Thursday Thirteen

1. It's another free-for-all Thirteen, and a late one at that. What if I'd gone 846 Thursday Thirteen in a row and then missed one!? My goodness.

2. The chronic laryngitis/sinus issue from hell continues. It's been over a month now since I've been able to sing or carry on a conversation without sounding like Jeramiah the Bullfrog. I do try to be a good friend . . .

3. The other day I thought a cow was calving in front of the house, but when I looked again she was gone so I thought maybe I was wrong. A bit later, though, my husband looked out and the vultures were around the area where I'd seen the cow. He went out to check on things and sure enough, she'd had a calf and quickly moved it under the trees where the evil vultures couldn't get to it. They enjoyed the afterbirth, though.

4. We received our tax assessments for real estate taxes in the mail this week, and my Facebook feed looks like a bunch of people who have no clue how things actually work are posting inane comments and baseless conspiracy theories. Oh, wait, that's exactly who is posting. People who have no clue how things actually work.

5. It isn't hard to understand how government works, but (a) you have to want to understand and (b) you have to be open to how it actually works. If someone has already decided the politicians are crooked, on the take, and out to do bad things, then they're never going to understand what is going on.

6. I'm looking around my office to see if there's something here that catches my eye so I can write about it. I have a book on a shelf called The Writer's I-Ching. I've never opened it and I'm not sure where it came from. But it reminds me that one time, a very long time ago, I wrote an article about a guy who lived in an abandoned church who had created a deck of new age cards, sort of like Tarot but not. He planned to sell them and become famous. I wonder what happened to him and his cards.

7. The I-Ching book is squeezed in between a book that identifies trees and another that is my favorite book on writing, Phyllis Whitney's Guide to Fiction Writing. This book was published in 1982 and is no longer in print. I'd buy another copy if it was. I'd even buy a Kindle copy.

8. The other books on the shelf include a guide to local mammals, several different thesauruses, a couple of dictionaries, an out-of-date AP Stylebook, the Chicago Manual of Style (also out of date), and books about writing memoir.

9. I need to dust.

10. Earlier, I saw a deer eating alongside the cows. They don't usually socialize.

11. Two of my three clocks in my office are not running. They need new batteries. Batteries are expensive now, and I only need one clock. So it's always 10:55 on one clock and 5:25 on another, now.

12. I wonder what time it is in Thailand. I ask Alexa, she says it is 2:25 a.m. there. It's 2:25 p.m. here. A 12-hour time difference. I learned something!

13. The other things on my desk include Chloraseptic sore throat lozenges, Halls cough drops, and nasal spray.  Which takes me back to the beginning, I suppose, in a roundabout way.

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 847th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

1. Today we get a free-for all. Who knows what will appear here? In any event, a quick health update - I still sound croaky but I think I'm getting better. This infection has been hanging on a long time, though.

2. I picked up a little freelance work, but I am not keen to do it. It feels like a step backwards, the pay is not the best, and so far, the people involved are uncooperative. I don't need the stress for something that isn't going to make or break me.

3. I am almost done with the bookkeeping necessary to send my taxes to the accountant. In fact, I hope to wind it up today and have it ready to go tomorrow. I try to get it to the accountant no later than the 15th, but in this instance, with legislation concerning the tax payments in flux in Congress, waiting might be the best option, if it passes.

4. Many people I know are ill. My father is ill, my friend Teresa is ill, I have been ill, and I know some of my fellow bloggers and readers have been ill. Stupid germs.

5. Have you noticed the price of batteries? Wow, they are out of sight. I bought cheap ones but they don't last very long. It's better to spend the extra to get a Duracell, although I've had trouble with batteries corroding more since the pandemic. I think we have people making things who don't know how to make things. 

6. Clorox products are also pricey. Bleach, toilet bowl drop-ins - anything with the Clorox name on it is quite costly. What's with that, Clorox?

7. In spite of all humanity does (and we do a lot), the sun still comes up, the moon waxes and wanes, and the stars twinkle whether they're hidden by light pollution or not. In the larger scheme of things, we're not much, and many folks need to step outside on a dark night and look up at the vastness of the sky and stars to understand that our lives are not relevant in the grand scheme of things.

