currently

I am...

Reading:  The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (I will start it after I post this)

Listening to: rain

Thinking:  I'm loath to start prepping for school--we return August 17th

Feeling:  like time's running out; vacation has been soooooooo relaxing!

Celebrating: this is my Farewell Tour; by this time next year I will be retired!

Grateful for:  a quiet day to read

Enjoying:  my Pampered Chef ice cream maker--this is my favorite appliance

Weather:  72° and rainy

A quote I want to share: 

happy day 3

8/3: Spending a rainy day reading.  I just finished Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth.

sunday stealing

 

Click the icon to play along

Bold the ones you've done

Have you ever ...

1. Slept under the stars

2. Played in a band

3. Visited Hawaii 

4. Visited Easter Island 

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Seen the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace

7. Been to Disneyland or Disney World 

8. Climbed a mountain 

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Been to the Louvre 

11. Had food poisoning

12. Eaten vegetables you grew yourself

13. Slept overnight on a train 

14. Built a snow fort

15. Held a lamb

16. Gone skinny dipping

17. Been on a cruise (day cruises and dinner cruises count)

18. Seen Niagara Falls 

19. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

20. Sung karaoke

21. Sat for a portrait

22. Walked on a beach by moonlight

23. Been transported in an ambulance

24. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 

25. Kissed in the rain

26. Played in the mud

27. Gone to a drive-in theater

28. Changed your vehicle's oil yourself

29. Taken a martial arts class 

30. Visited the Vatican

31. Volunteered at a soup kitchen or food pantry

32. Sold Girl Scout cookies

33. Bought a used car

34. Sat on a jury

35. Ridden an elephant

 

happy day 2

8/2: Lemon "skinny dipped" almonds.  Yes, please!

saturday 9

Coconut

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

This month Saturday 9 will be tasty, featuring songs with food in the title.

1) This song is about a woman who complains of a belly ache. How's your tummy this morning? fantastic

2) She responds to this malady by calling the doctor. What if you chose to address the problem yourself? Are there currently any OTC digestive aids in your medicine chest?  there are Tums, but they are probably outdated

3) Coconut was once a popular ice cream flavor, but no more. It's not on the list of top sellers at Baskin Robbins or Cold Stone. When you last had ice cream, what flavor was it? it was homemade coconut ice cream--well, almond joy ice cream

4) Coconut remains popular in baking. It's easy to find recipes for coconut pie, coconut cheesecake, coconut cookies ... you get the idea. Have you recently tried a new recipe? If yes, how did it turn out? the almond joy ice cream was a new to me recipe and it was delicious!

5) This week's featured artist, Harry Nilsson, was a well known free spirit. He liked to party and had a reputation for not adhering to a schedule. Therefore it's a little surprising that one of his first jobs was in the conservative atmosphere of a small bank. Do you prefer a more structured workplace? yes, I enjoy a schedule

6) Harry met Micky Dolenz when The Monkees recorded his song, "Cuddly Toy" and they became fast and life-long friends. Can you think of someone you met and quickly "clicked" with? today I attended a Creative Inspirations retreat and clicked with one of the attendees

7) In 1971, when this song was on the radio, detective shows were popular on TV. Mannix, Ironside and Cannon were all in the Top 20. Do you think you'd make a good private investigator? I would be a good Jessica Fletcher type of investigator--or a Gus & Shawn sidekick 

8) England's Princess Anne turned 21 in 1971 and the occasion was commemorated with an official portrait taken by fashion photographer Norman Parkinson. Who took the most recent photo of you? the facilitator of the Creative Inspirations retreat

9) Random question: You can redecorate any one room in your home, money is no object. But only one room. Which room do you pick? redecorate?  I guess I'll go with the bedroom since there is no decoration

finished reading

This is the 33rd mystery featuring reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter and his intrepid team of investigators.

What I especially enjoyed was Andy's wise-cracking, seemingly glib approach to the law, which masks a thoughtful and thorough examination of the case. I was also relieved that there wasn't a high body count this time around. The usual gang was all there assisting Andy--though the Rugelach Brigade was absent for this one.

As usual, the audio narration was wonderful!

