1. My library is about 300 books. Yes, I track it on a spreadsheet. Over the weekend I acquired two more books at Malice Domestic that I still need to incorporate.
2. I think I‘m still reading it.
#two4tuesday
I finished the tagged book this morning between feeding the cat who woke me at 5:45 and leaving for exercise class. It‘s a little OTT but fun, and I think we‘ll have a good discussion at book club.
I‘d planned to return it to the library on the way home BUT I managed to spill water on the crotch of my pants and was too embarrassed to get out of my car.
That was my day in a nutshell 🤣🤣
#mentalhealthmonday
I copied the idea from @monalyisha and found an old couple of posts from 2017. Usually I don‘t remember dedications, but I liked this one. It‘s relevant to the story as well. #sundayfunday
Amanda Flower is a prolific writer! I lost count of how many series she‘s had going. Last night she won the Agatha Award for historical mystery, so this morning at breakfast I started reading this, which is a book club selection for May. I also need to read the Kate Quinn book I started, but I got sucked into this one instead! #hyggehourreadathon
Congratulations to Gigi Pandian and the rest of the Agatha Award winners at this year‘s Malice Domestic!
My plans for the day? I‘m going to Malice Domestic! Just the dinner this year because I missed the deadline, but I‘m still looking forward to it. The tagged author will be there, and my book club is reading this for May.
Before I go it‘s errands and independent bookstore day. #chatterday
A quiet week of joys.
1. Earth Day cleanup in the woods where I like to walk.
2. Then I went to the shops and bought a skirt for $5 (no tariffs on secondhand items).
3. Easter morning breakfast where I met a chatty young man and his mother.
4. Capitals are 2-0 in the playoffs.
5. I reorganized my crafting supplies and liberated one of the containers.
#5joysfriday
Oof. I‘ve read 10/100 and that‘s being generous by assuming I read certain children‘s books. OTOH I‘ve probably bailed on at least 10 too. 🤣
Here are some I finished and enjoyed. #TLT
1. The Picture of Dorian Gray
2. The Color Purple
3. The Little Prince
Survey link: https://www.listchallenges.com/litsy-the-bbcs-big-read-200-101
1. Kili the unexpected kitten joined us in late August 2012. He was a tiny and scared little boy of indeterminate color, and he grew into a fluffy black cat who likes to sleep, eat, and watch the birds out the window.
2. Yes to both.
3. Tagged book is about a remarkable black cat.
1. Yes, I still carry cash, but not $3000 in cash. IYKYK
2. Some of the characters in this book are wealthy. Some characters are not. Some characters want the world to THINK they are wealthy. Therein lies a great deal of the conflict. #two4tuesday
My mood is a roller coaster! 🎢
The current regime is a joke. But it‘s not the least bit funny. Except sometimes it is.
It‘s Spring! Time of renewal and new hope! Except…see above.
So…resist, grieve, carry on, and live another day.
Congratulations @dabbe on your achievement! You are one of the reasons I love Litsy!
#mbc
#moodboardcontest
1. Today has been okay. I went to my exercise class, got some $ at the bank, and got some lunch that I ate at a local park. Tonight is book club, and I finished the selection this morning.
2. I don‘t follow mental health content creators. I had to look up a list of names, and I‘d never heard of any of them. #mentalhealthmonday
The Nationals were snowed out (!) in Colorado on Friday, so they‘re playing tonight. It‘s a good backdrop for #hyggehourreadathon as I read this moody mystery set in North Wales. It‘s for book club tomorrow, so I need to make some progress! I agree with some Littens about maybe too much side story, but I‘m intrigued by the setting. This might lead to a new series being added to my repertoire.
It‘s hard to believe the Oklahoma City bombing took place thirty years ago. My mother lived just outside OKC for many years and was there in 1995. One of her neighbors was on his way to the Social Security office but turned around when he realized he‘d left his card at home. That probably saved his life that day.
https://www.nps.gov/okci/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
It‘s been another roller coaster week, but on Tuesday I took an impromptu trip to some nearby gardens. It was a good place to find joy.
