Friday Files 1.6.2023

Ring ring.

We can consider Thursday Thoughts dead or at the least dormant at this time - Thursday has turned into my busiest/fastest time slipping away work day so I'm pivoting to Friday here. I'm giving myself a break on clever titles too. I have very few left after blogging since 2011 and I need to come up with one for a work newsletter weekly. 

I've entered the Reading Glasses portion of life, so if I don't have them on and you get texts or see Instagram stories with typos, look away

I went through a bunch of my scattered notes, fleshed out my to read list, and put holds on a bunch of books coming out over the next few months if my library already had them on order. This is a much anticipated book for the year that I finished last night and I loved it. I left it with warm fuzzies. It publishes January 31, so pre-order or get on that library holds list!

Cloudy skies are interesting AF when it's not a wall of gray. Wednesday & Thursday walks

Couch cadre - we are winter recharge folks. MFD re-hung some stuff I pulled down in December to paint and I am considering painting a little wall this weekend and maybe some trim. But mostly we are working and resting outside of work, and spending some time outside every day. 

Billy Hicks would like to remind everyone that although he sometimes sits with the commoners on the couch, you should never forget he is the Condo King

I often tell people to die mad about things and this is actually one of the things I will personally die mad about. People who participated in and encouraged the January 6 Insurrection should not be serving in government or reporting on public affairs on a propaganda TV station. But people ARE still seated in government and are causing it to not function at the moment in the House of Representatives. These people continue to destabilize the country and are a threat to national security.  Strangling the country by minority rule is the path of tyrants. Why is anyone supporting this? Tracking to authoritarianism, nationalism (have you met the Christian Nationalists? hooo, there is nothing Jesus like about those people), hierarchy and elitism, and militarism are the main ideas of fascism. You might be a fascist if you uphold any of those or vote for those who do. Have a good day!

Holiday Breaking

No profound statements to leave the year with (I started this post last week) in this post, although I did pull my NYD post from IG over here on the end. Otherwise I'm straight holiday break updating mostly as a reminder to myself of how I floated through the ether of the blurry days between Christmas and back to work on January 3 outside of weekend posts which I did keep up on over Christmas weekend and NY weekend.

WATCHED...as a person who does not watch much and is extremely inconsistent in finishing shows or movies I start, this is my crowning achievement

Baking It Seasons 1 & 2

A Christmas Story Christmas

A Christmas Story

Christmas Vacation

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Knives Out

Do Revenge

Succession Seasons 1 & 2

READ

Unnatural History (Alex Delaware #38) by Jonathan Kellerman

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

A Familiar Stranger by A.R. Torre

Started and DNF Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger

Started We're All Lying by Marie Still

PURGED & ORGANIZED

Linen closet

Nail polish

Two top dresser drawers that had become junk drawers

Christmas items

A bag and a bin that sat in my room for a year

MISC

De-Christmassed the house

Burned through all Christmas candles and resisted urge to replace immediately

Lunch with Melissa, Stephanie, and Stephanie

Long walk in the south end in OC

Booked my plane ticket to Atlanta where I'm seeing Bruce in Feb

Unearthed birth certificate and passport which will make Real ID acquisition and passport renewal much easier

Solar panels installed at shore

Soffit and fascia repaired at shore

Final four windows in the house replaced at the shore (this and the item above save me a trip to small claims court for a Feb court date)

Found out MFD's car is indeed totaled from the accident he was in a few weeks ago

Lots of resting and laying about

A new condo for Billy Cat at the shore since he could not see out of the new door

My top nine of 2022 from Instagram includes a super snowy early January 2022 OCNJ, my 45th birthday, Dana & Alex's wedding, Billy & Kristina's wedding, Sean & Nicole's wedding, rando we out here winter, MFD with Mister Softee, fall of the patriarchy, our 12th anniversary post

My New Year's Day post from  IG too - Plans for 2023: be more open about my love of lemon curd, start over on any thing at any time, do less, sleep in, visit Munich and Italy, travel light in every sense except in what I bring to the table in reciprocal relationships, age well, pick up more beach trash, turn my face toward the sun, read whatever amount of books I read, level up as a feminist killjoy, stop slouching, hear more live music, keep a finger on the pulse of my own energy, and lean in to fun and joy because goddamn life is short and time moves swiftly. Among other things

There are a lot of people out there trying to adjust to the absence of a person, pet, friend, routine, job, a better state of physical or mental health, etc., and new year sentiments can feel like a bunch of bullshit. Every day is the chance to start over, continue healing, make a change, or revisit something. Whether you like to do that with the turn of the year or the turn of a Tuesday, I'm rooting for you to heal, grow, adventure, experience, and lean into joy because our time here is short and no next day is guaranteed for any of us. 

I hope this year is everything you need. Cheers! Happy New Year! 

Happy birthday to my Aunt Sue today!

December 2022 Reads

I never pushed publish on this last week, so here we go: 

If you missed it, here are my favorite reads of 2022.