From the publisher:

It’s defense lawyer Andy Carpenter’s dream to retire. That goal is once again thwarted when he gets a call from Lou, an old friend who he simply cannot refuse, asking for a favor. Lou runs a rehab center, and when one of his patients, a homeless vet, is charged with first degree murder, he needs Andy's help. And of course, Andy will also be called on to care for the accused’s dog, but that’s okay, what's one more dog?

The man that Jason Maddox is accused of stabbing to death is none other than billionaire Paul Vincent, an eccentric businessman and inventor. Bickert dedicated a great portion of his life to philanthropy, with a soft spot for dog-related causes. This led him to befriend Jason, a physicist and war hero, whose life fell apart to the point where he ended up on the streets with his dog, just trying to survive.

But why would Jason possibly have wanted to kill him? Well, for one thing, he was to receive a fortune in Vincent's will. That, coupled with the fact that Jason was at the scene, his fingerprints were on the knife, and Vincent's wallet was in his jacket, made it a slam dunk arrest.

Once again, Andy is enmeshed in a puzzling, twisty case. But in order to reunite a man and his dog, Andy will have to untangle it all.

happy day 1

 8/1: Kicking off the 2026 August Happiness Challenge is an incredible day filled with laughter, friends, and creativity.  The retreat was amazing and inspiring.  I hope to carry this seed of creativity with me into the school year.

finished reading

I was disappointed in this book.  I wanted to love it.  But I just couldn't connect with the main character's predicament. I did enjoy Jenny's spunky spirit and the relationships she had: familial, friendships, and romantic.  The secondary characters were interesting clichés.   Unfortunately, I felt that Jenny was waiting to be rescued, and the damsel-in-distress just didn't jibe with me.  But this is the only book by author Katherine Center that I haven't loved.

From the publisher:

Very pregnant and not quite married, Jenny Harris doesn't mind that she and her live-in fiancé, Dean, accidentally started their family a little earlier than planned. But Dean is acting distant, and the night he runs out for cigarettes and doesn't come back, he demotes himself from future husband to sperm donor. And the very next day, Jenny goes into labor.

In the months that follow, Jenny plunges into a life she never anticipated: single motherhood. At least with the sleep deprivation, sore boobs, and fits of crying (both hers and the baby's), there's not much time to dwell on her broken heart. And things are looking up: Jenny learns how to do everything one-handed, makes friends in a mommy group, and even gets to know a handsome, helpful neighbor. But Dean is never far from Jenny's thoughts or, it turns out, her doorstep, and in the end she must choose between the old life she thought she wanted and the new life she's been lucky to find.

three on thursday

 

Thing 1:  this has been a gently paced day--reading, snacking, listening to the rain.

Thing 2:  is there a better feeling than being caught up in a book?

Thing 3:  this weekend is a creativity retreat with the group I've been working with all year.  An in-person workshop.  I am so excited to kick off August with a gathering of creative friends.

currently

 I am...

Reading: The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center (I am starting it tonight!)

Listening to: the fan

Thinking: mentally organizing my day tomorrow--lots going on

Feeling:  a slight twinge in my back because I flipped my mattress this morning and may have overdone it

Celebrating:  I was able to flip my mattress by myself! 💪

Grateful for:  I got to spend some time today with a friend who really gets me

Enjoying:  cooler temps

Weather:  73° and mostly cloudy

A quote I want to share: 

finished reading

These interconnected stories shed light on an adult day care center and a community of people who are far too often overlooked. Brown gives us moving glimpses into the lives of non-verbal clients who experience complex wants and needs, alongside the program director and staff members who spend their days together. The narrative beautifully highlights the profound impact they all have on one another, and I deeply appreciated the empathy and humanity infused into every character.

From the publisher:

Upward Bound is not a place anyone dreams of spending their days. The dreary adult daycare centre for Los Angeles’s disabled community is, for many of its clients and staff, a place of last resort. This includes Carlos, a young aide who lost his mother as a boy and now works there alongside his beloved sister Mariana; Jorge, the gentle nonspeaking giant whom Carlos seeks to befriend (and prevent from escaping); Tom, a beautiful young man with cerebral palsy, who pines for Ann, the summer lifeguard at the centre’s pool who feels out of her depth; then there’s Dave, Upward Bound’s director who came to LA to pursue an acting career but now channels his passion into staging an overly ambitious holiday show starring the centre’s irrepressible clients.

