Labor Day Weekend and Anniversary

It's  Labor  Day Weekend.   It's also  our Wedding Anniversary on Monday, September 1

Here's a good photo from two years  ago  in Pensacola

And  a few years ago in Vegas - Ray's my LOVE

Who were these kids?  
 

And thirty six years ago we said "I do" at the justice of the peace

Not sure how  we'll celebrate this year, but through thick and thin, and older and older, we've been laughing.   Ray's my guy.   Happy Anniversary  and thanks  for putting up with ME. 

Whatever Wednesday - Shucked

I enjoyed a Sunday matinee at Bass Hall on August  3rd.  Shucked is a Tony Award winning  musical and the road cast is excellent. As you can tell from the title, this is a very corny show.  Seriously, the first song is "Corn".   The lead character's name is Maizy.  Aw, shucks - she is  so sweet, but can she  save the town in Cob County?

Maizy is almost engaged to Beau and he grows the  best corn.  But there's a crop  problem and no answers.  Maizy decides  to be the first person  to actually leave the town to find answers.   She ends up in Tampa, FL.  (Don't ask too many questions. Yes, this is very silly.  But entertaining).  Anyway, she meets Gordy (he's a corn specialist - i.e. scamming  old ladies and their feet) and brings him back to their town.  Oh, there's a lot of jealousy.  Maizy and her best friend Lulu get crossways. 

Lulu (Miki Abraham) stands out. What a voice!  Her song "Independently Owned" was a wow.  And  her duet with Maizy (Danielle Wade) "Best Friends" is gorgeous. 

"Corn Mix" is one of the finale songs.  This  whole show was just  heartfelt, funny, punny, and we left with smiles. 
 

Monday Moments - Pool Party Anyone?

An August jaunt around the neighborhood yielded quite a sight - The skeleton is ready for the pool party. Floatie and drink in hand. 

On this street, two homes kept their skeletons up since  Halloween 2024.   I'll give these folks props. They've done a Santa hat, Valentine heart, St. Paddy's  green, July 4th  red, white, and blue, and now August summer fun.  

You never know what you'll see when you walk.  (Here in TX - it's  gotta be before 9 am or  90 degrees).  Happy August!   Whew!

 

Finally Friday - House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

 I was browsing the new book section of the Bedford Library.  Another woman was reading the jacket of a book I had read and I commented to her that it was really good. In turn, she  pointed at this one - House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen - and said it was excellent. She said the author wrote good mysteries.  Okay, I'll give her a try. 

Big thumbs up. cover  blurb - On the outside they were the golden family with the perfect life. On the inside they built the perfect lie.  A nanny plunged to her death...or pushed? A little girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer.  But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying? 

Lots of twists and turns for Stella, our  child  advocate  lawyer. She's Rose's counsel. But this eerie house, the mother, father, grandmother - all seems to be hiding something.  Is the person Stella's  supposed to protect the one she may need protection from? 

I can't write more.  At times I had to put the book down and step away.  Then I was compelled to read more. Well done. Thank you stranger at the library for your recommendation. 

Whatever Wednesday - School's Back in TX

 I'm in PA, but school is back in session in Texas.   Crazy. It's too hot for  kids to be trudging with backpacks, sweating football practice, and doing homework instead of diving into  a pool. 

Don't get me wrong - I believe in education.  BUT - not until after Labor Day.  Summer is summer is summer.  August is for total ennui, hanging poolside, floating, and complaining about the heat. 

Whew!   (kudos to all teachers - good  luck with this wacky Texas Educational  system)

Monday Moments - Roots

 I'm baaaaack!   Howdy Billy Penn

Time to learn how to talk again, see my sister (in DE), brother (in PA), friends, eat a cheesesteak, go to Longwood  Gardens, dip my toes in the Atlantic (Rehoboth), and generally hang out. 

Roots.   Still gonna be weird with no  dad to visit.  Can you go "home" again?  

Finally Friday - The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline

 I really like Lisa Scottoline's lawyer based novels. But she ventures into some other genres and this psychological thriller, The Unraveling of Julia, is a fun page turner.

Julia Pritzker's husband was murdered in Philly and she's still recovering. Then news arrive from Italy - she's inherited a fortune, a Tuscan villa, and a vineyard.  How? Why?  Julia was adopted and has no biological history. A jaunt to Italy becomes quite the adventure. 

The villa seems haunted. Clues appear to indicate Julia might be related to Emilia Rossi and a Renaissance Duchess - Caterina Sforza. And husband, Mike's murder, no longer seems random. Whoa!

 cover blurb - Before long, Julia fears she's being followed. Events turn deadly, and Julia's search for identity becomes a harrowing struggle for sanity - and survival.  

Solid poolside read with a satisfying conclusion. Scottoline does not  disappoint.