Amber's (scaifea) Thread #18

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 45 going on 12 and live in Ohio with my husband, Tomm; our son, Charlie, and Mario the Golden Retriever.

Here I am in all my New Haircut glory, I suppose:



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:
-Uncle Silas (books by year - 1864)
-Getting Near to Baby (Newbery Honor Book)
-The Duke and I (romance list)
-Black Girl Unlimited (audiobook)
-The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas (family bedtime read-aloud)
-The Sound and the Fury (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob)
-A Darker Shade of Magic (Read Soon! Shelves)
-Driftless (challenge read)
-Decent Interval (100 Banned Books)

Books on Deck:
-(an unread book from my shelves)
-(a book from my Read Soon! shelves)
-The Experience of Insight (Buddhist reading list)
-(cozy mysteries)
-Henry VI Part 1 (Shakespeare re-read)
-Rabbit Run (Banned Books)
-Lud-in-the-Mist (Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy list)
-Wheels within Wheels (Prometheus Award)
-More Fool Me (Fry bibliography)

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. A children's book, for Charlie's library. I'm trying to collect books from various award lists, and I like reading them before reading them to Charlie or deciding to add them to Charlie's shelves. For this category, I’m currently working through three lists:
a. 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die
b. The Newbery Honor books
c. Cooperative Children's Book Center list

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: Three 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

The Kiddo at Work:



The Mario and her Magical Rainbow Snoot:

Next one is yours!

Happy new one!

>7 drneutron: Thanks, Jim!

Dammit, Jim beat me.

Happy new thread, Amber!

Happy New Thread, Amber! Did you start Driftless? Curious what your thoughts will be on that one. I am a big fan.

Happy new thread, Amber! Hopefully all the phone calls are done and you're having a blissfully relaxed afternoon.

>10 msf59: Thanks, Mark!

I've started it but I'm not too far in yet. I'm really excited about it because we lived in the Driftless area when we were in Wisconsin. It's beautiful there.

>11 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky! Yep, phone calls are done, for now - the school district admin assistant is out for a couple of days and she'll call me back when she's back in the office, so that one is really just postponed. But otherwise, all done!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Amber!

>14 foggidawn: >15 SirThomas: Thanks!

Happy new one, Amber.

Checkin' in, so I don't lose you.

>17 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

>18 laytonwoman3rd: *waves*

Happy new thread Amber my dear, i will try and keep up with this one after being a bit hit and miss on LT over the last couple of weeks. Sending love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

Another new one?! You're hard to keep up with, Girl!!

>20 johnsimpson: Good to see you, John!

>21 RebaRelishesReading: Hi, Reba!

Happy new thread, Amber!

From your previous thread:
I loved playing with LEGO. We had no sets, just building blocks in various sizes & colors and roofthingies.

ETA: Languages at school, I got French for 4 years, German for 3 years, and Dutch and English the whole 6 years. I also had Latin and Greek for a year, but languages wasn't my thing, so I skipped those. I still barely read or speak French. My German is a little better, and you know my English ;-)
My eldest sister did high school old style with all those languages and also Hebrew.

I hardly posted on the previous TWO threads. How can a gal keep up *and* get some reading done, too!?

Paladin of Souls is my latest. I'm having a Bujold love-fest. Except I think she needs to re-write The Hallowed Hunt. Not well-plotted. More opinionated commentary when I review these on my thread. Soon. Really.

Happy new thread, Amber!

Happy new thread!

Pant, pant.

Way to go, Amber!

Happy new one xx

I started a new one the day before you but cannot keep up with you at all this year posting numbers wise.

Happy new thread, Amber! Happy Wednesday to you, too.

>24 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! You've studied 6 languages but languages aren't your thing? Ha! I love it.

My favorite legos as a kid came in a big box with divided sections for different kinds of blocks and pieces and there was no specific thing to build from them. So fun.

>25 SandyAMcPherson: Hi, Sandy. I've never read and Bujold. I get the (possibly wrong) impression that her stuff is hard core scifi/space opera, and that's not my favorite thing.

>26 bell7: Thanks, Mary!

>27 quondame: Thanks!

>28 PaulCranswick: Hi, Paul!

>29 karenmarie: Thanks, Karen! Happy Wednesday to you, too!

Today's Agenda:
It's baking day here at Scaife Manor - Charlie will be making cinnamon rolls later this morning and I am HERE for it. We'll also get our walks in, and I'll probably try to do some writing before giving up and just settling in for afternoon reading. I made it through my phone calls yesterday and now have Charlie scheduled for all those appointments we put off until we were all vaccinated: dentist, eye doctor,...

I also texted his best friend's mom to see if we could get the boys back together soon, and Eric will be coming over next week to hang out. I'm stupidly nervous because he isn't vaccinated, but Charlie will be going back to school in a couple of months and will be around all those kids, some of whom will very likely not be vaccinated, so I need to get comfortable with it. Most of my brain says it will be fine - we're all fully vaccinated so we're safe, and the numbers in our area are *way* down - but then there's the anxiety part that is freaking out. Deep breaths.

On the reading front:
I spent my reading time yesterday with Uncle Silas, which I'm really enjoying, and A Girl Named Disaster, which is okay but not amazing so far. I'm also still listening to Do You Dream of Terra-Two?.

What We're Watching:
Charlie's pick last night: Gilmore Girls. We're in the last season and I get so exhausted with the whole Chris vs. Luke thing. I love Lorelai, but she can't seem to pick a mature man to save her (well, Max, but she screwed that one up, of course).

Mmmm cinnamon rolls! Are they yeast rolls? Just wondering if Charlie's baking skills have matured to that level. He's an impressive cook, for sure.

Also, Google Maps sez I can get to your part of the world in about 6 hours, just in time for cinnamon rolls with a cuppa. I'll see you later, Amber!!

>36 lauralkeet: They *are* yeast rolls! And he's made them before. This kid is a natural in the kitchen.

*snork!* You're welcome any time, friend. Just leave your snake pals at home, pls.

Sounds like an excellent day ahead, Amber. I've attempted cinnamon buns from scratch once and they were not my best work so I'm in awe of Charlie. Good luck getting through the first half of season 7 of GG. Once Christopher leaves again I find it much more tolerable.

>38 MickyFine: Oh, we'll get through it - I've watched all of GG at least 5 times.

Folks, Charlie's cinnamon rolls are *amazing*:

>39 scaifea: Only your fifth? Slacker. ;)

>40 scaifea: Um, YUM.

>37 scaifea: Amber, to be clear, I don't *like* snakes I just tolerate them. No way would I take one on a road trip!

>40 scaifea: Oooh those look absolutely delicious! He really is a natural. It's so fun to watch kids gravitate towards their talents as they grow up.

>43 lauralkeet: *snork!* Good to know.

The rolls are *so* delicious. I love that he loves cooking and baking - and that's he's so good at it!

>40 scaifea: Charlie, you're KILLIN' me!

>45 laytonwoman3rd: *grins*

>31 scaifea: Bujold mostly handwaves the physical sciences in her SF, though not engineering which doesn't come up except in Falling Free but plays seriously with biological sciences and social consequences of her space settings. It is space opera with humor, great characters, and real compassion. Her fantasy is again living in the consequences of a different sort with the human stories way ahead of the weirdly wow stuff. Not saying that you would like her, but she is not a nut-n-bolts military SF sort.

>31 scaifea: scifi/space opera, and alien worlds that are futuristic are *definitely* not my thing, either.

I'm one of the (apparently few) folks here who had to swear off Sheri Tepper and her worlds (although a couple novels were really intriguing, passing back and forth in time). I also do not enjoy any of the Bujold Vorkosigan stories. Those are the ones you have perhaps encountered.

The omnibus editions of the Penric and Desdemona adventures are some of the greatest (in my opinion of) fantasies. Two are published so far and each combine 3 sequential novellas. The six stories read like an epic story in full. Nicely paced.