8. Most of us will die poor, or barely eeking by. Why people think they're somehow going to turn into billionaires at the end is beyond me. And the money doesn't matter, anyway. Death is a journey we all take alone.

9. One of my friends told me she was having laser hair removal under her arms. The thought of that makes me shiver. It has to hurt. She is half my age and said she was tired of shaving. I said I'd been shaving for longer than she'd been alive.

10. On our farm, you will find cows, a pond, tractors, old buildings that one may or may not call barns, tools, pasture fields, and hay fields. You'll also find us, the people, the caretakers of this small little piece of earth. 

11. It's hard for me to feel poetic and write something flowery before 9 a.m. in the morning, so this is why this Thursday 13 is all over the place. I am not totally awake, although I am awake and have been up for three hours.

12. I do more things that are not good for me than I do things that are good for me. I think. I need to move more, sit less. And eat better. Not necessarily less, just better. Ah, the shoulds. They do follow me around, don't they? I should I should I should. What if I just accepted myself as I am and said, ok, you're a lazy butt. It is what it is, as my brother likes to say.

13. This would have been better if I'd given it some thought, but I have had trouble keeping up with what day it is, and suddenly here it is, Thursday. How'd that happen?

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 846th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday 13 (#845)

Here are 13 things that I think make life better, in no particular order. You may or may not agree:

1. Books. All books, even the ones I wouldn't read. They harbor so much knowledge! They make the world make sense, even in times when it doesn't make sense.

2. Word processors (not computers). I think the invention of a word processor that allows someone to write and rewrite without having to retype 90,000 words is one of the greatest things ever.

3. Quilts. Who needs a weighted blanket when there is a quilt around? If you want to feel cozy and snug, then this is ideal. Grandmas had the right idea when they made quilts.

4. Eyeglasses. For those of us who can't see well, they're definitely a necessity. For everyone else, wear sunglasses to protect those beautiful gateways to the soul!

5. Cameras. Now that everyone has one, all of the world is on record (though I have my doubts that future generations will ever see it.). But there's something exquisite about a beautiful photograph, one that moves you to inhale abruptly because it captures something extraordinary.

6. Musical instruments. Whether it's a bongo drum, a guitar, or a piano, making music is part of the heartbeat of humanity. Even early humans made music, using bones for flutes. Is there a more delightful sound than a musical instrument played by the hands of someone who loves it?

7. Pencils (or pens). What good are all of those thoughts bopping around in our heads if we don't write them down? I still use pencils, good ol' #2 yellow leaded pencils. I prefer them to anything else, though my favorite ink pen is a Pilot G-2 (05). 

8. Electricity. Just think of all the things made possible by the stuff whizzing through the power lines. Light to see by, heat to stay warm or cook - and to run those word processors.

9. Watches and/or clocks. I love watches and clocks. I prefer the old-fashioned clocks with a face on it and the 12 numerals, with a little second hand ticking away.

10. Clothing. Thank goodness for the things that keep us warm during cold days and cool in the heat of the summer! Plus, nobody wants to look at that without clothes . . . at least, I don't!

11. Chocolate. It really is a food of the gods. Can you imagine not being able to enjoy good chocolate?

12. A porch. This is probably foreign to most city or apartment dwellers, but honestly, sitting on a porch late in the evening, relaxing in a rocker and talking about the day, is one of the best ways to unwind ever invented.

13. Dishes and cutlery. Isn't it great to have a glass to hold your water? Or to eat from a nicely decorated plate? Much better than eating with your hands, right?

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 845th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Occasionally I think about the thing that I used to make a living doing: writing.

Here are 13 ways to improve your writing skills:

1. Research your audience and their questions before you write. This goes for nonfiction and fiction. Who are you writing for?

2. Start with an outline to organize your ideas and create a clear structure. I usually do this in my head, but some people write it down and have concise, clear outlines.

