I’m big on using gifts to characterize people, especially guys. No matter how tough and tamped down a love interest is, if he gets the gift right, he’s good. Like Zack gave Lucy a stray dog and Shane gave Agnes an air conditioner, I needed something that took Nate out of his comfort zone. So in Arresting Anna, there’s an engagement party–they’re not engaged, they’ve told everybody they’re not engaged, but her mother is a force of nature so there’s an engagement party. He’s got a nice suit and knows he should be bringing her flowers, but he has no idea what she likes, so he asks her best friend, who says, “Give her what she likes,” which is not a help, and “It doesn’t have to be flowers,” which is. So on the night he brings her a big bouquet.
Of Snickers.
I had to see if it would work so I made a Snicker’s bouquet. It involved eating some of the leftovers, but in general it worked just fine. It’s too dark now to take a picture but I’ll add one once it gets light.
What good thing happened in your life this week?
Never let it be said that I don’t do my research.
96 Responses
Jenny you’re so clever; I love your Snickers bouquet. A good thing from last week is I found out that NASA has free coloring pages for kids:
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/coloring-pages/en/
Mary M, Thanks for the link! What a great Good Find — and it is exactly what we needed today to entertain some young minds.
I love the Snickers bouquet! Excellent research, Jenny.
I had visitors yesterday, and I basically only clean when I’m going to have visitors. They brought their two smallish children, one of whom had just read my kids’ book, A Clue for Clara, and it reminded me of what an amazing and rewarding thing it is to write books for kids, because they believe so totally in the characters, even when one of those characters is a chook who wants to be a detective.
So now I have a nice clean house, and a cute drawing of Clara on my fridge. 😍
And now I want some snicker ice cream bars. There was a time when I was obsessed with those. They got me through the child rearing years 🙂
I saw the picture on FB. Delicious! If I made such a bouquet, it would be all almond joys. If I did it for the grandkinder, it would be peanut butter cups.
I got a bunch of little tasks done this week, which is more of a goal setting Monday thing, but it’s a relief to complete them.
Anyway I’m back to mostly content with my job, though am thinking maybe I should get a new one (updated resume completed) once I use the month long sabbatical the current one offers after 7 years there. (For which I need my passport renewed, which was another of my completed tasks.)
And we’re getting rain here in sunny Central California, so we might not be in a drought this year.
Reversing the equation, I’ve always liked the story of the stupid earrings Archer North’s secretary bought for Andi in Maybe This Time. He really took time to get out of his own head. Occasionally, for mental exercise, I try to decide which of your books is my favorite. Probably Bet Me, but Maybe This Time often eclipses that..
There is a candy store in Pembroke, MA interestingly called The Candy Jar. They sell lollipop bouquets that are so pretty wrapped in clear wrap and tied with a bow. Perfect for dance recitals with tiny dancers. I’m working on a box of chocolate and M&M covered pretzels, but the M&Ms keep falling off. Such a dilemma.
Working on making it? Eating it? A critical detail!
Did you try caramel pieces to stick the M&Ms? Or Starbursts?
My friends and I are of an age where we’re mostly trying to get rid of things instead of add more, so we don’t exchange gifts much. And my family just doesn’t give gifts. But if I happen to stumble across something that is perfect for someone I love, and I think it will make them smile, I’ll get it even if there isn’t an occasion.
My good thing this week was the Artemis 2 splashdown. (I forgot to watch the launch, so I made sure I didn’t miss this.) I loved how them being in space brought everyone together for a little while, and we all collectively held our breath until they were safely down. That kind of joy and excitement are so rare these days, they felt like a gift by themselves.
Also good is that it finally warmed up some days (its back to 24 this morning, but at least the sun is out) and really feels like spring at last. I put away my shovel and took off my snow tires, so its official. My handyman came and trimmed my two gnarly ancient apple trees and weeded the overgrown berry bed. He’s getting older and slowing down, but we’ve become friends over the years (he was one of the woodworkers at my shop) and it helps him to get out of his house and keep moving, and it helps me to have someone do the stuff I can’t do. Win-win.