I would suggest her World of the Five Gods series might entertain you to at least a high B+ rating. They're rather medieval in setting and tone, with an overlay of magic (not wand-waving, spell-casting magic).
I need to get some reviews written and will probably make a good summary of those by July 1st.

>47 quondame: >48 SandyAMcPherson: If she comes up on any of my lists I'll give her a go, but otherwise probably not.

Today's Agenda:
Menu planning and writing up my grocery list - I'm actually going into the store and doing my own shopping tomorrow for the first time in well over a year. I like the convenience of picking up my groceries, but lately they've been getting so much wrong and making really illogical substitutions and I'm fed up. So, back into the shop I go. Charlie has a dentist appointment this morning (just a routine cleaning, although, again, it's been over a year so fingers crossed he doesn't have any cavities). I may try to do some writing this afternoon, but I may just give in and read. We'll see how it goes.

On the reading front:
I finished Three Men in a Boat yesterday (review to come) and I'm approaching the end of Do You Dream of Terra-Two?. I also managed a few pages in A Girl Named Disaster.

What We're Watching:
Tomm has his class last night, so Charlie and I watched a few episodes of Fresh Prince.

Good morning Amber! I returned to in-person grocery shopping a couple of weeks ago; like you, I was tired of dealing with substitutions. I was almost giddy with excitement over it. Part of that was because it's a new-to-me store, and I was eager to discover things I didn't know they had. That novelty wore off quickly, but it's a really nice supermarket and I actually enjoy shopping there, for now anyway.

Good luck to Charlie at the dentist!

>51 lauralkeet: I'm partly excited and partly annoyed. Ha! I used to have all the aisles memorized and would write my list in the appropriate order, but now I have deep suspicions that they'll have rearranged everything, so at least the first couple of weeks will be a challenge (if I don't write my list in the proper order, I inevitably leave the store without something I needed, even if it *is* on the list. No idea how this happens, but it does.)

And thanks for the dentist luck!

I feel your pain re: list order. During my first couple of visits I've found myself back-tracking to get something I missed.

I just started using an app called AnyList, which categorizes items for you (Bakery, Dairy, etc.). AND ... I discovered you could create sets of categories for a specific store and put the aisle number in the category name. So "Canned Goods" becomes "Canned Goods - Aisle 4", for example, and you can have multiple sets if you go to more than one store. I'm going to try that for the first time this week. I'm sure it will need some refinement, but I think it will help me stay organized in the store.

>53 lauralkeet: Ooooh, I like the sound of that! But can you print the list out then? I need to be able to cross things off as I get them.

Nope, you don't print it*. You cross it off in the app by tapping on the item, and it puts a red line through it. If you mess up, you can easily un-cross it by tapping again. And if you prefer, there's also a setting to hide the item once it's crossed off but I like the look of all the crossed-off things.

Other nice features:
* After shopping you can clear all the crossed-off items so you can start a new list for your next trip.
* You can set up a list of favorites for items you buy often, making it easier to add them to your list each week.
* You can specify details of each item like size, quantity, etc. or a written note.

I sound like a sales rep for this app! But I gotta say, it's super handy.

* ETA: Actually, you *can* print the list. I hadn't noticed that and decided I'd better check my facts!

>55 lauralkeet: Hmm. Interesting. I'll think about it. *secretly clutches her handwritten list tightly*

I have a Word Template that I print off in batches. Lists all of our common items with a space to check it off if we need it plus space to write in items as well. I sort it alphabetically but you could just as easily do it by store order. Makes it easy for anyone in the house to check off stuff when we're low or out of things, as well as marking things that are specific to each person (e.g. deodorant, toothpaste, etc.).

I'm very impressed with all these super-organized grocery lists! We just scribble stuff down on a random piece of paper and hope for the best :)

I use a list app that lets me drag things up and down the list to sort, and check them off when I've picked them up -- but when they reorganize the store, I still come home without things that were on the list! I think every store I frequent has rearranged everything this spring, and it makes me exceedingly cranky.

>57 MickyFine: Nice! I'm afraid no one else in this house follows the system of even *thinking* about the grocery list when we run out of something. It's hopeless.

>58 katiekrug: Ha! I'm impressed with anyone who leaves the store with anything at all they need without a super-organized list! I wish I could do that, but my brain isn't cut out for it.

>59 foggidawn: It's a special kind of cranky, isn't it?

Good news! Charlie has no cavities - woot! But he does have two baby teeth that refuse to let go despite the adult teeth having made their appearance - they're sitting right on top of the new teeth but still have a bit of root that didn't dissolve. So we'll go back in August to get those pulled. No big deal, really, and Charlie isn't worried. He's such a calm kiddo when it comes to that sort of thing.

>60 scaifea: I mean, 2 3/4 years into our marriage and Mr. Fine is still getting the hang of it but he's much better than he used to be. :P

116. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (books I'm reading with my friend, Rob) - 7/10 = C-
Three men go on a river journey. In a boat. Hilarity supposedly ensues.
Apparently this is not the kind of humor I appreciate. I saw what he was trying to do and how he was trying to be funny, but it just came over as tedious and dull for me. *shrug*

>65 scaifea: Aww dang, I'm sorry that didn't work for you. It made me laugh a lot but I'm always a sucker for slapstick, even in print apparently.

In terms of shopping lists, my grocery store has an app where you can build a list and then the list gets sorted according to store location, which is nice. I don't think you can print it, though, which isn't a problem for me because I always have my phone with me and I don't have a printer, anyway.

>66 MickyFine: Slapstick has to be *very* well done for me to enjoy it and this didn't make the grade.

>67 rosalita: Oooh, I love that you can automatically sort it by store layout! Very cool. But yeah, I really want mine in physical form, and I want to be able to see the entire list at once, which I don't think would be possibly on a phone screen.

>69 scaifea: Maybe if you had an iPad ... that wouldn't be at all awkward! ;-)

>70 rosalita: *snork!* I DO have an ipad but I can't imagine wrestling with it in the cart and not dropping it every ten seconds. And I have a tendency to walk away from my cart frequently so it might not be there when I came back...

>58 katiekrug: Ditto. That's our method, and we're stickin' to it!

>63 scaifea: Ah...I had that when I was a kiddo. Funny thing about it, though, where there should be four teeth on the bottom, I only have 3 permanent ones...that last one never popped up. (Which is good, because there is no space for it.) AND, on top, I still have two "baby" teeth that never came out, and no new ones ever tried to come in to push them out.

>72 laytonwoman3rd: Yep, I think childhood teeth issues are various and legion.

>50 scaifea: I'm also considering returning to in person shopping for much the same reasons. But I probably won't actually do it until my housemate is fully vaccintaed against covid - i.e. two weeks past her second shot.

>58 katiekrug: >72 laytonwoman3rd: Yeah, put some spontaneity into your life! I'm with Katie and Linda.

>58 katiekrug: I rarely shop and almost never from a list, but Mike takes a pick from the refrigerator white board before leaving the house and often calls from CostCo or TJ's.

>65 scaifea: I read it after the hilarious To Say Nothing of the Dog and found it moderately enjoyable, but mostly don't remember so I expect I wasn't much into it.

>74 ArlieS: I've waited until Charlie's fully vaccinated before going back to the shops, too.

>75 weird_O: Good for you, Bill. Go crazy with it.

>77 quondame: I haven't yet read any Willis.

Today's Agenda:
Slightly annoyed that I have to leave the house Three. Separate. Times. today:
1)Grocery shopping
2)Charlie haircut appointment
3)Eye doc appointment to see what's wrong with my glasses.

Too much. I'm already tired.

Nothing else planned because that's enough as it is. Frozen Friday for dinner tonight.

On the reading front:
I made progress on Driftless yesterday and it's fantastic so far. The writing is great, and I feel like I'm right back in SW Wisconsin - he's capturing the feel of that region perfectly. I'll very likely finish up Do You Dream of Terra-Two? today, and I also read a bit more of A Girl Named Disaster.

