1. Book club winery visit with snacks. If you look closely, you can see me in the background at the counter.
2. Free map of Rohan from the game store.
3. Azaleas next to the side door at church.
4. Double header at the ballpark.
5. The website tomanlorenzo.com has given me joy for many years, especially during Oscars and Met Gala weeks.
#5joysfriday

Ouch! Since there‘s only 6, I might as well include them all. I liked or loved these five.
1. Jane Eyre
2. Pride & Prejudice
3. Sense & Sensibility
4. Mansfield Park
5. Wuthering Heights
This one I hated, and it didn‘t help that I had to read it twice!
6. The Scarlet Letter
#TLT

Survey link: https://www.listchallenges.com/1001-books-you-must-read-before-you-die-1700s

Apparently it‘s “terrorism” to expect due process for all? Fun fact! As a #longtimefed I had a passing acquaintance with Seb G when he worked for an organization downstairs from my office. He struck me as a bit grumpy and kinda “out there.” He has some books in the Litsy database, but I‘m not going to highlight them in any way.

1. Tagged book was a giveaway 😄
2. I keep a reading journal with reviews/blurbs, sometimes post reviews on Litsy, and fill out the review questionnaires on StoryGraph.
#wondrouswednesday

I worry about this too. When we finally get this 💩show behind us, there will be a lot of work to do. Who would want to work for such a capricious employer?
#longtimefed #psrw

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/lawmakers-fear-doge-cuts-will-drive-aw...

1. After I was reading my Kindle in bed and dropped it on my nose when I fell asleep, I mostly stick to reading while sitting!

2. I‘m just starting this today, so I‘ll let you know…

#two4tuesday

Is it really a #shelfsweeper if I DNF‘d and offloaded it before it actually got to my shelf?

Tagged book was a giveaway at Malice Domestic. Psychological thrillers are a mixed bag for me, but I figured I‘d give it a try. After three chapters I decided it wasn‘t for me.

My book club had a social gathering on Saturday, and I brought it along with me for someone else to try.

Even if we could set aside the rampant disinformation influencing the current regime‘s justification for ripping the guts out of federal government agencies (which is a very big “if” to take into account), it just doesn‘t make sense to do it the way they‘re doing it. As we‘ve already seen, they fired people they really shouldn‘t have fired.

True budgetary and policy analysis takes weeks if not months to accomplish properly. #longtimefed #psrw

I DNF‘d two books this weekend! Luckily, I also stopped at the library for a the tagged book. It‘s clever and fun & goes great with lasagna. #hyggehourreadathon

I would love to visit Viv‘s coffee shop in Thune for the cinnamon rolls alone. #sundayfunday

The #longtimefed is back for Public Service Recognition Week. When I was working, this week usually passed with little fanfare other than a nice boilerplate message from POTUS and maybe one from our Director. This year it‘s a joke at best.

This week‘s joys are all from Malice Domestic 37.
1. Gigi Pandian was the toastmaster. She remembered me from last year, and we had a nice chat.
2. She‘s here being interviewed by next year‘s toastmaster, Ellen Byron. I got a free signed copy of the tagged book at the closing tea.
3. I reconnected with the team behind the website cozymystery.com who I met last year.
4. I registered for Malice Domestic 38. ⬇️
#5joysfriday

There are books on this list that I “should” have read but never did, but we won‘t mention them further!

I read 34/100

Here are some of my favorites that I did read 😄
1. Lord of the Rings
2. Watership Down
3. A Tale of Two Cities
4. A Prayer for Owen Meany

Survey link: https://www.listchallenges.com/litsy-the-bbcs-big-read-100-1

#TLT

I‘ve finished my book club selections for May, so I‘m looking forward to reading some #serieslove2025 books and maybe even some for the #shelfsweeper readathon.

Just like that April is done! I think I have rediscovered my reading pace. #wrapup

1. There‘s something about the smell of bacon and eggs that takes me back to lazy Saturday morning breakfasts when I was a kid.
2. I remember playing on the deck my grandfather built at their house, as well as “helping” them pick strawberries.
Thanks for the tags.
#wondrouswednesday

I snuck in this #authoramonth selection on the last day! It was a fascinating and compelling story about a female sniper fighting for the Soviet Union in World War Two. At first I was annoyed by the diversion to the US tour, but as it progressed I appreciated it as a storytelling tool.

The USSR made use of women in combat roles 80 years ago, but Secretary Kegbreath really thinks he‘s doing something here by eliminating the WPS program in 2025.

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.

Tagged book takes place in…April. #sundayfunday

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. We filed in March, I mailed the check last week, and it cleared yesterday 😕
2. Bossy
#two4tuesday

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

1. I love to read, so I guess that means I love books too.
2. Tagged!
#two4tuesday

That‘s a wrap! Satisfying conclusion to the series. #serieslove2025

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

Every book I read is a Heist book! 🥁

Tagged book is an interesting heist/caper story.

#sundayfunday

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. 😆