currently it's wednesday

I am...

Reading: I DNF'd The Caretaker; I'm just not in the mood for horror.  I'm going to start Jane Eyre for my library book group

Listening to: the Billy Joel Mix on Spotify

Thinking:  I'm trying to figure out what time I should leave tomorrow for my trip to Harpswell: I'm attending an art show opening at the Harpswell Collective.  A group of us who took part in the Creativity Workshop are going to support the artist who led the workshop; we've become dear friends.

Feeling:  excited

Celebrating:  this is my last Potato Harvest Break--which is a one-week break from school. Back in the day, many family farms relied on manual labor (their own children and other kids), so families would pull kids from school to help with the harvest. I am not so sure why we continue having Harvest Break, as most kids do not work the manual harvest jobs that have become mechanized, and you need to be at least 18 to operate the machines. It was a rite of passage when I was a kid. Now, not so much. But it's a tradition.

Grateful for: my bestie's shoulder surgeon was very pleased with how the procedure went yesterday.  I was fortunate enough to be able to take her to the appointment in Central Maine (and back before the block wore off).

Enjoying:  quite a social week!

Weather:  62° and sunny

A quote I want to share: 

finished reading

What a timely and thought-provoking read. The book explores heavy themes like bodily autonomy, medical ethics, unintended consequences, elder care, and shifting gender expectations without ever becoming weighed down by them. That’s largely thanks to 77-year-old Pepper Mills (yes, her name is a delightful running bit), whose wry perspective, humor, and sharp dialogue keep the narrative grounded. While Pepper's unexpected pregnancy sounds absurd on paper, the medical explanation feels all too plausible. Beyond Pepper herself, the vibrant secondary cast and the lively setting of the senior living community truly make the story come alive.  I enjoyed the bond between Pepper and her granddaughter, 15-year-old Lola, especially their text messages complete with emojis.

From the publisher:

At seventy-seven, Pepper Mills is too old to be a stranger in a strange land. She didn’t choose the Vista View Retirement Community of Austin, Texas—that would be her three grown children—but when she grudgingly moves in, she not only makes new friends, she falls in love. Then the exhaustion, vomiting, and confusion start. Her children and grandchildren worry it’s cancer, dementia, a stroke. But a raft of tests later, the news is even more she’s pregnant.

Once word gets out, everyone wants a piece of the press and the paparazzi, activists and medical researchers, all descending on Vista View as Pepper tries to determine her next move. Soon Pepper has some hard decisions to make—and some she’s not allowed to make.

Enormous Wings is an urgent novel about female agency and bodily autonomy, morality and mortality. It’s about what happens when you don’t get to choose. It’s about motherhood and family, sex and love and friendship, and how those bedrocks—even so late in the day—can still change, and then change everything.

sunday stealing

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Four Superlatives

1. Your MOST overused word or phrase:  in my head it's definitely "for fucks sake," but out loud it's probably "let's think about that"

2. Your BIGGEST expense: rent 

3. Your WORST fear: losing my independence

4. Your BEST memory of Summer 26: spending the month with my sister and her family 💖

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.

finished reading

I wanted to love this book. Maybe if I had read it instead of listening to the audiobook, I would have rated it higher. Some of the structural choices felt too jumbled and repetitive, which left me confused at times.

That said, I really enjoyed the setting, from the mysterious mansion to the tight-knit community of treasure hunters. The overall vibe was a lot of fun, fittingly described as The Goonies meets Knives Out. Best of all, I definitely did not see that twist coming!

From the publisher:

A murder mystery set in a seaside town filled with pirate lore, family secrets, unforgivable grudges, secret societies, and of course, a treasure lost to time. 

WELCOME TO MAPLE BAY, NOVA SCOTIA

For nearly a century, people have ventured to the idyllic seaside town of Maple Bay in search of a legendary lost pirate treasure, but locals know there’s more than just gold buried in the sand. As the paths of three strangers converge in Maple Bay, the truth is about to be blown wide open. But not before the bodies start to pile up.

Peter Barnett is rapidly approaching 40 with little to show for it when a mysterious letter invites him to Maple Bay and the mansion his estranged family has called home for generations.

