As the aforementioned "J", I do want to clarify that I don't hate Spike. Heck, by the end of season 2, he was a stand-up guy.

Nah, you’ve just got his number.

Timelies all!

Happy Birthday Gud!

Well, things continue to be shitty here. Mr. S had another meltdown at school. He trashed a room and tried to stab a teacher with a pencil, so he's been suspended for the rest of the week. I don't know what to do....

On top of that, my mom's back in the hospital. She was supposed to have a biopsy done on something in her bladder, but her blood pressure was too low. Tells you how frazzled I am, I haven't had to spoons to worry about it.

Oh Sheryl, I really wish there were some magic solution for Mr. S. My heart breaks for your family. Sending health~ma for your mom.

Sheryl, I'm sorry. That's a lot. Health~ma to your mom.

Oh Sheryl, I'm so sorry. I wish the inpatient session had done better for you all.

In other news, I went to book club tonight and left Tilly home alone for the first time, for over two hours. Big risk.

However there is no evidence that she did anything other than sleep on the futon, which is great.

A question that came up during book club: If you were to walk down the beach with a pile of books to give people (this is a thing that Oprah did recently), what book would it be?

Answers from my book club: Jane Eyre, The Thief (by Megan Whalen Turner), Pride & Prejudice, The Game of Kings (by Dunnett), Sword at Sunset (by Rosemary Sutcliff), Crime & Punishment, and Lessons in Chemistry.

What book would you force on random people if you could?

Ooh interesting idea Connie! I’d have to think about that one…if Oprah personally gives you a book you kinda have to read it, don’t you?

Made it back home around 530 with dog and made it to dancing which was good after all day in the car (half of that working, thanks to the hotspot that came with my friends’ Rivian!)

What book would you force on random people if you could?

I suspect the Dunnett was your suggestion.

To me the question is not the book That Needs To Be Read but rather more practically The Book That Is Widely Accessible But Still Rich In Depth.

Because what's the point of assigning Jane Eyre to some fratboy that won't finish it?

My first thought (best thought?) was An American Childhood by Annie Dillard. (Flea might have an opinion on this selection, IIRC.)

It's a Pulitzer prize winning author who writes fantastically well, but it's a very closely observed memoir about growing up in Pittsburgh, PA which is funny, memorable, affecting and grounded in middle America.

I recently, um, pressed a book on a co-worker. The Inheritance Games. It's technically YA, but it's got lots of plot, lots of twists and turns and a more or less happy ending (with three sequels).

Sheryl, I’m so sorry.