Not in general; my country is still going down the tubes because it’s being run by heartless morons, but for me personally, it’s better. One of the keys: self-publishing. I was reminded of this when Chirp put an old audio of mine on sale, Trust Me On This. There’s a lot of back story attached to that book, but the one that always comes back to me is about when the publisher showed me the book cover.
“That’s not going to work,” I said. “There’s no dog in this book.”
“Books with dogs on the covers sell better,” they said.
“But there’s no dog in the book,” I said, “so it’s misleading. Readers are going to be annoyed.”
“Books with dogs on the covers sell better,” they said.
“BUT THERE’S NO DAMN DOG IN THE BOOK!” I said.
“Do you want to do a final edit on the galleys?” they said.
“Yes,” I said, and rewrote the damn book to put a dog in it.
Have I mentioned how much self-publishing (with Bob doing all the work) makes me happy?
What made you happy this week? Was there a dog in it?
130 Responses
There was no dog in my happies, but there are always two fluffy cats in it… does that count, too? One is on my lap right now, the demon-variety.
I’m happy to read that you are feeling better, jenny. That’s the best kind of news. Not because that means more books – even though that isa huge plus IF it happens – but because you are an important force in this world, spreading joy, creating happies, making people laugh, hosting this stellar community of equally stellar people. Happy you are still with us and kicking ass.
I’m happy for The Good Place and that I can rewatch it again. Janet is so badass. I just stumbled over this song over on Youtube and it made me happy, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPp-U4QonnM
I’m happy that I finally finished the blue knittycat (!) and that people seem to think he’s awesome.
My sibling makes me happy. They’re going through hell right now, but still they are always trying to help me out if I need to borrow a pair of eyes, they cheer me on as much as they can AND they send me little messages out of the blue for no particular reason that go: “I think you are the best.” So grateful our previously very tense relation has turned this great over the past 5 or so years. I think Ive mentioned that before, but it’s definitely worth mentioning again.
Happy the heat has taken a break. It’s still summery outside, but not devastatingly scorching and suffocatingly hot. Whew.
Shass, that’s a great song! You have a lot of good things going on, too.
Shass, Your news makes my day.
Shass, Now you’ve got me watching all of Whitney Avalon’s videos. So far I especially like “Dragons are a Girl’s Best Friend. “
Ah! I have not watched any other of hers. I need to remedy this immediately.
After 2-1/2 days wandering around Budapest, we boarded the ship to cruise down the Danube. Before we boarded, my BIL wanted to do a walking tour of the city. We had a great guide who knew lots about the city and country’s history. We had already walked around both Buda and Pest and thanks to his explanation, we understood what we had seen. He also showed us lots of “hidden treasures”. Hungary has complex history and it’s fascinating to see remnants of the various eras.
This morning we took a bus tour to a nearby town. It’s a very different way of travelling for DH and I – we usually rent a car and drive around on our own. The tour guide gave us lots of information about the various sites, which we have not necessarily picked up.
So far so good with my PIL. My MIL had a small outburst our first evening but she was over-tired. My plan is to be as understanding as possible and let DH and his sister deal with any bumps. My PIL are very generous (the trip is a gift) but definitely glass half empty types. So I’m also trying to be very positive.
Susan M, We also had a great guide when we visited Budapest. One fun adventure she took us on was a van trip to a museum of dead Communist-era statues. One statue was a pair of Stalin’s shoes: the rest of the statue had been demolished.
While there are a ton a sites in Budapest, I felt lucky to explore the archeological museum. Several cities, like Budapest and Warsaw, have hidden gems of archeological museums that aren’t included in the lists of best things to do.
Regrettably, the Trumpoids have crawled out of the woodwork in Hungary and I’m not sure that the majority of voters there even understand what was so bad about Stalin.
I can only speak for Poland, but the Polish folks have not forgotten Stalin. Or forgiven him or the Soviets. However, there’s a conservative group in Poland that is vaguely like our American “backwater” folks: they live in the hinterlands and feel that the slick people in cities and suburbs are claiming more than their fair share of wealth and success. This “backwater” group just elected a conservative who will keep Poland from the judicial reform it really needs and will push Catholic church values regarding women’s roles and non-binary gender classifications.
The little I know about Hungary is that it needs Russian oil. Especially under Orban, placating Russia means Hungary gets Russian tourist business. Hungarians haven’t forgotten the 1956 uprising and its brutal suppression, so Stalin is still remembered for what he was. But I can’t guess how things will go in the future.
Elizabeth, My reading is that Hungary NEEDS cheap Russian oil no more than anyone else in Europe needs it. The greedy bastards in power and their voters (a majority but not a huge one) just WANT it and are willing to betray the memory of their ancestors (and to betray Ukraine and its European supporters) to get it. Putin isn’t Stalin but he sure acts like he wants to be, as nearly all of the other former satellite states have recognized. I pretty much share your analysis of the Polish situation.
