saturday 9

BACK IN THE USA

1) This song lists seven cities -- New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Chattanooga, Baton Rouge and St. Louis -- that Linda just loves. How many have you visited? just New York--but Chicago is on my bucket list!

2) The lyrics refer to hamburgers sizzling on the grill. What toppings do you believe make a perfect burger? mustard, relish, ketchup, cheese, and sometimes pickles

3) The original recording of this song by Chuck Berry has always been one of Linda Ronstadt's favorites, one she used to enjoy singing along with in the car. What's the most recent song you sang? "Message In A Bottle" by the Police

4) Linda sang The National Anthem at Game 3 of the 1977 World Series. The New York Yankees won both that game and the series. How is your baseball team doing this season? hmmm, 55-28 right now

Since this is our last Saturday 9 before Independence Day, let's ask some questions about the holiday.

5) During the Revolutionary War, General Washington celebrated the 4th of July by giving his troops a double ration of rum. Will you imbibe any spirits on Independence Day? probably not

6) The first man to sign the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock, said he wrote his name so large King George could see it, even without his glasses. Do you require glasses for reading? I do

7) Since July 4 is a federal holiday, banks are closed and there's no mail delivery. Thanks to email and ATMs, Sam finds going without those services isn't a hardship. What about you? Will you find it inconvenient that banks and the USPS are closed on July 4? nope, not at all

8) The first 4th of July parade each year is held at 12:01 AM in Gatlinberg, TN. Will you attend a parade or fireworks to celebrate the 4th? I actually have no plans for anything that day

9) More and more Americans celebrate our nation's holiday by eating foods from Italy and Germany. For the July 4, 2016 holiday, more than $50 million was spent on Italian sausage and bratwurst. What's on your 4th of July menu? I doubt it will be anything particular--although I probably will get some potato salad when I do my marketing

the friday 56

The Friday 56

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.

I'm reading The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row.

July is always hot in Alabama, even when it's cloudy out, so when my mother asked me to mow the lawn, I didn't want to do it. In fact, it was the last thing I wanted to do. I was thinking about seeing my girl, Sylvia, later, and I was thinking about the revival we were going to at church. And the last thing I wanted to do was get all hot and sweaty cutting the grass.

three on thursday

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I'm totally stealing this idea from Carole.

My first concert was: Billy Joel's Innocent Man tour in 1984. I was a senior in high school, and I got to skip a day of school. My sister gave me the ticket for Christmas and we went together. It was amazing. What a first concert!

My last concert was: Elvis Costello. It was marvelous. He played all my favorites and told stories and had interesting anecdotes between songs. A delight!

My next concert is: I have no idea! I would love to see Fleetwood Mac and U2, but am highly doubtful.

w.w.w. wednesday

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! Hosted by Taking on a World of Words.

• What are you currently reading? I'm reading Us Against You by Fredrik Backman, The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #8) by Louise Penny, and The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton.

• What did you recently finish reading? I finished The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel and The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm not sure!

finished reading

A novella that slips nicely into the series.

From the publisher:

On a cold November morning, a jogger runs through the woods in the peaceful Quebec village of Three Pines. On his run, he finds a dead man hanging from a tree.
The dead man was a guest at the local Inn and Spa. He might have been looking for peace and quiet, but something else found him. Something horrible.
Did the man take his own life? Or was he murdered? Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called to the crime scene. As Gamache follows the trail of clues, he opens a door into the past. And he learns the true reason why the man came to Three Pines.

ten things tuesday

Ten things that make me feel awkward:

1) Talking on the phone to people I don't know. I just hung up from talking to a scheduling nurse for an upcoming procedure and I must have sounded like a complete idiot. Although, I did remember to ask where the office is at the hospital.

2) Attending formal religious services. I'll be attending the calling hours and funeral of my dear friend's sister later this week and I'm already jittery about the funeral.

3) Making small talk. If someone talks to me first, I can get going but I hate having to initiate a conversation or keep one going.

4) Describing my sleep. I talk about naps all the time because I have interrupted sleep at night. I have had insomnia for decades and then I got into a fairly smooth sleep routine but then menopause hit and I'm all over the place again. Some nights I will sleep 12 hours, some nights 12 minutes. And I always say I wish there was something on my mind or troubling me because I would use my strategies to stop thinking. But I got nothin'.

