currently on thursday (again)

I am...

Reading:  Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo; this library book group selection is a re-read.  When I first read it, I loved it.  It annoys me that I'm struggling with it now.  But I am a different reader now than I was then.

Listening to: the Spotify Daily Mix made just for me.

Thinking:  about tomorrow's whirlwind road trip.  I'm taking myself on a day date to Central Maine with no real destination in mind.  Other than I can.

Feeling:  excited.  

Celebrating:  using my personal days for mental health days.  Go me!

Grateful for:   I got to chat with my sisters in our group chat, I got to chat with my bestie, I got to chat with my work bestie, and I also snuck in a video visit with my Pennsylvania sister 

Enjoying:  last week I was celebrating the whimsy of wearing green every day in March.  This week I am over it and can't wait to mix things up!  Although it was fun until it became work.

Weather:  36° and light rain

A quote I want to share:

three on thursday

Thing one: today was my Friday at school, for I have taken a personal day tomorrow and will enjoy a whirlwind trip to Central Maine just because I can.

Thing two: on this trip, I have no official destinations other than knowing I want to go to Target and the movies.

Thing three: my eldest nephew is currently working in Central Maine, so I texted him to see what his availability is like (knowing he's putting in some v-e-r-y long days) and we decided that instead of trying to squeeze in a visit tomorrow--he will come up here to Northern Maine to visit his grandparents and me!  I can't believe it's been six years since I last saw him.  That's a shame and I can do better.

the non-challenge gratitude challenge

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how easy it is to get caught up in the "more, more, more" of life. Always looking for the next book, the next project, or the next weekend. But what if, as my blog title suggests, this is as good as it gets? If that’s true, I want to make sure I’m actually noticing the good parts.

I want to start a gratitude challenge, but I’m doing it a bit differently. Most challenges feel like a race: fill out a calendar, don't break the streak, compete for the most "aesthetic" list. That’s not really my speed.

The Non-Challenge Gratitude Challenge

This isn't about being perfect. There are no points, no "failing" if you miss a day, and no pressure to perform. It’s just a gentle nudge to look around. I’ll be posting prompts here on the blog, and I’d love for you to join me in the comments--but only if you feel like sharing.

how it works:

no timelines: I’ll post a prompt once a week (maybe on Tuesdays?). You can answer it that day, three days later, or just think about it while you’re folding laundry.

the "little things" focus: We aren't looking for life-changing miracles (though those are nice). We're looking for the perfect cup of coffee, the way the light hits the living room at 4:00 PM, or a particularly good character in a book.

grace over grit: If you’re having a week where everything feels heavy, "gratitude" can feel like a chore. If that’s where you are, feel free to skip it. This is a gift to yourself, not a task on a to-do list.

I'll start my first prompt on April 1st and thereafter on Tuesdays for the rest of the month. I hope you'll stick around and share a slice of your "good" with me.

sunday stealing

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Distinctly Adolescent

Have You Ever ...

1) Skipped school? not as a student but as a teacher, yes

 

2) Lettered in a school sport? no

 

3) Made a prank phone call? oh, yes!  My friends and I were quite creative in our phone shenanigans!

 

4) Paid for a meal with coins? yes

5) Laughed until some sort of beverage came out of your nose? yes, although lately I've caused the beverage snort in others.

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

saturday 9

 

London Town

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Have you ever visited London? yes--I stayed in the Wembley region

2) In this song, Paul sings of encountering a London street musician playing the flute. Are there street musicians in your town? no

3) It's raining as he wanders around London. How is the weather where you are today?  30° and mostly cloudy

4) "London Town" is one of a handful of songs credited to Paul McCartney and Denny Laine, his bandmate in Wings from 1971 to 1981. They became fast friends in the mid-60s when Denny was with The Moody Blues, the band who opened for The Beatles on their final UK concert tour. Paul has acknowledged Denny's outstanding vocals and guitar playing, as well as his humor and generosity. Share the good qualities of one of your close friends. my bestie rolls up her sleeves to help with whatever needs doing--she's a problem solver, a listening ear, and gives great solutions and advice

5) Wings broke up in 1981 when Paul decided he was weary of touring. His kids were in school, his Beatle bandmate John Lennon had been murdered, and he simply felt more comfortable staying put and working in the studio, rather than performing live. Denny believed this would mean his role, and his financial compensation, would diminish so he quit Wings. Tell us about why you left one of your jobs. I left my retail job on Columbus Day, 1998, and began my teaching career the very next day--no looking back!