3. Simplify your topic and avoid over-explaining or using unnecessary details. This may not work if you're writing a fantasy, but it is a must for nonfiction. Aim to write for about the 6th grade level (if you can figure out what that is these days).

4. Expand your vocabulary and use precise words. Avoid jargon and obscure terms. Of course, if you're writing a college paper, you may need to do this, and if you're writing for a corporation, you're going to be using their buzzwords and such. But generally speaking, try to keep it clear.

5. Use contractions, colloquialisms, and conversational tone to make your writing more engaging and natural. This only works for fiction, nonfiction that has normal people (not professionals like doctors or lawyers and such) as the audience, and me.

6. Break the grammar rules when appropriate but know why and how you’re doing it. For example, do you know where commas go? How to use an ellipsis? Do you overuse exclamation marks!?!?

7. Use active voice, strong verbs, and sensory details to make your writing more vivid and dynamic. I consider this to be among the most important rules. Root out all of those do-nothing verbs like versions of "to be" or "go." Make your character run or shuffle along, not just go to the store.

 

8. Use transitions, headings, bullet points, and white space to improve the readability and flow of your writing. This is especially important in nonfiction work.

9. Use punctuation, capitalization, and formatting correctly and consistently to avoid confusion and errors. I tend to use Chicago style when I write, but you can also create your own style sheet and follow that. The point is, if you're always going to capitalize the word Error, then do it every time, otherwise, you've made an error.

10. Use a clear and consistent voice that reflects your personality and purpose. Of course, if you have no personality, then I suppose one ends up with very dry writing, but then again, maybe we need more of that in these days of overheated opinions and vast amounts of overwritten stupidity.

11. Edit your writing ruthlessly and eliminate any unnecessary or redundant words, sentences, or paragraphs. In other words, kill your darlings. This is hard for many writers to do. Don't fall in love with your sentences. Sometimes you just have to pull that great sentence out and hope you find another story in which to use it.

12. Proofread your writing carefully and check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. I am always amazed at how many people do not use the spellchecker in their word processing program. Word and Page and Word Perfect or whatever you're using, heck, even the browsers now have spell check in them. 

13. Seek feedback from others and learn from their suggestions and critiques. But don't ask your mom. She will always love it and that's not the kind of critique you need. You may need to pay someone for a critique if it's a long work. It's worth a couple hundred bucks to hire an editor (I do that kind of work, should you ever need someone.).

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 844th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I could talk about for a little while, and sound like I am sensible:

1. Writing nonfiction news articles.

2. Playing the guitar or other instruments.

3. How to stay with the same person for 40 years.

4. Virginia government and how it works (or rather, how it is supposed to work).

5. The history of Botetourt County.

6. Raising cattle.

7. The ins and outs of a septic tank.

8. How to thoroughly clean a house. (Not that I do, but I know how it should be done.)

9. Allergies or environmental sensitivities.

10. Endometriosis.

11. Fantasy television, movies, and/or books.

12. Dysfunctional families.

13. Journaling and why it can be helpful.

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 843rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Time doesn't always seem to be on our side, but sometimes we can find time when we're not exactly hunting for it. If you find yourself with a minute to spare, here are 13 things you can do with that little bitty span of time. It might help you get something done!

1. Make your bed. Really. It doesn't take that long.

2. Brush your teeth or floss. Good dental hygiene is important!

3. Drink a glass of water. Staying hydrated helps you think and keeps your muscles working.

4. Stretch your body. Try touching your toes and just holding it there for a minute. It will make your lower back feel better!

5. Write a thank-you note. They don't have to be elaborate. Just do it!

6. Meditate. Focus on your breathing. You can actually feel your breath enter your nose if you pay attention.

7. Read a page of a book. Or two, if you're a fast reader. (This one could trip me up if I have someplace to go and I get involved in the book too quickly.)

8. Sing a song. And do a little shimmy while you sing!

9. Fold your clothes. Like making your bed, this is a chore that doesn't take as long as it seems. I think dreading it takes longer than actually doing it.

