Berly's Bookstacks #5

So many choices!! What should I read?
Reading Now
L 11/22/63 (K 877 pages) by Stephen King
@ The Book of Two Ways (🎧 16 hrs) by Jodi Picoult
@ The XX Brain (B 311 pages) by Lisa Mosconi

Ideas...
@ The Hero of this Book (B 177 pages) by Elizabeth McCracken
The Heart's Invisible Furies IR by John Boyne with Beth
Pandora's Jar by Nathalie Haynes
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson with Stasia
✔ Mort (B 295 pages) by Terry Pratchett

Source
IR = Indiespensable Readers
ER = LibraryThing Early Reviewer
✔ = Off the shelf (not acquired this year)
L = Library
↩ = Reread
@ = Acquired this year
✗ = DNF
? = Need to get

Media
B = Printed Book
🎧 = Audio
K = Kindle
GN = Graphic Novel

Read in August ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
2023 Total ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
79. @ Lessons in Chemistry (B 391 pages) by Bonnie Grams 4.0
78. L Rogue Protocol (K 150 pages) by Martha Wells 3.5
77. @ The Way Life Should Be (K 308 pages) by William Dameron DNF
76. @ The Road Trip (🎧 8 hrs) by Beth O'Leary 2.5
75. L Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie Holmberg 3.5

Read in July ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
2023 Total ?? pages / ?? 🎧 hours
74. ✔ Then She Was Gone (B 359 pages) by Lisa Jewell 3.0
73. L West with Giraffes (K 381 pages) by Lynda Rutledge 3.5
72. ✔ A Childrens' Bible by Lydia Millet 3.0
71. ✔ The Woman Who Fell From the Sky: Poems (B 69 pages) by Joy Harjo 3.75
70. @ Moonlight and Magic (🎧 5.5 hours) by Darynda Jones 4.0

Read in June 1,112 pages / 38 🎧 hours
2023 Total 9,053 pages / 222.75 🎧 hours
69. L Artificial Conditions (K 149 pages) by Martha Wells 4.0
68. L Beguiled (🎧 10 hours) by Darynda Jones 3.75
67. L Bewitched (🎧 8 hours) by Darynda Jones 4.0
66. L The Kaiju Preservation Society (K 268 pages) by John Scalzi 4.0
65. L Long Bright River (🎧 13 hours) by Liz Moore 2.75
❤️ @ Betwixt (🎧 7 hours) by Darynda Jones 4.0
63. @ The Light on Farallon Island (K 358 pages) by Jen Wheel 3.0
62. L Summit Lake (K 337 pages) by Charlie Dunlea 3.5

Read in May 1,724 pages / 9 🎧 hours
2023 Total 7,941 pages / 184.75 🎧 hours
61. L G is for Gumshoe (K 336 pages) by Sue Grafton 3.5
60. @ The Bookstore Sisters (K 36 pages) by Alice Hoffman 3.5
59. @ These Toxic Things (K 417 pages) by Rachel Howell Hall 3.75
❤️ L Twenty Years Later (K 370 pages) by Charlie Donlea 4.0
57. @ Trespasses (🎧 9 hours) by Louise Kennedy 2.5
56. @ Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (K 347 pages) by Charlie N. Holmberg 3.75
55. ✔ Hidden in Snow (K 434 pages) by Viveca Sten 4.0

Read in April 2,967 pages / 45.5 🎧 hours
2023 Total 6,217 pages / 175.75 🎧 hours
54. ✔ All He Has Left (K 206 pages) by Chad Zunker 3.0
53. ✔ The Nature of Secrets (K 347 pages) by Debra Webb 4.0
52. @ The Light We Carry (🎧 10 hours) by Michelle Obama 4.0
51. @ When the Rain Ends (K 334 pages) by Mary Ellen Taylor 4.0
❤️ ✔ An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us (K 481 pages) by Ed Yong 4.5
49. @ Sweet Tea Tuesdays (K 308 pages) by Ashley Farley 2.5
48. L The Nature of Witches (K 386 pages) by Rachel Griffin 3.75
47. ✔ Pattern Master (B 196 pages) by Octavia Butler 3.75
❤️ @ Stone Blind (B 371 pages) by Natalie Haynes with Beth and Ellen 4.5
45. @ The Winners (K 678 pages) by Fredrik Backman with Mark and Stasia 3.0
44. @ Earthside Quantum Earth Book #2 (🎧 9 hours) by Dennis E. Taylor 3.75
43. @ Travel by Bullet (🎧 3.75 hours) by John Scalzi 4.0
❤️ @ Roadkill (🎧 9 hours) by Dennis E. Taylor 4.25
41. @ Dolly Parton, Songteller (🎧 3.5 hours) by Dolly Parton 3.75
40. @ The Cloisters (🎧 10.25 hours) by Katy Hayes 3.0

Ratings
❤️ Favorite(s) of the month
Loved it! 5.0
Really Good 4.0
Good 3.0
Hmmmm 2.0
Don't Bother 1.0

Source
IR = Indiespensable Readers
LT = LibraryThing Early Reviewer
✔ = Off the shelf (not acquired this year)
L = Library
↩ = Reread
@ = Acquired this year
✗ = DNF
? = Need to get

Media
B = Printed Book
🎧 = Audio
K = Kindle
GN = Graphic Novel

Read in March 901 pages / 53.75 🎧 hours
2023 Total 3,250 pages / 130.25 🎧 hours
39. ✔ The Hound of the Baskervilles (🎧 7.5 hours) by Conan Doyle 3.0
38. @ I'm Glad My Mom Died (🎧 6.5 hours) by Jeannette McCurdy 4.0
37. @ I Will Find You (🎧 10.25 hours) by Harlan Coben 4.0
36. @ Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector (K 352 pages) Amit Katwala ER* 3.75
35. @ Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (🎧 14 hours) by Gabrielle Zen 3.75
34. @ Demon Copperhead (B 549 pages) Barbara Kingsolver w/ Ellen & Beth 4.0
❤️ @ Mad Honey (🎧 15.5 hours) by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan 5.0

