I did this and got the refund eventually. It’s just it seems to get longer/more hoops while the mistakes with items seem to be more frequent.

It’s the shorter one. I’m still too old for this crap. I actually just found out, I intended to work out of our NY office and some states do allow that but not your lovely state.

I know this is what happens. Something becomes indispensable, and then, inevitably, it becomes awful. Google search is becoming like this, as are Google maps. amazon: last two orders: fairly $ bottle of supplements arrived with the safety seal completely removed. Bit of traces of aluminum left on the edges but otherwise it’s gone: Amazon: item not returnable, contact manufacturer ordered peppermint oil, received eucalyptus-something oil. Amazon: item not returnable, contact manufacturer. the first was resolved after a fairly lengthy chat (after making it past the chatbot). But this is really a waste of time. any ideas what to do with eucalyptus oil? 🤣

I personally am not keen to take on new challenges with full time work (my job is inherently always more than full time) and still a child at home whom, while I don’t homeschool, I do take a passing interest in her education. I’m just too tired/don’t have the hunger/ bandwidth. as an example, I have to take the bar in another state because my husband needs to move there for a job and it’s best we don’t live on opposite coasts. I am furious and kicking and screaming about this. But I have to, otherwise I could not work at all in this state (and it’s a state issue). So let’s just say I’m not cheerfully taking on the challenge. On the other hand, if you find the time and energy, and happen to complete it, then that’s great. What’s the opportunity cost?

I think to the trivial request I just would not respond at all. it’s trivial, and if he cares enough, he will do it himself. I have similar issues (which in my case are of my own creation), and it is a totally different work situation, but not being reactive and jumping the moment I get an email/letting calls go to voicemail has been the hardest lesson for me to learn and relearn repeatedly forever until I die. When used, it works though!

I just saw this post. Thanks so much. Appreciate it. Got a book as well but there doesn’t seem to be much out there for this age set.

Here to update that the young reader’s edition of The Disappearing Spoon, while not exactly a hit, is in fact being red by DD and every day she shares with me a fact learned. We really could not get past the first couple pages in the original book so this is progress. Finished The Case of the Mummified pigs (thanks again)—was a touch too but great for vacation 😉

Thanks to you and to @bookbard for suggesting Woman in White, I’m loving the audio and it and it’s deliciously long. I had a record 26hrs plus travel back to the US due to delays and events and now taking long walks daily so this is just the ticket 🙏

I will join you in quarreling with number 1. I didn’t understand the Ferrante mania in the United States over these particular books. I’ve read her earlier, much shorter books, some of them in Italian even, and they’re better, but they would not make any top 10 lists either.

I wonder what would happen if they picked up the language again. My son was friends with a little boy in K (in the US) who spoke no english at home and then who then moved to a third language country (neither his parents’s language nor English was done in school). His English suffered as a result but when he visited us in the states as a tween, he picked it up remarkably fast compared to say, my French exchange students who are learning de novo. OP, I don’t know what you do now but for us here just maintaining a foreign language (aka, permanently treading water) feels like a lot of work. She meets with a tutor at least weekly (much more frequently on school holidays, but honestly this is more play date in French, they play games and joke and sometimes read very basic stuff), reads cartoons (Adele), and books like Petit Nicolas. In summer she copies down two French sentences from a handwriting book. For all that, my daughter’s French is stuck at the level it was when she last lived there, around 3rd grade. I’m sure she’s losing some to be honest.

I enjoyed Tom Lake with Meryl Streep audio ❤️ the Dutch House narrated by Tom hanks was even better.

Private schools here usually do one Shakespeare play a year starting in 6th grade. My DD is entering 8th grade in a supposedly good public and has so far managed to escape any encounter with Shakespeare or indeed any other real books above 200 pages in public school. (We cover some at home).

She’s a favorite narrator for sure. i read a Gentleman in Moscow a little while back, great book.

I could not finish this book. A bit too—-on the nose? It’s too bad.

On vacation i read the International Man Booker winner, Kairos. This was an interesting experience I’m still processing a little. I don’t see how it would be appealing to anyone without an eastern block background or some knowledge of that world. I started French Windows because i wanted something easy after Kairos and something set in France to help me stay in the mood for my own book. It’s easy and short and engaging so finishing that on my flight tomorrow. I also brought Stone Blind and Crossing to Safety on paperback but my sisters requisitioned those so i think I will get on kindle now. ETA that Kairos did put me in the mood for some Brecht.