10. Delete unwanted emails or clear out your spam folder. Everybody has unwanted emails!

11. Learn a new word. I really like this one. Learning is good!

12. Compliment someone. You'll make somebody's day.

13. Smile 😊. A good smile never hurts.

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 842nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Some songs stick with you not because of the entire song, but because of a line or two. Here are 13 lines from songs that have stuck with me. Do you recognize them?

1. "And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time."

2. "For I've been lonely, in need of someone, as though I'd done someone wrong somewhere, but I don't know where."

3. "To believe in this living is just a hard way to go."

4. "I've done my best, it wasn't much. I couldn't feel, so I learned to touch. I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you."

5. "Have you ever seen the rain coming down on a sunny day?"

6. "I'm just another writer, still trapped within my truth."

7. "And the river she rises just like she used to do. She's so full of surprises, she reminds me of you."

8. "Teach the children quietly for some day sons and daughters will rise up and fight while we stood still."

9. "Now that she's back from that soul vacation tracing her way through the constellation, she checks out Mozart while she does Tae-bo, reminds me that there's room to grow."

10. "Somewhere, somehow, somebody must've kicked you around some."

11. "We went searching through thrift store jungles. Found Geronimo's rifle, Marilyn's shampoo, and Benny Goodman's corset and pen."

12. "They would not listen, they did not how. Perhaps they'll listen now."

13. "Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes the rose."

Answers:

1. Wichita Lineman, Glenn Campbell

2. Play Me, Neil Diamond

3. Angel From Montgomery, John Prine (performed by Bonnie Raitt)

4. Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen

5. Have You Ever Seen the Rain, by CCR

6. Sometimes When We Touch, by Dan Hill

7. Heart of the Night, by Poco

8. Silent Running, by Mike & the Mechanics

9. Drops of Jupiter, by Train

10. Refugee, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

11. If It Makes You Happy, Sheryl Crow

12. Vincent (Starry Starry Night), by Don McLean

13. The Rose, by Bette Midler

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 841st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen #840

 

We are winding up another year, so I thought I'd take a look back and see what kind of stuff I was up to in the last 12 months.

1. I read and/or listened to 63 books. They ranged from classics like Catch-22, by Joseph Heller, and Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs (which was actually very good), to books by Janet Evanovich, Debbie Macomber, and Louise Penny, and ranged in genre from fantasy to mystery to self-help to memoir.

2. I washed at least 720 loads of laundry. To only be two people we go through many clothes. This is because we live on a farm and my husband in particular can change clothes three times a day. The cow doody has to be washed off.

3. I cooked at least 365 meals, although I suspect it was a larger number. Usually I don't fix breakfast, but I do fix lunch and supper. However, I only counted one meal a day. Sometimes my hubby makes his own sandwich.

4. I edited one book for someone, and it was published in October.

5. I wrote and published 42 articles. I also wrote 330 blog posts. Not quite one a day, but close.

6. I returned to physical therapy for a couple of weeks to work on a chronic pain issue.

7. I began playing music once a week (give or take) with my father and a friend of his.

8. I made the bed 365 times. I stripped the linens and replaced them 52 times.

9. I swallowed approximately 24,000 pills (not all at once, of course). I take 9 different prescription drugs, some of them multiple times a day, plus a lot of vitamins. (I had no idea it was that many until I started adding them up.)

10. I lost six pounds and kept it off.

11. I walked approximately 1.16 million steps during the year, and that's at an estimate of 3,200 steps a day, which is about what I averaged when I was using a Fitbit before it died. Some of you walked 10 million steps or more.

12. I spent over 1,000 hours playing video games. (One of my new year's goals is to stop that.)

13. I answered approximately 1,400 spam phone calls on the landline. I wouldn't answer them except we have businesses to run, and some calls come in on that number.

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 840th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

 

1. On the first day of Christmas, I tried not to cry. The Christmas tree was too much for me by myself. I hated asking the husband for help.