Read in February 2,349 pages / 56.25 🎧 hours
2023 Total 6,078 pages / 76.50🎧 hours
32. @ No You Can't Be an Astronaut (K 94 pages)by Patience Fairweather (2/23 ER!!) 4.5
31. ✔ Bewilderment (B 278 pages) by Richard Powers 3.75
30. ✔ The Adventure of the Crooked Man (🎧 .75 hrs) Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
29. ✔ A Song For You: My Life with Whitney Houston (🎧 10.5 hours) by Robyn Crawford 4.0
28. @ The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes (K 350 pages) by Cat Sebastian
27. @ The Maid's Diary (K 376 pages) by Loreth Anne White 3.5
26. @ It Ends with Us (🎧 11 hours) by Colleen Hoover 4.0
❤️ ✔ Horse (B 401 pages) by Geraldine Brooks 5.0
24. ✔ A Carnival of Snackery (🎧 17 hours) by David Sedaris 4.0
23. @ Matrix (B 272 pages) by Lauren Groff for RL Bookclub 3.75
❤️ @ Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges *Gift from Linda 5.0
21. @ Aunt Fanny's Stars by Brigitte Weninger *Gift from Linda 4.0
20. L The Queer Principles of Kit Webb (K 348 pages) by Cat Sebastian 3.5
19. L The Twilight Man (GN 180 pages) by Koren Shadmi 4.0
18. @ Billy Summers (🎧 17 hours) by Stephen King 4.5

Read in January 3,729 pages / 20.25 🎧 hours
17. @ Fashionably Dead in Diapers #4 (K 253 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.0
16. @ Hell on Heels #3 (K 380 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.5
15. @ Fashionably Dead Down Under #2 (K 308 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.5
14. ✔ Silver Blaze Sherlock Holmes (🎧 1 hour) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
13. @ Fashionably Dead #1 (K 322 pages) by Robyn Peterman 3.5
12. ✔ Your Duck is My Duck (B 100 pages) IR by Deborah Eisenberg DNF
❤️ @ The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (K 334 pages) by Sangu Mandanna 4.5
10. ✔ The Adventure of the Copper Beaches Sherlock Holmes (🎧 1 hour) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
9. ✔ The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet Sherlock Holmes (🎧 1 hour) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.0
❤️ @ The Witch of Tin Mountain (K 328 pages) by Paulette Kennedy 4.5
7. @ The Chemistry of Love (K 347 pages) by Sariah Wilson 3.5
6. @ Candy House (K 348 pages) by Jennifer Egan with Ellen and Beth 3.75
5. ✔ The Adventures of the Engineer's Thumb (🎧 1 hours )Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 2.75
❤️ ✔ All the Light We Cannot See IR (B 520 pages) by Anthony Doerr 5.0
❤️ ✔ Project Hail Mary (🎧 16.25 hours ) by Andy Weir, narrated by Ray Porter 5.0
2. @ A Vampire's Kiss (K 136 pages) by Rebecca Zanetti 3.0
1. ✔ State of Wonder (B 353 pages) IR by Ann Patchett 4.0

I can't resist buying books!!

I seem to manage to read around 50% of my newbies, except in 2019 where I (ahem) added a few more books to my collection than normal. But I killed it in 2020 when I read almost 75% of my newbies and in 2022 I read 70%!!

2017 47/85
2018 45/88
2019 45/128
2020 78/103
2021 50/105
2022 54/77

Let's see how I do this year...

2023 37/53 Read
✅ The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
✅ The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy *
✅ The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson *
4. The XX Brain by Lisa Mosconi * Gift from Abby -- reading
✅ Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan
6. Mort by Terry Pratchett
✅ Matrix by Lauren Groff *
8. Florida by Lauren Groff
9. The Nutmeg Tree by Margery Sharp *
✅ The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
✅ No, You Can't be an Astronaut: Why You Shouldn't Follow Your Dreams and What to do Instead by Patience Fairweather LTER*
✅ Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector Amit Katwala LTER*
✅ Fashionably Dead by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Fashionably Dead Down Under by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Fashionably Dead in Diapers by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Hell on Heels by Robyn Peterman *
✅ Billy Summers by Stephen King
18. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
✅ Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges *Gift from Linda
✅ Aunt Fanny's Stars by Brigitte Weninger *Gift from Linda
✅ It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
✅ The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White
23. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore *
✅ Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver *
✅ Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
✅ I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeannette McCurdy
✅ Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
✅ I Will Find You by Harlan Coben *
✅ The Winners by Fredrik Backman
✅ The Cloisters by Katy Hays
✅ Travel by Bullet by John Scalzi
✅ Roadkill by Dennis E. Taylor
✅ Dolly Parton, Songteller by Dolly Parton *
✅ Earthside by Dennis E. Taylor
34. The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde *
✅ Sweet Tea Tuesdays by Ashley Farley *
✅ When the Rain Ends by Mary Ellen Taylor *
✅ Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
✅ The Light on Farallon Island by Jen Wheeler *
✅ Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg *
40. The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri *
✅ The Light on Farallon Island by Jen Wheel
✅ The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman
43. These Toxic Things by Rachel Howell Hall
✅ The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
45. The Hero of this Book by Elizabeth McCracken *
✅ Betwixt by Darynda Jones *
47. A Place for Us: A memoir by Brandon Wolf *
✅ Moonlight and Magic by Darynda Jones *
49. There's No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin
50. The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary *
51. The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Piccoult *
52. Fairy Tale by Stephen King
53. The Book Eaters by Sunny Dean

✅ Read
* Free or gift

Random LT group reads
✅ December -- A Visit from the Goon Squad with Ellen and Beth
✅ January - 1/26 Candy House by Jennifer Egan with Ellen and Beth
✅ February - 2/23 Horse by Geraldine Brooks with Ellen and Beth
✅ March - 3/23 Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver with Ellen and Beth
✅ April - The Winners by Fredrik Backman with Mark and Stasia
✅ April - Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes with Ellen and Beth
✅ May - Trespasses by Louise Kennedy with Ellen and Beth
✅ July - A Childrens' Bible by Lydia Millet with Ellen and Beth
Sept - 11/22/63 by Stephen King with Ellen and Beth
Oct - Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood with Ellen and Beth

Literary Arts
January 18, 2023 -- Lauren Groff ✅Florida, Matrix
February 22, 2023 -- Patrick Radden Keefe Empire of Pain
April 20, 2023 -- Ada Limón poet -- Just won US Poet Laureate!!
September 21, 2023 -- Zadie Smith ✅Swing Time, The Fraud
October 26, 2023 -- Mary Beard A History of Ancient Rome, Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World
January 25, 2024 -- David Grann Killers of the Flower Moon, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder
February 29, 2023 -- Charles Yu Interior Chinatown, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
April 18, 2023 -- Aimee Nezhukamatathil World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments and book of poetry Oceanic

RL Book Club #1 2023
✅ March - Bewilderment by Richard Powers

RL Book Club #2 2023
✅ February - Matrix by Lauren Groff
✅ April - The Cloisters by Katy Hayes
✅ June - The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
August - West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
October - Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

And Honorable Mentions
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
✅ Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult
Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall
The Keeper, Soccer, Me & the Law That Changed Women's Lives by Kelsey Ervick

I am going to try and keep track of series I am currently enjoying here:

Series/Author/Next Book
Bobiverse / Dennis E. Taylor / #5 not yet published
Bridgerton / Julia Quinn / #3 An Offer From A Gentleman
Commisario Brunetti by Donna Leon / read 1,2,4,8 next #3 The Anonymous Venetian
Cormoran Strike Series / Robert Galbraith / #6 N
Finley O'Sullivan / Debra Webb #3 All the Little Truths
In Death Series / JD Robb / Naked in Death #1 (I have been reading out of order)
Kinsey Millhone Mystery Series / Sue Grafton / Read ABCDEFGQX / Next H
Kopp Series / Amy Stewart / #2 Lady Cop Makes Trouble
Mickey Bolitar / Harlen Coben / #4 not yet published
Murderbot Diaries / Martha Wells #2 Artificial Condition
Quantum Earth / Dennis E. Taylor / #3 ??
Sandham Murders / Viveca Sten / #11 not yet published
Sunshine Vicram / Darynda Jones / #4 ??
Sweep Series / Ilona Andrews / #6 not yet published
The Åre Murders / Viveca Sten / #2 Hidden in Shadows Dec '23
The Chronicles of St Mary's / Jodi Taylor / #7
The Time Police / Jodi Taylor #5 ???, Santa Grit 4.5
Elizabeth Cage / Jodi Taylor #4 ???

Hubby signed me up for this (Thank you!!). Over the years I have received over 90 installments (some with two or three books), and I haven't read all the books yet. Not even close!

2023 Indispensable Reader Challenge
1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 5.0
2. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 4.0
3. Your Duck is My Duck by Deborah Eisenberg -- DNF

Next up??
The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Silas Marner by George Eliot (a classic with a new afterward)
Running the Rift by Naomi Benson (Stasia really liked it)
The Listeners by Leni Zumas
How Music Works by David Byrne
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison
The New & Improved Romie Futch by Julia Elliott
Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer with Stasia but super long...
A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

The complete list can be found here --

https://www.librarything.com/topic/336987#n7662792

You know, in case I need more ideas for books to read!

Total Read - 45
2022 - The Netanyahus
* 2021 - The Night Watchman
✅ 2020 - The Nickel Boys
✅ 2019 - The Overstory
✅ 2018 - Less
✅ 2017 - Underground Railroad
* 2016 - The Sympathizer
✅ 2015 - All the Light We Cannot See
✅ 2014 - The Goldfinch
✅ 2013 - The Orphan Master's Son
✅ 2012 - NO AWARD - Swamplandia - Nominee
✅ 2011 - A Visit from the Goon Squad
✅ 2010 - Tinkers
✅ 2009 - Olive Kitterridge
✅ 2008 - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
✅ 2007 - The Road
2006 - March
✅ 2005 - Gilead
2004 - The Known World
✅ 2003 - Middlesex
✅ 2002 - Empire Falls
✅ 2001 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
✅ 2000 - The Interpreter of Maladies
✅ 1999 - The Hours
1998 - American Pastoral
1997 - Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer
1996 - Independence Day
✅ 1995 - The Stone Diaries
✅ 1994 - The Shipping News
1993 - A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
✅ 1992 - A Thousand Acres
1991 - Rabbit at Rest
1990 - The Mambo Kings
✅ 1989 - Breathing Lessons
✅ 1988 - Beloved
✅ 1987 - A Summons to Memphis
✅ 1986 - Lonesome Dove
1985 - Foreign Affairs
1984 - Ironweed
✅ 1983 - The Color Purple
1982 - Rabbit is Rich
✅ 1981 - A Confederacy of Dunces
✅ 1980 - The Executioner's Song
1979 - The Stories of John Cheever
1978 - Elbow Room
✅ 1977 - NO AWARD
✅ 1976 - Humboldt's Gift
1975 - The Killer Angels
✅ 1974 - NO AWARD
1973 - The Optimist's Daughter
✅ 1972 - Angle of Repose
✅ 1971 - NO AWARD
1970 - The Collected Stories of Jean Stafford
1969 - House Made of Dawn
* 1968 - The Confessions of Nat Turner
1967 - The Fixer
1966 - The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter
1965 - The Keepers of the House
✅ 1964 - NO AWARD
1963 - The Reivers
1962 - The Edge of Sadness
✅ 1961 - To Kill a Mockingbird
1960 - Advise and Consent
1959 - The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
1958 - A Death in the Family
✅ 1957 - NO AWARD
1956 - Andersonville
1955 - A Fable
✅ 1954 - NO AWARD
✅ 1953 - The Old Man and the Sea
✅ 1952 - The Caine Mutiny
1951 - The Town
1950 - The Way West
1949 - Guard of Honor
✅ 1948 - Tales of the South Pacific
✅ 1947 - All the King's Men
✅ 1946 - NO AWARD
1945 - A Bell
1944 - Journey in the Dark
1943 - Dragon's Teeth
1942 - In This Our Life
✅ 1941 - NO AWARD
✅ 1940 - The Grapes of Wrath
1928 - The Bridge of San Luis Rey

* Have on hand
✅ Read

Please join us if you are interested in Reusing and Recycling. People are sharing brand and book suggestions and also keeping track of their efforts. Check it out!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/339326

Below is my personal list of what I am doing and want to be doing. I plan to keep updating this as I make improvements in my lifestyle this year. Brands listed are my choices and more suggestions are listed in the above thread.

Things I was already doing
*Carry reusable shopping bags
*Reuse packaging and don't overwrap (I have a whole closet of boxes and packing material I recycle)
*Use recyclable paper and cardboard instead of styrofoam packing material
*Buy my veggies in cardboard crates instead of plastic containers whenever possible
*Use a home soda maker with reusable bottle
*Dishwasher detergent -- Planet
*Silicone and beeswax dish toppers/wraps
*Garbage Bags -- Seventh Generation
*Compost Collector under sink that goes into city Compost Bin
*Cloth Napkins
*Wider comfort range for heating and cooling house
*Motion detectors on lights to keep them off when not in use

Recently started
*Keeping a reusable water bottle and cup in the car
*And a reusable utensil kit in my glove compartment
*And a reusable metal straw
*Phone Case -- Switched to compostable case by Pela
*Toilet Paper -- Who Gives A Crap (recycled) Grove (bamboo)
*Laundry Detergent sheets -- TruEarth
*Cloth "Paper" Towels -- Marley's Monsters
*Recycled Paper Towels -- Who Gives A Crap
*Sponges compostable -- If You Care
*Scrub Cloths cotton and cellulose -- Down to Earth Basics

Next steps
*Transitioning from liquid soap, shower gels and shampoo to solid versions not packaged in plastic. This one may be a bit harder for me with my skin allergies, but I am going to try. I am using up what I have left and then I will try to make the switch.
*Toothpaste
*Composter -- outside
*Ridwell for recycling things

450 years for a plastic bottle to break down in the ocean
114* years since first plastic was invented
90 percent of seabirds have plastic in their stomachs
80 percent of plastic in the ocean originates on land
59* years since the first plastic bag was created
1 rubbish truck of plastics enters the ocean every minute
We typically use a plastic bag for less than 15 minutes
Most tampons have plastic in them
*(+3 years since publication)

How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum. Awesome book!! Read it!