I bc asked our guide about Russian tourists and he said many fewer since the outbreak of the war with Ukraine. Lots of tourists from many countries but haven’t heard any Russian.
We have a river cruise on the Danube planned for December to visit the Christmas markets. Budapest is the start and end point.
Visiting Christmas markets in Europe is on my bucket list.
We loved the Vienna ones and every market had different shops—so it’s worth doing many
What’s making me happy right now is a weekend with my DH, my two DD, my SIL, her husband and my daughters’ adopted grandmother. She’s so much fun and it’s been too long since we’ve seen her.
Happy for feeling better for me and for you.
I’m happy my friend and I had a great lunch together after a hiatus due to her finding out her husband of many years is cheating on her. She is still grieving but as I said to her “you look like a huge weight has been lifted from your shoulders”. She looked 10 years younger. Her ex has a very weak heart and alcohol issues. She was working very hard to help him get healthy. I said to her that the kindest thing I could think was that he wanted to forget his health issues with a new partner. Of course I had to bite my tongue because I really wanted to bash him for hurting my friend. Happy for friends, she has supported me for a long time, I am happy I can be there for her.
Good luck to her, maybe play Lets Take a Drive by Christian Kane to her
Thank you, I will check it out!
Also very happy for having listened to Rocky Start. So good. I am re listening to it because I am trying to guess the next plot twists for fun!
Self-publishing has changed the Romance landscape almost out of recognition.
Happy that some of my overwhelming depression has lifted (nothing has changed, so it is probably brain chemistry or hormones or both, but I’ll take it no matter what the cause). Life is still stressful and overwhelming, but I no longer want to throw myself in front of a truck, so I’m calling that a win.
Happiness is small things, like an insane amount of raspberries on my bushes https://www.instagram.com/p/DL98xrIA1Tl/ and cute bunnies in my yard. And planning for a brief 2.5 day getaway with the Blue Moon Circle gang (and husbands and kids of those who have them) on Lake Ontario, where one couple has a camp. We’re planning to take a 2 hour cruise around the lake, then visit Boldt Castle on Heart Island (there is a very famous real-life love story around this place, and I’ve never been there). I’d be happier if I hadn’t somehow twisted my ankle a week ago on my regular walk, and been limping ever since, but I’m hoping it will miraculously improve before we leave on Friday.
I’m also happy that the online coven I started through my Patreon seems to be making other people happy, which was my primary goal.
And that I have a WHOLE DAY without people or anyplace I have to be, in which I hope to actually get some things accomplished, including possibly writing.
Sending healing energies to your ankle, including magic energy ace bandage for miraculous recovery.
I’ve toured the 1000 islands and it’s a lot of fun. Lots of places have quirky history. I haven’t been inside Boldt Castle (we didn’t gave oour passports with us) but it’s impressive from the outside. Bring your passport if there’s a stop on the Canadian side.
According to what I read online, you don’t need a passport for Boldt castle. And I have the updated Real ID, which in theory can be used to go into Mexico and Canada. But my friends have been multiple times and apparently it isn’t an issue.
Deborah, those berries are beautiful! It’s great that you are feeling more upbeat, and have plans you are looking forward to.
I had really better plant some raspberries.
Deborah, You might want to consider investing in a good ankle brace if you anticipate a lot of walking on your trip. I ended up getting one for my last sprain sorry of by necessity (I looking for an ace bandage and found this instead) and I think it provided better support. But perhaps someone considerably lighter than me would not need so much bracing to walk comfortably and to be confident that one was not going to retwist it while it was healing.
I tried three different styles of ankle brace in two different sizes. Alas, they were either too small or too large, or the folded bit on the ends hit the bottom of my foot just wrong. (I felt like Goldilocks.) The basic ace bandage was as close to helpful as anything, but none of them seemed to improve issues. I did manage a couple of hours out in the garden today, so perhaps it is finally on the mend.
Deborah, Good luck with the ankle in any case.
Thank you! I swear, all I did was take my regular walk…
Deborah, I can easily imagine. The sprain that resulted in my brace back when came from just climbing the stairs.
I believe you when you say the ankle weirded out all on its own. Last year, my hip did something similar and all I was doing was walking on a treadmill, but managed to tear my glutes and hamstrings. I blame peri-menopause.
Also, happy to hear the depression has lifted. I’m having troubles with that too. I woke up with a migraine in progress this morning and was praying for death instead of healing. I need to focus on the happies and praiseworthy things instead of the evil happening.
I blame perimenopause for just about everything…
Glad that all the folks here doing the audio version of “Rocky Start” got me to read and enjoy the series again.
Happy that I was able to find the headspace to start a few weeks of extreme virtue in relation to food. Trying to be moderate was not working at all, so I am hoping this will act as a reset. It’s been painless for the first 6 days and I am hoping it continues to go easily. In a related story, my boss wants to take us all out to dinner next week, so I will have an exception day much earlier than I usually do, which is both a bit of annoyance and a source of happy anticipation. She wants to go to a restaurant that is closing soon, so it has to be now. Have to have a nice dinner, not my fault.
