Thursday Thirteen

I'm having a hard time coming up with a clever T13 today.  Sooo.....
Can you guess in which room I am in at my house?
Here are 13 things in this room:
1-printer
2-cricut
3-tulle
4-paper
5-glue
6-flowers
7-label maker
8-washi tape
9-tape runner
10-sewing machine
11-ribbon
12-scissors
13-beads

If you guessed "craft room," you are correct!  Sorry, no prize today!

Link up with Thursday Thirteen for more fun!new

Photo Wednesday

I snapped this picture at the lake last week.  He was putting on a show! (That's a duck behind him)

Link up with image-in-ing and Wordless Wednesday for more great photos!

Random Tuesday

Well, here we are again.  The weeks just fly by!  Does it seem like you've been staying home forever?  Since I retired in December, and I quit my other job (they weren't doing enough to protect their employees from the virus IMHO), I don't think it's a whole lot different for me because I'm mostly a homebody.  I need this shirt!

We haven't finished our baseball puzzle yet, but we are thisclose!  And the other night, we actually played Monopoly. 

We hadn't done that in years.  So fun!


Except I feel like I can't travel to see my daughters.  Soon, though.  Maybe.  One of them actually came to see us!  They had been at home since February when our granddaughter was born.  The only place they go is Starbucks, and it's a drive through, so we felt safe having them come visit.  It's not terribly far-3 1/2 hours- so they didn't need stops on the way. 

We got to hold our precious  granddaughter!  That was an absolute joy!

My other daughter and I are still making wedding plans for November.  We need to nail down our caterer soon.  It's down to two choices.  We are just waiting for a total cost from one of them.  If they beat the other company, and I think they will, we'll go with them.  Hopefully her dress will come in next month.  So glad we did that before this pandemic!

What have you been up to?
And now this...

I agree!

Before I read the caption I was trying to figure out what was going on with this dude's hair!  LOL!

Luckily, this is not going on at my house!

And last, but not least, you gotta watch to the end, especially if you like the TV show Friends. It takes less than 4 minutes.

Have a great week!

And don't forget to link up with Stacy!

Sunday Synopsis

Camino Island by John Grisham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is not so much a legal thriller like most of Grisham's other books, although he does occasionally write in different genres. It was mostly a mystery, and it took a while to catch on at the beginning. So many characters were introduced without knowing which ones would be important in the remainder of the book or if and when these characters would intersect. Some did. Some didn't.

The premise is that The Princeton Library has been burglarized. Five manuscripts by F. Scott Fitzgerald were stolen. Not only do they need to locate the men who stole them, they need to locate the people to whom they were sold. One possibility is the eccentric Bruce Cable, a bookstore owner in Santa Rosa on Camino Island who deals in rare books.

Then, there is the insurance company who is going to have to pay Princeton in the event the priceless manuscripts are not found and returned. They turn to a woman, Mercer Mann, whose teaching position has been let go, who has loads of student debt, who is a published author, and who happens to be half owner of a beach house on Camino Island.

While the plot is rather far-fetched, as most of them are, it was entertaining. Grisham includes a zany cast of characters, although none of them are truly likable. The dialogue was less than stellar. One character must have said, "Now, Myra" two dozen times. And the abrupt ending was a set-up for the next novel. However, taking these two characters into the next novel doesn't make sense based on things that happened in this book. I could explain better, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone.

I liked it, maybe not as much as his legal thrillers like A Time to Kill (which I consider a modern To Kill a Mockingbird) and The Firm. But it was good.

View all my reviews

Thursday Thirteen

Staying at home, especially now that I'm retired, makes it difficult to remember what day it is.  Do you find yourself unable to remember if it's Tuesday or Wednesday?  If it's trash day or recycle day or payday?  Is it April or May?  Or June?

Here's how I've been keeping track of time.

1.  By how many times I have changed the sheets.
2.  By how many times I have washed the towels.
3.  By how many times I have clipped my nails.
4.  By how many inches my hair has grown. (No, I haven't cut it... yet.)