Latest effort

Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner--works great!! https://www.blueland.com/products/toilet-cleaner-starter-set

❤️ 2022 Fiction
The Music of Bees (B 336 pages) by Eileen Garvin 5.0
The Vanishing Half (B 343 pages) by Brit Bennet for Literary Arts, 2/7 Bookclub 5.0
The Girl With the Louding Voice (B 382 pages) by Abi Daré 4.5
Long Shadows (🎧 11 hours) by Jodi Taylor 4.5
A Hard Day for a Hangover (🎧 10.5 hours) Darynda Jones read by Lorelai King 4.5
Lock In (B 336 pages) by John Scalzi 4.5
Beyond the Wand (🎧 6.5 hours) by Tom Felton, Draco from Harry Potter! 4.0
Cloud Cuckoo Land (K 640 pages) by Anthony Doerr 4.0
The Man Who Died Twice (B 384 pages) by Richard Osman 4.0
Before We Were Yours (Book 342 pages) by Lisa Wingate 4.0

❤️ 2022 Non-Fiction
The Black Friend (🎧 5 hours) by Fredrick Joseph 5.0
The Woman They Could Not Silence (K 562 pages) by Kate Moore 5.0
How to Give Up Plastic (B 212 pages) by Will McCallum 4.5
These Precious Days (🎧 11.25 hours) by Ann Patchett 5.0

Happy new thread Kim!

Hi there!! Nice to be back. And so nice to see you here!

So, here's my scoop and why I haven't been here. I have 3 jobs now!! I have been working part-time with my Hubby for about 10 years in our company; but over the pandemic, I wound up working mostly from home or alone in the office and I found it very isolating. So, with his blessing (and we are still happily married!), I have been looking for another job. And I landed a part-time job at Barnes and Noble Bookstore! Perfect fit right? And I get 50% off! I have been busy learning floor sales, ordering, cashiering, displays, etc. And then shortly after I finished my first week at B&N, a friend of a friend asked if I wanted to apply for another job and I just started that one last week. So now I am also the full-time Business and HR Manager for a Montessori School! M-F I am at the school, and one night a week and Sunday I am at the bookstore and then in the rest of my evenings, I am fitting in our family business, my home family, books and TKD. OMG!

Let's just say I am not bored. LOL. We'll see how this all shakes out.

Also, I have been mostly reading murder mysteries because that's all my brain can handle. I have so many new passcodes and procedures to remember, my mind is blowing up. : )

>15 Berly: Busy doesn't cover it! Wow. Congratulations on your new jobs, though.

>15 Berly: Thanks! I am really having fun. : )

Happy new thread, Kimmers!

Three jobs - wowzer(!!!) and one of them in a bookstore that gives you 50% discount. I know how my own salary would get reinvested!

Happy new thread Kim! >15 Berly: Goodness, definitely sounds busy and I am slightly jealous, I've always wanted to work at B&N and now that I know the discount I want to even more. Alas, I live a couple hours away from the closest one - someday... Hope it all works out well for you.

Happy New thread, Kim! What a busy new time you will have with three jobs! Enjoy your job and discount at Barnes and Noble! They are lucky to have you. When I was in my teens , I worked part time at a bookstore called Coles Books ( it no longer exists ) .Even back then I was reader - well, most us were, I'm sure and was lucky to be able to get 25 % off books and I took good advantage back then. 50% is excellent discount.

Hi Kim! Congratulations on your new jobs! Wow. You won’t be isolated anymore, I guess. Colleagues, customers, school kids and books. Wishing you success.

50%! When I worked at Borders we got 20% and once or twice a year we got 40%. Anyway, yes it sounds like you are amazingly busy, I hope it is relatively easy to juggle all of that!

Congratulations on the new jobs, Kim. Both sound fun and interesting, each in their own way.

Hi Kim, and happy new thread!

>15 Berly: *blinks* Three jobs. AND, family, books, and TKD. You’re amazing.

Happy new thread! I'm marveling at how busy you are!

Excellent of you to snap up work—employment! Paying jobs. Not for me anymore.

>22 ursula: I know - if we had gotten 50% discount when I worked there, I would still be there.

Hey TwinK! Good luck with all your hats.🎩👒🧢⛑👑

Wow! Busy, busy, busy. But they all seem to have fun attached, and people. As for mystery stories, yeah, mostly all my brain can handle too, although I make exceptions for my book groups. We are discussing Billy Liar tomorrow.

>18 PaulCranswick: I fear my B&N paycheck may not even make it home, LOL. But I have been very good so far and am only drooling over all the books I can touch and see. Not actually drooling ON the books though. : )

>19 WhiteRaven.17: Thanks! So far it has been very fun and, of course, most of the people are in such a good mood, because...books!! They actually have a really good collection of vinyls, which my daughter wants to come check out. Hope you get the chance someday.

>20 vancouverdeb: I don't know why I never thought of working in a bookstore sooner! The hardest part for me is going to be learning the store setup and helping people find books. There is a software lookup, but it often only says World History and then within that section books are divided by timeframe and event and I suck at history so I am going to be of little help. LOL

>21 EllaTim: Yes, the extrovert side of me is very happy about all the human interaction again! Just hoping I have enough time for my introvert/book side.

>22 ursula: Yeah, I think 50% is an AMAZING discount! Can't wait to use it. : )

>23 lauralkeet: It's nice to be using my brain in some new ways. It always makes life more fun.

>24 karenmarie: I don't know about amazing, but I'm certainly trying!

>25 foggidawn: Me too! So far so good. And I've managed to keep the garden watered and mostly weeded. LOL

>26 weird_O: Well, I'd rather be active than sit around the house and with the kids mostly out of the house and largely independent, it's either do more volunteer work or get paid for doing something. I'll take the money for now. ; )

>27 BLBera: Like those hats!! The problem I may have is finding shoes that are comfortable to stand in all day and then I have to wear close-toed, too, and I have so many cute sandals I can't wear anymore. Sadness.

>28 ffortsa: Exactly!! I am reading more challenging books for my bookclubs, too. Tell me what your group thinks of Billy Liar.

