Do you ever wonder if you read the same book as others are talking about? I read a book the Wall Street Journal called, “A novel of love, lies, and deceit.” 

I’ll agree to lies and deceit, but love? Nope, not when spouses are lying throughout their marriage about important things, and cheating with someone outside the marriage. I started out liking the heroine, but by the end, I loathed her, and just skimmed it to find out the answer to the mystery.

And even that was so lame and ridiculous, I ranted to Wizard for a solid ten minutes.

Sigh. I guess people really loved this book, and to each his own. But for me, this was a lot of buildup, creating an illusion of mystery and possible danger…and it all turned out to be self-inflicted misery.

In good news, I’ve been listening to a string of audio books I enjoyed by Elin Hilderbrand, and now I’m listening to some books by Nora Roberts. I just need to find a good Kindle book to read that doesn’t make me ranty!

What’s new in your world of books and reading?

Happy Monday! The weekend was a good, but dizzying, whirlwind. I got to do most everything I wanted to do, except go watch Turbo at his swim lessons. I’ll do that next weekend. Anyhow, we helped Youngest with the move, and both he and his fiance are pretty well settled in their beautiful new home. For the record, my soon to be daughter-in-law and I put a bed frame together, and set up the bed on our own. We don’t need boys and we told them that! We got the guest room all set up without any help from them.

Sunday, the family all went over, Turbo (my grandson), was the first one in the pool (with his dad and uncle)! Turbo definitely approves of the pool. They have a really nice backyard to have family and friends over to hang out in.

On Saturday, I cooked, and I made two different batches of cookies while Wizard was back at Youngest’s house helping him with things like changing locks.
After he got home, we went to Biker Witch and Biker Hubby’s house. Biker Witch is doing much better now. It’s been a month since her surgery, and while she has a way to go, she’s definitely feeling better than she was and making solid progress. Maggie went with us, and she was thrilled that Biker Hubby bought Maggie her very own special box of small treats.

I think they gave her about 10 of them, LOL! But they were really small treats, so that’s okay.

They also had a great surprise for Wizard–his very favorite boysenberry pie. Wizard and Maggie are both seriously spoiled

Today, the washing machine guy is coming to install a new timer that we hope will solve the spin problem, and I’m hoping I’ll manage to get at least a couple of hours of work in.

How was your weekend?

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a good week! Here’s five random things about my week.

1. I wrote five pages yesterday. It doesn’t sound like much, but I’m happy I could do that. I know many people think I should start something new, but I can’t knowing I didn’t finish this trilogy. But I’ll never again publish before I finish or at least drafted. Life has too many curveballs ready to throw off our plans!
2. A lizard lost the game of chase to Maggie I had to dispose of said lizard because Wizard was off helping Youngest with his pool. The poor creature was totally intact and looked unharmed, just…not alive. Maggie really does like the chase part, and I guess she loses interest after that. It’s possible the little guy just died on its own too, since I didn’t see it to know for sure. Possible, but unlikely, given Maggie’s history of chasing lizards. Oh well, I love her anyway.
3. Replacing the garage door opener turned into a major day and a half project. The biggest snafu was a wiring problem–caused by Wizards getting a staple through the wire. Shh…don’t tell him I told you He knew it, but we both of us spent hours trying every other possible solution to avoid him having to rewire. The next day, he rewired it, and now the new opener is working great. He’s soooo much more patient with this stuff now that he’s retired and not under constant time pressures.
4. Having only one car is inconvenient. In the scale of life problems, this is a minute one, but I’ll sure be glad to get our car back next week. I hope it’s ready as promised!
5. Youngest and Fiance are in the process of moving into their new home, and should finish the bulk of it this weekend. Exciting times for them! I think I’ll bake youngest cookies too celebrate. You’re never too old for homemade cookies from your mom, right?

This weekend, I hope to see Turbo, but I also want to see my sister since it’s hard, boring and frustrating to recover from major surgery. The one-car situation, Youngest moving, and life in general has made it tricky, but I’ll work it out Now I’d really like to hear five things about your week! If I don’t answer on Friday, I will sometime during the weekend, we may be coming and going a lot.

Have a safe and fun weekend!

Hi guys, it’s me, Maggie! For fun I thought I’d show you a pic of me after I spent the day playing with one of my bestest friends ever, Turbo (mom’s grandson).

For reals, this is me after Turbo left. Me and Turbo run and play, and plus…shhhh…don’t tell my mom, but he feeds me food when mom isn’t looking.

My stupid brother, Middle Son, told on me once though I heard him say, “Mom, you better make Maggie come outside with us, Turbo is feeding her.” Brothers, am I right? I mean Middle Son brother is usually all cool, with lots of pets and gives me treats, but that tattling to mom totally sucks.

But Turbo never tattles! He sure does giggle though, and that makes my tail all happy! I can’t even stop my tail from all the joyful wagging.

The only time I worried a little bit was when they took my bestest friend ever, Turbo, in that big water hole. But don’t worry, I was really brave and went all the way to the edge where I saw my other brother, Oldest Son, holding onto Turbo real good. Also mom and my last brother (I gots a lot of brothers!) Youngest Son held Turbo too, but they were also super careful.

So I didn’t worry anymore.

On Monday, I wasn’t very hungry, and I mostly lazed around. Mom and Wizard Dad said it was because I was hung over from all the fun with Turbo. But I didn’t care, it was worth it!

