Sunday Stealing

Memememe -- Part 1

1. The phone rings. Who do you want it to be? The doctor's office. I have a check up scheduled with my prospective new primary care physician and they said they'd call if something earlier opened up. 

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? I don't use a cart. I bring my own canvas bag, and when it's full I know I'm done shopping.

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? Talker.

4. Do you take compliments well? I can be rather self deprecating.

5. Do you play Sudoku or Wordle? Yes. Wordle. My starting word is "PLATE."

6. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? I went to Girl Scout day camp every summer.

7. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? I have. It didn't really make much difference. My faith is very personal to me. As long as you respect that, we'll get along.

8. Would you rather pursue or be pursued? Pursue.  

9. Have you ever fired a gun? Once, when I was a very little girl. We were visiting my mother's great aunt and uncle on "The Farm." This was the one and only time I met them. Anyway, I got up really early and my dad took me along with him and Unc when they went to fire at cans on a fence. They had a special rifle for kids. When we got back, he told my mother how funny I looked holding the rifle and she went absolutely nuts. My parents were very careful about not disagreeing in front of us kids, but she emphatically disagreed that morning. That's a clearer memory than actually firing the rifle. I don't recall that at all. I do remember drinking unpasteurized milk that had come straight from the cow. I thought that was neat, even though I didn't finish it because it was warm. 

10. Would you rather dine at Olive Garden or Panera? Olive Garden 

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Come See About Me (1964)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Diana Ross sings that she's given up her friends for her boyfriend. Have you ever had a lover your friends disapproved of? Has a friend ever dated someone you didn't care for? Throughout my 20s I was involved with a man some of my friends adored, but my oldest friend couldn't stand him. Or more precisely, she saw through him. She was right. Spectacularly right. I'm very grateful she never did the "told you so" dance, though she deserved to.

 

 

 

 

2) Without her man at her side she feels uncertain. Let's be more positive: what's something you're sure of? "The sun'll come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun." Yeah, I know, it's corny. But I truly believe tomorrow can be better than today. There's always hope. Really.

3) When this song was popular, the Supremes were known for their elegant hair and wardrobe. When was the last time you got dressed up? A year ago. My friend's daughter's wedding. I wore a coral pantsuit. It was flattering, but I unexpectedly stood out in a sea of blacks and grays. I am still a little ambivalent about it when I see the photos. I look pretty enough but boy, I'm conspicuous!

 
4) The Supremes went on to have a dozen #1 hits. This must have been hard for Betty McGlown, the fourth Supreme, who left the group before they recorded their first song. Can you think of an opportunity you missed? A friend offered me a job about 20 years ago. I would have made more money, to be sure, but she would have been my boss. I was afraid that would be weird, so I passed on it. I'm pretty sure it was the right choice, but I think longingly about that salary sometimes.

5) After she left the Supremes, lead singer Diana Ross went on to have a successful solo career. But it hasn't always been easy. She stumbled in her high heels and broke her ankle as she left the stage after a November 2012 concert. Have you taken a tumble recently? Over the summer I took a tumble in front of the grocery store. Cars turn into that lot very fast so I had my eyes on the traffic ... and I missed the uneven pavement. Bloodied my leg and scraped my arm but I did not break the jar of tomato sauce I had just purchased to donate to the local food pantry.

6) Ever the trooper, she honored her commitment to perform at a White House-sponsored Christmas concert just weeks later, even though her leg was still in a cast. Tell us about a time when you "played hurt." There was the spring I had sporadic coughing fits and was tired all the time. I had to spend time with the guys in the lab and while they were explaining things to me, I couldn't stand anymore and was leaning on walls and file cabinets. This was weird because I was 29 and otherwise healthy. Finally, after about four weeks of this, I suddenly lost my voice. Since my job required a certain amount of speaking, I just couldn't do it anymore and finally went to the doctor. Walking pneumonia. I was off for a week (at 29 you bounce back pretty fast). But here's the thing: I was contagious. It was outrageous that I tried to work through it and even worse that my bosses were more upset about the week off than the viral droplets I'd been dispensing with each cough. That's one good thing that came out of the covid lockdown: no one thinks you're heroic anymore for coughing and sneezing at work.

7) In 1964, when this song was popular, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was born. What was in your most recent Amazon shipment? My OTC allergy meds will be delivered today.