So, next update...my Hubby came down with a fever yesterday, and on a gut impulse, I had him test for Covid and yup he was positive. So then, even though I am symptom-free, I tested, and I am positive, too! Dang it!! I don't work at B&N again until Sunday, so that should be okay, but I am banned from the school, naturally. Luckily I brought lots of light reading home, emergency manuals and stuff, and I have a few courses to do online, so that's my plan for the week. Not the way I wanted to start off my new jobs!! Sigh.

So sorry to hear about COVID in the family again. :(

Happy new thread!

>15 Berly: Wow! I wish I had your kind of energy.

>34 Berly: Ugh! I hope your hubby's case is mild, and you remain symptom-free.

Hi Kim my dear, Happy New Thread. Wow, three jobs and one in a bookstore, all those books to covet and drool over my dear friend. I hope that your husband's Covid case is very mild and that you remain free of it, there is a bookstore to go to, lol.

Happy new one!

Congrats on your 3rd job-I always thought it would be neat to work in the bookstore.....great that you get 50% off!!

Happy new thread, Kim!

Congratulations on the new jobs. Sorry the virus did hit, I hope it stays mild & goes away fast!

Catching up on your thread and delighted that you're so excited about your new jobs and bummed to hear that COVID has hit your household again. Fingers crossed you stay symptom-free, Kim!

Happy New Thread, Kim. Congrats on the new job. Working for Barnes & Noble sounds perfect, especially with that tasty discount. Good luck with the juggling.

If you ever ready to do a shared read of American Pastoral- I have a copy.

Happy new thread, Busy Girl! Come visit it sometime! ;-)

Boo hiss on the return of covid. Sheesh!

>34 Berly: Well Dang!! Is this round two for you guys or have you had it even more often? Hope you stay symptom free and feeling well, even if locked up for a few days.

>35 BLBera: Yeah. Covid--The gift that keeps on giving. Sigh.

>36 ArlieS: When I'm feeling good I have a lot of energy! Hoping I stay in that zone. ; ) Thanks for the good wishes, too. I'll take 'em.

>37 johnsimpson: Exactly! I can't get sick -- I have books to go fawn over!! LOL. Thanks my friend.

>38 figsfromthistle: Well, I promise to keep you posted. But so far, the bookstore is a fun thing. My paycheck may be in danger however...

>39 FAMeulstee: Mild would definitely be good. Thank you! At least I am fully vaccinated, so it shouldn't get too bad. Fingers crossed.

>40 MickyFine: My toes are crossed as well! So far so good. : )

>41 msf59: Thanks, Mark. So nice to see you! I don't have American Pastoral, but I'll order it from the library and let you know when I can get a copy.

>42 jessibud2: Well, since I am stuck at home, if I continue to feel well, I will hopefully be able to squeeze in some LT time this week!

>43 RebaRelishesReading: Round two. At least we are in synch and won't have one then the other dragging out the drama. Small victories.

I hope you won't get any symptoms of covid at all, or very mild I hope. I was not aware that they are creating a new covid shot for the fall. I be sure to get it when my turn comes up. The BC government sends us " invitations" via email or text when we are next due a covid vaccination. We even get a "Thanks for getting your covid vaccine " after the fact.

Well, I headed to the bookstore today, and since The Covenant of Water was on 30 % off, plus I have " plum plus" discount card at the bookstore, I got another 10 % off. Then I grabbed a gothic thriller, The Whistling , also 30 % off, plus my 10 % discount. I can see how working in a bookstore can be dangerous for the paycheque. I think my next read will be a library book , Strange Flowers by Donal Ryan, but I'm not 100 % sure yet.

Happy New Thread, Kim!
I love your topper! So true and so important
>10 Berly: We also try to keep the ecological footprint as low as possible, it's less exhausting than many think....
>15 Berly: Impressive - I wish you all the best
>34 Berly: Crap, I hope you are well again soon, with us it was at Easter and lasted a little less than a week, however, my wife still has a slight irritating cough, but otherwise everything is OK, thank goodness.

>15 Berly: Congratulations, glad you are enjoying the new jobs.

Sorry about the covid.

Yay for discounts on books Kim.

Sorry to hear about covid, Kim, but glad that it seems to be a symptom-free case. Hopefully you'll be back on the job soon.

Hi Kim.

>34 Berly: I read on RD’s thread that you and your husband have Covid again so came over here to check in. I hope he recovers quickly and that you remain symptom-free.

Happy new one! Covid, sheesh. 😒

>47 vancouverdeb: I don't know that there is a new C vaccine, but the doc hinted at it for the fall...I like your country's polite reminders and thank you for getting the shot!

All of those books sound great! And I love the discounts you managed to take advantage of. ; )

>48 SirThomas: Hello there! She still has a cough? Dang it. Well, I am still not running a fever. I do have post nasal drip and a little sore throat from it, but I was chocking that up to allergies. Who knows? Hubby was fighting a 103 fever last night and that was on aspirin and tylenol, so he is having it a little bit rougher. I checked on him twice, but he was breathing fine. Hopefully this is all over in a week.

>49 Caroline_McElwee: Thanks for stopping in! Yes, life is filled with ups and downs right now. Mostly up.

>50 lauralkeet: I was pretty productive from home yesterday. Completed one of my online courses and organized a whole bunch of paperwork and emails. I have another course to take today and then I want to read through and edit the employee handbook and the Business Manager book (my new job). I don't know if there is one for HR, but I have to find/create that one too at some point.

>51 karenmarie: Thanks Karen! It sucks that Covid is so easy to spread and so nasty to get. I feel fine and would rather be at work. Especially since I am missing out on training time. Oh well. Happy Tueaday!

>52 drneutron: Short and to the point. LOL. : )

Twenty Years Later (K 370 pages) by Charlie Donlea

I've been reading a lot of Murder Mystery lately. This one was really good with a great twist at the end.

"Asked by Victoria Ford's sister to prove Victoria's innocence in the murder of her married lover 20 years ago before she died on 9/11, Avery Mason, host of American Events, delves into her twisted private life only to discover that someone is more interested in Avery's secret past"-- Host of American Events, Avery Mason knows the subjects that grab a TV audience's attention. Her latest story is a murder mystery laced with kinky sex, tragedy, and betrayal. New DNA technology has allowed the New York medical examiner's office to make its first successful identification of a 9/11 victim in years. The twist: the victim, Victoria Ford, had been accused of the gruesome murder of her married lover. Victoria had been having an affair with a successful novelist, found hanging from the balcony of his Catskills mansion. The rope, the bedroom, and the entire crime scene was covered in Victoria's DNA. Emma Ford hopes Avery can help her clear Victoria's name. But Avery has a secret past-- one she thought was dead and buried....

So, I've reviewed the Employee Handbook; made some notes on grammar, areas needing clarification, etc. Now it's on to the "Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN)" course. Supposed to take about 2 hours online...

