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Here are books suggested by my college group. They all sound good!

• The Paris Novel, suggested by Curt Scribner, by Ruth Reichl. A feast for the senses, this novel is a testament to living deliciously, taking chances, and finding your true home.

• The Power, Mary Gladstone's pick, by Naomi Alderman, is a novel set 5,000 years from now in which women, perhaps as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals used in a war, find in themselves an electricity-producing organ, similar to what electric eels possess. They suddenly have the means to physically overpower men. https://the-bibliofile.com/the-power/

• From AJ, The Women (International Edition) Paperback - February 1, 2024, by Kristin Hannah (Author) The Women follows a San Diego debutante into a world of gut wounds and napalm. But the real challenge comes when she arrives home.

• From Sydney McQuoid, Thinking, Fast and Slow, non-fiction by Daniel Kahneman, Nobel prize winner in Economics. Two Systems drive the way we think: System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional and System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. The impact of overconfidence on corporate strategies, the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future, the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning our next vacation. Each of these can only be understood by knowing how the 2 systems shape our judgments and decisions.

• I changed my book to The Painted Drum, a novel by Louise Erdrich. While appraising the estate of a New Hampshire family descended from a North Dakota Indian agent, Faye Travers is startled to discover a rare moose skin and cedar drum fashioned long ago by an Ojibwe artisan. And so begins an illuminating journey both backward and forward in time, following the strange passage of a powerful yet delicate instrument, and revealing the extraordinary lives it has touched and defined. Compelling and unforgettable, Louise Erdrich's Painted Drum explores the often-fraught relationship between mothers and daughters, the strength of family, and the intricate rhythms of grief with all the grace, wit, and startling beauty that characterizes this acclaimed author's finest work.

I got a little teary reading about Jiffy. Of course she will be a happy girl and the Princess of her new home! But letting her go and knowing she will have to go through a (hopefullly very short) uncomfortable transition is hard, so I'm sure this is difficult for you. But I bet you'll be getting happy pics of her soon!

And yes, Prime Day get me every year. Bissell mini carpet and upholstery cleaner (good for dogs and cat messes) and misc other stuff. So far.

L

Glad I'm not alone with prime day! New mesh router, new hairdryer, plug like others I have that can control lamps on timers/an app yesterday, sunglasses, bully stick holder, dog shampoo today. The only things I really needed were the router and hairdryer. And the hairdryer was a stretch as there is an old one in the other bathroom.

I am staying on 10 for now. Looking back at my notes, I did 2.5 for 4 weeks, 5 for 9, 7.5 for 8, and now just did my 3rd on 10. With the compound and the way they seem to overfill slightly, it's easier to make a snap decision at the end. As long as I'm not struggling to not overeat, I will stick to a dose. 2 months each seems about right...

I'm so glad you're feeling so zen about food these days! Regarding your pancake thoughts, I almost grabbed a candy bar at the store this morning, but they didn't have what I wanted. I was thinking on the way home, these medications just make making good decisions easier, but they don't make them for you...

Weight is steady this week. I think I'll be down about a pound for the week, which is GREAT! I am beginning to like the slow and steady, less than rapid weight loss. It feels REAL and easy. I'm debating sticking to the 10 mg dose for another month. Thoughts?

I took two of the suit coats I bought last spring in to be altered. Only one could be altered. The other one was just too large. It would have to be reconstructed. The old/new suits will be ready next week for my trip. So I'm set for a while.... I will have to decide if I want to try to alter the suits I bought last fall at my highest weight. I got them on a great sale, so if they can't be altered, at least I'm not out a lot of money.

8 month old Jiffy went off to her "forever" home this morning. She is going to live in Tacoma with a teacher of 30 years and his wife. She is going to have a wonderful life. There is a part of me that just gets ripped when I place an older puppy or adult dog. I know it's the right thing to do, but boy it hurts a little. Ron really pushed my buttons last night when he said, "Have you told Jiffy you're getting rid of her tomorrow?" I know it's his way of dealing with the loss, but I would prefer he refrain from such comments. I did correct him by reminding him that Jiffy was going to a home where she will be the only dog and the center of her people's world. She will want for nothing!

So, as I type about Jiffy (or keyboard, as I guess it's now called), I recognize I have emotions that lead me to want to eat comfort food. The idea of a huge breakfast complete with waffles or pancakes comes to mind. Maybe a hot Cinnabon.... Yeah, that would do the trick. But knowing from where the craving is coming is helpful and keeps me from needing to fulfill the desire to eat what would be an unhelpful food this morning. I'll just feel the feels until they work themselves through. Oh, dear Lord....How effing adult of me!

Liz, congrats on getting the house done. What a huge load off your mind. Fingers crossed it sells quickly and you can rent bac****il after the wedding! When I sold my last house 16 years ago I rented back for an entire month (though the market was such the my rent back was without compensation to the buyers.... a total seller's market). This was just before the crash in 2008. Nice of the cupola guy to finally show!

CC, are you staying with your 10 mg dose or going up to 12.5? Sorry about the mosquito bites. I get one or two on occasion. My BFF is like you... The bugs just flock to him. We can be in the same place at the same time. He gets attacked and I seem to come away pretty unscathed. I have often wondered what the difference between us is. There has to be something about me that is unattractive to the bugs. Or perhaps, conversely, it is that there is something about him/you that is very attractive to them.

Ann, I sure do like seeing you back here! Mwah!

Am I the only one succumbing to Amazon Prime Days? So far I have purchased a phone holder for the RV, a portable phone charger, 7 inch charging cords, puppy pads and a 12 volt mini fridge for the SUV for my trip to Wisconsin. With the mini fridge I can take fresh food for Molly and my tirzepatide. Who knows what else might pop up in the next 15 hours.... LOL.... I did see a "gun" safe that I thought might be nice to hold important papers - passports, birth certificates, social security cards, etc... Clearly the shopping addict is rearing its ugly head!

Sorry to hear about your Dad. Hopefully he'll be home soon. He has to deal with a lot on the health front.

Oh, I feel your pain from the mosquitoes. It's not a chic look, but my dad wears one of those hats with a net when he's in the woods up north, and lots of bug spray. Get better.