Falling unexpectedly was one of the early signs of Parkinson's for my mom. But as you've had an MRI that may already have been ruled out.

I discovered that Dick Francis' son (I think, same last name) has continued the tradition of horse-racing-related mysteries. I love a good horse story, but while these may start off at a race course or a stable they don't stay there very long. One was the story of a "crisis manager" who solves a stable-related mystery (Crisis) and the other of an insurance actuary who was a former amateur jockey whose wife was murdered (Guilty, Not Guilty). They were OK; I remember Dick Francis' novels as moving a bit faster and smelling a bit more of the stable, tied more tightly to the horse world. I'd read more of them, though, and I notice they've republished Dick Francis novels with forewords by Felix. Now I've moved on to a *real* horse story -- non-fiction -- The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Letts, about how the horses of the Spanish Riding School survived WWII. Thank you, Marguerite Henry, for introducing me and my kids to the Lipizzaners! In fact, as a kid I devoured every one of her books and there are a couple I still re-read periodically. I was always a horse fan, though, not a rider (unlike my oldest, who is having horse withdrawals since moving up here and is looking for a stable where she can volunteer).

I got 3 months of Kindle Unlimited with my replacement Kindle, so I am spoiled for choice, yet still trying to get my library stuff done. This week I read two of a series by Michael Mammay that were fun: Planetside and Spaceside (the 2nd one was more of a novella). Will have to wait for the third, which is Colonyside. They are detective novels dressed in military space opera uniform, although the detective is more of a plodder and "disturb things and see what comes up" than a brilliant deducer. Kind of fun. Polyhymnia was my romance style muse...yes, I do prefer not to feel obliged to skip half the novel to avoid the steamier scenes...and I don't do horror...so I guess it was pretty accurate considering it was "just for fun." The Muse of History appears in Jodi Taylor's time travel histories, and boy, do you not want to mess with History! DH is still in training in VA but was able to hook up with some old friends who retired to VA and do some bowling, which made him happy. Bowling is shutdown here and has been for months. Anyway, he flies home the end of this week and I think he will sleep downstairs for the first week just in case. I will be very happy to have him home. I have ordered a book called Fierce Conversations that was recommended to me recently as a good pattern for healthy and productive confrontations. How prescient, it turns out, as youngest dd's two besties are dumping her rather dramatically, full of recriminations. I hope this emotional crisis can be turned into a learning opportunity -- let's not do it like THAT!!

I am coming to this discussion late but thought I would contribute anyway. 8-) We were able to save, but only a bit. 529s for each kid amounted to about a year's worth of tuition (only) at a state school, so that had to be spread out carefully. My oldest wanted art college, and her portfolio earned her a partial scholarship there plus we chose the lower cost alternative, a non-for-profit school. The rest was made up with a CalGrant plus Stafford loan each year, plus some of her 529 plus legacy $ from her grandparents. As we moved her freshman year, she was going to be stuck with housing, but friends from our church stepped up and she was able to live for free with various families for all of her 4.5 years of college. She also worked p/t and summers at various art kiosks. When she graduated with her BFA, none of her job applications panned out and she ended up going back to the CC for classes in graphic design, which did postpone her student loan payments, at least. She's pretty close to paying off the loan, thankfully. My 2nd wasn't sure he wanted to go past an AA and did some exploration at the CC, was there for 3 years after starting there @ age 16. Because of a couple of his profs at CC he ended up going on to a degree, completed with 2 more years at the local state college, living at home. He graduated debt free, having worked p/t all through college. He paid part of the tuition for his last 2 years with a combination of a small scholarship, legacy $, 529 savings, and his own earnings.