I was reminded this week of what true love is, a sad story told to me by a friend/neighbour now widower. That he had that love with his husband, that we were hugging and remembering and comforting each other (different kind of love but still love) meant a lot to me. There is so much hate, anger, bigotry on display these days and it was good to be reminded that love exists, comfort can be given and received, and that sadness at the loss of someone can co-exist with the gratitude that they were, until recently, alive and bringing joy to our lives.
I have been single for a really long time after an abusive relationship. This was a reminder that it is worth holding out for true love, and that true love exists.
The theatre show I saw this week was outrageously funny, camp, snarky, and the theatre was completely sold out. There were people all around me (mostly of a similar age – it was play about a 30+ year old show with the original cast on the stage, youngsters would have been lost to all the references) laughing and enjoying it all. Came out energised and in a crowd of over 1900 people all happy and buzzing. It is good to think that over the 6 nights the show was on, many happy people spread that joy around Edinburgh. The show moves to Aberdeen next.
There is goodness in the world and I have felt it this week.
I love the idea of a sweetie bouquet (not chocolate though as I am allergic to cocoa beans). A basket of scones or muffins would do it for me. An old friend used to give flowers saying “Here are your severed plant sex parts”. Always made me laugh, and now I prefer a potted plant instead, because he was right that is what flowers are!
Wow! “Severed plant sex parts” is such an accurate description! I prefer my plants in the ground. And so many flowers that make up bouquets are not good for cats.
In the southeast, pine pollen season is a thing. Everything outside is visibly covered in yellow dust for several weeks. A friend would announce that the pine trees were masturbating again.
In the northeast too. My yard is filled with pines and in the spring, my blue car looks yellow. And my nose looks red.
I went to a funeral for a lady whose spouse came out as trans, and I had similar feelings.
One year my father said to my mother “I actually remembered that it’s our anniversary, but I didn’t see anything I thought you would like, so I didn’t get you anything”. His friend (who witnessed this) said “how did you get away with that?” But it was true and my mother felt seen rather than neglected.
And as I have shared here before, the most romantic thing ever said to me “I was in the grocery and thought you might need chocolate so I got you some”. Thinking of me in a grocery on a random Wednesday-spare me Hallmark holidays, this is a sign of true love.
This week had good donuts, tacos, a “Greek scrambler” breakfast, wonderful almond cookies, and today we are going to the best Italian restaurant in SE Michigan (IMHO) for lunch. I need to rein in my consumption again, but it sure has been fun.
I feel you so much on the romantic giving! Sven did the chocolate-gifting to me once, and it’s still one of my favourites when it comes to romantic gestures. He came hom from work and put this 50g bar of Tony’s Chocolonely Salted Caramel in my hand and said: “I discovered today they sell these in the cafeteria at work, and I thought of you.”
For me, it’s not the grand gestures. It’s the right thing at the right time, most often the smallest of things with the most thought and heart behind it. Jenny’s dudes get this, and that’s probably partly why they are so attractive. <3
I had a massage and chiropractor appointment this week and it was great.
My Rainbow Orach seeds are sprouting! One of three perennial vegetable seeds I planted outside weeks ago when it was still below freezing because they need cold stratification to start.
https://cicadaseeds.ca/products/rainbow-orach-seeds-atriplex-hortensis-mountain-spinach-garden-orache?_pos=1&_sid=d36f538c5&_ss=r
I got seeds for heirloom Pink Russian tomatoes from a great aunt’s tomato decades ago, and this year they are sprouting AND looking well!
Natasha, thanks for the link! I had never heard of orach, except maybe in a book of fiction.
My Sunday happiness is that I’m off on another trip this evening, this time to London with my Mom. She’s coming up on 87 (though you’d never think it), and this may be her last trip overseas. She hates the plane travel part of it. London is good because it’s fairly close in the scheme of things. And no connection. But I do have to remember that despite her spryness, she’s less energetic than she used to be.
Karen, that will be a lot of sitting. I hope you both will be wearing compression stockings. Enjoy the trip with your mom.
Have a great Trip!
I love that bouquet, Jenny. You are so creative!
