1. It gives me joy to have compiled the 2025-26 slate of selections for the book club at my church.
2. I just finished the long version of this list, with covers and synopses. It‘s been a good distraction from…all this.
#mentalhealthmonday

The Rue Montorgueil wasn‘t painted for #BastilleDay but I love the riot of French flags. #JulyJazz

The good news: I‘ve read 11 books in 7 weeks.

The bad news: I‘ve read 5 books from my #14books14weeks list. One of those I read between making the list and the start of the 14 weeks!

The okay news: I have most of the other books on hand or on hold.

A few hours ago the sky opened and it rained buckets. A little later the sun came out and I took an unscheduled nap. Just now I took an abbreviated walk around the neighborhood because the rain left behind some humidity.

Seen on my walk: an
Upside down flag and mushrooms
Sprouting from the rain

#haikuaday #haikuhive #welcomenewmember

Was it going to be anything else? #sundayfunday

After telling me it was no longer available, the inter library distribution system sent me a well-loved copy of this charming little book. There‘s even a painting he did of turkeys that I‘d never seen before.

#picnic
#JulyJazz

Weekend reading? Maybe? At least both books are inside now and no longer riding around in the back seat of my car!

There are many candidates for a #ranttime but I‘m going to bring up the potential tariffs on Brazilian goods. Because they‘ve put his tropical counterpart on trial. Because he attempted a coup after he lost an election. 🤔

As a #longtimefed and in my personal travels, the only place I‘ve had any trouble at Customs was Brazil in 2002. We were delayed and our luggage thoroughly searched. This was retaliation for US restrictions after 9/11.

1. Cookies n cream popcorn from the Amish market
2. Handheld fan + sunscreen + hat = comfort on a hot day
3. Cream puff
4. Day lily outside the bookstore
5. Book that was misplaced has resurfaced
#5joysfriday

I enjoyed this and think it will generate a good book club discussion. Sometimes the story was a little OTT, or maybe not. Anyway, here are some banned (*) books to add to your TBR if you‘re so inclined.

There‘s another one I‘m adding to my list that I‘ll put in comments as it‘s sort of a spoiler.

We had a #wdncw on Monday…

We do not care that we are eating Chinese food for breakfast. People in China do it every day!

#forgiveness #julyjazz

It‘s haircut day! That means my hair will be relatively predictable for a week or so. Then…

What will my hair do…
Heat miser, pancake flat, or
Curls that look like horns

#haikuhive #haikuaday

During the day, I can usually find something to do that will occupy my mind just enough to distract me. It can be something as simple as unloading the dishwasher or putting away laundry.

NGL though that it can be harder to switch off my brain at night. So I put on sleepy music and try to think about something else, anything else, and I fall asleep eventually.

#mentalhealthmonday

I want to thank everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday. I went to the ballgame (where else?) where the team laid a massive egg, but I had a good time with friends in person and friends online.

Someone brought cream puffs, and they were delicious!

We were delayed getting home for a couple reasons, but I‘m home now and settled in with a beverage and this book. So far the characters seem a little two-dimensional but interesting. I‘ve proposed this for my book club to read next year. #hyggehourreadathon

I‘m reading this for #authoramonth but tried to read another book of hers a while ago. #sundayfunday

Proof that I‘m a mood reader! I started this a few months ago and only read a few chapters before returning it to the library. This time around, I finished it in four days! It‘s 400 pages long and has some grim scenes, but it‘s ultimately a satisfying read.

If you‘ve read the first three books, you know Fin is kind of a jerk but has a good heart underneath his bravado, and this plays out here when his son is accused of murder.

#serieslove2025

When your niece leaves her library books on the dining room table, you‘re obligated to read one of them while eating breakfast. Then you write a haiku about it. #haikuhive #haikuaday

A dark retelling
Snow White not so innocent
Beautiful artwork

A #ranttime for the 4th of July that‘s not political!

It‘s two rants for the price of one.

1. Can we please not have American flag overalls? On anyone?
2. While we‘re at it, can we get rid of competitive eating contests? They‘re just gross in every way.

I‘m at the ballpark with my family. The game is out of hand, so I‘m sitting in the shade!

A Nationals game
With Beth, Jim, and Claire on the
Fourth of July … Woo!

#haikuaday #haikuhive

1. After my adventure at Second Story Books last weekend, I went to my favorite winery where there was a Peruvian food truck. Inca Kola, chicken sandwich, and yuca fries. Plus they have finely started bottling Sauvignon Blanc.
2. New sun shirt from Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
3. The Nationals finally have a sponsor patch on their uniforms, and it‘s AARP 😂
4. Blue Diamond wasabi & soy sauce almonds are delicious. ⬇️
#5joysfriday

The billionaire bailout bill has passed. #ranttime #haikuaday #haikuhive

Good things take time but
Destruction happens quickly
Cruelty is the point

We do not care that we laughed so hard at the podcast we listened to on our walk, that the neighbors must think we‘re crazy. #wdncw

We got these trays as wedding gifts and used one of them once. I think breakfast in bed is something that works better for me in theory than in reality. So I free cycled them. I‘ve had mixed results with the process overall, but in this case it worked perfectly. Someone claimed them almost immediately and picked them up within the hour.

I don‘t want this stuff
Post it to free cycle and
It finds a new home

#haikuaday #haikuhive

For today‘s #ranttime here are a couple stories that may have gone under the radar:
1. University of Virginia President resigns under pressure from the federal government because of “DEI” compliance. Note that UVa is a PUBLIC university.
2. Applicants for federal jobs will be asked to submit answers to essay questions. As a #longtimefed I can tell you this is stupid in addition to being troubling.
Links in comments.