2. On the second day of Christmas, I wrote out my list. I have no idea what to buy for gifts.

3. On the third day of Christmas, I set out to shop. Thank goodness for my little laptop.

4. On the fourth day of Christmas, I sat down to write my cards. I found my messages to folks were hard to write.

5. On the fifth day of Christmas, UPS rolled in with gifts. I wondered if anyone would like the things I picked.

6. On the sixth day of Christmas, I started looking for the tape, because a new pack cost $6.88.

7. On the seventh day of Christmas, I couldn't find my special recipes. I printed off a few I found online.

8. On the eighth day of Christmas, I found my recipe. I was relieved and I could go and make penuche.

9. On the ninth day of Christmas, I made a slab of fudge. I put in the freezer and hoped it would be good.

10. On the tenth day of Christmas, I watched Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer. This time I did not fall asleep.

11. On the eleventh day of Christmas, I found a fruit cake for my guy. I also bought him old fashioned custard, which he likes.

12. On the twelfth day of Christmas, I played carols with my dad, and when I came home, I was kind of mad.

13. On the thirteenth day of Christmas, I said, "That's enough," and I sat down to drink a cup of ... something.

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 839th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

I have decided that the 1970s was the best decade for most everything, like music, TV, politics, women's rights, religion, etc. It was also the beginning of what we have today (which is a mess), but for a while there I think the 1970s had good things going for it. I know there was inflation, Nixon, Carter, and women and people of color were still repressed and all, but the Vietnam War ended, the music is still played even now, and that was the most influential decade of my life, I think, as far as the things I learned in school and what I saw on TV.

So, without further ado, in no particular order, here are 13 TV shows from the 1970s that influenced me:

1. M*A*S*H. Even though I was a little late to the party watching this (we couldn't get the channel), I think this is the show that made me a pacifist. I watched what it did to Hawkeye and it ate me up inside.

2. The Carol Burnette Show. I watched this when we stayed with my grandparents. I didn't always understand the jokes because of my age, but it was good, solid humor that didn't actually hurt anyone.

3. The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. I am tying these two together, since the latter was a spin-off from the first. I loved them both (but especially Lindsay Wagner as The Bionic Woman). They gave me hope for a future when humanity could heal deadly wounds and make us better than we actually were.

4. The Brady Bunch. I was a dedicated fan of Marcia and Greg Brady, the older two of the six children. I watched their interactions with one another and with their friends with great zeal. I wanted to be popular like Marcia (didn't happen), and I wanted a boyfriend like Greg (didn't happen, either, although I married someone even better than Greg).

5. Little House on the Prairie. This was my grandmother's favorite show, and I saw it only when I was at her house (again, we were limited to two channels at home, but we spent most of our weekends with my grandparents). I was actually a fan of Mary, not Laura. I thought Laura was too brash and too tom boyish. But Mary was studious, thoughtful, and a good daughter. I had read the books and followed the plot of the loss of her eyesight with great sorrow, knowing that she would, indeed, go blind.

6. Charlie's Angels. Oh, did I love Sabrina Duncan! She was smart, sexy in a non-conformist (i.e., no bathing suit) sort of way, and I thought Kate Jackson was the greatest actress ever. I had been a fan of hers ever since her first appearance in Dark Shadows and had followed her on The Rookies, where she played a nurse and wife of a police officer. Maybe that's why I became the wife of a fireman. We'll never know.

7. Wonder Woman. I have a "strong woman" thing - I like to read and watch woman who kick butt and take names, yet don't actually damage people. With her magic lasso of truth and her terrific speed and strength, Wonder Woman fit the bill. She tossed people about but no one seemed to die from her efforts; they just went to jail like they were supposed to.

8. Emergency! This show, more so than The Rookies, made me a fan of emergency services and the things those folks do to keep the public safe. I also had a little crush on Johnnie.

9. CHIPS. Ok, I admit it, I watched this show simply to see Erik Estrada. He was like, oh, Ranger in the Stephanie Plum books. Handsome, suave, a real hunk. (I was a teenager by then, so, hormones.)