1. Weeping fruit tree (plum? cherry?) next to a cute little pond
2. Japanese tea house seen from a newly refurbished viewing platform
3. Mira la belleza…and hear many languages spoken by the visiting families
4. Lenten rose
5. A lovely set of tulip beds where I also ran into a friend & had a nice chat #5joysfriday
I remember this series on PBS. 2018 seems like a lifetime ago! Final score was 42/100, and yes I‘m counting the whole series no matter how many books I read! These, however, are whole series I read.
1. The Giver
2. Lord of the Rings
3. Harry Potter
4. Hunger Games
5. Hitchhiker‘s Guide to the Galaxy
#TLT
If you want to join the fun, here‘s the link: https://www.listchallenges.com/litsy-the-great-american-read-2018-from-100-1
1. I‘m still thinking about the tagged book on a regular basis…
2. I‘m sad to say that I tried two Leigh Bardugo books and bailed on both. Maybe at another time…
#wondrouswednesday
1. I want to kick Bukele right in the nuts and then say “oopsie.” Other than that, I‘m feeling okay I guess.
2. I agree with the idea of affirmations in theory, but I don‘t really use them myself…not even badass affirmations. Maybe I should look into it?
#mentalhealthmonday
The author was a recent guest on the Daily Beans podcast and discussed this book about “legal” immigration, based in part on his own experience. It‘s funny and informative, subtly and not so subtly critiquing the current situation. If nothing else, it‘s abundantly clear that there‘s no “easy” way to immigrate to the US.
As part of the episode‘s “good trouble” segment, she suggested buying several copies and leaving some in LFLs, so I bought five.
Kili doesn‘t have the temperament to be a blanket cat, but he makes a nice book model. 😸
These stories are a little melancholy, so I‘m only reading one a day.
Earlier in the #hyggehourreadathon I finished another book that I‘ll describe later because it has [gasp] political overtones.
Typos!! 🤨 #sundayfunday
Here are my #camplitsy25 nominations. Please add me to the list.
1. Alex Ovechkin passed Wayne Gretzky in goals scored.
2. It was cold and the Nats lost, but it was still a ballgame.
3. Baltimore history presentation at the community center.
4. I didn‘t put away the blanket I‘d taken off the bed.
5. Much needed haircut.
#5joysfriday
I‘m not sure I entirely agree with this assessment, but this is where we are. Blue was also strong.
Red reader - the Passionate Adventurer
Thanks @TheLudicReader for the link 🔗
https://www.readyourcolor.com/
For a few years I made a concerted effort to watch as many of the nominees as possible, but even with that I only managed 30/116; some were pretty memorable though.
1. Philomena 😭
2. Lion😭
3. Get Out 😱
4. Barbie 🩷🩷
1. Survey link: https://www.listchallenges.com/academy-award-nominations-list-5-2010-2024
#TLT
1. I love all the spring flowers. My favorite at any time is whatever is set to bloom next, and for now that means azaleas. Hopefully they won‘t be affected by this latest cold snap.🤞🏼
2. I‘m grateful for libraries, this week and every week. I‘m grateful I didn‘t take my winter coat to be dry cleaned. I‘m grateful for all the spring flowers. #wondrouswednesday
My husband stopped at Popeyes and brought home chicken for dinner. I‘m watching the Red Sox in 2025 and reading about the Yankees in 1923. #hyggehourreadathon
It‘s a dreary #chatterday following a week when I was out and about most days, and my spouse is working, so I‘m catching up with household stuff. Nothing very exciting. 😆
Another very mixed week IRL of joys and otherwise but that‘s life right? This week‘s joys:
1. SOTR discussion at my favorite indie bookstore, complete with gifts and a cool tote.
2. Cory Booker and Susan Crawford.
3. Reconnecting with former coworkers at a rooftop reception.
4. Penguin resistance!
5. Shopping at the Amish market, but first breakfast! Including a big bowl of grits swimming in 🧈
#5joysfriday
As a #longtimefed I never attended a conference that was co-sponsored by an organization that had ceased to exist…but that happened today. I guess that explains why they didn‘t have any staff at the event. 😥
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/us/politics/doge-wilson-center.html
I‘ve seen 32/100 which is fewer than I‘d expected, but OTOH many more are on my TBW list. Here are some favorites from what I‘ve seen.