What We're Watching:
An episode each of Coupling and Arrow, and then the newest Loki episode, which is so, so good.

"I made progress on Driftless yesterday and it's fantastic so far." Music to my ears. We might do a Group Read of Jewelweed, the follow-up, later in the year.

Morning, Amber! Happy Friday. I hope you are having a good week.

>82 msf59: Morning, Mark!

I don't usually do group reads, but I'd be seriously tempted by that one!

It would be a very small, unorganized Group Read, if that helps at all. Grins...

>84 msf59: Ha! Keep me posted!

Hi Amber!

>52 scaifea: Ah, great minds. I, too, write my list in appropriate order. I hope that they haven’t changed too much on you. Backtracking in normal times is only irritating, but when it was one-way-only on aisles, the backtracking was very stressful. Our grocery store is now back to letting us come and go in either entrance, doesn’t control how you go up/down the aisles, and has the small carts back, too. We can print a shopping list from the online app, but I don't think it prints in store order.

>57 MickyFine: I use Excel spreadsheet for Thanksgiving shopping list… but I’ve never used it for regular runs.

>67 rosalita: I can’t imagine a world in which I don’t have a printer. Recent things printed are a list of books that are being switched to another room so I can write down their new location tags AND my temporary drivers license, renewed online. *shudder*

>81 scaifea: Agreed – the pits to not be able to combine trips. I’m sorry that your glasses are a problem. I hope it's an easy fix that doesn't cost you anything. My husband went yesterday to get a new prescription after his recent cataract surgeries and is chomping at the bit to be able to see clearly again without using two different pairs of glasses.

>86 karenmarie: Hi, Karen!

Well, our grocery story is back to Thunderdome: any entrance, any way down the aisle, and I was the only one in the entire store with a mask on. But also no one gave me any dirty looks or said anything to me for wearing it, so, *shrug.*

>79 scaifea: I am champing at the bit, preparing to run amuck in several venues today. I'm even planning to borrow a book, yes, me, borrowing a book. Demon Box by Ken Kesey, for to read for the AAC, sneaking it in before the end of the month.

I read Three Men in a Boat several years ago. My wife refused to read it, dismissing it as "one of those frustration books." After reading To Say Nothing of the Dog, I reread Jerome's book and, well, it wasn't as good. I guess your mileage didn't vary too much.

>65 scaifea: I first met this book when we were traveling with friends. Three of us were readers, one was not. The non-reader was forced to seek a book from the collection provided in the house we had rented, chose Three Men and started laughing like crazy and reading out parts to us. His laughter was so infectious that we all ended up with tears running down our faces with laughter. We left the house before the book was finished and years later I decided to finish it. I didn't find it nearly so funny when reading it alone.

>88 weird_O: I'll be interested in your take on Kesey's short fiction, Bill. I haven't sampled that myself. I'm currently reading Conversations with Ken Kesey from the Ole Miss series.

>88 weird_O: I didn't realize Kesey was up for the AAC this month. Honestly, I'm only reading this one because it's on several of my lists and I don't expect to like it much - I hated the movie.

>89 RebaRelishesReading: It's funny how circumstances can have such an effect on things, isn't it?

117. Do You Dream of Terra-Two? by Temi Oh (audiobook) - 8/10 = B+
A handful of 19-20yo trainees, along with a seasoned 'adult' crew, set out on an 20+ year-long journey to Terra-Two, an inhabitable planet waiting to be colonized. The book is sci-fi in the sense that it's about space travel, but it's set in 2012 and the space bit serves more as a foundation for the actual plot of the book, which deals with how each of the characters negotiate the harsh realities of space, being forever away from home, and the mental stress of the long journey.

I enjoyed this one a good deal. It's the perfect kind of sci-fi for me: easy on the actual sci and more about the human condition in relation to the sci. It's nicely paced and the characters are impressively complex.

>87 scaifea: Thunderdome Ha! That made me laugh. I'm off to our Thunderdome this afternoon. With my ELECTRONIC list. 😀

>94 lauralkeet: Good luck, Laura!

>91 scaifea: "I didn't realize Kesey was up for the AAC this month." yOU mEAn yOu aRen'T FolLOwinG the AAC reLigIOUsly??? I'm crushed. Crushed, I tell you. As for the rest of this message, I assume you were referring to Three Men in a Boat, and not the Kesey short story collection. I know I read TMiaB, but have no recollection of it.

>96 laytonwoman3rd: Ha! Apologies, Linda, but as I mentioned to Mark earlier, I rarely do group reads.

And noo, I was talking about the Kesey I'm reading, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

>65 scaifea: I'm with you, Amber. The legend is that this is a funny book, but I found it stultifyingly dull. Maybe you have to be British, or maybe it's simply of its time.

>98 ffortsa: I'm sorry it didn't work for you either, Judy.

>97 scaifea: Ah...well...the AAC isn't a "group read", as such, since we don't all read the same book at the same time. But I guess I'll let it go. But if you should make disparaging remarks about The Sound and the Fury, we might misunderstand one another. ;>)

>86 karenmarie: I haven't had a printer at home since 1999, but then until the Pandemic I could always print the occasional document at work and throw a dime in the office kitty. I wondered about buying one when I started working from home full-time but it's never been an issue. Our office has been very progressive about doing things electronically for years, mostly for environmental reasons. Everything personal I've needed to do (renew my disability parking placard, submit documents to financial, medical or legal offices) has been accepted electronically. Even when the original document is paper I just scan it with my iPhone and upload or email the PDF.

Now I've probably jinxed myself!

>100 laytonwoman3rd: Don't think I haven't already thought enough about it to be nervous...

>101 rosalita: It's funny because our printer is ancient and I've been bugging Tomm to replace it!

>103 scaifea: I promise not to offer my opinion to Tomm about whether you need it!

(Which isn't really the right question because if you use it regularly you need it, of course.)

>65 scaifea: I am one of those who do find Three men and a Boat very funny at times. Admittedly, there are patches where Jerome K.Jerome gets a bit overly philosophical and which the book could have done without, but last time I read it (I think I have read it twice) it did make me laugh out loud, which is quite a rare occurrence in a book.

>65 scaifea: I should read the book after all.
There is a movie from 1961 that is based on the book. I loved the movie - it's about my age!
Have a wonderful weekend!

>104 rosalita: Ha! I do use our printer quite a bit, especially when I'm teaching (I need a printed roster and printed lecture notes in front of me to function properly).

>105 SandDune: I'm glad you enjoy it, Rhian.

>106 SirThomas: If the actors are *very* good at what they do, then I might enjoy a movie version, but as I mentioned somewhere up there, slapstick only works for me if done really, *really* well.

Today's Agenda:
Weekly bill sorting (because I forgot to do it yesterday in all the bustle), some laundry (maybe, if Tomm gets the water turned back on in a reasonable amount of time - he's fixing the toilet in the downstairs half-bath, which at the moment only flushes when it feels like it), some sewing, and some reading. Tacos for dinner tonight.

So the trip back to the eye doc was interesting. They checked the lenses to make sure there wasn't a mistake with the Rx (there wasn't), and then they re-examined me and it turns out they screwed up the diagnosis the first time round. The doc said that when your eyes are dilated sometimes that will happen. I just smiled and said, "Okay," but honestly, what the heck?! How about just doing that part of the exam BEFORE you dilate the eyes, then?! Astonishing, really. So, I'm getting new lenses with the (hopefully) proper Rx, and then I'll be looking for a new eye doc, I think.

On the reading front:
I read a healthy chunk of the Kesey yesterday while sitting in waiting rooms, and I don't really like it. I'll keep plugging along, though, for now. I also made good progress on A Girl Named Disaster and started listening to Dominicana.

What We're Watching:
Avengers, last night, as part of our Marvel Movie Rewatch Marathon.

That is kind of a weird eye doc experience. I'm glad they sorted it out but yeah, I might have second thoughts about them too.

My first thought was, "Time for a new eye doctor!" That's just bizarre.