8) Also in 1964, women still routinely wore white gloves to complete a outfit. Short gloves that ended at the wrist were popular for everyday wear. What fashion trend do you wish would come back? Shoulder pads! Every woman suddenly appears to have a waist again. 

 

9) Random question: If you were in the witness protection program, what new name and occupation would you choose for yourself? Lottie Zisk, dogwalker.

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #430

Looking back on summer. I didn't go anywhere this past summer. To be honest, I didn't really want to because it was too damn hot to be outside. But lots of Americans went lots of places. Spinning around the internet, here are some summertime travel facts. 

 

1. Domestic travel, as per usual, was more popular than international trips.

 

2. Concerts were vacation events this summer. Young women enjoyed traveling together to other cities to see their favorite artists. 

 

3. For example, Houston reported an increase in hotel bookings during Beyonce's Cowboy Carter concert dates in June.

 

4. Young men favor bro trips to other cities for sporting events.  

 

5. That explains why the best-attended regular season baseball game this season was at Bristol Motor Speedway. 91,000 fans flocked to Bristol, TN, to see the Atlanta Braves play the Cincinnati Reds in August.

 

6. Couples like traveling with other couples to foodie destination. In 2025, Oneonta, NY, in the Catskills saw a bump in tourism with the promotion of their breweries and food-to-table restaurants.

 

7. The #1 reason families gave for hitting the road this summer was family reunions, or visiting family members.

 

8. Americans are road warriors. Nearly half would prefer to drive to their vacation destination.

 

9. Smaller towns near big cities saw increased hotel bookings. For example, Long Beach is less than hour away from Los Angeles. Many vacationers chose to save money by staying in Long Beach hotels, taking advantage of the canals and beaches, and then driving to Los Angeles to take in LA's attractions.

 

10. Staycations were popular in summer 2025, too. Hotels enjoyed a summer bump from locals who wanted to take advantage of the restaurant, pool, and spa services.

 

11. All 50 states have amusement parks – from large theme parks to local fairs. That gave staycation families a destination not too far from home for a day of fun.

 

12. Local families also made museums the centerpiece of their staycation.

 

13. U-pick farms have seen an increase in popularity, too. It's fun and educational for kids to pick their own fruits and vegetables.

 

So what did you do this past summer? Was your summer more exciting than mine?

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

Sunday Stealing

A Wednesday meme on a Sunday 

1. Name five songs that you have completely memorized. I'm going to assume this refers to lyrics, since I play no instrument and have the music to no song memorized. "Pink Pajamas" (a Girl Scout song), "Go, Cubs, Go," "Hey, Jude," "Happy Birthday," "Jingle Bells."

2. What takes up too much of your time? This. (Farting around on the internet.)

3. What TV show or movie do you refuse to watch? Game of Thrones or anything else with flying dragons. I also don't like epics like Dr. Zhivago and Lawrence of Arabia.

4. What's worth spending more on to get the best? Steak

5. Share something you did last week. Spent some time with my old friends, The Crawleys.

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: A Little in Love (1980)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) Do you believe you can be a little in love? Or is romance an all-or-nothing proposition for you? I get crushes all the time. I think of that as being "a little in love."

 

2) Cliff Richard sings that he knows it's been a long time since you had fun. Is that true? When have you recently had a really good time? What were you doing? Last weekend my movie group got together for Noir City Chicago, a film noir festival at the Music Box Theater. Festival founder/TCM host Eddie Muller signed my copy of his book Dark City Dames. You could say I'm a little in love with Eddie.

 

3) Cliff was born in India when it was still part of the UK. When he was 8, his family relocated to Tilbury, an English port town. Have you ever lived near the sea? Nope. I don't think I want to, either. My friend Henry lived in Key West and while I enjoyed visiting him, I also heard many difficult stories about enduring the aftermath Hurricanes Irene and Irma and Wilma. I'll stay here in Chicagoland with our friendlier fresh water Lake Michigan.

 

4) In 1958, Cliff became a star in England. He was so influential that young John Lennon said he dreamed someday the Beatles would be as big as Cliff Richard. Yet for some reason, he was never as popular here in the US. Before today, had you ever heard of Cliff Richard? Yes. As a Beatlemaniac, I often read about his path crossing with that of The Fab Four. I don't recall all the details, but I think Cliff resented how unavailable Abbey Road studios were once the Beatles hit it big and their sessions were considered a priority over his. 