1. Sense & Sensibility
2. Life Is Beautiful 😭
3. Apollo 13
4. The Crying Game
Survey link: https://www.listchallenges.com/academy-award-nominations-list-4-1987-2010
#TLT
Another winner from Ann Cleeves. Vera is as grumpy and insightful as ever, and the story is compelling. I want to jump right into the next one, but I have book club selections to read! #serieslove2025
When I did my journal #wrapup for March, I remembered I also helped me friends find their new cats. A good development, but it did cut into my reading time.
In any event, here‘s a more realistic #serieslove2025 plan for April. Four books instead of eight. 🤣
1. I was a pretty good student in high school and less so in college. (Big fish, small pond,etc.)
2. Tagged book takes place in a school. I enjoyed it on audio.
#two4tuesday
I have to go somewhere later today and don‘t think I‘ll finish anything else, so I‘m calling it for March. My reading pace slowed down a bit for various reasons.
-I couldn‘t find an #authoramonth book I liked
-Two book club selections that were a little long and I couldn‘t get into them until about midway through
-Getting ready for tax return prep
-The world in general 🔥
Nevertheless, I tore through SOTR and loved it.
#wrapup
After a little trip to Panem, I‘m back in Northumberland with Vera. I spent most of the afternoon washing the bedding and reorganizing my bookcases. As usual, a little tweak turned into an overhaul of half the shelves. It‘s good to just sit and read and eat chicken with snow peas. #hyggehourreadathon
Yesterday I spent 3+ hours at The Last Word bookstore in Mt. Airy MD. It‘s a little bit of a drive but worth it. They have a smaller store closer to me that‘s in the midst of a reorganization, and I‘m looking forward to seeing the revamped space.
#sundayfunday
I went to a discussion thingy at the bookstore today. Besides talking books for three hours (it was only scheduled for two), we drank a couple pots of tea and got some swag. Including the chance to choose two ARCs from a stack. ♥️#indiebookstores
It was a particularly stinky week IRL but there was still joy to be found.
1. While walking in the woods, I ran into someone I knew, and we noticed this sweet little flower next to the path.
2. The library held Tolkien Reading Day event with the editor of the tagged book.
3. The PetSmart cashier and I were both singing along with Bruno Mars on the PA.
4. I had shepherd‘s pie with Impossible “meat,” and it was delicious. ⬇️
#5joysfriday
We‘re in the middle of a hostile government takeover, but it‘s still Opening Day.
I have seen 37/100 for this round. Some highlights:
1. Lilies of the Field
2. Mary Poppins
3. E.T.
4. Breaking Away
Survey link: https://www.listchallenges.com/academy-awards-list-3-nominations-for-best
#TLT
Sometimes the memes just write themselves.
As a #longtimefed I would receive regular briefings and training about the importance of OPSEC. During COVID my office had to jump through hoops to be allowed use Zoom.
These people are ridiculous.
ETA: “But her emails…”
1. I feel okay today. Exercise class was fun, and we got some much needed rain.
2. Yes. It‘s how I stay in touch with some of my friends and get some (but not all) of my news. On the other hand, it can also be frivolous at best and mean spirited. I make a point not to argue with strangers, as tempting as it may be.
3. When I shut it down a couple hours before bedtime (except for Litsy of course), I‘ve found that helps.
#mentalhealthmonday
![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png){kind=icon}
