Ellen (EBT1002) reads what she can in 2023 - Thread 3

Hello all. Ellen here, an unreliable but enthusiastic member of the 75ers since 2011.
I'm in my last year of working. While I manage the pressure and stress, I'm giving myself permission to read what I want when I can. I also do jigsaw puzzles, watch Hamilton over and over (I mean, the dancing!!), play Wordle every day, spend time with partner Prudence and ginger cat Carson... I'll be retiring in December.

Carson, my favorite laptop (and yes, that is a heated bed in which he snoozes when not occupying my lap)

COMPLETED IN JANUARY

1. The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell 4.5 stars
2. Out of Bounds by Val McDermid 4 stars
3. The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield 3.5 stars
4. The Furrows by Namwali Serpell 3 stars
5. The Candy House by Jennifer Egan 4.5 stars
6. The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks 4 stars

COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY

7. What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez 3.5 stars
8. Horse by Geraldine Brooks 4.5 stars
9. The Cape Cod Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor 2.5 stars
10. A Death in Vienna by Frank Tallis 4 stars

COMPLETED IN MARCH

11. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 5 stars
12. I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai 4.5/5 stars
13. The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff 4.5 stars
14. Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet 4 stars
15. Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett 2.5 stars

COMPLETED IN APRIL

16. Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow 3.5 stars
17. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 3.5 stars
18. Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes 4.5 stars

COMPLETED IN MAY

19. The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel 4 stars
20. Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez
21. Trespasses by Louise Kennedy 4 stars
22. Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton 3.5 stars

COMPLETED IN JUNE

23. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano 3.5 stars
24. Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers 3.5 stars
25. Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild 4 stars
26. The Wife of Willesden by Zadie Smith 4 stars
27. American Born Chinese GN by Gene Luen Yang 4 stars
28. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner 4 stars

COMPLETED IN JULY

29. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 4 stars
30. Galatea: A Short Story by Madeline Miller 5 stars
31. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel 4.5 stars
32. A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet 3.5 stars
33. The Wind Knows My Name: A Novel by Isabel Allende (Frances Riddle, Translator) 3 stars
34. The Queen of Dirt Island: A Novel by Donal Ryan 4.5 stars

Women's prize, maybe

Shared reads and RL Book Club

My boy

I switched from my iPad to my laptop and my vision is really giving me fits. I see the eye doc again on Tuesday; I feel like my vision is not good at all since the eye surgery. Or it sometimes is and sometimes isn't. Anyway, I was going to catch up on LT but I really can't see the screen very well. I may try with my iPad again....

I started reading Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton today.

Something is really wrong. When I close my left eye, my right eye (the one with the new lens) is absolutely blurry. That wasn't true last week. I knew I would still need reading glasses but this is not good at all.

Sigh.

Happy new thread Ellen!

>9 EBT1002: Eeek! I hope that doesn't indicate a problem. Or since it is a problem, I hope it's not a serious one.

>10 quondame: Thanks Susan. I switched to different reading glasses (2.50 magnification) and it does seem a bit better. I look forward to my eye appointment this week.

Yay, Carson photos! Yech, eye issues. Hope they settle out.

>12 ronincats: Thanks Roni!

I finished Trespasses by Louise Kennedy this morning. Set during The Troubles, it is the story of Cushla, a young Catholic woman who works in her brother's bar and takes care of her very alcoholic mother, and who gets involved in an extramarital affair with a barrister. A grade school teacher, she also becomes attached to Davy, a 7-year-old Protestant boy in her class whose father has been terribly beaten. The story follows Cushla's affair with Michael and her caring entwinement with Davy and his family, including Tommy, Davy's older brother who drops out of school and ... well, I'll leave it there. It's a beautiful novel with memorable characters and layers of love, regret, and attempts to do what is right in a time and place where such is almost impossible.

Happy new thread Ellen! Cute new Carson pic and I hope the eye issue isn't too serious or can be easily resolved.

This was a good day. P is out of town so I had the day to myself. I still got up pretty early, put a load of laundry in, and enjoyed my leisurely coffee with Carson on my lap. It was windy all day so I ended up using the dryer for one of my loads of laundry (I hate using the dryer when it's sunny and in the 70s outside!!). I went over to Moscow, ID, to Petco for cat litter and stopped in at Book People of Moscow, the only indie bookstore in close range for me. I can go to Auntie's in Spokane, but that is 80 miles away on winding two-lane highway. Moscow is only 8 miles away. The bookstore is indie and has its heart in the right place; it's just small. Anyway, I purchased copies of Birnam Wood and The Fifth Season. I came home and spent a lot of time this afternoon reading Birnam Wood. So far, so good.

I also worked on a jigsaw puzzle for a while this afternoon after watering all the little plants (tomatoes, beans, basil) in the back yard. I'm worried at how hot and dry it is when it's still May.

Dinner was a quesadilla with grated cheese, avocado, sour cream, and the absolutely YUMMY Green Dragon Hot Sauce from Trader Joe's, my new favorite hot sauce.

I won't do it, but I SO want to go to New York to see Camelot with Phillipa Soo as Guinevere....

I mean, this sneak peek at Phillipa Soo leading "The Lusty Month of May" is simply irresistable.

I would have said no one could ever match Julie Andrews, but if anyone can do it, it seems to be Phillipa Soo.

Cute pictures of Carson, Ellen! Happy New Thread! I enjoyed looking at the Jigsaw puzzle you have started. I also have occasional troubles putting the edge pieces together. It's a good to have a second pair of eyes at times. Sorry to read that your eyes are bothering you, but happy to read that you will see your eye doctor this week. I enjoyed Trespasses also.

Happy New Thread, Ellen!

Oh that Phillipa Soo teaser is wonderful. And if you can, why not go! Life is short and retirement is lovely!

Happy new thread, Ellen! Sorry to hear about the vision problems. I hope it's not a serious problem. I'll be interested to hear about Birnam Wood. I'll send you Pod.

Hi Ellen, I'm sorry to see you're having vision problems. I hope the doc visit clears things up. Your Carson pics are very sweet. And finally, I'm glad to see your praise for Trespasses. I'm creeping up the library list for that one.

Happy new thread!

I hope the visit to the doctor will help find the cause of your vision issues!

Happy New Thread, Ellen! Nearing the six-month mark! Yah!!

Happy new one. I love both pics of Carson in his chair/bed but especially the one in >2 EBT1002:.

Ellen, the eye issue must be so worrisome. I am happy you are seeing the doctor soon and hope it can be easily resolved. I forget, are you getting the other eye done, as well? If so, ask if it can wait until this first one is 100%. For your own peace of mind, if nothing else.

Wordle 694 5/6*

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haste, snail, scary, scarp, scarf

I just wasn’t seeing this word.

>15 WhiteRaven.17: Thanks Kro. It seems a bit better this morning. I'm on my laptop now and while it's not crystal clear, it's better than it was last night.

>19 vancouverdeb: Hi Deb. The puzzle I'm working on is my first Art & Fable brand. The pieces are luxurious, just as everyone has said, but the image is a challenging one!

Trespasses has been sticking with me over the past couple days. It's a good one.

>20 streamsong: Hi Janet. I looked at tickets for Camelot and it's currently only scheduled to run through early September. With our 3-week trip to Ireland in late August / early September, and whatnot, I'll have to see if they extend it. If they extend it beyond January, I'm in!

>21 BLBera: Hi Beth. I hope the eye issue is minor. I've already been told that I'll have to go in after the 90-day mark from surgery to have the new lens polished. Apparently, it's fairly common for the new lenses to develop a bit of fogginess. Sigh.

So far Birnam Wood is interesting. She really digs into descriptions of each character, but so far the description doesn't necessarily translate into me getting the feel for each character. I think that needs to develop through their actions and thoughts, so we'll see how it goes.

>22 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. I think you'll enjoy Trespasses. It gives a real sense of what it was like to live in Belfast during The Troubles. The ordinary things of daily life -- romance, family strife, work, etc. -- all set within the context of a war setting.

>23 figsfromthistle: Thanks Figs!

>24 msf59: Hi Mark. I've got my sights set on Juneteenth. It is a holiday in the state of Washington and it will pretty much be my 6-month mark. I don't know which day in December will absolutely be my last day at work but it will be before Christmas. :-)

>25 jessibud2: Hi Shelley! I'm glad folks like the pics of Carson. He is such a central part of my life. Right now he is curled up on the blanket next to me. I'm sure he'd like to be on my lap but he's being very tolerant of my computer laptop taking up that space.

I appreciate the recommendation on the eye situation. The plan is not to do the second eye yet. It has a cataract but it's not nearly as large as the one in the right eye was. So it may be several months or even a year or two before we need to do that left one.

I'll definitely keep y'all posted on what I learn at the eye doc this week. I'm hoping it's just the normal post-surgery adjustment. I do know that, after the lens gets polished in late July or early August, they'll need to update my Rx. I still have 20/20 distance vision but I certainly need glasses for reading!

It's very windy again today but I put a load of laundry in anyway. Our clothes line is an umbrella type, set in an umbrella stand on our back deck. We have a couple big rocks sitting on the stand but it's still iffy in this much wind.

