A Haunting On the Hill, by Elizabeth Hand

Book number 47 for 2024; 5/5 stars.

I discovered this book at the library (anyone surprised?) and when I saw that it was an “authorized” sequel to Shirely Jackson’s classic The Haunting of Hill House, I immediately checked it out. 

In this book, we investigate what happens when a group of self-absorbed theater people spend a few nights at Hill House, in hopes of reading and rehearsing a new play that our main “hero” has written. Holly and her girlfriend, Nisa, have been working on a play called Witching Night. As Holly was out for a drive, one day, she was drawn to turn off of the main road onto a rarely used side road, where she eventually wound up at the gates of Hill House. She got out and looked around a little and decided that, creepy as it seemed, it would be a perfect place for them, along with Stevie, another friend, and Amanda Greer, a famous actress who was slightly past her prime, to read and rehearse.

They ignored everyone’s warnings. The realtor who now owns Hill House tried to talk Holly out of it, but went ahead and rented the house to her for two weeks. The first time Holly had driven up the road, a woman, who had been standing outside a double-wide trailer house, came toward her car with a raised knife and a somewhat wild, angry expression on her face. That woman, Evadne, turned out to be friends with Ainsley, the realtor, and aunt to Melissa, who was the woman who cleaned at Hill House every week. All of them sported the same ring on one of their fingers, made by Evadne.

Ms. Hand has done a marvelous job of continuing the legacy of Hill House. We learn in the acknowledgments that she had the blessing, encouragement, and suggestions from Laurence Jackson Hyman, Shirley’s son and “literary executor.” The psychological terror that ensues in this novel is equal to, and perhaps even surpasses that of the original book. As these four people spend time in this house, strange things happen. But they are things that makes the reader wonder, at first, is this house really haunted, or are these people just a little insane?

Time doesn’t seem to work the same at Hill House, either. In all, they don’t even spend two full nights in the house, but it doesn’t seem to flow that way. To me, the reader, it seemed like more nights, but that’s a trick that the house plays on people. And it has a way of making people not trust each other. As I said, these theater people were already self-absorbed, so it didn’t take much psychological pushing for them to begin bickering among themselves and having negative thoughts about one another.

One thing I really liked about the layout of the story is that all of Holly’s chapters were in first person, while everyone else’s chapters, Nisa, Stevie, and Amanda, were in third person. And we spent ample time in all of their heads.

The last third or so (around 100 pages) of the story is where things really begin to act like a snowball rolling down a mountain. The pace picks up and doesn’t slow down until the last chapter. The terror gets real, tempers flare, and the narcissism of each player comes to full fruition. One almost expected someone to crash into the tree at the turn in the road, again, but, you see, that tree had been cut down, as at least one other person had died from crashing into it. But then, how difficult would it have been for Hill House to grow it back?

One interesting detail . . . there is a large black hare that figures into this story, frequently. And every chapter in the book is headed by a simple drawing of a hare. Another interesting detail is that both Holly and Amanda have a strange death, from their past, in their immediate circle of influence. 

I loved this book! I’m very glad that I read it, and even more glad that Elizabeth Hand was allowed to write it. I do believe Ms. Jackson would have been pleased.

TTFN, y’all!

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust, by Alan Bradley

Book number 46 for 2024; 5/5 stars.

This is book number seven of the Flavia de Luce series (not including what might be called 6.5, a stand-alone short story), and, in my opinion, it is the best one, so far.

This book picks up pretty much where The Dead In Their Vaulted Arches left off, with Flavia being sent away to Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy, near Toronto, in Canada. As our story begins, Flavia, now twelve years old, is on a ship from England to Canada, accompanied by Dorsey and Ryerson Rainsmith, both doctors that work for the Academy.

What makes this story so excellent is how Mr. Bradley has taken our hero and tossed her into a totally foreign environment, introducing her (and us) to a whole new cast of characters, and he does it without missing a beat! The same wonderful writing style is prevalent, throughout, and the only thing that changes is the location and the people.