Suffer, suffer, JN! LOL Good work on the extreme virtue.
I’m trying to convince myself to go back to actual calorie-counting again, but not yet. Past the Independence Day holiday, I am at least watching portion size and trying to eat a balanced diet.
I joined a program to try to fix my fatigue. They have me starting with a diet of no dairy, gluten, or sugar. I was very grumpy about it until I was able to go grocery shopping. I have also found that if I don’t make my own food, i.e. go out to eat or eat at a friend’s house, I struggle to stay on the diet. And it has only been a week! 🙄 I eat out a lot more than I realized. It’s typically a social situation.
Speaking of Trust Me on This, it’s currently a dollar off on US Kindle. With the dog cover. (The local library ecopy, oddly, displays the dog cover until you borrow it and then shows a different plainer one.)
—Patrick
Correction: I think the display is only saying that the Kindle price is a dollar off some other price (paperback? ebook elsewhere?).
My husband makes me happy with how much of a unicorn he is compared to all the douchebags I see being stitched online.
We had sugar ants popping out of nowhere (vacuum them up, watch the spot, nothing, turn your head or blink and there’s five more appearing out of thin air), and DH a) spent time with a flashlight finding and following the trail to a single squished blueberry under the kitchen scale, and b) THOROUGHLY vacuumed the house and then sprayed all the baseboards. I washed the floors.
I love clean floors, so I’m happy they got washed. Thank you, sugar ants, but please f#&k off.
I stayed off social media almost all week, and that made me more relaxed, if not happier.
Staying off social media is an incredibly powerful self-care strategy that I wholly endorse.
We just returned from a camping trip in extraordinary Canada. We drove from Massachusetts to Airdrie (just north of Calgary) where we rented a small truck camper. From there, off to Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, and a whole bunch of provincial parks. We camped at Great Slave Lake and stood at the outlet to the MacKenzie River, thinking of the early explorers heading out to the Beaufort Sea (thinking as well of the Stan Rogers song, “Northwest Passage”). Camping was terrific, the desolation from frequent recent forest fires was astounding, the folks were fantastic, and the mountains/lakes/waterfalls/animals/birds/wildflowers, and all . . . . were unforgettable. We drove out by way of Ontario (there’s a great restaurant in London called David’s Bistro) and the SS Badger ferry across Lake Michigan. We returned entirely through the US. Lots of mountains, plains, Great Sky, and trains.
For our next North American trip, my husband wants to try traveling north to south instead of east to west. I like the fact that I can’t put my head around that idea. (The exception is that we’ve driven up and down both coasts which is not what he’s proposing.)
Oh, wow, what a fabulous trip. I went to Banff and Jasper when I was young and long to go again… One of my sisters goes canoeing in the far north and loves it.
That’s a serious drive. You had to pass through my neck of the woods and I’m glad you liked it.
Mine too since you were on Lake Michigan
When I was gowing up in Milwaukee, the Badger was a huge treat because it was the only ship that wasn’t either a grain or ore carrier that sailed out of Milwaukee. When I was in kindergarten we went to the port and they took us on a tour of one or 2 of the main rooms between sailings. Unfortunately, what I remember most is being afraid that I would fall down while climbing all those stairs to get on.
Where did you get on or off in Wisconsin?
I seem to recall ocean liners occasionally sailing out of Chicago after the St. Lawrence Seaway was completed (1959) but even that prompted no field trips for that for me from the suburbs. (We did go to Chicago museums and such.) Ironically, per the internet, the transoceanic cruise traffic (such as it is) now generally departs from Milwaukee rather than Chicago. Even from there, most modern liners won’t fit through the locks, so today it must be older liners or purpose-built ones (if any).
There were always plenty of boats going to Continental Grain, but both of the ferry lines that served Milwaukee, the Clipper and the C & O either shut down or pulled out of town. One of the yacht clubs in Chicago is built in a decomissioned ferry boat. They were both still running when I was in kindegarten (1962 or so). But no ocean liners at all. There were a few cabins on the grain boats that you could rent on their trips through the St. Laurence Seaway, but they carried less than 10 people per trip. And there were no games, gym or scheduled entertainment.
The SS Badger sails back and forth between Ludington, MI, and Manitowoc, WI. My husband, a train buff, tells me that the ferry originated to serve freight trains. The trains brought grain and such to the Wisconsin shore where it was moved onto boats which took it to Michigan where it was put into other train cars. The purpose was to skip the expenses of taking it to or through Chicago by rail. The steam ferries were an improvement because the hopper cars could be rolled onto the ferry and off at the other end. The existence of the ferry spurred a passenger ferry. Ludington is now a pleasant touristy town. We ate walleye for dinner in The Alley Bar, where pool is very serious business.
