Random Tuesday

Go ahead and link up with or visit Stacy for some randomness.

This has not been a stellar week.  No, I'm not talking about what's going on in our country with injustice, riots, attacks on police - which all really bothers me. I'm not even talking about COVID-19.  Well, a little bit about that...

My brother-in-law and his wife are self-quarantining for two weeks.  They were exposed to someone, their nephew on her side whose children they sometimes babysit, who has a confirmed COVID-19 case. If my bil gets it, that would be really bad because he's been around his 91 year old father and his 80 year old aunt.

My mom is going to have a procedure done in a couple of days to remove a cyst that is causing lots of problem, so she had to take the COVID-19 test today.  It was required.  I'm sure she doesn't have it.  But every since the nasal swab, her nose has been bleeding.  Her procedure is Wednesday.

To top it off, my sister slipped and fell at her home, and she broke her arm.  The radius is broken, and she may need surgery.  I can't see her right now, but she will be getting Tiff's Treats tomorrow. Warm, fresh cookies and ice cream will be delivered to her door.

Several of our family members have expressed reluctance in coming to my daughter's wedding in November due to COVID, so I'm just bummed the last few days.  I NEED something GOOD to happen soon!

Maybe a few laughs will help.  Maybe.

And last for today.

Hope you're having a great week!

Sunday Synopsis

Murder on Birchleaf Drive: The True Story of the Michelle Young Murder Case by Steven B. Epstein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't forget to post this week!  This is my most recent read a true crime novel.

A friend of mine-who had a link to the case-recommended this book to me. My friend lived in the same North Carolina neighborhood as Jason Young, the accused in this story. Jason's mom was a beloved fifth grade teacher, although my friend chose not to have her sons in her class - that has nothing to do with the murder, though. It was long before that. So that was my link to this book.

I've really been on a true crime kick lately. I had never heard of this author, so I was skeptical. Ann Rule is my "standard" for true crime. I believe I had heard about the case, but I wasn't super familiar with it, either. I remember hearing that a man killed his pregnant wife and their daughter walked around in her blood.

The book explores the backgrounds of Jason and Michelle so the reader has context. The author was very unbiased, playing out both the prosecutor's case and the defense's response. It is so detailed that about 3/4 of the way through, it becomes a dry read; however, it's difficult to put down in spite of that because the case is so intriguing.

Jason Young had some strange habits, not to mention several extra-marital affairs, in the three years leading up to the murder. He and Michelle fought often, and often publicly. On a night when he was headed out of town on business, Michelle was murdered in her bedroom. When Michelle's sister showed up the next day, she found their 2 year old daughter perfectly clean and sleeping in her parents' bed. (Side note - the sister described the little girl as "shockingly clean" and the author overused this description.) Although there was no blood on the little girl when her aunt found her, her bloody footprints were found all over the scene. Michelle, who was five months pregnant with their son, had been bludgeoned to death. Jason Young, although he was several hours away, was the prime suspect.

I don't want to give any more of the case away. I went into the book without knowing much about the murder or the case which may be one reason why I liked reading it. If you like true crime, you will likely find it interesting, too.

View all my reviews

Thursday Thirteen

Here's a quick list today.  Thirteen words to use instead of "very."  There are dozens more, of course, but these are my top 13, partly because most suggest an oxymoron.

1. awfully - She is awfully pretty.
2.  clearly - You clearly don't see the problem.
3.  significantly - Your point is significantly unimportant.
4. completely - This project is completely unfinished.

Click any image to enlarge

5.  extraordinarily - This project is extraordinarily bland.
6.  unusually - That reaction to this news is unusually common.
7.  infinitely - The chances of rain today are infinitely low.
8.  especially - That show was especially boring.

9.  fantastically - The performance was fantastically dreadful.
10. notably - The professor's speech was notably inconsequential.
11. seriously - Those jokes are seriously funny.
12.  exceedingly - This year's performance review was exceedingly mundane.
13. enormously - The crowd was enormously small.

More Thursday Thirteen here!

Random Tuesday

Here I am... late again!  Better late than never!  How is your week going?  Come link up with Stacy Uncorked and make your week even better!

I am happy to say I found a venue!  It's more than the church was going to cost, but we're keeping the same caterer, photographer, cake baker, and probably DJ, if I can get an accurate invoice from her.  It's more than I wanted to spend, but the couple is going to kick in some money.  We can do it!  I always find a way.

view from reception room windows.  More to come tomorrow.

Click any photo to enlarge.  Obviously, this reception space isn't decorated yet.

So... now it's on to all the details, and there are so many details!!!!

It's hard to focus on these things with all that's going on in the world today, but it's good that I have a distraction.  If I only think about the ills (pun intended) of society right now, I would go crazy.  Coronavirus still a threat.  Many still working from home. Some businesses still closed.  And the sad state of race relations in our country as evidenced by George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.  I can't wrap my head around it.  I just can't.  So, I do what I do best which is avoid thinking about it.  Humor helps.  So...

I've been watching way too much true crime lately, but that doesn't scare me as much as current events.  Forensic Files, People Magazine Investigates, Death Row Stories, Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, etc. I doubt I'm not the only true crime junkie!  I hope not!

And let's see if I can get a song stuck in your head.  You'll thank me later!

Have a good week!

Random Tuesday/Wednesday Photo.

Well... I have been so busy trying to find a new venue for my daughter's wedding, that I forgot what day it was!  The church where we were scheduled has cancelled wedding for the remainder of the year.  I've put deposits down with 4 vendors, so I've got to find a venue available on her date or I will lose a boatload of money.

I'll start with this photo:

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Lillies are one of my favorite flowers.  This was one of the beautiful flowers in my arrangement from my husband on our anniversary.

New topic - I don't know about your neighborhood, but there have been a lot of people walking around the same time since we first went under stay-at-home orders.  My husband and I are still keeping our distance.  My point is... you get really good at geometry when social distancing!

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For example, when I am walking on the path, and person A is coming from the left and person B is coming from the right, you have to decide when to get off the path so your "lines" won't intersect at the same time!  It reminds me of a triangle and the Pythagorean Theorem.  Geometry is my least favorite math!

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I have been reading, watching, and listening to a lot of true crime lately.  I was in the car listening to a podcast about a serial killer, and I pulled into the driveway.  I was waiting for a good stopping point to turn off the podcast, when all of a sudden, my husband knocked on the car window (I was looking at my phone), and he scared the heebeejeebees out of me! Guess you had to be there!  But I've been reading a true crime book, one that a former co-worker actually knew the perpetrator's mother.  I've been watching Death Row Stories, Forensic Files, Snapped, and People Magazine Investigates, among others.

I love sarcasm!

And now...

And these...

This is sooo me!

Have a great week!
I'm linking up with Stacy's Random Thoughts, image-in-ing, and Wordless Wednesday.