT to learn about Focus for Democracy, organizations worth supporting, and ideally to contribute. (I promise there is no pressure to contribute)

      You can click here to register:

      Bit.ly/F4D29Aug

   2. The ad blocker is good. We installed one for my dad after he fell for a click bait scam. He doesn’t even know we did it.

      And yes, banks will do the best they can for you, but if you take out wads of cash, wrap them in tin foil and mail them to your scammer, there is only so much that can be done. True story. Likewise if you wire away the money under your own power, or buy gift cards and send off that information.

      I don’t know if this is helpful, but if your mom becomes too much of a risk, her bank can choose to refuse to service her. They can close her accounts and send her elsewhere, which does happen with some clients who have caused repeat losses. Maybe this info would carry weight with her?.

      1. It might . Her primary checking bank has made her close her accounts and open new ones three times now.
         I will use this. Thanks!

7. I finished a scarf and I’m working on finishing up the shrug I’ve been making so I can start another sweater. I want to try to make that Oprah DNC purple jacket top, but I can’t afford a custom Christian Siriano, so here I go.

   Work: trying to figure out an aspect of the job, going through old documentation.

   Rehearsal: OH MY GOD I’M TIRED (literally, I wake up too early and can’t sleep and have to get up too early and get home late) from these exhaustingly long rehearsals. The show starts its half a week run next week and we’re going to have long rehearsals pretty much every day until then. Other than still trying to finish one number–and dear lord, they want to do costumes late in the rehearsal process, the poor costumer only just got a a budget and it’s tiny–we’re pretty well set at this point, it’s just exhausting to have 3.5 hour rehearsals every weeknight and then 6+ hours on weekends.

   On the good news side, I got into Robin Hood: The Musical, which has only 2.5 hours of rehearsal 3 days a week and they don’t start consistently rehearsing until October. I could use a break, and I say that as someone who doesn’t want more than a few days of theater “break” usually.

8. About six years ago we discussed painting the house using an actual painter. Usually, my husband would do one side a year until life caught up with him. Between his hospital stays, quotes, covid scares and just plain disinterest, our house is now being painted as I write. This sad looking house is being prettied up. Along with the house the deck is getting an update, too. Just going to reconfigure the stairs to make it more convenient for us old folks to go up and down.

   I saw the cutest thing yesterday. The graddog was out digging a hole (that part wasn’t cute) but after she dug it out little birds used it to create a dirt bath. She better not plan anything for the bunnies. I didn’t think we had as many until rainless days brought dead grass and I saw tons of little black turds in the yard. We’re not allowed to water the lawns due to water shortage. Maybe the construction will move them along.

   1. Mary, there’s a spot next to my back patio that keeps getting deeper, and the dirt is spreading on the patio, but the birds love it, so I can’t bear to fill it in. I tried that once, and it immediately got unfilled in, anyway.

9. I am excited to say that a large, heavy box of various art supplies that I packed up in the spring has been donated to the local high school! It felt good to find a nice home for all those things. I have pretty much given up on trying to sell any stuff on Craigslist, as I get few bites, and when I do, they haven’t really read the ad, and are asking dumb questions that I answered in my description. Grrr! So, I am packing up things I will probably not ever use again, and books I will not read again, and getting ready to donate them. We have several HalfPrice Books in this area, so the books can go there, maybe for a little money.

   This house and yard are becoming too much for me, maintenance-wise, and I need to move, once interest rates get more reasonable. There is a whole lot of weather in the midwest, which really bothers my arthritis, and having a basement is a temptation to hoard things, or just shove them onto a pile down there. The second med I was given for my heart problem is working well, so I finally feel up to doing all this clearing and cleaning. I’m grateful for that.

10. I am finally caught up on (almost) all my normal tasks & deadlines. Which is good, since it becomes hard to use a vacation as an excuse when you’ve actually been home for several weeks.

    The next big household project that I should probably tackle is the office, which is basically a post-pandemic decluttering effort. The room was my office/art space for many years, but when we both had to work from home during the pandemic, we divvied up the house differently and my partner took over the room. Which saved our sanity at the time, but also meant that a strata of clutter took hold that has never really gotten organized since.

    Since then, the room has basically become a dumping ground for junk. Part of that is because I don’t really need an office right now, and part of that is because I’ve never really liked the desk or layout in there anyway. So I think the time has come to reclaim it by building a new desk, adding more shelving/storage, and otherwise turning it into a space that is actually functional and nice to work in. And maybe tackling those boxes that are piled in the closet while I’m at it ;-P

11. I’m continuing to go through / weed out the boxes of paperwork from my homeowner’s association. Not sure why I thought it was a good idea to do this — other than a way to reduce what we pay to store stuff that will never be looked at — but it has taken much longer than I expected. On the plus side, I’ve been able to weed out a lot of things that were unnecessary to keep — including printouts/letters where the writing had completely faded away.

    Other than that, I’ve been gathering stuff together for a community garage sale we will be holding in a few weeks. Since our local Goodwill store closed, I’ve had a lot of stuff pile up, so it will be good to see it go, even if I give it away for free.

