Let’s play.

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Because that’s what we do here.

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I’m knee deep in the dark, brutally honest and often disturbing Jack Taylor detective series by Irish author Ken Bruen. His disgraced Galway Guard will break your heart so many times you’ll marvel at the strength of the human spirit.

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These aren’t easy lighthearted stories… but they’re powerful with deeply damaged, well written characters. Some hoping for redemption, some forever damned.

They say write what you know, and if that’s true? Mr. Bruen has been to the belly of Hell and back, firmly grasping a bottle of whiskey.

Page 18, line 4?

“I’d been to the off-licence, got my back up.”

Jameson and Guinness in this case.

How about you?

What’s your page 18, line 4 say?

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Random nonsense.

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Because there’s so much of it.

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12 feet of kale?

I’m going to have nightmares about that.

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After cleaning and organizing the closet in our master bath, I figure it will be a while before I need to buy certain products. 4 bottles of toothpaste, 6 bottles of Bath and Body Works lotion, 7 sticks of deodorants and 15 bars of soap of later I realized I may need to organize more often.

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Best. Display. Container. Ever.

Or worst. It’s a tough call.

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Even bees need bouncers.

Who knew?

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Life finds a way.

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Since I dumped a rare personal feelings blog about my SIL on you recently, I thought it only proper to offer an update.

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Unbelievably and against all odds, she’s still at the hospice. Relatively alert, and though weak as a new born kitten, starting to regain her appetite.

I can’t stress how remarkable this is. She was literally on her way out. We saw it, the doctors were waiting for it and yet here we are two weeks later and they say she doesn’t require further hospice care and will be moved to a nursing home soon.

I’d say this is good news but sadly it’s not. She wants to die. She keeps telling everyone we should have let her go. She has completely lost the will to live and takes no joy in anything.

We visit 2-3 times a week and tell her we love her. We bring her favorite foods and try to lighten her mood. I send her a photo of better and happier days every morning. We’ve had long, deep, emotionally draining talks, but I’m at my wits end how to help.

Maybe I can’t.

Maybe I should just stop trying.

I hate to say it, but she’s so sad and miserable maybe it would have been better if she had just slipped away.

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A little training might be in order.

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During a recent walk with the husband, Lord Dudley Mountcatten spotted my arch enemy.

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Brazen as could be, Momma Red wasn’t disturbed by his presence and stayed in the feeder happily munching seed.

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His Highness stalked and crept closer.

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But she knew he was inexperienced and bided her time.

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Until he was literally right underneath her and she dove over him to reach the safety of the woodshed… where she sat on a high log and chattered at him.

The bitch was laughing, I know it.

Needless to say I was extremely disappointed with His Lordship’s technique …. and purchased a training tool forthwith.

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Okay, technically it’s a flying squirrel. But the size and color are close enough to stand in for that furry red demon for some close quarter combat drills.

Training begins tomorrow.

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News you can’t use.

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I’m all for enjoying a discount when I find one, but sometimes? You get what you pay for.

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Budget butt lifts?

Oh. The horror.

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I was going to say homegrown terrorism and Vladimir Putin, but whatever.

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Feral pigs that have the tenacity and temperament of wild hogs mixed with the prodigious girth of domesticated swine. No thanks Canada. You can keep ‘em!

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I’m sure that’s a delightful curriculum.

Kristallnatch craft class.

Book burning 101.

WTF?

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I love beer, but….

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Over the years I’ve tried all kinds of crazy beers.

Pine needle stout? Yes.

Earl Grey Tea IPA? Sure.

Maple syrup porter? You bet.

Banana and clove Hefeweizen? Absolutely, it was delicious.

Heck, I even tried a beer made from gummy bears… though I instantly regretted it.

But after reading this article I realized even I have limits. I’m calling a hard pass with this one.

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Just… no.

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But if any of my readers are more adventurous… please have a glass and report back.

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