You haven't mentioned The Duke and I in a while. I assume you hated it and don't want to hurt my feelings... It's okay. I can take it ;-)

>111 lauralkeet: Right?! I mean. Just...wow.

>112 katiekrug: HAHAHA! No! I'm definitely enjoying it, but I'm reading 6 books right now and so I only get to it every 6 days!

Oh, that's good. PHEW.

>115 katiekrug: *snork!*

which at the moment only flushes when it feels like it

Ya made me snort cereal milk up my nose, Scaife.

>117 lycomayflower: Apologies. So sorry that our toilet troubles amuse you so inconveniently. *ahem*

>118 scaifea:

>117 lycomayflower: Seriously, weren't you taught better than to make fun of someone else's troubles? I mean.

>110 scaifea: Our eye doctor always does the dilation thing last. Just sayin'.

>119 lycomayflower: *SNORK!*

>120 laytonwoman3rd: Oooh, she's in trouble now!

It seems like the, um, logical, thing to do, no? Yeesh.

>120 laytonwoman3rd:, >122 scaifea:

Hi, Amber. I thought I posted here, but maybe not. So if I repeat myself, please forgive me. Your BFF loved Aristotle and Dante, and was surprised I had read it. I gave you credit- that made sense to her.

I don’t remember whether you’re a Rainbow Rowell fan, but I’m about to start Wayward Son, which I believe is the conclusion of the Simon Snow books.

>123 lycomayflower: *sigh*

>124 jnwelch: Ha! I'm so glad she liked that one! There's a sequel coming out in October: Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World.

I've only read one Rowell but I loved it and I keep meaning to read more. Soon, hopefully.

Today's Agenda:
House cleaning (gross), laundry, sewing, reading. We've just had some Apple Bran Muffins for breakfast (one of our favorites), and I'll putter around here until I've finished my coffee before getting started with the day. We were thinking about going out to look at bikes for Charlie (he's very much outgrown his old one), but Tomm still needs to finish fixing the toilet today, so maybe we'll get to it next weekend. Chicken Parmesan for dinner tonight.

On the reading front:
I finished A Girl Named Disaster yesterday - review to come. I also listened to a bit of Dominicana, which I'm liking more than I thought I would, at least so far.

What We're Watching:
Charlie had an online playdate with a friend in the evening, so Tomm and I started watching the new(ish) Ghostbusters movie, then when Charlie finished up and joined us, we switched to a few episodes of Spin City.

Amber, sorry if I'm telling you something you already know, but wanted to say bikes have been in high demand/short supply in the pandemic. You might have to shop around or be patient. That was our recent experience, anyway. I think it depends a lot on what you're looking for in both type of bike, and the size needed. Hope you're able to score one for Charlie relatively easily!

>128 lauralkeet: I did *not* know that! Yoicks. This first foray will be to see what he likes (a regular mountain bike or a cruiser - he really likes my cruiser), and then Tomm is leaning heavily toward taking that info and ordering one online (he thinks he can get one cheaper that way). I'm just along for the ride, so to speak, and know nothing really about the finer points of bike purchasing. So anyway, thanks for the info!!

We ended up buying ours online too, Amber. We were looking for gravel bikes (kind of a hybrid between mountain and road, and great for this area, where there are a lot of unpaved/gravel surfaces for cycling). Chris has more cycling experience so he knew what he needed in terms of size. I did not, but we visited a shop that was really helpful. Even though they couldn't supply a bike, they suggested brands that might have bikes sized for *ahem* shorter people. Your "first foray" is a great idea, and then Tomm can start hunting online sources. Good luck!

‘Morning, Amber!

>97 scaifea: I was just talking about Nurse Ratched the other day… I’ve read the book and seen the movie. Once was good, once was enough.

>101 rosalita: I’m impressed, Julia.

>110 scaifea: I never thought about the order of things at the eye doctor’s office. My doctor’s office does the same thing – slight dilation to do all the measuring, then into another room for the eye exam with the doctor. Hmmm…..

>130 lauralkeet: Tomm bought his latest bike a few years ago online for much cheaper than any of the area shops, so that's why he's leaning that way. Seems like a solid plan to me, but yeah, Charlie definitely needs to try out the different styles first. We're all paved roads round here, so that part doesn't matter too much, at least. I didn't even know they had gravel bikes! Very cool.

>131 karenmarie: Morning, Karen!

I think I may try to push through OFOTCN today and just get it over with. Gah.

I hope you don't have any issues with your prescriptions based on dilation, then! Yoicks.

118. A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer (Newbery Honor Book) - 9/10 = A
Nhamo's mother was killed by a leopard when Nhamo was just a baby and her father left her village to return to his own family in Zimbabwe, leaving Nhamo to be raised by her grandmother and a hateful aunt. Most of the heavy daily chores are piled on her, and when cholera invades the village, a witch doctor blames her father, who killed another man before he fled, for the vengeful spirit he claims has brought the sickness to them. Nhamo is condemned to be the wife of the murdered man's brother's, which is tantamount to a life of beatings and early death. So, her grandmother helps her to run away in search of her father's family. What follows is an account of her survival for months on her own in the wild before she finally makes it to Zimbabwe and a new life.

An excellent adventure story; think Cinderella meets Island of the Blue Dolphins, with a dash of African folklore and a heroine you'll be rooting for from the first page. Definitely recommended.

>120 laytonwoman3rd: Mine also does the dilation last.

>135 ArlieS: That seems the logical method to me.

Today's Agenda:
I've got a couple of calls to make again today: I need to schedule a blood draw for Charlie later this week before his dermatology appointment next week, and then I need to try to reach the school district admin assistant, again; I've called THREE times and left messages and still haven't heard back from her. If I don't this time, I'll show up in person. I mean, honestly.

Otherwise, it should be a quiet day. Morning and evening walks, some math review with Charlie, a bit of tidying, some writing and some reading. Charlie's making dinner tonight: Mac & Cheese.

On the reading front:
I read some of The Duke and I, which I'm enjoying very much, Katie, and then I also started Getting Near to Baby and listened to more of Dominicana.

What We're Watching:
My pick last night: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. It had been a long time and we all love that one.

Thanks for the specific call-out :)

Any apple bran muffins left over? Dibs.

A Girl Named Disaster sounds good. Nice mini-review. I'm adding it to the WL.
th
I liked Dominicana a lot. Bonus: the author, Angie Cruz is a friend of our DIL.

>138 katiekrug: *snork!* You're welcome. I knew you were sitting on the edge of your seat.

Morning, Amber! I hope you had a nice weekend. I also want to read Dominicana. Glad to hear you are enjoying it.

>139 jnwelch: I *do* have a couple of muffins left, and they're excellent just slightly warmed. Come on over and you're welcome to them.

I think you and MBH would love A Girl Named Disaster, MBH in particular because the main character is a great storyteller.

I'm really enjoying Dominicana, too, and how great that DIL is friends with the author!! Your family seems so cool and well-connected, Joe.

>141 msf59: Morning, Mark! I think you'd love Dominicana, and I can report that the audio version is excellent.

I'm also hanging out with Katie and pleased as punch you're enjoying The Duke and I. Think you'll give Bridgerton a try when you finish it?

>144 MickyFine: I may, although I don't think any of the other members in residence at Scaife Manor would want to watch it with me...

>145 scaifea: Could be good DC night viewing if you haven't got virtual viewing dates with friends... :)

What Micky said!

>146 MickyFine: >147 katiekrug: Very true...

Today's Agenda:
The usual, plus a trip to the library to browse and pick up holds. Oh, and this evening we're going to visit a puppy that we may adopt. Tomm has been missing Tuppence so much and really wants another Border Collie. So. Here we go, apparently. I'm both excited and anxious. (But really, what else is new?)