5) Forgetting names. I'm so socially awkward and freaked out that I don't remember names. I do try to say the name when being introduced.

6) Money. Basically anything to do with money.

7) Asking for help. I don't want to inconvenience anyone. I don't mind showing the need, it's not about being strong.

8) Flirting--well, noticing when someone's romantically interested in me.

9) When people freak out in public and draw a ton of attention to themselves for their poor behavior. Ugh.

10) Having to turn someone down for something.

just finished reading

This series! Gets better and better! This book is about contrasts--light and dark in the literal sense through the details of art. I missed the decadent descriptions of food. They didn't eat enough!

From the publisher:

“Hearts are broken,” Lillian Dyson carefully underlined in a book. “Sweet relationships are dead.”
But now Lillian herself is dead. Found among the bleeding hearts and lilacs of Clara Morrow's garden in Three Pines, shattering the celebrations of Clara's solo show at the famed Musée in Montreal. Chief Inspector Gamache, the head of homicide at the Sûreté du Québec, is called to the tiny Quebec village and there he finds the art world gathered, and with it a world of shading and nuance, a world of shadow and light. Where nothing is as it seems. Behind every smile there lurks a sneer. Inside every sweet relationship there hides a broken heart. And even when facts are slowly exposed, it is no longer clear to Gamache and his team if what they've found is the truth, or simply a trick of the light.

currently

I am...

Reading: A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny

Watching: nothing right now but I recorded Yellowstone and am curious to watch it

Listening to: street noise and some birds calling and singing to each other

Loving: time to think about what I want to think about--not thinking about the "what next?" of school

Thinking: about the hassle of scheduling a medical procedure

Feeling: healthy and relaxed

Celebrating: my Pennsylvania niece had a baby girl, Sophia Grace, last night!!!!!!!

Grateful for: insurance and a wonderful relationship with my primary care

Weather:

Enjoying: coffee and relaxing time to organize

A quote I want to share:

“She wasn’t afraid to be wrong. And that, the Chief knew, was a great strength.” ― Louise Penny, A Trick of the Light

finished reading

A fun romantic comedy. A perfect fluff of a summer read.

From the publisher:

Nemesis (n.)
1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome;
2) A person’s undoing;
3) Joshua Templeman.
Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive-aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.

Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

sunday stealing

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Cricket's Drivel

1. When was the last time you went to the doctor? Do you like your doctor? I went in December but I am going tomorrow morning--I LOVE my doctor

2. My back is itching, will you scratch it for me? probably

3. Do you have nice handwriting? yes

4. We are sending you to either New Zealand or Canada, which one do you choose? I'll take New Zealand because Canada is a fifteen-minute drive away

5. Do you sing in the shower? no

6. Have you ever been streaking? If so, how far did you streak and did anyone see you? yes, not far, just the people I was with (we went skinny dipping in the Caribbean and streaked to our towels and clothes but I'm counting it--yes, I was drunk, yes I was young)

7. How soon is too soon for Christmas decorations and music playing in the stores? I'm a fan of Christmas so it doesn't matter

8. If you celebrated Halloween as a kid what was the costume you wore at 5? Since my birthday is close to Halloween I always had costume parties so I have a photo somewhere but I was a fortune teller

9. How many cavities have you had in your life? oh, I have no idea

10. Is there anyone you regret meeting. no

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.

henna day one

So, here's day one. I notice the color is getting richer. I don't know if the photo captures the richness.

just finished reading

A quick read. I liked how the quartet members' stories intertwine. And I like the noir vibe that Gavin, who could be considered the main character, alludes to and aspires to. I didn't like that most of the characters are unlikeable, I just couldn't muster up any connections. I liked this book and can't wait to read more from this author. I wish it was a book group selection, there would be a lot to talk about.

From the publisher:

Gavin Sasaki was a promising young journalist in New York City until the day he was fired for plagiarism. The last thing he wants is to sell foreclosed real estate for his sister Eilo's company in their Florida hometown. But he's in no position to refuse her job offer, and there's another reason to go home: Eilo recently met a ten-year-old girl who looks very much like Gavin and has the same last name as Gavin's high school girlfriend, Anna, who left town abruptly after graduation.