And below is what I read in December: 

Engrossing Reads

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister - I was WTFing and running through the entire book in reverse in my head the next day, which is the sign of an engrossing read to me. Thanks to Heather for the recommendation. I couldn't put this down! hard cover, own, passing along

Lying Beside You (Cyrus Haven #3) by Michael Robotham - I am hoping this is not a trilogy and more Cyrus books are coming. Robotham writes and paces well. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman - I largely dislike short stories but will never turn down an Alice Hoffman short story. Food magic! kindle copy

Murder at Haven's Rock (Haven's Rock #1) by Kelley Armstrong - I sort of feel like there is another book with these people in it, but part of another series, but did not/do not care enough to research that. I liked this one and would read another with this crew. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book comes out Feb 21

The Widow of Weeping Pines by Amanda McKinney - This was increasingly insane and I loved it. A super quick read. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham - I could not put this down, which is similar to how I felt with her first novel. Stacy Willingham has done it again, for me at least. This is a solid 4.5 on my scale, which relies heavily on wanting to take the day off to finish it. I read it in under 24 hours regardless. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book comes out January 10

Lily Bennett's Bucket List by Katherine Dyson - I am not typically a romance reader but this was cute. I liked Jake and who Lydia was with him, and I loved Lydia's family.  Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Passed the Time Just Fine

A Familiar Stranger by A.R. Torre - Did not love, but I have found over the past year that this author will definitely pass the time fine for me. That was the case here. Paperback, own

Unnatural History (Alex Delaware #38) by Jonathan Kellerman - Not my favorite in the series, but always good to spend time with Milo, Alex, and the crew. Thirty-eighth book in a series, hard for all of them to set your ass on fire. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book comes out Feb 7

So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde  - Every once in a while, a Catherine Ryan Hyde book can give a personal outlook course correct, or reinforce how you might want to approach the world. That was true here. They can read very simply, and that is part of the charm. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The Groom Went Missing (Agent Victoria Heslin Thriller #5) by Jenifer Ruff - Solid entry into the series. I'll probably continue. The series is solid but not a favorite. paperback, own

Vanished on Vacation (Agent Victoria Heslin Thriller #6) by Jenifer Ruff - Solid entry into the series. I'll probably continue. The series is solid but not a favorite. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Not For Me/Did Not Finish

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins - I think my patience has run out for Rachel Hawkins. I know a lot of people felt that way with her last novel, which I was fine with. This one was tough to get through. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger - DNF Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

What have you been reading?

Snippets of the weekend 1.2.2023

Friday I was up, showered, and out early to return shit to Kohl's, pick up a few groceries and some fresh flowers to end the year on a pretty note, and back home. I painted my nails quick & sloppy (OPI Verde Nice to Meet You and Zoya Charli). We picked up lunch and visited MFD's Gram who turned 94 Christmas week. Home to have a lie down before heading to Stephen & Aubrey's. 

We met up with Chris & Diana, Stephen's work friends, and Mike at Tired Hands then proceeded across the street to Ardmore Music Hall for the Stop Making Sense show, a Talking Heads cover band. The production was really good and they played long so I was super happy to have done the afternoon lie down LOL. MFD popped in at Uptown and we got home after 1.

Saturday NYE I did some purging and organizing, changed sheets, did a face mask, ran to Marshalls, finished a book and started another, and at night we did appetizers - roasted asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, pigs in a blanket, mac & cheese balls. Dessert was angel food cake with lemon curd and mixed berries. We burned a bayberry candle and others down to the nubs and called it a year. I trusted the year would flip at midnight without me watching and I definitely did not make it until 10 pm

Sunday NYD MFD was gone to mummery early. I did laundry, made pork, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and ate none of it. 

My brother picked me up and took me to my other brother's house where we did eat that meal. The pork was outstanding. We walked over to see MFD and Uptown come back from the parade and hung out until about 10:30. Follow Evan Leslie Images on FB for more photos of Uptown in costume and of course if you are looking for a photographer for life's big and small moments or for any corporate/product needs.

Monday was a lazy day in observation of the new year and devoted entirely to eating leftovers and watching season two of Succession.

weekending reels on Instagram 

Back to work after 10 days off is what we're doing today aside from wishing my BFF Laura a fantastic birthday.

Mummers Day 2023

Happy New Year! Or Mummer's Day in Philadelphia. 

What's a Mummer?
http://www.pennlive.com/life/2016/12/mummers_philadelphia_what_is.html

https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/12/what-is-a-mummer-history-meaning-and-more-behind-the-new-years-day-philadelphia-parade.html

What type of Mummer is MFD? 
For those who missed it last year, MFD is back with his first/family band, Uptown String Band (formerly Harrowgate) that he joined in 1989, which is now conveniently located directly across the street from my brother & Aubrey's house so I'll be heading over for the after party from there. Uptown is fifth out of 14 string bands. Their theme is Safari So Good and MFD will be looking like a zebra. This pic is from Evan - who needs a photographer? Evan Leslie Images is it

Stringband themes and order of march: Stringbands usually start around 12:30 or 1 on TV.

Uptown is supposed to be on TV around 2:10  so start checking in around 2 to see where they are schedule-wise if you specifically want to see them or a little earlier if you want to catch all the string bands - it's quite a production with the music and the costumes and props; and a time honored tradition to put a good show out on the street on New Year's Day. REMEMBER TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE, PARADE SOMETIMES RUNS BEHIND. 

This parade is MFD's 33nd parade (no parade in 2021). I hope everyone has fun, stays healthy, and no one is an asshole. Cheers to our friends in other bands!

For a guide of the 2023 parade, visit  
MrMummer guide

https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/events/the-mummers-parade/

The parade is NOT on Channel 17 this year like it's been for the past 30 years. Here's how to watch:

TV: MeTV - Philadelphia Area

Comcast/Xfinity: 2 | 802

Verizon FiOS: 2 | 502

I have a Roku smart TV so I added the MeTV channel (69) and am watching it live

WFMZ live stream

Uptown Captain Stephen Caldwell explaining how to watch in video

Coverage begins at 9 am. String Bands are on a lot later. Uptown should be on just after 2. 

Cheers! Happy New Year!