Monday, August 4, 2025

August Goals

Where did July go?  One minute we're celebrating the birth of our Independence, then I spend 5 days with my mom in the hospital, go off to Imaginarium, and BOOM! It's over????

-Celebrate Sara's birthday 3rd:  Her back was out.  5th:  She still wasn't feeling well.  12th: I was out of town with Grandma. 18th:  I was out of town at the Imaginarium Convention.

-Have fun at Imaginarium Check!  Only sold 2 books, but hung out with several friends!

-Publish Playing With Time Check! E-book pubbed 7/1; print pubbed 7/13!   5 copies ordered ($24 plus $21 S&H); interior fixed 7/28; 5 more copies ordered 8/3 ($50)

-Go to Food Trucks On The River (21st) Too hot and out of funds.

-Do well at KCARC event Sold 2:)

-Finish Ch 12 of Heart Song Check!  Now onto 13....

-Read 6 books Check!

-Finish current book Check!

Health:  Mine's fine, and Mom is getting out of rehab August 13th:)  Her PT is paying off; I only have to support her when she's getting out of the car, instead of helping her stand!


 Books Read:  6

            Print:  5

        E-book:  1

             DNF:  3


2025 Events:

Aug:  Geek Con, Evansville Museum, Evansville, In ($40 pd 6/13)

Sept 19-20th:  Cil-Con, Effingham, Il (Pd 12/29)

Sept 27th:  Book Nook Book Fair, Peoria, Il ($75 Pd 12/27)

Oct 11th:  Lafayette Comic Con, Tippi County Fairgrounds ($50-Pd 6/13)

Nov 12-16th:  ICGAHS ($700-making payments)


2026 Events:

April 11th:  Dreaming Dirty In Michigan (Pd $60; still owe $120)

Aug 8th:  Indy Author Event ($250; Pd $50 5/16 still owe $200)


August Goals:

-Lose 5 lbs (starting 241)

-Double-check PWT copies

-Pay for Matoon Motel

-Do well at Geek Con

-Keep up with BB27

-Buy new soap dish for MBa 

-Finish trim, lights, medicine cabinet, and shower guard in MBa 

-Make appt with foot dr about my right leg 

-Finish Ch 13 of Heart Song

-Buy BP machine 

-Pay down CC and start pecking away at med bills

-Read 6 books

-Finish current e-book 

July Reading Schedule:  

Secret Stories of Disney World-Jim Korkis
The Scarlet Thread-Francine Rivers
And The Shofar Blew-Francine Rivers
Redeeming Love-Francine Rivers
Finding Home-Sutton Bishop
Becoming His-KI Lynn
Tangled In Lavandar-Sandra Sookoo
This Is Us-April Decton
The Lady's Mine-Francine Rivers
Texas Bombshell-Cynthia D'Alba
Innocence Taken-Victoria M. Patton
Fish Tank-Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
The Trouble With Angels-Maggie Adams
Just One Summer-Lynn Stevens
She Who Frees The Selkie-K. Malady
Double D Ranch-Rochelle Bradley
The Restless Few-James Watjen
How To Raise Viking Children-Troy Maynard
Trick of the Tale:  Genesis-Jen Selinsky
Echoes of Vengeance-Stephanie Lanham
Memoirs of an Angel-Brian Rodman
The Choice-Anne Greene (misplaced??)
Louise Penney book
A Quiet Strength-Janette Oke
Valley of the Shaman-Arlen Andrews
Joyful Poems For Children-James Whitcomb Riley
I Heard God Laugh-Matthew Kelly
Life Is Messy-Matthew Kelly
Franklin and Eleanor
-36

E-book:
This Is Not The Story You Think It Is-Laura Munson
The Stanhope Challenge-Cerise Deland 
Dark Side of Disney-Leonard Kinsey
A Divided Heart-Alessandra Torra
Moonshot-Alessandra Torra
Trophy Wife-Alessandra Torra
Promised To The Worst Duke In England-Sandra Sookoo
Abigail's Journey-Jean Joachim
Dr. Alaska-Jillian David
Prancing Around With Sleeping Beauty-Stacy Juba