Determined to find out if this little girl might be his daughter, Gavin sets off to track down Anna, starting with the three friends they shared back when he was a part of a jazz group called “The Lola Quartet.” As Gavin pieces together their stories, he learns that Anna has been on the run for good reason, and soon his investigation into her sudden disappearance all those years go takes a seriously dangerous turn.

henna art

Did something out of my comfort zone today--which is a bucket list item--I got a henna tattoo!

I will edit to add some later photos, but here's when the artist finished, it's fresh!

saturday 9

Shut Up + Dance

1) This is about a man who meets the woman who is his destiny on the dance floor. Do you think we each have One Great Love preordained by fate? Or do you think life offers each of us many opportunities for romance? we might have one great love but there are many other loves

2) Lead singer Nick Petricca says this song is inspired by a true story. He was all keyed up and his girlfriend dragged him onto the dance floor, insisting that dancing would cheer him up. Therefore he considers this song an "anthem to letting go and having fun." Think of the last time you really had fun. Who were you with? What were you doing? my fondest memories are with my family, celebrating Dad's 80th birthday a year ago--I have NEVER laughed that hard

3) The dance floor incident that inspired this song took place in Echo Park, an LA neighborhood located near Elysian Park and Chinatown. Tell us about your village or city. Do the neighborhoods have interesting names? lots of streets are named for trees

4) Walk the Moon promoted this record by a performance on Good Morning America. Are you enthusiastic and energetic at 7:00 AM? Or do you hit your stride later in the day? I am an unapologetic morning person!

5) "Shut Up + Dance" is the biggest hit by Walk the Moon. The bandmembers met as at Kenyon, Ohio's oldest private college. Tell us about something that's old and revered where you live. the town hall is housed in the former hospital--about a hundred years ago it was the hospital

6) Walk the Moon took their name from the Police song, "Walking on the Moon." What's your favorite song by Sting and/or The Police? "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"

7) In 2014, the year this song was popular, Robin Williams took his own life. What's your favorite Robin Williams performance? either Good Will Hunting or The Fisher King or Mrs. Doubtfire

8) Also in 2014, the Apple Watch was introduced. Are you wearing a watch as you answer these 9 questions? I don't wear watches

9) Random question -- You must create a coat of arms for yourself, representing your life and spirit. Which of these items would you place at the center: a heart, a sword, or a pen? heart

finished reading

Quite a good psychological thriller! I didn't guess the twist. It was fun to second guess the narrator, Erin. I couldn't decide if I liked her or not. I was grabbed by the opening and couldn't put it down.

From the publisher:

Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough, Mark a handsome investment banker with big plans. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, where they enjoy the sun, the sand, and each other. Then, while scuba diving in the crystal blue sea, they find something in the water....

Suddenly the newlyweds must make a dangerous choice: to speak out or to protect their secret. After all, if no one else knows, who would be hurt? Their decision will trigger a devastating chain of events....

the friday 56

The Friday 56

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.

I'm reading Something in the Water.

"It's fine. I mean...he's not fine, but it is fine. It's tricky because I really want to be thre for him but at the same time I don't want to...you know, emasculate him by actually helping him, you see? It's delicate. I have to sort of fluff him up without him noticing. And don't get me wrong, it's not because he needs bolstering or anything. It's because I love him, you know, Caro. I want him to be happy. But he won't let me make him happy. It's like he thinks the worrying focuses him or something, like it's going to help fix it all."

baby--you can drive my car

Shout out to The Gal! I loved this video, best Carpool Karaoke yet!

three on thursday

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In honor of today being the first day of summer, here are three things I did today--the weather is wonderful:

1) Paid a bunch of bills and ran errands.

2) Mailed baby blanket to Pennsylvania niece (including books for big brother Eli to enjoy).

3) Picked out a summer read: Something in the Water. And I'm heading out to the porch to read it!

finished reading

It's a charming coming of second-age story about a woman who rediscovers herself after a suicide attempt (which could be a trigger warning). Set in a gorgeous coastal town in Brittany, France. A quick little delight of a book.

From the publisher:

Marianne is stuck in a loveless, unhappy marriage. After forty-one years, she has reached her limit, and one evening in Paris she decides to take action. Following a dramatic moment on the banks of the Seine, Marianne leaves her life behind and sets out for the Brittany coast.

