ramblin_broad | Reading

I hit Agway while I was downtown (to pick up a GC for Pip’s dad for Father’s Day – I wanted to make sure I had it on hand because I don’t know what the next week is going to be like; for the same reason I picked up more dog treats so I’d have them on hand and wouldn’t need to make another trip anytime soon) and got in a short walk around the park.

I stopped by the library to return and pick-up books on the way to visit my aunt and deliver some checks to the nursing home (one for her personal savings account so she can continue to get things like pizza, massage (on her feet and lower legs because of the swelling), and hair appointments).

I stopped at Tractor Supply after visiting my aunt (Pip called; his usual supplier of corn for the geese and every other animal who eats it, let him down again), then stopped to see if the beef sticks had been restocked as I had been told they would be. Shocker, they hadn’t been. (TBF, they got more of the singly packaged sticks, but I want a bag of them. The person I talked to this time said they’d put it on the order. So I’ll check back next week.)

I did a load of laundry and the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, emptied the dishwasher, scooped kitty litter, and calculated & e-filed the quarterly sales and tire tax for the garage. (I wanted to have that done before everything happened with mom.)

I went on two short walks in the afternoon. Instead of doing the ‘crazy 8' I did a short-ish walk that I usually don’t do by myself. I’d seen flowers growing on the side of the road and was like, we have those! So I did the walk where I could see those flowers. Then I did another shortie when Pip got home and took the dogs for a walk to make up for not doing the longer walk earlier.

I got some more writing done!!!!! I added 1,100 words to my

smallfandomfest fic. I also re-read All Systems Red because I’ve already forgotten some of the details and I wanted a refresher before I watched more of the show. I watched a couple HGTV programs and talked with mom.

I grilled Italian sausage for Pip’s supper; I had more French toast. What can I say? It hit the spot.

Temps started out at 70.7(F) and reached 88.2. There were some periods of straight sun, but also a lot of haziness, which helped keep the temps below 90, at least. The temps didn't get as high as yesterday, but there was more humidity. We were originally supposed to have thunderstorms today, but they’ve been moved back to tomorrow.

spikedluv

This one got long. Sorry about that. o_O

I had a chiropractic appointment and a pedicure this morning. I was relieved about the chiropractic appointment because my back started bothering me this morning in the shoulder blade area, to the point where I got up early because I couldn’t get comfortable and back to sleep. The pedicure was lovely and I chose a salmon-y color for my toenails.

I hit Price Chopper while I was downtown and Stewart’s (for milk) on the way to pick up the dogs. I got in a short walk around the park and did another ‘crazy 8' walk with the puppers (.50mi). (It’s a combination of two other trails that resembles a figure 8, hence the name. It’s my favorite and takes me around the pond and through the orchard.) I realized this morning that the next few weeks will be less than ideal for walking, since I’ll be going to the hospital the first week, then spending time with mom (split with my other two sisters), as she can’t be left alone for long because she’ll need help getting around and with the tubes.

(We’ve been told she’ll need care for three weeks, but we’ll see how that plays out in actuality. My one sister has already offered to take night duty and will be spending the nights with mom, so my other sister and I will just need to figure out the days. It helps that we won’t need to spend every minute of the day with her, so there’s some leeway for one leaving before the other arrives to take over.)

(Those who know me well know that I’m already dreading this, despite loving my mom very much. Not only the disruption to my usual schedule for an entire month, but also having to spend more time than I like ‘people’ing’. *bites nails*)

Speaking of my mom’s surgery, I have just found out from the surgeon (via my sister, the nurse) that the operating room has been reserved for ten hours. Ten frelling hours! For some reason, that makes me more nervous about the surgery.

In other unhappy-making news, I have sores in my mouth. The tongue sores from being burned by the pineapple went away and I had one glorious day without sores, and then, whammo!, more sores. I have a sore on the top of my tongue, inside cheek, roof of mouth, and at least two canker sores on the gum on the bottom front. I don’t know if it’s related to the pineapple, or if it’s from repressed stress, but I’m salt-water-rinsing like a fiend.

(I had a ball of anxiety in the pit of my stomach last night that kept me awake for a while, so another vote for general anxiety over everything that’s coming down the pike in the next few weeks.)

I did a load of laundry (more dog sheets), ran a load in the dishwasher and did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, paid a bill online, placed an order online, wrote out checks for my aunt, baked chicken for the dogs’ meals, and scooped kitty litter.

I finished the Duncan Kincaid book, watched an HGTV program, and talked with mom.

I grilled steak for Pip’s supper and made French toast for myself before Pip got home (he likes French toast, but we haven’t found a good GF bread to make it with and I didn’t want him feeling left out, even though he was getting steak).

Temps started out at 62.6(F) (quite a difference from yesterday morning!) and reached 93.7. (I feel the need to remind everyone (myself) that this is the temp in the shade. It’s probably ten degrees warmer in the sun. *melts*) Pip put the AC in the bedroom last night.

james

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

spikedluv

What I Just Finished Reading: Since last Wednesday I have read/finished reading: Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells, Out of the Deep I Cry (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) by Julia Spencer-Fleming and Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha Wells.

What I am Currently Reading: In a Dark House (A Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James Mystery) by Deborah Crombie.