There are some funny moments, as always, as young Flavia is so very precocious (one of my favorite lines in the book is when one of the other girls at the Academy says, “You are a very peculiar person, Flavia de Luce.” I dub this the understatement of the century! Bradley has such a way of putting sentences together, as well. At one point, the mind of Flavia is thinking, “The hours trudged by with chains on their ankles,” as she is riding on the train from Montreal to Toronto.

One of the most tragic parts of the book, to me, is when Flavia is in the middle of an encounter with the chemistry teacher, Mrs. Bannerman. Bannerman has given Flavia an expression, and Flavia is desperate attempting to interpret it.

“She gave me a smile which I could not decode: a smile in which she narrowed her eyes and raised only the corners of her mouth. What could it possibly mean?
“I looked at her for further signals, but she was sending none.
“And then it hit me with an almost physical force: approval. She had given me a look of approval, and because it was the first I had ever received in my life, I had not recognized it for what it was.”

You might not quite get this unless you have read other Flavia books, but if you have, you totally get how sad this is. There is a very interesting dynamic with her family. Speaking of that family, while they are mentioned in this book, we do not encounter any of them, as she spends the whole time in Canada, saving the very beginning.

And then Bradley drops the hugest of bombs on page 371, when a major plot twist is revealed. He is so good at this that I totally did not see it coming. And I love when an author pulls that off. I uttered an audible, “Oh, my gosh!” and my wife in the other room was like, “What’s wrong??” I just said, “my book,” and she understood.

As I said, this is the best one so far, in my opinion. I find it hard to imagine how he is going to outdo himself on the next one, but I will certainly read it to find out.

TTFN, y’all!

Just One Damned Thing After Another, by Jodi Taylor

Book number 45 for 2024; 5/5 stars.

This book was recommended by my manager at the library. It’s the first book in a series that has at least twenty books in it, now. I’m a fan of time travel stories, so I checked it out. Boy, am I glad I did!

We are introduced, in this book, to our “hero,” Madeleine Maxwell, usually referred to as “Max” in the story. She is recruited to join an outfit called “St. Mary’s,” that is funded, apparently, by a local university. Before she can even be interviewed, she must sign a NDA, stating that she can never discuss what she sees that day with anyone outside of St. Mary’s. Once she finally learns what is happening, she is all in.

The writing and story line, here, remind me quite a bit of Connie Willis’s work. I haven’t read all of hers but have read some, and have thoroughly enjoyed them. Willis’s work is a bit more serious, I think, as there were many moments in Just One Damned Thing when I was laughing out loud. But it has its deadly serious moments, as well, especially in the two major time jumps that the team does.

At one point, they go back to the Cretaceous period, which is thrilling. And one discovery that is made during that jump (or actually after it) leads them to the last jump of the book and what is attempted there. I’m not going to say any more about that one, in order to avoid spoilage. 

I was amused, early on, by a line that seem to sum up the attitude of Max perfectly. When told to think carefully about her decision as to whether she will join up with St. Mary’s, her thought was “Thinking carefully is something that happens to other people.” I rather love that line. Later on, it is almost repeated as she thinks, “Health and Safety is something that happens to other people.”

And just to add a little spice to the story, there is a sudden and almost unexpected (but not quite) sex scene on page 163 that is quite intense. As far as I can remember that is the only such scene in the book. 

I am quite looking forward to continuing in the series. I just looked at a favorite website, Book Series in Order, which recommends that I read The Very First Damned Thing next, even though it is the tenth volume in the series, as it is billed as a “prequel.”

TTFN, y’all!

Caliban’s War (The Expanse #2), by James S.A. Corey

This is the second book in the series of The Expanse, written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, under the pseudonym James S.A. Corey. Just like its predecessor, this 600 page book doesn’t feel that long. Granted, there is a blank page between most of the chapters but that only accounts for just over fifty of the pages. What I’m saying is that this book reads fast. It holds my interest and it, for the most part, doesn’t dawdle.

I love this series, so far. I’ve seen several seasons of the TV show, so I’m still playing catch-up with the books, but they seem to have followed the story fairly closely in the show. I will say that I like Amos a lot more in the books than I do in the TV show.