There she meets a cast of colorful and unforgettable locals who surprise her with their warm welcome, and the natural ease they all seem to have, taking pleasure in life's small moments. These new friends help Marianne rediscover parts of herself that she had long forgotten, including a special gift for empathy and healing. And when she finds love with a handsome artist, Marianne is forever changed.

it's here

unraveled wednesday

Join Kat @ AsKatKnits for some fun!

Still knitting a blanket for myself called Reversible knit lap blanket, progress is being made. And I'm listening to plus reading (going back and forth) A Trick of the Light.

ten things tuesday

Ten things:

1) My Pennsylvania sister got me to try a clothing service with a "stylist." I got my first box of clothes and 💟LOVE💟 the quality, fit, and style.

2) My Pennsylvania sister also convinced me to try WEN for my horrible hair. It's oily, flat, and baby fine. She says WEN will make it luxurious. Ok, I'll try it.

3) I took a whirlwind trip to Central Maine today.

4) When I left, this was the temperature:

5) I went to my favorite place!

6) I also got a pedicure!

7) All the deer we saw were away from the road, like well-behaved wildlings.

8) I have a Henna tattoo appointment for Saturday. Actually, I was invited to be a model.

9) I can't stop yawning.

10) When I got home, this was the temperature:

finished reading

A lovable loser. I enjoyed this book but didn't love it. I liked that Arthur Less flits from disaster to disaster only slightly oblivious to the disaster of is life. And I thought it was clever that the Less is writing a book about this very story.

From the publisher:

Who says you can't run away from your problems?

You are a failed novelist about to turn fifty. A wedding invitation arrives in the mail: your boyfriend of the past nine years is engaged to someone else. You can't say yes--it would be too awkward--and you can't say no--it would look like defeat. On your desk are a series of invitations to half-baked literary events around the world.

QUESTION: How do you arrange to skip town?

ANSWER: You accept them all.

What would possibly go wrong? Arthur Less will almost fall in love in Paris, almost fall to his death in Berlin, barely escape to a Moroccan ski chalet from a Saharan sandstorm, accidentally book himself as the (only) writer-in-residence at a Christian Retreat Center in Southern India, and encounter, on a desert island in the Arabian Sea, the last person on Earth he wants to face. Somewhere in there: he will turn fifty. Through it all, there is his first love. And there is his last.

Because, despite all these mishaps, missteps, misunderstandings and mistakes, LESS is, above all, a love story.

currently

I am...

Reading: I'll be finishing Less today.

Listening to: QVC for background sound

Loving: a lazy day

Thinking: really, about nothing...

Feeling: almost like I'm relaxed

Celebrating: vacation

Grateful for: time

Weather: 62 and rainy

Enjoying: hanging around

A quote I want to share:

sunday stealing

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Runway

1. Five ways to win your heart

1. bring iced coffee
2. have a dog
3. hug tight
4. laugh at yourself
5. Reese's peanut butter cups

2. Something you feel strongly about education
3. A book you love The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
4. Five pet peeves

1. slow cars in the passing lane
2. phone calls
3. strong, lingering body odor
4. itchy spots I can't reach
5. spoilers (movie, tv, book)

5. What you ate today a granola bar
6. How important do you think education is? no one can ever take it away from you, it's vital
7. Five people you find attractive

1. George Clooney
2. Don Lemon
3. Scott Pelley
4. Andy Garcia
5. George Clooney

8. What you wore today shorts and a t-shirt

9. Something you always think “what if” about my health
10. Something you’re proud of I was recognized at the faculty gathering for my 20 years of service
11. Five items you lust after

1. a Harry Potter phone case
2. a vacation trip
3. a new box spring and mattress
4. a pedicure
5. a lightweight blanket

12. Five words/phrases that make you laugh

1. Booger
2. common sense
3. "Did I miss anything when I was absent?"
4. "Can we have a free day?"
5. "What are we doing in class today?"
   

13. A quote you try to live by

14. Something you like and dislike about yourself. I like my ability to take care of myself/I dislike my tendency towards laziness
15. A problem that you have had financial

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

Cat's in the Cradle
This song was chosen in honor of Father's Day.

