days_unfolding

Woke up with my alarm at 6 AM. Bella was being annoying this morning. She kept on going back to where I think that she found the possums and barking. If that was the right spot, the mother had moved them. (Now I think that she saw the groundhog.) I kept trying to get her out of there and she kept on going back. I finally, finally convinced her to come in.

At least, I'm clean now.

Dropped my check for the flights and one-half the registration fee off. Now it’s nap time. Oliver was on my lap and he and Bella were squabbling, and I was trying to keep the peace. Then Oliver nipped me, and I escorted him out of the bedroom. Then I realized that I was so spaced out that I didn’t put The Club on the car, so I went out and did so. NOW it’s nap time.

Now a storm is rolling in. It's a big, nasty storm. It's making me nervous. There's a tornado warning northwest of here.

I found out when the Allerton Camp for Adults is taking place this fall (October 9 - 12). But it'll take two vacation days, and I'm using up my vacation days for the Sardinia trip, so I might not be able to do it. But now I know when I can go to Pere Marquette State Park to see the fall leaves. (Note to self: weekend of October 24th) I'll book the HipCamp soon. Hmm, I should try to make a camping meal at home before going camping. I want to do a dry run of everything.

I really want to nap tonight. I'm still having dizzy spells. I'll get the recycling out and lie down.

The tree people wanted to take the tree down tomorrow, but I said that it was a holiday for me, so I'd rather have it done on Monday.

Oh cool. Music of the Baroque is still offering concerts on demand. There are at least three concerts in which I'm interested. I had been chucking their mailings out because I thought that they had ended on demand. (They're in the Chicago area.)

Chico's sent me a coupon, and they have some great dresses, some of which have petites! I usually can't wear maxi dresses because I need petites. I found two dresses that I want: "Rio" dress and Metallic dress.

Got the recycling out. Go me. (They probably won’t pick it up tomorrow because of the holiday but just in case….)

I took Bella out on a leash. She was not happy. She did bounce back enough to pick up a stick, but she did not do her business.

Fed us all. Nap time. Couldn’t sleep. I’ll go post, feed the beasts, take Bella out, and go to bed for the night. Oh, and buy the Chico’s dresses and book the HipCamp for October. Bella is fast asleep though. I hate to disturb her. She jumped on the bed, and I’ve been snuggling with her. Very cozy. I found a petite travel outfit on Magellans that I like.

Okay, I've got the cat food dishes soaking and bought the clothes. I'll wend my way towards bed. Hey, I can sleep in tomorrow!

shadowkat

1. Ali Hazelwood Dislikes Peeta and that was problem for some folks

Peeta for the uninformed was Katniss's love interest in The Hunger Games or rather one of two love interests. The other was Gale, I think. I stayed out of the Hunger Games fandom for various reasons.

Apparently what happened is Ali Hazelwood, an author of various books, made the mistake on a book panel at a fan convention of stating that she didn't like Peeta. People got upset - and fanatically attacked her on her Instagram account. To the point, in which she ended up cancelling the entire account (she couldn't figure out how to turn off the comments - Instagram is impossible to use - and makes me crazy - I just post pictures on it and like others posts), and she was apparently popular and highly active.

Excerpt from the post, which I thought worthy of sharing:
( Read more... )

Nothing new, but a worthy reminder that before you post a comment in response to something you've read online, especially in fandom, ask yourself these questions:

* Is it kind?

* Is it necessary?

* Does it help?

And are you posting out of anger or rage? Or trying to prove someone else wrong, so you can be right? What is gained by embarrassing or humiliating anyone? [Note - this is reminder for myself as much as anyone. Trying to do better.]

2. Bruce Springsteen Bio-Pic Trailer

Well, everyone else got one - I guess it's his turn? Although I admittedly like his music and Jeremy Allen.

maju

I spent almost the whole morning at the doctor's this morning, but most of that time was spent waiting. I only went for a routine physical because I felt like I hadn't had one for a while (and it turned out to be four years), but first I waited for about 45 minutes to see the doctor and then I waited about another half hour to have blood drawn after the appointment. (She will let me know if anything abnormal shows up.) In the past I'm sure the doctor has organised a blood draw before one of these routine physical exams so I was waiting for a notification to have it done ahead of time, but I heard nothing. I'm not bothered either way because I'm not expecting anything out of the ordinary. I did get a lot of my book read while I was doing all this waiting.