Framing these intertwined narratives – and connecting them in surprising, shattering ways – is the riveting and sometimes ironic testimony of Walter, a recent community college graduate who, after a family tragedy, must return to the company of his disabled peers.

In Upward Bound, Woody Brown has created an indelible, authentic, and profoundly moving group portrait of autism and other disabilities, all illuminated by his empathy, sly sense of humor, and enormous gifts as a novelist. With remarkable sophistication, insight, and creativity, Brown depicts a community too-often invisible in literature and society. Filled with characters you won’t soon forget, Upward Bound will inspire and touch you, teaching you as much about yourself as the tender, miraculous world behind the centre’s doors.

finished reading

Whooee, this book was NOT how it was described! This is not a light, funny, or touching story-it is an intense exploration of how stacked trauma builds to a breaking point.

The non-linear, choppy timeline provides an interesting framework for backstories and flashbacks, but it took until about two-thirds of the way through for the narrative to really pull me in. Until that point, I was seriously questioning whether I’d even finish it.

Once the story finally unfolded, Grace’s erratic behavior made sense, revealing the heavy family secrets that estranged her from her husband and 16-year-old daughter. With those revelations, the pieces of Grace finally fell into place, explaining her desperate, day-long journey to the brink.

Ultimately, I am still thinking about the characters.  I feel empathy for Grace.  But I hold my stance on the mis-marketing.

From the publisher:

Grace Adams gave birth, blinked, and now suddenly she is forty-five, perimenopausal and stalled—the unhappiest age you can be, according to the Guardian. And today she’s really losing it. Stuck in traffic, she finally has had enough. To the astonishment of everyone, Grace gets out of her car and simply walks away.

Grace sets off across London, armed with a £200 cake, to win back her estranged teenage daughter on her sixteenth birthday. Because today is the day she’ll remind her daughter that no matter how far we fall, we can always get back up again. Because Grace Adams used to be amazing. Her husband thought so. Her daughter thought so. Even Grace thought so. But everyone seems to have forgotten. Grace is about to remind them . . . and, most important, remind herself.

happy challenge

 It is time, once again, for the August Happiness Challenge! Thanks to The Gal Herself!

Here's a brief explanation of the Challenge: "Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world."

You're invited to join me. Visit me with a link to your daily happy, and I'll come read it. I've found that experiencing other peoples' everyday pleasures is a great moodlifter.

It helps if your Happiness Challenge posts are marked with an icon. Just something that means "happy" to you.

sunday stealing

Click the icon to play along

The $80,000 Meme

Premise: A philanthropist awards you $80,000 with the stipulation that you must spend half on yourself and half for the benefit of others. 

For our overseas players, here's a currency calculator. 

1. Of the $40,000 you must spend on yourself: 

a. First you throw yourself a lavish birthday party. Tell us about it.  I would host a catered open house at the new event place in town (I think it's called The Ridge) and request no gifts but donations could be made to the public library

b. Then you take off on a cruise. Where are you headed?  either a Mediterranean cruise or a riverboat cruise in Europe

2. Of the $40,000 you must spend for the benefit of others: 

a. Who would be on your gift list? What would buy them? I would donate to family members' favorite charities instead of giving specific gifts--unless someone could really use a financial boost

b. Which charities would you support? there are a few local charities I support, I like keeping the money local--and I like supporting veterans, unhoused, and scholarships

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

This Is A Very Special Day

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

1) In this song, Peggy sings that she feels good enough to climb a hill. Will you be doing anything athletic today? no

2) However she was also tempted to climb back in bed. Is a nap in your plans for today? no

3) She tells us that she looked in the mirror and told herself it was time to "lose the blues." Do you ever speak out loud to yourself? not very often

4) Peggy wrote this song for the 1953 remake of The Jazz Singer. She performs it in the movie, too. In the 1950s, female singer-songwriters were unusual, but not so today. Can you think of another woman who not only sings but writes her own material?  Annie Lennox, kd lang, Bonnie Raitt, Alicia Keys

5) Her co-star in the film was Danny Thomas. Today he is best remembered as a philanthropist and founder of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, but he was quite a star in his day. He appeared in nightclubs and movie musicals and, from 1954 to 1963, had his own sitcom. Do you know the show? I'm not familiar with it

6) When Peggy Lee was trying to break into show business, she supported herself as a short order cook. She was required to turn orders around quickly. Are you fast and efficient in the kitchen? not especially

7) Just when her career started to take off, Peggy had to take a break when she had her tonsils removed. Do you still have your tonsils? I do!

