Amber's (scaifea) Thread #26

Hey, everybody!

I'm Amber, a one-time Classics professor, turned stay-at-home parent/lady of leisure, turned part-time library assistant, turned once again Classics professor. I spend my free time sewing, writing, knitting, baking, and, of course, reading.

My reading life is happily governed by lists, which means that I read a healthy variety of things across various genres.

I'm 46 going on 12 and live in Ohio with my husband, Tomm; our son, Charlie; Mario, the Golden Retriever; and the newest addition to the family: Agent Fitzsimmons, the Border Collie.

The haircut isn't all that new anymore, but, well, here I am:



Favorite Books from 2020
The Lumberjanes collected comic volumes
Call Down the Hawk
New Kid
The Wise Man's Fear
The Slow Regard of Silent Things
Pride and Prejudice
Silver in the Wood
A Tale of Two Cities

What I'm Reading Now:
-Lud-in-the-Mist (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list)
-Middlegame (Alex Award)
-Ravensong (romance list)
-Winter's Tale (audiobook)
-The House in the Cerulean Sea (family bedtime read-aloud)
-The Plague (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob)
-In the Spirit of Crazy Horse (100 Banned Books)
-Death in the Stacks (cozy mystery)
-This Is My Brain in Love (Schneider award)

Books on Deck:

-Wheels within Wheels (Prometheus Award)
-More Fool Me (Fry bibliography)
-Les Miserables (books by year - 1862)
-(an unread book from my shelves)
-(a book from my Read Soon! shelves)
-The World of Tibetan Buddhism (Buddhist reading list)
-Death in the Stacks (cozy mysteries)
-Richard III (Shakespeare re-read)
-The Group (100 Banned Books)

The five-ish or so books I have going at once and the On Deck books nearly all come from the following categories and lists:

1. A book from the 100 Banned Books book (at least currently. As soon as I finish this list, I'll replace it with another, and oh, I've got tons of lists).

2. 13 years ago I started working my way through a handful of awards lists for children's books. I've finished a fair few of those, but I'm still working through the 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die list, and I try to stay up to date with several of the YALSA awards each year.

3. A book from the Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, in chronological order.

4. A list I'm working through together with my best friend, Rob: The Hugo/Nebula/WFA/Bram Stoker (and other) lists (combined, in chronological order)

5. For this category, I cycle through 9 different stacks:
a. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
b. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
c. John Boyne bibliography (in chronological order, sort of)
d. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
e. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
f. Maggie Stiefvater's bibliography (in chronological order)
g. The NEH Timeless Classics list
h. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
i. The Pulitzer list (in alpha order by author)

6. An unread book from my shelves.

7. A book from my Read Soon! shelves.

8. A book on Buddhism or from the Dalai Lama's bibliography.

9. Book-a-year challenge: A few years ago, along with a few others in this group (*cough* Paul *cough*), I made a year-by-year list to see how far I could go back with consecutive reads. I've since been trying to fill in the gap years.

10. A cozy mystery.

11. A full-on re-read through Shakespeare's stuff.

12. A read-aloud-to-Charlie-at-bedtime book (or two).

13. An audio book, which I listen to as I knit/sew/otherwise craft/drive.

14. A romance novel.

15. This slot is reserved for books that just grab me and shout that they need to be read Right Now.

Books Read

JANUARY
1. Spinning Silver (Alex Award) - 10/10 = A+
2. Swamp Thing: Twin Branches (Stiefvater bibliography) - 8/10 = B
3. Manchild in the Promised Land (Banned Books list, AlphaKIT: M) - 9/10 = A-
4. The Wish Giver (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
5. Silas Marner (audiobook) - 8/10 = B-
6. The Story of Tracy Beaker (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B-
7. Thick as Thieves (series reread) - 10/10 = A+
8. Lumberjanes #16: Mind over Mettle (series read) - 10/10 = A+
9. Pilgrimage (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books) - 7/10 = C
10. Each Tiny Spark (Schneider Honor Book) - 7/10 = C
11. The House on the Borderland (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 6/10 = D
12. Beyond Religion (books on Buddhism) - 9/10 = A
13. Outlander (romance list) - 6/10 = D
14. Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun (Newbery Honor Book) - 7/10 = C
15. Far Away Across the Sea (1001 Children's Books) - 10/10 = A+
16. The Daylight Gate (Read Soon! Shelves) - 8/10 = B-
17. The Queen of Attolia (family bedtime read-aloud) - 10/10 = A+
18. Works and Days & Theogony (Myth course readings) - 9/10 = A-
19. The Book Thief (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 10/10 = A+
20. Return of the Thief (series read) - 10/10 = A+

FEBRUARY
21. The Bacchants (myth course reading) - 9/10 = A
22. Camp (romance) - 8/10 = B+
23. Song of a Whale (Schneider Award) - 8/10 = B-
24. Gardens of the Moon (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 4/10 = F
25. Oedipus Rex (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
26. Antigone (Myth course readings) = 10/10 = A+
27. Agamemnon (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
27. Upon the Head of a Goat (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
27. Volcano (Newbery Honor Book) - 7/10 = C
30. A Promised Land (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
31. The Stone Book Quartet (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C+
32. The Libation Bearers (Myth course readings) - 9/10 = A
33. Eumenides (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
34. Electra (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
35. The King of Elfland's Daughter (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books) - 7/10 = C
36. The Goalkeeper's Revenge (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
37. Conrad: The Factory-Made Boy (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
38. Medea (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
39. The Frogs (Myth course readings) - 9/10 = A
40. Metamorphoses (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
41. Iliad (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
42. Odyssey (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
43. Aeneid (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
44. The Histories (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
45. Till We Have Faces (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books) - 8/10 = B-

MARCH
46. My Sweet Orange Tree (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
47. Lord Foul's Bane (BSFA) - 2/10 = F
48. Manolito Four Eyes (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
49. The Early History of Rome, Book 1 (Myth course readings) - 9/10 = A
50. Farmer Boy (family bedtime read-aloud) - 9/10 = A-
51. The Henna Wars (romance list) - 8/10 = B+
52. Cursed (Schneider Award) - 9/10 = A
53. Heroides (Myth course readings) - 9/10 = A
54. The Apocolocyntosis (Myth course readings) - 9/10 = A
55. Sandman: The Kindly Ones (Myth course readings) - 10/10 = A+
56. Tales of the Rue Broca (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
57. Far Away Across the Sea (family bedtime read-aloud) - 10/10 = A+
58. After the Rain (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
59. Ready Player Two (from my Read Soon! shelves) - 9/10 = A
60. The Moonstone (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
61. Memoirs of a Geisha (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 8/10 = B

APRIL
62. The Club Dumas (unread book from my shelves) - 9/10 = A
63. Good Night, Mr. Tom (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
64. The Liverpool Cats (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
65. The Ugly American (100 Banned Books) - 9/10 = A
66. The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
67. The Haunting (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
68. The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost (family bedtime read-aloud) - 9/10 = A
69. Sense and Sensibility (unread book from my shelves) - 8/10 = B+
70. Middlemarch (audiobook) - 2/10 = F
71. Ordinary Hazards (audiobook) - 8/10 = B-
72. Chaotic Good (Read Soon! Shelves) - 9/10 = A

MAY
73. The Beast Player (Printz Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
74. Another Country (100 Banned Books) - 8/10 = B-
75. Lumberjanes Vol. 17: Smitten in the Stars (series read) - 10/10 = A+
76. The Worm Ouroboros (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books list) - 4/10 = F
77. Where the World Ends (audiobook) - 9/10 = A
78. In the Beginning: Creation Stories from around the World (Newbery Honor Book) - 7/10 = C+
79. Max and Sally and the Phenomenal Phone (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B-
80. BUtterfield 8 (unread books from my shelves) - 9/10 = A
81. Nine Princes in Amber (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list) - 4/10 = F
82. Stories: All-New Tales (books from my Read Soon! shelves) - 8/10 = B-
83. Visitors from London (recommendation from Julia) - 9/10 = A
84. Storm (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
85. Dig (Printz Award, audiobook) - 9/10 = A
86. The Crossover (reread with Charlie) - 9/10 = A
87. The Rose and the Ring (1001 Children's Books) - 6/10 = D
88. Guard of Honor (Pulitzer list) - 8/10 = B-
89. The Girl on the Train (Read Soon! shelves) - 9/10 = A-
90. Sunday's Child (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
91. Mrs. Dalloway (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 7/10 = C
92. Captive Prince (romance) - 8/10 = B+
93. High School (audiobook, Alex Award) - 9/10 = A
94. Scorpions (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
95. Children of the Alley (Banned Books) - 8/10 = B-
96. On the Banks of Plum Creek (family bedtime read-aloud) - 9/10 = A-
97. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me (Printz Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
98. The Swallows (Alex Award) - 9/10 = A

JUNE
99. Steeple (impulse read) - 9/10 = A
100. Journey to Jo'burg (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
101. Dao de Jing (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 9/10 = A
102. My Friend the Painter (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
103. Drowned Country (from my Read Soon! shelves) - 9/10 = A
104. The Ruins of Gorlan (audiobook) - 9/10 = A
105. Captain Fracasse (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B-
106. The Dark-Thirty (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B-
107. Cards on the Table (Christie bibliography/audiobook) - 9/10 = A-
108. A Likely Story (cozy mystery series read) - 8/10 = B+
109. Gates of Fire (unread book from my shelves) - 7/10 = C-
110. What Katy Did (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C-
111. Red, White, and Royal Blue (romance) - 9/10 = A
112. Gargling with Jelly (1001 Children's Books) - 4/10 = F
113. Mister Impossible (Stiefvater bibliography) - 10/10 = A+
114. Somewhere in the Darkness (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
115. Crazy Lady! (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
116. Three Men in a Boat (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 7/10 = C-
117. Do You Dream of Terra-Two? (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
118. A Girl Named Disaster (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A