I didn't manage to get any writing done yesterday, but I did get some good tidying in: the hall closet and the kitchen pantry are now nicely organized, and then I spent some time reorganizing my knitting corner of the living room and making sure that my Ravelry needle chart is up to date. I also heard back (finally) from the school district and spent a solid half hour filling out registration forms online. Once they have all that sorted on their end they'll give us a call to make a scheduling appointment so Charlie can pick his electives and such. He's excited, bless him.

Charlie's from-scratch Mac & Cheese last night was so flipping good. So. Much. Cheese. But so, so good.

On the reading front:
I'm still slowly making my way through Uncle Silas and loving it, but yeah, for some reason it's very slow going; not the pacing of the story, but the actual turning of the pages? It just seems like I'm not making much progress. It's weird. I also listened to more Dominicana, which remains very good, and read a bit more of Getting Near to Baby.

What We're Watching:
It was DC Night last night and since Charlie has decided he's done with OUAT for now (he got tired of all the Pan stuff, and honestly that part was a bit of a slog), I watched a couple of episodes myself.

>149 scaifea: I got tired just reading about all that organizing you did yesterday, but it was an envious kind of tired. And a new doggo! Exciting and anxious times, for sure.

I'm glad Charlie is excited about returning to his old school. He adjusted so well to the online version that I wondered if it would be hard to adjust to the idea of going back. But I think I'm just projecting my own anxieties about not wanting to return to full in-office work onto poor Charlie, so don't mind me!

>150 rosalita: I was *so* relieved when he came round so easily to the idea of going back to the brick & mortar school. And also so relieved when he adjusted so easily and loved online school. This kiddo just seems to roll with things much more easily that I do...

Do you have a set date when you need to return to your actual office? Will it be this fall?

I'll try to remember to take photos of the pup this evening and I'll definitely report back on what we decide. The biggest anxiety for me is Mario, who historically doesn't do well with other dogs (except Tuppence, whom she worshipped). Tomm thinks after a couple of days she'll love a new buddy and he's probably right, but still. I WORRY. It also means a change in routine and I always need time to fret, deep breathe, and accept change.

Oh, a new dog (maybe)! That is exciting but I get it about the change in routine. We just celebrated having a year with Nuala and that first month was quite an adjustment for all of us :)

I really need to organize our "pantry" (it's more like a closet, and is very narrow and very deep so it's hard to find stuff...).

>152 katiekrug: It won't be a huge change in routine since we already have a dog, but puppies do take more work than dogs, at least for the first couple of months, and it doesn't take much of a change to make me anxious. That's why I told Tomm that if he really wants to get a puppy, he needs to stop puttering around about it and DO IT NOW while I have a couple more months before I start teaching again in the fall (because we all know who will be doing the lion's share of the house breaking and such *ahem*). Mario was much easier as a puppy than Tuppence was, and I hope it was a fluke and not a breed distinction...Tuppence took FOREVER to house break; Mario took maybe two weeks and was sleeping through the night in one week. I always sort of assumed it was because she's a bigger breed and came with a slightly bigger bladder? But Tuppence was so weirdly willful about it and instead of going to the door to tell us she needed out, would actually go do her business *in her crate*! I mean, WHAT. Oi with the poodles already.

I wish we had a bigger pantry. Ours is also, essentially, a closet. It actually pretty much just looks like a linen closet. Gah. I need more rooooom for stuff.

>149 scaifea: making sure that my Ravelry needle chart is up to date.
Ooh, I did that recently. So satisfying.

PUPPY!!!! I hope the meet and greet goes well. Will you be bringing Mario with you to see how she reacts?

>154 lauralkeet: It is *so* satisfying! It was wonderful to get my basket of needles sorted, too. I had some that my MIL gave me; they were in with her aunt's things when they cleared out her house and MIL has no clue about knitting so didn't realize that pretty much none of them were matching sets and some were warped or broken, so I threw nearly that whole lot out (I had just dumped them in the basket without looking through them before).

Thanks for the puppy wishes. Mario won't be going because she gets really car sick (because of course she does) and it's a little over an hour both ways. If we decide on a puppy we'll figure out how to ease her into it, I guess? Gah.

ETA: Suggestions on how to do that (introduce Mario to a new pup) are very welcome...

Ooh, possible puppy! I hope everything goes well. Maybe Mario will help with the training, in that the puppy will want to imitate her.

>157 foggidawn: Ha! Well, we'll see. It could be great if the puppy decided to imitate Mario, because Mario doesn't do much of anything. Somehow I don't think a BC pup will cotton to that, though. So. Much. Energy. Lots of ball and frisbee catching needed, and Mario was never interested in that, even as a puppy. She'd just sit in the grass and eat dandelions. We should have named her Ferdinand.

>158 scaifea: LOL! Yes, Lottie still needs lots of ball throwing and Frisbee, and she's coming up on 2 years now! If I ever get a puppy again, it will be a lower energy breed, like a Basset Hound, or a Great Dane.

>159 foggidawn: I highly recommend a GR, then. Sooo sweet and soooo lazy.

>151 scaifea: As an academic this will shock you, but the university has been sending a lot of mixed messages about the process. So far they have simultaneously said that all offices should return to normal operation on July 1, AND that departments have until early August to determine what their office/remote balance will be for individual employees, and ALSO that some departments are subject to being overruled by higher-ups if it's deemed necessary based on criteria that have not been made public.

So, no. I don't know when I'm going back or what the office/remote split will be or ... anything. Fortunately I'm not at all anxiety prone so all the uncertainty is just fine. /s

>161 rosalita: *snork!* to the academic thing. Sooo typical. I'm sorry they're being so obtuse about everything - that really stinks. What's the best case scenario for you?

>162 scaifea: I would love to be 100% remote, to be honest, or maybe going in to the office one day a week. Since all of our meetings will continue to be via Zoom even if people are in the office there's just no need for me to be there and I am more productive at home.

I suspect, however, that the realistic best-case scenario will be a 60-40 hybrid schedule (three days in the office, two days at home). But we'll see. Eventually. Someday. Maybe.

>163 rosalita: Fingers crossed you manage to convince the proper channels that you should stay home full time!

Omg, potential new puppy! So exciting :) My tips for introducing are pretty basic -- have them meet outside first, preferably somewhere neutral like a park rather than the yard so Mario won't feel territorial, although as a laid-back golden that might not matter as much. And make sure Mario has somewhere she can retreat to get away from constant puppy botherings in the house. I hope they love each other eventually!! Are you looking at a girl or a boy? Very smart to do it now while you have a little extra time before teaching starts again.

>165 curioussquared: Mario freaks out at other dogs just as much when not in our yard as when in it, so I don't think that part matters: she's not going to like it at first no matter what. And yeah, we'll be keeping the puppy in the non-carpet areas of the house for a bit at first, which means that Mario will be able to get away (and in fact at first we won't let them be together much at all until Mario can be trusted). We're looking at a girl; no boy dogs for us, for some reason - we've always only had females.

>166 scaifea: I don't how applicable this would be to dogs, but I was reading a Twitter thread recently where someone got a second cat and they kept the two separated with plexiglass between them, so that they could see each other and kind of get used to the existence of the other one before they were brought together in the same space. Not sure exactly how they set that up, though.

Of course, the differences between cats and dogs would fill the OED, so ymmv. :-)

>167 rosalita: Ha! Actually, that's sort of what I was thinking, but with gates to block off the kitchen and non-carpeted hallway. We'll see how it goes. IF we even get a puppy...

>166 scaifea: I’ve always been told that two female dogs are move likely to cause problems than a male and female. If Mario isn’t great with other dogs you maybe want to think about whether another female is the best option.

Good luck acquiring and raising a new pup! We've decided to continue with females after 4 males because they don't pee on the corners and the destruction is significantly less. And Nutmeg is insistent on going out to do her business so that's much better than the dachshunds. But that took a fair while, more than a couple of months. With some breeds you can't have more than one female, the Akitas one of Mike's girlfriends raised were like that and it wouldn't surprise me if for some breeds the same was true of males.