 

5) 1980 was Cliff's most successful year stateside. Both "A Little in Love" and his duet with Olivia Newton-John, "Suddenly," made the Top 10. Do you have a favorite Olivia Newton-John song? I have good memories attached to this song. "Spare me all your charms and take me in your arms ..."

 

   

 

6) Cliff was once "a little in love" himself. He had a high-profile romance with British pro tennis player Sue Barker. They contemplated marriage, but in his memoir Cliff admitted he wasn't ready to commit the rest of his life to her. Cliff never married but Sue went on to wed landscape gardener Lance Tankard. Have you ever employed a gardener? Or do you handle all the yard work yourself? I live in a multi-unit building with a tiny front yard. A landscaper comes every now and again, but one of the unitowners goes out and waters in between.

 

7) In 1980, when we were enjoying "A Little in Love" on the radio, Macaulay Culkin was born. He became famous for the Home Alone franchise. Have you seen any Home Alone movies? Nope.

 
8) 1980 also gave us the Post-It Note. Today they are available in a variety of sizes and colors, but the original 4"x4" canary yellow Post-Its are still the best seller. Would we find Post-Its in your home or office right now? Yes. I've got a pad of yellow ones in the kitchen.

 

9) Random question – You're having a crummy day. Nothing is going right. You run into a casual friend in the grocery store aisle. As you chat, do you think your mood would be obvious? Or could you successfully put on a happy face? My casual acquaintance would come away believing I was fine. People who read my blog often get a more realistic window into what's going on with me.

 

 

He's coming home!

 

My favorite-most ballplayer of all-time, Anthony Rizzo, is returning to Wrigley Field. He has signed a one-day contract with the Cubs so he can officially retire as a North Sider. He will remain with the team as "baseball ambassador," representing the Cubs at events. As he should. For with all due respect to Ryne Sandberg, no one but Ernie Banks personified the heart and soul of the Cubs more than Rizz.

To say I am verklempt would be an understatement. Yes, he made the final out of the historic 2016 World Series, ending the longest championship drought in American sports history. Yes, he was a three-time all-star with more than 300 home runs. Of course he provided elite defense at first base. And he did it all with such passion, such joy.

But more than that, Anthony Rizzo gave back. Continues to give back. Example: during the covid shut down, he catered hot meals for hospital workers. A wonderful gesture. To make it even better, the food came from struggling local restaurants that needed the business. He does stuff like this all the fucking time. They don't give out Roberto Clemente Awards and ESPN Sports Humanitarian nominations for nothing.

And there are the kids. He has spent endless hours with pediatric cancer patients and their families at New York's Montefiore Medical Center, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida, and most of all, Lurie Children's Hospital here in Chicago. When he visited the hospitalized children, he not only gave them his autograph (and let them wear the World Series ring), he asked them to sign his jersey because each child was a hero and a warrior. 

This is what Anthony Rizzo will be wearing on Saturday when he steps onto Wrigley Field to officially end his career.

 

Anthony Rizzo makes me want to be a better person. I am so grateful for all he's meant to me on and off the field. 

I hope his next chapter includes health, happiness and lots of time with his wife, new baby and dog Kevin. 

 

 

Pinched nerve and brain fart

I woke up Tuesday morning unable to move my left arm without great difficulty. This happened once before, at the end of 2024, so while I hurt I wasn't frightened. I knew it was a pinched nerve in my neck. Painful but not dangerous. As luck would have it, I already had an chiropractor appointment scheduled for today – Friday, three days later. Since this wasn't an emergency, I could see no reason to move the appointment up. 

I am an idiot. 

For three days I was uncomfortable. If I was still, my arm was fine. But I couldn't raise it without pain. Everything – showering, grocery shopping, feeding the cats, laundry – was arduous. I had a hard time finding a position to sleep comfortably. The nerve was not responding to OTC pain killers. So I was sleep deprived and hurt.

And from Monday morning to Tuesday afternoon we were without hot water, so there's that. 

To say I was not at my best would be an understatement. 