JULY
119. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (100 Banned Books) - 4/10 = F
120. Dominicana (Alex Award) - 9/10 = A
121. Getting Near to Baby (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
122. The Duke and I (romance) - 9/10 = A-
123. Uncle Silas (books by year - 1864) - 9/10 = A
124. Black Girl Unlimited (audiobook) - 7/10 = C
125. The House of the Scorpion (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
126. The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas (family bedtime read-aloud) - 9/10 = A
127. Heart of a Samurai (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
128. When You Trap a Tiger (Newbery Medal Book) - 8/10 = B
129. The Cat, or How I Lost Eternity (1001 Children's Books) - 6/10 = D
130. Driftless (challenge read) - 9/10 = A
131. The Fifth Form at St. Dominic's (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
132. Halinka (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 - A-
133. Tashi (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
134. The House in the Cerulean Sea (audiobook) - 9/10 = A
135. The Sound and the Fury (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 7/10 = C-
136. Sick in the Head (Read Soon! Shelves) - 8/10 = B-

AUGUST
137. Three Times Lucky (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A-
138. All Thirteen (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
139. Black Sun (audiobook) - 8/10 = B
140. The Experience of Insight (audiobook/books on Buddhism) - 8/10 = B
141. Fighting Words (audiobook) - 9/10 = A
142. Seven Little Australians (1001 Children's Books) - 7/10 = C
143. Lumberjanes #18: Horticultural Horizons (series read) - 9/10 = A
144. Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
145. You Should See Me in a Crown (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
146. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (family bedtime read-aloud) - 9/10 = A
147. The Viscount Who Loved Me (romance genre) - 8/10 = B
148. Gender Queer (Alex Award) - 9/10 = A
149. The Boy Who Was (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B+
150. Plain Bad Heroines (audiobook) - 9/10 = A

SEPTEMBER
151. Riot Baby (audiobook) = 8/10 = B+
152. We Dream of Space (Newbery Honor Book) - 8/10 = B
153. The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B-
154. Vis and Ramin (Read Soon! Shelves) - 8/10 = B+
155. Better Late Than Never (cozy mysteries) - 8/10 = B+
156. The Owl Service (audiobook/1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B+
157. A Wish in the Dark (Newbery Honor Books) - 9/10 = A-
158. Forever... (100 Banned Books) - 8/10 = B
159. Henry IV Part 1 (Shakespeare re-read) - 10/10 = A+
160. Never Let Me Go (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 7/10 = C
161. The Letter for the King (1001 Children's Books) - 9/10 = A
162. One Last Stop (romance) - 9/10 = A
163. Annie on My Mind (100 Banned Books) - 9/10 = A

OCTOBER
164. The Prisoner of Zenda (1001 Children's Books) - 8/10 = B
165. In Waves (Alex Award) - 8/10 = B
166. Out of the Silent Planet (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books/audiobook) - 8/10 = B-
167. Rabbit, Run (100 Banned Books) - 6/10 = D
168. Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! (Schneider Honor Book) - 7/10 = C
169. Some Things I Still Can't Tell You (pre-ordered must read) - 9/10 = A
170. Beauty (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books) - 8/10 = B+
171. Lumberjanes #19: A Summer to Remember (series read) - 10/10 = A+
172. Rosemary's Baby (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
173. A Darker Shade of Magic (Read Soon! Shelves) - 8/10 = B-
174. Wolfsong (romance) - 8/10 = B+

The Mario and her Magical Rainbow Snoot:



Agent Fitzsimmons, pretending to help me bake when really she wants the peanut butter that's just off screen:



And Charlie's costume sketch, for future reference this month:

Next one is yours!

Happy new thread, Amber!



Just 'cause. ;)

Happy new thread, Amber.
Wow, I'm in single digits!

>7 MickyFine: Make yourself at home, DeanDean...

>8 SirThomas: Hi, Thomas!

170. Beauty by Robin McKinley (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy Books) - 8/10 = B+
A nice retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story. I've long loved this particular fairy tale, although this latest (to me) version has made me realize that it's about as actually-romantic as Romeo and Juliet (read: it's demonstrably *not*). Stockholm Syndrome is not a sweet romance. But. The silly 16-year-old in me still roots for the beast to get the girl, even while I know that's ridiculous on multiple levels. Who cares, it's a good story and I unapologetically love that they get together in the end. This version has some nice adjustments to the original, too: I like the strengthening of the Beauty character and the details about her family are good. I'm also still curious if the idea of making the servants a more prominent and light-hearted part of the story in the Disney movie came from here. Overall, recommended, if you like fairy tale retellings.

>10 scaifea: - I've had this on my shelf for ages, because I also love Beauty and the Beast.

If you do end up doing the project you mentioned on your previous thread, there are lots of historical romances that riff on the fairy tale...

>11 katiekrug: I suspect I'll start feeling overwhelmed at all the B&B choices pretty quickly. There must be just tons of them out there.

Oh, for sure. But this conversation did remind me that I have yet to read Eloisa James' take (When Beauty Tamed the Beast), and she is a superior author. I think I'll make it my next romance read...

Happy new thread, Amber!

duplicate with one click. Don't know why.

Happy new thread! Glad you liked Beauty! As I mentioned before, I first read it as a pre-teen, and I identified pretty strongly with the main character (bookish, awkward, animal-loving, etc.). So, even though the romance in the tale is a bit problematic, for me it's more about that character than the romantic storyline, I think. Also, I liked that the sisters in this version were nice, and not mean and demanding. (And they had their own love stories, without a hint of Stockholm Syndrome!)

>13 katiekrug: I hope you enjoy that one!

>14 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen!

>16 foggidawn: I think pre-teen is possibly the perfect audience for this one, to be honest.

>19 scaifea: I think you are right. I probably would not love it as much if I discovered it today. The same is true of my other perennial favorite, The Blue Castle. Both are my ultimate comfort reads, but I've known adults to read them for the first time and go, *shrug* "Eh, it was all right." There's just something about the books we read in our formative years.

Happy new one!

By the way, I started In Search Of The Lost Testament of Alexander the Great by David Grant. It's an analysis of all the different Greek and Roman writers on the death of Alexander to decide if he really did die without leaving a will or planning for succession. It's been interesting, but, um, dense. I'm enjoying it, though, in that semi-sadistic way I have of reading math or physics books. 😀

>20 foggidawn: Agreed about formative-years reading, but this one, for me, was more than just "eh, all right"!

>21 drneutron: >22 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

Oh, wow. I think that's a little more dense than I'd like. Ha! Now if it were a strictly literary analysis of those writers and what they say about Alexander, sure, but you can't really take what they say at historically accurate face value, David...

Headspin.

OK, happy new thread!

>24 scaifea: Yeah, that’s what he’s trying to sort through. 😀

>22 drneutron: Don't you mean masochistic?

>23 scaifea: Yay!

Happy new one, Amber. x

>27 jjmcgaffey: 😂

>10 scaifea: I've never gotten around to reading that one, even though I have so many others of McKilllip's stories. I will say that Beauty and the Beast was possibly my favorite fairy tale as a child. The only other that came close was the one with the white serpent giving the gift all languages including animal languages. And yep, as an adult, I can recognize all the ways the original story is so, so problematic.

Happy new thread! I'm glad you liked Beauty -- it was one of my childhood favorites as well. McKinley's fairy tale retellings are top tier for me; I also love Spindle's End and Deerskin.

Happy new thread, Amber.

>10 scaifea: Glad you enjoyed that one. I did as well.

Happy new one, Amber.

>25 quondame: Thanks!

>26 drneutron: *SNORK!* Okay then, David, carry on.

>28 foggidawn: I would have warned you to look away if I didn't like it...

>29 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul!

>31 justchris: I think I need to read more of McKinley's stuff; this is the third book of hers I've read (the Damar series = the other two) and I've really enjoyed them all.

Also, very nearly all myths and fairy tales are problematic in their views of women. But that makes for fantastic discussions in my myth class, so I'm okay with it!

>32 curioussquared: >33 alcottacre: Thanks, ladies! It seems that McKinley is universally loved. Yay!

>34 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

Today's Agenda:
Class prep and teaching, and then Charlie (who has the day off) and I will go pick up his new lenses - the first pair have a slight defect in one corner of one lense so they ordered new ones for us. The lense shop is in our favorite shopping area, so I suspect we'll do some other shop browsing while we're there. Charlie has his eye on the new QE Lego set, so we'll probably go to the Lego store to see if they have it. We also are running low on candles, which means a trip to Bath & Body Works. And then Jeni's Ice Cream is just round the corner...

The appliance fixer guy is coming today, too, so please to keep those fingers crossed that our dryer is off the blink by the end of the day.

On the reading front:
I read through the latest Lumberjanes volume yesterday and then started The Mystery of the Yellow Room, read a bit of The Poisonwood Bible, and another chapter of The Hunger Games. I'm nearly finished listening to Rosemary's Baby, too.

What We're Watching:
Another episode of Only Murders in the Building (SO good, that show), and about half of last week's GBBS, then an episode of A Bit of Fry and Laurie.

Morning, Amber! Happy New Thread! Glad to hear you are enjoying In the Spirit of Crazy Horse. Maybe, I could try that one on audio, although it would probably take me a month or more to get through it.

>43 msf59: Morning, Mark!

Ha! Yeah, it would take a long while on audio. I think I'd probably crank it up to 1.75 speed at least. I generally get impatient with how slowly narrators read. I do think you'd love this one, though.

171. Lumberjanes vol 19 by Shannon Watters (series read) - 10/10 = A+
Another fantastic entry in the series. Love those Lumberjanes.

Happy New Thread, Amber! And Happy Friday!

I lost track of the Lumberjanes. I'm glad they're still at an A+ level.

>46 jnwelch: Morning, Joe!

Oh, you should get back on that track - they're such good stories and I love the characters to bits. Charlie and I are hoping that once all the volumes are out they'll publish a big collection of them all together. We'll shell out the cash for that one (we check the smaller volumes out of the library).

I was .just thinking the same thing - I wish they'd bring out some kind of omnibus collection of all of them They're doing that with Paper Girls, one I liked a lot.