On the way home I detoured to Safeway (it's barely a detour - just a matter of crossing the road) to buy a few groceries, only as many as I could comfortably carry in my backpack, because of course I walked to the doctor's. My appointment was at 8:40 am but by the time I got home it was almost 11:30 am.

The humidity has really kicked in today. Actually it started rising yesterday afternoon; I could tell because my windows got fogged up on the outside. They're even more fogged up today, with the humidity in the extreme range.

susandennis

I spent most of yesterday assuming today I'd be Hazel's hospital taxi. This was not a good thought. I hate the drive and I'm not wild on her dependence on me. She has two grown sons and one grown daughter in law who live nearby... But, finally last night about 8, she came in to give me an update. They were still testing stuff with John but his spirits were good. Her son brought her home and her daughter in law escorted her up to her door. And they were going to be her hospital taxi today. So, whew.

She's kind of a mess. Not in a pearl clutching way but more in a confused and also severely diminished eyesight kind of way. This has also pointed that out to her. "I never used a cellphone because why? John's always there and he does it. Bad move." But, it is nice to know (for me, her sons, her husband and her) that she is in a place with options if she needs them.

So today is mine. Thank you. There is a Food and Beverage committee meeting this afternoon. The first since they fired the long time chef and hired a new one. Should be interesting.

I put in a work order the other day because the door to my apartment squeaks so loudly that I was afraid of complaints from downtown every time I opened the door. I had WD-40'd the hinges and nada. But, turns out, I just needed a professional. Yesterday, Jorge (who is one of the nicest guys) came and did just what I did but did it way better because now I can sneak out in the dead of night and no one will ever know. I love not owning my home!!

I think after Scott and Julie leave next week, I'll go back to dolls. I should be about out of Pride yarn by then anyway. And nearly out of Pride month.

gilda_elise

Hearts in Atlantis, King's newest fiction, is composed of five interconnected, sequential narratives, set in the years from 1960 to 1999. Each story is deeply rooted in the sixties, and each is haunted by the Vietnam War.

In Part One, "Low Men in Yellow Coats," eleven-year-old Bobby Garfield discovers a world of predatory malice in his own neighborhood. He also discovers that adults are sometimes not rescuers but at the heart of the terror.

In the title story, a bunch of college kids get hooked on a card game, discover the possibility of protest...and confront their own collective heart of darkness, where laughter may be no more than the thinly disguised cry of the beast.

In "Blind Willie" and "Why We're in Vietnam," two men who grew up with Bobby in suburban Connecticut try to fill the emptiness of the post-Vietnam era in an America which sometimes seems as hollow -- and as haunted -- as their own lives.

And in "Heavenly Shades of Night Are Falling," this remarkable book's denouement, Bobby returns to his hometown where one final secret, the hope of redemption, and his heart's desire may await him.

Full of danger, full of suspense, most of all full of heart, Stephen King's new book will take some readers to a place they have never been...and others to a place they have never been able to completely leave.

Like many other readers Low Men in Yellow Coats was my favorite story. I loved the relationship between Bobby and Ted, the older man who moves into the building where Bobby and his mother live, and the slightly supernatural element that plays a huge part in both their lives.

Bobby’s relationship with Carol, his friend, or “girlfriend,” also adds much to the story. It’s their first love, both lovely and heartbreaking.

I enjoyed the book, but I know I would have enjoyed it more if the focus had remained on Bobby Garfield, Carol Gerber, and Ted Brautigan. Instead, three of the stories focus on other people; Hearts in Atlantis, in fact, focuses on people they mostly didn’t know (Carol has a small part in it, but doesn’t really do much.) I never did get what was going on. It was hard to imagine so many boys throwing away their college scholarships over a card game.

Both Blind Willie and Why We’re in Vietnam brings things closer to home, but still don’t have the magic of the first story. Even Heavenly Shades… isn’t all I would have hoped for.

So, basically, the four stars are because of the first story, which would have earned five if it had been a stand-alone. I would have loved more about Bobby, Ted, and Carol; what their lives were, and what they would become.

