Monday, March 18, 2024

Random Happy Tuesday


 Hello!  I didn't forget this week!  But, about the time you read this, I will be under the knife getting a partial shoulder replacement (hemiarthroplasty). Oh what fun (sarcasm)!  But it needs to be done! This may be more info than you want, so keep scrolling if medical procedures give you the heebie jeebies.

It will look something like this.

I wonder where the phrase "under the knife" came from.  Let's find out!  Here's no suprise:  It originated from the field of surgery (duh).  It refers to the instrument used to make incisions such as a scalpel.  It's been used as a metaphorical expression since the early 20th century.

Well, that was not nearly as exciting as I hoped it would be!  I so love looking up the origins of idioms.  Maybe I can find something to make you laugh, although that's not what I'll be doing!

Praying this doesn't happen to me!











And something sweet before you go...

Visit my friends at Stacy Uncorked (Random Tuesday Thoughts) and Comedy Plus (Happy Tuesday) and have a great week!



Saturday, March 16, 2024

Sunday Synopsis

 

The InmateThe Inmate by Freida McFadden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Brooke Sullivan's parents have died and left her the house she grew up in. She returns to town and takes a position as a nurse practitioner at the men's prison where she's been warned not to get too close to the prisoners. The problem is, one of the prisoners is her ex-boyfriend Shane and father of her child, though he doesn't know it. He's in prison for murder, and Brooke's testimony was the strongest evidence that convicted him.

Brooke has also begun seeing her son's school assistant principal with whom she was best friends growing up. He has always warned her that Shane is dangerous. And when he began spending more time with Brooke, some strange things begin happening and Brooke thinks that maybe the wrong man is in prison, that it wasn't Shane but Tim who killed her friends.

This novel has some twists and turns. You think you have figured it out, then there is a twist. But I do think part of the ending was a little ridiculous due to lack of motive from the character.

Freida McFadden is a new author to me, and I like the way this book had me thinking one thing, then the oppositve would happen. She's not as polished as an author as some others yet, but I think that will improve as she continues to publish.

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Monday, March 04, 2024

A toast!

 


While watching Northern Exposure (never watched it when it was on back in the 90's), Maurice told a story of how the "toast" came to be, and I looked it up thinking he was wrong.  But he was right!  Or the writers were right.  Maurice is just a character!
This is the character Maurice.

But back to the toast! According to Sazerac House (which we visited in New Orleans last week), in the late 17th century, it was customary to put a crouton or a burned piece of toast in your wine.  Supposedly, it made the wine taste better, and perhaps helped the toast taste better, too. It became a party snack! That is why it is called a toast.

But the origin of saying "Cheers" or encouraging words before taking a drink came about in the 6th century with the ancient Greeks.  At first, the sayings were blessings to gods for bringing them health and long life. While the toasts themselves changed over the years, the custom was, and is still, used by many different cultures for many types of celebrations. The good wishes last even after the drink is gone.


But actual toast, now that's under-rated.  There's nothing like a lightly golden piece of buttery toast!


This cracks me up!







Instead of a test pilot, he's a toast pilot!



And last...

Remember to visit my friends at Happy Tuesday,  Random Tuesday Thoughts, and Crafteverly.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Random Happy Tuesday

 


Yep!  A day late and a dollar short!  Well, not quite a day and with inflation, who knows what dollar amount!  Did you ever wonder where the phrase, "A day late and a dollar short" came from?  I bet you can guess that it is believed to have started during the Great Depression when so many people lived in poverty.  The first record of the phrase being used in print was 1939, but it surely came about many years before that.  But that's me today... late.  It's still Tuesday where I am, though.  How about we just move on?

















Have a great week, and don't forget to visit my friends at Happy Tuesday and Random Tuesday Thoughts!

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Sunday Synopsis

Run, Rose, RunRun, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! At times it was a little hokey, corny, or cheesey. I felt the authors (Patterson and Parton) tried a little too hard to give it that "aw, shucks" country feel. But getting past that, it was a good story that was told quite well.

AnnieLee Keyes shows up in Nashville hoping to make it big in the country music industry. It is easy to tell that she is running from something in her past, but the reader will not know exactly what until near the end. Thankfully, the story has a satisfying resolution.

AnnieLee meets Ethan Blake at a honkey tonk where she asks to get onstage and sing during "open mic" time. Ethan is mesmerized by Annie with the first notes out of her mouth. He also happens to know the owner of the bar, Ruthanna Ryder who also happens to be a retired country music star. Eventually, as much as AnniLee will let her, Ruthanna takes her under her wing and tries to guide her in her quest for country music stardom. Things are going well for AnnieLee until her past catches up with her.

The story is a good mix of description about how the music industry operates with a little humor stirred in with the drama. As I was reading, Ruthanna Ryder always conjured images of Reba McEntire in my head, yet I'm wondering now if I was supposed to be picturing Dolly Parton. Well, it doesn't matter.

This is a fast-paced book with dynamic characters, a well-developed plot, and an actual ending. It is also less grizly that some of Patterson's other books.

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