I have no plans today. I'll read Birnam Wood, work on my jigsaw puzzle, water the plants we're trying to get started in the back yard. I might go to Dairy Queen to try a "Peanut Butter Puppy Chow" Blizzard. I had never heard of Puppy Chow as a snack for humans but I have friends who have assured me it's delicious.

I guess I do have plans. :-)

I had no idea there was such a thing as a Peanut Butter Puppy Chow Blizzard. I haven't had a Blizzard in ages, but it always involved peanut butter cups. I think we need a full review of this mystery snack.

>30 lauralkeet: Apparently Puppy Chow is a popular snack in the midwest. It involves Rice Chex, peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar. "Peanut Butter Puppy Chow" is the Blizzard of the Month at our local Dairy Queen. Like you, when I get a Blizzard (almost never, but I do love them), it's almost always Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. NOT Reese's Pieces. Yuck.

Okay, I'm on page 76 of Birnam Wood and I'm well and truly hooked.

Happy New thread, Ellen!
Sorry to read of your vision woes. Fingers crossed the eye doc will come up with a remedy. I believe "Peanut Butter Puppy Chow" is known, in my part of Ohio, as Mudslide or Muddy Buddy's. I just call them delicious!

Overnight Oats all put together for tomorrow:
Rolled Oats
Almond Milk
Maple Syrup
Frozen Peaches

>33 Carmenere: Hi Lynda. The local friends who recommend Puppy Chow also knew about the name Muddy Buddies. Apparently it's also known as Monkey Munch, Reindeer Chow, and various other nonsense monikers. I'll definitely try the Blizzard some time this week (if not today, on my way home from work one evening?).

Happy new thread, Ellen. Hope the eye doctor has helpful news. I'm also a fan of Trespasses: Hope it wins the Women's Prize next month.

>31 EBT1002: ahhhhh, now I get it. Despite Googling a Puppy Chow Blizzard I still thought was made with actual puppy chow, like from Purina. Sheesh.

>37 lauralkeet: {giggle}

Ellen, despite the eye trouble, you seem to be marching ahead with your reading. Lots of good books calling to me.

Happy new one! I hope the eyes settle down soon.

Happy new thread, Ellen.

>1 EBT1002: Can't agree there. I don't see anything in the least bit unreliable about you dear lady!

>8 EBT1002: Take good care of those peeps!

>36 charl08: Hi Charlotte. I'm looking forward to hearing from the eye doc on Tuesday. Today everything seems to have been working a bit better.

>37 lauralkeet: Well, I was on that same page, Laura. WHY would anyone want Puppy Chow in their Blizzard?? I did go get one today. It seemed like a healthy lunch -- you know, cereal, peanut butter, dairy.... Anyway, it was delicious but it will not supplant Peanut Butter Cup as my favorite.

>38 ffortsa: I do seem okay with reading for the most part, Judy. And tonight the laptop is a bit less fuzzy. *shrug*

>39 drneutron: Thanks Jim!

>40 PaulCranswick: Aww, you dear man, Paul. Thanks for stopping by.

Today was a good day. I read some, made some good progress on my challenging puzzle (and it has a snake in the image -- *shudder*), went to Dairy Queen for a Blizzard lunch, talked with my sister for quite a while on the phone, and made myself a delicious dinner: pasta, broccoli, garlic, and red pepper flakes, all tossed together with parmesan cheese. Yum.

I just finished the watering around the yard and now I'm settling in for an evening of more reading and jigsaw puzzling. Tomorrow, back to work. Nothing too onerous on the agenda, though, so I'm not completely dreading it.

Birnam Wood has captured my attention. Yay!

Where I come from "Muddy Buddies" are made with chocolate only. "puppy Chow" has both chocolate and peanut butter in it. "Monkey Chow" has dried banana and butterscotch chips. I suspect that the variations on a theme are practically endless and maybe you have to be from that great square part of the middle of the U.S. to understand that Chex Mix in all its permutations is one of the food groups.

Hi Ellen! Once again, long time no visit. Happiest of new threads to you.

from your previous thread:

I liked your timeline for trips at the start of thread 2, especially the 292 days ‘til retirement dated February 26th. Number of days significantly reduced, now, of course.

Re your right eye cataract: April 18th has come and gone, and I’m glad the surgery went well. You’re probably past all the eye drops now and might even have new glasses. I had cataract surgery for both eyes, one week apart, in 2014. I did need the laser ‘cleanup’ surgery about 3 years later, but things have been great since then.

Re the water restrictions in your county: we never, ever water anything outside, but we’re on a well and don’t have any plantings that need extra attention right now. Had I remained in LA, I would have put in a native-to-southern-California xeriscape, suitable for the semi-arid desert that it is.

I always start Wordle with adieu and based on the result of that, go from there, never using a specific second word. Everybody has their own way of it, right?

I’ll see if you figured it out later, but when Jenna and I visited Asheville last July and my Kindle said the same thing, Jenna used hotpot on her cell phone and the Kindle was able to see that.

I still fondly remember the days in the mid-1980s when I wore suits, dress shirts/silk ties, nylons, and lacy socks and high-top white sneakers.

Belated deepest sympathy on the death of P and David’s father, your FiL.

I have 1619 on my shelves, but didn’t realize it’s a podcast. I subscribe to the NYT, so may start listening to it since I haven’t cracked the book. Thanks!

>1 EBT1002: ‘unreliable but enthusiastic’ - *smile*

>7 EBT1002: If I got one heated bed I’d have to get three, so for now the kitties have to suffer. Carson’s such a sweet boy.

>8 EBT1002: I’m very sorry to hear about your post-surgery eye problems and hope tomorrow’s visit has good news.

>16 EBT1002: Having alone time at home to recharge is wonderful, isn’t it?

>27 EBT1002: Interesting that they’re already telling you about the new-lens fogginess – mine took 3 years to develop, as I wrote above.

>31 EBT1002: and >35 EBT1002: My mom used to make what you call Puppy Chow – Muddy Buddies sounds familiar. I need to make some, although Jenna says we have too many sweets here at the house and we have leftover pie from yesterday, which I’m going to indulge in for brekkie.

>42 EBT1002: I spoke with my sister yesterday, too. It was a good day for that.

Glad you had some restful reading time Ellen. Always good to see Carson too. Sorry about the problem eyes though. I hope they get sorted soon.

Wordle 695 2/6*

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drone, canoe

Fun way to start my Monday!

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I was sitting here feeling so excited, sure that I had it in two yet again. Wordle foiled me as it so often can! 😀

>27 EBT1002: Ah, that makes sense. Here's hoping they extend Camelot ad that it has a huuuuge run.

I just finished The Marriage Portrait, Ellen. It was great.

I hope your eye doctor appointment has gone well today, Ellen.

Happy new thread, Ellen! I hope that your eye issues are cleared up soon. I think you are travelling soon again, aren't you? It would be good to be on track with your eyes before you leave town.

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heart, claim, flank, plank

Good morning!

My eye appointment went well. It’s healing well. He said I’m experiencing normal adjustment process with ups and downs in how my brain manages different input. He updated my Rx for corrective lenses (aka glasses). He did the right eye first (“which is better, one or two?”) and then, after he did the left eye, I said “none of those were really clear.” He chuckled and said “that’s because we haven’t done surgery on that eye yet.” I guess we have to wait until the cataract in that left eye progresses enough for insurance to cover it. 🙄

To work again today. I have a light schedule. At 4:00 my friend Erin is going with me to choose frames for new glasses. I’ll get one pair of progressives and one just for reading. Then this evening a couple friends, including Erin, are coming over for cocktails and snacks on the back deck.

I’ve been watching the Jeopardy! Masters tournament. James is dominating the play more than I’d like. I admit he’s good; he’s also a bit arrogant. And he’s just better than everyone else is on timing the buzzer. Oh well, I’m still enjoying it.

Good to hear the eye doctor report, Ellen. My surgeries were one month apart. My doctor said that time is necessary for the first to recover (and finish with the daily drops regimen).

I also find James to be not only arrogant but rather full of himself and obnoxious. I don't remember him being that way to such as extent in previous appearances. He is whip smart, no question, and yes, fast on the buzzer, but everyone else is smart, too. I am rooting for Mattea and if it comes down to Amy and Matt, then Amy. I'm a bit sad Sam hasn't done better but he is so funny and such a good sport. Doesn't seem to take himself as seriously as some of the others.

>43 benitastrnad: I had no idea there were so many variations on this snack, Benita!

>44 karenmarie: Hi Karen! Thanks for all your check-ins. Re the kindle suggestion, thank you for that. I will try that next time I'm in a hotel to see if it works. Hopefully before the 3-week adventure to Ireland. Although I most certainly can just download a bunch of books for that trip. Honestly, other than during the plane rides, I'll probably be doing a bit less reading as we'll be seeing new things. :-)

Regarding our yard, we have made some of the transition to much more native plants that do well in this dry climate. If we were staying in the house forever (we are not), we'd go much further in that direction. The plants I'm watering now are baby sets: tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, etc. I feel better watering vegetables than I do flowers or, heaven forbid, lawn. We have a lawn and we let it get pretty brown. It makes me crazy to see how much water various neighbors use watering their lawns.

I really recommend the NYT 1619 podcast. It is six episodes and is not an audio version of the book (which I also have on my shelf and have not yet read). It's so very good. I especially loved the episode about music, the third in the short series.