Almost everything packable has been packed, and the other stuff has been tossed. The smaller pod and my younger son arrive on Friday. We will get new tires for the truck on Saturday. It feels good to be “ready”. However, my insurance company stinks!!! In case you are wondering, it’s Safeco/Liberty. They mailed (in this day and age) me a check for less than half the cost of reroofing that has to be cosigned by my mortgage holder. That is a bank far away in the next town. When the roof is complete on Thursday, they will electronically send my bank account the final payment, but, you know banks. The bank will make me wait several days to make sure the money is not bogus, before I can write a non-bounceable check on it. The insurance also has to have an invoice from the roofer, and a desk jockey will review the claim before sending that payment. I wonder if if will happen in time for the closing?
There’s no point in worrying. I already cancelled the utilities and ordered the delivery of the pods to Phoenix. I’m leaving in a week on Monday. Closing is on Tuesday, when the buyers expect a paid invoice and a roof warranty to appear. I guess I could put the final payment on my already burdened credit card, but then I’d have to buy gold/gas, and lodging with a different card, on the trip. I’m grateful my credit card company actually trusts me, and gave me a high limit on my card.
Did you hear the screams when I found all this out? My realtor, Pollyanna, says “It’s OK, we will figure it out.”
The small pod will be packed by both sons on the weekend, so it can be picked up on Monday.
If it helps at all, back when I was a real estate lawyer (presiding over closings), I used to tell panicked buyers/sellers in the runup to the closing that the more hassles that happened BEFORE the closing on the house, the more likely the closing itself would go smoothly!
Your realtor is wise. This too will pass!
Thanks, Gin.
Gin, on the good side, the rainy week will pause on Thursday for the roofers and on Sunday for the pod packing.
ARGH! insurance companies! I’m so sorry you are dealing with them. Sending pocket hugs and Bon Voyage!
Thanks, Margaret.
Fingers are crossed for everything turning out right on time for you Jan. Moving house is one of the top three most stressful things for a reason. Sending good vibes into the Universe for you that it all works out.
Thanks, Christine. I explain farther down that it will work out, due to Realtor magic and lies.
How awful! I wish the responsible person at the insurance LEGO-pieces in the dark for the rest of the year and jam in their keyboard! A lot of really sticky jam. With proper chunks.
Sending a lot of strenght your way to deal with all the annoying people and the move. Hugs!
There is nothing more satisfying than revenge, Shass. Thanks for your energetic defense!!! In about a week, this will all be heading toward fruition.
You have the best ill wishes !
Not so good this week was checking my rollover IRA and finding it’s lost $29K since the beginning of the month. Good thing I wasn’t planning to retire this year.
Good was finishing the latest novelette and round three with the accountant. I’ll go in tomorrow to finalize my returns. And today, I’ll get back to the GeoIV novella.
Also good, spring is springing which means things are blooming, but I am *not* beset by allergies. So either I’ve acclimated (if so, I will credit my habit of leaving windows open in most weathers) or my particular reactivities are not triggered by the local flora. Either way, I can fully enjoy the flora.
Have you checked it since April 8? The market jumped back up. Of course it might go right back down … Trump shenanigans mean a lot of volatility.
My husband gave me a great present for Christmas – tickets to a Leafs game that I went to last night. He told me it was the most expensive present he’s ever given me, which is a comment on the ginormous prices to our local hockey team’s game not on the relative willingness of my husband to spend money. They played horribly – beaten 6-2 by the Panthers with William Nylander scoring both the Leafs goals. The Panthers didn’t even bother to send their top three players. Sigh. We need Auston Matthews back, not to mention Chris Tanev and Anthony Stolarz. And Mitch Marner. 😂
I’m enjoying seeing that I’m not alone in preferring to give gifts “just because” instead of on holidays. I’ve banned exchanging Christmas gifts in recent years, never did birthday gifts (except for kids up to high school graduation), but will still do random gifts when I run across something I think someone else would appreciate.