TBB (on wish list-was tired of not finding them!)
The Marriage Bargain-Jennifer Probst (2013-$10)
The Marriage Trap-Jennifer Probst (2013-$15)
The Marriage Mistake-Jennifer Probst (2013-$10)
The Marriage Merger-Jennifer Probst (2013-$10)
Into Thin Air-Jon Krakauer (2013-$15)
The Cookbook Collection-Allegra Goodman (2013-$11)
The Girfriend-Abigail Barnett
The Summer Without Her (Men???)-Siri Hustvedt
Searching For Someday-Jennifer Probst (2014-$8)
Hard As You Can-Laura Kay (2014-$9)
The Year of Living Biblically-A.J. Jacobs (2014-$15)
Retaliation-Yasmin Shiraz (2014-$10)
Accused-Yasmin Shiraz (2014-$10) 
Romulus-Marilyn Campbell ($5)
Gaslight Chronicles-Cindy Spencer Pape ($8)
So Far Away-Dakota Madison, et al
Defending Devon-Shannon West
Love Realized-Melanie Codina
Love Resisted-Melanie Codina
Assumptions-Melanie Codina
One The Run-Jade C. Jamison
Decker-AD Ellis
Sawyer-AD Ellis
Twins-RG Miller
Saving Sarah-Nan Reinhart
Monster Among The Rose-Linda Kage
A Life Before-Julien Ayotta
Flower of Heaven-Julien Ayotta
Dangerous Bloodlines-Julien Ayotta
Dare To Love-Sandy Sullivan
If I Fall-Lydia Michaels ($5)
If You Want Me-Tara Mills
Tomorrow-Samantha Kane
Backdoor Billionaire's Bride-Roz Lee (2019-$5)
The Play-Tawdra Kandle
Party Planning Can Be Murder-Kerry Schafer
Hopeful In Yellow-Sandra Sookoo
Magic In Mayflowers-Sandra Sookoo
Zero Chance-Linda Kage (want entire series in print)
Paging Dr, Breakup-Jillian David

From The Stupid Files: Y7, W24

Day 85: Cloudy; storms; low 80s; 67 t/a

ASM:  Maria

HC:  Austin

Loader:  Jack, Kaleb (called in)

1) Was late, due to signing granddaughter A up for classes at Clark MS, then giving Sara the 'grand tour', since she never got one last year.  Stopped by Hibachi on my way out and bought a shimmer dragon for $16!!!  Those go for $40 at cons!

2) Stormed; didn't have a lot of customers. And only 2 after I returned from lunch at 9.

Outfit:  USA Lab tee, long capris, large zirconians.


Day 86: Hot, low 80s; 101 t/a

ASM:  Maria

HC:  Austin

Loader:  Jax, Diana

1) Was disappointed that only Jax would be with me, but fortunately, no one needed him!  Diana showed up at 6:30.

2) Scanner #2 would only scan 1st item; wait 5 seconds then scan 2nd....and so on.  Weird....

3) Ran short of receipt paper

4) Did my Harassment training and had an eye-roll moment....now we're instructed to 'be respectful of other's pronouns'.  Until I'm told otherwise, it's him/her.

Outfit:  Purdue tee, long capris, treble clefs

Off tomorrow, to take Ned to Washington and Alex clothes shopping for 'unmentionables', ha ha....


Day 87:



Day 88: 



Day 89:  Rare Sat



Day 90:  Rare Sun

Sunday, August 3, 2025

BB 27: Week 3

HOH:  Lauren Wins!!!!!

Oh boo hoo Rachel....."I used to be so good at these comps....if I don't win, then who am I?"  Get over yourself....it's been HOW many years since you've played?  And had two kids?  *eye roll*

And Mickey's freaking out? Girl, calm yourself and wait until you actually have a conversation with her!

She nominates Keanu, Kelly, and Will.


POV:

LMAO.....I honestly thought Ash was going to be in the shower when they picked players!

Vince, Ashley, Lauren, Will, Keanu, and Kelley:)

Comp:  Timed one.  Ash made it through, but triggered the alarm a couple of times; Will is hopeless; Vince doesn't want to win, and dawdles several times, but will it be enough.

3rd Place:  Vince, 10:01

2nd Place: Lauren, 7:22

WINNER: Keany, 6:54  He takes himself off; Lauren puts up Adrian, since everyone tells her if she puts up Ash, more people will be upset.

Screening Bad Guys 2:  Rachel, Jimmy, and Ava.  Geez, Rachel....did you get a clue you were going to be invited, wearing your green evening gown???


BB Blockbuster:  Kelley:)

Eviction:

Adrian is evicted, 8-4

BB 27 Week 2

 HOH Comp: Search through the sewers; In the dark comp!

Ava's afraid of the dark, so she sits down.  WTH???

HOH:  Jimmy

Power #1: Keanu Mystery Competitor power:) Tells Kelly

Power #2: Mickey HOH Dethrone power; tells Morgan

Power #3: Kelley Mystery Veto Power; tells Jimmy


Noms:

Kelly, Adrian, and Keanu


POV:  Dressed up as potted plants:)

Keanu invokes his power, and Jimmy pulls AVA's name out of the box.

Mystery competitor:  Comp Beast Kaycee!

Kelly out 1st, followed by Ava.  Jimmy and Keanu false-started.

Kaycee vs Adrian: Kaycee wins!  Keanu is safe!