Seventeen-year-old Dandy Feltzen is isolated and adrift following the death of her beloved grandfather, until his final request and a tantalizing clue sets her on a mission to solve the mystery he spent his entire life chasing.

Cass Jones has given up on her dream of being a successful author when an unexpected opportunity lands in her a housesitting gig in remote Maple Bay, where she stumbles on the perfect subject matter for her breakout book—and the handsome sailor who might be just the person to help her research it.

Peter, Dandy and Cass have never met, but they’re on a collision course with each other and the mystery that has defined Maple Bay for two centuries, and none of them are prepared for the shocking truths that may or may not still be buried there.

saturday 9

 

Everybody Loves A Clown

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

1) Not everyone loves clowns. "Coulrophobia" is the irrational fear of clowns. Do you have any fears or phobias? the dentist! 

2) This week's featured artist, Gary Lewis, sings that he jokes a lot at parties. In social settings, are you more a talker or a listener? listener

3) He's dreaming of a special girl. Do you often daydream? not really, I'm more of a thinker

4) Gary named his band The Playboys because they were always late to rehearsals and Gary joked that they would rather play than work. Do you tend to be early, late, or exactly on time? I'm more on time or early

5) Gary Lewis had first-hand knowledge of clowns. His father was famous funny man Jerry Lewis. Who always makes you laugh? my students

6) In 2017, Gary was in the news when it became known that Jerry disinherited all six of his sons from his will. Have you ever attended the reading of a will? no

7) This past summer found Gary Lewis on The My Generation Tour, performing with other acts from the mid-1960s, like The Lovin' Spoonful, The Hollies, and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Do you enjoy listening to "the oldies?" yes--I'm always amazed that I still know so many lyrics

8) In 1965, when this song was popular, Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Have you ever attended a boxing match? no

9) Random question: What color is your toothbrush? I just swapped it out this morning--it's green

three on thursday

 

Thing 1:  when I finish The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan, I will meet my reading goal for the year.  Here's to book 100!

Thing 2:  today is my Friday for school.  Tomorrow is a county-wide workshop day for teachers.  I've never gotten anything useful from this workshop in the twenty-something years it's been happening.  I finally decided that instead of being miserable and resentful, I would take the day off. 😆 I feel like a giant weight has been lifted.

Thing 3:  I had ChatGPT create coloring sheets for my classes, using specific prompts.  I couldn't resist making one for my retirement.

finished reading

Listening to Dr. Jill Biden’s memoir felt like sitting down for a long, honest conversation. Going into the book, I didn’t know much about the former First Lady beyond her dedication to education. Having spent my own career in the classroom, I immediately connected with her love of teaching and her determination to continue doing the work she loved.

I really enjoyed getting a peek behind the curtain at the whirlwind of life in the East Wing. She was balancing a full-time teaching career with official duties, public expectations, and family life. Throughout the book, she comes across as warm, funny, practical, and very human. I found her surprisingly relatable.

For me, though, the most powerful parts of the book come near the end, when she writes openly about some incredibly difficult moments for her family. Her reflections on Hunter’s legal troubles, the painful aftermath of the presidential debate, and the difficult decisions surrounding President Biden’s decision to leave the race give the reader a very personal look at history. These are events most of us watched unfold in the news, but she experienced them as a wife and a mother.

Ultimately, this felt less like a political memoir to me and more like a book about family, resilience, service, and trying to hold onto the people and things you love while living a very public life. I came away feeling like I knew Jill Biden much better than I did when I started, and I’m glad I read it.

From the publisher:

Jill Biden became First Lady at a complicated moment in US history, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the shadow of the January 6 insurrection. These were the circumstances under which she set up office in the East Wing, where she hit the ground running. Throughout her husband’s presidency, Jill remained a tireless advocate for her causes, including women’s health, military families, vaccine awareness, cancer initiatives, and education. She made history as the first-ever First Lady to hold an outside job while her husband was in office, continuing to work as a professor at a nearby community college. Yet all the while, she saw herself as an ordinary woman living an extraordinary life.