5.  By how many times I have changed the cat litter.
6.  By how many pension checks I've received since the stay-at-home order started.
7.  By how many bottles of soap we have used.
8.  By how many rolls of toilet paper we have used.

9.  By the number of pages I've colored.
10. By how many times I've applied flea medicine on the cat.
11. By how many recipes I've used.
12. By how many times we've skyped with family.
And the saddest of all things...
13. By the age of my new granddaughter.

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Photo Wednesday

My husband and I went out to Taylor Lake (near Clear Lake) to get out of the house and do something instead of sitting on the couch all evening.  We sat on a bench by the water and drank a glass of wine while we watched the sun go down.  It was a very enjoyable evening.

copyright Forgetfulone 2020 - Click photo to enlarge.

I'm linking up with Imagine-in-ing and Wordless Wednesday.

Random Tuesday

Hello Randomers!  Let's link up with Stacy.

So... are you still staying home?  We are.  Cases are still high even though part of Texas is opened, but we don't have enough confidence to get back to "almost normal" yet since there are so many unknowns about the virus still. (I refuse to call it "new normal." See #10 on last week's T13) We are very fortunate that throughout this whole thing, my DH is able to work from home, and I retired in December.  However, our children and their incomes have been affected.  And I'm praying things get back to the status quo in time for my daughter's wedding this Fall.

Moving on... Did you fall into (what I call) the Tiger Trap yet?  If not, don't!  Don't watch Tiger King!  You can never get those 5 hours and 15 minutes back!  It's about a rivalry between big cat enthusiasts, and there are A LOT of weird people involved.  Don't get trapped!

New Topic:  Last night at dinner, we had some mustard on the table, and we wanted to know if it had turmeric in it (it did). And my son came to one of the ingredients... natural flavors.  What is that?  How do you put "natural flavors" into something.  If they're natural, aren't they already there?  Where can I buy some "natural flavors?"  It does not make sense to me!

And now, some funnies.

How about you?  How long did it take to figure out that was a tree and not his hair?

Before I go, I want to leave these little diddies-Disney songs about quarantine.  I thought these were great, and I hope you enjoy the, too!




Have a good week!

Thursday Thirteen

Back on March 27, not long after COVID-19 Stay-at-Home orders went into effect in my region, I started making a list of words I never wanted to hear again.  But we KEEP hearing them 8 weeks later (as noted in these current news headlines).

DISCLAIMER - I do not endorse any of these news sources, nor do I agree or disagree with any of the content.  They are included ONLY to demonstrate my list of 13 COVID-19 words I am tired of hearing.

Number 1 on my list is epicenter.  This was the first word that dawned on me that this was not a word we typically heard nor one I really cared to hear because it connotes an earthquake or other natural disaster.  It's still in the headlines!
Coronavirus Pandemic-Is Brazil the New Epicenter - published yesterday.

2. Phenomenal - A word I have always thought to be overused, especially when a principal is trying to describe a teacher who has done something out of the ordinary.
'Phenomenal:' Turnout Stays Strong at Milwaukee's Free COVID-19 Test Sites - published yesterday.

3.  Uncharted - usually used before "territory" or "waters." Another word I dislike.
Bill Gates Says the World is Entering Uncharted Territory - published April 13 on multiple sites.

4.  Unprecedented - A word we heard frequently at the beginning of all this, but it's still around.
K-12 Schools Face Unprecedented Options Amid Coronavirus Pandemic - published yesterday.

5.  Front Lines - This was used when discussing war, until recently.
Nurse Receives Hero's Welcome Home from Coronavirus Front Lines - published yesterday.

6.  Ramping Up - I have never liked this phrase.  Why can't people say, "increasing" instead?
Houston to Dramatically Ramp Up COVID Testing Sites - published May 7.

