Starting the New Year

Now that the book stuff is all sorted -- old challenges put to bed, new challenges accepted, and books chosen -- I can turn my attention to a wrap-up of 2025 and maybe a look ahead into 2026.

I'm not very good with predictions, but I am noticing some trends.

Overall, 2025 was a good year. I celebrated my birthday by making some decisions to expand my life and my circle of friends. It seems to be a pattern right now that I have plenty of friends, but they live far away. I also have plenty of acquaintances, but they, too, live far way. 

I moved to this town as a consequence of my relationship with Kayak Guy. I won't say it was a mistake, but . . . the connection was tenuous. We probably should have thought it through more carefully. Now that relationship has settled into a cordial but distant friendship. For a while we were spending a lot of time together, even after calling it quits romantically. It was casual -- meeting for meals and working on a few projects together -- but it wasn't healthy, so I gradually put a stop to that. 

I don't regret buying my house here -- I got in when good prices were still to be had, so I have equity -- but it locks me into a geographical area that's fairly remote from the places I frequent. I should put down some roots here beyond owning a home, but so far, nothing doing.  

And so, apropos of my birthday, I spent some time thinking about the best times and best friendships of my life in the past, and discovered that they revolved around horseback riding and Dungeons & Dragons (a tabletop roleplaying game or, as I like to call it, collective improvisational storytelling. Sounds fancy, right? If you're not familiar, here's a good introduction: What is D&D.). 

Riding and roleplaying: an odd combination, right? But both are niche hobbies that require a serious time commitment and both attract a certain type of person . . . so I decided to give it a go.

I already started riding a few years back and that has been fun and fulfilling, but it hasn't created much socializing outside of my time at the barn. The barn is an hour away, and the people who meet there for riding and camaraderie live in various directions from that central point. We are all busy and further socializing seems unlikely to happen. 

That left D&D. I played many, many hours in college and enjoyed it immensely. My friends and I formed deep bonds, both within the game and in real life; we ate meals together, threw parties together, and went to events like the local Renaissance Faire together. Then the centrifugal forces of graduation spun us off into various directions at different intervals. We kept in touch for a while afterwards and although the bond remained, our contacts and visits faded with time as we got busy with jobs, marriages, children, and all the details of everyday life. This was years ago, before email, texting, and social media made keeping in touch so much more doable. 

Deciding to pick up the game again, I reached out to my local game store. They were nice people and welcomed me with sound advice about how to get started again. The game has changed a lot since I played in the early 1980s! Their help was very welcome, but that circumstance didn't really gel. There were no beginner-friendly games starting and there were no openings in their existing games, so I looked further afield. About an hour away I found a game store with a very active, beginner-friendly community and signed up immediately to participate.

That turned out to be a fantastic choice! I immediately met a game master who plays exactly the way I liked to play, lo, those many years ago, and several other players who also clicked with his approach. Suddenly I was involved in a Tuesday night game and a Saturday night game, every other week . . .  and my D&D life ramped up to an exciting, enjoyable level.

Things have shifted a little since then. The Tuesday night game ran into some personality conflicts in-game and in real life, and imploded (not uncommon in D&D, which is ultimately a game about people); fortunately, a different Tuesday night game has taken its place. 

I'm also playing in a Saturday night game and having a ball, especially considering how 7 strangers can coalesce into a fun-loving, adventurous party that laughs a lot and also gets things done! We have a wonderful mix of characters and an exciting storyline that challenges us to be heroes every time we play. It's everything I wanted in returning to the game.  

As part of this exploration, I tried on-line play but it didn't work as well for me. I enjoy the camaraderie of sitting around a table with friends, without a lot of tech stuff to navigate. I'm also playing occasionally on Sundays, in a very high level game, but time conflicts are starting to phase that game out.     

I haven't made any strong friends yet, but I'm definitely getting a dose of in-person interaction that enhances my life. I've also discovered that some people at work also play, which gives a different dimension to our water-cooler talk.   

Overall, I'm extremely glad that I took the plunge to start playing again. A little reinvention is good for the soul, you know?

Tomorrow is Another Day

I don't know if it's the full moon or what, but it's been a long, long time since I've had as lousy a day at work as I had today. 

