three on thursday

 

Thing one:  I started knitting a dog-sized Santa hat for my friend's doggo.

Thing two:  I am also knitting a pair of mittens for my friend--we crafted for each other, which was a good trade.

Thing three:  Christmas packages are arriving daily!

finished reading

This second in the series didn't disappoint!  Judith, Suzie, and Becks are back in action--and we get a better sense of each character's backstory.  What an eccentric trio.

The mystery is a classic locked room.  I suspected the guilty party but couldn't work out the how of it.  There are some surprising twists.  The family of the victim, Sir Peter, was annoying.  Caricatures instead of characters.

I can't wait for more!

From the publisher:

It’s been an enjoyable and murder-free time for Judith, Suzie and Becks – AKA the Marlow Murder Club – since the events of last year. The most exciting thing on the horizon is the upcoming wedding of Marlow grandee, Sir Peter Bailey, to his nurse, Jenny Page. Sir Peter is having a party at his grand mansion on the river Thames the day before the wedding, and Judith and Co. are looking forward to a bit of free champagne.

But during the soiree, there’s a crash from inside the house, and when the Marlow Murder Club rush to investigate, they are shocked to find the groom-to-be crushed to death in his study.

The study was locked from the inside, so the police don’t consider the death suspicious. But Judith disagrees. As far as she's concerned, Peter was murdered! And it’s up to the Marlow Murder Club to find the killer before he or she strikes again…

wordless wednesday

 

ten things tuesday

Ten things about today:

Two things that I am grateful for today:
1.  The coffee drive-thru line wasn't long

2.  I remembered to pick Jess up

Two things that made today great:
3.  Laughing with my students
4. Finally getting rid of the pull-down maps!

Two things I did well today:
5.  Supported a colleague who's in a very tricky situation
6.  Managed the students from the local university that want to observe my classes

Two things that I could have done better today:
7.  Used my time effectively
8.  Reloaded the photocopier

Two things I will do to make the rest of the day great:

9.  Read

10.  Go to bed early

currently

I am...

Reading:  Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood

Listening to:  The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley

Loving:  I ordered myself a new Kindle 😎

Thinking:  I walked into a meeting and was told I had to chair it--I had no notice, no agenda, nothing...

Feeling:  tired

Celebrating:  I met my Goodreads challenge for 2023!  I've read 100 books!

Grateful for:  time by myself to decompress

Enjoying:  Reese's trees and Ghiradelli Snowmen

Weather:  it is 37° and cloudy

A quote I want to share: 

challenge accomplished!

 

I have met my 100-book reading challenge for 2023!  Just in time to start reading holiday-themed books!

finished reading

After reading a locked-door mystery by this author yesterday, I looked up the author's domestic thrillers and this was available at the library so I read it today.  It's convoluted, twisty, utterly unbelievable and unput-downable!  I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.  What a twisty thrill.  The characters are unlikeable but that's part of the fun.  All I wanted was for baby Cora to be safe.

From the publisher:

How well do you know the couple next door? Or your husband? Or even—yourself?  

People are capable of almost anything. . . 

A domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighbors—a twisty, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives. . . 

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.

Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco  soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they've kept for years. 

What follows is the nerve-racking unraveling of a family—a chilling tale of  deception, duplicity, and unfaithfulness that will keep you breathless until the final shocking twist.

sunday stealing

 

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Surveys

1. How long was your last phone conversation? probably 15 minutes

2. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes--but it's been about 20 years 

3. What do you have on your feet? socks

4. Do people ever mispronounce your name? my last name

5. Where did you get the shirt you are wearing? Old Navy

6. Does any part of your body hurt right now? nope

7. Do you drink hard liquor? not anymore--it's been decades

8. Have you ever read a book in one sitting? yes

9. Do you like cats?  Why or why not? no, I do not like cats--when I was a little kid I was bitten by a rabid cat and had to have the series of shots which was traumatic

10. Do you like the ocean? yes

11. Ever think you might have seen a UFO? no

12. Do you type fast? usually

13. How long are you usually in the shower for? probably 10 minutes

14. Chinese food or Mexican food? either

15. Do you read and believe your horoscope? yes and 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.

finished reading

I picked this up after reading The Gal's review, and my interest was piqued.  I love a locked door mystery and this didn't disappoint!  So many suspectable characters--everybody has a secret!  The setting and claustrophobic atmosphere of the book worked and you could feel the nerves of the guests fraying as they are cut off from the outside world, from electricity and heat, and begin turning on each other.  There were a few slow parts but overall the story worked.