Gosh, I sure hope Turbo comes over again soon!

Do any of you have special friends who make you so tired you don’t feel as good as usual even the next day on account of all the fun you have together?

P.S., Mom said she’s sorry she doesn’t have a pic of me and Turbo from Sunday. She said we move too fast for her to snap a pic–whatever that means. Probably she just forgot on account of it was her birthday and she was having fun too

We had a great weekend, and the pool party yesterday rocked. Turbo had a blast in the pool! I didn’t take picture because pools and cell phones are not a good combination

And guys, Maggie and Turbo LOVE one another. Turbo hand fed Maggie a serving of her kibble, and Maggie gently and patiently took each piece of kibble from his fingers. We were all there supervising. To be clear, we didn’t let Turbo interrupt her eating. I just had some kibble out for her that she hadn’t eaten, and we gave it to Turbo to feed her like treats (and to keep him from feeding her his crackers). I’m not sure why Maggie and Turbo have this bond, it’s just one of those things that happens.

That part of the weekend was good, but dear God the shootings in Texas and Ohio broke my heart as I’m sure it broke all of yours. I don’t know what creates these monsters, and I don’t believe the answers are easy or simple. But what I won’t accept is the, There’s nothing we can do mentality. I know we won’t ever stop all the monsters, but if we stop even one, we will have saved some mother, child, sister, brother, wife, husband, friend or lover from unbearable heartache, and that’s a win for the good guys. For myself, I support law enforcement and their efforts to stop these events with various tools. They have prevented more than one mass murder before it happened. I also support organizations that provide disaster relief in those first critical hours and days after a shooting (and other tragedies).

What I don’t do it get political on social media. I’ve yet to see people screaming at each other over issues or candidates solve one signal problem. I’m rather put my energies into something that helps, even if it’s a small thing, I’m at least trying instead of throwing up my hands and saying, there’s nothing we can do.

Something that I haven’t yet done, but think I should, is learn CPR. I won’t prevent a tragedy with CPR knowledge, but if I’m ever there when one occurs, I might be able to help. Again it’s small, but what if we all did one small, positive thing?

In the meantime, I am very grateful to all the first responders who put themselves in danger to save others. In both Texas and Ohio, they risked their lives and made a difference. They are my heroes.

Okay off my soapbox and moving on. Today I wanted to work, but the garage door opened broke, so we have to buy the new one and replace it, and Wizard will need my help. Plus this week and this weekend Youngest Son and his fiance are moving into their house. However, I’m still going to get some pages in around all that.

How was your weekend?

TGIF! Let’s jump right into sharing five random things around our week.

1. So the news about Youngest Son (BLB). He and his fiance have bought a house! It closes this week, and they’ll get the keys on Sunday night. We are so danged thrilled for them! Youngest Son has been renting a room for years now, and saving money. We are bursting with pride for this kid! Both he and his fiance have worked hard to get to this point, and they absolutely love the house–an existing 3 bed, 2 bath home with a pool and jacuzzi! They are having a wonderful, and well-deserved good year with buying their first house and getting married in November! One added note, Youngest told me that he’s putting a fence around the pool ASAP for all the kids in the family, and to make sure Fiance’s two dogs are safe. That’s my boy! Money will be tight, but the safety of their family and pets is a priority.
2. Our car is in the shop at least until sometime next week. It’s being repaired from the car accident caused by the other, uninsured, driver last week. Being down to one car is a pain, but at least Wizard’s not still working–that would have been a major problem. This is just a little inconvenient.
3. My washing machine is screwing with me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a really good machine, and for various reasons I don’t want a new one. But this year, the WM (Washing Machine) has decided it will only spin when it wants too. Every other part of the cycle works great, including draining the tub. I’d say WM does this little trick about 20% of the time. But do you think we could get it to NOT spin while the repairman was here twice this week? Of course not. WM spun like a professional ballerina. LOLOL! After much research and debate, we’re going to replace a part that is the most likely culprit. Naturally he has to order the part, but it’s all good, WM works, it just adds a little mystery to my life with the Will I or Won’t I Spin game.
4. I tested a shredded chicken for tacos or fajitas recipe yesterday and it was great! I’m making it into taquitos for me and Wizard, which I’m 90% sure will come out fine, but I’m writing this blog Thursday afternoon before I fry up the taquitos.
5. But the real reason I’m testing the above recipe is we’re having a Family Pool Party on Sunday to celebrate my birthday. Wizard arranged it, and offered to cook, but um…I took over, LOL! I’m making shredded seasoned beef and chicken for easy fajitas after we swim. For the party, one daughter-in-law (Middle Son’s wife) told Wizard I can NOT make my own cake and she is bringing cupcakes. Love her so much for thinking of that. Wizard was going to try to make the cake, but I’m such a control freak that way, I’d have done it and she knows it. This gesture means so much to me. All our daughter-in-laws are bringing things to help out a lot. As far as the cooking I’m doing, I volunteered and enjoy it. I’ll do it all a day ahead,  throw it in crock pots to reheat and forget it until we’re ready to eat. Sunday will be fun and family time. Turbo is a total water baby and I can’t wait to play with him in the pool!

So that’s some of my week, now I’d love to hear five random things about your week. Have a great weekend!