I felt constantly a step ahead of everyone (not in a good way), a step behind everyone, or just flat out invisible. I was ignored, uninvited, misunderstood, unsupported, and unacknowledged.  

For someone who prides herself on being on top of things and darn pleasant about it, most of the time, it was brutal. I was dreadfully out of synch and I'm sure it gave me a gloomy demeanor, at least in the second half of the day. 

When I saw how things stood, I shut my door, got some quality work done, and left on the stroke of the clock. Facing the beginning of rush hour was actually a relief after all that. 

To top it all off, the person I chose to talk to about it, once I got home, made comments that placed the blame for the whole thing on me. Perhaps true, but not what I needed or wanted to hear. Seems like I just can't win today.  

Fortunately, tomorrow is another day!

Milestones

This week marks a significant birthday for me. I will achieve an age I never imagined I would be: 65. 

My last birthday was a strange one, because I became an age that my mother did not live past. Now I will be older than she ever was. I think she hated growing old, and that passage was made harder for both of us by my teenage flourishing at the same time she was navigating menopause. I don't know -- I'm just guessing. We never had the chance to discuss it, and maybe we never would have discussed it, even if she had lived longer. But being this age has given me new insight into her experience. 

Now I am looking into chronological territory inhabited by my dad (who lived to 76) and his mother (who lived to 93). Those are the milestones of my future, still in the far distance. 

A milestone birthday does make you think about things, though. 

My friends are retiring and I am so happy for them. I don't feel envious; I like my life as it is. (I wouldn't turn down that winning lottery ticket, but otherwise . . .  no changes needed.) I expect to keep working, partly because it's smarter financially and partly because I enjoy it. My job is high satisfaction and low stress, and I'm very happy to keep rolling along there, still good at what I do. 

Horseback riding continues to be a great joy. My schedule is flexible, the people are wonderful, and Riddle is a willing and generous partner who takes good care of me. I'm so glad I started again just a year ago. I will continue as long as I'm able, and I think continuing will help keep me able. 

I wish the Medicare salespeople would Quit! Calling! Me! as I am not signing up for anything. One of the benefits of working is keeping my employer-provided insurance. Medicare would not be cheaper or better. (I checked.)

I am changing my attitudes about things, though, well aware (in a cheerful way) that I have limited time left. 

Less time dedicated to "self-improvement" and more time at home in my skin. 

Less concern with what others think about me and more concern with what I think about me. 

Less volunteering to serve every need and more availability for what matters most. 

Less putting things off for "someday" and more commitment to enjoying things now. 

Right now, also: less salad and more cake!     

Progress

The year is not quite half over and I have already finished reading the books for one of my two challenges. Yay for me!

The books are doing double duty for the other challenge, so I have only a few more "assignments" before I have finished the reading for that one, too.

Then, of course, comes the reviewing. That's when the real work begins. (Reading is by far the most interesting part. Just saying.)

At least I have half the year to get all the reviews posted. And I have set the bar pretty low: 12 books total to read and review, then I'm on my own for the rest of the year's reading. Yay for me (again)! 

A New Year

I had good intentions for a new year post that would review 2023's highlights, but catching Covid at the office holiday luncheon put the kibosh on my Christmas plans and squelched a whole lot of my good intentions. 

Instead of a leisurely new year, I'm scrambling to wrap the last of the presents and get them delivered, now that I'm not contagious anymore.

The good news is that I wasn't all that sick, just blazingly positive for many, many days, and a "year in review" may still happen. I still have some bronchitis to defeat, but I went to the doctor and have hope that one day in the not-so-distant future I will stop coughing. 

Anyway, happy new year! May this year be filled with joy and bring us the change that we need and the stability we crave.

A Little Life Wisdom

Writing about Professor Hallock's book in my earlier post reminded me of the time he invited me to visit his class and speak to his English Majors about the post-college life of an English Major. Ah, what fun it was to be surrounded by others who love literature that much! 

One of the stories I told them was about my initial inclination to be a Business Major. I had a vague idea that a career in the world of business would provide the income so that I could pursue my reading hobby on my own time. Get money, then buy books. Not a bad plan, I'd say!