Morning, Amber! Crossing my fingers for your dryer fix.

You are reminding me that I need to get back to The Lumberjanes.

Hi Amber!

>42 scaifea: 🤞

Sounds like a nice day out with Charlie - perfect for a Friday!

>42 scaifea: Sounds like a great outing with Charlie. I'm also a big fan of B&BW candles. I've got a cranberry pie one on the go right now and it smells so good.

Also fingers duly crossed for your dryer.

>45 scaifea: Wholeheartedly agree.

>45 scaifea: I did not realize that the Lumberjanes series went on so long. I read through all that my library had last year. I will have to see if they have picked any more up. Thanks, Amber!

Happy Friday!

>48 jnwelch: I assume that they will put out a collection, Joe; it seems like something that frequently happens with comics once their run is over.

>49 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie! I am very pleased to report that the dryer is fixed!!

>50 karenmarie: Hi, Karen! Thanks for the crossing!

>51 katiekrug: It *was* nice (we've been and back), although our favorite shopping place apparently already gets weekend-crowded on early Friday afternoons. Neither of us like being in a crowd, so we did what we needed to do and got out. Ice cream was on the Need To Do list, of course.

>52 MickyFine: They've got their xmas candles out, I can report, so you'll likely be able to find a cranberry replacement if you need it. I found my favorite holiday scent...Holiday. So good.

>53 alcottacre: I hope you can at least request the rest of the Lumberjane volumes, Stasia. They're so good.

>58 scaifea: I've still got a couple more in my stash. I'll probably stock up when they do their black Friday sale and those should last for a year or so.

>57 scaifea: Was it ice cream or custard?

>59 scaifea: I checked and the library does not have any more than what it had last year, all of which I have already read. *sigh*

>60 MickyFine: Jeni's is ice cream. It's a local business, but has gained national attention because President Biden loves the stuff and always visits a Jeni's when he's in the area. Pretty cool.

>61 alcottacre: I remain shocked that your library doesn't have a better, broader request system, Stasia.

>63 scaifea: My local library has an interlibrary loan system, I just hate to use it because it is a pain in the rear end - at least the last time I used it, it was. Of course, that was like 5 or so years ago.

>62 scaifea: Very cool!

>64 alcottacre: That's too bad. It's pretty easy here to request via ILL; maybe try again and hopefully they've streamlined the process.

>65 MickyFine: Right?!

>66 scaifea: I probably should give it another try, but there are so many books already there that I need to read. . .

So darned far behind...
Love how Charlie's costume is shapin' up.
>61 alcottacre: Can you request that your library PURCHASE books? We can.

>68 alcottacre: Very true, Stasia. My lists make requests and ILL pretty important, but for more, um, normal readers it's not as vital. Ha!

>69 laytonwoman3rd: Good point, Linda, although that process may be just as convoluted.

>69 laytonwoman3rd: As far as I know, no, Linda, we cannot.

>70 scaifea: There are normal readers in the world? I thought pretty much we were abnormal because of our love of the written word.

>71 alcottacre: Ha! Well, yes, but I feel that I belong to a subset of weirdos, who let book lists dictate nearly all of our reading choices, which means lots of requesting.

172. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
Rosemary and Guy move into an famous apartment building in NYC despite the warnings of Rosemary's close friend about the strange and dangerous things that have happened there. She...should have listened to him.

I loved the movie when I saw it years ago, so I was happy when the book came up on one of my lists. I enjoyed it, but possibly not as much as I would have if I didn't already know what was going to happen. Still, a fun little read and perfect for October.

>72 scaifea: I have a huge list - it is called the BlackHole :)

>73 scaifea: I can truthfully say that I have never had any interest in either the book or the movie. Not even in October, lol.

>74 alcottacre: Well of course everyone here has that kind of list, but a tbr is a list of our own making.

Not every book (or movie) is for every reader.

Today's Agenda:
We've already had Pumpkin Waffles this morning (delicious and easy, from a Krusteaz mix), and now I'm just sitting in my pjs and drinking my first cup of coffee. It's chilly and drizzly outside, which is the perfect Saturday morning when you have no plans to go out of the house. *happy sigh*

I'm going to do a bit of baking today - Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes, which, along with the waffles this morning and the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies I made yesterday, make a nice fall weekend triumvirate, don't you think? - and then divide my time between sewing, laundry (I gave up on it a couple of days ago and now I have my dryer back, so I need to get caught up), and reading. Tomm's in charge of dinner tonight, which apparently involves sausage and potatoes.

On the reading front:
I read a bit of Wolfsong yesterday, which I'm really enjoying still. I'll probably start my new audiobook today, Winter's Tale.

What We're Watching:
Thor: Ragnarok as part of our Marvel Movie Marathon. I'm pretty sure it's my very favorite of the MCU movies.

Belated happy new thread, Amber!

>75 scaifea: Yes, we all have those lists. Mine is large enough to keep me reading for years :-)

>77 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita!

And yep, I think a TBR is practically a requirement for entry here!

Hi Amber!

>55 scaifea: Congrats on the dryer being fixed.

>73 scaifea: I read the book a very long time ago, never watched the movie.

>76 scaifea: Yay for a chilly and drizzly day and pjs. We might get some thunderstorms this afternoon.

Morning, Amber. I loved the book and movie version of Rosemary's Baby. I should revisit both. I would also like to get back to Lumberjanes. I think I read the first two.

Morning, Amber! Pumpkin waffles sound like just the thing. Pumpkin anything, really. And HOORAY for the dryer fix!

>73 scaifea: I have this one in the stacks - you are right about it being a good fit for October. I should see if I can squeeze it in. Have you read his A Kiss Before Dying? He is good with the creepy.

>79 karenmarie: Morning, Karen!

The movie is pretty great. I definitely recommend it.

I don't think we're in for storms, but I am enjoying the drizzly day out there while I drink warm drinks inside.

>80 msf59: I recommend Rosemary's Baby on audio - the narrator was great. Do you use Libby for your audiobooks? (That's where I go these days for mine.)

>81 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

YES to the dryer being fixed! Whew! You definitely should try to squeeze in the Levin - it's short, so that should help. This is my first of his books, but A Kiss Before Dying sounds really good!

>83 scaifea: Was Mia Farrow the narrator of Rosemary's Baby?

>85 Crazymamie: She was!

Happy Saturday, Amber!

Well the dryer being fixed is one of those good news bad news sorts of things. We have a decent laundromat 2 min away and when I have all the bedding to do I'm tempted to use it, but Mike has upped the capacity each time we've replaced the washer and dryer and while we can only do one large comforter at a time, we can do a large comforter - though it takes 8x as long to dry as it would at the laundromat and has to be rearranged 4x.

>87 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia!

>88 quondame: Well, I'm taking it as 100% good news.

Hi Amber my dear, Happy new thread dear friend.

Happy Sunday, Amber. Glad to hear that thr dryer is fixed. We don't need one anymore with only two persons at home, but when the girls were small the dryer was needed very much.
I have several book list but every time when going to the library I'll see new books to me which I need to read first.

Hurray for the fully operational dryer! Hope you had a nice day catching up on your reading.

>91 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara! I fully admit to being completely spoiled about the dryer thing. Yes, we could survive without one, but some articles I just really want dryer-soft. Maybe if I had an outdoor clothesline, it would be easier, but I'm not even sure that our HOA would allow it.

>92 lauralkeet: Yes to the hurray, Laura! But I didn't get much reading time yesterday. It's alright, though, because I made really good progress on the jacket.

Today's Agenda:
More sewing today, mostly, I think. I *may* be able to finish the jacket today, which would make me very happy since starting tomorrow I'll have much less sewing time for the next two weeks. We'll see. Otherwise, maybe some reading, and also more laundry. Nearly caught up there, too. Chicken Tikka Masala for dinner tonight.

On the reading front:
Not much to report here because I spent all available time sewing yesterday. I did manage a few pages in Wolfsong and listened to a bit of Winter's Tale.

What We're Watching:
The new Muppets halloween special, which involved the Disney haunted mansion. It's adorable and hilarious. Definitely recommended.

>90 johnsimpson: Thanks so much, John!

Morning, Amber. Happy Sunday. I have a couple of chores to tend to, but I hope to squeeze in some book time too. I will be spending a big chunk of the afternoon, over at Bree's, watching football and holding Jackson. I haven't seen him since Tuesday. Grins...

>97 msf59: Morning, Mark! Happy Jackson Day!! WOOT!

>93 scaifea: What's HOA

>99 Ameise1: Homeowners Association (sorry - I should have spelled that out to begin with!). We live in a development and pay dues to the association, which also has certain rules about what you can do to your property. Honestly ours isn't so bad and seem pretty lax about enforcing the rules, since several people have trampolines in their backyards and I'm pretty sure the rules say no to that. *shrug*

'Morning, Amber, and happy Sunday to you.

Our HOA mostly exists to collect dues for the private road maintenance we need to have done periodically. There's a landscaping committee that has to approve any buildings (storage sheds, extra garages), but they're pretty loosey-goosey. I just got the notification of the $450 due by December 31st.

>95 scaifea: I remember the first time I went in The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. It was exciting.

>100 scaifea: and what is this association doing, what are you paying for?

>101 karenmarie: Hi, Karen.
We have just a bit of landscaping at the entrance to the development, and yeah, I think pretty much any outdoor improvement is supposed to be approved first.

>102 Ameise1: Honestly, I'm not sure exactly what all the money goes for; upkeep of the entrance flowerbeds, but I don't really know what else. *shrug*

🤔

The Wayne refused to even look at houses in places with HOAs both times we've purchased homes. His sister and BIL bought a new home last year and were told there was no HOA, but apparently there is, and now they are "in trouble" with it for putting up (a very nice, unobtrusive) fence in their front yard. They are none-too-pleased...

I hope you Sunday sewing goes well!