8) In 1953, when this record was released, Matchbox Cars were introduced and they remain popular today. Did you ever play with Matchbox Cars? no, I had a Barbie Beetle and Van

9) Random question: You're walking past a filthy puddle. Floating on top you see a dead bug, a cigarette butt, and a $1 bill. Would you bend over and rescue the dollar? probably not

finished reading

Set during the Great Depression, this novel is about female ingenuity.  The three narrative threads weave Meg, an 11-year-old orphan, Birdie, a brainy spinster, and Charlie, a down-on-her-luck woman, together while exploring 1930s social mores and expectations against a backdrop of financial ruin.  Meg, Birdie, and Charlie, as well as the cast of secondary characters, are so fully developed that they jump from the page.

The author explores heavy social issues, such as eugenics, poverty, gender and racial inequalities, but focuses more on the characters' resilience, persistence, and friendship.  My heart would break for Meg's plight at The Orphanage, only for her precociousness to save the moment from becoming maudlin. 

This novel is too long.  There, I've said it. 

From the publisher:

In 1933 Oxford, Mississippi, Prohibition is on the wane, and the Great Depression is tightening its grip. Poor and rich folks alike have fallen on hard times, even as the old social order remains. For women on the margins, the options are few and the price of dignity and self-determination is unbearably high.

Eleven-year-old Meg, one of the unadoptable “big girls” at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed. Birdie, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford on a mission to ask her social-climbing sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. And Charlie is a woman with a past, running low on luck but driven by fire, fury, and grit. When their fates converge, they come up with an audacious plan to take back control of their lives. Together, they form an unlikely sisterhood—but in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife, women’s freedom is fragile, and making an enemy can have dire consequences, will the price they pay for their outrageous risk-taking be too high?

The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to resilience, friendship, and the fierce, funny women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings. This is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time.

finished reading

This book is not for the faint of heart.  With three narrative threads based on women whose lives have been irrevocably altered by a pedophile: two victims and his mother. Ultimately, the novel explores how victims are protected and sometimes exploited and how the line between justice and retribution is sometimes blurred.  

It is a dark subject matter.  It is thoughtfully written.

From the publisher:

A stunning literary achievement and portrait of three women connected through one man in the aftermath of his murder—the explosive and highly anticipated debut novel from beloved and award-winning memoirist, T Kira Madden.

Birdie Chang didn’t know anything about Whidbey Island when she chose it, only that it was about as far away as she could get from her own life. She’s a woman on the run, desperate for an escape from the headlines back home and the look of concern in her girlfriend’s eyes—and from Calvin Boyer, the man who abused her as a child and who’s now resurfaced. On her way, she has an unnerving encounter with a stranger on the ferry who offers her a proposition, a sinister solution, a plan for revenge.

But Birdie isn’t the only girl Calvin harmed back then. There’s also Linzie King, a former reality TV star who recently wrote all about it in her bestselling memoir. Though the two women have never met, their stories intertwine. Once Birdie arrives on Whidbey, she finally cracks the book’s spine, only to find too much she recognizes in its pages. Soon after, on the other side of the country, Calvin’s loving mother, Mary-Beth, receives a shocking phone call from the police: her only son has been murdered.

Calvin’s death sets into motion a series of events that sends each woman on a desperate search for answers. A complex whodunnit told from alternating points of view, Whidbey is searingly perceptive and astonishingly original. Exploring the long reach of violence and our flawed systems of incarceration and rehabilitation, this is a tense and provocative debut that’s sure to incite crucial questions about the pursuit of justice and who has real power over a story: the one who lives it, or the one who tells it?

finished re-reading

Both of my book groups are discussing The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Volume 1) so I did a quick re-read.

Loved it as much.  It's a look at the life of a young woman reaching the age of majority in Victorian England.  She's spirited!

The link to my original post about the book.