It seems we will wait for the new lens fogginess thing. It seems less problematic, and he didn't seem to think we need to go there just yet. *shrug* I will get new eyeglasses and see how this all goes. I could definitely tell that my right eye sees much more clearly than my left eye does now. Pre-surgery that was NOT the case!!

>45 Caroline_McElwee: I think the blurriness that one evening was just a bump in the road, Caroline. It has been better since then and my checkup yesterday went very well. I'm looking forward to my new Rx reading glasses. I think I need something a bit more precise than my 2.50 magnification over the counter readers.

>48 streamsong: Yes, I am hoping the same, Janet! I'd love to see Phillipa Soo on the stage in person.

>49 BLBera: I'm glad you enjoyed The Marriage Portrait, Beth. I thought it seemed like your kind of read.

>50 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deb. See my note above.

>51 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. I'm flying to Nashville this Sunday for a few days with my favorite aunt and two cousins. I'm excited about the break from work, the time on the plane (such great reading time) and seeing these beloved relatives. I won't have my new Rx glasses in time, but I do seem to be doing alright with OTC readers. Having the Rx will presumably be better, but I'm managing to read and work on my jigsaw puzzle.

>55 jessibud2: I'm all done with the eyedrop regimen (thank goodness) and now it's just a matter of waiting until my left eye is "ready." The cataract in that eye is quite a bit smaller than the one in my right eye was. I could very actively see the effect of the one in my right eye and I can't tell I have one in my left eye.

I agree about Jeopardy! I am also cheering for Mattea, with Amy as my second favorite. Like you, I was sorry not to see Sam do better. He is so funny and likeable and, as you say, a terrific sport. I don't actively dislike any of the contestants, even James, but he is getting under my skin a wee bit. Also, I was just hoping for a more competitive tournament.

I share in the eye glass voyage. I haven't had any surgery yet, but I do have a cataract forming that will need to be dealt with at some point in the future. I wore contact lenses for over 50 years and then during the lockdown in 2020 I simply stopped wearing them. I do wear them when I am driving because I see better with my sunglasses for driving - or I think I do, but nowadays most of the time I wear my glasses. I year ago I got a second pair of glasses just like my favorite frames, but in a different color and I wear one of those two pairs most all the time now. I have progressive lenses in both and really like that. I also have the lenses that change to sunglasses when exposed to sunlight in one pair and I like those as well.

I wonder if my switch to glasses is because they are easier to wear and less hassle to put in. Or, maybe it is an age thing. I don't think I have to look cool to make an impression - maybe I am just past that. For whichever reason wearing glasses is now a habit with me.

>59 benitastrnad: I gave up on contacts when I needed one pairs of readers to see the computer screen and a different pair to see the papers on my desk. Just too much. I would love to start wearing them again, but my eyes have gotten very dry, and it wouldn't be very good for me to try. Oh well, I can always treat myself to a dashing pair of spare glasses.

The progressives I have are pretty good, but reading is sometimes a problem, especially if I read a long time. I might get a pair of readers to use with my (naked) eyes. For music I have a fixed focus pair of glasses - they let me move around while I play. Not absolutely necessary, but freeing.

My doctors keep saying my cataracts are very mild and there's nothing to be done yet. My YOUNGER sister had a much worse case and is now delighted with her cataractless sight. Sigh. She looks really good in white hair too.

Wordle 698 2/6*

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I couldn’t believe it! I was just trying to find letters. 😀

>61 EBT1002: Great Wordle-ing!

Karen O

>61 EBT1002: go you! I had a more annoying 5.

>59 benitastrnad: Hi Benita. I had fun choosing my new frames yesterday. I've not easily adjusted to progressives so we'll see how it goes. My distance vision is still so good that it makes it hard to get the Rx right.

>60 ffortsa: Hi Judy. Having a separate pair of glasses just for reading is a must for me. I want to be able to make micro adjustments to my head position and still see the page.

>62 klobrien2: Thanks Karen O!!

>63 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. My first guess appeared unlucky but it sent me in search of a combo of letters that worked out well.

I have a haircut at 9:00 this morning. Than to work. It's a bit smoky today but I went for my morning walk anyway and I'm glad I did. It has really become a routine. Yay!

No real progress on Birnam Wood yesterday since my guests stayed pretty long. The colleague who usually works remote (headquartered in DC) and is in town just for this week, and who was the impetus for the gathering, is so negative and even combative. I was glad when they finally left. Cleaned up, poured myself a glass of wine, and watched "Jeopardy! Masters" tournament. I was sorry to see both Sam and Amy bow out as the quarterfinals wrapped up, but they are both great sports. Such smart and upbeat humans. I'll be cheering for Mattea moving forward but James' game play is really remarkable. He'll be hard to beat.

>66 EBT1002: "so negative and combative" - unpleasant, for sure. Is this true when working remotely?

Yes, my thinking about reading glasses exactly. I'll see what the optometrist says when I see him next. It's not exactly a rush need, but I'd like the comfort of it. The theory works so well with my music glasses.

>57 EBT1002: Good to have your eye doc let you know you are on track before you go traveling. I’m supposed to be travelling to Nashville on Monday PM any recommendations on what to see while I’m there?

>67 ffortsa: If anything, I think the remote may simply mask this aspect of her personality. She's a smart, competent, brash, and funny person. I just wish she could shrug things off every once in a while.

>68 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. Honestly, other than visiting Ann Patchett's bookstore, we've spent very little time exploring Nashville proper. We did visit Centennial Park which is nice. We're usually there at Thanksgiving so it's too cold and gray to fully enjoy. Also, my aunt actually lives about 90 minutes west of Nashville so we've not spent too much time in the city.

Today was a pretty light day at work. I got my hair cut (short!) this morning. Now I'm having a quiet evening by myself. Carson is sweetly curled up next to me. Time to set aside the iPad and read some.

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louse, heart, diner, brief, grief

I had a 50/50 chance on my fourth guess and just chose the wrong side of the coin.

>69 EBT1002: Thanks Ellen. We'll have to check out the bookstore. Nashville is the first part of our journey. We're just glad that we get to go as the pilots for West Jet were about to go on strike. Enjoy your time visiting family.

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>72 Familyhistorian: Have a great time, Meg!

Happy Saturday!

It's a lovely day for hanging laundry on the line. 😎

Yesterday during my lunch break I neglected Carson and drove over to Book People of Moscow. I wanted to buy some banned books. I picked up copies of

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Drama (GN) by Raina Telgemeier and
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson.

They ordered a copy of All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson.

The woman at the counter told me the bookstore is named for the bookshop in Fahrenheit 451. I've never read it so I'm looking forward to seeing that reference.

Hooray for banned books!

>75 EBT1002: Fahrenheit 451 is one of my favourite books Ellen.

Sounds like a great bookstore trip!

Good for you , picking up some banned book. Here in Canada, in my province at least, " banned books" are celebrated with their own month in our public libraries. I've read Fahrenheit 451 many years ago, and I think one day I should borrow And Tango Makes Three from the library.

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Should’ve trusted my first instinct for that third guess.

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stare, pound, bloom, igloo

Whew!

With an early morning flight on Sunday, I had settled in for a few hours of sleep when the smoke alarm went off. Ugh, what a way to be awakened at 11:30pm. I managed to get the battery changed (thank goodness we had a 9-volt in the battery box) but I never went back to sleep. Finally I got up at 3:00am (alarm had been set for 3:10) and got myself to the airport. Yesterday was a long travel day but. I'm safely at my cousin's house about an hour west of Nashville.

I slept more on the plane than usual but I did finish Birnam Wood last night. The suspense was excellent and the ending is one that will stick with me. I'm giving it 3.5 stars. Definitely a worthy read.

My only quibble is that she described the "psychology" of the characters, each in turn, in ways that simply felt self-indulgent for the author. These little psychological sketches never gave me a sense of the character; they didn't translate into "knowing" the character. For me, they were about as rich as a college textbook clinical summary.

Still, the characters emerged in spite of, not because of these sketches. And the plot moved along at a good pace. Very good.

Hi Ellen. Sorry about the dang alarm. Glad you have arrived safely and wishing you a wonderful time with the relatives!! Hope your eye continues to improve and hurray for banned books!

Enjoy your time with your family, Ellen. I'm not sure about Birnam Wood...

>82 EBT1002: Sorry about the alarm! What a horrible bother. I have a hold on Birnam Wood at the library, but will I like it? I hope so.

Wordle 703 4/6*

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share, inert, leery, clerk

Well, drat no igloo for me yesterday so I'm back to my streak of 1.

Wordle 704 4/6*

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tread, remit, other, utter

Thanks about the travel, Ellen. Yours sounded like it didn’t get off to a good start. Bad timing on the smoke alarm. Have a great trip!

Wordle 705 5/6*

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learn, steal, camel, gavel, bagel

And I thought I had it in three. So many choices!

"So many choices!" That's how I always feel in the bagel shop!

Wordle 706 3/6*

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steam, spine, swine

Today we fly home. It has been a wonderful visit with Tennessee family and I am SO ready to be home! I miss my Carson and my bed and my routine.

I got upgraded to first class and P did not. 😐 We didn’t buy our tickets together. Oh well, she is in premium and will be just fine (she told herself guiltily).