7.  Vulnerable - This isn't a word I necessarily dislike or like, it's the current usage and what it connotes. 
Texas Population One of Most Vulnerable to Coronavirus, Study Finds - published May 12.  And this does not make me happy since I live in Texas!  The study mostly looked at numbers of residents age 65 and over, number of homeless, and number of people living in poverty.

8.  Essential - The definition of this word has obviously changed since all of this started.  I see a lot of people still working who do not provide essential items or services, but they still have jobs.  To me, essential means that we cannot survive without it... some food, water, medical care, and shelter.  Only "some" food because McDonald's is not essential!
Lawmakers Keeps Calling Essential Workers "Heroes" but Congress has yet to Pass a Hazard Pay Raise - published yesterday.

9.  Social Distance - It's really an oxymoron.  Social means together.  Distance means apart.  I believe in it, but I don't like this term.
U.S. Social Distancing Stabilized but did not Reduce Spread of COVID-19 - published May 12.

10. New Normal - I really don't want this to be my "new normal."  This is also an oxymoron because normal implies something done on a regular basis, not something new.
Companies are Dropping Big Hints about the "New Normal" once Coronavirus Lockdowns End - published May 11.

11. The previous article works for number 11, too.  Lockdown.  We are not now nor have ever been in a true lockdown.  A lockdown implies locked doors, no one going in or out for any reason, and are usually the result of a physical threat.
The Great Irony of America's Armed Anti-lockdown Protestors - published yesterday.

12. Underlying Conditions - I would argue that many of us have underlying conditions, but I would also argue that this is a new way of looking at what makes us susceptible to any particular disease.  I had never heard it put this way before this.
What Underlying Medical Conditions are Killing COVID-19 Patients? - published yesterday.

13. Epidemiologist - I never really paid attention to this particular medical specialty, but this word slips off the tongue quite frequently now.
Governor McMasters Shares SC Epidemiologist's Concern over Lack of Masks, Social Distancing (there's that one again!) - published yesterday.

Join the fun at Thursday Thirteen!

Random Tuesday

Link up with Stacy for some random nonsense!

Well... I went back to work on Mother's Day.  I was happy to be back, particularly with the safeguards they had in place.  Then I went in Monday, and overnight, just like that, and without telling us, customers were no longer required to wear masks.  When I wear a mask, it's protecting whoever I'm talking to.  If they're not wearing a mask, their "droplets" could eventually get on me.  I had promised my husband if they were not wearing masks and following some other guidelines, I would quit.  So, I did.  They didn't even tell us, either!  One person tells another person who tells two more people... like that.  I'm really disillusioned.

I guess I'll just be retired, then.

For you moms out there, how was your mother's day?  I visited with my mom the day before, outside and maintaining a good distance, of course.  I got some happy mail from my daughter in Dallas and a huge box of goodies such as tea, cookies, and so on.  One thing she sent was Chex Mix Muddy Buddies (chocolate and peanut butter).  I love them!

The COVID-19 cases in my area keep going up.  Actually, it's up and down and up and down.  We probably shouldn't even have stores open yet, and definitely not restaurants, but people are much more afraid of a bad economy than they are a virus.  What do cases look like where you are?

My husband and I have coined a new term:  pandemic commercial.  These are the commercials that just play music (often piano music, but not always) and text on the screen.  Have you notice more of this type of commercial?



And have you noticed most commercials sound the same now?



Oh well.  I guess that's all for now.

Have a great week!

Sunday Synopsis

Dark Sacred Night: The Brand New Ballard and Bosch Thriller by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great crime drama! I love how Connelly brings Bosch and Ballard together. She is working the "late show" at the Hollywood Station, and Bosch is working with the San Fernando PD, but Bosch strolls into the division opening file cabinets and looking through things as though he owns the place, and that is when she and Harry meet. When she finds out what he is looking for, she's interested in helping him work a cold case, the death of Daisy Clayton, a 15 year old runaway who was killed and stuffed in a dumpster nine years prior.