( Mount TBR 2025 Book Links 1-20 )

21. We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
22. America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War by H.W. Brands
23. American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham
24. The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
25. A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen
26. Lost and Found by Marilyn Harris
27. Strange Weather: Four Short Novels by Joe Hill
28. Three Wild Dogs by Markus Zusak
29. Full Throttle by Joe Hill
30. Lost in a Good Book (Thursday Next #2) by Jasper Fforde
31. Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky
32. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

Katsu, Ketchum, King, or Koontz
1. You Like It Darker by Stephen King
2. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

2025 Monthly Motif.jpg

JUN- “No Biz Like Show Biz”: Read a book in which the character(s) is involved in some aspect of the entertainment industry OR read a book that has been turned into a tv show or movie.

Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

Hearts In Atlantis: 2001
Director: Scott Hicks
Writers: Stephen King, William Goldman
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis

days_unfolding

I confirmed that Illinois Canyon Trail at Starved Rock doesn't have stairs. It sounds like a nice hike. I need to dig out my hiking boots. Hmm, I need to get a second phone charger battery for camping. There's a limit to how much I'll rough it! I bought a travel dog bed for Bella.

It looks like Bella found another dead possum. Is she killing them? I might need to take her out on a leash at night. I’m calling her “Possum Breath”. Okay, she’s a dog and doesn’t know any better.

I was going to get ready for bed. Cats: not so fast. We didn’t get our second meal! They were right, so I fed them. Now I’m in bed.

Woke up at 8 AM. Emailed in sick. Two of the tickseeds are blooming!

We get Thursday off for Juneteenth, so I plan to do some gardening and cleaning.

Bella was digging in the back garden, so I threw a stick and distracted her. She’s busy chewing it. Now we’re inside. Bella is trying to “play” with Oliver and he gave her a swat. I told her that I speak Cat and he’s annoyed with her.

I need to check whether the lab at the hospital will be open on Thursday (Juneteenth). It would be a good time to get my blood work done.

Fed us all. My stomach hurts. Time to sleep.

Hmm, it’s going to go up to 87F today. I guess that I’ll shave my legs and put on shorts.

Bella is always up for a nap. My bed potato :) Woke up at 1PM.

I received the camping food. I want reusable grocery bags to put them in. I also received a tie-out for Bella, a lantern, and some pots. The tent should arrive on the weekend. Hmm, maybe I should save a box to also put stuff in. I’ll be "car camping".

I’m feeling better but shaky with some stomach cramps. Food should help. It did.

American Airlines flights to Reno are either early in the morning or late at night. I need to take a morning flight to get picked up in Reno by my dad. I’m wondering if I’ll need to overnight in Chicago.

Maybe I’ll take another nap. Bella was already in the bedroom ready to take a nap! Napped and woke up at 6 PM.

I’m feeling dizzy.

It’s predicted to be 93 and 95 F on the weekend. Fuck. Not great for yard work. It looks like an iris that I planted is coming up.

There are ants in my mailbox. It looks like some food spilled in there. I don’t have ant spray. I left the mail outside.

Fed us all. Ordered groceries. I’m trying to get the energy together to gather the garbage for pickup. Woah. I’m feeling dizzy.

The BBC had a video about how Cologne, Germany is sex-positive. It sounds like an interesting city that I’d like to visit.

Bella has a crinkly brown mailer. I can see the appeal. She’s now ripping it up.

I flipped through the destination guide to Greenville, SC, and it looks interesting.

Got most of the garbage out. Hot and dizzy.

I’m looking into Bark Air for when I study in Italy and France. Apparently they do take cats also.

I never did take a shower. I need to get up early to do so because I need to hand off my check to someone at work. It just occurred to me that I need to find out if I need to spell out the name of the consortium or not.

It's oppressively hot upstairs. And Lily wants to snuggle.

shadowkat

[Note, I'm home sick or under the weather at the moment, so apologies for typos, etc - due to brain fog.]

As always, Good News is more often than not in the eyes of the beholder. So mileage may vary.

1. 13.14 Million or 4% of the population of the US came out and protested for "No Kings". "We’re honored to announce a final count of 13.14 million in attendance across 2,300+ No Kings protests nationwide. It took a little longer to finalize due to the sheer scale, but the turnout was historic!
So far, 71 MAGA agitators have been arrested, with 62 additional investigations still underway. We’re actively reviewing online threats and working on escalating where needed. If you see something, say something." - per Alt National Parks.