6) Linda McCartney also wrote and performed with Wings. In addition to music, she is known for her photography and cookbooks. Of these three – music, photography and cooking – which do you enjoy most? cooking by default

7) Paul's first car was a 1964 Aston Martin DB5. He selected it himself before The Beatles went off on their first world tour and it was waiting for him when he got home to London. He drove it when he shouldn't have, as he didn't get his license until spring of 1965. When did you get your driver's license? decades ago

8) Speaking of driver's licenses ... Last year someone bought one of Paul's expired driver's licenses at auction for $20,000. When you get a new license, passport, or state issued ID, what do you do with the old one? I save my old passports because of the stamps, but I shred licenses and IDs

9) Random question – Which do you have more of: dirty dishes in the sink or dirty clothes in the hamper? dirty clothes in the hamper

currently on thursday

I am...

Reading:  Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo; this library book group selection is bedeviling me!  I can't seem to get into it.

Listening to: nothing right now

Thinking:  this week has gotten away from me

Feeling:  sleepy

Celebrating: spring--my manicure is very springy

Grateful for: I had a particularly good day

Enjoying: it's been so much fun to wear green every day this month; I'm surprising myself with how much clothing I have that is green (no repeats, so far)

Weather:  27° and mostly cloudy

A quote I want to share:

finished reading

I did not expect to fall so deeply into the world of a young girl consumed with knowledge and religion, set in 13th-century Bruges.  This is a debut novel, to boot!  The story vividly evoked all of my senses — I could smell the wool market, I could see the skies, I could hear the murmuring voices of the Beguines, I could feel the parchment under my fingertips. The almost claustrophobic life in the solitary cell attached to the church wall.  The attention to detail brought this book to life.  And the exploration of faith, mysticism, and misogyny was carefully crafted.  The audio narration is wonderful.

From the publisher:

Aleys is sixteen years old and unusual: stubborn, bright, and prone to religious visions. She and her only friend, Finn, a young scholar, have been learning Latin together in secret—but just as she thinks their connection might become something more, everything unravels. When her father promises her in marriage to a merchant she doesn’t love, she runs away from home, finding shelter among the beguines, a fiercely independent community of religious women who refuse to answer to the Church.

Among these hardworking and strong-willed women, Aleys glimpses for the first time the joys of belonging: a life of song, meaning, and friendship in the markets and along the canals of Bruges. But forces both mystical and political are at work. Illegal translations of scripture, the women’s independence, and a sudden rash of miracles all draw the attention of an ambitious bishop—and bring Aleys and those around her into ever-increasing danger, a danger that will push Aleys to a new understanding of love and sacrifice.

Grounded in the little-told stories of medieval women—mystics, saints, anchoresses, and beguines—and introducing a major new talent, Canticle is a luminous work of historical fiction, vividly evoking a world on the verge of transformation.

three on thursday

Thing one:   I enjoy sitting in silence.  I don't need background noise or music or the television.

Thing two:  it's been one month since I completed therapy.  I can't say I miss all of the appointments I juggled weekly, but I miss my therapist.

Thing three:  this is shaping up to be a busy weekend.  Lots of social time!

sunday stealing

 

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Thursday Thunks

1. It's the middle of the night. There isn't another car in sight. You're stuck at a red light that just won't change. How long do wait until you run it? ok, there's a lot to unpack--first of all, why am I out in the middle of the night?  Is there an emergency?  If so, I will run the light.  

2. What's your favorite recipe? the one that comes to mind is Cuppa-Cuppa-Cuppa:

One cup diced onion

One cup shredded cheddar cheese

One cup Hellman's Mayonnaise (brand specific)

Mix well and bake in a 350 oven for thirty minutes or until golden and bubbly around the edges.

3. When did you last ask yourself, "What the hell was I thinking?" recently

4. Have you ever had a mole removed? If yes, where on your body was it? yes, it was on my back and it was precancerous

5. What website do you faithfully check (other than email)? I regularly check my blog, my blog buddies, Facebook, and Instagram

postsecret

 

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

saturday 9

 

I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover

Selected in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) This is one of the songs included in Willie Nelson's Rainbow Connection album. He named it after his daughter Amy's favorite song when she was a little girl. She'd been asking him to record "The Rainbow Connection" for 20 years and finally, in 2001, he came through for her. Think of something you had to wait for. Was it worth the wait? the last long wait was for routine medical test results that were great!  Definitely worth the wait.