However, when I attended freshman orientation, they quickly divided us into different advisory groups based on our majors. The person who spoke to us Business Majors handed out a schedule of  the classes we'd be taking and proceeded to tell us, "During your first three semesters, you'll be taking all your required courses. In the second semester of your second year, you'll get an elective. We suggest you take Typing."

I put up my hand and asked, "Where is Literature on this schedule? Where is Humanities?"

She said, "You don't have time for that."

I stood up and handed the paper back to her. "I'm not a Business Major," I said, politely and decisively. And I walked out the door.

I landed among the Undecideds and stayed there a while before settling on English and International Studies (two degrees, since I loved college and had enough credits for both).

Through a twist of fate I wound up in the legal world, and I've never looked back, even while living in various places, going back to school a few times, and holding a variety of jobs. It's all been good.

The theme of my talk to the English Majors was: Don't Be Afraid to Zigzag. 

Thanks to my focus on literature and art, I've known how to live, not just how to make a living. There's always been plenty of money for books.

And I already knew how to type, anyway!

Movies I Like(d)

As part of my ongoing effort to simplify my life, I am downsizing my DVD collection. I know, I know, DVDs are going the way of vinyl records and 8-track tapes and will someday come around to be popular again. If I hang onto them long enough I will be on trend.

However, the fact remains that I never watch these. They take up space and gather dust and I have happy memories of key scenes without ever wanting to watch the entire movie. (In this case, "ever" means in maybe the past 20 years! That's a long time to keep something and not use it.) 

Far better to donate them to the library's used book store and let someone else enjoy and store them.

I'm making the list here so I can remember them, in case I ever want to stream them in the future. I think they remain good stuff -- and I know them well enough that I can play the highlights back in my mind on demand, without resorting to YouTube or whatever. 

Bang the Drum Slowly - Robert DeNiro, Michael Moriarty & Vincent Gardenia -- A book-to-film about baseball and more that totally works. The novel is one of my favorite books of all time.

The Big Chill - Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly & Jobeth Williams -- An ensemble cast where you wish you could join in. Kevin Costner famously isn't in this one.

Breaking Away - Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern & Jackie Earle Haley  --  Charming, funny and sad. Not your ordinary bicycle racing movie, not by a long shot.

Buck - Buck Brannaman -- A life-changing documentary about a real-life horse whisperer who recognizes that horse problems are people problems.

Bull Durham - Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon & Tim Robbins -- What I watch when there's no baseball. Captures the minor leagues and features old favorite Max Patkin.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - Paul Newman, Robert Redford & Katherine Ross  -- A classic, funny buddy pic with dreamy actors and a great story. 

Camelot - Richard Harris, Vaness Redgrave, Franco Nero & David Hemmings -- Mostly for the music.

Fandango - Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson, Sam Robards, Chuck Bush & Brian Cesak -- A sleeper with memorable scenes and a resonant coming-of-age story. 

Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara & Alan Ruck -- I used to relate to Ferris (in the sense of wanting to be Ferris, who moves through life very lightly) but now I relate to the parents. A classic, either way.

Four Weddings and a Funeral - Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristen Scott Thomas & Simon Callow -- Funny and poignant. 

Funny Farm - Chevy Chase & Madolyn Smith -- Sure, go ahead, move to Vermont, if you can stand it. A gem of a comedy with a million classic lines.

Hannah and Her Sisters - Woody Allen, Michael Caine, Mia Farrow, Carrie Fisher, Barbara Hershey, Lloyd Nolan, Maureen O'Sullivan, Daniel Stern, Max Von Sydow & Dianne Wiest -- A wonderful ensemble cast, but I'm not sure how I feel about this one, now that I know more about Woody Allen.

Let It Ride - Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, Jennifer Tilly & David Johansen -- A quirky and clever sleeper of a movie that I discovered because I once owned a horse that appeared in the racing scenes. He loses the big race in the movie, but he was a winner for us. (The book was awful, by the way.) 

Midnight Run - Robert De Niro & Charles Grodin -- Classic buddy pic with a surfeit of bad language and great characterization, including an excellent supporting cast. And De Niro! 