>105 Ameise1: >106 katiekrug: I'm pretty happy that ours seems fairly lax. We've planted some trees and heard nothing from them. And as I said before, it seems that lots of our neighbors do things that are against what's in the rules with no repercussions. We're going to tear down our deck and put in a patio area instead probably next spring; we'll see if Tomm takes it to the HOA board or not...

And the costume is finished!!

The sketch:



The results:





The jacket is fully lined with a satiny shiny fabric (we don't do things by halves here at Scaife Manor, or, as my mom would say, I have more time than good sense):



And I'm super-happy with how the collar turned out - first time I've made one quite like this:

Wow - Cool!

Great job, well done! 🙌

Hello, Amber! Life would be very difficult without my dryer. Just towels and bedding alone would be crazy making. No way to hang out laundry down here because of all the pollen.

>106 katiekrug: I am with TW

>108 scaifea: A+ for the costume design and execution. That looks so awesomesauce! Excellent work.

>111 Crazymamie: Ooof, yes to the towels and bedding.

And thanks! I'm happy with how it turned out. Photos of same with a Charlie inside, if allowed, at some point.

>108 scaifea: Stellar!

>113 quondame: Thanks!

Today's Agenda:
Class prep, quiz grading, teaching, possibly a trip to the library (I don't have any holds to pick up today, but the newly-hired director is holding an open house meet-and-greet, and I'd like to meet her), and a department meeting this afternoon. No students signed up to take their midterm today (shocking that no one jumped at the time slots on the first day, right?), so that madness doesn't start until tomorrow. Asian Chicken Soup for dinner tonight.

On the reading front:
I spent my reading time yesterday with Wolfsong, which I'm loving. I'm beginning to think that T.J. Klune can do no wrong...
I also listened to more of Winter's Tale, which is a bit slow to get going, but I've decided to be patient with it for now.

What We're Watching:
The Nightmare Before Christmas, as part of our Halloween Movie Marathon.

Morning, Amber! Charlie's costume looks great. You sure have a talent for that. I had a great time with Jackson yesterday. He was such a good boy, despite spitting up all over me. I forgive him...

>116 msf59: Morning, Mark! Thanks for the costume love! It's my favorite thing to sew every year, so I hope he keeps wanting to dress up for a few more years.

Yay for Jackson time! A little spit-up never hurt anyone, and I bet it's hard to get irritated at that sweet face...

>108 scaifea: AM(ber)azing!

>118 laytonwoman3rd: Thanks, Linda!

Great job on the costume, Amber!

>120 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura!

>108 scaifea: The costume looks great! I'll bet Charlie is getting a kick out of seeing his design come to life.

>122 foggidawn: Thanks! I think so - he seems pretty excited about it.

The costume looks amazing! I'm also delighted to hear the new Muppets special is good, I've been eyeing it.

I was totally the keener in uni who would have signed up for the first day of exams to get it out of the way (unless I had another midterm that day). Sending you all the energy you need to make it through the exams this week.

>124 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky!

And yeah, I was a "keener" too (I love that term).

>125 scaifea: Snort. My friends in library school used to joke that they knew they had to start their paper when I'd finished mine.

>126 MickyFine: Seems like a more tactful way of saying "nerd."

>127 scaifea: Snort. Mmm, there's an element of being ahead of the ball in keener, I think. One could be a nerd and still procrastinate. A keener on the other hand...

>108 scaifea: Looks wonderful! I hope Charlie will agree to a picture.

Happy Monday!

>128 MickyFine: Hm. I don't know if I agree with that definition of nerd. They seem pretty keen to me, in general.

>129 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia!

Today's Agenda:
Midterm exam meetings start today - 20 of them over the next two weeks. Yoicks. So that's going on, and then I'll probably do some course prep for next semester, too. Charlie has a haircut appointment after school. I need to sort out what we'll do about dinner; I was planning on leftovers since I won't have time to cook, but last night's Asian chicken noodle soup was a bust (the rice noodles smelled...off, and I didn't notice it until I'd already added them to the pot) and we had to use the leftovers then. Gah. Pizza, maybe.

On the reading front:
I know I have other books I need to spend time with, but I'm hooked on Wolfsong right now. I may try to tear myself away and focus on other reads today. We'll see. I'm also still waiting for Winter's Tale to really catch my attention; not sure how much longer I'll give it before giving up.

What We're Watching:
DC Night last night, so I read for a bit and then watched an ep of OUAT.

>108 scaifea: Wow! Nicely done. Charlie is a lucky Halloweener!

>131 scaifea: Sorry about the noodles. Dang it.

Happy Tuesday--and good luck with all the midterms. Ugh.

>132 Berly: Thanks, Kim! (I'm telling Charlie you called him a weener. *SNORK!!*)

Yeah, the noodles really made me smad. But, pizza. So it's all good.

One midterm down...

Morning, Amber! Oof to the dud noodles.

>113 quondame: Noooo! Don't get me in trouble with Charlie! LOL

‘Morning, Amber!

>106 katiekrug: Here in NC the realtors are required to give copies of the HOA covenants – I don’t know if it’s when an offer’s made or accepted. Of course asking beforehand is safest.

>108 scaifea: Fantastic job! I’m super impressed with both of you – Charlie for clearly showing what he wants and you for executing it.

>112 scaifea: At least a pic of Charlie from behind?

Sorry about last night requiring use of leftovers. Pizza's always wonderful. Bill and I might get pizza for lunch today – our fav pizza place went out of business and we’ve tried one in town that we don’t particularly like, so it’s probably going to be Domino’s. Their effing website and app are so complicated that I’m leaving it to Bill to figure it out. Six different crusts and two different tomato-based sauces? Really?

>134 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Yeah, the dud noodles were really disappointing because I was looking forward to the soup! Gah.

>135 Berly: Hahahaha! Alright, I'll let it slide this time.

>136 karenmarie: Aw, thanks! I was very impressed with Charlie's sketch, too, although it would be nice if he trusted me to understand colors on my own...

We'll see about the photo. It's totally his choice.

We like Domino's, but I agree that ordering from them is a pain. One nice thing about their website is that when you get an order you like, you can save it as a 'favorite,' which will then be easy to access next time.

>136 karenmarie: - That's why this is such a weird thing; my in-laws did ask specifically about an HOA because they really didn't want to live in a place with one. They were told there wasn't one. I expect there have been several pointed calls to the realtor...

>131 scaifea: - Pizza is always the answer :)

Ugh, I so get being smad with the rice noodles messing up your soup. I'm the same way any time I have a kitchen fail. Take out night at my house today so no worries on that front.

>139 katiekrug: Ooof the the HOA lies.

And YES to pizza always being the answer!

>140 MickyFine: *grins*

Today's Agenda:
Class prep, teaching, menu planning and prepping my grocery list for tomorrow, course work for next semester, possibly some sewing time (I cleaned up my sewing space yesterday and I'm ready for my next project, which will be making some of those fingerless gloves for Tomm and me), hopefully some reading time. Butter Chicken for dinner tonight.

On the reading front:
I read bits of Wolfsong and A Darker Shade of Magic yesterday, plus listened to more of Winter's Tale.

What We're Watching:
Bedknobs and Broomsticks. One of these days I'm going to get myself to Portobello Road...

Morning, Amber! Happy Wednesday. Birding in the AM. Books in the PM. What's new, right? I am not reading much fantasy these days but Wolfsong sounds like a fun one.

>144 msf59: Morning, Mark! Wolfsong is great, although I do have to say that the middle seems to drag just a bit. I'm in the last 1/4 of it now and it has picked back up.

I loved Bedknobs and Broomsticks as a kid! I may need to revisit it soon...

It's so good! Any movie with a cat named Cosmic Creepers gets an automatic A+, really.

I keep forgetting to list The Hunger Games in my current reading progress, but I'm still keeping up with Charlie and his class, chapter for chapter. It's just as seat-edgy as it was the first time I read it - so much so that I had a dream last night that I was *in* the hunger games! Yoicks.

Morning, Amber! You are making me want to reread The Hunger Games. But...um...no to the dreaming.

>149 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!

Ha! Well, honestly, I was doing pretty well for myself in the games (I didn't get killed, at least) so it wasn't super-terrifying...

How is A Darker Shade of Magic thus far? Very curious on that one.

Happy Wednesday, Amber!

I've been meaning to rewatch Bedknobs and Broomsticks since we got Disney+ as I haven't seen it since I was a kid.

I can vouch for Portobello Road. I had a blast wandering around there on my trip to London many moons ago and still have one of the dresses I picked up from a street stall there.

>151 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia!

Darker Shade gets rave reviews; I'm enjoying it okay, but it isn't blowing me away just yet. Seems slow to get going (and I'm 3/4 through it). I'm plugging along though because I've heard that subsequent books are better? We'll see.

>152 MickyFine: Good for you for getting to Portobello Road, Micky. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I'm definitely intrigued by Wolfsong! Sorry the Asian chicken soup got ruined. Do you have a recipe to share? It sounds like something I'd enjoy when it's not having noodle problems 😁

>154 curioussquared: Wolfsong is good! Fair warning, though: it's not The House in the Cerulean Sea - there's at least one fairly steamy sex scene here.

The recipe:

Ingredients:
• 32 oz. chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• black pepper, to taste
• 1 medium carrot, sliced
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• ½ red pepper, cut into 2-inch-long strips
• ½ package Pad Thai rice noodles
• 1 cup shredded cooked chicken

1. In a medium saucepan, bring to a boil the broth, soy sauce, ginger, pepper, carrot, celery and red pepper.
2. Stir in noodles and chicken and cook for 5 minutes or until noodles are done.

Suuuuper easy. You can simmer the broth mixture as long as you want to get the vegetables to the texture you like, but we like 'em still a little crunchy in this one.

Today's Agenda:
Grocery shopping this morning, then midterm exams and probably more course prep for next semester. We have parent/teacher conferences this evening and I'm looking forward to meeting Charlie's teachers.

