I'm sitting here on a Tuesday afternoon, looking out the window to watch clouds scudding across the sky. We're in between periods of rain here in Phoenix. Light rain, which will soak in, thankfully. The weather is reminding me of UK forecasts with its "sunny intervals." We Americans just say "partly cloudy," but there's something more cheerful in the UK terminology.
I feel as though I'm slowly coming out of a tremendous fogbank. I'd stopped knitting for weeks. Now I have three different projects on the go. The new home health company I'm dealing with is providing 95% of the supplies for my leg which is a complete turnaround from the old company that was shackled by my insurance company to the point where all my needed supplies were out of my own pocket. Believe you me, I'm appreciating the money I'll be saving! And... I no longer hesitate to sit at the computer since it's not an instrument of torture now that I've finally sorted out Denis's affairs.
I still haven't made a move about Christmas decorations. Probably because they're all in a shed outside, and who wants to drag them into the house in the rain? Not I!
The only way I have yet to come out of my fogbank is in my reading. My reading has slowed to what is for me a crawl. We shall see what happens because I'm still slowly readjusting my routine.
My thoughts are with anyone else who's been experiencing fogbanks of their own. May you start having those sunny intervals and then full-blown sunshine. Virtual hugs to you all!
Enjoy the links!
►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄
- From The Guardian: How would-be authors were fooled by AI staff and virtual offices in a suspected global publishing scam.
- Quiz: If you can name all ten of these Thanksgiving movies, you're ready for the holidays.
- Why the Golden Age of Detective Fiction still influences mystery today.
- How Southern crime fiction became a publishing powerhouse.
- Florida public schools are banning these 55+ books without review.
- Theft or civil disobedience? 16 books go missing after a Kentucky church urges members to check out and never return library books about LGBTQ+ people.
- The biggest fails in license plate history.
►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄
- Merit's wig: a 3,400-year-old Egyptian headpiece smoothed down with ancient homemade hair gel.
- Archaeologists have have found the lost Iron City of the Silk Road in the remote highlands of Uzbekistan.
- Ancient Pompeii's elite may have built lavish towers on top of their villas. Here's what they may have looked like.
- Fascinating animation reveals the inner workings of the Colosseum in ancient Rome.
- Archaeologists deciphered crumbling hieroglyphs to reveal the name of a forgotten Maya queen who ruled 1,400 years ago.
- A fire ravaged a historic 200-year-old tavern in Ohio. These are the artifacts archaeologists found in the wreckage.
- Three decades of research reveal a forgotten medieval castle on a Scottish island.
►Channeling My Inner Elly May Clampett◄
- Caught between empires: on the fate of the Amur tiger.
- Sperm whale speech has human-like "vowels."
- The comeback of California's gray wolves just took a tragic turn.
- 22 animals you don't want to mess with. (I've had my own experiences with a cassowary, ostriches, and a goose. I won't count numbers 3 and 4 on the list.)
- Witness an extraordinary wildlife restoration at Rwanda's Akagera National Park.
- This snail can regrow its eyes-- and understanding how may one day help humans with injuries.
- Scientists are using drones to unleash thousands of mosquitos in Hawaii in a bid to save native birds.
►The Wanderer◄
- The ancient art of harvesting fruit in the desert.
- 7 American ghost towns you can still walk through. (I've been to a lot of ghost towns in Utah and here in Arizona, but I was still surprised to see that I'd been to one on this list-- Bodie.)
- Miami Beach's newest art installation is underwater-- and it doubles as a habitat for fish and coral.
- In praise of old maps. (I love maps.)
- Underwater forests return to life off the coast of California, and that might be good news for the entire planet.
- Quiz: Can you name the country from its capital city?
- In 100 seconds, see the impact of humans on planet Earth.
►Fascinating Folk◄
- Artist Percy Lam immortalizes Hong Kong's neon signs, one stitch at a time.
- How Michael Connelly keeps The Lincoln Lawyer series fresh.
- Ship stewardess Ella Sheldon, the lonely diarist of the high seas.
- Who was Molly Pitcher? Exploring the Revolutionary War icon.
- Artist Edvard Munch was haunted by physical and mental illnesses, but he was also fascinated by them.
- At 107 years old, neuroscientist Brenda Milner is still unlocking the mysteries of the brain.
- The Coast Guard's most potent weapon during Prohibition? Codebreaker Elizebeth Friedman.
►I ♥ Lists◄
- Readworthy's Best of 2025 Award Winners.
- Six unsolved maritime mysteries.
- Nine Native American mysteries.
- Nine novels about secret societies.
- A nostalgic compilation of the most kitschy items from the 20th century.
- 2025's Words of the Year... so far.
- 12 famous quotes everyone misattributes.
That's all for this week! No matter how busy you may be, don't forget that quality Me Time curled up with a good book!
I'm so glad that some sun is getting through the clouds for you! And that you're enjoying more of your usual activities - you can relax a little, enjoy those, and see what happens for your reading. Just dealing with the emotions caused the daily news alone has interfered with my reading, and it's definitely frustrating.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I'm not sure whether to read about the Mayan Queen or the Silk Road site in Uzbekistan first. But I'll be sharing the article about old maps with my sister, since that's an interest of hers - she and her husband find an historical map of each place where they have lived.
I like the idea of getting a historical map for each place they've lived. I'd only need three.
DeleteI'm so glad you're moving out of the fogbank, Cathy. One step, one breath, one day at a time is the right pace, and you're wise to do things as they're right for you. Your reading will get there when it's time. I'm also glad to hear your home health situation is getting better. That alone takes a burden from you. As for the links, thanks, as ever. There are several of them calling my name this time. I want to visit that Scottish castle, and learn about the Mayan queen, and the lost iron city, and.....
ReplyDeleteLots of good links in that section this week!
DeleteCathy, happy to hear that your moods have changed a bit. It does take time, dear friend. Know that we will be here for you regardless of how your life changes. I have had times when my reading took a bit to be 'normal' for me and that's frustrating, but necessary I guess. Good news about your home health. Love the flower picture. Laughed and laughed about the TBR picture. I kind of feel that way myself. Not quite that bad, but I'm not going to make my 'number' goal for this year. And I ask myself, who said I 'had' to make that number anyway - ha!!! Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteI doubt that I will make my goal either-- and I even lowered it!
DeleteSunny intervals...I like that! And I wish more of them for you. And that TBR picture is so funny. I tried to get my number down this year and it's higher now than it was last January. So that didn't work. ;D Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe best laid plans, eh? ;-)
DeleteLots to unpack here - many interesting links to explore. It's good to hear that the fog is beginning to clear for you. It's a process, one that will no doubt continue for months, but there are clear skies at the end. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteI'm hangin'! ;-)
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