My Blue Heaven - Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Joan Cusack, Carol Kane, Melanie Mayron & William Hickey -- Hilarious on so many levels.

My Cousin Vinny - Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei & Fred Gwynne -- The best lawyering movie ever: the search for truth made compelling and laugh-'til-you-cry funny. Language warning, but who cares?

My Fair Lady - Audrey Hepburn & Rex Harrison -- Classic songs!   

My Favorite Year - Peter O'Toole, Jessica Harper, Joseph Bologna & Mark Linn-Baker -- A funny period piece carried by the charm of its characterizations.  

Out of Africa - Robert Redford & Meryl Streep -- Beautifully captures the essence of the books, which are among my favorites. 

The Paper Chase - Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner & John Houseman -- The rigors of that make-or-break first year of law school. Dated but still rings true.

The Princess Bride - Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, Andre the Giant, Robin Wright, Peter Falk, Carol Kane & Billy Crystal -- Great lines that will last you a lifetime.

Sunshine State - Jane Alexander, Angela Passett, Gordon Clapp, Edie Falco, Miguel Ferrer, Timothy Hutton, James McDaniel, Mary Steenburgen -- Florida in a nutshell.

Admitting Defeat

Okay, fine. I'm a lousy housekeeper. 

There. I said it!

I enjoy a clean house -- who doesn't! -- but I would rather do about a million other things than work to get it that way. 

I like reading and relaxing on the weekends. I'm fine with laundry and cooking and minor handy stuff like hanging up pictures. I enjoy decorating. When I get on a roll, I love organizing things.

Cleaning, though? Um, no thanks, don't mind if I don't.

So I hired a cleaning service.

They'll be here Monday.

Which means I'll be doing some housecleaning this weekend, so I'm not, you know, totally embarrassed.

Not Surprising

Me (about a week ago): Uh-oh, I'd better cancel my Disney Plus subscription, now that I've watched Hamilton to my heart's content. It's only $6.99 a month but that will add up over time.

Also Me (after logging in): Whoa, they have The Princess Bride on here!

[98 minutes later] 

Also Me: And Beauty and the Beast!

[the next day]

Disney Plus: Welcome! Your subscription has been continued for another month.

Time-Spending

There's certainly more than the usual amount of time to be spent, these days, I'd say.

Still not enough time to get everything done, however. I suppose that's because I'm still putting in a full week at work, albeit from my desk at home. Like most people, I suspect, working from home means I save time by not commuting, not getting dressed up, etc. Which is more than compensated for by the time I spend making my own lunch and being distracted by unsettling news from all over. Some days my concentration is excellent, even better than it was in the office on my best day. Other days I feel more like I'm waiting for the biggest shoe ever to finally drop.

In Florida we don't think the virus has peaked yet. That's definitely unsettling.

Meanwhile, life rolls on. I've had some groceries delivered, and chatted with friends by phone and video call, and done a lot of cooking and some gardening. The New York Times hosts a tile matching game for free on their website, and I've discovered how soothing it is to play a few rounds of that every day.

Yesterday I made a vegetable run to the open-air, no-conversation, no-touch farmer's stand. I usually buy my vegetables at the Friday Night Farmers Market, which gives me a chance to browse and sometimes pick up a recipe recommendation from the farmer. This time we spoke through a cracked window on the passenger side of the car and the vegetables were packed and loaded into the back hatch. I leaned across the passenger seat to give him the money, both of  us careful not to touch hands in the transfer. I was wearing a mask. I tipped him. Our conversation was shorter but our eye contact -- being all we had left -- was stronger.

Mother Nature's bounty continues and I am thankful for that, as well as for the opportunity keep my friend's business alive. There was a small line of cars behind me, each of us grateful and craving a few words of conversation, no doubt.

It felt nice to get out of the house and go for a little drive. But I have to admit that removing the temptation to Go and Do has actually been good for me. I know I am incredibly lucky to be treating this as an opportunity for self-improvement instead of a desperate challenge to my survival. But there it is.

I hope I will continue to have the chance to be a better person, a better friend, a better neighbor, and a better citizen. I hope I remember to keep that extra eye contact, come what may.

Now if I could just manage to catch up on those book reviews. While there's still time. 

