August 31, 2026 SUMMER BREEZE

 

Another summer coming to an end. It's been a good one. Finally felt good running. Tried to run every other day between 4-6 miles. Overall I felt very strong. So thankful. CAN'T tell you how much I enjoy getting out there with my buddies. We do something every day. Either run, walk or yoga. CAN'T tell you how much I am going to miss this routine when I go back to school. I really need a job that works AROUND my exercise schedule. That's what would make me TRULY happy. Hopefully I'll find THAT job real soon. Anyone got any ideas??? Wish someone would pay me to read and review books. In the meantime, I just finished a novel by one of my favorite writers that I'd like to share with you--Elizabeth Strout's-- The Things We Never Say. Set in a coastal town in Massachusetts in 2024, Artie Dam is a 57 year old history teacher whose been married to Evie for over thirty years. After experiencing a tragedy involving their son, Rob, the couple is changed. Artie retreats into himself, lonely and filled with self-doubt, while Evie becomes callous and distant. Artie is further troubled by the 2024 presidential election and a world he feels disconnected from. One day while out sailing, Artie has a boating accident that forces him to confront his despair and change his life for the better. Strout is a master at creating characters with real struggles that readers can understand. And her writing is gorgeous. Find out more about Artie, Evie and a long buried secret that also threaten their future when you read this lovely gem for yourself. 

August 2, 2026 57 CHANNELS AND NOTHIN' ON

Who remembers the CONSOLE TV?  It was basically a giant piece of furniture with a TV in it that weighed at least 2 tons. Oh--those were the days. Life was so much simpler. There were only 3 major TV stations--ABC--CBS--NBC. There was also PBS and if you were lucky Channel 56. There was NO remote to lose--kids were THE REMOTE CONTROL. Today we have 3 remotes and I don't even know which one turns on the TV. Not even kidding. So our "SMART TV" has been freezing up on us--and our cable company told us we should switch to streaming. It's mind boggling. Should we get YouTube TV--Hulu--Disney--Philo---the list is endless??? And what the hell is a Fire Stick or Roku TV? Honestly--it's ALL WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME. I'd go back to the CONSOLE TV and 5 channels if I could. This all reminds me of a very interesting book I just finished called Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. As this debut novel unfolds, Natalie Heller Mills lives on Yesteryear Ranch in Idaho with her husband, Caleb, and their 5 children. Natalie is a "Tradwife" and successful  influencer. On her social media site, she promotes a 19th century lifestyle, Christian values, traditional gender roles, farm life and home schooling. One morning Natalie wakes up to discover that she is actually living in the 1850's in a house similar to her own but without modern conveniences. The story is told from 2 timelines--Natalie's life before the incident ( don't want to say anything about that) and the one where she is back in time. I found the story fascinating and hard to put down--it's definitely a satire BUT it is also a suspenseful mystery. Find out what happened to Natalie and her whole family when you read this very different book that I thoroughly enjoyed.