1) This song began as a poem, written by Harry's wife Sandy before the couple even met. Have you ever tried your hand at writing poetry? I have--April is National Poetry Month and a few years I wrote a poem every day

2) The lyrics include a reference to "The Man in the Moon." The original Mother Goose rhyme ends: "It's time for the children on earth to think about getting to bed." Do you remember what time your childhood bedtime was? it was 7:30 until I was in 7th grade

3) When did you go to bed last night? around 10, but it was interrupted sleep all night

4) In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the proclamation that made Father's Day a holiday on the third Sunday in June. Can you name all 45 Presidents? (No, you don't have to list them here.) I cannot, although I can come close (there are a few "forgettable presidents" between Polk and Lincoln)

5) Since Sam's father is particular about his Cole Haan loafers, her Father's Day present to him is always a DSW gift card. Who on your gift list is especially easy to buy for? my bestie

6) Sam's father is a voracious reader. So much so that the local librarian knows him on sight and by name. When did you last visit your neighborhood library? it's been about two weeks

7) Back when Sam was in high school, her father gave her driving lessons. Do you consider yourself a good driver? I do

8) He is a stickler about car maintenance and reminds Sam to check her car's air filter regularly, because a dirty air filter can reduce mileage. Share your own car maintenance tip. Turn the engine off before pumping gas--always!

9) Whenever he fills up the car, Sam's father also stocks up on his favorite candy: LifeSavers. So Sam is celebrating Father's Day by giving everyone a roll. Would you prefer Wild Cherry, Butter Rum, Winter Green or Peppermint? Today, I will choose peppermint

the friday 56

The Friday 56

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.

I'm reading A Trick of the Light.

Clara nodded. She hadn't admitted to Peter the only reason she'd invited Castonguay and some other dealers to the barbeque afterward was for him. In the hopes they'd give him a chance.

"I did invite a few big-wigs," Clara said. "And a few artists. It was a lot of fun."

finished reading

The first in this series set in the Maine woods had familiar settings and characters. I liked the Mike Bowditch character, he's a likeable yet flawed rookie Game Warden.

From the publisher:

Set in the wilds of Maine, this is an explosive tale of an estranged son thrust into the hunt for a murderous fugitive---his own father.

Game warden Mike Bowditch returns home one evening to find an alarming voice from the past on his answering machine: his father, Jack, a hard-drinking womanizer who makes his living poaching illegal game. An even more frightening call comes the next morning from the police: They are searching for the man who killed a beloved local cop the night before---and his father is their prime suspect. Jack has escaped from police custody, and only Mike believes that his tormented father might not be guilty.

Now, alienated from the woman he loves, shunned by colleagues who have no sympathy for the suspected cop killer, Mike must come to terms with his haunted past. He knows firsthand Jack's brutality, but is the man capable of murder? Desperate and alone, Mike strikes up an uneasy alliance with a retired warden pilot, and together the two men journey deep into the Maine wilderness in search of a runaway fugitive. There they meet a beautiful woman who claims to be Jack's mistress but who seems to be guarding a more dangerous secret. The only way for Mike to save his father now is to find the real killer---which could mean putting everyone he loves in the line of fire.

three on thursday

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In honor of today being the first day of summer vacation, here are three things I did today--the weather is awful so this may be all I accomplish:

1) Breakfast out with my Breakfast Club. We'd gone quite a while since our last gathering, it was great to get together and catch up. We went to Misty Meadows Organic Farm.

2) A quick trip to the market.

3) New shower curtain hung. Since my landlord redid my bathroom a new shower curtain was in order. 😊

unraveled wednesday

Join Kat @ AsKatKnits for some fun!

Still knitting a blanket for myself called Reversible knit lap blanket. And I'm still listening to The Poacher's Son.

off to a good start

Sweet, sweet summer vacation started at noon today! An absurdly long lunch with friends followed by a massage--a Christmas gift.

ten things tuesday

currently

I am...

Reading: Finishing up The Poacher's Son.