What does this mean: The 3.5% Rule or How a small minority can change the world
( excerpt )

2. 81% of U.S. adults say that if a federal court rules that an action is illegal, then Trump has to follow its ruling, per NBC poll. Among Trump supporters, 50% agree.

3. From limiting who can purchase most semiautomatic rifles on the market today to raising the minimum age to buy ammunition, Colorado Democrats in the Colorado legislature were busy this year imposing new gun regulations - specifically in the state of Colorado.

The 12 gun bills passed by the Colorado legislature this year and signed into law

4. Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of committing a sex crime by a jury in New York, more than a year after the state Supreme Court overturned his 2020 conviction on felony sex crime charges. ( Read more... )

https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/harvey-weinstein-guilty-retrial-sex-crime-new-york-rcna202460

5.The House approves four nominees to the governing board of the Office of Congressional Conduct, providing the board with enough members to operate and continue its role of investigating and uncovering misconduct by Congress members.

https://campaignlegal.org/update/win-ethics-clc-partners-succeed-preserving-office-congressional-conduct

6.Library of Congress employees uphold the Constitution’s separation of powers by not admitting two DOJ officials appointed by the president to lead the agency who have not been confirmed by the Senate.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/12/politics/library-of-congress-trump-justice-blanche?bt_ee=2QgjkqKxaHyuagkHOeb0m6RbI2h%2FZ9394%2B4e4zEovFoF9q%2BF2LTnhSUP%2BuXHEzeX&bt_ts=1747140898649

7.A federal court orders the administration to promptly facilitate contact between Widmer Josneyder Agelviz Sanguino and his lawyers after immigration enforcement illegally deported Sanguino to a notoriously abusive prison in El Salvador.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/venezuelan-man-admitted-us-refugee-sent-salvadoran-prison-rcna207642

8.Six weeks after being seized off the streets and detained under a false claim by DHS, doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk is released from ICE detention to resume her studies and live in the community while attorneys seek reinstatement of her visa.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/09/us/rumeysa-ozturk-tufts-bail-release

9. Attorneys general from 20 states file two lawsuits against the administration over its threats to illegally withhold billions of congressionally allocated funds from states if they don’t meet federal immigration enforcement demands.

https://thehill.com/homenews/5298257-20-states-sue-trump-administration-grants-immigration-enforcement/

10. Colorado becomes the ninth state to pass a state-level Voting Rights Act into law.

https://coloradonewsline.com/2025/05/12/polis-signs-voting-rights-act-colorado/

11.Florida: A bill that would have required proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote fails to advance in the legislature.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/08/the-failed-florida-election-bill-that-angered-voting-rights-and-voting-integrity-advocates-alike/

( the rest )

Okay, I found 98 items. And I'm tired.

[I feel at times that reading through the news is akin to watching a television serial with a really annoying villain, and I keep thinking, come on writers, kill it already. But alas no, they kill off the characters I like instead. I want new writers. That said, it's not all doom and gloom, there's spots of good news in there - actually more good than bad if you know where to look - and depending on your perspective. I've been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer - and it's not only weirdly comforting for a horror series, but also made me a bit hopeful and optimistic.]

Good night and Good Luck all.

I'd cough you to sleep, but I think that would be a tad discomforting? So here's a photo of a flower instead:

susandennis

Volleyball was really good this morning. We had a good crowd of fun players and lots of laughs. Then, home to breakfast and coffee. I was nearly finished with both when Hazel came in with a face that was in total distress. She said John and fallen in the shower and they had just taken him away and could I please take her to the hospital.

Turns out, thankfully, he had not fallen but had come close and nearly lost conciseness. The parametics said it was likely dehydration. She wasn't entirely sure which hospital and her son could not get to her until after 11 (this was 8:30). So we made a plan. We found out the hospital. I grabbed my shit, she grabbed hers, we got her and her walker into the car and off we went.

She was not frantic just worried to bits. I was really glad she had gotten me instead of trying to figure it out on her own, Plus, I had zippity on for this morning so not a problem.