I also need to craft an email response to the HR person at the library, who has asked if I'm interested in coming back on as a substitute librarian. Ugh. I *want* to do this and have actually been thinking about it for a while, but the timing isn't great. I just don't know that I feel ready to take this on in addition to the faculty gig and the writing I want to be doing. So, we'll see. I think I'm just going to be perfectly honest with her and say that yes, I would love to do this, but my availability will probably be less than desirable for them right now.

On the reading front:
I finally finished A Darker Shade of Magic (review to come), read a bit more of Wolfsong, another chapter of The Hunger Games (The games have started now and it's SO intense, even though I've already read it before! I love this book.), a bit of The Mystery of the Yellow Room, and listened to more Winter's Tale.

What We're Watching:
Curious George's Halloween Boo-fest, I think it's called? It's adorable.

Morning, Amber! Sweet Thursday. How is Winter's Tale? I have had that one on my TBR for years. I am sure
the parent/teacher conference will go swimmingly.

I think your honest response to the library sounds perfect.

And I'm definitely going to make that soup. I had a bit of a cooking success last night that I'm still preening about :)

>157 msf59: Morning, Mark! Winter's Tale is a little slow to get going for me, but that doesn't mean it's not going to be a good read since, 1) audiobooks tend to do that for me (be slow to start), and 2) it's a chonk of a book so it's allowed a bit longer start time, I think.

I love P/T conferences because I get to listen to the teachers tell me what a great kiddo we have. Always a good time.

>158 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! I like that my response will pretty much leave the actual decision up to them - if they say that it's fine that I don't actually work too many days in a month, then I feel like I'll go for it; if they say it's a deal-breaker, then that's that.

Woot for cooking success!! This one's hard to mess up unless you manage to get a bag of funky noodles...

173. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab (Read Soon! Shelves) - 8/10 = B-
In Kell's world there are four parallel Londons, each in its own dimension and each with very different characteristics. Magic, and the city's relationship with it, is the most discriminating factor between them. And Kell is one of a very rare set of people who can travel between the Londons of those four worlds. He's an Antari - magic runs in his very veins - and he belongs to the royal family of Red London, acting as their magician/ambassador between the other three cities. He has, though, a bit of an illegal side hustle, trading magical tokens between worlds. This gets him into some trouble and entangled with a spunky young thief from Grey London.

I had heard so many good things about this series and some folks have even told me that it is very much up my specific kind of street, but I just couldn't ever get into it, try as I might. Kell certainly had the potential to be a fantastic character, but somehow remained flat on the page for the whole book. The world building is inventive and, again, could be really interesting, but overall this one just didn't work for me.

HI Amber - just delurking to say I was similarly disappointed in A Darker Shade of Magic. Such a fabulous premise - it reminded me of China Mieville's brilliant The City and the City, which really did pull it off. I've been debating whether to continue the Schwab series but so far haven't been convinced.

>161 scaifea: I'm sorry it didn't work for you, Amber, particularly as I'm so fond of it. Oh well, now I don't have to fight you for book boyfriends. ;)

>162 vivians: I'm both glad I'm not the only one but also sorry it didn't work for you, either. I *loved* Mieville's Perdido Street Station and keep meaning to get back to his other stuff - thanks for reminding me!

>163 MickyFine: Ooof, yeah, you can have Milquetoast Kell. He wasn't...flawed enough for me. I need more depth in my literary boyfriends, I'm afraid.

>165 scaifea: Mmm, Kell is decent (and I love his coat) but I was thinking more Alucard who shows up in book two. Plus I'm super fond of Lila.

>166 MickyFine: Happy boyfriending! I'm not continuing with the series, so I'll not meet him.

>155 scaifea: Yum! I love an easy recipe -- will def try this!

>168 curioussquared: I hope you love it!

>161 scaifea: This one annoyed me more, probably because I'm really tired of some of the tropes employed. Interesting notions, bad execution.

>164 scaifea: Yes for getting back to China Miéville. I wish he'd spare some time for more fiction instead of history.

>170 quondame: Yup.

Morning, Amber. Happy Friday. Volunteer services this AM. Jackson time this PM. Of course, bookhorn in some reading when I can. Sounds like a plan to me.

Today's Agenda:
Weekly bill sorting, class prep and teaching, a couple of midterm meetings, probably some course prep for next semester, baking (Pumpkin Spice Cookies). Charlie's D&D meeting is tonight - fingers crossed it actually happens this time - which means it's Date Night for Tomm and me.

Warning: Huge Parent Brag Ahead - If uninterested, feel free to skip this next paragraph.

The Parent/Teacher conference was great, as always. Charlie's doing really well, it seems, and all his teachers love him to bits. We were happy to hear that his ELA teacher recognizes his writing talent and is eager to encourage and support him, and his other teachers are also impressed with how easily he's reintegrated himself into the classroom after a year fully online. When so many students have suffered academic setbacks, Charlie just keeps on thriving. More importantly, though, every one of them said they were impressed with him as a *person* - he's kind and thoughtful and motivated and responsible. And as frosting on the cake, the Admin Assistant stopped us in the hall to tell us that in a building full of rowdy, rude, and generally ridiculous middle school boys, ours, when he sees her coming down the hallway, quietly waits to hold the door open for her. I mean. This. Kiddo.

On the reading front:
I finished Wolfsong yesterday, read another chapter in The Hunger Games, listened to a bit more of Winter's Tale, and I think I've decided to give up on The Mystery of the Yellow Room because it's boring me to near tears.

What We're Watching:
We finished the bread week episode of GBBS and started the dessert week one (we're so behind), and then watched an ep of A Bit of Fry and Laurie.

I for one enjoyed reading the Huge Parent Brag. I can imagine you and Tomm are bursting with pride & happiness.

>174 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I don't know how we got so lucky.

^Sorry, I slipped in before your morning post. Go Charlie! And not at all surprised.

That is SO great about Charlie and I can only imagine how wonderful it is to hear as a parent. He's a great kid, obviously, but you and Tomm are (also obviously) great parents.

Please to get more caught up on GBBO! I think you need to rearrange your TV schedule so as to get to the new episodes sooner ;-)

>176 msf59: Ope! Sorry I missed you up there! Thanks for pointing me to it. Happy birding this morning, and give Jackson a squeeze for me.

>177 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie! Honestly he's always made this parenting thing pretty easy on us.

And I know, right?! I will say that I was so irritated with who got kicked off in that bread week ep - there was SOMEONE ELSE who really needs to go before I lose it. She makes my grind my teeth every time she opens her mouth. Ugh.

>173 scaifea:

I loved your Huge Parent Brag! Way to go, Charlie! Also, >177 katiekrug: what she said.

>180 Crazymamie: Thanks for the finger-crossing, Mamie! I really don't want Charlie to have to be disappointed again; he was quietly devastated last time.

And thanks! Again, he's practically raised himself, but sure, I'll take credit for it!

>173 scaifea: "I don't know how we got so lucky." Yeah, well, it isn't ALL luck, I'm pretty sure. There's growing up with terrific examples of how to be human mixed in.

>182 laytonwoman3rd:

Thanks for that, Linda.

174. Wolfsong by T. J. Klune (romance) - 8/10 = B+
Ox has been told his whole life that he was big and dumb and slow and wouldn't amount to anything. And he essentially believes this. And then he meets Joe, who thinks Ox is Everything. And, as it turns out, Ox *is* pretty special, and so is Joe, both of them in ways that Ox could never have expected.

This one belongs to the paranormal romance subgenre dealing with wolves and alphas and omegas and betas and all the intricacies of relationships within those categories. I admittedly don't know much about the genre, but this feels like a solid entry. I loved the story and all of the characters tons and tons, but my one criticism is that in the second half Klune would have benefited from a much harsher editor. He has his characters go on and on, at length and repeatedly, about their feelings, and it's the same feelings every time. It almost reads as if he wrote several versions of the same scene, occasionally changing characters and settings, and then forgot to cut the extras. But, I pushed through the repetitive bits and came out the other side still loving the story as a whole.

Of course you're bragging and you have every right to be!! Charlie sounds like an amazingly lovely young man.

I do have one question though...I know "ESL" as "English as a Second Language" but doesn't seem like Charlie would be taking that so...what is it?

>185 RebaRelishesReading: Aw, thanks, Reba! He is a pretty great kid.

ELA, not ESL. ELA = English Language Arts, which I think is pretty common these days instead of just calling it "English class."

>173 scaifea: Charlie sure does you proud. What a guy. Best luck with the D&D & date.

>187 quondame: Thanks!

Today's Agenda:
We're heading out to get our flu shots (*finally*) this morning - the Kroger pharmacy opens for their first hour every morning right now just for vaccine shots: covid, flu, and the like. After that I'll do some baking (Pumpkin Spice Bars) and hopefully I'll find some sewing room time today, too. Maybe even some reading.

The D&D club was a hit! Charlie said he had a good time and is looking forward to the next meeting. Tomm and I had a nice dinner, too. The wait time for service was pretty long, but we had three hours to kill so it was perfect for us and we didn't mind a bit.

On the reading front:
I started Middlegame yesterday and so far it seems like it'll be a good one! I also listened to more Winter's Tale.

Morning, Amber. Happy Saturday. I need to get my flu shot too. Hopefully, early next week. Glad to hear D & D Club was a hit for Charlie.

>189 scaifea: - Glad Charlie had a good time, and you and Tomm had a nice dinner. But, um, you forgot to mention what you ate, which is really the most important thing :)

>190 msf59: Happy Saturday, Mark! We usually get our flu shots a little earlier than this, but this time around we had trouble finding a place to take our insurance. Nuts.

And yes! We're happy he likes the club, too!

>191 katiekrug: Ha! Well, Tomm had a grilled chicken breast and mixed vegetables (with his garlic and onion restrictions, his restaurant choices are usually pretty small, but he said it was really good), and I had a French Dip sandwich, which was excellent.

>186 scaifea: Well that was a nice bit of dyslexia on my part! ELA makes a lot more sense for Charlie.