>56 Berly: Yikes, that sounds like a heavy 2 hours.

Hope you are clear of the COVID sharpish and able to return to all those new jobs. As always, amazed at your energy.

>57 charl08: It was a little difficult to listen to at times. Defining the different kinds of abuse and neglect. Ouch. I teared up once or twice. But it's done and I hope I never encounter a situation I have to report.

I'm still not running any temp, a little tired, but that could just be because I am stuck in my room isolating. Hubby is running around 103 temp. Pretty high. : (

So, I am off and running with all sorts of new books:



@ Betwixt (🎧 7 hours) by Darynda Jones
@ The Hero of this Book (B 177 pages) by Elizabeth McCracken
L The Kaiju Preservation Society (K 268 pages) by John Scalzi

And still working my way through these two:



✔ The Woman Who Fell From the Sky: Poems (B 69 pages) by Joy Harjo
@ The XX Brain (B 311 pages) by Lisa Mosconi

Well, it was nice seeing you, and knowing you, since you're clearly going to be too busy for the threads until you decide to retire!

*smooch*

>60 richardderus: LOL. Yeah, not as much LT time, but I hope to get back in the habit of being here while Hubby watches the news (I need a buffer sometimes). Enjoy me while you can!! Smooch.

Hi Kim!

Glad you're still (mostly) symptom free, but yikes to your husband's 103F temp.

>59 Berly: I loved The Kaiju Preservation Society! I’ve really enjoyed Joy Harjo, and I haven’t read The Women Who Fell From the Sky, so I must go find a copy. Thanks for the heads up!

Karen O

Oh, Covid again for both of you. Boooo.

I'm gathering my thoughts on Billy Liar after the zoom meeting last night. Should be able to post later today.

>62 karenmarie: Hanging in there. Tired and tiny sore throat today. I think I am only going to try and get one on-line class for work done today. Which leaves reading time!!

>63 klobrien2: I am loving the humor in Kaiju -- Perfect read for today. And glad I could let you know about the Harjo poetry book. Enjoy!

>64 ffortsa: Boo indeed. I'll pop over later to read your thoughts on Billy. : )

Well, now I am sitting in the ER with my Hubby. He tried to tough it out, but his throat is so sore, he can't even swallow his meds or water, so that's a problem. Running tests....

>66 Berly: - Eek. I hope they can help him get over this quickly. I thought you were the ER person in your family. You don't have to be so *sharing*, you know...

Hugs and quick healing vibes...

True, true. I think this is the first time I have been the ER caregiver for him. I told him payback is nice but I'd rather owe him!! Thanks for the good wishes.

>58 Berly: Wow, 103 -- have you got Paxlovid?

>66 Berly: Sorry to read that your hubby is at the ER . I'm glad that they are doing tests and I am sure they will find some solution to his problem with being unable to swallow due to his sore throat. That is scary and painful . My son's family all had it last September and their young son, Miles, who had just turned 2 , had a bad sore throat too, among other things, and they took him to Urgent Care here, where they kept him for about 5 hours while Miles slowly drank enough pedialyte and also had nebulizer to improve his breathing. They sent Miles home with a puffer or nebulizer. All was well after that.

Best wishes, keep us posted.

>69 RebaRelishesReading: >70 vancouverdeb: Contraindicated for another med he's on. : ( He is feeling a bit better though. Pain meds helped and his O2 stats are holding steady after a nebulizer treatment. And I have a nebulizer at home for my asthma, so he can keep that up if need be. Still waiting on some more test results....

I am so sorry, TwinK. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery -- for both of you. Take care.

>71 Berly: Thanks for the update, Kim. I'm glad the nebulizer helped, and sorry he can't use Paxlovid. I'll keep checking your thread and I hope he is well enough to be released this evening. Best wishes, Kim and to your husband too.

Update--good results on tests, got his meds and we are back home. As long as he can continue to swallow so he can take the meds we should be good. Hoping for a nice night's sleep! And I tested Covid neg today! Hopefully the worst is over. : )

Thanks for the good wishes!!

Very happy to hear it , Kim! Thanks for keeping us up to date. Best healing vibes to your husband.

: ) Much appreciated.

Whew. I'm just catching up on the ER visit. I hope your hubby is doing better this morning.

Sweet Thursday, Kim. Glad to hear that Walt is doing better. Scary, right? I am still trying to figure out these hives. I may have to see a dermatologist. I got some birds to see. Sighs...

I have my copy of American Pastoral at hand. If you start it, I will join you next week.

Thank you for the good news, Kim - I am very happy to hear that he is doing better.
I hope you recover without aftereffects.

Hi Kim, Sounds like you have been on a roller coaster ride with health challenges. Glad things are settling down.

I hope Walt is continuing to improve, and also glad you're testing negative so quickly. What a drag.

Glad to hear you've tested negative and hoping that your husband continues to improve.

So Hubby is making progress. Still feels awful, but eating and drinking now. Phew. I got cleared to go back to work tomorrow -- hurray! It's hard to start a new job and then be gone for the training. LOL. Thanks for all the good wishes and sympathy. I love this group! : )

>78 msf59: Mark, I can probably start American Pastoral next week. Want to finish up one or two before I crack open another cover. ; )

1. Happy new thread!
2. Congrats on your new jobs! You seem happy!
3. Sorry to hear about the covid. It's so annoying.

Glad your Hubby is making some progress and glad you'll be able to go to your training. Working at B & N sounds like fun.

Happy new thread, Kim. Harsh to get all revved up about being busy working 3 jobs only to have Covid intervene. Good to see your lovely other's ER visit had positive results. All that going on in your life and you were able to get me with a BB for Twenty Years Later!

>85 mstrust: 1) Thank you. 2) I am! 3) Totally annoying.

: )

>86 RebaRelishesReading: Me too! I am so tired of self-isolating. I mean I need my introvert time, but yeesh. LOL. I am excited to be at work with other people again. And it's always fun to learn new things -- it makes me feel alive.

>87 Familyhistorian: Hi there! Yes, I am happy to have my new jobs and to be on the other side of this lates Covid fiasco soon. So glad I could hit you with a BB -- yay me! Hope you enjoy Twenty Years Later.

Okay, I finished another on-line course today -- Prevention is Better Than Treatment, for cleaning, immunization and food allergies. Time for one more today -- Foundations for Learning. Off I go!

I'm slowly working my way back around the threads after being out of town for an extended--for me--period. I finally got over here to your new thread, and wow! what a lot you have going on!

First, congratulations on the new thread, and also on your new jobs. The B&N job sounds great, and the discount even better!

But I'm so sorry to hear about you and your hubby's bout with COVID. What a bummer. It's a relief to hear that he is doing better--I hope he is completely recovered soon!