In this book, we are introduced to Sargeant Roberta Draper, who likes to be called “Bobbi” or “Gunny.” She is a Martian soldier, and she is huge, compared to Earthers. At the beginning of the story, she and her squad mates are faced with a monster that is composed of the protomolecule that James Holden and company faced on Eros in the first book. Bobbie Draper is the only survivor. She winds up meeting the assistant to the undersecretary of executive administration of the UN, Chrisjen Avasarala. I absolutely love this character. I liked her in the TV show (I think she was perfectly cast), and I like her even more in the books. 

We are also dealing with a situation on Ganymede, where a doctor’s child (Mei) has been kidnapped because of an immunity disorder that she has. A number of other children were kidnapped, as well. Her father, Praxidike (we just call him Prax), is looking for her, and hires Holden and company to help him. 

That’s as far into the plot as I will go, here. But the writing continues to be engaging, and, as I said, it doesn’t feel like a 600 page book at all. These guys have done a marvelous job of crafting a great science fiction story. I look forward to reading more.

There is some great humor in this story, as well. The interactions between the characters makes me laugh frequently, especially when we are focused on James Holden, Naomi, Alex (the pilot) and Amos. The banter between them is reminiscent of the banter that flows between the Soobs on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

There is one thing I may have missed, though. I don’t get the reference to the title. Who, or what, is Caliban?? It’s very possible I just glossed over it, while reading. 

I recommend this book, this series, to any lover of planetary science fiction. 

TTFN, y’all!

Leaving On A Jet Plane (Not Me)

Today is Thursday, May 2, 2024.

Here’s what’s happening today!

Today is National Day of Prayer.

“The observance is a call to prayer and an invitation for reflection and peace. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and appreciate what we have while recognizing prayer’s importance.

"The National Day of Prayer is a testament to America’s diverse faith landscape, with Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and people of many other faiths joining in prayer."
(daysoftheyear.com)

C is on her way to Las Vegas. At least I assume that is the case. I know she got on the plane. It was supposed to depart at 8:55, but the terminal was changed once and the gate changed several times. She was on the plane at 9:25, so the departure was likely an hour late. It takes about three hours, but she gains two on the trip, so it should be about 10:55 PT when she lands. Her first bowling set is scheduled for a little after 1:00 PM, their time.

So it is not a “normal” Thursday, here. it is, in that I am off work, as usual. But C is not here, and won’t be here tonight. She will be returning late tomorrow. I’m still planning to cook Beefy American Goulash for dinner, though. We’ll have more than usual left over, and it may be our dinner tomorrow night, as well.

There’s really nothing else on my agenda today. I will, I’m certain, venture out for Sonic drinks after a while.

The Texas Rangers lost to the Washington Nationals, last night, 1-0. Andrew Heaney (0-4) took the loss, but this time it was the offense’s fault. This puts them at 16-15, still in second place in the AL West, one game behind the Mariners. They will play the Nats again, this afternoon, at 1:35 CT, in Arlington. Nathan Eovaldi (1-2) will start for the Rangers.

The Boston Red Sox continue to roll, beating the SF Giants 6-2, last night. Kutter Crawford (2-0) got the win for Boston. They are now 18-13, but still in third place in the AL East, 1.5 out of first place, currently occupied by Baltimore. Oh. Wait. It’s a two-way tie between Baltimore and the Yankees. Virtual tie, as Baltimore is ahead by .008 percentage. Boston will play SF again, this afternoon, also at 1:35 ET, in Boston. Josh Winckowski (1-1) will start for Boston.

The Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Guardians have both won 20 games! But the Braves are a half game ahead of the Guardians, to be MLB’s bets team, today. The Other Sox, at 6-25, are still the worst. The Minnesota Twins continue to streak, now having won ten consecutive games! The Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates are also still streaking, but not in a good way. Both have lost four in a row. The LA Dodgers continue to lead in total runs, having scored 177. The Other Sox trail, having only scored 89. The Rangers have 139 total runs, and Boston has 149. And in the run differential category, the KC Royals have jumped to a lead, having outscored their opponents by 50 runs. (The Rangers travel to KC next, so this should be interesting.) The Other Sox are at -84 in that department. The Rangers are at +12 and Boston is now at +41, tied with the Yankees.