The hospital was the same one that I took Myrna to all those times so at least not a black hole. It's an easy-ish trip until you get close and then it's a nightmare. But we made it And found easy parking and got right in to John who was awake and alert and not frantic. Now they were thinking heart. I stayed until Hazel had talked to their son to find out he was on the way. Then I came home. Now I am in the elbow while my house cleaner does her magic.

Hazel did call a few minutes ago to say that they were keeping John overnight and Keith (son) would get her home. (Whew on not having to go again. I'm over that drive.)

So that's my excitement du jour. I did remember, on my way home, to pop into UPS with my Amazon return. Go Me.

bill_schubert

The Ranch was pastoral. Out in the middle of nowhere and 24 dogs when it was pretty much full and most of them will stay there until the die.

The Texas Humane Heros shelter is in the middle of suburbia and has maybe 60 dogs most of them puppies or very young dogs are they are all being set up for adoption.

Your basic dog shelter. They also, of course, have the cat house.

The Ranch needed me to walk the dogs, usually six or seven a day, for 20 minutes or so including letting them go off leash for a bit in the appropriate areas.

The shelter needs to get all the dogs out of their cages for a quick walk and then into a smaller cage area to stay while their primary is being cleaned. No real time to hang out with the dogs, play with them off leash, etc. Just a morning walk and then reloacated.

Then the staff (and there were probably 15 of them, lots of summer job kids) take all the stuff out of the cages, scrup the floors with detergent, squeegee off the suds, and spray with disinfectant and then return things back to normal.

The dogs also get two more walks during the day and they work with them to socialize and play and learn.

This is Mia. 8ish months old. She is one of the dogs I walked. And:

Mr Peanut Butter who is about six months old.

Both were really nice but it was not the same at all as walking the Ranch dogs.

I participated in scrubbing and squeeging and then retired to the laundry where I helped a woman who is about my age wash bowls and toys and laundry and sort and shelve the same.

I worked for a total of 3 hours and am ready for a nap soon as I take a shower. It was just plain work. For a good cause. I'm going to commit to a couple of months and see how it goes. Not as emotionally fulfilling but that may change. I'm not so much of a puppy person as an old dog person but they really do need the help and there is a lot to do.

So we'll see how it goes Thursday.

maju

My little cul de sac has been very busy and noisy this morning. Around 7 am several vehicles arrived, including a woodchipper, and several workers started milling around checking out the work to be done. They were here to remove three trees, one in front of my house and two in front of one of the neighbours'. There had been notices pinned to the relevant trees for some weeks saying these trees would be removed within 90 days, but I had no idea when the 90 days started so I had no idea when this was going to happen. Then yesterday evening I found a notice from the town which had been sent to S's email address but not mine, saying this work would be done on 17th June, so I was glad I wasn't going to be taken completely by surprise. Now it's 1:30 pm and they seem to be almost finished. There's a new stump in my yard surrounded by sawdust, and I'm guessing the same at the neighbours' house except a large truck is blocking my view there.

To add to the excitement in this part of the world, when I went out for a walk this morning I found a police car directing traffic about a block from my house, and I could see lights from another police car a block further on, on the main road through town. I walked around that way to find out what was going on and discovered a very large tree had fallen across the main road so all through traffic was being directed through the neighbourhood streets. It was very lucky the tree fell southwards instead of westwards, because falling westwards would have had it land squarely on a house.

We're still having cool weather (I'm still wearing socks and a long sleeved shirt) and it was very foggy while I was out walking this morning. However, the weather forecast says it's going to be hot and humid starting tomorrow. The Washington Post published a helpful chart of how they rate various humidity levels and I see they rate 75% humidity as "extreme". It's very often in the 90s or even 100% humidity here, especially in the mornings, so calling 75% "extreme" seems laughable to me.

days_unfolding

Now I can’t sleep. I got up and took my nighttime meds. Slept a while and overslept. Got up and emailed work. Exchanged emails with my boss. Said that I would be out sick.

Poor Bella is out cold. I told her that she could sleep last night and didn’t need to get up when I was up, but she stayed up late with me.

Slept for a while. It’s dark and slightly rainy out. I had to turn the lights on. Now it’s pouring. Bella and I came in just in time. Fed us all.

I saved an article about ticks because that’s what worries me the most about camping and hiking. I need to buy some "Off". I think that Bella’s flea meds also work on ticks. Ordered a camping lantern.