Good luck with the new jobs!

>83 Berly: Glad your hubby is beginning to feel better and you no longer have to isolate.

>90 atozgrl: >91 figsfromthistle: How nice to see you both here! Thanks for catching up. Yeah, a lot going on. Thankfully Hubby is slowly recovering and I was allowed back in to work today. Surprisingly, my trainer also came down with Covid at the exact same time, so we were both out this past week and today was our first day back! So we are headed in tomorrow on Saturday to try and get caught up on the training. Doing TKD in the morning first, then headed in.

Also, big thanks for rain today. It had been a while. We need it. : )

We got rain today too, and it's predicated for tomorrow. I'm glad your hubby is recovering and you were allowed back to work today.

Hi Kim; I'm trying to catch up.

Congratulations on all your jobs! 50% discount at B&N? I'll be right over.

Oh no, you both got covid again? Maybe I'll delay my flight for a week or two ...

I'm glad you're both getting better. The ER visit couldn't have been fun. I took my son in a couple of weeks ago as a precaution because he missed a catch in cricket and the ball hit his head so my mum (my go-to medical adviser) suggested we get it checked especially since it was Friday night. It did deflect off his fingers and it was practice rather than during a match so it probably wasn't moving as fast as it could have been and all turned out to be well. As I said to the doctor, when she asked if he was demonstrating any weird behaviour, he wasn't any weirder than normal.

You always hear stories about people who take jobs in bakeries or candy stores, and then after a week or two, cannot Bear the taste smell or anything of sweets or cookies. Hoping the same thing doesn't happen with your bookstore job

>95 magicians_nephew: I worked in a bakery factory some 20 years ago and still can't stand the smell of factory-made baked goods.

I once worked in a chocolate shop. Happily, it did not kill my love for chocolate. I did have to learn some tricks like never going to work hungry or I wouldn't have fit through the door! Also, working in a bookstore did not have a negative effect on my reading or love of books. I think Kim might be safe there! ;-)

Such a relief that Walt's swallowing again. It's terrifying to be that ill.

Yay for your new negativity, too! *smooch*

Hi Kim!

>55 Berly: I just borrowed this one on Kindle Unlimited. Sounds right up my alley. My husband and I are watching Cold Cases, and most of them are taking DNA stored at the time of the murder and running it through CODIS and even using genealogists for familial matches and working through family trees to get the bad guy.

>74 Berly: Yikes to the ER visit for your husband, glad they were able to do good things for him. Also glad that you’re testing negative for Covid.

Well, just catching up here....what a busy lady! A lot landed on you all at once, and not all of it good stuff. I hope you continue to enjoy your new employmentS and that your hubby is soon feeling himself again.

Catching up here, Kim! Sorry to hear your husband also got a bad case of COVID, and hope he's feeling a lot better by now!

>99 karenmarie: Hasn't CODIS been monumental in catching villains? And about the best thing for true crime fans! ;-D

Hi, Kim. I hope you are doing well. I just finished American Pastoral. Not always an easy or smooth read but there is no question Roth is at the top of his game here. Stellar writing. I am glad I finally got to it. I hope you are also enjoying it.

Thank you for another BB, Kim - Stone Blind was a wonderful book.
I hope all is well with you and wish you all the best!

Hi Kim! Hope you and your husband are better. I am feeling jealous of your B & N discount, maybe when I retire you can get me a job there?

I hope things are okay with you and that you're just busy.

Hi Kim! I thought I spotted your name on someone else's thread but you're absent over here. Hope everything is well with you and yours.

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

Hi Kim my dear, i take it from your absence here, that you are very busy with your jobs, hope all is going well at B&N and that you aren't spending all your wages on books, lol.

Missing you and sending love and hugs to you and the family from both of us my dear friend.

Okay, I'm way behind but I LOVE that topper image. I have many stickers and a couple t-shirts with various "I Read Banned Books" messages but I haven't seen that particular image. I need to find it.

Life has continued to throw you and hubby curve balls. Not okay. I hope you're hanging in there and I'm looking forward to catching up when we have our RLZBG* meeting.

*Real Life Zoom Book Group

I hope all are recovered in the Berly household. I thought you'd like to know; Scout wants to start TKD. :)

Hi Kim! It's been a while! I had been hoping to come out and visit this summer, but it wasn't in the stars. Maybe over Christmas if I can get the time off. If not, Spring break.

Hi Kim. Hope you're busy with wonderful things and not sick or otherwise less-happily busy. Just wanted to let you know that our 5-year-old grandson had his first TKD yesterday and it was a success. It'll be interesting to see if he wants to follow up.

Dropping in to say hi and mark a spot so I can try to keep up better than I have in the last three months.

Hope you aren’t here because of good things, Kim!

drive-by *smooch*

Almost a month since we saw you, Kimmers!

Hope all is well dear lady. xx

Hello Everyone!! Thank you so much for keeping my thread going. : ) It was nice to come home after work and see a message or two here when I had the time to check in. I haven't posted in a month! Yikes! Yes, working two jobs is keeping me busy. LOL.

I love the people and children at the Montessori school, although my head is reeling from all the passwords! My trainer is old fashioned and doesn't believe in using any computer software to remember passwords, so we have three pages of Excel spread sheets of passwords. UGH! I may change that after she leaves. Also she has paper printouts of everything and doesn't attach anything electronically in Quickbooks. I will have to check with the school's accountant to see if any of the rules are different for non-profits and whether I can switch over to electronic records. Again, after my trainer is gone. : )

Barnes and Noble is awesome! I am always so happy to be there. If it paid better, I'd do that full time. But I really need to get some different shoes. I forgot how hard it is to be on your feet for 8 hours! Only 1 blister so far, but still. ; ) I usually work 4 hours on Wednesday and then a full shift on Sunday. So far, I am managing to do both jobs, but it may prove to be too much long-term. We'll see. I just have so much fun at B&N and I love the discount!! I don't want to leave even though it is crazy working two jobs. Well three, if I count sometimes still helping out at our water company.

To add to the craziness, one of my TKD friends, a young woman whom I have known since she was 8 years old and I was her instructor, just graduated high school. But her party venue fell through and I don't know why her parents didn't volunteer, but they are divorced and not very amicable, so anyhow, I volunteered to host her party. I spent two weeks trying to get my house and yard in shape!! With not having much company over during Covid, it was not exactly in tip-top shape. But now it looks much better. The party was very fun and she was really happy. I am going to miss her when she leaves in the fall. Love hearing that some of your youngsters are trying TKD!! Hope they have fun.

