{{{Sheryl}}}

I was having similar thoughts, bennet. Handing books out at the beach is different from handing books to people at a coffee shop or something. Still mulling over what would be a good choice, but the first thing that pops into my head is Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds possibly because a recent conversation about something else entirely brought it to mind, but it is a book I love.

oh, I love that too!

You are all making my to be read list longer. I have to make notes so I have something to recommend next book club meeting.

I'll be in NY for my next FL book club meeting so I have to set up a remote system soon. I attend remotely via Zoom for the NY book club most of the year, but the librarian sets that up.

Yes, I am avoiding trip prep, why do you ask?

Do people follow Andy Borowitz? He lifts my spirits on a regular basis. I'm always forwarding his newsletters to my sisters. So he had a Trump haiku contest, the winner of which amuses me today. The winning entry, and the author's notes.

I write the best haikus

You've never seen anything like these

Counting syllables is for losers

"I am flattered to be chosen as the winner. I actually love haiku in its original form, but when given the directive to write a Trump haiku, I just knew he would break it as he breaks everything. I wanted to write something that would obviously and intentionally break rules while also staying in character (exaggerating greatness, insulting others smarter than him). Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for voting for me, I’m going to treasure my autographed book!"

I am constantly telling people, especially pols, to read "The Corner" by David Simon and Ed Burns. Good job to the haiku winner. Man, Sheryl, that's awful.

The problems with that haiku being realistic are (1) it uses real words used properly and spelled correctly and (2) it makes sense.

That haiku is a clear winner.

Books I keep loaner copies of: Night Circus and Good Omens. But for random people, I am not sure.

Yesterday sucked - I am in a massive EDS flare from stress and finally being done with my job. And as usual, I am struggling with overwhelm. Extra thanks to the Buffistas who have offered support, because I don’t have many people left here and the ones left don’t have time and energy to spare, really.

Today is better and I’ve pulled out of the doom spiral. Today I finally met with a bookkeeper to sort my taxes for the last 3 years and she thinks she can be done by Friday! And has also offered to come help me pack. There was definite flirting happening, which I am not opposed to. Flirty packing sounds like a great way to get through this.

I had a whole Meara but I lost it in the buffer.

I'm beyond stressed and so frustrated right now. I have at least four contracts that I'm about a step away from getting over the line to having them locked in, and then I have existing clients who are just letting payments trickle in and between the two there just is now cash coming in. I just want to get around this corner.

Okay, end of rant. I'm just...ugh.

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?

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Goblin Emperor? I recommended it to a friend, describing it more like court intrigue in feudal Japan and not all fantasy and magic.