Late checking in for the new year! I am mainly a serendipity reader. Once I find an author, I try to read his/her books in order of publication. So I am still working on Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes, partly because they are pretty popular at my local library and I am not the only one to have them on hold. I also started a new series by Susan Elia MacNeal about a woman spy (Maggie Hope) in WW II who started out as Churchill's secretary (first book), saved a kidnapped princess (book 2), and via Berlin exposed the Reich's program for eliminating defective children (book 3). Now she's back in England/Scotland suffering from burnout/depression and the former klutz is doing physical training for prospective spies. Bletchley Park and codebreaking have also been featured. Fun! I had to get a new Kindle because my old one has quit holding a charge. It can still be used, but only plugged into the charger. The software has moved on 5 generations or so in the meanwhile, so it's a bit of an adjustment to the new one. OTOH, now I can keep one upstairs and one downstairs, right? I've had time to read because my p/t work has been pretty non-existent this month. Hoping for more work in Jan., and dh just got his first paycheck at his new job. Hurrah, hurrah, AND he's liking what he's seen so far. Travelling for training over the next couple weeks. Hopefully the small town he'll be visiting won't present serious infection risks!! For the person who likes dog books, you might like Doranna Durgin's "A Feral Darkness" which combines canines and a bit of welsh mythology. Durgin also has a series that features shape-changing, but into equines instead of wolves. I found them quite fun.

My oldest has really severe nut allergies. She has to avoid anything that *may have been processed* at a facility that also processes tree nuts or peanuts. As a result, most sunflower seeds/seed butters are off-limits for her too. Check labels carefully!! But she's OK with coconut products as long as there's no cross-contamination from tree nuts (or soy, she's allergic to that too). Can you use dried or roasted unsweeted coconut for crunch?

@Dreamergal - your royal-watching and your recommendation inspired me to watch the latest season of the Crown, which I am now re-watching with my 20-something and almost-18er. It's given us some really good times, so thank you for that. Now I would like to find something a bit more in depth on Ms. Thatcher. And the girls are interested in finding out more about Mr. Churchill. Good outcome!!! I too am a read-posts but seldom-post - though I've done a bit more posting in this challenging year. I don't usually do the Bingo stuff, but as I read the posts I open up my library's overdrive and add many of the recommended books to my wishlist, which has gotten up to over 10 pages now. BAW will have me reading for years to come!! I so appreciate the moderation (Robin M) and the many who participate and share their eclectic love of the written word. I've just finished the Soulwood series by Faith Hunter, mentioned by someone on this list. I want more!! I love the idea of paranormal plant people as law enforcement. Reminds me (only slightly) of the Federal Witch series by T.S. Paul. Just stay out of the magical greenhouse!!

When I was working f/t we ordered these by the box. Extra Fine. I love them!!

Still enjoying the Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes novels....while crocheting a cancer hat for a friend who's dealing with chem....3rd woman this year in my age group who's faced with this crap. As long as the pattern is simple and repetitive and I have the book on my kindle, I'm good. The other reason I am FOCUSED on crocheting is that my husband has attacked my bookshelves. Yes, they needed clearing the dusting....but he is making a HUGE mess, insists on single-shelving (I am the opposite on that one!) and can't understand why I still hold onto picture books. If I go in there, I won't be able to contain myself, so I am triple-timing to distract myself: tv reruns, crocheting (with a little, tiny hook, which slows things down) AND reading. So far, so good. I am working on flowers for the hat now. I have finished "The First Rule of 10" -- a detective story based in LA in which the featured character is an escapee from a Tibetan monastery, Tenzig Norbu. Lots of references to meditation and the universe bringing you what you need, which mixes rather well with solving the case through unexpected connections. The author team includes an older guy who's a spiritual advisor and a woman who's a writer, Hendricks & Lindsay. Ah, I also have a book recommended by my friend in chemo called "How Not to Die" which is about proper nutrition and life habits. Today is day 1 of our renewed lockdown, joy oh joy, and I should get *plenty* of reading done this week while avoiding the bookcase infringement. LOL

My husband is a bit of a table tennis (well, ok, ping pong) aficianado. We have to watch game videos. He used to teach TT classes through our local parks & rec dept. He has our table outside on the back deck....automatic social distancing when his friends come over! And during our unemployment, I seriously think TT has kept him sane. He plays 4-5 times/week and sometimes (like today) twice in one day. Once he starts back to work in January he'll have to find some other form of distraction!! Meanwhile he is setting up his office and checking out the cost of flights to Virginia (for training). As for my reading, I am working on Steve Perry's The Lincoln Conspiracy. He certainly does invent strange historical byways to drive his stories. This one in particular seems to jump back and forth from location to location/character set rather quickly. A very "National Treasure 2" feel to it. I have a couple more Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes mysteries checked out, having just finished O Jerusalem. I suppose I will have lots of time to read as freelance work is expected to be slow over the holidays. I just finished sending off family photo collages (first time in ages!) to siblings and cousins. The tree is up, along with the nativity lawn ornament. So much to be thankful for this holiday season!!