In addition to the main plot line of working the cold case, obviously, they have their other jobs to do which also creates drama, intrigue, and suspense. For example, one of the cases Ballard is called out to is about a he-said, she-said rape when the young woman was taken back to a wealthy young man's home and realizes she could possible shake him down for some big bucks. In another part, Bosch executes a search warrant that has the unintended effect of getting his informant killed. Then the gang that was involved goes after Bosch. These are a few of the subplots.

These two characters are so well-developed, but Connelly being a good author, the reader still learns new things about them and their back-stories. The reader meets an interesting cast of characters in this book as well. It's a fast-paced ride with Ballard and Bosch who seem to work well together and I hope that other novels will come out with this pair teamed up.



View all my reviews

Thursday Thirteen

We're still here, staying at home, even though Texas is in phase one of reopening.  This staying-at-home isn't all bad.  We're saving money on lots of things!

1.  Eating out - It's surprising how much we spent eating out before this started.  One of our favorites that I definitely want to go back to when we're ready is BB's Tex-Orleans.  The Midnight Masterpiece and Tex-Cajun Fries.... MMMMMMM.

2.  Shampoo - Not needing to wash my hair every day

3.  Other hair products - Again, not needed.  Gel, hairspray, etc.

4.  Clothes - Who needs new clothes when you're home every day?

5.  Laundry detergent - Not needing to change from work clothes to home clothes means less to wash.

6.  Gasoline - Not because it's cheap, either.  Who's going anywhere?  A tank of gas has lasted two months.

7.  Hair cuts - No explanation necessary.  Certainly not going to do it myself!  Not my style!

8.  Makeup - Is anyone wearing makeup at home?

9.  Perfume - Same as makeup.

10. Attending sporting events -  no explanation necessary.  But I sure miss basketball and baseball! So we decided since we can't GO to a game, we can put together a baseball puzzle.

11. Impulse buys at the grocery store - Ha!  Not going to the grocery store!  Actually, who am I kidding?  I can impulse buy when shopping online.

12. Auto insurance - We're getting a discount on the whole term of our policy.

13. Gym membership - They are closed and are kind enough not to charge during this time.

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Random Tuesday

Link up with Stacy for some random fun!

How is everyone?  Are you still staying home?  We are, for now.  I know many states have begun reopening, although I'm not sure it's a good idea in some places.  On the day Texas went into phase one, we had our highest reported totals of Coronavirus positives and deaths; however, the ratio of positive cases to tests administered continues to go down and the number of Texans who required hospitalization is going down.  Supposedly, Texas has one of the lowest deaths per capita here in the U. S.   I really don't claim to know what I'm talking about, though!  Just some news blips I got on local sites. 



Mostly, though... it's the same old, same old around here.  We're still trying to do some different recipes than normal.  You can only eat so much meatloaf or baked chicken.  Last night we had Eggs Benedict. Popeyes or Chik-Fil-A!  But frying chicken is something I can do well, so it will be good.
It was the first time I made Hollandaise sauce, and it was pretty good!  Tonight we are having chicken sandwiches, although I doubt they will be as tasty as



We also started a pandemic puzzle.  Haha!  That's what I like to call it!

I'm sad that I am missing this beautiful girl's first few months.

We haven't been able to travel and help out like we had planned.

I'm enjoying all the time I get to spend with my husband, son, and of course, our cat!

I still have a part-time job!  They called last week.  I am going to go back in a week with masks, purchase limits, and social distancing in place.  We are only allowed 25% occupancy.  I'll see how it goes, I guess.  I have missed working.  I work at a hobby/fabric store, so it feeds my creative soul and provides me some pretty good exercise on days that I work, not to mention some extra money.

 I'm really not quite ready to get out and about, but I do have a doctor's appointment coming soon that I have been putting off for a while.  I don't think they do COVID testing there, which is good.  And masks are required.  So, there's that.

And that's all for now!  Except for some funnies.

Have a great week!