I’m still reading Caliban’s War, by “James S.A. Corey,” and am currently at 42%. I should have a lot of time to read today, so it’s looking good to have it finished by Saturday. Next up will be Just One Damned Thing After Another, by Jodi Taylor, recommended by my boss at the library.

That’s it for today. I hope you have a great Thursday.

TTFN, y’all!

The Guinevere Deception, by Kiersten White

Book number 43 for 2024, 4.5 of 5 stars

Yet another book I discovered while shelving at my library, The Guinevere Deception is a retelling of a portion of the Arthurian legends. We begin with Guinevere being escorted from the convent where she has been living, to Camelot, where she will be married to King Arthur. Included in her escort is Mordred, nephew to the King.

Note the word “deception” in the title. At the outset, it becomes quickly apparent that the deception has to do with the fact that Guinevere isn’t who she appears to be. In fact, the real Guinevere is dead and this girl is a replacement. This is not really a “spoiler,” as this piece of the plot is revealed in the early stages and is even included in the cover flap information. 

While the book was a little slow getting started, the pace picks up, as well as the excitement and intensity, as the book progresses. I really enjoyed Ms. White’s writing and character development. What I also enjoyed were at least two different plot twists along the way, and the revelation, at one point, that the replacement Guinevere wasn’t the only deception involved in this story. Later in the book, there is a “double deception,” and then, close to the end, even another plot twist. 

I really like a book where the buildup toward the end keeps me reading. The last third of the book was “unputdownable,” and I couldn’t wait to finish it last night. Oh, and there is yet another twist regarding the character of Lancelot. I really, really like what the author did with Lancelot’s character. That was great fun! 

She also puts mystery into the tale almost immediately. On page three, as Guinevere and company are making their way to Camelot, the ride through a forest. The problem is, that forest wasn’t there when they came that way the first time. We get an early indication of the mystery surrounding “Guinevere,” as well, on page 13 when a line says, “If only it were actually her name.” And then, two pages later, it says, “She had never seen a child before,” when Guinevere sees children in Camelot. This speaks even more of her “upbringing.” Who, or what, is Guinevere? Part of that mystery will be revealed as the reader continues in the story.

Ms. White brings mystery and unique imagination to the Arthurian legends, and I love it. I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of all things Arthur, as long as you aren’t afraid of some imaginative shifts.

TTFN, y’all!

Parkour!

Today is Monday, April 29, 2024. It’s the next-to-last day of April. May is right around the corner.

I missed yesterday, which will happen, from time to time.

Today is We Jump the World Day, which is apparently devoted to that strange thing known as “Parkour.” I don’t do that. Nope. But I do remember this:

We had a wonderful time at the horse races on Saturday. I kept forgetting what day it was, though, because we usually go there on Sundays. So all day, I was thinking it was Sunday.

The buffet was delicious, and we ate way too much. We did okay on the horses, but the important thing is that we had fun. We never bet more than $2 on a horse, and limited ourselves to $4 per race. So we all picked a couple of horses for each race, usually betting to place or show. I bet on one horse to win. It didn’t. C came out the best, with $17 and some change won, out of $28 bet. (We left with two races still to go, because we didn’t want to have to stand outside waiting on our car for a half hour.) S was almost as good, winning $16 and some change, out of $28 bet. I came in last, only winning $11 and change, out of $28 bet.

My frustration was that, in multiple races, one or both of the horses I picked would jump out to a big lead early, and then fade at the end. I did have a winner, though, in one race, but I had bet on the horse to show, so my winnings weren’t as big as they would have been if I had bet on the horse to win.

Yesterday was a good day. I had a nice morning at church, then we ordered Cotton Patch to be delivered for lunch. C went out and got her nails done, and the rest of the day was spent relaxing.

Today is a normal Monday. I’m off work and C is working from home. I have groceries being delivered in a little while, some laundry to fold, and I’ll be cooking chili for dinner tonight, as usual.