We are still waiting for Nutmeg to lower her energy level. Since she was finished with the trancs for her broken leg she been pretty active and demanding of play time several times a day. We thought FBs are supposed to be bolsters, but while she passes out solidly several times a day when given attention what she wants is play.

When we went from one lab to two, Lilly the Wonder Dog was totally fine with Woody. She even schooled him a bit when he did things he shouldn't. When we added Alys the Terrible Terrier to the mix (3 dogs, what were we thinking, not recommended), Lilly was 12 and Woody was 7. We took both dogs to the rescue and let them run around in the enclosed field while we got to know their puppies. Both dogs completely ignored the puppies. When we got home, Lilly was her usual chill self. Woody was anxious (much panting and drooling). But there was never any real friction, which I attribute 100% to lab temperament. Goldens are similar so hopefully Mario will be okay with it.

>169 SandDune: I've heard that too, but that hasn't been our experience. Mario's issue with other dogs seems to be universal, too.

>170 quondame: Ooof, yeah, the energy level Border Collies have TONS of energy, too. Having had Tuppence though, we're pretty well schooled on how to deal with it!

>171 lauralkeet: We may try to introduce them in the school yard behind our house, so that at least it's not actually in our yard. I really don't get why Mario is so aggressive around other dogs. She loved Tuppence and she loves all people. So we're hoping that if she's around a new dog for a few days and we gradually introduce them, she'll be okay and in fact love having another BC friend.

Another thought: not as a permanent thing, but you might try taking Mario to daycare to get her more used to being around other dogs. Maybe it just doesn't happen often enough for her to have gotten comfortable? LEarning how to be around lots of dogs might make introducing one into her space a bit easier.

(I am just spitballing here. The Wayne wants another dog and that's a hard no from me, so tell Tomm to keep his bright ideas to himself 'mkay?)

My advice is to give them a little time, and don't be distressed if the initial meeting goes poorly. When we go to the farm, my uncle's dog Lexie (a Border Collie, no less!) is often a little grumpy and rough with Lottie, and tries to show dominance. But she pretty soon remembers/realizes that Lottie is her friend, and then they play well together. (My parents' dog Sasha, being the Grand Dame now, is grumpy with all comers. She learned it from my Sophie, who used to grump at Sasha when she was full of puppy energy and wanted to play.)

Sorry if I've missed it, but how old is the puppy now? Wondering if you'd be bringing it home right away or would have to wait.

So nice to experience new doggy, bicycle shopping, enrolling someone in school, cooking and baking, all without getting one's hands dirty. Thank you for dealing with it so I don't have to. Woot!

>175 katiekrug: I've thought about that, but...it's too late. We'll be going back to pick up the puppy probably on Monday...

>176 foggidawn: I think that's likely very good advice. We just need to be patient with Mario, keep them separated for a few days where they can touch noses but not cross the gate, and give tons of affection to Mario (as if she doesn't already get that).

>177 lauralkeet: I don't think I've said anywhere yet: she's 13 weeks, which is older than either Tuppence or Mario were when we brought them home. I'm hoping that means house training will be a bit easier, or at least that she'll make it through the night faster.

>178 weird_O: Ha! I'm so glad to be of service, Bill.

>179 weird_O: I love it!

>182 scaifea: Thanks Amber. And I'm excited you'll be bringing her home on Monday! I cannot wait to see photos.

So, yep, we're getting a puppy. Everyone, meet Agent Fitzsimmons (Simmons for short):





We'll probably pick her up on Monday.

>185 lauralkeet: As you wish...

OMG sooooo sweet! Love the name too

>186 scaifea: OMG. Too cute. I am dead.

>186 scaifea: Oooooh puppy! So darling, what a pretty!

Awww, Simmons is adorable!!!

Hooray for a new puppy! Simmons is a beaut!

>186 scaifea: Oh so stinkin' loveable!! Maybe Mario will take on the big sister role with a puppy?

>155 scaifea: I was starting to type down some tips, but realised you asked a few days ago. Scrolled down and saw you already got some good advice :-)
Through the years I have only had one male Chow Chow that could not be with any other dog, besides our own existing pack. He had a condition called microphthalmia, which left him only one functioning eye. I always wonderd if this had also impact on his brain.

>186 scaifea: She looks adorable, good luck!

Awwww, Simmons is so cute! Congrats, and best of luck with training and introducing her and Mario.

>188 lauralkeet: Laura: Isn't she cute? As far as the name goes, I'll be taking every opportunity to make the Marvel joke, "Her first name is Agent." (from the first Avengers movie)

>189 curioussquared: Puppy cuteness is difficult to resist, I know.

>190 quondame: >191 MickyFine: Thanks! We think she's pretty adorable, too.

>192 msf59: Thanks, Mark! We saw the parents, too, and the dad was absolutely gorgeous. The mom is a cutie, too: she's a short-haired BC and very small for the breed. By the size of Simmons's paws, though, we think she'll be more like her dad, plus she clearly got his long hair.

>193 laytonwoman3rd: We're hoping that's what will happen with Mario. I'm sure it will, eventually. I know she misses Tuppence, so after maybe a few days she'll realize that it will be nice to have another friend around again.

>194 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita! I know you have great experience with dogs. That's interesting about your Chow Chow and his condition - do you think not being able to see everything around him easily had something to do with it, too? Mario is partially blind in one eye, too...

>196 scaifea: Thanks, Mary!

>199 scaifea: Yes, I think that was part of the problem.
He did accept the puppies, was very curious when they were born. Chimay didn't let him near at first, only after a few days. Then he started helping to keep the puppies clean.
So keeping Mario and Simmons apart at first may do the trick, this way Mario can get used to Simmons' smell and looks.

Today's Agenda:
Charlie's best friend is coming over for the first time in well over a year. He's really excited and I'm taking deep breaths trying to remain calm. I know it'll be fine: we're vaccinated and cases in our county are way down. It'll be fine. And Charlie needs this and deserves it.

That's this afternoon, and before then Able Baker Charlie will take over the kitchen to make Italian Bread and a Chocolate Hazelnut Spread to go with it. He made the spread last summer and it is so, so good (he made the bread then, too, but that's a stape recipe here at Scaife Manor and he's long established himself as a master breadmaker).

It has thunderstormed already this morning, but it looks like it's clearing up so we will still be able to take our morning walk before the baking begins. Then I'll probably do some more tidying (yesterday I organized the upstairs linen closet and the laundry room), and maybe some writing. I also have a bit of work work to do: One incoming first year student has passed Phase One of the Latin placement test (it's a really difficult thing to do well on, so it's not surprising that only one has done well enough to enter Phase Two so far), and as the resident Latinist now for the department, it's up to me to evaluate whether he actually deserves to test fully out of the language requirement. So I need to schedule a zoom meeting with this kid so I can chat with him and make him translate some Latin for me. I prepped the passage I'll have him read yesterday, so now it's just left to schedule and have the meeting.

Other than that, I plan on finding some reading time in between designated Stress Out About the Puppy Time, which is an ongoing process.

On the reading front:
Not much reading time yesterday, but I did manage a few pages in Driftless, which continues to be excellent, and listened to more of Dominicana, which is also great so far.

What We're Watching:
One episode of Gilmore Girls after we got home from the long drive to puppyland and had collapsed on the couch.

>200 FAMeulstee: Excellent advice, Anita. That's what we're planning on and fingers crossed that it works! We're ordering gates to close off the kitchen, which is where we'd keep Simmons at first anyway (non-carpeted area), so it works as a boundary between her and Mario, too.

Oh, oh, oh! She's so cute! I'm sure everything will work out with Mario with time and patience.

>186 scaifea: Well, hello, Agent Fitzsimmons. What a lovely girl you are. I need that first photo injected straight into my veins.

>203 katiekrug: Isn't she, though? Between her and Mario's constant goofy adorableness, this house will be full of The Cuteness.

And thanks for that, Katie. I'll take all the reassurances I can get right now - they really help!