Sort of related (unexpected gift-giving), I had a bizarre conversation with someone who was concerned that I might have too big a harvest from this year’s garden, more than can be used by the people who get a share. I don’t understand why that’s a problem — just means I need to find more people to give the extra tomatoes to. And somehow that was a terrible thing, according to the person I was talking to. It’s funny, because this person is, in fact, incredibly generous in so many ways, but I think some elements of capitalism are so deeply ingrained in us that we don’t even notice it, and apparently the idea of giving stuff away to relative strangers is one of them.
That’s nuts. I have friends who literally put their extra produce on a table at the end of the driveway so people can help themselves. Or donate to a local food bank, which really appreciates free local produce. Now, if your friend was talking about zucchini…
I loved the vegetable stand on the road to a dog show I never go to anymore since I work weekends. On Saturday there’d be a sign out with prices and instructions for leaving money in the cash box and a phone number if you wanted to ask questions. On Sunday the sign would say “On Sunday we rest. Help yourselves.”
Random giving–my family always called these “Thursday presents” because of Pooh. (I can’t find the quote right now.)
I had a good book club meeting yesterday, at least after a near fender-bender in the library parking lot resulted in no damage. The elevator to the second floor (Brit and German first floor) was out, but fortunately I was healed from the pulled muscle I’d had the month before and taking the stairs was no problem.
I recently looked up the lyrics to the Mickey Mouse Club’s “Anything Can Happen Day” song to fill in a few gaps that I could not remember from the mid-1950s. I had been occasionally singing it to myself even with fudged words in a spot or two, but now can do it correctly.
Wait. My character does what?
That was a wonderful idea you had.
🤣
I loved the picture of the Snickers bouquet on Fb!
My new kitchen floor was installed this week and I’m loving it. They had to replace subflooring in places so there was lots of sawing and nailing and there’s a coat of dust on everything despite the plastic sheeting they put up. Today, I’m dusting and polishing. One cat crawled under the bedcovers including the fitted sheet to hide and the other sat and supervised the workers.
Got my edits back and my editor said the line editor and the copy editor both enjoyed the story and laughed out loud in spots. Yay!! Just some a few things to clean up like all the characters wearing heavy sweaters in July. And I used the word “just” 220 times. LOL!!
Just used to be my “crutch word.” It took me years to eliminate most of them. Of course, then I replaced them with other words…
Loved the Sickers bouquet. Only better if peanut butter Snickers.
I texted my realtor and she said the final roof payment can be made out of the proceeds from the sale of the house. She also thinks the roofer will give me a paid invoice early. That will pacify the buyers. I don’t understand how this will work, but it’s some combination of lies and realtor magic.
WHEW.
My family, especially DS, helped a young woman who was in distress. She lives in a group home in our neighbourhood and ended up outside our house one night this week. She refused to return home unless someone came to get her. I spoke to the group home manager and since there was only one staff on duty, the options were to have her come back on her own or have the police pick her up (a terrible option for someone having a mental health crisis). When she started to leave, I asked DS to talk to her. He’s in the final weeks of his Child and Youth program so I knew he had skills in deescalation and crisis intervention that I don’t have. He spent almost 90 mins outside with her and was able to persuade to walk home with him and our dog as the chaperone. I’m particularly impressed and proud of DS, who had just come home after a 12+ hour day at school, and listened to her and helped her make the decision to go home on her own.
Excellent response by your family, Susan!
Sounds like DS training was good. You must be very proud of him – I would be. Well done all of you for helping someone in need.
So generous!
Such a lovely thing to do, helping her out. Well done everyone! And what a comfort to her to get to feel seen and heard and supported. <3
I finished and greatly enjoyed Mary Monica Pulver’s Murder at the War, a mystery novel mentioned here by Helen on Thursday. I plan to review it on GBTh. In the meantime I was hoping to find other mystery novels set at SCA events, but there don’t seem to be any such written by insiders, in contrast to the multiple mysteries set in science-fiction fandom, and despite the fact that SCA is of comparable size to, and indeed has a lot of membership overlap with, sf fandom. (There are brief mentions in some novels, and sf and fantasy with SCA elements. And Donna Andrews has a Meg Langslow novel, Murder Most Fowl, with medieval reenactors who are explicitly non-SCA and clearly written from an outsider’s view unlike Pulver’s.) If anyone here knows of other present-day-set SCA mystery stories, even of shorter length, I’d like to know.