I’m reading Hello Beautiful and The Puzzler, both quite enjoyable.

Safe travels, Ellen! Sorry about the upgrade situation tho!

>93 EBT1002: Glad you had a good visit Ellen. Doesn't matter how much you enjoy it, it is always nice to go home though. Shame they couldn't have upgraded you both.

Safe travels, Ellen. Talk soon.

Wordle 707 3/6*

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least, cream, ramen

Home safe and sound and tired.

Glad to read that you are home and back in your own bed, and back with Carson. Sorry about the upgrade situation.

Wordle 708 4/6*

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trace, pious, spiky, skimp

Wordle 709 3/6*

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heart, slope, mouse

Memorial Day! 🇺🇸

Enjoy your day, Ellen. Your last one before retirement. :)

Congratulations on your retirement! I did not realize it was so soon! Lovely!

Wordle 710 4/6*

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trade, ebony, given, kneel

>104 EBT1002: I'm glad the answer came to you eventually, Ellen (just read your comment about it on my thread). I don't know why it was so challenging, but it seems to have flummoxed more than a few people.

Wordle 711 3/6*

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least, cable, agile 🥳

Wordle 712 4/6*

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earth, manic, salad, jazzy

It was either that or baggy. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Wordle 713 4/6*

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cairn, sited, fluid, humid

I finished Hello Beautiful last night. We’ll be discussing it, along with Birnam Wood, at RL book club next week. One of the book club members said in an email that HB made her weep. I’m just not seeing it. It’s good. But I think with both these books the writing — the prose itself — just isn’t good enough to move me like that. I never forgot I was being told a story, and the narration was a bit flat. Interesting stories, and I really enjoyed the huge messy Padavano family in HB, but I never got lost enough in it to lose my heart to the characters.

When I couldn’t sleep last night, I started reading Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers, second in the Wimsey series. So good.

Tomorrow we’re going on a 16-mile bike ride along the Hiawatha Trail with friends. The weather has been gorgeous and is supposed to continue. We still need rain but it’s hard not to enjoy this.

I’ve also started The Wife of Willesden by Zadie Smith. A retelling of The Wife of Bath, it promises to be very fun!

Is the Zadie Smith a play, Ellen? Have a great bike ride.

Hey everyone. Just a couple updates.

We met with one of the retirement folks we need to meet with. I have determined that my true, final last day in the office will be December 21; my technical retirement date will likely be January 15. I love that my last day in the office will be the winter solstice; the days will start getting longer in so many ways! :-) Also, that is a Thursday and I don't want my first day of never-going-back-to-work to be a Saturday. I want to wake up on that Friday morning, December 22, and fully FEEL that I am retired. There are still lots of details to manage but I'm feeling so good about things. It helps to have more than one financial person say "you're going to be fine." I feel incredibly fortunate. The guy today laughed when I mentioned that P and I are not generally big spenders -- we like nice bottles of wine and "I buy too many books and jigsaw puzzles."

>113 BLBera: Yes, Beth, The Wife of Willesden is a play. The story about how Zadie Smith ended up writing it is pretty entertaining as she describes in her introduction. I can tell the play is going to be funny.

>114 EBT1002: Envious, but clapping Ellen. I have 3 more years.

>114 EBT1002: Excellent news, Ellen. I like your rationale for making your exit on a Thursday. TGIF, indeed!

>114 EBT1002: Great news about retirement. And for "too many books and jigsaw puzzles." :) I'll look for The Wife of Willesden.

>114 EBT1002: I love your reasoning for not wanting to have your last day on a Friday, that's brilliant logic and I'm sure it's going to feel great!

Wordle 714 5/6*

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least, croak, handy, fanny, nanny

Tricky one!

>120 EBT1002: I agree! It took me 6 tries.

Wordle 715 3/6*

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arise, least, beast

Wordle 716 3/6*

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trail, spine, ennui

Just popping in to say Hi!!

>114 EBT1002: Perfect plan for so many reasons. Happiness. : )

Wordle 717 4/6*

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snide, shoal, storm, scout

Wordle 718 2/6*

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heart, hater

Woo hoo!!

>126 EBT1002: Wow! That’s great! I had 4 of the letters with my first guess, and you had all of them! Yay!

Karen O

Nice!!

>126 EBT1002:’OMG way to go Ellen!

Wordle 719 4/6*

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share, round, fruit, crumb

I’m watching rain on the radar headed our way. Come on, rain! I’m also finishing up Clouds of Witness. It’s good but my reading has slowed to a snail’s pace.

Wordle 720 5/6*

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crane, waist, lasso, palsy, balsa

Whew!

>132 EBT1002: It took me 5 as well, Ellen. We got some rain today too, and I expect we will again tomorrow. I guess we need it.

Wordle 721 4/6*

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slate, drain, chain, again

I really thought I had this one in three.

Wordle 722 2/6*

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tread, guard

Wow! Nicely done, Ellen.

Wordle 723 4/6*

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shear, round, prong, wrong

50/50 shot on that third guess. I chose incorrectly. 😉

Ha! Today's Wordle I did the prong then wrong guess, too. I wonder if they got a chuckle that the right word was wrong.

Wordle 724 4/6*

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scale, lurid, flout, plunk

I felt like I was all over the place with this one.

>138 streamsong: I don’t know if they chuckled, but I did. Then I was ready for today’s word to be right. LOL
No spoiler because yesterday’s Wordle is done.

I finished Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild in the wee hours of this morning. It was hard to put down; I really wanted to know how it ended. And I had insomnia. 4 stars

And I returned to The Wife of Willesden by Zadie Smith this morning. I had not made much progress on my first attempt, just due to library book backlog, but this morning I really got into it. I had to force myself to set it aside and go for my walk! I found myself reading it aloud to myself (quietly, as P was still asleep down the hall) and it just made me happy. I think I'm going to love it!

>141 EBT1002: I found myself reading it aloud to myself That's what happens when the writing is superb. I must put it on the list.

Do P. and you ever read to each other?

>141 EBT1002: I was supposed to go see this at the theatre and the performance was cancelled due to covid. Very frustrating as it was a limited run so I couldn't make another performance. Hopefully there will be a chance to see it be performed again.

Added Blood Sugar to the wishlist. Thank you, sounds good.

Wordle 725 3/6*

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least, drone, crime

Wordle 726 4/6*

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heart, abide, fable, maybe

It took me a looong time to see this one after my third guess.

Wordle 727 3/6*

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share, straw, strap

I should’ve gotten this one in two.

I've finished The Wife of Willesden, a play by Zadie Smith and American Born Chinese a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang. Both were excellent.

Starting Strange Flowers by Donal Ryan and Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner.

Juneteenth is a holiday in the state of Washington so I'm facing a 3-day weekend after today. Hooray!

More this evening.

>147 EBT1002: Good morning, Ellen, from another Seattle-ite. 😁 Crying in H Mart is high on my TBR list… I’ll be interested to hear what you think of it.

Wordle 728 3/6*

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irate, carol, ranch

>149 EBT1002: - You are doing so well in wordle! I got one this week in 2, but other than that, I am still averaging 4, sometimes 3 if I pay close attention and don't mess up by using a letter already eliminated!

Wordle 729 4/6*

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least, spoil, slunk, shyly

Okay then.

Wordle 730 3/6*

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heart, salon, kazoo

It helped that I recalled bayou already having been used.

Wordle 731 3/6*

🟨🟩⬛⬛⬛
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trade, fruit, frost

Wordle 732 2/6*

⬛⬛⬛🟩🟩
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stone, crane
🥳😎

I'm rather slowly making my way through Crying in H Mart. I've been feeling like it was good but not great. I just finished the chapter about their wedding and it made me weep. The book really is very, very good.

Yesterday was the summer solstice and my last day at work will be the winter solstice. I'm dividing my time between work, time in the yard, learning to sketch/draw, spending time with Prudence, going for walks and hikes in preparation for our trip to Ireland, and reading. I'm certainly reading less in 2023 than I have done in many years, but it's all okay. In six months the days will start getting longer again. 😀

Wordle 733 3/6*

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learn, haste, taste

>156 EBT1002: In six months the days will start getting longer again

I see what you did there ... so clever! The big day will be here before you know it, and you will be well prepared for it.

Wordle 734 3/6*

⬛🟨⬛⬛🟩
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heart, spent, covet

>158 lauralkeet: Pretty fun, eh, Laura?

Honestly, things at work are so stressful I’m trying to figure out how to bring about 70% of myself to it. That’s hard for me to do as I’ve been a 110%-er my whole career.

I also found it hard to start stepping back from my job obligations. It was especially hard after the graduate students found out I was retiring and in the last two months so many of them requested help sessions that it was hard to fit them in during my 8 hour work day. The last two months I had to set boundaries for myself and MAKE myself stick to them. I can say that I have been so busy since retirement that I haven't had time to miss work. I find that I still don't have enough time during the day to get all the things done that I want to do.

Wordle 735 3/6*

⬛⬛🟩🟩⬛
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leant, brand, grand

Glad that you are liking Crying in H Mart. Such a good book.