OMG.....Keanu tells Rachel he watched her highlight reel, and the fact two houseguests yelled at her.  Rachel leaves in a huff, and tells K 'fine, go to war with me' when he tries to explain.  K, either you're really dumb and didn't realize what you were saying, or Rachel, you're too sensitive.  I'm not sure what's the case here.


Veto Meeting:  Keanu takes himself off; Jimmy puts up Amy.  Kelly activates her power and WINS!  Takes herself off the block; Jimmy puts up Will.

OMG Ava...why are you still wearing that stupid flower pot outfit?


BB Blockbuster:  Will, Amy, Adrian

Gag....Taylor's back for an announcement?  Gag.....

OMG Rachel.....that sheer outfit, your 'funeral' outfit....I can't even.....and then to threaten Zach and Morgan???  Yes, I like Amy, but by all means, piss Rachel off and send Amy home!

Adrian wins!!!!!  Will vs Amy:

Eviction:

Amy is evicted, 13-0  She did NOT reveal her accomplice status, so maybe at some point she gets to return????

BB Unlocked:  Not being a fan of Taylor, I seriously doubt I'll watch.

Yeah, I'm bored.  Bleh. But apparently it's connected to BB, so I can skim through it.





Wednesday, July 30, 2025

BB27.....O. M.G.....

 I honestly wasn't going to blog about this season's BB, but holy hell, Rachel's back.

First, a brief recap of Ep 1.

16 enter; 8 compete to find Julie, and Zach does it, winning $10K.

Next, the others compete to find the HOH relic, and Jimmy wins it, earning the right to pick four contestants to play in the HOH contest. He decides to play and after interviewing everyone, picks Ashley (the only female who said she'd do it), Vince (who still lives with Mommy and has no job), and Adrian.

Vince wins, not surprisingly, since he juggles.

Then they revealed another houseguest was returning.  I was hoping it WOULD NOT BE Rachel or Jesse, the two most annoying houseguests in history (I forgot about Taylor, but here's hoping we never see her again either!).

Back to the show.

After Rachel arrives, the Mastermind announces he has an accomplice in the house, and it's NOT Rachel. If the others can guess who helped him cut the lights and stole the HOH relic, that person will be immediately ejected from the game.  

Come on, PLEASE let it be Rachel!!!!!  I can't stand her!!!!

Watch it be Vince.....

Now everyone thinks its either Rylie (cowboy hat) or Zae (sun-kissed California guy).

Verdict:  Not!

Holy Sh*t....it's AMY, whom I suspected after Rylie was revealed not to be it.  

What tipped me off?  I remembered SHE LOOKED BACK at the portrait, which was the secret door.

Have-Nots:  Rachel, Will, Zach, and Ava

Nominations:

Before the nom ceremony, Ashley did something incredibly selfish, taking a 90 min shower in the HOH room, mildly pissing Vince off.  It even pissed the others off

As people were discussing with Vince whom to put up, Amy for whatever reason, broke out in TEARS at the thought of Ash going up.  WTH???

So what does Vince do?  Puts up Ash, Amy, and Zae, since he wasn't proven to be the accomplice.  

Amy better win the battle back and take herself off the block.

POV:

Vince, Amy, Ash, Rachel, Zae, and Zach

(after Ash takes another shower!)

Camp side Caper:  Ashley wins! Takes herself off. Vince puts up Kelley.

Jimmy blows up at Keanu?  WTH????

Kelley, your mouth is about to get you in trouble...

Zae, really?  Actively going after Rachel?  Admirable, but waaaaay too early!


Blockbuster:  Kelley wins!!!

Eviction:  Zae, 9-5!!!



Monday, July 28, 2025

From The Stupid Files: Y7, W23

Day 81: Hot, humid, t-storms, high 90s; 96 t/a

ASM:  Shannon

HC:  Austin

Loaders:  Jack, Damon, Diana

1) 30 mins in, had one customer asking about wire; another asking about drywall, all while trying to ring up a third!  AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!!!!

2) DS Keri pissed me off, telling me to clock out at the pro desk.  Fine. When she's there, I will. But when she's not, which is 90% more often the case, then I get to ignore her.

Outfit:  Red LU tee, faded cut off capris, large zirconians


Day 82: Hot, humid, mid-90s; 97 t/a

ASM:  Daniel

HC:  Isaac

Loaders:  Damon, Jack, Diana

1) When I returned from my 1st break, the cash button disappeared from the screen. Backed out; logged back in, and it returned:)  Weeeeiiiirrrd....Customer was even stymied!

2) Didn't go to lunch until 8:30; Jack had forgotten to tell Diana that Isaac asked her to cover it!

3) Thanks to ASM D doing a final perimeter walk, didn't clock out until 10:45!