Where did you find it ? I can’t find it.
The ebook is in Kindle. I might have had to use author’s name to get it near the top. (I know I had to that with Rocky Road.) Since it’s in KU, I imagine it’s not elsewhere as an ebook. Note that the title has reverted to Murder at the War, not Knight Fall as in the print edition that Helen had.
Under the Knight Fall title, the print edition is pretty cheap for online orders, for Bezos boycotters. The original edition is available too at unoutrageous prices.
Great idea. I will take a bouquet of snickers anytime, day or night.
Yesterday a neighbour brought a truck load of really good soil. This is his last year to do it. Front garden done. Back garden is half done with new soil. Tarp covers the rest. Maybe today. Must weed two beds first. The bluebells are lovely in the front garden. So much new growth. All eight peony plants are growing. The new deep burgundy peony may or may not bloom. Newest peony bought last year. Love peonies.
My husband is great at unique gifts. This year for Christmas, he gave me a piece of Dracula’s castle and ownership of one square foot of land in Transylvania. I am now a countess. As it should be. 😁
That would make a great book cover picture.
Last night in that 2 hour call DS mentioned that his roommate had thanked us when he did his PhD defense for offering a place to stay during the pandemic and making him feel safer (he couldn’t go home to Australia). I had forgotten that we offered —he didn’t end up staying with us. It’s a good feeling to know we benefited someone like that. We just made a similar offer (as back up if they can’t find something closer ti the final apartment) to the mom of foster daughter’s boyfriend because the three of them will be moving in together in July when FD lease and boyfriend’s lease ends but mom’s current lease ends this month. I’m nervous about it since we never met her, but at least it’s time limited and what I have heard of her sounds good (disabled retired teacher who gave sensible advice about not buying a house yet). And we want to support FD. We have only one kitchen and all our living room space is on the same floor, no in-law suite —so while we have plenty of space we will definitely be living together and not leading separate lives.
Our wonderful Kwanzai cherries are in glorious full bloom all over our block. The scraggly dogwoods in the back woods are also in bloom so we see white flowers floating among other tree branches. The deep burgundy small azaleas are blooming. I have a bouquet of home grown flower reproductive parts on my kitchen table . I got two big buckets of weeds out of the garden and it’s starting to look much better. The bulbs I bought a year ago before my hip needed surgery that DH planted in pots way too late because life happened are up but not really blooming and I have to decide whether it’s worth planting them in the ground this fall or ordering new ones—I am leaning to new ones but DH can’t bring himself to throw out any living thing so I dunno what we will do.
As mentioned we had a great 2 hour call with DS (see GBT for the interesting book he told us about) and DD shows up Tuesday. My kids are sometime a source of stress but always a source of joy. I realize that is very lucky. When I think of Swedish death cleaning (which thanks to Shass I now know is as Swedish as French fries are French), the only things I can’t imagine getting rid of are things DH or the kids gave me. I may not use them but they are a huge source of joy.
People always say give them what they would want and that’s good advice if you know them but some of my favorite presents are what the giver wanted.
When DS was 4 DH took him to buy me a present and the next day I took him to buy DH a present and he said he knew exactly what to get him and ran through the mall (which we went to twice a year maybe so he had memorized the route he wanted the day before) and we bought DH a solar powered Ferris wheel. On Christmas Day we learned he had given us both the same thing and it was clearly what he loved and thought we would. It sits in my front window and when it turns on sunny days makes me smile even though I would never have bought it for myself.
And how you give it can also matter. We have a Navajo rug that DH mail ordered for me for my birthday when DD was maybe 7 ? DH had to be in Australia for that birthday so he had it delivered to the neighbors because grandma was always home (he had to explain this to her in sign language since she spoke French and he didn’t), then hid it in the basement and on my birthday gave DD instructions to bring it up from its hiding place. The rug is nice but what he went through to get it to me is what makes me smile…
Thanks for the laugh! I’m happy the Swedish Death Cleaning is helpful, regardless of if it’s really Swedish or not. I keep forgetting to ask around. 🙂 Maybe I just know too many hoarders.