Wordle 736 4/6*

⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛
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least, drone, coder, rodeo

I seem to be giving out 4-star ratings a lot these days. Crying in H Mart was very good. And she went on about food just a wee bit too much. I understand that food is intricately interwoven with her relationship with her mother, her memories associated with her mother, and her navigation of her bicultural identity. I just thought it went on to the point of feeling like a demonstration of her wide omnivorous experiences, taking the edge off the emotional power of those experiences -- the opposite of what I think she wanted to do. That said, this is a powerful and beautiful memoir of a complicated mother-daughter relationship, the terror and trauma of watching her mother die of cancer, and her personal identity journey. Definitely recommended.

I really enjoyed this essay by A.O. Scott in The New York Times.
"Everyone Likes Reading, Why Are We So Afraid of It?"

>166 EBT1002: Thanks Ellen, me too. And as there was a good subscription offer for this year, I took it up.

Wordle 737 2/6*

🟨🟨⬛⬛🟨
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stare, guest

Well, that was fun!

I’m now reading Remarkably Bright Creatures. I wasn’t initially sure this novel is for me but I’m kind of settling in with it, ignoring my occasional quibble. It’s for my RL Book Club.

>168 EBT1002: Nice , with the wordle, Ellen!

>168 EBT1002: Well good for you Ellen!!

>169 EBT1002: I just read Remarkably Bright Creatures myself. It started as an "obligatory" read, because a RL friend recommended (less reliable than my LT friends!!). But I ended up really enjoying it. Some quibbles, yes, but a very pleasant read. Over on my thread, Katie referred to it as a "palate cleanser".

Wordle 738 3/6*

🟩⬛🟩⬛⬛
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arose, along, about

Another three day. 😀

>167 Caroline_McElwee: The NYT is probably my main go-to for news and other information, Caroline. I also like and mostly trust NPR, The Guardian, but I don't spend nearly as much time with them.

>170 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deb. My starter word was lucky yesterday.

>171 lauralkeet: I love "palate cleanser." I keep thinking "this isn't great literature but it sure is a fun read." Good reminder to self: enjoyable reading doesn't always have to be lit-ra-choor. 🙂

I have 33 messages. What the...?

Well, I checked and it went down to 8. I guess there are messages I've never clicked on?

Anyway, our internet is slow today so I'm going to go finish getting ready and go to work. I'll check back in later.

Yesterday was packed with meetings, today not so much. Yay!

>175 EBT1002: - It's a bug with LT at the moment. They are working on it...

>171 lauralkeet: and >173 EBT1002: I like "palate cleanser" too. 😊 I tend to call such books "fluffy", but I always worry that it comes across as derogatory when it's not meant to be. It's important to cleanse one's palate!

I appreciated your review of Crying in H Mart also, Ellen - sounds like a powerful journey on the part of the author. I likely won't mind her going on a bit too much about food, though!

Wordle 739 4/6*

⬛⬛🟩🟨⬛
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share, train, track, tract

I am really enjoying Remarkably Bright Creatures. Marcellus is a character to cheer for. 😀

Wordle 740 2/6*

⬛🟨🟨⬛🟨
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tread, diner

And this was fun. 😀

>180 EBT1002: Ooh, nice! Congratulations!

Karen O

>179 EBT1002: Glad you are enjoying Marcellus. I suggested this one for my book club next month when they wanted a light summer read.

>180 EBT1002: Amazing!

>179 EBT1002: Yay!

>180 EBT1002: You seem to get a lot of 2s and 3s Ellen. I'm envious!

Wordle 741 4/6*

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clear, groan, sprat, straw

Wasted third guess. Oh well.

>181 klobrien2: Thanks Karen!

>182 streamsong: Remarkably Bright Creatures is a great summertime read, Janet. I just recommended it to a friend who was looking for the same. And thanks for the acknowledgement of my Wordle in Two. :-)

>183 lauralkeet: I did have a nice little run of two and threes there, Laura. Kind of fun!

It is the last June day I will ever work in higher ed. So tonight we get to enjoy some bubbly while we watch the newest episode of DeadLoch which we are loving. It's on Amazon Prime and for the first episode, I was skeptical. They use the F word A LOT. It's sort of a spoof of mystery series -- funny and campy and a bit dark. Set in New Zealand. The characters are really growing on us.

I'm still reading Remarkably Bright Creatures. My reading is just slow these days.

Upcoming:

A Children's Bible with Kim and Beth
The Wind Knows My Name for RL Book Group

I have Station Eleven queued up at the library -- it'll be a reread for me but folks in RLBG are reading it on the side and it would be fun to join in the converstation.
I also have Lone Women and Weyward checked out from the library.

I think I need to retire so I can read all these books!! *smirk*

I am also learning to sketch/draw and very much enjoying that creative outlet. My plan is to keep a sketching journal during our trip to Ireland at the end of the summer.

>186 EBT1002: ...folks in RLBG are reading it on the side...

Haha... I was wondering, "which group is RLBG? I should check that out...", and then it dawned on me. 🤭

Hi Ellen! I really enjoyed Weyward earlier this year. I gave it 4. 5 stars. I hope you enjoy it as well. I've looked a bit a Deadloch, but so far it has not grabbed me . I just finished watching the 3rd and last season of Happy Valley. I really loved that.

Wordle 742 4/6*

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reach, stile, model, bleep

In "what the heck, I'll try it" territory. Less thinking, more guessing. It's Saturday. And it worked out okay.

>187 PlatinumWarlock: lol Lavinia. Glad you figured out my text-speak. 🙂

>188 vancouverdeb: We also love Happy Valley, Deb. Need to get back to it.

29. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 4 stars

Set in a fictional small town north of Seattle, this is the story of Tova, a 70-year-old late night cleaning woman at the local aquarium, Marcellus, an aging Giant Pacific Octopus, and Cameron, a ne'er-do-well 30-year-old getting by in Modesto. Tova is a widow who lost her only son to the sea when he was 18 years ago. Her life has been consumed by grief and structured by "keeping busy" and getting on with it. Marcellus is a "rescue," a sentient being who sees and understands far more than humans around him realize. He has a penchant for escaping his tank in search of interesting snacks and relief from boredom. Cameron was abandoned by his mother at age nine, raised by his loving Aunt Jeanne. He wallows in his victimhood and failure, certain that the hand he was dealt is solely responsible for his failure to thrive financially or romantically.

How these three lives come together and how they are each changed by the other is the basis for a delightful and engaging debut novel. I was skeptical at first and would likely not have read it were it not for my Real Life Book Group. I'm glad they chose it. To quote Katie, this was a good "palate cleanser." It's not great literature but it's a darn good read.

It's Sunday morning, still and quiet and cool but heading towards another warm day. I don't know why I woke up at 4:30am and could not go back to sleep, but I finally decided to just get up. As much as I am looking forward to retirement, I'm definitely experiencing more anxiety than usual and it sometimes hits me in the wee hours. It is partly about work, but I wonder if it is partly about retirement. I've moved past my financial anxiety -- we seem to be pretty well set assuming nothing catastrophic happens. Is it fear of boredom? Wondering how P and I will navigate life with neither of us working? Coming face to face with my limited remaining time on Earth? All of the above, probably.

Regarding the first, I have so many interests. I'm not really prone to boredom. I love reading (duh), doing jigsaw, crossword, and other puzzles, hiking, biking, gardening, cooking.... and I'm teaching myself to sketch/draw. I signed up for Liz Steele's SketchingNow class. It's online and self-paced, and I'm loving it. All of these are things I love to do and don't have adequate time now to fully enjoy. The gardening and cooking end up just feeling like chores when I do them now, but I know with more free time I will embrace them. We'll travel as our money and time allow. So. This anxiety is not warranted.

P and I will navigate this. There will be bumps in the road. She tends more toward the two of us doing things -- sometimes it feels like everything -- together but she also knows we need separate interests. She is most certainly more needing of time with me now because she has so much time by herself during the day. And we'll be moving to a place where we can walk or bike to the library, coffee shop(s), etc., and where the community will be more to our liking. We'll work this out. I will have to challenge myself to speak up when I need alone time, not to "take care of" her by ignoring my own needs and preferences for spending time. The truth is, when I say "I want to sit in the back yard and sketch," or "I'm going for a run(walk)," she is always supportive. She watches things on the telly in which I'm not interested and this is always fine. Either she watches on her iPad with earbuds or she goes down to the tv room and I stay up here and read. It's fine. So. This anxiety is not warranted.

Death is a certainty. My first stroke occurred 7.5 years ago and, as far as I know, there has been no recurrence. I take pretty good care of myself. I could do better, and I'm making an effort right now to lose a few pounds and cut back on my alcohol intake. I've been doing pretty well on both for the past couple weeks; I think retirement has motivated me. Of course, there is no way of knowing how much longer any of us has, but all I can do is take care of myself and enjoy myself while I'm here. The rest will come. There will be decisions and adjustments to be made. I'm thrilled to be retiring, and doing so a bit early (I'll be 63 next month). That it comes with acceptance of the associated inevitabilities should propel me to embrace that list up there of things I love to do, to enjoy them as fully as I can, and, as Tova in Remarkably Bright Creatures would undoubtedly say, get on with it.