I was not fond of the audio narrator.

From the publisher:

A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away

It's winter in the Catskills and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing--maybe even romantic--weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery.

So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity--and all contact with the outside world--the guests settle in and try to make the best of it.

Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead--it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic.

Within the snowed-in paradise, something--or someone--is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm--and one another.

saturday 9

Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)

I'm answering these questions on Friday because Saturday morning I am meeting with a bunch of former students for coffee and I won't be home until later in the day after Small Business Saturday shopping.

1) This week's song begins with Hollies' lead singer Allan Clarke telling us of a Saturday night trip downtown, taken at the behest of the FBI. What are your plans for Saturday night? (No, we don't expect you to tell us you'll be working undercover for a government agency.) I will not be working for the FBI or any other government agency--I suspect I'll be knitting Christmas presents

2) At a bar, he meets a woman in a black dress. The LBD, or little black dress, is a wardrobe staple for many women because it's appropriate for almost any occasion. Let's say you get a last-minute invitation for a "dressy" dinner this weekend and you don't have the time or money to buy something new. What's your go-to outfit from your closet? I have black dress pants and a fancy blouse I would wear, maybe with a jacket or cardigan

3) Everyone at the bar starts to run when they hear sirens. Do you often hear sirens in your neighborhood? I do

4) In 1972, the year this week's song was on the charts, Popeye's opened their first fast-food chicken restaurant in Louisiana. Now that the Thanksgiving feast is over, will you be eating any carry-out this weekend? I have so much leftover Thanksgiving food, I will not be eating take out

5) Black is this week's signature color because November 24 was Black Friday, when retailers historically have slashed their prices and the holiday shopping season begins. Have you begun your gift shopping? I started at the beginning of the month--and I'm almost done

6) Walmart, Best Buy and Target all advertise heavily on Black Friday. If you could have a $100 gift card from one of those stores, which would you choose? What would you buy? I would choose... uhm... Target and I would order online because their selection of clothing is better online

7) This Monday is sometimes known as Cyber Monday because shoppers can find big savings online. Do you shop confidently online, or do you worry about security breaches and identity theft? I shop confidently

8) What are you thankful for this year? my health, my family's health, and love

9) Random question: Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone (texting doesn't count)? my dentist's office--I paid my bill over the phone

finished reading

This book is called The Big Chill for our times.  I loved The Big Chill.  I liked this book but didn't love it.  All of the characters are obliviously entitled.  And I don't know if they're a product of our times or if it's the author's fault.  But they are removed from reality insomuch as they can drop everything at a phone call to jet away for a gathering, based on a teenage pact they made.  The premise is great.  But the flat characters got to me.  Maybe it's because I can't jet away for a gathering on a moment's notice.  There is a lot of wit and clever dialog.  And poignant moments.  As I said, I liked it but didn't love it.

From the publisher:

A decades-old pact offers a group of college friends the chance to throw each other “living funerals,” in the next poignant and humorous novel by the bestselling author of The Guncle.

The night after one of their own is tragically taken away from them, a group of seven college friends form a pact: a promise to reunite every few years to throw each other "living funerals," constant reminders that life is worth living, if not for them then for their late friend.

Now, twenty-eight years into the hard-worn lines of adulthood, their "funerals" only remind them of all the opportunities they missed. But when one member of the old gang receives an unexpected diagnosis, the pact takes on new meaning, and each friend is forced to confront old secrets, and weigh their now-middle-age lives against the idealistic dreams of their youth.

A deeply honest tribute to selfhood and the people who keep us going, The Celebrants, coupled with Steven Rowley's signature humor and heart, is a moving tale about the false invincibility of youth, and all the beautiful ways in which friendship can transcend our deepest losses.

three on thrusday

 

Thing one:

Thing two:

Thing three:

birthday shoutout

Today is The Gal's birthday! With an assist from Bard...

In the realm of words, a voice so true, 

One Gal's Musings, a blog we grew. 