C will be going to Vegas on Thursday, to bowl in the Open Championships, as a “team building exercise” with her company. She works for the United States Bowling Congress (USBC), who runs that tournament that lasts about six months. Every year, USBC sends several teams of employees to bowl in the tournament. She will be there Thursday night, coming back late on Friday. One year (I think it may have been 2019), I went with her, and we spend the weekend there, as well. It was great fun.

The Texas Rangers beat the Cincinatti Reds 4-3, yesterday afternoon. They won the series 2-1, after losing 8-4 on Saturday (which was much worse than the score indicated, as they went into the bottom of the ninth with only one hit and no runs). Dane Dunning (3-2) got his third win, and Kirby Yates go his fifth save of the season. I also heard that he got his 500th strikeout in that game. This puts the Rangers at 15-14 for the season, and they are in second place in the AL West, a half game behind Seattle. They appear to be off today, and will begin a series with the Nationals tomorrow, at 7:05 CT, in Arlington. Jon Gray (0-1) will still be seeking his first win of the season.

The Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4, yesterday, with Kenley Jansen (1-0) getting the win in relief. They also won this series 2-1, after beating the Cubs 17-0 on Saturday! The Sox are now 16-13 for the season, still in third place in the AL East, three games behind the Yankees and two behind Baltimore. They are also off today, and begin a series with the Giants tomorrow, at 7:10 ET, in Boston. Cooper Criswell (1-1) will start for Boston.

The Atlanta Braves continue to be the best in MLB, with a 19-7 record. We’re still waiting on that first team to win 20 games. The Miami Marlins have overtaken (undertaken?) the Other Sox to be the worst MLB team! They are currently 6-23 for the season. (A lot can happen when I miss a day, right?) The Minnesota Twins have continued streaking, and have now won seven consecutive games. The Marlins, in their quest to be worst, have now lost six consecutive games. The LA Dodgers continue to have the most total runs, having scored 158. The Other Sox still have the lowest number in that category, having only scored 77 runs. The Red Sox are up to 139, while the Rangers now have 132. The Braves have the best run differential, having outscored their opponents by 47 runs, while the Other Sox are now at -77. That’s an improvement over last week, though, and the Rockies are only seven runs ahead of them. The Rangers are at +7, while the Red Sox improved to +33. A 17 run win can certainly help in that category.

I’m still reading The Guinevere Deception, by Kiersten White. I’m at about 60% and will either finish today or tomorrow. After that, I have a tough decision to make. The next book in my stack is due on May 4, and has no more renewals available. It’s almost 600 pages, which I’m sure I won’t finish in five days (never mind that I haven’t even started it yet). I may go ahead and return it tomorrow, and just skip to the next one, which isn’t due until May 11, with no more renewals. I can always check the other one out again. Of course, I also have the power to override the renewals, if I want to. I don’t like to abuse my privilege, though, you know?

I guess that’s about it. I hope you have a good Monday and a great week.

TTFN, y’all!

A Day At the Races

Today is Saturday, April 27, 2024.

Here’s what’s happening today.

Today is Eeyore’s Birthday! If you don’t know who Eeyore is, I’m not sure we can be friends. Eeyore is the adorable, depressed donkey in the Winnie the Pooh stories.

I had a good day in the computer center, yesterday. It was marginally busy, but not too much. I was able to complete a project for something that we are doing in August. One of the youth librarians (our newest full-time librarian) handed me a cutout of a zebra face, this past Wednesday, and asked if I would like to color it for the art gallery. I said sure. I initially brought it home with me, thinking I would color it here. But I took it back with me, yesterday, and got some markers from her and colored it during my shift in the computer center. The pieces that I colored will be attached to construction paper and presented in the art gallery. I will get a photo whenever possible.

Today, C, S, and I will be going to the races. We are heading to Lone Star Park in a little less than an hour for a day at the races (not a night at the opera). We have seats in an indoor section that includes a meal buffet. Should be fun.