>194 RebaRelishesReading: *snork!* I suspect you saw the three-letter abbreviation with an E at the start and your brain just didn't look any closer. Makes total sense to me.

Glad to hear D&D was a success for Charlie and you and Tomm had a lovely date night. Is it a weekly game or monthly?

>193 scaifea: - Mmm, French dip sandwich... *drool*

>197 katiekrug: Right? I love 'em.

Oooo, Middlegame!

>199 drneutron: Ha! Yep! And it's really good so far!!

Today's Agenda:
Tomm's feeling the flu shot from yesterday and is sick and in bed. We are supposed to have dinner with the in-laws tonight, but that may not happen. I will likely spend the day on house cleaning, reading, and sewing.

On the reading front:
I read a bit of In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, some Middlegame, and listened to some Winter's Tale.

What We're Watching:
A episode of Only Murders in the Building (SO GOOD), then If You Give a Mouse a Pumpkin and Toy Story of Terror.

Morning, Amber! Sorry about Tomm feeling under the weather. Hoping the house cleaning goes quickly and smoothly and that the rest of the day is full of indulgence.

>202 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. I like the thought of an indulgent afternoon...

So now that I'm finished with Charlie's costume, I decided to make something for myself. I *love* the fingerless gloves I made for him, so I made some for me, and I think they turned out pretty good! They're *super* comfortable, too:

Morning, Amber! Sorry Tomm's not feeling great.

>205 katiekrug: Thanks, Katie. Happens every year with him the that flu vaccine. I still make him get it, though. Ha!

>206 scaifea: - As you should!

ETA: It took a bout of flu (relatively mild case) to convince The Wayne to start getting flu shots...

>207 katiekrug: *snork!* Sometimes it takes a smack upside the head to convince them.

>204 scaifea: Nice! I suppose you can only wear them when you’re up to no good, though. 😀

>209 drneutron: So, pretty much any time, then.

>210 scaifea: My thoughts, exactly!

Here's a funny - I was reading through your thread, and Abby came up behind me and was looking just as I got to the lower photo of your fingerless gloves. She didn't see the top photo, and so she thought it was a cast, and that somebody had done some wicked cool art on it. I said, no, they are gloves, and she said, oh, kind of disappointed like. So I told her that I was going to tell you that she was disappointed that you hadn't broken your arm.
The gloves are very cool but less impressive than someone drawing that on a cast, I guess. HA! Anyway, we both like your fingerless gloves - I have that same design on a giant Tervis tumbler.

>211 Crazymamie: Oooof. Sorry to disappoint Abby. I can feel the love radiating from Georgia all the way up here... Yeesh.

Reading Update:
I'm giving up on The Poisonwood Bible. It's just not my jam. I don't like any of the characters and outright loathe a few of them, plus snakes. Also, it seems clear that Kingsolver is chasing after Faulkner vibes, and, well, good for her but that's a big NOPE from me.

>212 scaifea: She wasn't actually disappointed. You know that, right?! It just cracked me up that she had thought it was cast art and then had to work her head around it being a glove not a cast. But now you can sew decorative cast sleeves and make your fortune, so there is that. *blinks*

>213 scaifea: Good for you! And thanks for the warning about the snakes - that's a no for me, then. I'm not sure which would be worse for me, actually - the snakes or the Faulkner vibes. YIKES!

>214 Crazymamie: *snork!* Yeah, I assumed she didn't really want my arm in a cast. Decorative cast sleeves, eh? Interesting...

And you're welcome! The snakes and the Faulkneresqueness are both deal-breakers for me, as is the lack of even one character I don't dislike. Yoicks.

>204 scaifea: Those are fun!

>214 Crazymamie:, >215 scaifea: You girls! I oughta make both of you read The Sound and the Fury just for being so rude and bold.

Oh, and " it seems clear that Kingsolver is chasing after Faulkner vibes" -- really? I remember liking The Poisonwood Bible quite a lot, and you know how I feel about Faulkner, but I don't remember seeing any such connection there. Possibly, I should read it again. To make up for you heathens, if nothing else.

>216 quondame: Thanks.

>217 laytonwoman3rd: So just to be clear: you're using Faulkner as a *punishment.* Sounds about right. S&F would be a reread for me, and, well, that's never gonna happen.

The Faulkner feel for me was in the premise (a clearly dysfunctional family living out a fate twisting toward disaster) and the storytelling technique (multiple family member narrators). And Adah's narratives even try to mirror his stream-of-consciousness business somewhat.

Today's Agenda:
Quiz grading, class prep, teaching, midterm proctoring. Busy day. I need to try to squeeze a trip to the library in there somewhere, too, to pick up holds. Thank goodness there's enough in the fridge for leftovers tonight.

I'm happy that I spent a good amount of time in the sewing room this weekend, since this week will mostly be too busy. I finished two more pairs of fingerless gloves (one for Tomm and a second pair for me), and started on a prototype for Charlie's Christmas present. I also started organizing my Christmas list - it would be nice to get all my present projects finished early this year, but we'll see how that goes.

On the reading front:
I'm really enjoying Middlegame, but I'm on the verge of abandoning Winter's Tale. It's set in an alternate, sort-of-steam-punk-ish NYC, and the differences feel thrown at me without enough explanation. I intensely dislike that trend in alternate-world narratives, and I think it's even harder to swallow on audio. So I'll keep going for now because the story is interesting, but too many more of those jolts and I'll be out the door.

What We're Watching:
Hocus Pocus! One of my favorites. And we had our traditional Hocus Pocus Potions to celebrate (half orange sherbet-and-OJ shake and half vanilla shake with purple food coloring).

Morning, Amber! I hope you had a nice weekend at the Scaife Manor. Waking up to thunderstorms here, so it will be another indoor day. More book time. Yah!!

I have a soft spot for The Poisonwood Bible, but that's more about my life at the time I read it. I was just coming out of the "working mother of a toddler & a preschooler" fog, and starting to read for pleasure again. This book was a new release, and getting a lot of buzz (Oprah, probably). I really liked the book, but I think it was as much about reclaiming my reading mojo as it was the novel itself.

>220 msf59: Morning, Mark! We had an okay weekend, although Tomm (Saturday) and then I (yesterday afternoon) were hit with some flu shot side effects (Tomm got the brunt of it, vomiting and all; I just felt a little queasy and had no energy). I don't really know how vaccines work, so this may be an idiotic observation on my part, but it seems like the dose this year is extra-potent. I usually don't have any reaction at all to the flu shot, and Tomm usually does, but nothing so intense. Still, I'd do it over again because I think it's important.

>221 lauralkeet: It's funny how that works, isn't it? That sometimes we love (or hate) books not because of the books themselves but because of our lives at the time we read them.

Morning, Amber! Sorry about the flu shot effects. Poor Tomm with the vomiting.

>217 laytonwoman3rd: Even if you pull this car over, I am not reading any more Faulkner. According to my mother, I was born rude and bold, so I am fine with it.

>218 scaifea: "So just to be clear: you're using Faulkner as a *punishment.* Sounds about right. " You made me snort my coffee!

>221 lauralkeet:, >223 scaifea: So true about the power of books. I love how they can take you back to where you were the first time you read them.

>224 Crazymamie: Yeah, poor guy. We're both feeling better today, though, thank goodness!

Rude and bold sounds awesomesauce to me. *fist bump*

Hi Amber!

>189 scaifea: >201 scaifea: >222 scaifea: Excellent news about the flu shots. Sorry for the extra bad side effects from them. Each year’s concoction is different, depending on which strains of flu they think will be predominant, so maybe this year they’re expecting nastier strains. Does Charlie get a flu shot?

>204 scaifea: Once again, I’m impressed with your sewing skills. I love the material.

>213 scaifea: Too many books, too little time. Good for you.

>218 scaifea: Just to be clear, if you think it's a punishment, then it is one. I know sending my kid to her room when she was acting up only got her out of my hair for a while---in her mind it was no punishment. So, it's all in who's defining things.

>224 Crazymamie: HA! You made ME spit coffee.

>226 karenmarie: Yeah, they do create different mixes every year according to what strains they think will be prominent, sometimes more successfully than others. There must just be something about this year's potion that caused a more noticeable reaction in us both. And yep, Charlie gets a flu shot every year, too. He didn't feel a thing, thank goodness.

>227 laytonwoman3rd: Ah, no, see, your language placed you in the role of one doling out a punishment to naughty children, so YOU are the one couching it in terms of a punishment. Are you sure you even like Faulkner? Time for some deep reflection, Linda...

I couch it in those terms because I know you perceive it that way...I'm quite secure in my appreciation and affection for Old Uncle Billy, thank you. Also, I know he's not for everybody, and I'm OK with that too. Since you have read enough to know how you feel about him, I'll let you off with a mild rebuke. This time.

I put off reading Faulkner because I didn't expect to like him and then I read The Reviers and Light in August and liked them very much. I also read A Fable and didn't like it much at all. I don't really see the comparison to Poisonwood Bible though (but then I'm from the Social Sciences and not Literary Arts). Poisonwood Bible was my introduction to Kingsolver and she became a favorite author of mine. I think I've read everything she's written except her most recent which is a volume of poetry, a bridge too far for me.

>230 RebaRelishesReading: I'm glad you enjoy Kingsolver, Reba.

>230 RebaRelishesReading: Good for you for reading A Fable. I have never been able to get past the first few pages of that one. I think Faulkner was out of his element there. Light in August, The Reivers and Absalom, Absalom! are his best stuff, in my opinion.

>232 laytonwoman3rd: If I remember correctly, I listened to audio version of A Fable which may have helped me finish it but I do know I was very glad to get to the end!

>219 scaifea: Oh I didn't realize you were reading THAT Winter's Tale. It just gets weirder as it goes on to the point where I wasn't sure I liked it at all by the time I reached the end.

Love your Marauder's Map fingerless gloves.

And just for fun, my favourite part of Hocus Pocus:

>234 MickyFine: Welp. That doesn't bode well for me sticking with it. Gah. Maybe I should just cut and run now...