Manitowoc, at the other end in Wisconsin, is a convenient place to pick up the highway and head west — in our case, to Eau Claire. Fun stuff.
This was a 3+ plus week trip with my train-obsessed husband. Want to know more fun facts about trains in Canada, as well as in the American plains? I mostly hum Gordon Lightfoot’s “Great Railroad Trilogy” to myself, but there’s a lot of history that might or might not interest you.
I am happy that I got to see the Opossum that visits my patio, last night. However, it was dragging one hind leg, which makes me sad. I hope it recovers. They have a short lifespan, as it is, without injuries coming into the equation.
It does seem like self-publishing is a lot better for you. What a crock, putting a dog on the cover, just so a book “will sell better.” Your loyal fans would buy your books with a python on the cover!
Things ARE better. We have a smaller measles plague, and not COVID, this time around. People who voted for this mess are beginning to see what they did to themselves and the country. There’s another “Resist” Day on July 17th. People, me included, are getting off the news roller coaster. The tide seems to be turning. The die-hard MAGA crowd will not give up, but it is getting smaller. The poles are showing a LOT of resistance to the cruelties of this administration.
I could go for a python story.
Monty Python?
That’s the only one that would get me to buy a book.
I’m still happy about the dialogue we’ve been having with the baby moms about my stepdaughter’s education. But Amyll, I suggested a neuropsychology assessment and the baby mom who is the professor of education told me they were all scams and tools of capitalism to make faster workers. Plus the diagnoses would haunt the kid the rest of her life. Sigh. So no joy there.
Oh dear. The best thing we ever did for our DD was a neuropsychology testing and then using accommodations. Not to mention that she would be the first to say that it’s better to know how your brain works than to think you are just stupid.
I got my neuropsych work up when I was 38, at which point they said, “Well there are techniques you can use to alleviate your condition, but the fact that your test scores aren’t farther apart shows that you must have worked those out for yourself.”
What that didn’t take into consideration was the years of trial and error that it took me to do so and all the indifference I got from the school administration as I did it. I would want to spare my kid that if I could.
Just because she is a professional doesn’t mean she knows best. My friend’s mother was working in education and sent my friend to the worst school in their area and didn’t see a problem with it. Put it this way, if the place burnt down with the teachers, it would have gone up in the rankings (there were a number of arrests eventually) She wonders why my friend didn’t manage to pass any exams, I wonder how my friend managed to get out alive
My Mother used to tease me after I graduated cooking school that now I was a “Food Service Professional” until I reminded her that the dishwasher was as well. Only the alumni association cared.
I’m sorry. Some times professionals get very jealous of the turf they’ve staked out. And there is still a lot of stigma surrounding learning disabilities and anything with psychology. Parents can get awful touchy about the kid, because “what does that say about me”.
My husband was a little side eyed when we started getting our eldest worked up. He did think, (at first) if our first born just tried harder.things would be okay. We both realize we have a lot of Asperger traits.
We also pushed the kids towards community college for the first 2 years. Our oldest needed training wheels and the other 2 needed to learn how to work. I really couldn’t justify 40 grand a year for the effort they were putting out.
What does your stepdaughter think? .
It’s a good question. I don’t know because they haven’t asked her and I think it would be disrespectful of us to go around them and ask her when they are clearly not supportive of it. My plan now is to divide and conquer by talking separately with the lawyer baby mom who is a little more reasonable.
I can see why asking about a specific thing like a neuropsychologist might be intrusive but it might be ok to ask open ended questions to see what she wants and what her state of mind about herself is.
And it might be worth offering to pay for it if she is interested once she hits 18 on the better late than never theory. It helped our foster daughter when we paid for it and she was 25 or 26?
Nothing wrong with community college, especially if they can transfer the credit to a affiliated Higher Ed college for the later years of their degree making their degree cheaper overall
Having supper with friends three times this week, the last in the garden this evening at the end of another heatwave. Had a lovely early-morning walk around the nearest hill the other morning. And I’m enjoying the way my Victorian house stays relatively cool.
Is that because of the material it’s made of, Jane? Or its position vis-a-vis the sun or something? Love to know your theory of why that is. We abandon older building techniques too quickly to realize that some of them just plain work well.
Happiness was having lunch with some of my YMCA friends. Good food and lots of laughter.
There’s a dog, a cute little spaniel called Feather, in the story I’m writing. The bad guy ordered to have him starved or shot, but one of the good guys rescued him.
I love self-publishing. Much as I loved some of my editors in trad publishing, I’m getting too old to wait a year or more for a book to come out.
Not only that, I can break any rules I want. I’m working on a book now which is a romance but also part of a (hopefully) long-term series with a character I’m totally in love with. He first showed up in another story as a side character, and I had to make sure he didn’t take over. Then I realized I don’t have to squash him, and the current book is as much about him as about the H and h. It’s not traditional — although in mysteries, the detective can help a romance along (I’m thinking Heyer here). Anyway, one step at a time, and I’m glad I don’t have to try to sell it to a publisher. I don’t make much money writing, but I do have fun.