With each heartfelt post, a bond so deep, 

A virtual haven where thoughts can leap.

Oh, birthday dear, a celebration grand, 

For a writer's touch, always at hand. 

Your words like brushstrokes, painting a scene, 

Emotions evoked, both vibrant and keen.

With ink as your guide, you navigate the soul, 

Unveiling stories that make us whole. 

Through laughter and tears, your words intertwine, 

A tapestry of thoughts, a life so fine.

In the realm of blogging, you stand so tall, 

A beacon of light, inspiring all. 

With every sentence, you capture the heart, 

One Gal's Musings, a work of art.

So raise a glass to the blogger so dear, 

Whose words ignite a passion so clear. 

May your birthday be filled with joy and glee, 

And may your muse continue to set you free.

ten things tuesday

Ten things I make lists for in no particular order:

1)  I am always on the lookout for Ten Things Tuesday ideas.  TTT is a list.

2)  Things I need to photocopy with how many, hole punched, stapled, two-sided, those kinds of things.

3)  I'm good at queuing up books I want to read.

4)  And TV or streaming shows to watch.

5)  I make lists of the order of errands I have to run.

6)  I make lists of phone calls I have to make.

7)  There is a list of passwords.

8)  Occasionally, I will make a list of knitting patterns matched with yarn.

9)  I wrote up a list of monthly expenses.  But I don't know why I bothered.

10) Every night I fall asleep making a gratitude list with an assist from the Balance meditation app.

finished reading

There's a lot going on in this first installment of a series.  Almost too much.  The introduction to the two main detective characters was modern--not a meet-cute but a New Year's drunken hook-up, complete with fake names and phone numbers.  So when the detectives are thrown together on the case it's awkward but sets a tone.  The story unfolds with multiple narrative threads telling the story of the murder victim's last few days, especially how he antagonizes every single person he comes in contact with, creating quite a cast of suspects.  The end reveal made sense and I didn't see it coming.  I think I'll try another from the series.

From the publisher:

At midnight, one of them is dead.
By morning, all of them are suspects.

It's a party to end all parties, but not everyone is here to celebrate.

On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His vacation homes on Mirror Lake are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbors.

But by midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.

On New Year’s Day, Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects. The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbors, friends and family—and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.

With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead…but who finally killed him.

In a village with this many secrets, murder is just the beginning.

currently

I am...

Reading:  Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood

Listening to:  The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh--I'll finish it tonight and probably start Wellness by Nathan Hill

Loving:  this short week

Thinking:  about cooking dinner

Feeling:  hungry, I didn't have a real lunch

Celebrating:  I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and break

Grateful for:  I ordered a Thanksgiving meal for me and my parents so we don't have to cook or clean up

Enjoying:  I was able to get a good chunk of schoolwork done today

Weather:  it is 28° and clear with periodic clouds

A quote I want to share: 

sunday stealing

 

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Thanksgiving

1, People I'd like to thank and why  I try to be verbal with gratitude and let people know I love them regularly

2. Something I rebelled against as a kid was bedtime, as an insomniac I hated having a bedtime when I'd then toss and turn for hours

3. What I need to accomplish before the end of the year I need to finish my decluttering project

4. Guilty pleasures right now hmm, I can't think of anything

5. Local landmarks currently it's the library's book tree!  It's been on the national news, even!

6. Cause or purpose I deeply believe in I am a major proponent of literacy--especially adult literacy

7. Things I never learned to do Because my mum died when I was young, I never actually learned how to keep things tidy, I know it seems ridiculous, but I never learned the habits of neatness

8. Seasonal traditions I’m always excited for the music!  the lights!  the festive mood!

9. Something I’d like to be mentored on I would like to be better at Canva or Excel

10. Exotic animals I wish I could keep as pets NONE

11. Something normal to me, that might be odd to others I can go all weekend without talking to anyone

12. The last book I quit reading and why hmmm... I know I've had a couple of DNF this year but I don't recall what they were

13. Right now, I appreciate... a good coffee

14. When “the holiday season” starts for me I don't have a specific time, I guess it starts with my birthday in late October

15. Holiday foods and treats I love the most Chex mix

16. “Terrible” movies that I actually like wow--I can't think of any movies right now

17. Cooking all day for holiday dinner vs. ordering carry-out we're ordering out this Thanksgiving

18. If I were trapped in a holiday movie, I’d pick... I would love to be stuck in Elf

19. Which holiday tradition I wish lasted all year long the spirit of giving

20. Favorite books, music, tv, movies and music this month I have to watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles on Thanksgiving

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

This is classified as Southern Gothic Horror.  It was amusing and quirky.  I listened to it and loved the narrator's tone, although I didn't like her male voices, but that's just a small thing.