Thank you for witnessing my early morning self-reflections. :-)

Today we're going to hike to the top of nearby Kamiak Butte. And I'm going to read and sketch and do one or two more loads of laundry. I work tomorrow, have Tuesday off, and then work the rest of the week. The weekend of July 14 we're going to Seattle to visit BIL and SIL, nephews, etc. We'll go to a Mariners game, I'll see my therapist, I'll go to Blick's Art Supply store (yay!), and we're having lunch with friends. All good stuff.

And in seven weeks we fly to Dublin. :-)

Dublin! I just got back and still feel a twinge of envy. I loved Ireland.

I'll add Remarkably Bright Creatures to my list. It sounds like it would have been a good one to take on vacation.

I am unpacking and doing laundry today. And catching up on LT>.:)

Wordle 743 4/6*

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heart, pious, bossy, mossy

I thought of mossy first but for some reason went with the other. Oh well.

>194 BLBera: Welcome back, Beth. So far it looks like we'll have cooler weather in Ireland than you had in Spain. To be expected, I guess. I'm super excited for the trip. I'll miss the first three weeks of fall semester. Weird.

Remarkably Bright Creatures would be a great vacation read.

>191 EBT1002: That's a superb review, Ellen. I found it difficult to write mine without spoilers, and you did so in exemplary fashion.

>192 EBT1002: I also loved reading your thoughts here. I can relate to the issues you see yourself navigating after retirement, and the anxiety triggers. They are navigable though, and being self-aware goes a long way toward managing those issues and feelings.

>192 EBT1002: How fun to hear you're learning to sketch! Liz Steele is pretty inspirational.

>192 EBT1002: All of those reflections are totally understandable Ellen, and better out than in. You have long had responsible jobs where you have been heavily relied on by an institution and students, and so even though at times you may have been taken advantage of, you are possibly also feeling or fearing the sense of loss that may come with retirement.

I'm sure you and P will find your level as I sense you communicate well with each other. And lets not forget more time with dear Carson.

>193 EBT1002: Enjoy your weekend away, and Ireland. Beautiful place and welcoming people. Great writing comes from there too. I am currently reading Niall Williams' This is Happiness and loving it.

>192 EBT1002: Much of your thoughts are parallel to mine, although I've been retired now about 7 years! Jim didn't retire until a few years later, and I'm still navigating the balance among doing things with Jim, doing things alone (or not doing anything) and my need to have some contact with other people. Too much is a problem; to little is a problem. I figure I need something along the lines of a 'local' as the Brits call it, a 'Cheers' to stop into when I feel like it.

What I still miss about work is driving toward a common goal, or at least having company on the journey. For a while I was tutoring adults, and that worked until the pandemic closed that down. I'm still on the lookout for something like that (you would think there would be lots of opportunities, but I'm not finding it so). And I've been thinking about what I might do that I haven't done before, another difficult process. So I'm very sympathetic to your anticipation of changes to come.

Good luck! As long as you know it will take some time, I'm sure you will find a new rhythm.

30. Galatea: A Short Story by Madeline Miller 5 stars

Madeline Miller is brilliant. This short retelling of the Greek myth of Pygmalion is excellent. Galatea is the perfect woman Pygmalion carved from pure Ivory stone for his own pleasure, to control and enjoy. This is her own story.

>197 lauralkeet: Thanks Laura. I was really aware of the spoiler risk for this one. I wondered if I had ended my "review" too quickly but I think it was probably about right.

Also, thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts and for the validation. It felt good to get them down "on paper." P and I went for a wonderful hike this morning and I found myself relaxing quite easily into one of my (and one of our) favorite activities.

>198 ursula: Hi Ursula. Learning is exactly the right word. I adore Liz Steele's style and I appreciate her nonjudgmental approach. I'm an absolute beginner. I was actively discouraged from creative expression for my entire childhood and I am just now claiming my internal space in this regard. I may not have talent but I'm learning this truth: what you need are paper, pencil or pen, patience, and practice. Lots of practice.

>199 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you for all your kind words, Caroline. And the book tip! I'm not familiar with This is Happiness but I am immediately adding it to the queue. I haven't been as focused on Irish literature the past couple months as I had planned, but I will continue to intersperse it with all the other reading. :-)

I do think you're right that there will be more grieving of my professional role than I am probably aware of yet. I'm so focused on my intense desire for free time and the reduction of my stress level that I'm not sure yet how the grief will unfold. I have indeed held responsible positions of the sort where the work is never done. I sometimes tell people I solve problems for a living. But I also help manage and mitigate problems that have neither solution nor end. The responsibility is huge but so is the sense of purpose. I imagine I'll miss the latter more than I realize.

>200 ffortsa: Judy, I love the idea that we need a 'local' where we can stop by when we need a bit of social engagement! It's true! The town we plan to move to has a population of about 60K. It has a few sweet coffee shops, two good bookstores (one new, one used), and a few decent restaurants and pubs. I don't know that any of those will become my 'local' but I do love the idea. I think of Lionel in the BBC sitcom "As Time Goes By" saying he was going down to the pub for 'a swift half.' It was his way of getting a bit of time away from the women he lived with, but also probably a chance to just catch up on local talk.

As I noted above in my response to Caroline, I think the loss of a sense of purpose, being part of a team working toward a common goal will be the largest loss for me (that, and the security of money being automatically put in my checking account twice a month). I will, as you say, remind myself that it will take time and I'll need to be patient with myself.

>201 EBT1002: Ooh, a 5-star read on a Madeline Miller work! Not to be missed. I've got it requested at my library. Thanks!

Karen O

>201 EBT1002: I've been loving the retelling of myths, so this one definitely goes on my list.

>205 klobrien2: it's a very quick and delightful read, Karen. Enjoy!

>206 BLBera: I'd send it to you but I picked it up off my library's New Books shelf.

I read your early morning summary thoughts with great empathy. I had those thoughts about retiring as well. Back in 2015 a colleague abruptly retired and later, she told me that the fear of retiring was the greatest hurdle she had faced in years. I am glad I retired. I retired younger than I thought I would and so am on a shorter ration of pay check than I thought I would - at least for a while, until I can start collecting S.S., I am getting along. I won't be able to do much traveling for the next year, but I can live with that.

I have lived all of my life by myself, and so don't have to learn to divide my time as much as coupled people do. I had thought that I wouldn't as much social contact as I did when working, but to my surprise, that has also worked out. My biggest problem is that I am not finding as much time for reading as I thought! Who would have thought that would be the problem?

I am going to spend the next few months cleaning and getting rid of some of my stuff, so that I can move back to the West in the next 6 months. My biggest problem now is finding a place to live. When I go home next, I am going to Lincoln, NE and look at apartments. This will be a stop-gap measure, but I am sure I will like Lincoln. It is about the same size as Tuscaloosa with a major university library and all the other things I have become accustomed to while living in Tuscaloosa for 30 years. It is also close enough to home (little over an hours drive) that I can be there on short notice.

I find that saying good-bye to some of my friends in Tuscaloosa is the biggest cause of any current anxiety that I have. I am not sure how I will handle that. My former supervisor and mentor is here. My former colleagues are here, and friends I have made along the way are all here. I have scheduled a meeting my therapist to talk about these things and hope that my anxieties about leaving friends will abate.

I the meantime - there are books.

I hope you enjoy Black Butterflies and Weyward when you get to them. Weyward isn't great literature, but it was a fun and engaging read. I really loved it. Dave, my husband is retiring next year in the fall and I'm looking forward to it, as is he. He'll be 67 by the time he retires. I am sure it will be an adjustment, but how much it's hard to say. He really enjoys flying stunt kites , and we have a close by park and he quite a few buddies that join him there. So that will get him out of the house quite a bit, though less so in the rainy winters. He reads , we have our dog that needs 3 walks a day, and a couple of grandchildren, so I think it will be fine. I think he may need to get a recliner to use downstairs some of the time, as he prefers silence a lot of the time , and he also likes cooler indoor temperature than I do. My BIL retired a couple of months ago at the young of age of 58. He had a contract with the Vancouver Police , and they wanted new blood, so he retired a little earlier than he had in mind. But he seems to be keeping busy so far. My sister works, so they don't have to deal with both of them home yet. I do worry a bit about the financial aspect for us, but I think we should be okay.

Lovely review for Remarkably Bright Creatures. That's on my list of books to read on holiday over the next few weeks.

Wordle 744 4/6*

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alert, stole, towel, hotel

>208 benitastrnad: Thanks for sharing about your retirement journey, Benita. I hope you're able to find an apartment you like in Lincoln.

>209 vancouverdeb: These life transitions are so interesting, are they not, Deb? None of the anxiety or uncertainty makes me want to change my mind and keep working! LOL

>210 SandDune: I hope you enjoy RBC, Rhian. It was a fun read.

>202 EBT1002: I am so sorry to hear that you were discouraged from exercising that part of yourself. I feel like you've got the biggest hurdle overcome: thinking that talent is what sets people who draw apart from people who don't. That's not it at all, it's practice (and the interest in practicing). I am hoping you find real pleasure in exploring putting images on paper!

Just dropping by to say hi as I'm making "catch-up" rounds.

Wordle 745 2/6*

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ideal, irate

Woot!! 🥳 (lucky first word today)

>215 EBT1002: I was luckier than you as the solution is my every day first word! Couldn’t believe it! But Wordle-in-two is tres awesome!

Karen O

>215 EBT1002: I got the Wordle in 2 today as well, Ellen! *high five*

Great job on World!