I once bounced off of Heyer’s contemporary mysteries and haven’t tried them since to see if my opinion has changed. But I think it was pretty common in mysteries of that era for the detective to help other romances along, whether because the detective is already tied up him- or herself or is off the market for another reason (considered a confirmed bachelor, religiously celibate like Sister Ursula [I can’t recall Father Brown encouraging romance, but maybe]), and romance was considered more or less necessary in a mystery novel of the era. Christie played with that in Mystery of the Blue Train, where the reader thinks Poirot is helping a romance when he is doing something else.
I think I remember Father Brown helping out a few romances but can’t recall the details. Time for a reread.
Heh. I’ll have to read Mystery of the Blue Train.
I basically pivoted to M/M because a gay character in a F/M story started taking over. The brain was clearly telling me “this is the kind of person you want to write” and so I am letting myself have fun. 🙂
Here’s to breaking those “rules.”
As a reader I’m more than happy when writers don’t have to follow rules. So yeah!!
My happy this week is that we are heading up to NYC to dog-sit our granddog! Hoping to see a show, see the new and improved Frick museum and have some nice meals out and visit with some beloved relatives.
Happiness is FINALLY feeling better after being out sick last week. Thank God for experienced doctors who go “yep, that looks like strep throat” and prescribe you medication even when the in-office strep test comes back negative. This is the fastest I have ever felt better after a doctor visit. I’m between insurance carriers so the bill was not fun, but it really was a reminder how miraculous healthcare is when it works.
Also helping with the optimism… there’s this guy I’m seeing. And he just makes dating *fun* again. He’s so straightforward (“I like you, you like me, let’s see each other next Wednesday”), it takes away so many of the insecurities that normally come with dating. Plus he makes me laugh, and he’s sexy, and he installed my new air conditioner for me. He’s complicated enough I think it will take a while to feel like I fully know him, but the process is making me pretty damn happy.
Topping off the happiness — one of my New York MFA writing friends is in town for a wedding, and I get to spend three whole days with her. I’d be excited to see her anyway, but also I love my (now air conditioned) apartment, and it’s fun to get to host her in a place I’ve made beautiful, after she hosted me the last time I was in New York.
Right now the summer morning is still cool, and the light is soft and beautiful through my bedroom curtains. I can hear all the birds chatting it up like crazy outside my window. It’s one of those rare mornings where contentment feels effortless. So that’s my happiness Sunday.
Oooh, fun dating! I’d love to get some of that. Congratulations.
He had me at install new air conditioner… it’s really hot here. Good luck and have fun
Didn’t Shane get Agnes an air conditioner? Good omen?
I started thinking I had nothing to be happy about because the summer t-storms were making the basement very, very damp unless I manually pump the southern sump. Repeatedly. I can’t afford professional repairs just now.
But self-publishing is a source of the happies. You do it. Bujold does it. My current favorite superhero author does it. (MGHarmon) Another Jordan did it. While it is no doubt true that 90% of self-publishing is crap, that other 10% that bypasses the traditional publishing gatekeepers is a joy.
It sounded as though professional repairs would be Very Complicated, and therefore Very Expensive.
Good luck with your latest war against the encroaching water. I’m sending good vibes to help it to be your last.
I’m not so sure about the percentage of crappy self-publishing. Quite a number of authors I grew to like a lot turned to self-publishing to be more in control and see books published faster. Those would be great in trad publishing, too, but trad publishing also dictates when your book is to be published, fast-tracked books are a rarety (and eat up ressources in house), they make you spread out publication dates of your books.
I one newsletter, Alexis Hall mentioned this: Iirc, some titles had got to get in line behind books of other authors.
Trad publishing wouldn’t accomodate writers with a very fast output, e.g. Saxon James and Eden Finley are incredibly fast writers, both solo and in collaboration. I’m usually hesitant of such a prolific output, but I’d say their books are solid, some very endearing (to me), and from what it looks like they’ve built a very successful self-publishing machinery relying on arc’s and promotion by social media/word of mouth/hooking readers by their very efficient interlinked series.
Also: provided they got rather successful, many traditionally published authors tend to grow immune to editors input, so the quality suffers there, too. Not an automatism, but a tendency that afflicts quite a number of writers, imo (usually the books grow too much in lenght and suffer).
“I’m not so sure about the percentage of crappy self-publishing.”
Sturgeon’s Law or Revelation is that 90% of everything [published] is crap. It came from a critic deriding Science Fiction and Sturgeon pointing out that the same was true in any other genre.
The actual percentages may be somewhat lower, but still above the mean. Because much if not most of self-published works lack professional editing and proofreading, the percentage may be higher. OTOH, since there is more to read available than would otherwise be the case, you might find authors you would happily forgive the typos for.
