Omg! I can’t remember why I went to the kitchen but I woke singing a song I haven’t heard for 68 years! Every single word!!!
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Embassytown by China Miรฉville
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
My friend recommended this book. Thanks, Kay!
Libby had this book in the Kindle version, so I picked it up. And though it was text-to-speech enabled, there are many reasons the Audible version is so much better. Susan Duerden (Narrator), for one. Her voice and acting skills made the story come to life. I went ahead and picked up the Audible to Whispersynch. I finally gave up on the Kindle version, as the Audible was all I needed. Still, it was interesting to see how the author stacked the words visually as well as auditorily.
This story is about how language being taught to alien beings could help them and the Terrans to live. But first, the Terrans had to understand the alien language., which seemed non-existent. And when it is to be heard, it is in layers. TTS can’t do that. Somehow the narration system can do it. Fantastic!
If you are a language nut like I am, you will love the vocabulary of this book. I felt my heart race faster as words that weren’t junior high level popped up. So in a sense, I became the alien who loved words.
If you are a sci-fi fan, this book should do the trick!
This post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and June! Please be sure to check outย Juneโs blog here! Her prompt is ‘optimism.’
And yet I have optimism. Hope.
And though things look bad, and as a realist I can see it might not all work out, to live at that lowered end of the see-saw means you miss the sensation of flying.
Just Jot it January 2023, and itโs brought to you by Carol Anne. Thank you, Carol Anne! Please be sure to visit Carol Anneโs blog to read her post and say hello. And follow her while youโre there, if youโre not already.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 15th 2023,ย is โgratitude.โ Use the word โgratitudeโ any way youโd like. Have fun!
Gratitude grows with age. At least it has for me. From the days of birthing babies until they grew into wonderful adults that feeling of lucky and blessed has grown with them.
Now having just turned 73, I find so much in every hour to be grateful for. I think I’m most thankful that I am still learning every day. But health seems to be growing and my life is full of love. What more could one want?
Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 14th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: โonce upon a time.โ Start your post with โOnce upon a time,โ then write whatever comes to you, whether it be fact or fiction. Have fun!
So, here we go…
Once upon a time, when people were kind, there was a bully. But kindness and blah, blah, blah.
What my stream is taking me to my knitting. I didn’t get to do my Finishing Friday. And my knitting is calling loudly, almost like a bully.
So
My newest try (just frogged again within the hour). These on my second set of Knitters’ Pride Royale Circular Needles, size 8, 45″ cord. I found my cast-on too long at 20. So I’ll start the next pair with Judy’s Magic Cast-on. Let’s try 16. Then the toe won’t look so boxy.
Just a quick review of the Knitters’Pride cords. They are so tightly coiled they are hard to work with. After research, I learned to steam or heat the cords. That helped the coiling, but they are not nearly as flexible as the ChiaoGoo red-lace circulars. But maybe with a little practice I’ll get used to them.
Other knitting and loom knitting projects are coming along. They just aren’t the extreme challenge as the Tu2AAT socks.
And the dragon is coming along.
Okay, back to the tiny bras!
“Reversal” is our prompt word of the day today. Thank you toย Sadjeย for this
prompt!
Reversals are hard on mature minds.
Growing up spankings were the way to discipline children. I didn’t feel right when I tried. It left me angry and the kids frustrated. And nobody learned anything but how to bully. I learned new methods that worked without shame or pain. I maybe wasn’t the best mom but I tried to be thoughtful and teach love and respect a new way.
Growing up we were taught to clean our plates. Sure our parents grew up in the depression. Wasting food was a crime in their eyes. Overweight as an adult I’ve fought to reverse that concept. I’m doing better but still learning.
My generation was taught that many forms of exercise was silly. Riding your bike to school was for losers. Running, also uncool.
I don’t think peer pressure would have talked me out of swimming. And I remember feeling so free biking to school. Running wasn’t something my body could do.
Now there is no pool. These rocky dirt roads might not be safe for bikes. But I’m reversing my thoughts on running.
Example: my treadmill has different settings. I’m not sure of the meanings. But I’ve invented ways to relate. “1” is following the slow people in the mall. “2” is crowded but getting there. “3” feels perfect. The errands will get done. “4” is late for the bus but not letting the cool kids see me running. Today I hit “5”. I’m late for the bus but not quite a run. Guess what? I think quick spurts of running are in my future. Cool kids be damned!๐
Oh, and we were never to trust anyone over 30. Reversed that one by 43 years!!!
Today’s prompt is โdonut.โ Thank you so much,ย Liz Husebye Hartmannย for your fun suggestion!
My favorite donut is the one I sit on. It keeps my tailbone from hurting. But that one makes me think of inner tubes floating down a river. I haven’t done that since I was a kid. My adult children love doing that down the Truckee River. I’m always a bit jealous when they tell me about it. Then again, that’s snow run-off. I think I’m better off in a hot springs. On a noodle. So here’s the thought, why are the floating devises food?
The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
If you like a romantic tale of the victorian era, Mimi Matthews has written one for you. Not for me. And though Lydia Hanman (Narrator) did a good job reading for her part, Vidish Athavale was horrible. I always hate males doing female parts. He didn’t even do well for the male he was supposed to portray. But then he tried to read for his counterpart, which threw the whole story.
It just wasn’t my kind of story. But I thank Libby for letting me read it.
Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’ve gotten behind on my reviews. But after thinking about this book, I remember a lot more than I thought I did. My first thought was how the teen daughter had so much to say about life here and elsewhere, Cuba, for example.
Then I remember the historical references and am so glad I read this book.
The author narrated it. She did an excellent job keeping the story and characters separated and believable.
I highly recommend reading this book. Since it’s been a while, I will leave you to read other reviews of the book. I still have good feelings about it and wouldn’t mind rereading it. I was able to read it through Libby, the library app.
Good Old Dog: Expert Advice for Keeping Your Aging Dog Happy, Healthy, and Comfortable by Nicholas Dodman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My dog, Kali, is getting quite old. Her back legs don’t work very well anymore. She can’t get up on furniture or up or down stairs to go outside. She has cataracts, so she can’t see very well. Because of the leg issue, she is incontinent. She was urinating everywhere, even in my bed. She can’t control her bowels well. As much as we love her, this part of her life is difficult for all of us. We finally have a little bed at the end of my bed, so she doesn’t fall. We have wall-to-wall piddle-pads to catch her boo-boos. She gets baths nearly daily as she walks through her boo-boos and gets pooh all over herself and the floor.
I am lucky that there are four of us in this house to watch and care for her and the problems that come up. But we all know what is next in this flow of life. I needed someone to help me know what to do. I’m finding old age is a series of milestones like infancy. Watching the achievements fade is as painful as seeing the accomplishments in the beginning.
But here we are. So this book helped me. A veterinarian writes it, so the advice is given with experience and understanding of what the dog’s parents are going through. I wish we could put diapers on Kali, but she barely puts up with the baths. We need to be patient and give her love while we can. It breaks my heart. I remember when she was too much. Running, jumping, no keeping her quiet. Now it seems we have almost a different dog.
I plan to reread this book as she progresses. It is very useful. Our nearest vet is an hour and a half away, and she can’t handle the trip for little things. It will be the big issue that will take us all over that hill. It will be a very sad drive. Thank you for such a helpful book.
Darswords 
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