Great idea! And for me (last kiddo is doing all online community college for senior year) it's grown kids moving back in, with dh and I both working from home....so polar fleece pants with business shirts, LOL. And yes, we may have to pay for faster internet access with 3 of us online all the day long.

Sounds like you can find a more pleasant work situation, for sure. DH got the professional membership to LinkedIn and has used it extensively, especially the past 3 months or so, getting up the nerve to contact people he worked with 20-30 years ago and ask if there were opportunities at their present firms, checking companies with job listings to see if he knew anyone there, etc. I hope you do find something better!! My daughter lost her job due to Covid shutdown and moved back in with us last May. She's found a much better job at a much more pleasant place where she is much appreciated...the only interview she had, they hired her and they've already given her one raise. I hope you find something like That!!

The coaching on how to use LinkedIn really helped -- it's a whole new approach since dh was job hunting the last time. So thankful for friends who helped and encouraged and prayed!!

I am thinking of divesting myself of books, not purchasing more, but I couldn't resist this one for Thanksgiving (see below) since I love poetry and I have two out of four who love watercolors. AND SINCE DH HAS A JOB OFFER in hand, I can now shop for books for Christmas, LOL. And can be most heartily thankful this Thanksgiving Day!! I am currently reading Sally Clarkson's "The Life-Giving Table," which fits right in with the theme of thankfulness and valuing family connections. For dragons, two suggestions. Naomi Novik's series beginning with His Majesty's Dragon, and also Rachel Aaron's series beginning with Nice Dragons Finish Last. Fun stuff! The Lost Spells, by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris - https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Spells-Robert-MacFarlane/dp/1487007795/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lost+spells&qid=1606365601&sr=8-1

WE HAVE AN OFFER LETTER!!!! On Monday dh will call with a few questions/clarifications, schedule a drug test and (hopefully) sign on the dotted line!! Hurrah, and the best Thanksgiving EVER! Working from home, almost the same salary, a field dh is familiar with, a family-owned and solidly established company. Now we need to set up a home office for dh. LinkedIn is the bomb. Friends who coach you on LinkedIn are super, and we've had an amazing prayer team and generous friends (y'all included) with us through this 10-month (!!) job search.

Nope. This is a work from home job, field applications support engineer. His manager is in Irvine.

We are *cautiously* hopeful that there will be an offer letter before Thanksgiving. WHAT a blessing this would be! This is a company where dh applied and then found through linkedin that a former co-worker was a manager there; when he reached out to his friend, it turned out he was the hiring manager for the position! We know they've been calling dh's references, and then the hiring manager called to let us know they'd heard good things and were putting together an offer. We expect it to start in January, but are so hoping for something to bolster our spirits this week!!

Adding this author to my library wish list!

Sympathies on your husband's fracture, Robin. My dh managed to break his wrist several years ago @ a 4H christmas party....leaving the ice to get his cake. So late on a Sunday, we got to drive around to 2-3 different clinics to find one that had a dr. available to set it. And then I had to drive his daily commute for him until the cast came off. I have been working my way through the Inspector Rutledge series by Charles Todd (English post WW1 detective, returning to work but still has secret ptsd/shell shock that manifests as a critiquing voice in his head). Well written, thoughtful, and I'm quite enjoying them. Unfortunately, my library doesn't have them all and so I am skipping around a bit as they become available on Overdrive. Also very much enjoying Laurie R. King's Mary Russel & Sherlock Holmes series, which I believe were recommended here. Yes, Holmes gets married late in life to a highly self-sufficient woman who investigates right along with him and gives him a run for his money. The last one I read was set in India with a grown-up Kim having disappeared into Tibet and needing to be found. Great Game references abounded...quite fun. DH got to a *fourth* interview this week, after 3 months of talking to a company, and then they said no thank you. Ahhhh, at least there are some other faint possibilities he can pursue and he won't have to rent a room M-F. Trying to look on the bright side can get quite wearing, but we hang in there. I have been working and our team got some very positive feedback for a bid we were helping to prepare....so that may lead to yet more work. Hurrah on that.