I agree with both Dodo’s and Gary’s comments.
Jenny, every time I read this book, and read about Walter, I think of Tilda in Faking It. She got Steve the silver dapple, longhair dachshund because “you always put dogs in your murals, it said so in the magazine.”
LOL!
My Swiss family is staying with me, which makes me happy, and I am half done a fan-fic story I am writing for my Dad’s 86th birthday- ‘Buried Treasure at Blandings’. It is fun writing Lord E and his brother Galahad. There is no treasure, it was a rumour started by Lady Constance being overheard talking about her favourite of Lord Emsworth’s secretaries, Rupert Baxter (such a treasure!)
The funniest piece of Wodehouse I ever read was Baxter falling down the stairs. He’s horrible, but so much fun to read about.
Yay, my story is done! Baxter is only present in spirit.
4500 words. I hope my father will actually read it! 😄 I am content anyway. It’s nice to actually finish something.
Two big happinesses this week: first, we went to see Postmodern Jukebox and they were fantastic. Beyond fantastic in fact. Paul wasn’t sure what to expect but he loves music and he had a blast. As we were leaving he thanked me for mentioning the concert and getting tickets.
Secondly, we have decided that now is a good time to replace my Subaru while Paul is still working and we have a solid income. We were thinking of getting about 5 more years out of it but financing and payments will be harder once he is retired. I’m knee deep in research on midsize CUV/SUVs. On paper the Mitsubishi Outlander is winning but it will all depend on how comfortable it is for Paul.
So many questions and so many choices. The next big decision is hybrid or regular, but that requires more research and I’m baking today.
fwiw, we drove a Toyota RAV4 on our Alaska road-trip vacation and it was great. Not sure it was a hybrid version but it had an Eco mode and we averaged just over 30 mpg. Adjustable driver’s seat + general design meant my 5’11” spouse could sit there with his Stetson on. Comfortable seats for 5’5″ me, good visibility, not too tall, and plenty of cargo space.
Assuming you’re in the USA, with the passing of Trump’s awful, ugly bill, one of the things that will end are the rebates on hybrid vehicles. I think you have until Sept. for them to still be available. I also think it was for $7500. I’m trying to remember from my senator’s update on the bill.
Office Wench Cherry is Canadian, iirc (Alberta – almost affected by the fires in May/June??).
Good to know! I failed to remember when I was reading & posting last night. My apologies.
No apologies necessary, Argh is a very multinational place and no one can remember where everyone else lives. You were being helpful and that’s always appreciated.
We LOVE our RAV4 Prime—best vehicle we’ve ever owned.
Today I learned that listening to a horse eat hay is incredibly relaxing. Especially unexpected because I have an unreasonable dislike of hearing _people_ chew.
Seriously, right up there with ocean waves.
People are weird! I mean me, here
And cows. When the neighbor’s cows are near my back fence the grass-chewing sound is so soothing.
Clancy, you are not alone in your dislike for certain noises. The sound of chewing is awful. Even worse is snoring. It’s called misophonia, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misophonia
Back then when I wondered why we need labels for everything, one of you Arghers (I think Zoe?) explained very well that it can be soothing to know who you are. Which made me realize that yes, that is indeed calming. And us misophones are not alone, there’re more of us than I’d thought and having a name for it makes it easier to bond (3 out of 4 in my small department are misophones for some noise with chewing very high on the list of awful noises).
And strangely enough, what drives me up the walls when humans do it (like snoring) can have a totally different effect when the noise is produced by animals.
Must check out horses eating hay!!
Watching horses nibble on my favourite Yorkshire farrier’s ears or trying to undress him has a very soothing effect either (on youtube and instagram).
addendum: misophonia like any “disorder” comes in grades. I wouldn’t say I have a disorder but more like a decreased tolerance, but I certainly was affected by the classmate chomping on nuts for hours on end when we were sitting for our final exams (Abitur). I’m pretty sure I’d have done better if my concentration hadn’t been shot thanks to this ongoing stress.
Yes, I could have used ear plugs, but back then we only had those wax thingies that didn’t really work. It was a revelation to find soft ear plugs in uni. Yay!!
I don’t think tech had reached soft earplugs in my college days, but the university bookstore sold huge ear protectors that covered the ears, much like ground crew working near aircraft use, and that got me through my college dorm. Grad school dorm was quieter!
I had an exam next to someone with the sniffles. I don’t remember what the exam was on but the sniffle is vivid still.
I’m joining your club, Clancy. I also can’t stand loud-chewing people, but listening to a horse chewing is soothing. Sometimes when my mum goes out to feed the horses, she’ll just stand beside them and record a voice-message to me while they chew on their hay. I could definitely fall asleep to that sound. Love it.
Oh, that’s lovely, Shass. I went looking for the sound, myself, for falling asleep. Tinnitus keeps me awake(and sometimes other people not quite snoring). I use the website mynoise.net to cover. I play a cat purr, Irish coast and thunderstorms the most.