The Texas Rangers beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1, last night. Nathan Eovaldi pitched well, but got no run support, so he got no decision. Jose Leclerc (2-2) wound up with the win. This makes the Rangers 14-13, still in second place in the AL West, a half game behind Seattle. They play the Reds again, this afternoon, at 3:05 CT, in Arlington. Michael Lorenzen (2-0) will get the start for Texas.

The Boston Red Sox lost to the Cubs, 7-1. Kutter Crawford (1-1) took the loss. The Sox are now 14-13 (same as Rangers), still in third place in the AL East, three games out of first place (currently a tie between Baltimore and NY Yankees). Cubs and Sox will play again, this afternoon, at 4:10 ET, in Boston. Josh Winckowski (1-1) will start for Boston.

The Atlanta Braves moved back to the top of the MLB standings, with a 18-6 record. The Other Sox finally won their fourth game, but remain the worst team, with a 4-22 record. The LA Dodgers and Minnesota Twins are both still winning, with five-game winning streaks going. The Houston Astros now have the longest current losing streak, at five games. Speaking of the Dodgers, they scored twelve runs last night, as they beat the Blue Jays 12-2, which launched them to the top in the total runs category, with 153 total runs scored. The Other Sox, who scored nine runs in their win, are still at the bottom, with only 65 total runs. The Rangers have 124, and the Red Sox have 117. And finally, in the run differential column, the Atlanta Braves jumped to the lead in that category, having outscored their opponents by 48 runs. The Other Sox still have the worst, having been outscored by 80. The Rangers are at +10, and the Red Sox at +15.

I’m currently reading The Guinevere Deception, by Kiersten White, a story from the Arthurian legends. So far, it is quite good and unique.

I guess that’s it for today! Have fun, and may the odds ever be in your favor!

(From A Day At the Races)

TTFN, y’all!

Daindreth’s Assassin, by Elisabeth Wheatley

Book number 42 for 2024, 5/5 stars.

I became aware of this author on Intagram, seeing reels that she has created. I’m particularly fond of her “Book Goblin” reels. But, as many independent authors are doing, she advertises her books on social media. The premise sounded interesting, so I bought them directly from her site.

And yes, the is “fantasy romance.” Not my usual wheelhouse, mind you, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the story as well as the world that the author has built.

Daindreth is the archduke of the Erymayan Empire, of which Mynadra is the capitol city. Amira has been sent by her father to assassinate him, as he is betrothed to Amira’s sister, Fonra. Oh, and he is cursed with a demon.

Amira has a curse of her own, that binds her to obey everything her father tells her to do. Everything gets very complicated when Amira fails at her task, though it is truly no fault of her own.

The world that Ms. Wheatley has built is, in my opinion, a worthy fantasy world. It fits very well into the genre and does it justice, I think. In addition, we have a strong female protagonist, but not, I would say, overly strong. There is magic in this world, but it’s not easy magic. In other words, those who use it must pay a price for it, in some way. The spirit of said magic is also designated as “ka,” which I have heard used before, in other stories. Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, for one. I may be misspeaking by referring to it as “magic,” and I apologize if that is the case. There appears to be more to it than that.

We have the typical arranged marriages of this kind of world, and for political reasons, of course. And that is the marriage that has been arranged for Fonra and Daindreth. Not surprisingly, that doesn’t come to pass.

The “romance” aspect of this fantasy romance is not overbearing at all. I quite appreciate that. The pace of the story does not drag. In fact, the opening couple of chapters move along at a great pace and are exciting enough to hook the reader. Things slow down a bit after that, but then, at the end of the book, the excitement level goes through the roof, to the point that, for the last few chapters, I would designate this book as “unputdownable.”

One of my favorite lines in the book is when Amira thinks, “How like a man to assume he was safe because she wore skirts.” This sentiment actually occurs more than once in the story. There was another line that I found to be quite poetic. “Her heart hammered a loud tattoo and her body shivered with the need to do something.”

The ending is satisfying, and leaves the reader wanting more. Of course, there is more, and I will be getting to it soon, I’m sure.

I highly recommend this book for folks who enjoy fantasy with a bit of romance thrown in. I have purposefully avoided sharing any other plot points, and there are plenty more that make this story fun and engaging.

