tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76116162024-03-09T12:51:48.760-05:00A miscellany of thoughts, newsclips and ephemera.Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.comBlogger848125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-52334081570047702692024-03-03T10:44:00.004-05:002024-03-03T10:44:42.765-05:00

Shortly after my mother died, my sister and I convinced our father to join the modern era and give up his crazy cell phone plan and old phone in favor of joining my family plan and getting an iPhone.It was life-changing for everyone.We now have a family text group, with Dad, sis, her daughter and me.  And Dad has started texting us the minutae of his life (personally, I love the still photos

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-6636940051868492492024-02-22T08:18:00.003-05:002024-02-22T08:18:50.771-05:00

 Recently I had a birthday -- not as significant as last year's, but still.  Older, right?  And in August my office moved across the street, from a 50-year-old building that is concrete and glass (that oh-so-lovely brutallist style) to a 125-year-old building that you could find on just about any New England college campus, except that my office is in an unwindowed basement

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-59206550016818868582024-01-23T08:45:00.000-05:002024-01-23T08:45:07.154-05:00

One of my librarians is our arts, crafts and design maven. Over the years she’s the one we go to for images for all sorts of things. So I kinda trust her on this. If you know me offline, you know that I have a certain… pallor. Now, I will argue that my skin tone is actually normal and healthy, that it’s my dark hair that makes it look paler by contrast. I’ve been told I’m wrong. She

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-49377912321494856652024-01-16T11:13:00.000-05:002024-01-16T11:13:00.134-05:00

Recently I had an couple of friends over for a Whine & Cheese afternoon.  Four bottles of wine, lots of cheese, and much whining later... I texted two other friends, asking for their help getting rid of more of the cheese and they responded by saying they, too, had more than enough in their homes and were in need of help themselves.Thing One forwarded this article from the Daily Mail:&

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-61417114383810400042024-01-09T11:52:00.000-05:002024-01-09T11:52:00.142-05:00

I've been mulling this post for a while as I've thought about my book review practice.  Did anyone else read this article about people "reviewing" books on GoodReads they haven't actually read 🔓?Over the years, I've reviewed many books (over 4000) on that website and over on the review blog. I've tried to be honest about my feelings regarding the books I've read, including the ones that for

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-1903690739347879002024-01-01T00:35:00.138-05:002024-01-01T00:35:00.159-05:00

Here's 2023, the year that was. Want to see what previous years were like? What did you do in 2023 that you'd never done before?Served on a book award committee (yes, I've done those before, but not this award!)Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?.I refer to my previous answer.Did anyone close to you get married? Number Six and Eight Nieces (I was

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-23129370916352692992024-01-01T00:31:00.106-05:002024-01-01T00:31:00.138-05:00

On the Blog:This year has been one of slightly more blogging, in part because for the past few months I've been forced to have long weekends recovering from my eye treatments, which leads to opportunities to blog.  Which posts caught readers' fancies this year? Here are the five most popular 2023 posts:Maybe I'm just oldShe has ONE jobShhhh!  We don't talk about that! 

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-90156633148099975422023-12-31T07:56:00.023-05:002023-12-31T07:56:00.145-05:00

Once again, rather than have too many posts on one day, I'm posting this on the last day of the year so that the year-end stuff is spread out a bit more. One of the continuing themes(?) from last year was the amount of  'meh' -- still far too many books with acknowledgements that say something like "I had the opportunity to write this book I knew I needed to write during COVID", to which I

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-80444298017239105212023-12-31T07:48:00.009-05:002024-01-01T11:16:07.772-05:00

According to my records, I've read 42 books this quarter - including many for the book award committee that I'm not linking to here.  MG/YA Fiction Twelfth Grade Night; Molly Horton Booth Dungeons and Drama; Kristy BoyceArtifacts of an Ex; Jennifer Chen The Blackwoods; Brandy Colbert Wander in the Dark; Jumata EmillGreen; Alex GinoMG/YA Mystery/ThrillerThe Only Girl in Town; Ally Condie&nbsp

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-4892026622728139662023-12-23T12:23:00.002-05:002023-12-23T12:23:45.443-05:00

As part of my Getting Ready for the New Year activities, I'm looking at articles and websites I've saved since the last time I published this post and clearing it out of my To Blog inbox and starred folders on Feedbin...There are been a lot posts about decluttering, but which method works best for you?  And despite the date on this post, it's never too late to start planning (ok, maybe it is

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-53204801948071387122023-12-21T11:06:00.001-05:002023-12-21T11:06:23.079-05:00

As some of you know, I have a strained relationship with the city of Columbus, Ohio.  In early October 1967, when we lived near Cleveland, my parents and I went for a day drive.  And managed to bring home a younger sister.  I still have that sister.  My next trip to Columbus was in late November 2023, when I attended a conference.  And managed to lose my voice but gain a

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-17182493551673263422023-12-18T06:54:00.001-05:002023-12-18T06:54:13.045-05:00

This is the time of the year when more people feel depressed and lonely, probably due to the seasonal celebrations and gatherings coupled with the early onset of evening.  One of my nieces posted this and it's worth sharing widely:DEPRESSION TIPS: Shower. Not a bath, a shower. Use water as hot or cold as you like. You don’t even need to wash. Just get in under the water and let it

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-39794517730244390902023-12-15T09:53:00.002-05:002023-12-15T09:53:08.874-05:00

