Yes, the next book in the series, and yes, only the audiobook was available for borrowing. I’ve put a hold on for a library book, and also waiting on an ebook. Le sigh.
#NowReading
www.hoopladigital.com/audiobook/search-the-dark-charles-todd/13535076
Can’t finish this via audiobook – the reader’s soothing voice makes me sleep too well. It finally came up as an e-book at the library. As it’s NOT a boring book, I can read it faster than listening to it, without getting so relaxed I doze off.
Wings of Fire, by Charles Todd, an Ian Rutledge mystery.
The writing, pacing, and characters are solid and the style is beautifully melancholy. The Hamish character, a sort of inner voice, isn’t as intrusive as I thought he’d be.
UPDATE: Fell asleep and had a lovely nap after reading 7 or 8 chapters. Still going faster than listening to audiobook, and picking up details I missed.
My sewing room serves multiple functions – guest room, computer room, exercise room, extra TV room… and it needs decluttering and reorganizing to make those functions work.
#DeclutterChallenge2024
And my multipurpose room was full of Xmess stuff, badly arranged furniture, and clutter.
Day 1 was Garbage Day. Days 2-3 were for clearing out magazines & books, but don’t have many, and they’re in my home office. So I rearranged the furniture to open up space for my training bike – goal is to get it set up this weekend. Then today, Day 4, was to get rid of “strangers” and welcome back “friends” – pull out non-sewing tools & supplies, and hunt down sewing stuff from other places.
Then I emptied out all the caddies on my fold – out sewing table, and need to think about what tools and supplies need to be close at hand. I’m behind on clearing and cleaning my sewing machine, though.
And also behind on working on a stalled project. So I wrote up a “SQUIRRELS” list in my sewing journal of things I’d like to make. Squirrels are distracting thoughts that knock you off task, because thinking and organizing are hard, but dreaming and procrastinating are easy.
Not satisfied with making a big pile on what should be a clean workspace, I made a big pile of finished and unfinished fabric masks in my office, in order to repurpose the fabric for many, many squirrels.
2 years ago I made hundreds of flat, folded fabric masks and gave a bunch away, but still have about a hundred left. They’re roughly 8” square when unstitched and ironed flat. I got 3 unpicked, while playing with the new cordless iron, as work was slow.
Eh, it’s something to do.
Tomorrow is another day!
I’m a fan of quilter and YouTuber Karen Brown of #JustGetItDoneQuilts.
After months of remodeling chaos, my sewing room is a mess. Time to take out the garbage according to her Day 1 declutter challenge.
Today was the day we had friends and family over to the house to celebrate my husband David’s big birthday. Preparations started early; my in-laws offered to come over at noon to help clear the decks and set up for a pizza party for about 25 adults and a few children. My brother-in-law Mitch came from Phoenix yesterday, and we had a wonderful dinner at Seasons52 as a pre-event warmup. Could we do this socializing thing after months of being holed up in the Pillow Fort of Solitude during the remodeling phase?
Yep. It was fun! But the best part of the party is still when everybody leaves.
The guest room is being converted to a sewing room/computer room; all the sewing stuff was wheeled in there yesterday, and the existing furniture has been repositioned, but my sewing machines are buried, my long-delayed table runner project is under a pile of stuff, and my gaming computer is yet to be set up. Meanwhile, extra furniture comes out tomorrow before work.
But after Mitch gave me an opening with a joke about procrastination, I handed off the Christmas present/housewarming gift that I made last fall, then lost my confidence in actually mailing the box. Their neighbor is a quilter, and my nerve failed at the thought of her seeing my modest efforts.
But Mitch said “Oooh, she’ll love the blues,” so I’m much more certain of the thing, and it’s out of my hands. So now I need to continue with the editing down/culling of my household stuff that this crazy remodel project forced me to face.
Today, I placed some broken, beloved glass things in the recycling bin that my Aunt Veda gave my mom, that I inherited and promptly broke soon after receiving it (actually the cleaning service ladies broke it, but it was in a dangerous spot).
I’ve got more stuff like that of Mom’s that need to be properly placed and used, or let go. That’s in the weeks to come.
For tomorrow, just taking out garbage in the sewing room will be a start.
The Guardian takes notice of Mastodon. 
The new social network with its interconnected ‘fediverse’ is a welcome alternative to blustering rival Twitter and Elon Musk
Oh boy, here we go.
Mr. Musk, who asked his Twitter followers on Sunday if he should step down as head of the service, will remain the company’s owner.
— Read on New York Times Gift Link
My guess is he’ll pick someone guaranteed to offend everyone and to totally ruin the company.
Think Jared Kushner, or Steve Bannon, or Alex Jones, or Kellyanne Conway (which would be awkward for George).
There’s a bizarre detail about Weinstein’s anatomy at the end of this story. It’s a gift link, so you’ll be able to read it. Don’t read it at work or people on Zoom or in the next cube will look up and wonder why you’re gagging at your desk.
A Los Angeles jury on Monday found Harvey Weinstein guilty of rape, forced oral copulation and a third sexual misconduct charge after a weekslong trial.
— Read on https://wapo.st/3G7Hz81
This is a review of a review plugin for WordPress.. It’s not a book… but it’s also a review of the wireless keyboard I’m trying to type it on.
A year or more ago, I thought I’d be reading more books, so I enthusiastically read about 3 books and looked for a way to add stars and so on like I’ve seen on other blogs.
The review plugin is called Recensio Book Reviews, and it’s a little too powerful for someone that doesn’t read as many books as she should. But I’ve read a few lately and so I’ll keep it.
The keyboard is a Macally Wireless Backlit Keyboard and it’s not very good. I should have gotten a higher quality one from the same maker or any well-known maker – the space bar is really hard to press and I have to pound it, sometimes multiple times. It’s really light and feels a bit flimsy, actually. Would not buy again if it breaks. It came with an extended warranty, but not really worth it. I went for price and the backlit feature.
The full name is a mouthful:
Don’t bother, get a better quality one.
I’ll keep the review plugin, I could see using it more in the new year.
Anyone for a little New Math, or Dead Puppies?
LINK: Tom Lehrer Songs
In short, I no longer retain any rights to any of my songs. So help yourselves, and don’t send me any money. THIS WEBSITE WILL BE SHUT DOWN AT SOME DATE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, SO IF YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD ANYTHING, DON’T WAIT TOO LONG. TOM LEHRER