Ten Lessons from Staying Home

1. Nature is everywhere. I am lucky to have a semi-wild backyard that shows me something new every day. We don't have to buy a bunch of special equipment and travel to an exotic location to have "a nature experience." All we have to do is walk outside and look.

2. Relieved of busyness, families spend time together: walking the dog, riding bikes, throwing a baseball, jogging. I've seen people I've never seen before, who live right down the street.

3. The unthinkable can happen. I'm no prepper, but my environmental background has exposed me to some serious ideas and challenges. Like the burden we place on Mother Earth by the things we take for granted. Like the golden veneer of consumption and prosperity that masks a system with serious and fundamental flaws. Like the truth of food insecurity. It wasn't too long ago I asked someone, "What would you do for food if there was no Publix?" (Publix is a major grocery store where I live.) My companion looked at me like I had two heads, clearly considering the question too wacky to deserve an answer. I was really asking, but I was over the line even voicing such a thought. Now that grocery stores are stressed by circumstances and shelves are empty of key items, that question isn't as wacky anymore, huh?

4. Next day delivery was awesome. I'm not sure when it will happen again. Things I've ordered are 2 or 3 weeks out right now.

5. We could have been doing some pretty great things all along. In the past week, I have taken a yoga class, "walked" along the High Line in New York City, heard some wonderful concerts, had long video calls with several dear friends, and joined a reading group with a famous author -- all from the comfort of my living room. I've also cooked and eaten all my meals at home, strolled the yard every evening, and gotten some long-standing chores accomplished. In some ways, I've been busier than ever. I've been having more fun, too. 

6. Leadership takes courage. Sometime it's lacking. And sometimes it appears in unlikely places, from unlikely people.

7. Loquats are delicious. I tried them once, long ago, and they were unripe and inedible. I didn't know that, but I never tried again. However, given the abundance on my backyard tree and some extra time on my hands, I gave it another go -- resulting in a fruit-in-hand epiphany and a successful cobbler. They are more seed than fruit, but well worth the trouble. I will not forget this.

8. Being science-deficient can be fatal, not only to yourself but to others. I have a few friends who still believe this is all a big hoax or an overreaction. They have continued with their normal lives, complaining that "Everything's closed!" They are not convinced by the medical community's concern that if we are unable to "flatten the curve" and spread out the impact of this virus, the care system will be overwhelmed. That means rationed care. That means hard decisions. That means denying life-saving help to the patients who are deemed less worthy of saving. This is a hard truth. Facing it requires a basic understanding of math, and critical thinking, and a willingness to rely on qualified experts when the water gets too deep. I have done enough research to be convinced that "Better sorry than safe" is not a good choice here. Those who lack the ability to form their own opinions, based on their own research, are risking lots of lives, not just their own.   

9. The cats do nothing all day. And they do it very well.

10. I like staying home. I just wish it wasn't for this reason.

Stay safe and be well, everyone! Love and light to you all.

Report on a Pandemic

Or, as I'm determined to think of it, a staycation.

Looking at the bright side is one of the things I do best. I'm not a denier. I think I'm more of a realist. Sometimes I'm a bit of a doomsayer. Weird mix, I know. But it works for me.

Going forward, I expect that Florida probably will have lots of cases of Covid-19. In addition to our regular residents, we are a combination of retirees, tourists, snowbirds, and spring breakers. There are plenty of "deniers" in those categories, not concerned for various reasons. Our governor has not moved aggressively to flatten the curve. I think it's going to be bad. My goal is to stay well enough not to have to go to the ER for any reason -- coronavirus, car accident, heart attack, you name it. Right now, it's not where I want to be. Not for myself. Not to take up resources needed by others.   

I've been working from home since last Tuesday. It's not as much of a disruption for me as it is for some people. Most of my workday consists of sitting alone in my office, navigating paperless files, looking up information on the internet, and typing into the computer. Thanks to the ultra-modern approach of the firm's managers, all that can easily be done from home -- minus occasional social interaction with my coworkers, which is something I will miss. I've been emailing them more often, intending to stay connected. It's not unlikely that we will have one of those "virtual happy hours" pretty soon, just to catch up.