Speaking of Covid, I never got any symptoms from the Covid, but Hubby was hit hard. He is just now getting back to about 80% full strength a month later. And then, of course, just when that drama is almost over, my daughter (who has Tri-Cuspid Atresia) wound up in the hospital last night with SVT (Supra Ventricular Tachycardia) which is essentially your heart racing. Her pulse was at 216 and wouldn't slow down. After several hours and some meds, they got it back to normal, but now we'll have to do some investigating to find out what is going on. It is never dull here!!

My reading has been very light and lots of audio as I drive to work. I am a Darynda Jones fan and binged on her Betwixt and Between magic series. Very fun! And today I just started Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewel.

Hope you are all well! I miss being here and I'll try to squeeze more time in.

Love you all!

No, you can't complain of boredom at your house! Take care - though it sounds like you are having fun. I hope your daughter is OK.

>118 Berly: Good to hear from you again, Kim. You sound very busy indeed! I'm glad to hear your husband is recovering from Covid. I'm sorry it hit him so hard. And also glad that your daughter is doing better. I hope they can figure out what caused the problem.

>118 Berly: How terrifying your daughter's incident sounds, but it must have been much more so to live through. I hope that it can be resolved rapidly.

>118 Berly: Very nice to see an update Kim, glad you are still liking both jobs & hopefully you can get some things switched over electronically - I've dealt with that before at jobs with out-of-date ways of working. Also, hope you all are able to figure out what caused your daughter's SVT and that it doesn't reoccur. Stay well.

Hi Kim! It's nice to see what you've been up to recently. I don't blame you for wanting to modernize the passwords and records at your Montessori job. I can also understand why it's not worth attempting that while the trainer is still around. Still, it will be a great accomplishment when you get to it.

You are a kind-hearted soul, hosting the graduation party.

I hope your daughter remains stable and you can get some answers and/or treatment.

>118 Berly: Thanks for the update, KIm. We miss you when you aren't around here. So sorry to hear about your daughter -- hope they sort that out pronto. Beyond that your life sounds crazy busy but fun -- get those comfy shoes and keep having fun.

Yikes, Kim, so scary about your daughter. I am glad this bout of COVID was light for you, but your poor husband! Definitely sounds like a time for comfort reads.

Hi Kim. Your life sounds about per usual -- lots going on, both fun and not so fun. The trip to the ER with your daughter sounds scary.

I'm about a third into A Children's Bible. I don't think it's going to be my favorite novel of the year but it's oddly enjoyable. Very quick-moving so far.

My usually quiet life has been a bit chaotic the past three weeks so I feel very behind on threads and reviews. I am sending lots of healing thoughts to your family. Very frightening about your daughter.

Enjoy your jobs! That 50% discount is hard to leave behind.

Wow! You have a lot going on! Take care of yourself!

Hi Kim my dear, lovely to see you post, your life is very busy at the moment and with Walt getting Covid and still not back to 100% and then your daughter admitted to hospital with SVT, things can be a bit frightening.

We will always be here for you and keeping you updated, sending love and hugs to you, Walt and the family my very dear friend.

Hiya, Kim. I can’t believe you’re working two, maybe three, jobs. Yikes. I loved working in bookstores when I was a young ‘un, and your comments brought back that yearning. Great low-paying job! But I’d need a lot of time off my feet these days.

Sorry to hear about your daughter - that’s scary stuff. I hope they figure it out quickly.

Have a great week my friend.

>118 Berly: *smooch* for our resident way-too-busy-to-stop velocireader.

SVT sounds scary as all hell. Hpoing for answers as to cause soon.

Hi Kim! Just checking in. There's a lot going on in your life. I hope your daughter is better and that was just a blip for her.

Good to see your post with its fun news and the scary health stuff with your daughter and your husband too. Take care of yourself, Kim, and don't stretch yourself too thin.

Dropping in to say hello. Glad the family is feeling better. Hope you take time to relax a bit.

Cusp-of-August *smooches*

>118 Berly: I have no idea how you are staying awake long enough to work 2 jobs, Kim!

I hope your husband and daughter recover from their various ailments soon.

Just waving *hello!*.

Hi Kim!

Hello everyone!! Love you all sooooo much. Thanks for being here. : )

Crazy busy with work and then my TKD. Still reading books (up to 74!!), but as you may have noticed, not making it here much. I will be in MN starting on August 11th, so hopefully I can catch up with everyone then. Visiting my Dad, and my sister and brother will be joining me.

Hubby is going in with my daughter Sarah tomorrow to the Dr appointment. Hopefully we will have an update after that.

Just had a great weekend and went to Manzanita beach with 3 girlfriends. Lots of beach time, hikes and great food!

So, off to bed now. Miss you all. Talk more soon, I hope. xoxo

Sounds like you're managing to work some fun into your schedule -- good for you!!

Great to hear from you, Kim.
I hope #75 will be a good one - All the best!

I hope to see you soon, TwinK! Take care and let me know about your visit.

>139 Berly: *smoochiesmoochsmooch*

Are you going to post the picture? It was great to see you!

I am in WI visiting family and Beth came to visit!! We had a lovely, if windy, afternoon. : )

>145 Berly: Great picture.

>145 Berly: Thanks TwinK! It was a great afternoon. Can't wait for November and my visit to Portland.

Happy Wednesday, Kimmers! I hope you are having a wonderful time in MN.

What a wonderful photo!!!

>145 Berly: What fun! You both look very happy. As one would expect!

>145 Berly: Wonderful!

>145 Berly: Nice photo!

>145 Berly: LT meet-ups are such fun! Great picture of you guys and lovely setting and boy did you pick the right time to be gone from here -- it's been crazy hot although there are clouds this morning and at noon it's only 78 outside - you can come home now :)

>145 Berly: Great photo, Kim.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Sorry to hear about your daughter's scare with her heart. I have had SVT my whole life (well, first noticed when I was about 12). I'm a little surprised it took so long to get her heart rate back down, the last time I went in with an episode they put some adenocard in the IV and it slowed instantly. Before that, a million years ago when I was 17, I had 2 rounds of cardioversion to try to reset the rhythm, and it didn't work.

I've learned techniques that work for me to slow it down now and I have had far fewer episodes in general in recent years anyway.

>145 Berly: Lovely to see you both.

>145 Berly: What a great meet up! You gals look great!

>145 Berly: what a great pic! Not only are the smiles beautiful, the location looks picture perfect too!

Such a fabulous picture of you Kim , and also Beth!Glad you had chance to meet up!

Hi Kim! Great pic of you and Beth!

>145 Berly: I’m sure I left a comment and saw it later - but now it seems to have disappeared into the ether.

That’s a lovely picture. It made me smile.

>145 Berly: Wonderful to see the picture of you both at your meet up. Looks like you were having fun!

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

Okay!! New thread up. : )

Happy new thread Kim!

>145 Berly: Great to see you both.