12. There’s a cat-shaped hole in my heart. I/we lost my oldest kitt, Chili, today. Turns out it really doesn’t matter how prepared you think you are… it still hits you like nothing else. He passed away peacefully, very likely in his sleep. Mum found him rolled up on the laundryroom carpet when she came home this afternoon. He turned 17 past midsummer. He had a good life.
    I’m heartbroken.
    I posted some pictures here:
    https://x.com/shassmusic/status/1828808906422075731
    And here:
    https://x.com/shassmusic/status/1828832080392003629
    This kinda erased everything else today. I’ll miss him so, so much. I already did, since I couldn’t bring him with me to The Netherlands. Still, that is another type of missing.
    Rest well, my little midsummer kitt. <3 See you someday at the other end of the rainbow.

    1. I’m so sorry, Shass. It hurts so much when they go.

    2. I’m so sorry, Shass. Chili was beautiful and I’m sure he had the best life with you.

13. No work for me today, power is out due to major thunderstorms last night. Fortunately we still have power at home, or we would be dying from the heat and humidity.

14. Work is still, well, my coworkers are still crazy.

    Manager is in Cuba with her daughter and their “boyfriends.” The less said the better.

    Party Girl and her man had a domestic violence incident and he kicked her out. That lasted less than 24 hours.

    The pharmacy tech finally quit, after ghosting everyone for nearly 6 weeks so the manager is going to work in the pharmacy and the more full time person is going to become an assistant manager.

    She was redoing the September schedule and put me down for a day I had already booked off. It actually said No OWC on the calendar for that day and she covered that in whiteout and wrote my name in. I told her, very innocently and mildly, that I couldn’t work that day because I wasn’t in town. She told me she couldn’t work because she wanted to have her son’s birthday party that day. She was annoyed when I didn’t immediately change my plans for her.

    Manager and I are going to have a chat when she gets back.

    1. Wow. This is indeed crazy. The idea of the 15 year old daughter going on vacation with the adult boyfriend is very troubling.
       I’m a little confused about who wrote you in for the day you won’t be there —manager now in Cuba? Or some assistant manager?

       1. The manager and her daughter are going on vacation to see their boyfriends. Boyfriends live in Cuba and we are in Canada. The boyfriends work at the resort where they are staying.

          Everyone who knows about the situation is deeply suspicious of it, except the manager. She doesn’t seem to realize that romance scams are real and that there are people desperate to get out of Cuba by any means necessary.

          The person who wrote me in was the new assistant manager. When we made up the September schedule, I had said I was unavailable and manager wrote No OWC.

          1. Wow. Just wow.

15. Appropos of nothing: I don’t remember having heard the phrase “play the [X] card” before “play the China card,” with regard to Nixon and Communist China. I therefore thought it was fairly recent. However, I just found the expression, “play the Orange card” meaning the Irish Protestant one, used by Lord Randolph Churchill (Winston’s father) in something like 1886. Some seeming anachronisms aren’t so, just to make life confusing. Churchill’s use does seem to be the first recorded one, however.

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/playing-the-card

    1. I love this kind of trivia. I also would have thought of it as a recent expression.

16. I’m having a easy first half of the week. The crush starts tomorrow-medical, dog grooming, haircut and a couple of political/election things.

    I ran into an old friend yesterday; we were paying our taxes (one more thing off the list).
    We really have to do lunch one of these days. A lot depends on my cousin’s husband (dementia and will be in long term care very soon) since it’ll be me, my cousin and the friend.

    One of my political groups is getting into board of election and election monitoring so since that’s my area, I’ll be getting into that for them. I’ll have to give up the canvassing and phone banking. Darn! But gotta use my time where I’ll do the most good.

17. Our house is being painted this week. We selected the paint in April but the actual painting was delayed from early July to this week. Since neither DH nor I could remember the colours we chose, it’s been a surprise to see them on the walls. We’re happy with our choices expect possibly the bathroom – small and easy to re-paint. We can use the bedrooms at night but except for the kitchen, the furniture in the other rooms have stuff shoved in the middle of the floor and covered in plastic. It will be lovely when it’s all done and we have a long weekend to put it all back together.

    I’m making thank you cards for an organization I volunteer with. Lots of little pieces which is time-consuming but fun to put together. I’ve already made 25 and this is the next set. Also getting organized for a 4-day card workshop at the end of the month.

18. I’ve been working on getting my internet to work. I’ve been getting texts and emails spasmodically but hardly any web pages will load. Today, after restarting the modem yet again, here I am. If this continues to work I will be catching up.

    1. It has not continued to work. Intermittent.

19. This week: Day Job + a little yardkeeping + working on New Novel. Progress in all. 🙂

20. Mowing the lawn despite the mosquitoes was a challenge. They are so bad right now that even with bug spray on (the good stuff, too!) I am still getting bitten, mostly through my clothes. I harvested the last of my cherry tomatoes, and looked sadly at the other tomato plant, which did produce tomatoes, but something always got them before I could, and I have decided to let them both go, into the compost bins.