>204 rosalita: *snork!* She's ridiculous in her cuteness, no?

Has anyone else noticed that in that second photo, somehow my son has turned into the Winter Soldier...?



I told him we could probably get him a metal arm. He's not interested.

Hmm... possible Halloween costume?

Congrats on the puppy; she's gorgeous!

Lovely puppy!

>208 foggidawn: Ha! Possibly. Let's see, then...Mario could be Cap!

>209 SandDune: Thanks, Rhian!

>186 scaifea: Congrats on the new family member. She looks so sweet.

>212 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

Hope Charlie and his friend have an awesome time and you have an excellent read on tap to keep anxious brain a little distracted. *hugs*

>214 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky!

Able Baker Charlie's Italian Bread and Chocolate Hazelnut Spread:

>216 scaifea: I'm going to sneak in and steal some of that!!!

>217 MickyFine: Help yourself!

I love this question that a local library posted on their FB page:

If you had to be trapped inside a children's book for a month, which book would you choose?

>219 scaifea: Trials of Morrigan Crow but I specifically request being trapped there during the book's December. :)

>219 scaifea: - No question: The Borrowers.

What's your choice?

>220 MickyFine: I only read the first one in that series and I don't remember much about it (although I'm pretty sure I was halfway to falling hard for the mysterious dude in it...can't remember his name...).

>221 katiekrug: Oooh, good one! Although I'd be worried I'd step on someone, I think.

This is a really hard question for me because Too Many Choices. Immediate thoughts have me not being able to choose between Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

>222 scaifea: As I recall, you did have a book crush on Jupiter North. I highly recommend going back to the series - it remains very good.

I am looking forward to watching Simmons grow up...right here.

>223 scaifea: - I was thinking I'd be Borrower-sized not human-sized :)

>224 MickyFine: Jupiter! That's right! Yeah, I need to get back to that series. I think I probably need to reread that first one, though. I really don't remember much about it at all. I do remember that I was packing us up for the move from WI to OH while listening to it...

>225 msf59: Aw, thanks, Mark! I'll be sure to provide plenty of photos.

>226 katiekrug: Ha! Fair enough!

>219 scaifea: I love Katie's answer of The Borrowers and I would also be Borrower-sized. I loved those books so much when I was a kid. Hanging stamps like paintings on the wall, using thread spools as tables ... it all just seemed to magical.

>230 rosalita: Julia: I wish I had read them as a kid; I didn't enjoy them as an adult as much as I would have back then.

>231 scaifea: I can see how that would be true; I think they maybe require the kind of suspension of disbelief that only a child has, before we get all jaded and cynical. :-)

Simmons is really cute and I'm sure it will all work out fine. I adopted a 3 month old puppy many years ago and barely had to house train her at all. She was a smart dog but it also helped that she was old enough to be taught easily. I'll bet Simmons will be the same.

Hi Amber, I'm simply stopping by to say hello and send all good wishes..

Hi Amber my dear, Simmons looks so cute and i am sure he will be a welcome addition to the family. Sending love and hugs to you all from both of us dear friend.

>232 rosalita: Ha! Yep, that's probably a big part of it, although I'm perfectly happy suspending disbelief for all manor of fantasy novels...

>233 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba! I sure hope you're right and that Simmons will be a breeze to train. BCs are really smart dogs, so here's hoping.

>234 Whisper1: Hi, Linda!

>235 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

>236 scaifea: I was going to old-ladysplain that it's because you go into the fantasy novels knowing they are written for adults and so your suspension is properly calibrated.

But then I remembered that you do read a lot of books for younger readers even now, so that theory maybe doesn't hold up so well in the light of day. So nevermind. I'll just be over here yelling at clouds ...

>240 rosalita: HA!! Yeah, if the children's and middle grade books are good enough, I'm fully capable of and happy to get lost in them. So maybe The Borrowers just isn't my jam as much as other things. Still, I think if I had read them as a child, I would have loved them.

>241 scaifea: I think if I had read them as a child, I would have loved them.

I think you would have, too. And that you didn't love them as an adult is reinforcing my instincts not to revisit childhood favorites, because I suspect I might not love them quite as much now, either.

>242 rosalita: But *some* of them *do* hold up...

>242 rosalita: Some of my childhood favorites I didn't read until I was past 50.

Today's Agenda:
I have to sip my coffee faster this morning - we need to leave in about 30 minutes for Charlie's monthly blood draw. The rest of the day should be the usual, though: menu planning and writing up my grocery list for tomorrow, some writing, some reading. All kinds of leftovers in the fridge, so no cooking necessary today.

Charlie and his friend had a great time yesterday, and although I was still a little nervous having someone in our house again, it was great to listen to their laughter trickle down from upstairs.

On the reading front:
The Duke and I is coming along nicely, as is Dominicana on audio, and I also made a little progress with Getting Near to Baby.

What We're Watching:
Charlie convinced me to start watching The Babysitter's Club with him and it's pretty decent. We also watched an episode of Fresh Prince, which he's loving.

119. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (100 Banned Books) - 4/10 = F
I suffered through most of this one and admittedly skimmed a great deal. Just...NOPE. Way too dark for me. This sort of thing puts me right into a funk. I would have abandoned it altogether if I weren't counting it toward a challenge category. Ugh.

>246 scaifea: Oh, dang. I don't think I've ever seen you give something an F before. I have never had any desire to read this one (fearing the dark), and I think you've just allowed me to put it into the "nope, never" pile.

>246 scaifea: Hmmm. Interesting. You awarded Kesey's novel a failing grade because the story put you into a funk. Is that what I'm reading? Shouldn't the book get an A because it succeeded in affecting you that way?

Sorry. Just being an ick.

>246 scaifea: I've just finished Conversations with Ken Kesey, and he had very interesting things to say about what was going on in that novel. Which I have not yet read, btw, because I also know it won't be a pleasant experience. I understand your not liking it. But I'm kinda with Bill on this...it didn't fail, it probably did exactly what it was meant to do.

>247 lycomayflower: Ooof, yeah I don't think you'd like it at all.

>248 weird_O: >249 laytonwoman3rd: While I don't mean to make it a habit to defend my own ratings, I will this once: my grading/rating scale is, of course, based on how *I* feel about the book, whether *I* liked it or not. This one earned an F because *I* hated it. So yes, in actual fact, it failed me as the reader because it did nothing for me but make me unhappy and honestly it nearly started a mood spiral. If that's what the author intended, then bully for him, he can give himself an A+ and more power to him, but it remains that case that I'm giving the book an F. I never intend to influence the way others think or feel about the books I read with my ratings and reviews; they're simply my opinions and thoughts and feelings about what I read. Team Reader Response, all the way here.

Hi Amber!

Congrats on the puppy. Not being a Marvel or superhero person, I had to duckduckgo Agent Fitzsimmons, but get it now. Simmons is a great name.

>219 scaifea: Charlotte’s Web, hands down. I’d sit quietly next to Fern and listen to the animals talk and learn Life Lessons from Charlotte.

>252 karenmarie: Thanks for the Simmons love! I'm settling more into the idea and leaning more toward excited than anxious (although there's still plenty of anxiety to go around).

Charlotte's Web is an excellent choice!

>251 scaifea: Well said. And you shouldn't have to defend your ratings. Even though you did so in exemplary fashion just there. And now I feel I must get around to reading it soon. Although I was already trending in that direction, after getting to "know" the author a bit. His Sometimes a Great Notion is on my short list of candidates for The Great American Novel, as I may have said many times before. But I'm sure lycomayflower will tell you you really don't want to read that one either.

Today's Agenda:
Grocery shopping this morning, then we're all heading out to do some bike shopping for Charlie. I also need to do the weekly bill sorting and some laundry when we get back. Frozen Friday for dinner tonight, and then we'll start our 4th celebrations a little early by rewatching Hamilton. Tomorrow will be family video games in the afternoon and then Independence Day in the evening. We've had to bump everything up a day because on the actual 4th we have to drive up to Tomm's parents' for a BBQ. *sigh*

On the reading front:
I started Decent Interval yesterday, which is much more readable so far than I expected. I also made some progress on Getting Near to Baby and listened to more Dominicana.