Chronic pain and lack of sleep made me stupid. Yesterday, instead of taking money out of my high-yield savings account and depositing it into my checking account, I did it the other way around. I was not paying attention as I clicked. I fucked up.

This morning I got an alert from bank that my checking account was overdrawn. I was terrified, afraid I'd been hacked. No, I just made a stupid, stupid mistake. (AGAIN!) After spending time on the phone with both banks, I finally got it ironed out and hopefully, by end of business Monday, all my funds will be where I want them.

I realize that working decades for big companies, I've been infantilized. Funds just appeared in my checking account twice/month. Left to my own devices, I mess up.

Just as I thought my self loathing had reached a fever pitch, I dialed it up to 11. I went to my chiropractor and she felt where my neck meets my shoulder. 

"Of course you hurt!" she said. I got on the table and she twisted, pressed and popped and I was fine. No pain, full range of motion restored.

"You should have called me," she said. Duh, Gal. I went through 3 days of pain for no good reason. Really, she remedied the problem in minutes! 

I'm such an ass.

Here's to an uneventful, enjoyable weekend. I need it!

 

Photo by Klara Kulikova on Unsplash 

Thursday Thirteen #429

 

 

 

Brrr! Our water heater suddenly crapped out and I was relegated to cold showers for 2 mornings in a row. I hated it. But I learned that while uncomfortable, I was actually doing my body good.

1. Typically cold water out of the tap is between 45º and 60º. That may not sound cold, but trying showering in it.

2. Cold showers leave you alert. You relax in a hot shower or a warm tub, but you emerge from a cold shower with eyes wide open.

3. Regular cold showers can help fight acne, because cold water tightens pores.

4. It can undo the damage of the night before, because cold water reduces eye puffiness.

5. Some chronic skin conditions respond well to cold water. Patients with eczema and hives report that it helps. 

6. If your hair tends to be dry, cold showers might help. It's believed that hot water can strip your hair of natural oils, while cold water doesn't.

7. Your hair will be shinier, too. Cold water helps seal the cuticle, or top layer of the hair strand. A flat cuticle more effectively reflects light and your hair will appear glossier.

8. Cold water gets your blood pumping. It's believed cold showers bolster your circulation.

9. Your muscles may thank you. Cold showers may soothe aches, the same way an ice pack does.

10. They can be a good choice during cold and flu season. Here's the theory: cold showers speed up your white blood cell count, and those white blood cells will help your body resist illness.

11. A cold shower can enhance your workout because it boosts your metabolism.

12. It can naturally increase your oxygen intake. A cold shower stimulates deep breathing, which can help with anxiety or depression.

13. Cold showers are good for the environment. They tend to be shorter – I know mine were! – and no gas or electricity is used to warm the water up. 

All this is well and good, but I will forever prefer my nice long showers.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

Busy weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spent this sunny, mild weekend in the dark at Noir City Chicago, watching murder and mayhem. This film festival is presented by The Film Noir Foundation, and when it comes to town it returns to the gorgeous old Music Box Theater. 

One of the founders is Eddie Muller of TCM's Noir Alley. He's my (sigh) TV boyfriend and I was thrilled to see him, live and in person, at Noir City Chicago and have him sign my copy of his book, Dark City Dames. 

I saw four movies this weekend – two that we were rewatches and two that were new to me. It was exciting to see all of them restored and on the big screen with an audience of like-minded movie geeks.

 

Saturday was movie group day. I saw Detour and Gun Crazy with Will, Madonna, Bobby and Sherrie from our regular Monday night meetups.

 

Sunday was with Elaine, and I happened to see Bob and Patricia, who are my neighbors but we were surprised to run into one another at The Music Box.

I was exhausted today, though. I worked Friday at the card shop, then I hung out with people on Saturday and Sunday. That is, frankly, too much people-ing for me. I was very happy to spend all day today in silence until our movie group met tonight at 6:30.

I think about my old life, before I retired, and how I was surrounded by people Monday-Friday. How did I stand it? I know I always hungered for my alone time, but I don't recall that people exhausted me the way they do now.

I think maybe covid locked down changed me.

 

Sunday Stealing

From A to F

Give yourself a letter grade (A, A-, B, B-, C, C-, D, D-, F)  on the following. Just the letter grade is requested, but you're free to elaborate.

