I hiked 23 trails in 2023. I’ll shoot for 24 next year. I planned to read 23 books. I’m at 21 now. Not sure I’ll make that one but I’ll aim for 24 next year regardless. I like the idea of 24 unrelated activities. I’ll be following this thread for inspiration!

It’s disgusting. We’ve been hearing for years from college campuses how “words are violence.” But when groups of students call for the most violent of actions—literal genocide—against Jews? Ivy League university presidents can’t see their way clear to saying that’s wrong?

Yes! I often think about how so much of household management can be done via websites and apps, which can be convenient of course, but kids can miss out on learning these life skills by not seeing or hearing their parents ask questions about an insurance policy, ask a contractor for an estimate, make a doctor appointment, resolve a banking issue, cancel a subscription, etc.

Yes! We set up a password book for my mom and last time I was there I saw she had all these 5- and 6-digit numbers scribbled all over one of the pages because “they keep changing my code.” To try and explain to her how and why multi-factor authentication works is beyond me.

My poor mother is 83 and businesses are completely overlooking people like her. She had a simple phone for a while that had calling capabilities only. No texting, no internet, no camera. Try to multi factor authenticate with that! And companies have all these “scan this QR code” and “chat with this bot” options for so-called support, but where’s the “call this phone number and talk to an actual person?” I guess they think enough people adapt easily enough to newer technologies and they can afford to lose the ones who don’t.

Does he WANT to participate in spirit week?

A subscription to AllTrails! https://www.alltrails.com/

Parents need to take into consideration all the things others have mentioned (fussiness, travel expenses, etc.) but my general take is that children of all ages should experience funerals. (And weddings, but that’s another topic.)

Yes, I have a brain notebook or two as well. I don’t know how people function without lists!

My husband gave me a beautiful bound notebook several years ago: Heavy pages, college ruled lines, a really pretty floral cover, and one of those leather ties that says this is a special journal. So of course I put it on a shelf so as not to desecrate it with my scribbles. 🙄😁 In the spirit of “use the good china and burn the pretty candles” I’d like to use the beautiful journal and I love the idea of a commonplace book. I’m thinking it would primarily be quotes. Beautifully constructed sentences from fiction, thought-provoking lines from non-fiction, song lyrics, nuggets of wisdom, etc. Words that I find meaningful for one reason or another. I have several notebooks for daily/weekly to-do lists, TBR lists, random brain dumps. I’m thinking the commonplace book would be more….intentional. Should I section out the pages? Song lyrics on these pages, quotes from favorite authors on these pages, etc. I like the idea of some kind of organization. On the other hand, there is something to be said for just copying whatever strikes me whenever it strikes me on the next blank line. I think I just talked myself into the latter so as to quit overthinking this, but I'd still still like to hear about your practices.

If so, would you please tell me about it? Do you organize it somehow? Do you have a routine/practice for writing in it or do you just always have it handy and jot in it when something strikes you as worthy of noting? Anything else you care to share? Thank you!

Started The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion last night. I’ve never read anything by her and, so far, I’m liking her style (though the subject is sad).

I have been toying with the idea of swing dance lessons. Just for fun. Dh has no interest (and, frankly, no rhythm so…). Has anyone taken this kind of dance class without a partner? Do you just stand around with the other unpartnered people and wait for the instructor to be your partner? I’ll probably talk myself out of it before the day is through, but I’d love to hear your experience if you have one to share.

Hiking poles

Not only did I have fashion plates, I imagined the creations came to life and I named them all. There was a Cheryl and a Sharon. The one with the long hair reminded me of Blair on Facts of Life but I named her Jill. I was a weird, lonely kid. 🙃😁

Earlier this week I asked about my husband’s severe joint pain. One dose of Prednisone knocked the symptoms overnight and the blood test came back negative for whatever would’ve triggered a referral to the rheumatologist. Yay! But while I was waiting for those results, I did some googling 🤪. And now I’m wondering about the Hive’s opinion on gluten. Bad for everyone (even if some don’t recognize symptoms of auto immune disease)? Should be limited? Not a concern? Somewhere in between these options?

Ugh! I’m sorry! Why do they call it a working interview?? That’s shadowing or observing or, in your case today, time wasting.

The airline may not even book a ticket for a 30-minute layover. They start boarding 30 minutes before takeoff. 2.5 hours is perfect for a first-timer.

This. Paid staff and fellow passengers will help.

I think it depends on how much time she has in the airport. As a first-timer, I’d rather have 90 minutes in Atlanta (even though it’s crazy busy) than 45 minutes in Charlotte. This way she can take her time to read the signs, get to the tram/bus/terminal, find someone to ask for help if needed, hit the restroom, etc. ETA: Flying is a big pain in so many ways, but all the flight attendants I’ve encountered are super helpful. She can ask the flight attendant before the plane lands which way she needs to go, how far is the terminal for her connecting flight, can she walk or do they recommend the bus/tram, etc.

Doc didn’t think Lyme was likely given it’s not prevalent here and he has no rash. Dh had blood drawn. If certain numbers are high, he’ll be referred to a rheumatologist. Meanwhile, he prescribed a 7-day dose of prednisone for symptoms. We’ll see. Thanks for the early morning help, Hive!

That’s his current guess. We hike a lot. I’ve heard Lyme can be hard to diagnose and hard to treat.

Interesting! Maybe it’s simply a case of novice interviewers. Please keep us posted!

Oooh! Good question! He could earlier in the week. I didn’t ask this morning when he was up. You’re thinking meningitis?

Dh has had severe joint pain upon waking for a week or two. It diminishes somewhat as the day goes on but then comes back the next morning. The pain is mostly in his hands, neck, and shoulders. He can barely move without wincing. He chalked it up to arthritis due to aging even though he’s never had any signs of arthritis before and it came on suddenly. Today he got up at 4:00 with the severe joint pain and now a fever. So I’m thinking viral arthritis. He took ibuprofen, went back to bed, and asked me to call the doctor when the office opens. In the 30 years I’ve known this man, he has called in sick to work only once and he has NEVER said he needs a doctor. I know nobody here can diagnose him, and Dr. Google in the wee morning hours is rarely a good idea…but I have 3-4 hours before the doctor’s office opens and I’d appreciate any input. Any other signs/symptoms I should be looking for? No rash that I can see. No trouble breathing. There is a weird new spot on his chest. Looks like a bruise/blister? Any thoughts on what kind of virus could be causing this?