Reasons to be Cheerful

[Wilfrid]

Tripped and used my hand to save myself. Common cause of scaphoid fracture.

[small h]

Ai. Glad it turned out better than it could have.

[Wilfrid]

I was not expecting to see Reverend Billy in the latest New Yorker. I used to run into him all the time years ago. Have to respect his energy.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/05/04/reverend-billy-takes-on-norman-fosters-new-monolith

 

[maison rustique]

I just spent my second night in my "new" house. Still total chaos and still tons to do at the other house before I can get it sold, but it is a major step. The move on Monday went amazingly well. The lovely scalloped mirror on the antique dressing table was cracked and an outdoor chair has gone missing (might still be somewhere), but that's not bad. And it came in about $1,000 under estimate. A great moving crew.

My sister and BIL were here for the move and spent Monday night here. We sat on the deck and had a bottle of bubbly and marveled at all the birds. Then had coffee out there yesterday morning. It is so peaceful!

[hollywood]

Saved $100 per month for 12 months on my Spectrum bill by getting a SIM card which I don't have to use. 

[splinky]

1 hour ago, hollywood said:

Saved $100 per month for 12 months on my Spectrum bill by getting a SIM card which I don't have to use. 

tempting, the offer seems like a trap but i guess they can't make you use it

 

[hollywood]

They don't seem to care. Just have to cancel the SIM after 12 months otherwise they charge $40 per month.

[splinky]

7 minutes ago, hollywood said:

They don't seem to care. Just have to cancel the SIM after 12 months otherwise they charge $40 per month.

time to dig out an old iphone from the old iphone bin

[maison rustique]

It finally stopped raining and warmed up enough to open one of the doors to the deck. I noticed how chatty the birds were, so turned on Merlin.

At 3:45 pm in Gladstone in 60 seconds:

American Crow

Brown-headed Cowbird

Red-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

House Sparrow

Cedar Waxwing

Northern Cardinal

House Finch

American Robin

Northern Mockingbird

And I don't even have a feeder out.

[Wilfrid]

Sometimes even the best book stores make mistakes. I was planning on waiting for a library copy of Wayne Koestenbaum's new novel, My Love, the Rabbi. Then I happened to see it discounted in Book Culture. Brand new and surely unused. The shop is always full of bargains but it rarely discounts new books.

Then I got on the subway, opened it, and found that it is signed by the author. 

[bloviatrix]

On 5/23/2026 at 4:20 PM, Wilfrid said:

Sometimes even the best book stores make mistakes. I was planning on waiting for a library copy of Wayne Koestenbaum's new novel, My Love, the Rabbi. Then I happened to see it discounted in Book Culture. Brand new and surely unused. The shop is always full of bargains but it rarely discounts new books.

Then I got on the subway, opened it, and found that it is signed by the author. 

Is it possible you bought it the weekend the store had everything at 20% off?

[maison rustique]

This morning's greeters:

7:42 am Gladstone, MO

Gray Catbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Eastern Kingbird*

Northern House Wren

Baltimore Oriole

House Sparrow

Red-shouldered Hawk

Eastern Bluebird

Carolina Wren

Tufted Titmouse

American Robin

Blue Jay

Northern MockingbirdNorthern Cardinal

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Whew!

Edited Saturday at 01:44 PM by maison rustique
typo

[small h]

Wow!

[StephanieL]

I won a raffle for 2 tickets to any cooking class held at this fancy school in Napa. N and I are going up there next month to learn how to make filled pasta, and to have a mini (overnight) vacation.