I am wrestling with retirement thoughts myself, I will be 65 in November, and financially we'd be fine if I retired, but I worry about money anyway, and plus feel the need to be contributing.... I may look into part time options.

Wordle 746 4/6*

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share, blend, women, venom

Chasing yellows.

Wordle 747 3/6*

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plead, doubt, windy

This is one where I had to think and think and think. And suddenly it came to me.

Wordle 748 3/6*

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stare, touch, donut

I'm still on my reread of Station Eleven. I had forgotten much of it and, while scenes are somewhat familiar, the story is fresh and I'm enjoying it. I'm glad I recently read The Glass Hotel as there are shared characters.

It's Friday and my work schedule is relatively light. I'm ready for the weekend. We need to clean the house and I have the usual laundry to do but I should get in some reading and sketching.

Now I'm off for my early morning walk.

>216 klobrien2: Congrats, Karen!! Will you alter your first word now?

>217 lauralkeet: *High five, Laura!

>218 banjo123: The retirement decision is tough, Rhonda. I worry about money, too (although you might not know it by the rate at which I continue to buy books and art supplies). I will say that, once I made the decision and set the date and made it public, I've not had one moment of doubt. Anxiety, yes. But never doubt. It's a fascinating process to observe in oneself.

Happy Friday, Ellen. Enjoy your walk. We had a good time on our camping trip. We do another one in 2 weeks. It is Jackson day! Yah! I miss the little guy.

>213 ursula: Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words, Ursula. I had a quick after work drink with a colleague friend last evening. She is also retiring in December and also exploring sketching and watercolor. She wasn't actively discouraged the way I was, but she has a similar internal struggle. Perhaps it's universal -- that "internal critic." It sounds so cliché but it really is a thing! In any case, I'm having a wonderful time exploring, learning, and playing.

>214 thornton37814: Hi Lori! Thanks for stopping by!

>224 msf59: Mark, I have this wonderful image of you and Jackson greeting at the start of your "Jackson Days." I see him being released from the car seat and roaring up the driveway to leap into your arms. And the BAG on your face is, well, it's a BAG.
Accurate?

I love Station Eleven and it has held up on rereading for me, a real test of a book.

Once I decided to retire, I never felt like I was making the wrong decision, so I figured it really was time. The days are marching by!

>226 EBT1002: That is a precious vision, Ellen but we usually go to Bree's house, to watch him. It is easier. He doesn't run up to us when we enter the house but he does offer a smile which is good enough for me. B.A.G.

>227 BLBera: I agree about Station Eleven, Beth. It is holding up well. I just checked and it was originally published in 2014.

>228 msf59: So he's a reserved little guy. I like that. And a reader. *insert smile and heart here*

Wordle 749 4/6*

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arise, toner, coder, cower

I had typed the correct guess in, backed out, tried coder first instead. Guessed that coin toss wrong. 🙃

>230 EBT1002: Ellen, I debated CODER vs COWER too, but chose correctly. I guess I had a different coin ha ha.

Enjoy your weekend!

Wordle 750 5/6*

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trade, refit, outer, meter, enter

Ugh.

>231 lauralkeet: lol, Laura. Nicely done!

I finished my reread of Station Eleven. I gave it 4.5 stars and, looking back, that is the same rating from my 2015 read of the novel. It holds up well. I really only remembered vague images from my first reading so it was fresh and, in these post-pandemic days, perhaps even more interesting. Definitely recommended.

Now I'll start A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet. Strangely, it won't open on my kindle. I can read it on my iPad or my iPhone (ha), and P can read it on her kindle if she wanted to (she won't), but it just "queues" on my kindle. The next book I checked out, B is for Burglar opens just fine. *shrug*

It's in the 90s out there, still and quiet and hot. It's a good day to start another book and maybe work on my current jigsaw puzzle.

Wordle 751 3/6*

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flame, filch, folly

A bit of a wild card for my first guess but it paid off today.

In six weeks we'll be waking up in Ireland!!!

I'm about a third into A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet. It's odd and surprisingly enjoyable so far.

I have a short week at work. Wednesday a colleague from my days at Oregon State (I left there in 2007!) is spending the night. She has a training on the campus here. It will be good to catch up. She left OSU around the same time I did, has been in northeastern Washington state even longer than I've been here.

Saturday we drive to Seattle. I'll go to Blick's for art supplies and we'll see family. I'm excited to see our nephew and his wife and their almost-3-year-old son. They just moved from NOLA to Seattle in May. We have tickets for the Mariners on Saturday, will return home on Sunday.

Wow, Ireland is coming up!

It sounds like you have a fun week ahead. Enjoy.

I just watched Chris Eubanks beat Tsitsipas. I am cheering for Eubanks, what a personality.

Have you been watching tennis?

>242 BLBera: - I'm not Ellen, of course, but I had to chime in on the Eubanks match. Wasn't that a great one? And the Svitolina-Azarenka match yesterday was great, too. Eubanks and Svitolina are my sentimental favorites right now, since Ruud and Gauff are out.

Hi Ellen!

>241 BLBera: I'm getting very excited about the Ireland trip, Beth.

>242 BLBera: I haven't watched any of Wimbledon this year. But we fantasized about going next year. Wouldn't that be fun?

>243 katiekrug: Hi Katie! P has been watching the women. She's cheering for Svitolina and Świątek at this point. Ukraine and Poland. 🙂

I'd love to go to Wimbledon!

Wordle 752 2/6*

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heart, earth

Heart and earth are two of my go-to starter words. I considered earth this morning but went with heart. Still, a Wordle In Two! 🥳

Excellent! I got it in 3

>245 BLBera: Me too!

>247 jessibud2: Nice, Shelley!

Wordle in 2! Fabulous! It took me 4.

Happy Wednesday, Ellen. I remember really enjoying A Children's Bible. I am a fan of Millet and want to get to her latest, Dinosaurs.

>249 vancouverdeb: We'll see how today goes, Deb.

>250 msf59: I finished A Children's Bible last night, Mark, and I'm honestly not sure how I feel about it. It was certainly a unique novel and surprisingly dark. I loved a couple of the characters -- Jack is a keeper. But I'm not sure I "get it."

Wordle 753 5/6*

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tread, flour, grill, swirl, whirl

Error of concentration on my third guess. 😑

>251 EBT1002: So, I guess we'll have a great discussion. 😁

>253 BLBera: I do think we will, Beth. I'm still waffling between 3 and 3.5 stars. I'm glad I read it but it was a weird read, too.

>251 EBT1002: Hi - I wasn't a huge fan of A Children's Bible but I absolutely loved Dinosaurs!

Wordle 754 3/6*

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later, range, barge

>255 vivians: I definitely liked Dinosaurs more than A Children’s Bible, Vivian.

I do like how her titles (sort of) connect to her novels. There’s more there than appears on the surface.

I’ve started reading The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende. I’m completely caught up in it.

>258 EBT1002: I am reading that one in Spanish! Yes, it is hard to put down, but I have to because my book club is discussing The Poisonwood Bible tomorrow, and I still have 150 pages to go!

Yes, Dinosaurs is my favorite Millet to date, but I like that each of her books is so different -- and quirky.

Wordle 755 3/6*

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raise, inept, fiend

>253 BLBera: I have been thinking I’d like to read The Wind Knows My Name in Spanish (this will not happen). I’m always interested in the process of translation and how the two voices merge into a new but the same work.

Wordle 756 2/6*

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trade, crone

Love it!

>262 EBT1002: Look at you! I got it in 3, and I said it helps to BE one. Not that I'm implying....you know...

>261 EBT1002: Well, I have the English copy on reserve if I stall on this, but so far, it's going well. I've wanted to read more in Spanish, and I think Allende is a good start.

>262 EBT1002: Nice job, Ellen!

>263 laytonwoman3rd: I also got it in 3, Linda, and Chris had the nerve to tell me I scored better than he did because of my, shall we say, subject matter expertise.

So does that make three of us? 😂

>258 EBT1002: >259 BLBera: This conversation reminded me that I was recently listening to an episode of the Women's Prize podcast. The podcast host as well as the chair of the judges for the prize this year both studied Spanish and spent a year in Latin America as students so there's a bit of a discussion about that experience, translation and Allende (who pops up in a later podcast episode). I loved studying history but they make a languages degree sound like an amazing reading experience. https://open.spotify.com/episode/48vTRAdiq0NLeFg8yQhum4?si=tlb-Hu5hTcqtFqCqIvsiZ...

I really must pick up Allende, thank you both for the nudge.

Wordle 757 4/6*

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heart, talon, today, topaz

Feels like a win. 🙂

>263 laytonwoman3rd: lol Linda. I happily claim that identity!

>264 BLBera: I'll be interested in how it is in Spanish, Beth. I think translations can lose some of the richness of language (duh) and this narrative seems a bit didactic. But I'm super curious about how the two stories will come together.

>265 lauralkeet: lol - definitely three of us, Laura!

>266 charl08: Hi Charlotte. The process and the nuances of translation fascinate me. I'm pathetically monolingual with the remnants of high school (and a bit of college) French along with some rudimentary Spanish (I need to reintroduce myself to Duolingo), but I love reading about translation.