Every interview is a learning experience! Just getting one is a victory for you!! I have been applying for technical writing jobs (my B4Kids job) since February, have gotten 2 interviews and both were based in the midwest while I live in the SF Bay area. Our salary expectations were miles apart and they wrote me off after I was honest with them....and I didn't even give them my higher rate. Luckily an old friend is now consulting and needed my services and he pays my higher rate because of experience in a particular market he serves. Hours are *extremely* variable, but we're fortunate to have a great working relationship (all remote) and it's been a real godsend. So, if this guy is a jerk, just use the interview experience. I wouldl also suggest having a professional or a friend or two review your resume and suggest updates/reformatting/how to reframe your skills. In my husband's job hunt, he has gotten great benefit from being coached how to use LinkedIn's professional membership for more effective networking. Just something to consider.

I do appreciate the thoughts and good wishes from everyone and the company suggestions, etc. DH has gotten some mentoring in making better use of LinkedIn and this has led to some new possibilities. He should be having a 3rd interview for a job in the Silicon Valley area, was contacted about a possibility in Phoenix, and got in touch with a former manager which has led to a job possibility that would be working from home w/some travel. That's the one we're wishing on....he should be able to talk to the guy in person early next week. I've held up pretty well, I think, and I clocked nearly 30 hours of work last week, but I am anticipating the holidays will mean pretty much zero income. And with that and all the possibilities that have evaporated over the past months, plus the argument I had with my oldest over "who's a racist" and "chant the slogan" (which I do not do), I have had a very rough day. I have to be back in the saddle tomorrow for a proposal review and team meeting, so I've just got to get over this and get on with it. DH and I really seem to be on a seesaw - he's up, I'm down and vice versa. Ahhhhhhh....waiting for breakthrough is hard!!

I have 3 20-somethings and a high school senior. My oldest moved back in with us due to covid unemployment, after living in our old home town, now 9 hours away, for 10 years....since she was a freshman in college. That's been a bit of an adjustment (especially the boyfriend being long distance), but generally good and she found a job up here that she loves and they value her (masks required! 1 covid scare). Child #2 is in an apartment locally and comes over for dinner once/week. He's been building yurts in trees (really) and revising zipline courses and has had minimal work stoppage for covid, some for fires and smoke, and is starting his own business, so doing well. Child #3 is still living @ home and the business she was working for as a caregiver went bankrupt a few months ago and stiffed her on wages. She is going to take a CNA class and then look for a better job. Child #4 and I were both very sad when we had to leave our homeschool group due to cost (dh was let go early March, just as shutdown started), but all her classes are at CC anyway and online. She's taking 10 units and doing very well, altho' she thinks they're overusing TED talks to make up for less in-class time, LOL. She has 2 friends that she hangs out with regularly, even weekend sleepovers, but both those families are pretty careful too. She didn't get to go to camp, as that was the week the oldest had a co-worker come down with covid and we decided not to risk infecting others. And her dreams of working art camp as a paid helper never came to pass either. She's advertised herself to do senior photos, though, and found a couple of clients, so at least some income. We had to postpone to driver's license...no $ to pay for insurance until dh finds work. But I think she's coping better with coviid restrictions than with the prospect of having to move, depending on what job dh does/doesn't find.

It is! Firefighters are our heroes! It's helped so much that (at least so far) this year we haven't had the very strong off-shore winds that pushed the fires so hard in 2017 and 2019, and we've had cooler weather too. But there are still a couple of monster fires in the state...containment is rising on those too.

DH is still looking....anything local with benefits, anything in his field / skill set / market experience anywhere in the US. I have a contract for 80 hours of writing...starting some market research for a competitive report and red team editing on a proposal, hoping for a LOT more from this company once that is done. Sending out some p/t remote writing job applications. Unemployed dd had a tooth/root canal abcess and is going to need a new crown, but the antibiotic worked so we can put it off for awhile. Little things keep us going, but I have a real estate agent coming Friday to evaluate house for sale, hoping not to do that until March so youngest can finish her senior year @ CC for free.

Last of the Glass Fire evacuation orders cancelled, full containment achieved today, as predicted. Hurrah. Please send rain!!