What I Plan to Read Next: I have three more library books out, and four more on request, so definitely one of those!!

Book 37 of 2025: Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries) (Martha Wells)

So good! ( spoilers )

So good! I'm trying not to read these all at once, but I'm already getting the final two books from the library, so it's going to be hard to hold back. I'm giving this book five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥

Book 38 of 2025: Out of the Deep I Cry (Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) (Julia Spencer-Fleming)

I really enjoyed this book!!! ( spoilers )

Really good book. I've requested the next and am giving this one five hearts.

♥♥♥♥♥

Book 39 of 2025: Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries) (Martha Wells)

So good! ( spoilers )

This book was really good. I'm giving it five hearts, natch.

♥♥♥♥♥

spikedluv

I did zero shopping while I was downtown \o/, but still got in a short walk around the park. I did run to a local shop on my way home to get the meat sticks that Pip likes, and of course they were out of them. I got a yogurt parfait to try and was impressed to see that they used fresh fruit (strawberries, raspberries and blueberries). It was good, and filling.

I did a load of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, scooped kitty litter, hit the bank drive-thru, and paid a bill online.

I finished Network Effect and started the next Duncan Kincaid book, and talked with mom. For my walk with the dogs, I went on a different trail, one that’s .50 mi instead of .25. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to add on a 1/4 mile each week. If so, by next week I’ll be doing a mile a day, which is good, considering. I also did some more writing, ~900 words on a brand new fic for

smallfandomfest. (If you guessed that it’s a Murder, She Wrote crossover, you’d be right. *g*)

We had leftover pulled pork (from Sunday’s b-day party) for supper, so another night I didn’t have to cook!

Temps started out at 39.9(F) (I know! I was o_O about it too!) and reached 84. It was very nice out, but still cool inside the house, so I wore a sweatshirt most of the day while iside.

james

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

spikedluv

I hit Walmart and the Feed Bag while I was downtown and got in a short walk around the park. I stopped by the vet (to pick up Ti's special dog food) and the library (to return a book) on the way home. I got in another short walk with Pip and the puppers in the afternoon.

I did a load of laundry, emptied the dishwasher and ran another load, then emptied ~that load (I hate emptying the dishwasher, but I was on a roll!), did the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, scooped kitty litter, and mowed the lawn.

I read more in Network Effect, watched an HGTV program, and talked to mom on the phone. Also, while I haven’t seen any fawns yet, Pip saw some deer running around frantically when he got close to the orchard to mow (so he left), which means there are probably more than one fawn hidden up there in the tall grass!

Pip had leftovers for supper (thanks to the BBQ chicken quarters, we had plenty, lol) so I didn’t have to cook. I made myself a ham sandwich. I’m not generally a fan of ham sandwiches, but they’re tasting really good to me lately.

Temps started out at 48.7(F) and reached 72.2. We had sun all day, with a slight breeze. I didn’t need a sweatshirt when I mowed, but I did retain my long-sleeved t-shirt. It was really a beautiful day.

spikedluv

I have rewatched the next few MSW episodes and I wanted to share some thoughts with you. The eps in question are: 2.10 Sticks and Stones, 2.11 Murder Digs Deep, 2.12 Murder by Appointment Only and 2.13 Trial by Error.

( all comments back here )

What are your thoughts on these eps?

spikedluv

I took the dogs for a short walk, did a load of laundry and the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I paid a couple bills online and placed a puzzle order for mom.

I started Network Effect, watched some HGTV programs, and attended a group birthday party at my sister’s house (including for my niece Leandra and nephew Ian). That’s what I made the cabbage salad for; mom made pulled pork.

Temps started out at 43.1(F) (it was cool enough in the house that I turned the furnace on to take the chill off; it was definitely a hot tea morning) and reached 59.9. On one end of the spectrum we had some sprinkles, on the other, the sun tried to peek out a few times. (The next three days are supposed to have temps of 66, 76, and 86! Talk about a quick turn around.)

Mom Update: My mom had a visit with her oncologist on Friday. She liked him. He told her that the cancer was Stage 1, so she'll need a less aggressive treatment of chemo. They're going to wait until after the surgery (coming up on Monday, June 9) to set it up, but he's thinking two weeks on, one week off for six weeks. (Does that mean only four weeks of chemo total? Or six weeks of chemo around the one week off?) Also, half the usual dose. Hopefully the side effects won't be as bad. (He also said that, no matter what, he'd recommend chemo because this is her third cancer diagnosis.)

My mom's next appointment with him is July 14, so I'm guessing the chemo won't start until after that? Do they normally wait 4 weeks post-surgery to begin? Do they need her to be drain-free?

He also told her that the procedure would be a long one. I joked with mom that we ~do want the surgeon to put everything back together correctly.

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Journey Folk

The Day in Spikedluv (Thursday, June 5)

The Day in Spikedluv (Wednesday, June 4)

Knives Out

Wednesday Reading Meme & Books 37-39 of 2025

The Day in Spikedluv (Tuesday, June 3)

So it's Tuesday

The Day in Spikedluv (Monday, June 2)

Monday [Fandom] Madness! The Murder, She Wrote 2.10 & 2.11 & 2.12 & 2.13 Comments Edition

The Day in Spikedluv (Sunday, June 1) & Mom Update

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