Listening to: traffic from the post office

Loving: the feeling of being caught up at school

Thinking: about school

Feeling: guilty--I scooted out of the building a little early for a meeting at the business office at the superintendent's but I didn't return to school (there were fifteen minutes left of the day) and now I feel guilty

Celebrating: summer

Grateful for: 1½ days of school left

Weather: it's 64 degrees and sunny

Enjoying: my outfit

A quote I want to share:

girls night out

I meant to go to the movies with my bestie. We were excited to see Ocean's 8. But we got talking and decided to go have appetizers and cocktails. We talked later than the movie ran. Lots to celebrate, lots to discuss. And incredible sangria!

sunday stealing

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Bloggone

1. What brand & flavor of toothpaste do you use? Colgate Total whitening toothpaste
2. What is your earliest memory? this morning I woke up and my first thought is "next Sunday I will be on vacation"
3. Hot Dogs or Hamburgers? hamburgers without a bun
4. If you could bring any one famous person back to life, who would it be? Luther Vandross--I'm in the mood for some velvety smooth singing
5. What is one thing we would always find in your fridge... what one thing would we never find? you would always find orange juice and you will never find beef tongue
6. Did you have to go and look for the answer of #1? no
7. Why don't watermelons grow on trees? gravity
8. What is something that you own that you should probably just throw in the trash, but you never will? and old, scentless candle
9. I push you into a room and lock the door. I leave you there for 6 hours. The walls are chalkboards and in the middle of the room there is a box of colored chalk. What will be written/drawn on the walls when I let you out? probably nothing
10. When was the last time you changed the oil on your car? 2000+ miles ago, I checked this morning to see if I'm due but I'm not
11. In your extended family, who has been married the longest? my Pennsylvania sister has been married for 36 years 💖
12. Name one thing that is so normal to you now that someone who was your age 50 years ago would think was abnormal. laptop computers
13. Have you ever wanted someone or something so bad that it hurt? of course
14. What do you dip your french fries in? ketchup
15. What was the last picture that you took? my fresh manicure

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

(There's) No Gettin' Over Me

1) Ronnie Milsap sings about how worrisome it can be when you realize you forgot to pay a bill. It's happened to all of us, hasn't it? Tell about about a time you accidentally missed a payment. I forgot to make a final credit card payment just last month

2) He also references a dream that keeps him awake. Do you have any recurring dreams? I used to have one but don't remember my dreams often anymore

3) He sings about the face you see in the crowd. Tell us about someone you see regularly, but don't really know. the crew at Dunkin' are all very friendy and pleasant but I don't know all of their names

4) He mentions the book that you just can't put down. What's the last book that you finished? the last book I finished was Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

5) Ronnie Milsap is a big fan of new technology, and believes the advancements make both his professional and personal lives easier. What about you? Do you embrace new technology? Or do you long for the good old days, when we weren't so connected to personal devices? I love technology!

6) As a child, Ronnie used to surreptitiously listen to late night radio, especially gospel broadcasts. When you were a kid, what rule did you break again and again? I used to sneak out of bed and crawl into the hall closet to peek out the door to watch TV--I only remember doing that to watch Laugh In

7) Country star Blake Shelton says Ronnie Milsap was a big influence on his music. Do you watch Blake on The Voice? I am not watching now but I have watched and really enjoy it

8) In May, Ronnie appeared at the Choctaw Casino in Grant, OK. Do you enjoy games of chance? *shrug* sure, I'm not much of a gambler, though

9) Random question -- When did you last "do it yourself" and repair something around the house or yard? I put together the fire pit I gave my dad for his birthday

the friday 56

The Friday 56

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.

I'm reading The Poacher's Son.

From Chapter 56:

The inn's restaurant was an expansive, low-ceilinged space with pillars scattered among the heavy oak tables and captain's chairs. The wide, pine floorboards needed a new coat of varnish. Framed black and white photos of the inn's employees from post-war days to the present hung on the walls along with amaturish paintings of loons and moose.

three on thursday

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Three books I bought today: variety!

1) Us Against You: A Novel
2) The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row
3) The Outsider

book group

Tonight was a very fun Library Book Group night! They loved Eleanor Oliphant and we had a lively discussion. It's tough to decide which is more fun--everyone agreeing about the book or when people have different views about it. Sometimes it's the dynamics of who dis/likes the book. I love being in a book group! I don't always enjoy being the de facto leader.

Next up:
July--The Woman In the Window
August--Someone Else's Love Story
September--Educated: A Memoir

unraveled wednesday

Join Kat @ AsKatKnits for some fun!

Knitting a blanket for myself called Reversible knit lap blanket. And I'm listening to The Poacher's Son.