But the range is astonishing. Senegal town, glacier, mediaeval library, psytrance, cave…. I have spent hours.
Thursday was a relatively cool day here, so rather than shop, I used it to knock off some chores, but I got less done than I’d hoped. Oh well. Progress is progress.
On Friday, I made my postponed shopping trip and finally bought a replacement microwave at Target. I had intended to buy a few groceries as well. I did get some of them, but Target was in the middle of Circle Days (a promotion for a subscription like Amazon Prime), and a lot of items were marked with tags telling me how much cheaper they were for Circle members. I have a strong aversion to buying anything at a higher price when some store is shoving my nose in how much cheaper it would be if I did something that I’m unable or unwilling to do, so Target lost some sales to me that day. I did buy some small kitchenware, viz. a knife and a spatula, besides groceries. (Similarly, if a supermarket has an empty shelf space with a tag proclaiming how great a sale price that is, I’m unlikely to buy a comparable item next to it at normal price.)
Anyway, per the specification the microwave weighed 20 pounds, not so bad, but as with all microwaves, the weight was unbalanced, and it came in an awkwardly large box with no handholds. I manhandled it a half story up the porch steps and then tied a rope around it so that I could more conveniently get it up another story to my unit’s lower floor. There, despite a lack of a lot of free floor space, I got it unpacked and, after some struggle, up into its place and plugged in. I tested it, but haven’t seriously used it yet, since in this weather I’m mostly eating cold food. Possibly I’ll at least thaw something in it soon.
On Saturday, we had a good book-club meeting, although a poorly attended one. It ran a little short, since the book was only a novella. One good thing about holding meetings in a library is that one can profitably stick around for a bit to justify the trip even for a short meeting. I checked out some audiobooks. Anyway, I counted it a win to feel energetic enough despite my exertions on Friday. Today I’m taking it easier, although even around the house I certainly have things to do.
Congratulations on your returning energy.
Patrick, I smile when I imagine you (Darth Vader) roping the microwave box and pulling it up the stairs to the second floor. Such a practical solution to a problem.
Elizabeth, I have indeed pushed heavy things up the carpeted stairs in the past, or slid them down, but this time the rope was to make a handhold, and I actually carried the thing. Admittedly resting it on stair steps from time to time.
It makes me so happy to see how you progress towards feeling better day by day, week by week. Even if the steps are small sometimes, you keep moving forward. Congratulations!
Rehearsal’s going pretty well other than me still having issues memorizing all lines and spitting them out ONSTAGE. The director said we can use our scripts again next week, that should tell you something.
I saw Sunset Boulevard and Hello Dolly yesterday, that was fun. Having a chill morning visiting relatives (so far, knock wood).
My joy was watching my older son get married at the beach, gaining a fabulous nineteen-year-old grandson and having the wedding reception at my house afterwards
Ohana family gathered and helped with set up, and clean up.
I can’t believe trust me on this did not have a dog and you had to rewrite it because of the cover. But I certainly understand it.
Than could have been a “When handed lemons, make lemonade” thing, since any Crusie book is improved by a dog. Many are further improved by a second one partway through. (It’s probably too soon for me to reread Getting Rid of Bradley yet again, but the thought of the dogs tempts me in that direction.) I could alternately settle for three books of Mags the Wonder Dog in the Rocky Start series, perhaps.
Congratulations on your newly acquired inlaws, grandkid and to a fantastic wedding!
Happiness this week: progress on moving prep, including DH actually planning and executing a trip to e-waste / hazardous waste dropoff this morning. We’ve been watching renovation shows since he got back, but I look forward to seeing his progress next time I peek into the man-cave. Last time I poked my head in, I almost had a panic attack.
Unhappiness this week: the cat had a psychotic break and bit the hell out of my leg Thursday night. I cleaned it up (took half an hour due to 3 rounds of hydrogen peroxide and making the bite and scratch wounds bleed, then washing with soap and water, then another round of peroxide, then letting dry, then bandaging with antibiotic cream). No sign of infection. The punctures and adjacent bruises are quite impressive. The accompanying long scratch across the back of my shin is also impressive, and more uncomfortable than the actual bite (she got me inside and just above a knee, a blob of fat that must not have many nerve endings).
Theory is that she was mad at one of her enemies doing something offensive outside the back door. I keep the main door open most of the time for airflow through the steel security door, but am now closing it after dark when the ferals get bolder.
Have been up and down to the floor and the ground since Friday morning with no trouble, and she’s been less of an asshole since. I did give her the silent treatment all day Friday, which she definitely noticed, but she’s a cat, so who knows whether she’ll really associate the consequences with the crime.