2) Willie can trace his family tree back to the Revolutionary War. Are you interested in genealogy? sort of--not enough to do the work, but I love having the tree and filling in the history

3) Today Willie is legendary performer, but as a child, he was very uncomfortable in front of crowds. He recalled that during his school days, reciting in front of his class made him so uncomfortable he suffered nose bleeds. When did you most recently have a bloody nose? a week ago, I believe it was Wednesday

4) During the 1990s, Willie had problems with the IRS. His management team set up illegal tax shelters and he ended up owing millions in back taxes and penalties. This year's IRS filing deadline is Wednesday, April 15. Will you be early, on time, or will you need an extension? done early, as usual

5) In "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover," Willie sings about appreciating something he has previously overlooked. Is there anything positive in your life you feel you may take for granted? this is why I keep a gratitude journal, so I think of little things that I take for granted

6) Four leaf clovers and shamrocks are considered good luck. Do you have a lucky charm? not really

7) "The wearing o' the green" is one way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Will you wear something green in honor of the day? I have challenged myself to wear green every day this month--it's going to be tricky not repeating items of clothing, but as of now (the 14th) no repeats!

8) According to Irish folklore, if you catch a leprechaun he must either give you his pot o' gold or grant you three wishes. Would you choose the gold or the wishes? if I was in Ireland, I would take the wishes... if it's here at home, I would take the gold--and no, I don't have any particular reasons why that is my answer--it's how the spirit moved me to answer

   

9) Traditional Irish stew is made with mutton or lamb, though here in the US beef is also very popular. What's your favorite soup/stew? tomato bisque

finished reading

After finishing Volume 3, I had to move on to Volume 4.  Emma M. Lion is irresistibly fun!  In this installment, there are some wacky, almost farcical situations that are counterbalanced by tender, melancholic explorations of grief.  

From the publisher:

"It all began very innocently. Truly."

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

finished reading

In Volume 3, Emma's escapades center around an annual neighborhood "secret" production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and the scavenger hunt to procure tickets.  These stories are so much fun!  Emma's chaos is delightful.  And Cousin Archibald is prissy and cantankerous. The mysterious tenant is becoming a friend, and their relationship is sweet.

From the publisher:

"It has been a day ordained by the fates, for how else could one explain the wholly cursed chain of events?"

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London Neighbourhood of St. Crispian's. But Emma's plan for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian's.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

finished reading

A brilliant genre-bending book that explores racism, especially lynching, historically and currently.  Percival Everett is a master storyteller using spare prose, grisly humor, and satire so that the elements of this mystery and the subtle social critique blend together.  When I got to the end, I wondered what the heck I had just finished.  And I've been thinking of it since.  

The short chapters propelled me to binge-read.  The audio is amazing.

From the publisher:

When a pair of detectives from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation arrive in Money, Mississippi, to investigate a series of brutal murders, they find at each crime scene an unexpected second body: that of a man who resembles Emmett Till. After meeting resistance from the local sheriff, his deputy, the coroner, and a string of racist white townsfolk, the MBI detectives suspect these are killings of retribution. Then they discover eerily similar murders taking place in rapid succession all over the country. The past, it seems, refuses to be buried. The uprising has begun. In this provocative page-turner that takes direct aim at racism and police violence, Percival Everett offers a devastating critique of white supremacy and confronts the legacy of lynching in the United States.

three on thursday

Thing one:  school was canceled today due to the ice/sleet/snowstorm.  It makes the last day of school June 11. 

Thing two:  my bestie gets me--she brought a Dunkin' iced coffee to me so I didn't have to go out.

Thing three:  I was sorta bummed to not have school because I'm having a good hair day. 😉

finished reading

This story is full of elements I enjoy: found families and delightfully crafted characters.  The book follows Helen Cartwright, an elderly widow who has returned to her hometown after living in Australia for decades.  A chance encounter with a little mouse perks Helen out of her doldrums and helps her find connections and friendships in the least likely places.  It's charming and delightful.

From the publisher:

Over the course of a single week, a widowed octogenarian (who has spent the last years of her life alone and ready to die) discovers an unexpected reason to live.

Following the deaths of her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns to the English village of her childhood after living abroad for six decades. Her only wish is to die quickly and without fuss.

But years of monotony and loneliness tick by on Westminster Crescent. Helen retreats into her home, becoming a creature of routine and habit. Then, one cold autumn night, a chance encounter with an abandoned pet mouse on the street outside her house sets Helen on a surprising journey of friendship.

The Cure for Loneliness is a gentle reminder that no matter what we have planned for ourselves, sometimes the world has its own plans for us. Simon Van Booy’s lucid, lyrical storytelling brims with a rare kindness and a reminder that not only is no one is exactly who we expect them to be, we can even surprise ourselves sometimes.