My workday is also minus the 3-hour daily commute, which is a mixed blessing. The standard 3 hours includes about 2 hours of solid reading time on the train; missing out on that is the downside. The upside is less exposure. Even when I drive the car, it takes 2 hours and oh, the traffic. Overall, I'd say it's a plus.

One of my tasks this weekend was working up a daily schedule, to make sure I still get everything done. Unstructured time tends to disappear on me, and right now the schedule is pretty much mine for the making. Time for exercise and reading has been scheduled. I hope to rise to this opportunity for a reset.   

My neighbors have had mixed reactions to this threat. My elderly neighbors think it's all a big overreaction. One of them is planning to move and continues to go out every day on various errands associated with packing up her household. I have been cordial but kept my physical distance. My other neighbors are young and have a 2-year-old. They are both bartenders -- and both out of work now, because the bars have been closed. I will be doing what I can to help them. And yet, in our back fence conversation yesterday, guess what they wanted to talk about: How was I doing? Did I need anything? They had plenty of food, if I needed any. Just let them know, okay?       

I also have friends in the medical industry. Two of them are ER nurses, in two separate counties. It is crazy there. Lots of sick people, and not much Covid-19 testing available (there are very specific requirements for who gets tested, and from what I've seen, folks who may have gotten it from community spread won't be tested, so we will never know). There have been few positives among those who are tested -- but supplies are running short. My friends are worried about masks and gloves for themselves and medical supplies, available beds, and equipment for patients.

I haven't been to the grocery store in a week. I wouldn't say that I stocked up last week, but I bought a few extra non-perishables. There were no eggs. There were no plant-based milks, although I managed to get regular milk (which I then gave to a friend who needed it). There was no butter. Canned goods were really picked over and I didn't need any, anyway. I got cornmeal, but flour was pretty much gone. There was plenty of ice cream. I got lentils and some interesting turmeric spaghetti. There was no bagged salad. There were no potatoes or onions. I was able to get apples, oranges, and green, yellow and red peppers. I also splurged on almond-maple nut butter and hooray for that! It is delicious.

Last weekend there was no toilet paper. I just needed it on the regular schedule and was able to get it from Amazon because I didn't want to chase all over town for it. Ditto for a thermometer (I can't believe I didn't have one!). It took Amazon a week to deliver. That made me realize how spoiled I have been by the customary delivery times.

I might have to go to the grocery again eventually -- but it doesn't seem worth risking my life for it or burdening the system anymore than it already is. Friday evening I drove the car around the block to make sure it would still start. Yesterday I went by my local bookstore to pick up a couple of books I'd ordered. Like all small local businesses, they are hurting, so I thought I would support them. They promised curbside service, so I called when I arrived in their parking lot and they brought the books out to me. Then I went to the gas station and filled up the tank. Then I went home and washed the heck out of my hands. The roads were very quiet, compared with the usual Saturday. The grocery store parking lot was full.

As different as things are, I feel I have been prepared by literature for these kinds of changes. I'll save that for another post. 

Meanwhile, spring is happening. I have the windows open (it's warm, but not hot yet). The mockingbirds and cardinals sing enthusiastically, and the cats have plenty to smell and watch. My wild-ish yard is blooming with various volunteer flowers. Life goes on. 

Say What?

After nearly a year of growing my hair out from a hideously short and awkward bob, I recently took the plunge and went shorter again. This time I love the cut -- feminine and messy, designed to work with my natural wave. Whew! And hooray!

A major cut is always liberating. I feel lighter, somehow. It also feels good to be stylish and looking my best again. As an added bonus, the new 'do has received rave reviews from everyone at the office. I would like it regardless, but universal acclaim is not to be taken lightly.

My stylist recommended that I get a diffuser, so I can dry my hair quickly without messing up the natural waves. I ordered one from Amazon and it arrived promptly. Fortunately, it fits my hairdryer quite well.

The description on the box, however, is a little outsized:

Classic Functional Cover G8
Professional Modelling "Strong Wind"
Function: When hairdressing, firstly treat hair wit Hair Gel or Mucus Foam, then blow it with hair Blow Dryer which its outlet is covered by the Concentrator. This way to dry and style hair it will not be scattered and has perfect effecft.