We had a good weekend in Seattle. I did have a couple of Grinch-y moments ("the noise, noise, noise, noise, NOISE!!), but mostly it was fun. We met friends at the zoo, had fun at the baseball game, and I got to shop for art supplies and see my beloved therapist. Home now to a very happy Carson. It's 95F out. Ugh.

Wordle 758 4/6*

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route, minor, brood, droop

As so often happens, my 50/50 guess on my third guess was the wrong one. Still, four is fine.

>270 EBT1002: It HAS gotten noisier here, especially if you live somewhere quiet. When we go over to Vashon Island, where we're building a house, I literally feel my blood pressure drop when I get off the ferry. I'm looking forward to having that experience full time! Glad you had a good weekend here, despite the noise. :)

Wordle 759 5/6*

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learn, cruel, older, flier, flyer

I need to start a new thread one of these days.

Wordle 760 3/6*

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clear, scout, tonic

Very seasonal! 😀

>274 EBT1002: Me too.

Just catching up, Ellen! Your ruminations on retirement (and the comments of others like Benita and Judy) caught my attention. I have never regretted retiring, despite having a very purpose-driven profession--it simply seemed like that phase of my life was complete and it was time to indulge myself a bit. I did regret my husband retiring early so I only had a year to myself, but given his early demise, that was probably for the best as well. Taking care of my mother and being more involved in family activities back here in Kansas definitely gives more structure, to balance with the self-care and self-indulgent activities. Small-city life is suiting me to a tee. Glad to hear you are doing some of the art activities you wanted to take up.

Wordle 761 5/6*

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shore, paint, gland, blank, flank

I just wasn’t feeling it this morning.

Wordle 762 3/6*

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house, fraud, burly

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

I finished The Wind Knows My Name: A Novel by Isabel Allende (Frances Riddle, Translator) last night. I'm giving it only 3 stars. It was fine but I just didn't love it. It was a good story with compelling characters, but the narrative was bland (this may be a translation thing). It certainly highlighted the repeated instances in history of human cruelty, especially in targeting children as a political tool. The theme of children separated from parents in times of war and/or immigration (really, still war), and the ongoing impact of that early trauma, is heavy and important.

Next up: The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan.

>280 EBT1002: Isabel Allende has never worked well for me, and I don't quite know why. "the narrative was bland" might explain it.

>281 EBT1002: I'll be waiting for your thoughts on that one. I loved From a Low and Quiet Sea 5 whole stars' worth.

I enjoyed the first couple of Allende novels I read: House of the Spirits and Daughter of Fortune, but have been less enthused about more recent books. Like Linda, I haven't been able to put a finger on why, except that they lacked spark and emotional engagement. In other words, bland. 😃

I am still reading the Allende, and I think you have something. The books of hers that I have loved the most have been set in Chile or are related to Chile; I think her emotions are most engaged in those. Although I did love Island Beneath the Sea.

I am reading her latest in Spanish, and I don't think your feelings are a translation issue.

Wordle 763 4/6*

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raise, drone, grope, froze

I remembered that trope and crone have already been used, grope vs probe was a 50-50 and if it was the other, I’d have it on my next guess. I was starting to get nervous after those two got ruled out.

Wordle 764 2/6*

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haste, whale

My first word was very lucky. Not only did I get two yellows and a green but I ruled out both the SH and TH combos.

Wordle 765 3/6*

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parse, touch, hobby

Wordle 766 3/6*

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clear, whelp, wheel

Wordle 767 2/6*

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stare, heart

Heart has been one of my favorite starter words. Too bad I didn’t use it today!

You are so amazing at Wordle!!

Wordle 768 4/6*

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slate, pious, visor, disco

Well, things are kinda tense at our house. P wasn’t feeling “right” and talked to her doctor. They did some tests, nothing. So they did an ultrasound and found a fibroid (not terribly concerning, she’s had them before) and an “unidentified mass.” So now we’re waiting on lab results from the blood work to see if she has cancer. F*ck. Of course, it may not be that but …

I’m still reading and loving The Queen of Dirt Island but my reading is super distracted.

Crossing everything for P, Ellen. I hope you get results sooner rather than later.

>292 EBT1002: Oh dear. fingers crossed.

Calming and *nothing to worry about* vibes...

Sorry to hear this news Ellen. Hope everything is OK.

I am so sorry to hear about P., Ellen. Fingers and toes crossed.

>292 EBT1002: Waiting for lab results is just awful. Joining the chorus of well-wishers for P's good health.

Thinking of you and P, Ellen.

>292 EBT1002: Oh dear, that's the un-fun part of life. I hope P's mass was like the ones I've had, no problem at all.

Wordle 769 3/6*

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later, suite, ethos

This one took me a while.

Still no word on the test results….

>302 EBT1002: We're all sending positive thoughts and support!

Wordle 770 4/6*

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trade, minor, lurch, curly

This was a fun one!

We heard last evening — it’s not cancer. Whew!! She’ll still have to have more tests, probably have it removed but none of the markers for cancer showed up.

Monday we head to a nearby state park for 3 nights camping. Reading, hiking, sketching, sitting under the trees. And so much less worrying than we feared.

Thanks for the support, everyone!

Oh, what a wonderful relief! Keeping all positive thoughts for easy treatment and quick recovery. Hope you have a really restful get-away.

What great news, Ellen! Enjoy your camping.

>305 EBT1002: - The BEST news for both of you! Enjoy your camping trip!

>305 EBT1002: Whew. I'm so glad to see this, Ellen. Enjoy your camping trip -- I hope it helps both of you recover from a stressful period.

Oh so glad it's not the big C. Hope removal goes smoothly for her. And of course enjoy the camping.

>305 EBT1002: Yay! Have a relaxing remainder of the weekend!

>305 EBT1002: Wonderful news about P! Yay!

Karen O

The Queen of Dirt Island: A Novel by Donal Ryan - 4.5 stars

I loved this novel of the four generations of Aylward women: Nana Mary, Mother Eileen, daughter Saoirse, and granddaughter Pearl. They love, they fight, and they are deeply bound together. Every chapter is two pages long. The narrative is spare and beautiful, the story ordinary and exquisite. This is why I read.

>305 EBT1002: So glad to read that the tests were negative for cancer. Hope you had a lovely camping break.

>313 EBT1002: Adding this to the wishlist sharpish.

>313 EBT1002: Great comments. It's on my WL>

Wordle 771 4/6*

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stale, atone, matte, bathe

Whew.

I started Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson last evening. So far I am quite enjoying it!

VERY happy that test results were negative for cancer! Hugs to you both.

I'm so glad to hear that P's test results were negative!

I had such similar fears about retiring. It's been 6 years and I don't regret it in the least. I had worked in the same industry for 30 years and thought I'd miss it, but it didn't take long for me to decide I just didn't care anymore. I still care about my work friends - some of them I worked with for over 20 years - but missing the day to day didn't take time at all to end. We spend so much of our lives being defined by what we do and where our paychecks come from, that we forget to do for ourselves. You have so many interests - I know it won't take time at all to settle into yourself.

I also loved Remarkably Bright Creatures and The Queen of Dirt Island. Have you read Ryan's Strange Flowers? If you haven't, I think you'd enjoy reading it for the backstory of some of the characters in Dirt Island.

I'm off now to check out Liz Steele. The online classes sound like they might be right up my alley.

Kate Atkinson is always a winner for me although I haven't read this one yet.

Glad to hear the good news Ellen. I hope you both enjoy your trip.

Wordle 772 3/6*

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shale, stole, style

I'm so behind, Ellen. Sorry! I'm so glad that the tests for cancer for P were negative. What a huge relief! The Queen of Dirt Island: A Novel is a book I am looking forward to reading. I had it out from the library, but it was due back before I could read it.

>305 EBT1002: Oh, I'm so relieved for both of you! Happy news indeed.

Wordle 775 3/6*

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steal, tardy, party

Back from camping!

Wordle 776 3/6*

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stale, grant, chart

Back to work today. Last night some friends came over, helped install new shutters on the east side of the house. It looks so much better!

I’m 81% through Shrines of Gaiety and quite enjoying it. Such great characters! I read quite a bit while we were camping but we did a hike every day and I spent some time sketching and, frankly, just looking at the trees. Practice for retirement!! 😀

I’m intrigued by this year’s Booker Prize long list. I’m not familiar with any of the nominees. All of them look like something I want to read. Four Irish authors. Time to start putting some more holds on at the library!

>328 EBT1002: Intrigued is the right word for me too. I've only read one (If I survive You, very good) and am really curious about the others. And...frustrated that many aren't yet available here!

>328 EBT1002:, >329 vivians: Yes, intrigued. I've heard good things about The House of Doors, and I placed a hold at the library. A Spell of Good Things also sounds good, and I've wanted to read Adébáyò.

>329 vivians: I share that frustration, Vivian. I've put three of them on hold via SPL and I'll have to wait on the others. I'm also restraining myself from purchasing hard cover books as much as possible these days so that limitation is on me.

>330 BLBera: The Adébáyò is one I've put on hold, Beth. The House of Doors is on order for SPL but not yet available as an ebook. Of course, if I go to my little local library later today, it may be sitting there on the shelf!

I want to acknowledge all the supportive messages above. I love this book community!!! Thank you all ----

I really need to start a new thread but first...

Wordle 777 3/6*

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stale, abide, anode