Good. The people at the conference are in the process of finding a new moderator, so everything is being taken care of. Time to go back to sleep.

I’m looking for a HipCamp near Pere Marquette State Park. I’ve wanted to go there in the fall for a while, but it’s a three-hour drive. I’d like to take Bella. I haven’t found any HipCamps in the area. I found a hotel in the area that someone said was pet-friendly, but their Web site doesn’t say that. I’ll look into it later. Okay, I found a pet-friendly hotel in Missouri that’s nearby and not very expensive. I need to pick a weekend in October because places will fill up with leaf-peepers (like me!) I’m telling Bella about it. Lots of new smells for her! I found a HipCamp that’s one hour away. I might do that. It looks like the closest place in Illinois.

I also found a HipCamp in Missouri that’s is very pretty with creeks and small waterfalls.

I’m feeling a sense of foreboding, and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s stress. Went back to sleep.

Bella was trying to eat a firefly. I told her no, we like fireflies. Oh good, it took off. It must be mating season because there are a ton of them.

I need to reimburse work for my flight, so I’ll need to book a trip within a year. Maybe I’ll fly out of the local airport when I go see my dad to use up the money. Or I could take a cruise, but I’ll use up a lot of my vacation time on the trip a year from this fall.

I need to feed the beasts (done). Bella is being manic. I had a vanilla yogurt with cookie dough crumbles. They are pure crack. Oliver is being snuggly. That’s my boy.

I was going to say that I’ll go to bed early, but it’s already almost 9 PM.

Bella cracks me up. When I feed the cats, she puts her paws on my lap and looks away from the cats because if she looked at them, she might lose control and eat their food. She seems to understand that I don’t want her to eat their food. I fed myself too.

Now I need to email work (done), post, take Bella out again, and go back to sleep.

maju

13. What do you have trouble seeing clearly in your mind? The next few months.

14. What are you looking forward to? Being settled in Connecticut with my daughter and family.

15. What is the number one thing you want to accomplish before you die? Apart from finishing a couple of quilts which are languishing unfinished in a cupboard, nothing major comes to mind.

16. When is love a weakness? I 'm not sure that real love can be a weakness.

bill_schubert

I went over to the dog center and talked to the person who did the orientation. I told her that if they need someone who would reliably come starting one day a week but likely expanding to two days a week who would walk the dogs I'm their guy. She was happy with that and we worked out the deal. I'm to come at 9AM. I think the staff gets there at 8 and doesn't want volunteers for the first hour which makes perfect sense to me.

So tomorrow I'll find out if it works as well as I'd like.

It is a bit of relief to have that work out the way I think it will. It will be entirely different as the door on this place is revolving where the Ranch was a one way ticket into the facility for life. This will take some adjustment of my brain and systems but it has a lot of potential and is about 8 minutes from our house. WAY easier to geth there and back. I really have been concerned about the wear on my Smart car so this is nice.

We'll see how it goes.

Meanwhile today was pickleball day. Fitbit says I got my 10K steps in and I feel like it. The day was hot and my sleep the past couple of nights has been not so good. Maybe my subconcious concerned about the dog volunteer problem. That really has been concerning me more than it should. Guilt over having quit the Ranch gig I suspect. But I'll have a good nap today.

I've got a new pair of bicycle shoes coming. The ones I've had for 20 years or so finally disintegrated. The last time I rode with them pieces startef falling off. I'd tried to replace them before but what I got was too narrow. The ones coming tomorrow are supposed to be very wide. Fingers crossed. Riding again has been good. I've felt something I've not felt in a while. My body kind of wanting to ride. It feels kind of like a desire to have food intake but it is for ridingk for the exercise. I used to get it a lot. My metabolism would start to go up in the morning even before getting on the bike. It is a weird thing but really good for me and a positive feeling I want to foster.

But for now, I really need an omlet.

susandennis

Friday night, Ethel asked me if I wanted wine or water 'or we have some tonic and lime' and pointed to glasses set up that looked delicious and refreshing so I opted for tonic and lime. And now, of course, I'm hooked. I do enjoy a good gin and tonics but I like most alcohol, while I enjoy the taste, I do not enjoy the effects. Plus who needs the extra calories anyway? For some reason it never occurred to me to just leave out the gin. So tonic and lime is my new, refreshing, Summer beverage.