Alas, no mention of the cat-eared thing in the top right corner of the picture. When I placed the order, I thought it was a ring for hanging the diffuser up. Now I realize it's a separate item -- folded neatly and individually wrapped -- but I have no idea what to do with it.

Not to mention, I'm fresh out of Mucus Foam.

Everyone's Asking

I spent some time this weekend pondering the question that's on everyone's mind this week.

Do I have the right size pans for Thanksgiving?

Not Just No

I gave this book my personal test, feeling somewhat timid about reading it, based on the descriptions of it as a "provocative" and "visceral" novel premised on women finding themselves able to electrocute others with their bare hands. I dropped it open at a random page and read it. Ugh. It was a scene of unspeakable violence that took a long time to fade from my memory.

Bad luck . . . but I am grateful for the warning. If I can't stand the random page, I will not be reading the rest of it.

Not just no, but hell no.

Another Nope

In keeping with my relatively new resolve not to force myself to finish a book that isn't working for me, here's another one that didn't make it. I gave it a good chance, but it was just too grim. 

No regrets.

And . . . Nope

Announcing the first casualty of my recently-formed determination not to read books that don't interest me, just because they're on some reading list somewhere.

It took less than 100 pages to decide that the best thing about this book was its small size, which made it perfect for toting back and forth to the office and reading on the train. So I put it down without a backwards glance. That felt quite liberating!

I have nothing against Faulkner but will save my intricate-sentence-and-intense-vocabulary thrills for his other works. 

No Fooling

Y'all know I don't do April Fool's Day, right?

It was a gently celebrated "holiday" when I was growing up, but I've never been a fan of the practical joke and so now I do not participate.

Just one of the perks of being an adult.

Catching Up

And here we go! Lots of things are in play throughout my life right now, so here's another of those list-intensive posts . . . .

1. The reading challenges I'm hosting for 2019 are now closed. I think I'm caught up with everyone's sign-ups and books read so far. If you don't see yourself and your books, please give me a shout.

2. Prizes from 2018 are gathered and being posted soon. If you're a winner, I'll let you know when I actually make it to the post office.

3. Since my last post I landed a fabulous new job with a law firm and finished my first week this past week. Yay, me! I will miss doing water advocacy, and the fabulous people I got to work with on a daily basis for a supremely important cause. (I plan to keep volunteering, though.) After the semester ends, I suspect I will also miss teaching. BUT the new job pays more than the other 3 jobs combined, and comes with a generous benefits package. Ultimately, I had to make a practical decision . . .  and I was recruited by a good friend who's worked there several years and loves it. That made it especially difficult to resist.

4. Thanks to #3, I expect to recover my weekends -- rather than spending them getting ready for juggling 3 sets of responsibilities during the week to come. That should mean more time for outdoor fun, reading, and even blogging. We'll see if that holds!

5. Meanwhile, baseball season has started with the local college team. And my wild yard is producing multitudes of volunteer flowers with no prompting whatsoever from me. I'm even going to enter it into a contest for the most "river-friendly" yard, meaning no fertilizer, pesticides, watering, or other interventions. That makes it easy on Mother Nature and the river, as well as on the local wildlife large and small.

Life is good!

Thanks for your patience with my sporadic check-ins. I'll see you again soon! 

Today's List

A microcosm of my life these days . . .

1. Buy and load minutes for my best friend's phone, which she uses when she visits Florida from her home in the U.K. She's trying to get her mom into assisted living, so I'm happy to do anything I can to help her.

2. March in our hometown parade honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We still have a long way to go.

3. About a million things for work, including finishing my work plan for this year -- so I know what I'm doing. The hardest part for me is to stop generating ideas. I want to do everything!

4. Prep for teaching two classes tomorrow. Both classes are small this semester, which adds a little extra pressure to keep things interesting.

5. Stay warm. (I just added that one.) It's 38 degrees this morning -- very cold for us. Especially when it was 80 degrees the day before. Talk about winter weather whiplash!

6. Savor being a speck in the universe. The eclipse last night has me thinking about my To Do list on a celestial scale, which certainly keeps things in perspective.

My friend Mac made a wonderful picture!
MacStonePhoto.com