And thanks! I'm wearing 'em right now. So comfortable!

Yay for Hocus Pocus! I love it.

Completely behind again, but I wanted to say that Charlie deserves all the brags! Having seen him grow up - albeit from afar - I am so impressed with the young man he has become.

I love the fingerless gloves, BTW. Also, thanks for the review of A Darker Shade of Magic. I think I will bump that one down the stack a bit.

>236 alcottacre: Aw, thanks, Stasia! We're pretty proud of the person he's becoming, and it's so fun to watch him grow.

Well, lots of folks really like A Darker Shade...you may be one of them...

>237 scaifea: You should be proud of the person he is becoming!

It is not like I do not have anything to read while I am waiting for A Darker Shade to rise to the top of the BlackHole :)

>238 alcottacre: It is not like I do not have anything to read while I am waiting for A Darker Shade to rise to the top of the BlackHole

*snork!* True.

Today's Agenda:
More midterm exams and more course prep for next semester, and that's probably about all that will get done. Baked Potato Soup for dinner tonight.

The in-laws came yesterday evening to drop off some stuff for us: they recently returned from a camping trip in Wisconsin and brought us back some smoked string cheese and some cherry almond jelly. I'm having the jelly on toast right now and it is delicious.

On the reading front:
I'm still really enjoying Middlegame and my reread of The Hunger Games. I also started This Is My Brain in Love yesterday, and it's off to a good start. Still plugging along with Winter's Tale, too, but honestly I'm just waiting for my next audiobook to become available on Libby and then I'm pretty sure I'll be ditching this one.

Morning, Amber! I got my flu shot yesterday. No side effects yet. I am finally getting out on a walk this AM but I will be on call to go pick up my FIL, so it may be cut short. Baked Potato Soup sounds wonderful.

>241 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yay for the flu shot! We're all feeling just fine now and it's still totally worth it.

Doesn't that soup sound good right now? Perfect for these rainy, chilly days we're having.

'Morning, Amber! I'm glad to hear you're all feeling fine after the flu shot lurgy.

>243 karenmarie: Morning, Karen! And thanks! I'm glad that it had mostly left me by the time I had to start teaching yesterday. Yoicks.

Morning, Amber!

Baked potato soup sounds perfect on this dreary day...

>245 katiekrug: Morning, Katie! Doesn't it, though? I get so cold when it's damp outside, and a nice, chowdery soup is perfect for warming up.

Morning, Amber! I love almost any kind of soup, but potato is probably my favorite. Pure comfort food.

>227 laytonwoman3rd: *grin*

>247 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! You're so right - it's a perfect comfort food!

Thanks for reminding me to schedule my flu shot 😊

>249 curioussquared: Ha! You're welcome!

I am not a creamy soup fan myself but I'm happy you're having a perfect meal to match the weather. Is the end in sight for midterms?

>251 MickyFine: I've got several exams every day for the rest of the week, so no, not really. Ha!

>252 scaifea: Dang. I was already wishing today was Friday so I sympathize on the long week front.

>247 Crazymamie: I am with you, Mamie!

Hello, Amber!

>222 scaifea: Mom and I also had much more of a reaction to the flu shot than normal. We assumed it was because our immune systems are already on high alert for coronaviruses, having had our COVID vaccines. But yeah, it could be just a stronger mix - who knows. And a night of chills and fever is definitely less trouble than a full flu...

I just had a very nice soup that's new to me. We're in an Ethnic Dining group; monthly semi-potluck dinners. One person/household hosts, chooses the eth and finds recipes, and passes them out to the others attending. We're doing Native American - which is being unexpectedly difficult, to find proper recipes! Found one the other day, paganens or hazelnut soup - so we had to test it. It's very simple - onions (or similar alliums), broth, hazelnuts, parsley, salt and pepper; saute the onions, add everything else (chopped up nuts and parsley), bring to a boil and simmer for an hour and a half. Pureed it (with an immersion blender), and had a very rich, filling soup with very interesting flavors. I think I'll be having this again, long after the dinner's over.

>253 MickyFine: Yeah. These one-on-one exams are, pedagogically, excellent, but they make for an exhausting couple of weeks every time.

>254 alcottacre: Morning, Stasia!

>255 jjmcgaffey: Oh gosh, that soup sound *so* good! I love hazelnuts.

Today's Agenda:
Class prep, teaching, menu planning, prepping my grocery list for tomorrow, and more midterm exams.

On the reading front:
I started Death in the Stacks yesterday, read another chapter in The Hunger Games, read a bit more of Middlegame, and listened to more Winter's Tale. That last one just keeps getting more and more outrageous with no explanation at all. Ugh.

What We're Watching:
It was DC Night, so I watched an episode of OUAT on my own.

Morning, Amber! Happy Wednesday. Getting out on my walks again but there was a touch of winter in the air yesterday. Only in the 30s out there at the moment.

>260 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yep, it's cold here, too - Tomm took Simmons for a bike ride this morning and said you can tell it's in the 30s this morning. I'm HERE for it! I love the cold weather.

>261 scaifea: photos of Simmons riding a bike, please! 😂

>262 lauralkeet: *SNORK!* I wondered if anyone would comment on that! Tomm bought an attachment for his bike that acts as a leash while keeping her safe from the wheels. It's pretty cool, and with a Border Collie puppy, those extended faster runs for her are essential (she has SO much energy). It looks like this (not an actual photo of Simmons and Tomm, just fyi):

>263 scaifea: that is the coolest gadget ever! What a great idea.

>264 lauralkeet: Right?! It's been a bit of a lifesaver, because she needs to run. Our smallish backyard and our daily walks just aren't quite enough. She's a strange BC, in that she's not really interested in chasing frisbees or balls outside, so this is a great substitute.

>265 scaifea: Isn't it funny, how different their personalities can be? My parents and I both own Springer Spaniels, which are bird dogs. Mom and Dad's dog Sasha is particularly "birdy" and will be hyper-focused on any bird that is in the area. While my Lottie is interested in birds, if there is a ball being thrown, she is not interested in anything else. It's like Sasha has an extra dose of the bird spotting and flushing instincts, while Lottie got an extra dose of the retrieving instincts.

>266 foggidawn: Oh, agreed, it's really interesting, both the differences between breeds (Mario and Tuppence, and Mario and Simmons are just on different planets, honestly), and between different dogs in the same breed. Tuppence would chase a frisbee all damn day and would zone everything else out, but Simmons notices *everything.* So funny.

Hi, Amber. >108 scaifea:. Wowsers! What a cool costume. He’ll want to wear it every day. What does Charlie say when asked what his character is?

I’m guess I’m not surprised that that older TJ Klune book showed some youthful errors. Too bad the editor didn’t help him (them?) more.

Did you read The Invisible Life of Addie Larue? I was surprised that it was written by the same V.E. Schwab whose fantasy books I had read. Much more literary, from my POV. I liked it a lot.

>268 jnwelch: Hi, Joe! Thanks for the costume love! I don't actually know how he describes this character yet - he just handed me the sketch and said it was how he imagined his D&D character and I got to work without asking questions!

Yep, I deeply suspect that it was just early days writing for Klune, and you're right that that's on the editor, really. (His pronouns, according to his twitter account, are he/him, but I love that you paused to think about it! It's great that that's starting to be second nature for more and more folks.)

I haven't read Addie Larue yet, but I'll probably give it a go, even though I didn't absolutely love this one. I've heard lots of good things, now including from you!

Glad you got some brain candy at the end of your day yesterday. Have you reached the season 3 OUAT finale yet?

Happy Wednesday, Amber!

>270 MickyFine: Nope, not yet.

>271 alcottacre: Happy Thursday, Stasia!

Today's Agenda:
Grocery shopping this morning, the weekly bill sorting, and more midterm exams. Curried Chicken Salad for dinner tonight.

On the reading front:
I started The Plague and immediately love it, so far, at least, and read another chapter in The Hunger Games. Still listening to Winter's Tale.

What We're Watching:
Spooky Buddies, which - I kid you not - is Mario's favorite movie.

Morning, Amber. Sweet Thursday. I should also revisit The Plague. I am a big fan of that one. I am on call today, to pick up my FIL from the hospital. It looks like he may be coming here for a day or two, until he gets his sea legs.

>274 msf59: Morning, Mark! I'm glad you liked the Camus - I'm loving it so far.

Fingers crossed that your FIL has an easy recovery.

I forgot to mention that Trick or Treating is tonight here on our town, so Charlie and I will be sitting on our porch, handing out candy this evening! Always a fun time.

‘Morning, Amber!

>269 scaifea: Another vote for Addie Larue. I read it in April and gave it 4.5 stars.

>273 scaifea: I really need to read The Plague. Jenna borrowed my copy and I bought it on Kindle in July.

>276 scaifea: Tonight? Have fun. Do you get lots of kids? And what do you hand out?

>255 jjmcgaffey: "We're doing Native American - which is being unexpectedly difficult, to find proper recipes! " If you want to continue to explore that particular cuisine, may I recommend The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen. It's fascinating and informative, even if you don't intend on following any of the recipes (which I haven't because many of the ingredients are not ready to hand where I live.)

>255 jjmcgaffey: Adding to Linda's suggestion, from the Canadian context there's Tawaw.

>273 scaifea: I am trying to remember how long it has been since I read The Plague. I know I have read it at least twice and once was here in the group for a group read several years ago, but I cannot remember when, which only means I need to read it again. I thought it was excellent.

Ooh, The Plague! I read it in French in college in my France Under Nazi Occupation class. Definitely an interesting lens for reading the book.

Enjoy the trick or treaters!

>277 karenmarie: Afternoon, Karen!

We get *tons* of kids. We live in a development, on a big, circular street with the town's only elementary school right in the middle of the circle. So people park in the school lot and then walk all the way round the street. We're the second house from the intersection that is the entrance to the school, so we're at the start of the route and get all the kids, still freshly excited about T&T-ing. It's an absolute hoot. We're not one of the good houses that hands out full candy bars, though; we just give out the crappy little stuff, small suckers and individual candies. I always start out the season thinking this will be the year we give out The Good Stuff, buy it, eat it all, buy more, eat all of that, and finally give in and buy the crappy stuff that I know I won't eat. Every. Year.