I went out yesterday to buy some tonic and to make an Amazon return and then remembered, after I had left, that the UPS shop was closed for father's day. So I still have that errand to do. But, still no hurry.

There are workers out on the patio this morning but they are working very quietly :) There are several tables set up for eating so someone must be having a lunch or dinner out there today. Tis the season. My friend, Steve, gathers folks for dinners on Thursdays out there. I can watch from my table. I keep thinking I'll join them sometime but on Thursdays I usually find a million reasons why I'd rather not. Starting with... eating outside?? I've never understood the allure. It's way cooler and more pleasant in here and... no bugs.

I have nothing on the agenda today. So that's probably what I will do. More Clarksons Farm and more Pride dolls. I need to build up an inventory for when I'm not knitting next week. My New Zealand friends arrive on Sunday.

Even with nothing on the agenda, it would be good if I got dressed.

days_unfolding

I bought a tent and a sleeping bag on eBay. I would like to do some camping. I bought a two-person tent, so I could take Bella camping! I looked into some HipCamp sites.

I found a campground that I like. It’s near Starved Rock, so I could take Bella hiking (although she probably wouldn’t like the metal stairs). I wouldn’t take the puppy until she gets older. Though Starved Rock is wall-to-wall people in the summer. The fall would be better. I found the one trail that doesn’t have stairs (Illinois Canyon).

Starved Rock has dog-friendly cabins, but I can’t find out how much they cost.

I should test out the tent and sleeping bag in the back yard.

Got up at 8 AM. Fed us all. Did laundry. (My white towels came out looking good!) Now it’s nap time.

Napped. Moved around some stuff that’s by the front stairs outside. Now I’m boiling. I turned the ceiling fan on in the kitchen, although Bella doesn’t like it.

I’ve been working hard on the kitchen and packing on breaks. I still need to figure out one more outfit for the trip. Hmm, if I hand wash the clothes that I’m wearing on the plane, I’ll be okay.

I kind of want it to be dinner time because I need a break. I’m soaking the dog and cat dishes and am cooling off from being outside. I’m going to take a shower (done) and see if I perk up. It’s been almost 24 hours since I had my brows done.

I have an impulse to say that I can’t go on the business trip, but I should go. Getting ready to go is a hassle.

Started more loads of laundry. Finished packing my suitcase. The linen clothes will be nice and cool. Remembered my swimsuit. (The hotel has two pools.)

Now I’m going to take a SHORT nap. Bella is zonking out.

Ugh. Bella found a dead possum and wouldn’t let it go. I finally got her to come in with a food bribe. I need to go out and get rid of it.

I’ve decided not to go. I just can’t. I’ll tell the people at work I’m sick. Not a lie because my stomach is really upset. I just canceled everything and will email them about it in a few hours.

shadowkat

Methinks I've contracted a chest cold, or a head cold, feels like a chest cold. Lovely, I need to get blood work done on Thursday, and have a virtual appointment on Friday. I'll just wear a mask on Thursday. Also, apparently for most of this week.

I blame Breaking Bad, whose been under the weather of late. Or the subway.
God knows.

I did not go protest in the No Kings Protests yesterday, outside of the fact that I was feeling poorly and not sleeping well, so exhausted, plus digestive issues (one does not march with digestive issues in a huge city with no easily accessible bathrooms - it's just not done), and bum knees, with a sciatic nerve. The people doing it in their walkers, just protested outside of their homes on the sidewalk, not quite the same thing.

Not that I feel guilty or anything. (well maybe a little).

The official count is 12.1 million. Palantir is collecting data for the evil Empire (aka Trump Administration and his Republican cronies), so various sources have put up protections and aren't re-posting videos, photos, or addresses any longer. Things are starting to get heated in the US, and I'm not quite sure where its headed. I most likely have the same news resources that you all have, so we're kind of in it together?

Between the chest congestion, digestive issues, lack of sleep, sciatic nerve, and the news...I've fallen into a malaise of sorts and am finding it difficult to concentrate. As a result, I didn't get any of the things I intended to do - done this weekend. Oh well, I did at least do some exercises, took out the trash, and got a lot of water. (The water went out in my building on Friday night, so I went and picked up some.)