• Happiness: B

• Being a decent human being: B

• Being serene (calm, peaceful): C-

• Kindness: B

• Anger management: B-

• Creative thinking: A-

• Modesty: B-

• Being an original: B

• Knowing yourself: A-

• Being true to yourself: B-

• Getting along with others: B-

• Liking yourself: B-

• Admitting your flaws: C-

• Self improvement: C

 

 

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: It's So Nice to Be Nice  (to Your Neighbor) – 1947

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, Monica Lewis encourages us to greet our neighbors with a smile and a hello. Tell us about one of your neighbors. There's "Encyclopedia Brown" at the end of the hall. Always with the dumb questions! Example: I'm walking toward the backstairs which lead to the dumpsters. I'm carrying a black trash bag. "Where are you going, Gal?" Um ... the dumpsters. Or it's 6:00 PM. I'm heading toward my front door with a pizza box. "Pizza for dinner, Gal?" I know he's lonely and looking for a connection – plus it's so nice to be nice to your neighbor – so I'm always pleasant. But I'd be lying if I said I look forward to our exchanges.

 

2) She reminds us that it's "nice to be nice." Who has recently shown you kindness? We have the best customers at the card shop! Yesterday I was having a terrible time trying to get a woman her rewards points because the register wasn't cooperating. I got the manager on duty involved, but still, no luck. The customer kept saying, "You're fine." I appreciated her patience so much!

 

3) Monica Lewis was born in Chicago, where her mother performed with the Chicago Opera Company. Have you ever been to the opera? Nope.

 

4) Her family moved to New York City, where she attended college by day and worked at radio station WMCA in the evenings to help support her family. Which do you listen to more: the radio or podcasts? I listen to the radio everyday as I shower and do my hair/makeup. But I listen to complete podcasts and often binge. So I listen to the radio more often, but spend more time with podcasts.

5) In the 1940s she appeared all around New York – in nightclubs, on Broadway, and on radio shows. It was then that she got her best-known and longest-running role: the voice of Chiquita Banana. For decades she was heard singing the jingle, "I'm Chiquita Banana and I'm here to say ..." Do you have any bananas in your kitchen now? Nope.

 

6) Around 1950 she moved to Hollywood. She had recently divorced and wanted a fresh start. There she dated an actor who was also newly divorced: Ronald Reagan. Obviously she never had to ask, "Whatever became of him?" Who is the last former romance, classmate or coworker that you looked up on the internet? I used LinkedIn to check on a former coworker. Warren is a likeable guy but I worry about him because he can't stay out of his own way. I hoped to see he'd landed a new job. Alas, he has not.

 

7) In 1947, when this song was popular, actor Ted Danson was born. He's best known as Sam Malone, the bartender at Cheers, "where everybody knows your name." Is there a bar or restaurant where you are recognized on sight? Strangely enough, I'm on a first-name basis with a lot of people at the bank. I'm there a lot – weekly, I guess – to deposit quarters from our laundry room. I take that opportunity to cash my paycheck. I have a "personal banker" and a "wealth manager," which makes me sound far more elite than I am. So yeah, when I go in, I often hear, "Hi, Gal."

 
8) The 1947 Studebaker Champion was one of the first cars to have an adjustable driver's seat designed to accommodate motorists of various heights. When you're driving someone else's car, do you usually adjust the seat? I don't drive, but if I did I probably would because I'm only 5'1.

 

9) Random question: When someone takes advantage of you, are you angrier at them for doing it, or at yourself for letting it happen? A bit of both,but it's probably 60% them and 40% me.

 

 

Thursday Thirteen #427

 

 

Play ball! I watch a lot of baseball, and one of the standard shots is of fans in the stands enjoying tasty stadium fare. I admit that when I go to the park, I tend to stay pretty traditional: a hot dog and Cracker Jack is fine by me.* But that hardly reflects what's available at my beloved Wrigley Field, or other MLB parks.

As we enter the final month of the season, let's look at the fan favorites at the 13 most-attended ball parks.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers: Dodger Dog. A 10" hot dog that hangs out of the bun on both ends. Served with ketchup, mustard, onions and relish.

2. New York Yankees: Lobel's steak sandwich. Served on a bun, au jus. Yankee fans seem equal parts proud and outraged that their concession offerings are the most expensive in the MLB.