10. The Partridge Family. I loved the idea of a musical family, and I thought this show put the Monkees to shame because this was more realistic. Also, David Cassidy was more of a dreamboat than Davy Jones, in my opinion. I thought Susan Dey was a great actress - almost up there with Kate Jackson - and I was happiest when the shows revolved around her, which they seldom did. Mostly they seemed to revolve around Danny.

11. Land of the Lost. I hate to say I was so invested in the plight of Marshall, Will, and Hollie on their routine expedition (hit the greatest earthquake ever known) and their efforts to find a way home, but I never missed a show on Saturday morning. I think part of my love of fantasy and science fiction comes from this show.

12. The Incredible Hulk. This was another fantasy/comic book show that I was regularly. I found it sad a lot of the time, though. Poor Bruce Banner was destined to live his life alone, walking the world trying to find a cure for his Jekyll and Hyde problem.

13. Fantasy Island. De plane! De plane! This one also caught my attention because sometimes the fantasies turned out so . . . wrong. Sometimes it was definitely a Monkey's Paw situation and a cautionary tale of be careful of what you wish for. 

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 838th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

1. This morning, I watched as the darkness became lighter, and the cloudy sky began to show pink, maroon, and purple color out the front window.

2. On the other side of the house, the sky was also purple, but quickly turned into a more orange hue as the sun rose.

3. If we didn't have clouds, we wouldn't have magnificent sunrises and sunsets. They would all look the same. There's a lesson in there somewhere, isn't there?

4. We are still in drought conditions, but the county lifted the burn ban anyway because we'd had a few showers of rain.

5. Out in rural areas, people often burn their trash. Many folks have a "burn barrel" for this specific purpose. We do not burn our trash; we take it to the landfill. I have asthma and can't take the smoke from burning trash.

6. People also burn piles of brush, or piles of leaves. Sometimes farmers deliberately burn a field of grass, because it makes for better grass the following year.

7.  I prefer the sight of a burning sky - one colored by the sun - to the sight of a fire.

8. Fire in the fireplace can be mesmerizing, which is why they have fireplace fires you can watch on TV, or electric heaters that mimic the look of a fireplace.

9. We have a fireplace, but we haven't used it in many years. Again, that's because of my asthma and allergies. At this point, I would be afraid to use the fireplace until a chimney sweep cleans it out and checks it over.

10. The fireplace in the house is the one thing I wish we hadn't installed when we built this house. It looks nice, but it is now more of a liability for us than anything. 

11. Maybe I should get some orange construction paper and cut out flames and put a light behind them so the woodstove that takes up the fireplace hole would look like it has a fire in it. 

12. We've considered removing the woodstove and installing gas logs, but talking about it is as far as we've gone.

13. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning!

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 837th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

These are the nonfiction books I have read this year, with the exception of the inclusion of #2, which was listed as a novel. I included it because it was about the Japanese internment camps in the US during World War II and while written as a novel, I had the feeling it was based more on family lore than fiction.

Some of these books I don't remember much about, so obviously they didn't stick with me. Those include The Power of Habit and The 60-Something Crisis. Either I wasn't paying attention or the messages in the books weren't new or impressive enough to warrant my attention.

The memoirs/autobiographies are all female, except for David Sedaris's books. The books by Carly Simon and Jennifer Grey were somewhat dismaying; Carly Simon's book in particular perhaps should not have been written. Our Little Secret is a biography of Melissa Etheridge by an adoring fan, and it ended in 1999, so there wasn't much new information there. My favorites were The First Lady of World War II, which was about Eleanor Roosevelt, and Back to the Prairie, by Melissa Gilbert, which surprised me with how good it was.

Anything by David Sedaris is good; I think I have now read most of his books.

1. Boys in Trees, by Carly Simon

2. When the Emperor Was Divine, by Julie Otsuka

3. Our Little Secret, by Joyce Luck

4. If You Ask Me, by Betty White

5. The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg

6. The First Lady of World War II, by Shannon McKenny Schmidt

7. Back to the Prairie, a Home Remade, by Melissa Gilbert

8. 1963, a Turning Point in Civil Rights, by Lawrence C. Campbell, Sr.