TTFN, y’all!

Pretzels, Aliens, and Australians

Today is Friday, April 26, 2024.

Here’s what’s happening today.

There are a lot of holidays, today. I’ll choose a few of them. It’s National Pretzel Day. I do love pretzels, both the soft ones and the crunchy ones. I’m especially fond of Dot’s Pretzels, a brand that I stumbled across, recently. The homestyle variety is delicious, and they recently started selling a cinnamon sugar variety that is out of this world.

It is also Alien Day, commemorating the franchise of movies, the first of which is the best (and scariest) sci-fi horror movie ever made, in my opinion. The reason this date was chosen was because the moon where the alien was first discovered was designated as LV-426.

And last, but not least, it is Hug An Australian Day. Even better if the Australian could be a Koala Bear.

Yesterday was a good day. S went to her Club Metro event, which involved learning how to line dance. Apparently, it wasn’t just country music, because she said they danced to “Footloose.” She had a good time. C and I ate a Christina’s Mexican Restaurant, and had a delicious meal and a good time.

As expected, I finished Daindreth’s Assassin, by Elisabeth Wheatley. I got up to 96% finished before we left for the night’s event, and then finished when I got home. I didn’t start a new book, last night, as I had reached my reading goal for the day, but will start the new one today, called The Guinevere Deception, by Kiersten White. I will be posting my review of Daindreth’s Assassin, later today.

It’s a normal Friday, and C is working from home, while I’m here at the computer center in the library. A little over an hour in, and it has been relatively slow. When we first opened, our print service was unavailable, due to some miscommunication between the provider and our server. But the manager talked to the provider folks and got it working again. It could have been a rough day, otherwise.

I made a Peach Dump Cake yesterday, but we didn’t get a chance to try any, yet. It was super easy, and I got the recipe from All Recipes. I’ve been getting a number of new recipes from that site, lately.

The Texas Rangers lost to the Seattle Mariners, yesterday afternoon, 4-3. Andrew Heaney (0-3) took the loss. Honestly, I can’t understand how he is still a starter. This puts the Rangers at 13-13, back in second place in the AL West, a half-game behind the Mariners. They begin a series with the Cincinnati Red tonight, at 7:05 CT, with Nathan Eovaldi (1-2) taking the mound for Texas. I sincerely hope he is better than he has been in his last two starts.

The Boston Red Sox lost another game to the Cleveland Guardians, yesterday, 6-4. Chase Anderson (0-1) took the loss. The Sox are now 14-12, still in third place in the AL East, three games out of first place, which is occupied by the Orioles, at least for today. The Sox begin a series with the Chicago Cubs, tonight at 7:10 ET, in Boston. Kutter Crawford (1-0) will start for Boston.

The Atlanta Braves are currently the best MLB team, with a 17-6 record, even though Cleveland has won 18 games. Atlanta’s percentage is .739, against .720 for Cleveland. The Other Sox remain the worst team, at 3-22. The LA Dodgers and Minnesota Twins both have four-game winning streaks going, while the Other Sox still have that seven-game losing streak going. I guess they didn’t play yesterday, so at least they didn’t lose. The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to lead the league with the most runs scored, at 149, while the Other Sox have still only scored 56. The Rangers have scored 122, and Boston has scored 116. Finally, in the run differential department, the Guardians have scored 49 more runs than their opponents, while the Other Sox have scored 85 fewer. The Rangers have outscored their opponents by a mere 9 runs, and Boston is up by 21 runs.

Tomorrow, C and S and I will be heading to Lone Star Park, where we have an inside table reserved, complete with a lunch buffet. Should be fun, as long as weather cooperates. The area where we lives appears to be in a tornado watch, at the moment. Of course, “watch” is pretty much meaningless, anymore, since they changed the way they designate those things. What is now called a tornado warning used to be what was called a watch. A few years back, there had to be an actual tornado on the ground in order for a warning to be called. Basically a “watch” just means we have dark, ominous-looking clouds.

I guess that’s it for today. I hope you all have a great Friday.

TTFN, y’all!