I‘m still quietly cleaning up and cleaning out my book shelves. All while also acquiring new books! I think that‘s called reshaping?

Anyway, this weekend I made a chunk of progress. On Saturday I visited Second Story Books and got a dose of reality about selling books to them, so one went straight to the LFL. ⬇️

On Sunday I donated several RS issues to a special ed teacher for collages, and I‘ve read a few more.
#monthlymagazineblitz

Clean calendar page
Holidays, pretty picture
To start a new month

#haikuhive #haikuaday

Happy #CanadaDay to those who celebrate!

One thing I miss from my office is the annual international student luncheon. So much good food!

#JulyJazz

Likewise, I‘m amazed that it‘s the end of June already. How was the month? It was HOT.🥵

But I managed. And time moves on…
#mentalhealthmonday

June turned out to be a reasonably good month for reading after all. I had my doubts a few times! Starter Villain was my favorite, though there were some other contenders.

I finished Cocaine Blues in the wee hours of the morning and enjoyed it. Entertaining and compelling, while also addressing some serious issues that unfortunately persist today.

#wrapup

I saw this on Facebook a while ago and gave the first answer 😎 but I could do one or the other.

Ten-minute TED talk
About hot men of Middle
Earth … or tartan noir

I could possibly also do one about TNR but I might get too emotional.

#haikuaday #haikuhive

Tonight‘s #hyggehourreadathon selection.

The tagged book explains clearly the importance of including diverse perspectives, and how that is being accomplished in certain spaces. #sundayfunday

The other day I went to the bank for some cash, and a spider landed on my arm. 😮

Just minding my own
A spider landed on me
I screamed like a girl

#haikuaday #haikuhive

I‘ve been blocked! I guess I should be flattered? I wrote a #haikuaday about it.

Friendly reminder:
You can mute tags you don‘t like
No need to block me

In this case, the tags to mute are #ranttime & #longtimefed and I‘ll try to keep the blatant political “stuff” contained to those. I have to say, though, that blocking is the “nuclear” option, when unfollowing serves the same purpose.

I explained my rationale before. I‘ll still speak my mind.

1. Fun time at SA Cosby Q&A
2. Book club social meeting that inadvertently corresponded with a Mullet Mayhem contest
3. I love lemonade but cherry limeade is pretty good too
4. Congratulations to the OKC Thunder
5. Road paving on the main drag is finally done
#5joysfriday

Before Kili there was Annie. On this day in 2012 we had to make the heartbreaking decision to let her go. She was 22 years old and had lived a good long life. Like most cats, she loved boxes.

Our dear sweet Annie
Calico diva hobbit princess
You were a good cat

#haikuhive #haikuaday

That‘s more like it! 55/100 including some all time favorites.
1. Barbie
2. The Blues Brothers
3. Inside Out

Survey link: https://www.listchallenges.com/biggest-summer-movies-by-gross-1975-2024

#TLT

I have a dilemma this morning…

Muffin or pizza
These are my breakfast choices
I just can‘t decide

#haikuhive #haikuaday

As a #longtimefed I know that the Defense Department was created/consolidated in 1949. The name change had nothing to do with political correctness. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/25/trump-war-department-def...

In the spirit of #haikuaday I wrote this for yesterday‘s journaling prompt, about my favorite summer drink.

Tart yellow citrus
Base for the best summer drink
Ever: lemonade

Later today I‘ll raise a glass to the #haikuhive 🍋

Oh, I am sorely tempered to rant today, but instead I‘ll join the #haikuhive with this observation from my walk in the neighborhood a few weeks ago. Please let me know whom to tag.

Old Black man sits on
His porch and eats ice cream from
A bowl in his lap

I‘m coping by going through email, getting stuff done, and filing things away.

A few years ago I bought a couple portable chargers, and I recently got a recall notification. Thank you, CPSC! After about an hour of going around in circles to file a replacement request, I‘m ready to brave the heat and go to the community center where I can walk laps in the gym.

#mentalhealthmonday

It was a great Q&A in DC Friday. He talked about his love of reading at an early age, the teachers who encouraged him, and plans for adaptations of some of his books…among other things.

I‘ve read a couple chapters and know the meaning of the title. We‘re at dinner, basketball is on TV, and I‘ve got the book in front of me. #hyggehourreadathon

I‘d read mysteries. There‘s a lot of room for a variety of stories, settings, characters, etc. #sundayfunday

1. Repair café at the library fixed my mother‘s lamp.
2. My BuJo stickers from Etsy arrived.
3. Good food this week: curry chicken, sushi, loaded hotdog at the ballpark.
4. Deep cleaned the bathroom. Not a joy at the time but the result is.
5. Nationals finally won a game after eleven losses in a row.
#5joysfriday

I picked up this book from the LFL a while ago, forgot about it, found it again during a bookcase cleanout, and read it in the midst of cleaning the bathroom. Cute illustrations, interesting twists on known stories, and several tales of trickery.

This is apparently part of a series, but I‘m skeptical that the author‘s name is really hole in one. 😆

Yeah, my score isn‘t much better as we move forward in time, but here are three out of the 6/100 that I read.
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
2. So Long a Letter
3. Fear of Flying
#TLT

1. We used to play this word game that was kinda like Scrabble but one word at a time. I don‘t remember what it was called. Outside, my friends and I would make up elaborate scenarios and act them out then judge our acting.

2. I saw The Sound of Music with my family when I was pretty young, and I‘ve loved it ever since then.

#wondrouswednesday