Did finish watching a few things of note:

1. Dept. Q on Netflix. Will it get a second season? Forbes thinks so, since Netflix submitted it for the Emmy's and doesn't tend to do that otherwise - also it got a good reception. But honestly, it's Netflix, so who knows?
It's a mixed bag, and I agree with the critics. Excellent performances, Mathew Good is rather brilliant in it, as is the rest of the cast. But, like most of these mystery series - it spends far too much time on the convoluted sadistic Case of the Arc or Lost Case, and not enough on the other mysteries. ( Read more... )

That said? Compelling characters, and I want to see more of them, and I liked them. Also I want more of the series. So...I was like all of the other critics willing to handwave the Lost Case.

2. Season 2 of My Buffy Re-watch

Take aways? Becoming Part II is a lot better than Becoming Part I, mainly for the Spike, Buffy, and Joyce scenes. Also the Drusilla, Jenny, Angel and Giles scenes. It's a lot more fun, and a little less on the campy/cheesy side.
( See more )

3. Murderbot I'm about five episodes in? Saw the latest at any rate, and kept falling asleep during it. It's a slow series. The books were too.
It's funny, but there's too much time spent on the space opera parody that the Murderbot is a fan of. Yes, yes, I get what the writers are doing there, but a little parody goes a long ways. I kept going to sleep.

4. Andor - it's almost too political for its own good. And convoluted. Reminds me a little of the second of the Star Wars prequels, which was also very political. I'm enjoying it, but my attention kept drifting today during it, which again may be due to an overall lack of focus on my part.

***

In the 60sF/10sC, wet and rainy. I've stayed in, since I'm a bit under the weather and tired. I'm supposed to go on a tour of Grand Central tomorrow with the big headhoncho, but I may cancel and just hide in my cubicle.
This chest cold is threatening to be annoying. Maybe it's just allergies?

Good news, is it is a short work week. I have Thursday and Friday off. So just have to somehow get through Monday through Wed.

maju

We've had a dramatic cool change; the temperature today didn't even reach 70F/21C, and I had to wear both a long sleeved shirt and socks to keep warm. This is not normal weather for June.

I usually like to go for a longish walk or run on Sunday mornings, making the most of the nearby road that's closed to vehicles on the weekends, but it was raining when I was about to leave the house this morning so I changed my mind and used the exercise bike instead.

Other than that burst of exercise it's been a fairly lazy day. I sorted out one more box of books to be donated, and reorganised some of the ones I want to keep so they don't get given away by mistake. I've got a small collection of Judi Dench movies and I'm working my way through watching them again so I can donate them too. Yesterday I watched Philomena and today I watched The Last of the Blonde Bombshells. Philomena was very good but I might not have watched Blonde Bombshells if Judi Dench wasn't the star.

bill_schubert

A week or so ago I heard an unusual banging in the washing machine. I'd just put clothes in it so I quickly took a look. There was my phone all turned on and bright and sitting on top of the clothes in the shallow water. I pulled it out and dried it off and it was working fine. Then the USB charge port failed. So I ordered another Pixel, a 9a. During the order I said I'd trade in my Pixel 7 and answered the questions truthfully. And they sent me an email that comes before the trade in packaging.

Then I read some Reddit and fiddled with the USB port using a needle. NOW it works fine, actually better than before. I don't think it was getting a full connection before but it is happening now.

SO, now what do I do? It is Sunday so nothing has happened. I can cancel right now and it will all be as if nothing happened.

The new phone would end up costing $486 after trade-in spread out over a couple of years at no interest. So, really, not much. The phone I currently have works fine but does not hold a charge. I'm ABC, always be charging. The 9a is getting a lot of raves so maybe it is time to upgrade anyway and my subconscious that left the phone in the washing maching was trying to tell me.

Sigh.

Meanwhile I've thought about the Humane center and decided to go there tomorrow and talk to them in person. I really want to walk dogs at least at first. There is a ton of other things that they want and I might change but right now I miss walking dogs, spending time with them, getting advice and pictures. So I'm going to ask if I can just do that one day a week and see how it goes. I've had some good advice on doing it this way and am going to take it.

Still thinking about the phone.

maju

Burnt leg: https://maju01.livejournal.com/2025/06/15/

susandennis

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