9. The 60-Something Crisis, by Barbara Pagano

10. Out of the Corner, by Jennifer Grey

11. Holidays on Ice, by David Sedaris

12. Theft by Finding, by David Sedaris

13. In Such Good Company, by Carol Burnette

Extra: Born with Teeth, by Kate Mulgrew

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 836th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen #835

So, what to do for a Thursday Thirteen that lands on Thanksgiving? The obvious would be the things to be thankful for, of course.

1. My best beloved husband, who is wonderful at driving me nuts.

2. My brother, who picks out the best Christmas presents of anyone I know, and whom I love very much.

3. My other family members, numerous and plenty, though I don't see them too much, ranging from my father to distant cousins.

5. The beautiful Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains that surround me, the Blue Ridge to my back, the Alleghanies to the front (though I tend to lump them all together as the Blue Ridge).

6. My new eye glass lenses, because now I can see what I am doing. I had no idea my vision had deteriorated so much. Best not to let 4 years go by without a prescription change next time.

7. My friends, who should be in number 4 of this list, but I am too sorry to go back and make the change. They are dear to me.

8. Music, which makes me happy, even if I sing or play it badly.

9. Books, which also make me happy and take me away to distant lands and on fantastic adventures, to places where I can find dragons and wizards or whatever wonder I might desire.

10. Good food, because who doesn't like good food?

11. Decent television shows or movies, when I can find them.

12. Clocks. I have always liked clocks, always worn a watch for as long as I can remember. I like to know what time it is.

13. Night and day, for where would we be without Helios and Selene as they travel in their chariots across the sky? 

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 835th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

My 40th wedding anniversary is almost here. I suppose being married for 40 years could make me a marriage expert, but honestly, no. I do have some ideas about relationships, though. Many of these apply not only to marriage to to friendships, family relationships, etc. But here are 13 things I've found that have helped us maintain our sanity and commitment to one another.

1. We are friends. I think this is likely the most important aspect of a good marriage. If you are only lovers but not friends, then the laughs are few and the grouchies are many. Your partner should be someone you can laugh and cry with.

2. Communication is next. My husband is a manly man and doesn't communicate well, leaving me to guess a lot as to what is on his mind. I've had to patiently teach him to speak up. It is necessary to be open and honest with each other. Share thoughts, feelings, and desires without fear or judgment. Learn to use "I" words, as in, "I heard you say that you feel thus and so because of this or that. Is that right?"

3. Learn patience. Don't only be patient with your partner, but also yourself. Reacting in anger or frustration doesn't help and generally only starts needless arguments. Try to understand your partner’s perspective and needs.

4. Respect each other’s individuality. Don’t lose yourself in the relationship, but keep your own hobbies, interests, and values. Everyone needs some alone time.

5. However, is important to also have shared interests, values, goals, and beliefs. Having these things in common can help you overcome differences of opinion and other challenges. (I mean, can you imagine a marriage where someone loves #45 and the other person hates him? I can't.) Common interests might include gardening, bird watching, enjoying the same kind of TV or movies, etc.

 

6. Support one another in various ways. Help the other person grow personally and professionally. Encourage your partner to pursue dreams and passions. Celebrate achievements. For example, I attended every promotion event my husband had as he rose through the ranks of the fire department. I could have been elsewhere, but I chose to be with him during these special times. I also made sure his shirts were clean!

7. Make time for each other, even if you are busy or stressed. Do fun and meaningful activities together. If nothing else, go have lunch.

8. Show appreciation and gratitude. Express your thanks and praise for your partner’s efforts and contributions to the relationship. Don't take your person for granted. After all, tomorrow is not guaranteed.

9. Be flexible and adaptable. Don’t be rigid or stubborn but be willing to compromise and adjust to changing circumstances. Stuff happens. Old bodies begin to break down. Things don't always go as planned. Learn to roll with it.

10. Resolve conflicts constructively and quickly. The longer an argument festers, the harder it will be to overcome it. Don’t avoid or escalate problems but try to address them calmly and respectfully (this is difficult in the heat of the moment, I know). Listen to each other and seek win-win solutions. Sometimes you have to leave the room and come back, but don't just let an issue dissolve without resolution.