The past two-and-a-bit months have been absolutely exhausting at MPOW.  I'll write a bit more about that next week, along with some delayed culture vulturing and lazy thoughts about life.But for now, I'm just enjoying the start to my Winter Break and the opportunity to rest and recover.  And seeing my aunt and cousin, whom I have only seen on Zoom since COVID hit.  It's been far

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-73832848813701193322023-11-13T10:33:00.001-05:002023-11-13T10:33:00.144-05:00

My commute involves taking two tunnels, and frequently there is Traffic.  One of the tunnels is one lane and when there's Traffic you pretty much crawl through at 5-10 mph.  The entire route is red brakelights ahead.So why are people honking???  We can't go any faster!Same question, different scenario: we're at a red light.  You are five or more cars back.  The light is

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-70450002370978676872023-11-08T09:49:00.003-05:002023-11-08T09:49:00.132-05:00

Things at MPOW have been overwhelming the past few weeks and last night I pretty much lost it.  After dinner, I curled up in bed and snuggled with Greta -- it's her job to snuggle and she put up with the human leaking into her fur.Until, that is, the light went out.She has one job: snuggle with the human.  The human who keeps her fed, dry, warm, healthy.  You know, all the good

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-45018094158361500002023-11-05T09:30:00.004-05:002023-11-05T09:30:24.951-05:00

I'm going to be slightly cryptic here because this is about MPOW and these are my thoughts, not official thoughts. But I just have to get this off my chest so... here goes...There have been several building projects at MPOW over the past few years.  One building is completely closed to students and is undergoing what we hope will be an incredible transformation - the idea being that we're

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-41649716772578273252023-11-01T10:00:00.016-04:002023-11-01T10:00:00.144-04:00

Currently watching: PaybackCurrently reading: 🤐 (book award books - I know it's a boring answer, but we have a month to create our shortlist!)Currently loving: The support of my colleagues at a really difficult timeCurrently eating (or drinking): Vanilla Charleston Chews (it's Halloween, ok?)Currently organizing: Old work emails that really belong in the Archives and sorted by academic

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-69383326936705705512023-10-31T09:33:00.005-04:002023-10-31T09:33:37.597-04:00

I've been getting these infusions for my eye for about 18 months and every recovery is different. Why???  It's the same stuff, the same dose, the same length of treatment, etc..  So why would the few days afterward be so different?  Sometimes it's aseptic menengitis, sometimes it's just Weeble Mode, sometimes just really tired.  Or a combination of the three.  This time,

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-32737162047559616812023-10-17T11:24:00.002-04:002023-10-17T11:24:30.879-04:00

As I may have mentioned here before a time or two, I am a convinced Quaker.  It took me nearly 20 years from deciding that Judiaism was not a religion that felt right to me to finding Quaker worship did, in fact, speak to my condition.  And yet, I'm still Jewish because it's both a religion and a culture/ethnicity.  You can leave the former, not the latter.As the events in Israel

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-10224640182183909342023-10-01T12:24:00.012-04:002023-10-01T12:24:00.151-04:00

 Currently watching: The new season of Great British Bake-Off, and re-watching Kavanagh QCCurrently reading: 🤐 (book award books) Currently loving: Fall. I love the hopefulness of spring, but I'm more of a fall kinda gal.  All those crisp days that beg for a sweater, and the rain that says "stay in bed and read"Currently eating (or drinking): Apples (both cider and non-cider) - 'tis

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-29102834908920079642023-10-01T08:59:00.146-04:002023-12-18T07:48:36.354-05:00

I really have read more books but there's been a lot of reading for the book award committee.  There's been so much "meh" in my reading, sadly. Oh well. MG/YA FictionInfluential; Sage Amara Another Dimension of Us; Mike Albo Glow Up, Lara Bloom; Dee BensonThe Legacies; Jessica GoodmanJamie; L.D. Lapinski Thieves Gambit; Kayvion LewisThe Future King; Robyn SchneiderMG/YA Speculative

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-38594828944853527082023-09-25T08:38:00.002-04:002023-09-25T08:38:00.144-04:00

 Recently there've been a number of posts on the formerly bird site about celebrity encounters: Now, I could talk about the many students or parents of students I've met who are famous celebrities.  I could talk about the authors I've met.  But no, I'm going to go back to the very beginning of my worklife, nearly 40 years ago.Back then, newly hatched from college, I worked for a

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-65708277984361548822023-09-03T12:19:00.003-04:002023-09-03T12:19:49.592-04:00

 Currently watching: Good Omens (even if you haven't read the book, watch this!)Currently reading:  Some really good stuff for Morris - wish I could share with everyone!Currently loving: Seeing colleagues during our start of the year meetings.  They know who they are.Currently eating (or drinking): Pimm's Cup.  Seems to have become my go-to post-work drink. 

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-22703959388714594862023-08-28T09:14:00.001-04:002023-08-28T09:14:00.171-04:00

You can destroy a book.  You can burn it, you can tear it into pieces and scatter them to the four winds, you can soak it until it reverts to pulp or the ink turns the water black, but you can't destroy the contents of the book, or the idea of the book, not as long as there are those who care, who remember...Who read.The Land of  Lost Things, John Connolly  

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611616.post-66655936654237092072023-08-07T09:56:00.001-04:002023-08-07T09:56:00.147-04:00

I've been 60 for a while now and there are some things I've noticed that may (or may not) have to do with being old and cranky.Things take longer to heal or get better.  That's always been an issue for me (something something pales skin) but it's gotten even longer.  A simple cough can take forever to go away, for example.  Stupid things.  Things like putting grapes or

Lazygalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12008100108035617927noreply@blogger.com1