I was going to use this: COVID+Bookend Holidays=Confusion
But this is better:
Archive for December, 2025
Here are this week’s questions:
1. Do you stay up to toast in the New Year?
I’m always up at midnight. So mostly I’m up. I don’t party. But my husband, family and friends share our wishes of the best for the new year.
2. Have you ever kept any New Year Resolutions made in the past?
Long ago a bestie and I made the decision not to resolve but to write possibilities. Things we’d like to see happen and put our thoughts towards. Often, for us, that works as a better way to find where to apply our energy.
3. Do you have any plans for 2026?
My aim for everyday is to improve myself. I am the only one I can control and that is a challenge on my best days.
4. What was the highlight/s of 2025 for you?
Getting to go to Crater Lake with family.
Getting to know my adult children better.
Camping with my friend, Yve, in Tumalo State Park
Because I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “plot.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
My stream is more of a dot.
COVID dries up every thought.
How could one come up with a plot?
Well, sadly, this is all I got.
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Okay, even if I give you the blurb, I don’t know if it would help you decide to read/listen to this book. Oh, heck:
A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper. Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light”. But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e., murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice.
Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life… and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.
This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense. The audio includes a sneak peek of Second Grave on the Left. (From the GoodReads page for the book).
Don’t think of it as dark or twisty. More like, “Sarcastic much?” Yes, that was a leaning toward Buffy and similar shows and books. Tongue-in-cheek and other kinds of funny. Hard to read at bedtime as guffaws blurt out and wake my husband.
My friend, Cher, recommended this series. After the wonderful Outlander tomes, I needed something light and fun. I want to thank Libby for having the series ready one right after another.
Merry Milo Christmas Eve/Eve! Especially, Yve.
The Outlandish Companion, Volume Two: The Companion to The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Clearly, I love the Outlander series. But these Companions, One and Two, are the cherry on top. I listened to both companions on Audible. But I feel I would love to have the hardback copies for research purposes.
Having the “Cliff Notes” of the books summarized is helpful, though not as delightful as another reading of the actual books would be. Still, it was the author’s notes on writing about her life and philosophies of love and life that kept me awake, listening long past the time I should have forced myself to close my eyes and sleep.
As always, I highly recommend this series. Author Diana Gabaldon and narrator Davina Porter make the best storytelling combination.
Darswords 
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