Outfit:  I Blacked Out....tee, faded cut off capris, eclipse danglies


Day 83:  Hot, humid, mid-90s; 95 t/a

ASM: Daniel

HC: Austin

Loaders: Damon, Jack, Diana

1) Tried to find circular saw for customer; Jack (tools) finally showed up; it was in top stock!

2) Asked Mel to take boxes to my car and bring back another copy of PWT....he brought back LOTR.  Went out in the heat and swapped them out.

3) Corporate's coming tomorrow, so cleaned everything. Josh (flooring) and I emptied the trash in the break room.

Outfit:  Blessed G'ma tee, faded cut off capris, large zirconians.


Day 84:  Less humid, high 70s; 77 t/a

ASM:  Alex

HC:  Austin, Raven

Loaders:  Diana, Damon

1) We were really slow tonight!

2) As I went to lunch at 8, 5 customers got in line for Karen. I asked Diana to log in and help her out.

3) Was called into work tonight.

Outfit:  Livin' On a Prayer tee, faded cut off capris, red wavy.

Off to Lafayette tomorrow for Mom's 83rd birthday!


Off the next 3 days for Mom's 83rd birthday!

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

From The Stupid Files: Y7, W22

Day 77:  Hot, humid, 89; 76 t/a
ASM:  Shannon
HC:  Austin
Loaders:  Kaleb, Diana, Joey (NCNS???)

1) Was slammed at 5:30; Diana took over so I could do a credit app, then I hopped on #2, and we BOTH had VSPs!

2) Had pregnant lady not feeling well; I had Kaleb and Diana check on her. Kaleb went to LG and got her a chair; Diana got her some water. She sat down for about an hour until her hubby finished shopping.

3) Discovered no trash liners in #1 or the Pro trash can???  WTH closed last night?  Found out later it was a newbie.

4) Kaleb ripped the crotch of his shorts on a board; used packing tape to tape them up!  Diana and I laughed our asses off....he said, "Probably the only time I'm gonna say this....thank god I'm not hung like a bear!"  Found out later that same board tried to rip the tape off!

Outfit:  Blue MyLU tee, dark cut off capris, small gold hoops



Day 78: Hot, humid, high 80s; 77 t/a
ASM:  Shannon
HC:  Austin
Loaders:  Kaleb, Diana, Joey (NCNS??)

1) Reg #1 malfunctioned; card reader offline.  Reset pin pad, then entire system....nada. Reset everything again around 9, worked fine.  WTH???

2) Went to Receiving for trash bags; there were none.  Had to get a roll from CS.

3) My copies of PWT arrived; sold one to Gil for $15.  He tossed me a $20 and said, "Support your local authors. Keep the change."  Awwwww......thank you!

4) Erika came down and gave me my break at 4:30!  Shocked the hell out of me....then sent me to lunch at 6:15.

5) Had intestinal issue at 3:30 but was fine the rest of the night.

Outfit:  Black Eclipse tee, dark cut off capris, eclipse danglies
Off to take Mom to an appointment tomorrow!


Day 79: Hot, humid, low 90s; 81 t/a
ASM:  Maria
HC:  Isaac
Loaders:  Kaleb, Damon, Jack (new)

1) Discovered Loader Joe was fired, due to 3 NCNSs.  When I told ASM Alex about the night he'd gone home, he said he wished someone had told him why.  I hadn't thought to send him an EMAIL.  *head slap*

2) Kyle took us to the Roadhouse for lunch, and I ate too many rolls; by 4 pm, I was yawning!

3) I got my 5pm break; HC Isaac said we had plenty of people!  (on a FRIDAY???  That's amazing!)

Outfit:  Blue Vancouver Aquarium tee, dark cut off capris, sea horses

Off tomorrow for the KCARC craft fair!



Day 80:  Rare Sun; hot, humid, Thunderstorm; 85 t/a
ASM:  Shannon
HC:  Isaac
Loader:  Kaleb

1) Kaleb complimented me when I walked in...."I'm gonna have a great night; Molly's here!"
2) A customer told me he'd gotten mad at Ian, but 'there's a gal up front who always has a smile for me and gives me candy....her name is Molly."
3) Customers returned a window with a broken casing.  Told them to push it back to Millwork and swap it out; they left it up front. Where do they think I'M gonna put it???  *eye roll*
4) Tried to return an insulation machine, but nothing was working. Turned out I was using the wrong item #....geez.....
5) Had two customers at 8pm...."we didn't know you closed early on Sunday!"  Only for the past 5 years....
6) Admittedly, I goofed off today, rereading Playing With Time.  Only did trash at 7:30 and spot-swept.
7) DS Keri told me Kem complained I don't arrive until 3:05.  Really????  Okay, I'll start clocking in early.  Geez....
Outfit:  Teal blue tee, dark cut off capris, small blue danglies