11. Trust and be trustworthy. Don’t lie or cheat. Be honest and faithful to your partner. Believe in and respect your partner.

12. Respect each other’s boundaries. Give your partner space and privacy. Don’t demand or expect. (I find it hard not to have expectations. I mean, there are certain things one expects people to do. Be polite, for example. Fix the dripping sink. Occasionally compliment you on a good pork chop. Whatever.)

13. Be supportive and understanding. Empathize and validate your partner’s feelings and opinions and listen and respond to your partner’s needs. I have found the older I've become, the more I tend to judge. I think it's just my personality, but I try to keep that in check.

Lastly, you have to know yourself if you're going to have a relationship. If you don't know your own good points and bad points, it only makes things that much more difficult. I highly recommend a good therapist occasionally for everyone, no matter who you are or your marital status. Everyone can benefit from some good inner work.

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 833rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

We all know that the prices of food, in particular, are particularly galling these days. It's easy to blame Biden, the Democrats, or the Republicans, but I put the blame on Corporate Greed. I think that's really where the fault lies. They want to see how much they can get before they have a backlog of something or another.

They are also changing products. I was sad today to see that they've made Ritz crackers thinner and less buttery. You just can't count on anything anymore.

To help with the wallet-punch at the checkout, here are tips to save money on groceries.

1. Check what you already have and make a list before you go shopping. This way, you can avoid buying duplicates or items that you don’t need.

2. Limit your shopping trips to once a week or less. The less you go to the store, the less you spend on impulse buys or gas.

3. Stick to your list and avoid unnecessary purchases. If you see something that is not on your list, ask yourself if you really need it or if you can wait until next time. (I know, sometimes you have to have the ice cream. Indulge, just don't over do it.)

4. Pay attention to prices and compare different stores and brands. You can use apps or websites to find the best deals and coupons in your area. (I personally do not find this helpful because of my location. It's too far between stores to make it worthwhile. I buy certain things on one trip to one store and certain things on another trip to another store.)

5. Buy the Sunday paper (if they still have one in your area) or look online for coupons that apply to the items you need. You can also use apps to get cash back or gift cards for buying groceries.

6. Shop at warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club if you have a membership. You can save money by buying in bulk and getting discounts on gas and other services. (We gave up our Sam's Club membership because we weren't using it. We saved a whole $34.35 with a $55 membership fee. Not cost effective.)

7. Buy seasonal, local, and organic produce when possible. They are usually cheaper, fresher, and better for the environment than imported or conventional produce.

8. Buy frozen, canned, or dried foods when fresh ones are not available or too expensive. They can last longer and still provide nutrients and flavor.

9. Buy generic or store-brand products instead of name-brand ones. They are often cheaper and have similar quality and ingredients.

10. Buy cheaper cuts of meat or seafood and use marinades, sauces, or spices to make them more tender and tastier. You can also stretch your meat budget by using less meat and more vegetables, beans, or grains in your dishes.

11. Plan your meals ahead and use leftovers creatively. You can save time and money by cooking in bulk and using what you have in your fridge or pantry.

12. Cook from scratch and avoid buying pre-made or processed foods. They are usually more expensive and less healthy than homemade ones.

13. Make your own snacks and drinks instead of buying them. You can make granola bars, popcorn, smoothies, coffee, tea, and more with simple ingredients and save money on packaging and additives.

Extra tips:

14. Grow your own herbs, vegetables, or fruits if you have space and time. You can enjoy fresh produce for free and reduce food waste by harvesting only what you need.

15. Store your food properly and use it before it goes bad. You can use apps to track the shelf life of your food and get reminders to use it up.

16. Donate or compost any food that you can’t use or eat. You can help reduce hunger and environmental impact by giving away food that is still edible or turning it into fertilizer for your plants. But don't give away food items that are out of date. The food banks can't use those. Maybe your neighbor can, but the food banks can't.

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 832nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.