Finally Friday - Transition

So - 92-1/2   Dad's in  his new "apartment" in assisted living after 64 years in his old home. 

We kids grew up there.    But it was time.   Stairs - scary

Fixing meals, problematic

Taking correct meds - um, dang

Here's the old place

The den

 Yep - a rotary phone.  I have dibs on this thing.  Do you know how many years he's been paying rent?  Yep - crazy

An end of an era. Heartrending for all.    

Wish us luck that he acclimates to new surroundings. The new place is super duper nice with a chef that cooks amazing meals. 

The staff has been fantastic.  More power to nurses and aides who will do geriatric work. Patience and more.  Wow!

Wish us luck.  He's a sweet man. The old ticker is crazy good.  I hope the brain keeps up. 

I am not religious - but prayers. Voodoo.  I'll accept anything.     Thanks. 

Whatever Wednesday - Zoo! Babies!

Lovely early spring weather.  Ray and I needed a break from our normal routine, so I suggested a Saturday visit to the Fort Worth Zoo.  What a delight.  Baby elephant!

Giraffe..  they are just amazing , freaky creatures. 

And here's a bad boy - Rhino

We had a good walk.  I did not post my pic of the baby gorilla since it wasn't very good.  But She was so damn cute.  At one point, she stood up and beat her chest like one would expect from a jungle movie. 

The Fort Worth Zoo is well done and the new African Savannah area makes us the ones behind bars.. Let these cool creatures roam free. 

 

Book Review - Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major

 Maybe Next Time by Cesca Major is a clever twist on a Groundhog Day premise.  

It's a Monday.  Emma is very preoccupied, constantly on her phone, and absorbed in her work life. Dan,  her husband,  is coping. Her son and daughter are existing. Even  the dog ignores her. 

Social media, clients "emergencies", groups for kid sports, school, playdates, and more. She makes her own day frantic and "busy".  But is that really life?  Is she in the moment and truly enjoying her family? No. 

Then it's her anniversary... there's a  screech of brakes...

cover blurb - Dan is dead

the next day, Emma wakes up...and Dan is alive. 

It's Monday again

again

again

She tries to change the course of fate.  Will she ever learn the lesson being taught in regards to the social media, to being with her children, to enjoying her husband, to really living her life?

This is a What If? story and I enjoyed it immensely.  It shall  make you appreciate setting down your phone  and truly being with your family or whomever you love. 

Finally Friday - Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin

 Finally Friday and here's a really good read for the weekend - Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin. 

You'll keep the pages turning on this one.  cover blurb: A scientist and reluctant psychic.  A little girl who haunts her.  Can she find the truth?  Everyone believes a little in something they can't see. 

cover: Vivvy Bouchet, age ten, saved a boy's life with an impossible prediction. Now she's an astrophysicist in Texas, devoted to science, and she tries to leave visions behind. 

She is called to help on a cold case of a kidnapped girl, and teamed with Detective Sharp, who questions her "skills". She's in the crosshairs of a conspiracy podcaster, haunted by her dead mother, and overwhelmed with dreams.  cover - Can she lure a kidnaper out of hiding, find a child who haunts her, and lay some of her ghosts to rest?

Whew! It's a lot to process. Heaberlin's characters are a hoot. The dialogue is snappy. And she keeps the plot tight.  Had me guessing until the end.  (I did read this in daylight...gets a bit creepy at nightfall). 

Whatever Wednesday - Almost Baseball

Yep

I don't think we can afford tickets anymore

 Remember the 2023 World Series Champions - Texas Rangers

Now back  to square one.   What have you done for me lately?   Ha!

Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack....(also can't afford)

Spring fever Wednesday

Monday Moments - Book Review - Romantic Comedy

 Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld is very obviously loosely based on Saturday Night Live - the long running late night Saturday comedy show on NBC. 

Sally is a sketch writer for the Night Owls that airs on Saturday nights.  She's long abandoned the search for love. 

cover blurb: 2018 Enter Noah Brewster, a pop music sensation - he's a guest and host for a show. Dazzled by his charms, Sally hits it off with Noah instantly, and as they collaborate on one sketch after another, she begins to wonder if there might actually be sparks flying.  But this isn't a romantic comedy - it's real life. And in  real life, someone like him (super hot and famous) would never date someone like her...right? 

2020 - pandemic.  Noah reaches out via email to Sally. Communication turns into a trip to LA for her. Sparks do fly.  Is this real?  Is it "LOVE?"   

You have to read the book to find out, but the author does a great job with the neurosis-inducing and heart fluttering wonder of love, while slyly dissecting the social rituals of romance and gender relations in the modern age.  (cover blurb) 

I liked this book and was along  for the ride.  Well done. 

Finally Friday - Jiu Jitsu Girls

New experience a few Saturdays ago for Ray and Me - the Dallas Jiu Jitsu World League.  What a zoo. Over two thousand entries of all ages.  We sponsored Skylar (age 8) and Dakota (6) with our Christmas present to them. 

Here's Skylar (left) facing off.  These little gals are tough

Dakota (left)  is a "beast" per her father

Silver medals for both and lessons learned.  It was interesting to watch and fun to cheer them on.