A SNICKERS bouquet sounds excellent! I love flowers but I also love chocolate. Personally I would prefer DOVE dark but I have met very few chocolates I haven’t liked. Speaking of fun bouquets, I made one for the conference room of KOTEX tampons when I worked at Kimberly Clark. Looked pretty good though better suited for the bathroom. I was trying to get some respect and interest in tampons in a time and market that did not use them.
This week’s happy has been Pope Leo, he makes me happy to be Catholic. ( there has been so much not to be)
I thought “who am I to judge” Francis would be a tough act to follow but Leo is impressing me.
I also loved Pope Francis he was a rare Argentine! 😂 Seriously his vote of poverty and humility was enviable.
I’m a Jew and a Pagan and I think Leo is magnificent.
Ditto Deb – me too. I am an atheist & I thing Leo is amazing.
Same here!!!
My brand new, in it less than a year, that I moved across several states for, job announced due to Federal funding issues, my job is going away at the end of this contract. People suck.
But I am currently sitting on a balcony in Buenos Aries deciding which type of ice cream to get. If you go to Argentina, have the ice cream. It is a Gelato style and it is amazing. They also make some of the best sorbets i have had. Last time the winner was a lemon, ginger and mint sorbet.
We are here for grandkids birthdays. The hotel is a block from the botanical gardens. Lots of fun is planned.
Well, the folks who voted for the orangutan and minions suck. As far as I can see, they were either a) culpably wrong-thinking or b) arguably rightfully aggrieved about inflation or culure-war issues, but irresponsible about which side was the lesser evil, evidently meaning that they made little effort to learn or evaluate the facts.
In any case, my sympathies on the job and a little envy on my part about Argentina.
I am so sorry. It’s always bad to lose a job but worse when you moved for it. Sending many pocket hugs.
So sad to hear about your job-troubles. Sending lots and lots of pocket hugs!
We lived in Lima, Peru in the 80s. The ice cream was gelato as well. Just so delicious. Always got the lemon. Yum!
So sorry to hear that Phred. Glad you have lots of fun planned just now – I have been laid off four times (mass lay offs) and always managed to find a new and often better job but it is very stressful. Sending hugs.
So sorry about the job loss.
After having a week that was full of medical drama, getting nowhere, and fighting with my mom, the last few days have been relatively peaceful. I also finished my rainbow fingering knit dress, which is beautiful.
Jennifer, Sympathies on the medical drama and on fighting with your mother. I imagine that the medical drama has forced you into closer and more frequent contact with her than before, and I know from experience that that kind of situation can be fraught.
Jennifer I have been debating whether to give you some unasked for advice and decided that this is really more in tbe category of information you may not have and could use. Please forgive me if it’s unwelcome.
Apparently people who used Depo Provera are much more likely to get meningiomas, and there is a lawsuit on behalf of thousands of women who should have been told this but weren’t . The FDA has now said they should have been warned.
I obviously don’t know if this applies to you but if it does it might be relevant to your medical care and also you might want to join the lawsuit.
And my sympathies for all your medical challenges.
Finally got a call from Sleep Centre on Thursday morning, scheduling a call for Tuesday to discuss the results of the sleep exam. I really hope they found something and know of a solution. Fingers crossed.
Bought a kind of aromatherapy sleep-kit to put in my pillow-case to see if that will do something. At the very least it can not hurt. It has herbs whose relaxing, sleep-stimulation and calming effects have been documented for thousands of years, and it has been tested and proven to have effect for some people at Sleep Centre 2 and other places. So, we’ll see. Worst case scenario it won’t do anything for the sleep, but my pillow will at least smell nice then. Upside is that I really do believe in the power of herbs. That might help.
I did not get to go see Dazzler and Quenie yesterday unfortunately. I got a flu, complete with cough, via the Flying Monkey Express, and I decided there are better birthday-gifts one can give than some of that. We’ll plan a catch-up date soon, I’m sure.