In View from the East Wing, Jill shares her White House experiences for the first time, in her own words. She reflects on the Biden presidency and its impact on her family. She brings you behind the scenes, from Camp David to Air Force One, from grading papers in the Rose Garden to witnessing the abrupt end of her husband’s bid for reelection. This is the story of a woman dedicated to her roles as a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher—and First Lady of the United States.

sunday stealing

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True or False

1. I'm married.  False

2. I'm raising a teenager. True--actually, I'm raising 113 this year.

3. I recently vacationed in California. False, it was Virginia.

4. I have traveled to Asia. False

5. I have a dog. False, sadly.

6. I received money from a class action settlement. False.

7. I've been in the waiting room when a family member had surgery. True.

8. I have attended a convention. True.

9. I subscribe to my local newspaper (either print or online). False.

10. I recently had work done to the exterior of my home. False.

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

Devil in the Bottle

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

1) This song begins with T. G. Sheppard taking off his shoes to slip into the house with disturbing his sleeping wife. Are you wearing shoes as you answer these questions? no

2) His wife hears him anyway. Are you a light sleeper? yes

 

3) This is the first of 22 consecutive #1 hits for T. G. Sheppard. Not bad for a high school dropout. What's the last year of education that you completed? I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies; however, I have 30 years of teaching experience + credentials for teaching College Board courses and am considered adjunct faculty at the local university

 

4) He was born William Browder and chose the stage name T. G. Sheppard just because he liked the sound of it. He says "T. G." doesn't stand for anything, and he gets a kick out of fans who insist there's some secret meaning behind the initials. Since most of us didn't choose our names: Is there a story behind your name? Did your parents tell you why they chose it? (If you did choose your name, share what influenced your decision.) my first name is after my maternal grandmother and my middle name is after my paternal grandfather (and I love my name)

 

5) It was after hours at a Memphis roller rink when he first met Elvis and his entourage. As T. G. was leaving, Elvis was entering and asked if he wanted to stay and skate longer. T. G. was confused because he knew the place was closing for the night. "Not for me," Elvis replied and T. G. skated with Elvis and his buddies until dawn. Are you good on roller skates? noooooo

6) T. G. loves NASCAR and was an associate sponsor of the Folgers Chevrolet. He enjoyed the collaboration with the coffee company and has performed the familiar jingle – "the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup" – in concert. Are you loyal to a particular coffee brand? not especially

 

7) T. G. understands the lifestyle of his fans. That's why he named his live country music venue Guitars and Cadillacs. If you were going to name a business after two of your favorite things, what would you call it? books and yarn

 

8) In 1974, when this week's song was on the country charts, Linda Ronstadt was getting a lot of radio airplay with "You're No Good." That song is about a real cad. Let's turn that around: Who is the nicest person you know? oh gosh--that's a hard question to answer!  I only know nice people.

 

9) Random question: Have you ever had your palm read? yes, but it was in Spanish and no hablo español

finished reading

Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for this book. Based on the synopsis, I was expecting a glorious, messy meltdown, but instead, it felt more like a slow wallow in self-doubt and self-pity. To be fair, the characters were very well developed. I just found the central friend group deeply self-indulgent and unlikable. I kept waiting for higher stakes: I wanted way more drama between Caroline Lash and her author mother, and I definitely wanted more angsty rants from Van to shake things up.  Maybe I wanted campy romps through the almost incestuous relationships.

From the publisher:

When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, she falls head-over-heels for Van Whittaker, a fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast with long, floppy hair and the personality of a Border collie. Born and raised in this picturesque coastal village, Van runs with the same crowd he did as a His ex-girlfriend, Bailey, a beautiful girl who attracts men like moths to a flame; Augusta, old money, horsey, and snobbish; and Fran, surrounded by brothers and sons, too fed up with boys to ever consider marrying one.

Together, the group runs wild through the marshes, beaches, and bars of Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, spending long afternoons sunbathing with their children, and playing games the way they always have. But when Bailey discovers that she is pregnant with Van’s baby, the delicate balance of the group’s friendship is thrown off. Soon Caroline is cast out of the circle and what she does next—in a potent mix of fury and heartbreak—exposes long-held secrets and works the entire town of Greenhead into a lather. Dazzlingly funny, sexy, and as juicy as it is astute, The Shampoo Effect is a story of late-night parties, early mornings with small children, the dawn of midlife, and a group of old friends finally growing up despite all their best efforts to the contrary.