>278 laytonwoman3rd: >280 alcottacre: I'm loving The Plague so far. I took a course in college on The Black Death, and this is reminding me of all the plague lit we read for that class.

>278 laytonwoman3rd: >279 MickyFine: Hi, ladies.

>281 curioussquared: Oh, cool! Whenever I read something originally-French-but-in-translation, I'm always tempted to switch over and read some in French, but never manage to have time to do so. Same for Italian. (But never German. I never did quite cotton onto that language.)

>283 scaifea: Oops, thought I'd already posted to you today. Have a gif as apology gift. :)

>284 scaifea: I have the same urge and I think it actually holds me back from reading some books sometimes? Like I have a copy of Les Mis in English, but my brain is telling me that since I technically could read it in French, I should. Even though I'm pretty sure that's never going to happen, lol.

IS there a reason why your town does TorTing so early? Not judging! Just curious. I'm assuming it has something to do with Halloween being on a Sunday...

This year, I only bought KitKats, because they aren't a total loser for the kids, but if I accidentally eat some, I won't hate myself as much as if I ate Snickers or peanut butter cups or any of the other "premium" options :)

>285 MickyFine: *grins*

>286 curioussquared: Ooof, but Les Mis is a chonky one. I think you get a free pass for that one, no?

>287 katiekrug: For some reason here in Ohio, communities tend to do TorT early, always. It's kinda weird, but whatever.

I would eat All. The. Kit-Kats. Also? We have SO many kiddos come round that providing them all with premium candy would mean a pretty healthy chunk of change. I wouldn't mind so much, but I think The Grinch would grumble...

>288 scaifea: Lol. I'm good about not cracking the packages early but just to make sure, Mr. Fine put them on top of one our kitchen cabinets this year. :P I do get the good stuff - this year one box of fun-size Hershey products (including peanut butter cups) and one bag of fun-size Maynards products. Based on last year, we probably won't have a ton of kids. We usually split the leftovers between us in his and her bowls, but I was tricksy this year and got gummy candy, which Mr. Fine hates so I'll get all of the Maynards extras. :D

>288 scaifea: Definitely feels like I should give myself a pass, but there's definitely a lingering "use your French degree!!!" sense of guilt, lol.

>289 MickyFine: I have definitely used the "buy gummy candy so Tim won't eat it" trick before as his appetite for chocolate is utterly relentless.

Hope you get a lot of cute kids in costumes! It seems like a lot of Ohio communities always have "Beggar's Night" (another term I didn't know until I moved to Ohio) on the last Thursday of October. My neighborhood is not a big trick-or-treat location and I'm working during tonight's hours, so I'm skipping it this year -- and I can't imagine we'll get many (any) kids out at John's farm.

>288 scaifea: - That's interesting about it very much being an Ohio thing. You learn something new every day!

I feel the need to share with you that I am having my first cup of ho-cho of the season :)

>273 scaifea: Hooray!! The Plague is one of my 10 favorite novels, one of the few books I've read more than twice, and several of us LTers, including Caroline McElwee, saw an unforgettable play based on the book at the Arcola Theatre in London in 2017, in which Dr Rieux was portrayed by Sara Powell, a Black British woman.



The Plague was one of the books that helped me (correctly) decide that I would prefer a career in medicine rather than one in academic biomedical research. I eagerly await your thoughts about it.

>278 laytonwoman3rd:, >279 MickyFine: Our library actually has The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen - but as you note, it's complex to find the ingredients. It's a potluck, not Iron Chef! We got it out, looked through, found about five recipes that we could do (including mint tea)...and put it back and didn't use it. Even the ones where we could find ingredients would be pricey - venison or bison for 15-19 people is a lot! So our entree is salmon, and there's a lot of corn recipes.

I hadn't see Tawaw; it looks interesting to read but it might have the same problems as The Sioux Chef, not to mention I'd have to go get it from a distant library, read it, extract recipes, send them out and let people pick...and the dinner is in three weeks. I'll keep it in mind in general, but not for this I think.

>289 MickyFine: I bought two giant bags of candy - I mean, GIANT - and we were all out after 30 minutes and had to turn off our light and go inside. TorT went on for another hour. So yeah, we get tons of kids here and there's no way we could afford to give out The Good Stuff (which I define as full-size candy bars; we could maybe swing to mini Hershey stuff, but again, I'd just eat it). I'll leave it to the richer neighbors, I guess.

>290 curioussquared: I get that. I haven't picked up and Greek in too long. I need to get back to it so I don't lose it entirely.

>291 foggidawn: We got some pretty adorable ones - lots of tiny princesses, a Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man, and a teen dressed as Marty McFly were my favorites. This is the only place we've lived that has gotten so much Halloween traffic.

>292 katiekrug: YAS TO HOCHO!!! We've been having it off and on this month because I found a Pumpkin Spice flavor mix...

>293 kidzdoc: Hey, Darryl! Nice to see you! That play sounds amazing, and I am loving the book so far. I love that it's what put you over the edge into medicine! Very cool.

Today's Agenda:
Well, I spent most of yesterday thinking, somehow, that it was Friday, so I've already done my Friday chores (bills and baking - Lemon Bars), so no need to do them today! I'm just not used to the new grocery-shopping-on-Thursday-instead-of-Friday schedule, plus I think Trick-or-Treating last night made yesterday extra-different. Anyway. Today will be the last of the exams - Whew! I am exhausted. - plus class prep and teaching, and more work on getting ready for next semester. Frozen Friday for dinner tonight.

I'm nearly finished with the course prep work that I can do so far for next semester; all that's left is to write up lecture notes on the new text I've chosen for the last day, which I devote to a modern retelling of a myth we've discussed. The last few times I taught the course I used Gaiman's The Kindly Ones because it's such a gorgeous example how to do a retelling right, but it's also kind of expensive and I always feel bad for making the students buy it along with all the other texts. It also plops them down in the middle of the Sandman, which some of them find a little too disorienting. So this year I'm going with a short story by Madeline Miller called Galatea, which is, of course, excellent.

On the reading front:
Another chapter in The Hunger Games, a bit more of Middlegame, and I started Ravensong. I also finished Winter's Tale after blasting through the last chunk at 2x speed. Yoicks, what a hot mess. I'll try to get to a review and a new thread at some point today, but it may have to wait until this weekend, once I'm finished with exams. I started listening to The Left Hand of Darkness this morning, but I'm pretty sure I've already read it, so I'll have to look that up...

What We're Watching:
We finally caught up with GBBS (for, well, a day), and then we watched the first half of the first episode of The Witcher, which seems pretty great. Charlie joined us then for an episode of A Bit of Fry and Laurie before bedtime.

GBBS: Welp, my least favorites have now been weeded, so the show will be more enjoyable now. Vocal Fry Freya nearly made me want to bang my head against a wall every time she opened her mouth. Yoicks.

ETA: Okay, weird. I read a summary or The Left Hand of Darkness and from that I *know* I've read it, but it's not listed in either my LT or Goodreads accounts. Huh. Anyway. Looks like I need to track down another audiobook...

Oh! And here's Charlie in his costume:



And here's the sketch again for comparison:

Morning, Amber. Happy Friday. More rain here but tending to FIL, will keep me preoccupied. Jackson time this afternoon. Yah!

>301 scaifea: That is got to be the best costume, at the school. Great job, Mom!

>300 scaifea: Glad you're sorta caught up with GBBO/S, Amber. I knew you'd be happy with the state of things after the last couple of episodes.

>301 scaifea: That costume is fabulous.

>302 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yay for Jackson time!!

And thanks! He doesn't get to wear it to school, but he wore it last night while helping me pass out candy, and he'll wear it to his D&D meetings, since it's his character's costume. I think he looks pretty great in it, if I do say so...

>303 lauralkeet: I feel like this season more than others, it's pretty easy to predict the order of elimination. I'm fairly confident I know at this point who the three finalists will be.

And thanks! I'm really happy with how the outfit turned out!

Charlie looks great in his costume!

Morning, Amber! Charlie's costume looks great, and I am really impressed with how you mastered the color scheme.

>289 MickyFine: This post made me laugh out loud! Well played!

>306 foggidawn: Thanks!

>307 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie! Thanks!

Charlie looks great in his costume, and how cool that he will wear it to his D&D meeting!

So glad you were also pleased with last week's GBBO/S :)

Charlie's costume is great -- but no surprise there:)

What is a surprise is all of this talk about Trick or Treat having happened last night!?! WTF?? Halloween isn't until Sunday! If folks were out last night we have two very large bags of tiny candy bars left!!

>301 scaifea: Love the costume! Glad Charlie agreed to have his picture taken.

Happy Friday, Amber!

>309 katiekrug: Thanks! I foresee possible requests for D&D costumes from his friends; if so, I say bring it on!

Do you have a favorite baker this season? I'm torn between J & G.

>310 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! And yeah, it's an Ohio thing, apparently. No idea why. I'm fine with it, though, because it means we can spend Sunday night cozy inside watching Charlie Brown!

>311 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia!

>312 scaifea: - I like both J & G, but also Chigs...

>313 katiekrug: Yes! Chigs is pretty adorable.

The new thread is up:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/336336

>301 scaifea: Looks great!

>301 scaifea: Love the costume, and I see no reason why most of it couldn't be part of Charlie's regular wardrobe. (I forget, does he wear a uniform to school?)

>316 quondame: Thanks!

>317 laytonwoman3rd: He does wear a uniform, but yes most of this can be part of his normal wardrobe outside of school.

> 173 Great parent brag, about a great kid with gerat parents.

>184 scaifea: One more for my list. Thank you. (I think ;-))

>286 curioussquared: I do that too. Not the greatest mental quirk.

>319 ArlieS: Aw, thanks! And you're welcome!