Speaking of gifts: Both Sven and I are the kind of people who rather buy something at a random time that is inspired and/or needed than focusing on special days. I don’t think he has ever given me a gift on my birthday, for instance, but like the flowers on Easter or a plushie on a random Wednesday or extra yummy lunch when I’m broken from sleep-troubles, he makes up for it when least expected. As do I. Gifts don’t have to be attached to a day or an occasion, just as little as one should only celebrate love on Valentine’s.
Other good things: Old TV-show nostalgia, supportive and understanding friends, my fluffy fluffs, my email penfriend, tea in the mail from my mum, my SIL’s daughter asking SIL if she can come sleep over at ours so she and I can play with clay and colours and glitters and things, knitting, playing videogames with Sven and kiwi fruits. It’s them small things.
Shass, good luck on the sleep study results and the herbal therapy. I just put away the lavender candle that sits by my bed. I’m sure it helped calm me and promoted sleep.
I use lavender essential oil (a few drops on an ancient little pillow filled with lavender flowers that long ago lost its scent) when I can’t sleep, and it does seem to help. Fingers crossed they find something to help you.
Not a great week in terms of getting much done. My dad fell on Easter and whacked his head, which entailed a trip to the ER and X-rays and CAT scans, which came out OK. He’s quite low energy, and according to his doctor he is recovering from a concussion, and due to his age that will take some time.
So my concentration is not great.
On the bright side, had a great online conversation with my book club, about our big read, The Brothers Karamazov. We’ve just reached the news of the murder. It’s so good to have a book like that to chew on with people who also like to dig in.
I actually read the whole of Brothers K in Russian over a long period during lunch breaks at work, but I seem to have forgotten most of it, since reading a synopsis rang few bells. I really should start reading Russian novels again to hang onto the ability, but I think this one has too few sympathetic characters, at least for my present mood.
I should have led with sympathies on your father’s problems and your being shaken up because of them. I hope you both feel better soon.
My sympathies on the head trauma and hospital visit. I have come to really dislike hospitals. It’s good he is doing OK. Us old folks are hard-headed!
Hurrah! Putin-loving vermin Orbán is out in Hungary (per BBC and other sources) after parliamentary election, despite the efforts of the orangutan’s itinerant assistant felon-in-chief. If even Orbán’s regime could not corrupt the electoral system enough to stay in power, perhaps there’s hope for the US, at least in the long run.
And possibly the opposition had a supermajority!
Apparently the virtue of a supermajority is that under their constitution they can undo a number of bad constitutional provisions Orban put in.
Oh and I am loving the super bright hearts today! 💖
Another thing that makes this a Happy Sunday? After crawling the webs all night, I went to bed at 08:30. I woke up totally rested at 19:30. Eleven hours of sleep. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Commenting before I read the comments – will go back through & read them I promise.
Hey Shane gave more than the air conditioner – I loved the bridge he gave. That whole scene was hilarious!
I finished Module 6 & 7 in my Bright Line Eating bootcamp. That was good.
I started a new schedule at work that has 2 days starting at 6pm & 3 days starting at 7pm. That is sooo good. My previous schedule had 5 different start times. Hard to schedule meal times & sleep times that way.
I haven’t had very many depressed days this week. Of course, I don’t know what certain people in Washington DC were doing & that is going to bite me soon, I’m sure.
Depression was also less because my PCP put me on vitamin D & I spent a lot of time forest bathing.
Also – Nick & Quinn & the copper colored flowers that reminded him of her.
And CL & the dog for Emmy
And North & the stove for Andie
And Wes & the sunglasses & showerhead for Amy
And Davy & the pillows & paying off the gallery mortgage for Tilda
And – and – and…
My youngest sister stopped by on her way to Herkimer NY. She and two of her friends were going there to look for diamonds. She walked in with a pizza which was Pixie’s good thing (pizza crusts, cue doggy happy dance). She may stop by Tuesday on her way home. Seems to have recovered from her recent appendectomy.
I have to see what, if anything, my middle sister wants for her birthday. We put a stop to Xmas gifts years ago and just do birthdays. Now at the time of life when I want things to disappear, not show up. I hoping we stop with birthday gifts, too.
Jenny – you could throw in a few spearmint leaves, my favorite as a kid. The jelly texture would pierce easily and, I think, resist sliding down the ‘stem’.