What We're Watching:
Tomm and I finished Ghostbusters (so fun), watched an episode of Coupling, then watched the latest Loki ep with Charlie. We also watched a youtube compilation of some dog agility winners and Mario was *so* interested. It was adorable. When the border collie came on (and she looked just like Tuppence), Mario ran to the toybox, grabbed Tuppence's favorite stuffed sheep, and held it in front of the TV. Tomm and I just sat there and cried. I think she's may be ready for a new friend...

Awww, sweet Mario. I have a feeling things are going to be just fine ...

>255 scaifea: Oh my, that Mario story is just so sweet and sad. I think you might be right about this being the right time to bring a new pupper into the family!

I just want to say one more thing about the above rating conversation, and nota bene that this is not directed at anyone in particular (*hands Bill a plate of peace-offering cookies because I get that he was just poking fun (I assume)*), but more of a PSA, because I've seen this happening more frequently lately around the threads:

Just because someone doesn't like a book doesn't mean they don't understand it. I could have prattled on about how the Kesey book is clearly a product of its time and that the bleakness of the book is very much intentional (very frequently in literature the Problem is the Point, after all), and how the psych ward is clearly a microcosm of The World, with Ratched and her monstrously robotic demeanor as representative of how Kesey et al. see the world as declining into a cold, industrial, corporation-run travesty, and McMurphy (à la Bellow and Heller and Salinger) is the champion of individualistic freedoms and his struggle against the nurse and her nightmare regime is the struggle of that generation against the oppression of individual freedoms, a struggle which he may not win, but which is important in the long run anyway. I could have talked about all of that, but I didn't want to, because I hated it and didn't want to spend any more time writing about it.

So. Anyway. I've just seen a lot more yucking of other people's yums and assumptions that differing opinions on books are automatically incorrect around here than before and it's been on my mind lately.

*steps of box made for soaps, dusts it off, puts it away*

Morning, Amber! Happy Friday. i am a big fan of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, both book and film. It has been 30 plus years since I read it but I agree it was definitely a "dark" read. Have a good holiday weekend.

>258 scaifea: I think you put this perfectly.

>256 lauralkeet: It was just the sweetest thing. And yes! We're taking it as a very good sign!

>257 rosalita: Yes! Fingers crossed that she'll actually be very happy about it!

>258 scaifea: What she said.

>255 scaifea: Aww, that Mario story is breaking my heart!

>258 scaifea: - Co-sign.

And I love the Mario with Tuppence's toy story!

>258 scaifea: +1

(Also no hostility to Bill. In fact, thanks for provoking it.)

Disclaimer: OFOTCN was a favorite of mine, so long ago that I wouldn't defend it based on that memory.

Hi Amber.

>255 scaifea: Too bad about the obligatory visit to husband’s parents.

So sad and sweet about Mario seeing the border collie and going for Tuppence’s favorite stuffed sheep.

>258 scaifea: So. Anyway. I've just seen a lot more yucking of other people's yums and assumptions that differing opinions on books are automatically incorrect around here than before and it's been on my mind lately. Amen to the whole post. I usually try to not ‘yuck someone else’s yum’ on their thread out of respect and because everybody’s response to a book is as valid as my response to that book.

>259 msf59: Morning, Mark! I'm glad you enjoyed the Kesey book and film, and I have to say I'm not surprised - you like your books dark!

And thanks. I was hoping that didn't come off too dramatically...

>262 rosalita: Thanks, Julia!

>263 foggidawn: I was so very heartbreaking, but at the same time really hopeful, too, that she'll grow to love the new puppy. She clearly misses her friend.

>264 katiekrug: *fist bump*

Mario is absolutely the sweetest thing, isn't she?

Awww...Mario. *doggy hugs* You're gonna love Agent Fitzsimmons.

>265 swynn: Thanks, Steve. And yes, this is definitely a Bill-friendly zone. I mean, he's the one with the cookies right now, so we should all be very nice to him.

Ha! I wouldn't ask you to defend it.

>266 karenmarie: Morning, Karen!

Yeah, I'm never thrilled with trips to the in-laws. Gah.

Mario really surprised us with that one. No wonder we love her to bits.

And yes! I'm a huge believer in You Thread Your Rules.

Good morning, Amber. Too bad about One Flew into The Cuckoo’s Nest. I’m with Mark, book and movie. The book roped me in and didn’t let go.

I’m reading the new Ruth Galloway mystery, and To the Bright Edge of the World, which my sister gave me.

>274 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I'm glad you liked the Kesey. I haven't heard of the Ivey, so I'll be interested to see what you think of it!

>255 scaifea: That is the sweetest Mario story! Hopefully she'll adjust to her new buddy sooner rather than later :)

Amazing, sweet story about Mario.
Good point about Cuckoo's Nest.
Happy 4th in spite of it all.

>276 curioussquared: Yes, we're definitely hoping for sooner!

>277 RebaRelishesReading: Thanks, Reba. I'm not thrilled that we're bringing home a new puppy on a weekend filled with fireworks, but that's just how it worked out. At least they don't bother Mario at all.

Aww, such a sweet story about Mario. Here's hoping she and Simmons are best buds faster than you expect.

>279 MickyFine: Thanks, Micky.

Awwww that's such a sweet Mario story, and I hope it does mean good things for Agent Fitzsimmons' arrival.

I'm definitely with you, and you prompted me to repost my rating scale at the top of my newest thread... I'm just rating how I liked a book, not how good it "objectively" is, and as a librarian I'm also all about "every book its reader and every reader their book". I do love that many of the relationships I've formed with 75ers over the years means we can be pretty good with recommendations of "yeah, I loved it but I don't think it will work for you" or "it didn't work for me, but I can see why you would like it."

>281 bell7: Thanks, Mary - we hope so, too!

And thanks for pointing out that flip side: it *is* a great part of our close friendships here that we know which books to recommend where!

120. Dominicana by Angie Cruz (Alex Award) - 9/10 = A
At 15, Ana is forced by her family to marry a man twice her age in order to secure them all the promise of a life in the states. Against her will she goes through with the arranged, loveless marriage and leaves for New York City with her new husband, to live in a 6-floor walk-up apartment in Washington Heights, and to live a life of loneliness and domestic violence. Her one joy is her husband's brother, who takes care of her when the husband returns to the Dominican Republic for several months, but when her husband returns with the promise that her family will join them sooner than they had hoped, she must choose between a life of familial duty and a life lived for herself and her newborn child.

This is a powerful story, nicely set within the political struggles of the times (NYC and the DR in the 1960s), and Ana's own story mirrors the turmoil felt outside her small apartment walls. Cruz is a good storyteller, and expertly makes the reader both worry for Ana as an innocent in a big, scary city while also wondering at her amazing strength. Definitely recommended.

>186 scaifea: Ohhh ... Cute ...

>284 ArlieS: Isn't she, though?

Cute pup - love the name! And sweet Mario story. Best of luck with the new addition this weekend

>286 jayde1599: Thanks, Jess!

Today's Agenda:
We're pretending that today is the 4th (since we have to go to the in-laws tomorrow) and so we'll have our traditional celebration: an afternoon full of board games, then we'll watch Independence Day this evening. This morning I'll make the dessert I'm taking tomorrow (homemade Payday bars), and possibly spend some time in the sewing room. Tomm's grilling tilapia and vegetables for dinner tonight. Sounds a little healthy, but okay I guess.

On the reading front:
I finished Getting Near to Baby yesterday and started The House of the Scorpion. I'll probably start Black Girl Unlimited on audio today.

What We're Watching:
We decided to add a new tradition to our 4th celebrations, so we rewatched Hamilton last night (skipping the one song about that awful thing Hamilton does in the middle because we all hates it).

The new thread is up:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/333453