The title is "Young Stalin" by Simon Sebag Montfiore. It is an extremely well-written and researched book. Hard to read because I know next to nothing about Russian history, so the people and events are hard to process. Stalin is actually Georgian and from what I can tell, the Georgian culture is extremely violent. So, between his horrible upbringing and where he was raised... what was interesting, too, is that he trained for the priesthood and was a poet. Each chapter begins with his poetry, which is quite lovely. Nothing extraordinary, but not what you would think from a psychopathic bloodthirsty tyrant. One of my theories of why we know so little about him is our Euro-centric history education. I know little of Russian history in general and what I have learned, is not really impressive.

🎼🎶Seventy-six trombones lead the big parade...🎶🎶🎺 Love that musical. It was superbly done.

Yesterday I finally finished reading the book on Stalin I've been trudging through. It was a tough read, but fascinating. The guy was every bit the monster that Hitler was, he thrived on violence and bloodshed, yet...somehow everyone knows more about Hitler than Stalin. I've been trying to figure out why. I'm starting to formulate some theories, though.

Thank you. Everyone here is in mourning. Except me and middle DD. I think we are both of the same emotional make up. I mean, I'm sad and everything, it's not easy, but.... I refuse to dwell and wallow.

I'm sorry Critter! Hope you can take it easy and get some good rest today.

I straddle. I'm a pleaser. I make mine like this ---Booya/h. In my attempts to please everyone I probably please no one.

We rarely get power outages anymore since they put all the power lines underground in the new neighborhoods. I think I'm slipping from peri- to full-blown. I haven't had AF since October. It's been nice.

Good Morning!! COFFEE!!☕ï¸â˜•ï¸â˜•ï¸â˜•ï¸â˜•ï¸

I'm back. Went to The Walmart, aka the AFSA. I've got bread in the works and it is such a sunny and beautiful day, I think I may spend a bit of time doing something outside.

The Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo has themed rooms and one of them is a cave room. The shower is actually a waterfall. Or so I understand. I've never actually been there. But I've driven by a lot.

Oh! Well, shows you how much I know. Can you just say you're going retro then?

Just own it, baby! Own it! Before you know it, everyone will be wearing unmatched socks and it will be a "Thing".

Renai got a booya/h! Renai got a booya/h!!

That does bite! I cannot believe they require so much of you! DH just got his jury summons. He never gets chosen because his bil is a prosecuting attorney. He just tells them that and gets dismissed

Happy Birthday, Mary!!🎂🎂🎂

Yay for DD. I have never seen JCSS. Or Joseph.... For some reason, the titles seem irreverent to me. I think I will take DS to see Music Man sometime this weekend. The Christian School that oldest DS will be attending in the fall has a superb musical theater department. When we were there last week for visitation they put on a teaser for Music Man and gave away free tickets. Youngest DS grabbed one and has been bugging me to go.

Good Morning! COFFEE!!!☕ï¸â˜•ï¸â˜•ï¸â˜•ï¸â˜•ï¸

I heartily agree. Lovely!

I am so pathetic. So, I'm trying to do this low-carb thing, but I keep messing up. And I was in the outside freezer and I see the rest of the homemade icecream pie in there, about a piece left in the pie pan. And I said to myself, "I really need to put that piece in a smaller container" so I bring it in and proceed to nibble half of it away, "so it fits in the smaller container".

Yeah, but those violinists looked like they were having a pretty good time!!!

I want strawberries! I had clam chowder. Went to a fun little sandwich shop with a friend who is in town. Hot pastrami and a cup of clam chowder (spicy, but delicious), perfect for a rainy day.

😎 uh huh! Oh yeah!

That song is awesome! I like the director. And the piccolo. I played piccolo in marching band in junior high. I loved it. It was like driving a sports car.

What she said!

This stuff has Valerian root and Passion flower and a few other things. No melatonin. It has helped me sleep better, I seem to be more relaxed, but the dreams are weird.