3. San Diego Padres: Quesobirria tacos. With braised short ribs instead of ground beef. 

4. Philadelphia Phillies: Philly cheesesteak. Were you surprised?

5. New York Mets: Fuku chicken sandwich. A spicy chicken sandwich named for the restaurant where it originated.

6. Atlanta Braves: Cleanup Burger. A grilled hamburger topped with a fried egg and bacon and served between two waffles. (I admit I'm intrigued.)

7. Chicago Cubs: Buona Beef. Italian beef with hot giardiniera and dripping in au jus. I won't argue with anyone who makes this choice, because it's delicious. But be warned: it's awful messy. You'll need lots of napkins, and your jersey will likely never be the same, no matter how often you wash it.

8. San Francisco Giants: Burrito bowl. Fans report that it's hot in every way, made with fire-roasted salsa and jalapenos. 

9. Boston Red Sox: Fenway Frank. Grilled and served on a bun just the way The Babe liked it, with mustard and relish. 

10. Houston Astros: McRBI. (Love the name.) A smoked pork rib sandwich on an onion roll. 

11. Los Angeles Angels: Chronic Tacos. Mashed potatoes and cheese, topped with lettuce and sour cream, served on a crispy shell.

12. Detroit Tigers: Gyros and/or Greek salad. It's a tie. Apparently it's custom for fans to order both and share.

13. Milwaukee Brewers: Bratchos. Tortilla chips topped with a chopped brat, cheese and sour cream.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

 

*Though when it comes to my beverages, I'm not so old school. Jimmy Buffett was a Cub fan, so it feels only right to raise a margarita in his honor. 

WWW.WEDNESDAY

 

WWW. WEDNESDAY asks three questions to prompt you to speak bookishly. To participate, and to see how other book lovers responded, click here. 

PS I no longer participate in WWW.WEDNESDAY via that link because her blog won't accept Blogger comments. I mention this only to save you the frustration I experienced trying to link up.

1. What are you currently reading? Richard Nixon: The Life by John A. Farrell. Here's the thing about Trump: he's so awful that everyone else moves up a notch. Nixon served in wartime even though, as a Quaker, he didn't have to. He never disparaged veterans the way Trump mocked John McCain. He never splashed his visage on the side of federal buildings the way Trump (and authoritarians and dictators) do. He didn't ignore the sovereignty of governors by deploying federal troops onto residential streets. When faced with the end of his Presidency, Nixon somehow managed to avoid leading an armed insurrection on the Capitol. So there's that.

 

Since the Nixon era now feels like The Good Old Days, I figured it was time to revisit the man and his Presidency. I enjoyed Farrell's fair but unflinching view of Ted Kennedy's life and career, and I hope I'll learn a lot from this book.

 

This book and I have a conflicted history. My friend Henry bought it for me for Christmas 2017, the last holiday we spent together before his accident changed everything. His friend owned the bookstore and he supported her after Hurricane Irma by giving me a $100 gift certificate. What fun we had that day. Henry couldn't believe I chose a book about Nixon (among others). I finished the Grafton book and the Bobby bio and had begun to read the Nixon book when Henry had his accident and the book – which still had its Key West bookmark – made me too sad. I abandoned both books till now. It's time. I'm going to finish this one and, hopefully, get to Bruce before the year ends. 

 

Here is post about the day we bought these books

2. What did you recently finish reading? Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam by MC Beaton. My response to this addition to the series – #10 of 33 – is mixed. I read these mysteries for more than whodunit. I like Agatha, the deeply flawed, often grumpy heroine who turns to sleuthing because, frankly, she's bored after retiring from PR agency life in London. I like the country life as vividly painted in these books, filled with quaint names and eccentricities and customs and secrets. 

In book #9, Agatha went on vacation to a small rural town. Beaton introduced us to a new setting a new cast of characters with affection and specificity, but Agatha herself felt a little "off." She not only didn't feel like the character I got to know, I didn't even like her anymore.

This time around, Agatha is back to being Aggie (God, how she hates being called Aggie!). I'm glad because I missed her. But the setting, the village of Fryfam, feels less charming than weird and goofy. There are too many new characters and none of them is memorable. 

I hope when I return to the series for #11, Beaton will address both sides of the equation.

3. What will you read next? I don't know. Nixon is going to take a while.