The protagonist, Sam, is quirky and funny, relatable, and someone I would like to be friends with.  And her relationship with her mom is so fun.  But there is an impending dread throughout the story.  I don't want to spoil anything...

From the publisher:

"Mom seems off."

Her brother's words echo in Sam Montgomery's ear as she turns onto the quiet North Carolina street where their mother lives alone.

She brushes the thought away as she climbs the front steps. Sam's excited for this rare extended visit, and looking forward to nights with just the two of them, drinking boxed wine, watching murder mystery shows, and guessing who the killer is long before the characters figure it out.

But stepping inside, she quickly realizes home isn’t what it used to be. Gone is the warm, cluttered charm her mom is known for; now the walls are painted a sterile white. Her mom jumps at the smallest noises and looks over her shoulder even when she’s the only person in the room. And when Sam steps out back to clear her head, she finds a jar of teeth hidden beneath the magazine-worthy rose bushes, and vultures are circling the garden from above.

To find out what’s got her mom so frightened in her own home, Sam will go digging for the truth. But some secrets are better left buried.

saturday 9

Last Train to Clarksville

1) When did you most recently take a train? May 2023

2) The lyrics promise "coffee-flavored kisses and a bit of conversation." Have you more recently had coffee, a kiss, or a chat? I had all three today!  I had iced coffee, I kissed a dog, and had a long chat at my book group

3) The record opens with a guitar riff inspired by The Beatles' "Day Tripper." Can you play guitar? no

4) The lead vocals are performed by Micky Dolenz. He is the only surviving member of the Monkees. Without looking it up, can you name his bandmates? Davy Jones, Peter something, Michael N-something

5) The Monkees starred in an award-winning sitcom for two seasons. In Season 2, Micky surprised fans by appearing with a curly perm. Do you curl, straighten or color your hair? I perm my hair twice a year

6) Micky also did a stint at WCBS radio in New York. He spun the oldies every morning and helped his listeners get ready for work. Do you turn on the radio or TV when you first wake up? no

7) Micky's daughter, Ami, followed her father into show business, appearing in several movies and a recurring role in General Hospital. If you followed your father into his profession, what would you have done for a living?  I am--a teacher!

8) In 1966, when this song topped the charts, miniskirts took the fashion world by storm. What have you recently added to your wardrobe? a cozy cardigan

9) Random question -- You order chicken noodle soup and a packet of saltines arrives with the bowl. Do you: 1) break the crackers into pieces and stir them into your soup or 2) squeeze them in your hand and sprinkle the crumbles into your soup or 3) leave them untouched? 2--I squeeze them and sprinkle over the top

finished reading

This book is dark and weird.  I liked the podcast and true-crime documentary structure.  And I liked the unreliable narrator--questioning which of the main characters is reliable. I liked the premise of how Josie and Alix met while celebrating their 45th birthdays.

There are some uncomfortably disturbing themes, especially dealing with teens or children.  

From the publisher:

Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.

Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.

A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.

But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.

Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?

ten things tuesday

My evening ritual.  I try to keep a routine so my body knows it's time to slow down.  For some reason, I don't like the term "sleep hygiene" even though this is it:

1)  I stop eating after 6.

2)  I stop drinking after 7.  This is new to my routine and I find I have fewer bathroom trips in the middle of the night.

3)  I turn the television off.

4)  I listen to an audiobook or Lofi** music.

5)  I knit for half an hour.  Dishcloths are excellent projects for this knitting session.

6)  I color on my iPad.

7)  Evening ablutions.

8)  I pick out tomorrow's outfit.

9)  Hydrate my legs--very important because of lymphedema.

10)  Listen to a meditation on Headspace, Calm, or Balance.

** the softness of its beats, the continuous melody, and the nostalgic feeling that surrounds these songs.