Another unhappiness: my manager checked in to confirm my fully remote / relocation status is going forward, but with a much worse pay cut than I was expecting. 9-10% had been mentioned, which would have been excusable even though their “local market rates” rationale is baseless, since – if I left – they would almost certainly not be hiring my replacement from North Carolina. Instead they’re cutting me 18%. The new number is still generous by most standards and the annualized number is still north of $90K, but it feels unjust, unwarranted (they are not reducing my workload by 18%!), and punitive. Thus my attitude toward the job has taken a dive. I will continue doing my job well because personal pride, but the days of volunteering for anything are OVER, and my GBT reports may get longer.
Back to happiness: Thursday and Friday were beastly hot, but this weekend has been much more pleasant, and it’s been fun watching renovation shows with DH. I am now going to amuse myself by doing some research for the new story idea that won’t go away. There will be a cat in it – and two dogs.
Sorry your employers are being so stupid, but looking forward to more GBT posts – and maybe you’ll have more time for your own work?
18% cut eeek Cough (work to rule) Cough
Yikes about the cat (I had one of my cats bite and scratch me years ago, but it wasn’t his fault–we’d just moved into a new apartment and I didn’t know the windows didn’t stay up reliably, and one fell on his foot and left him dangling upside down–it was horrible, thankfully he was fine, and eventually, so was I). I’m glad there is no sign of infection. Do keep an eye on it.
And your job sucks. That is all.
Chachal, “But she’s a cat, so who knows whether she’ll really associate the consequences with the crime.” And, if she associates the consequences with the crime, will she care? Being a cat . . . .
The sad part is that this is the best law-firm job I’ve ever had. It’s *still* a good job – I get to work from home, I’m well-paid, the benefits package is fat, and they are not dropping their DEI programs despite pressure from DJT.2 – but this is a reminder that supporting their employees only goes so far.
I’m sorry to hear this – really unfair.
Really think about getting antibiotics. Cats have some nasty bacteria that can take you down fast.
My cat got extremely upset at a racoon that was pushing in between the screen door and the sliding door to get at the food bowl…she backed it off, but was so overstimulated and raging that she instead attacked my bare legs. She really scratched me up, it happened so quickly. No infection, I cleaned, doused, etc. But I did not speak to her for some days. She was a tortoise shell, with a trigger aggression reflex. But, she was on the team.
Went to see some quiet live guitar music with friends last night. That made me happy.
Everything’s better with a dog. Pixie is still healing. She still has her cone and has to go back to the vet for a bandage change on Wednesday. The incision is a bear, triangle-shaped and between her front legs. She’s coping though.
I’ve been sleeping on my first floor since she can’t do stairs and finally broke down and got an inflatable mattress. It was delivered today but I’ll set it up tomorrow after I vacuum the rugs.
The floor has actually been quite comfortable with a 2″ foam pad. Actually more comfortable than the couch. The challenge is getting upright from the floor.
Busy week coming up with the vet, two doctors and one haircut appointments and a couple of meetings. Also JD Vance is coming to town. I might skip that demonstration because doctor and vet.
And so it continues.
Hugs for Pixie.
Big snuggles to the fluff, and sending lots of strength to you for the week ahead!
Despite the heat and humidity, I am feeling better than last week. I managed to get out and pick blueberries a few times and now have about 22 lbs in the freezer. I use them all winter long so they definitely won’t go to waste. I might even try to make blueberry jam or jelly, if I get inspired enough.
I’m happy that my raspberry and blueberry bushes are producing much fruit! Other plants in the garden are also producing. I gathered 4 zucchinis and a pepper today. I used the pepper in guacamole along with cilantro from the herb garden.
I had a day trip for work on Thursday that took me to the Detroit Institute of Art. There was a brief tour before lunch and the afternoon meeting. It was really cool to see some of what was on display.
For some reason I have started lurking. I’m sure I’ll have something to say eventually.
Jenny I’m glad things are better!
We had a fantastic trip to Lassen NP and completed the hike to the top of Mt Lassen—around 10,450’ elevation. (The hike covers 2000’ elevation.) We’ve done some hikes where the view at the top is great but the trail to get there is ho-hum. Every inch of the Lassen trail had breathtaking views. Parts of it were a little scary to me because you had to go around or across stretches of snow, but it was worth it.
J and I are on our way to San Francisco to apply for French passports at the consulate. If it turns out that we get there on time and have everything we need, I will be VERY happy!
Love seeing everyone’s happinesses! Jenny, I’m thrilled you’re finding the process of self-publishing so happy-making 🙂
I’m an incurable “looking on the bright side of things” person, so even though it’s looking like we’re going to have to say goodbye to my cat very soon (chemo isn’t working, his cancer is progressing rapidly, and the vet can’t do anything else for him) I’m happy that the medications they gave him have given him some comfortable time before we have to say goodbye. I’m also happy that I have so many people in my life who are checking in on me and sincerely care about me, and that my workplace gives so much vacation time and flexibility. I’m happy that the world is still ultimately full of beauty and that the world gave me my cat in the first place and that he and I had around 7 great years together.
Tinker Taylor, Your note is so life affirming. Thanks.