Practiced my pattern and lifted some weights after dinner. Almost didn't do it, but dh and dd took care of doing dishes so I could get some kind of exercise in, since it didn't happen this afternoon.

Made it to TKD class this evening. I am feeling so much better than I did last week!

Oh, what about the Giver series by Lois Lowry?

I was just coming back with dd's additional recommendation of Earthsea.

Dd14 (also a voracious reader) suggests Eragon, though she says someone gets tortured in the third book. She also says the Endling by Katherine Applegate.

I imagine any gift for the big sister would be cool. I cooked a meal for a mom in our church and gave the big sister, 5yo at the time, some crayons and a coloring book, which seemed to be appreciated. Wrapping it would probably make it even cooler for her.

So, not much exercise going on here. I was recovering from my cold, when on Monday, the dr. told me she needed my blood work for her appointment the next day. So, that ruled out any form of exercise that afternoon, and I still didn't feel quite up to TKD. Tuesday, I had a new infusion treatment that knocked me out for a few days, and then Thanksgiving. Yesterday, we went to an afternoon performance of the Nutcracker, which was fun, but I am still not totally recovered. Fortunately, I was told I could hold off on the chemo pills for a few days, so that's always nice. Today, I made myself go for a 20 minute walk to start things up again after almost 2 weeks off.

Obviously, the phrase has been around awhile, and has morphed into something a step or two away from its original meaning. It is interesting how English words can change meanings so quickly.

My initial experience with the phrase goes to blues music, as in Muddy Waters, "I got my mojo workin' but it don't work on you." Also Jim Morrison with the anagram of his own name "Mr. Mojo risin'" in the Doors' song LA Woman, which I always thought had sexual overtones to it.

I usually cut it in half and roast it, but scoop out the innards when it's done. I never heard of eating the skin before.

I saw that our library system has both of those. They look good, and I'm sure will be devoured by both kids.

It's a good lesson for me, because the Burgess book really did not resonate with me. I just handed it to ds, and asked him to read the first few chapters, and he just took off with it. My goal at the outset of this year was to get him to read something other than graphic novels on a regular basis. His first assigned book was "The Capture" I think, from the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. He loved it. And then somehow, he got into the Hardy boys, and read one a day for awhile, completing the first 22 books in the series. He still of course, reads graphic novels, but he reads a lot of other stuff now as well. With ds, I can already say this homeschool year is a success. And because his younger sister lives a life of FOMO, she has started reading more novels, as well, though not as much as her brother.

Just stopping in to report that ds thoroughly enjoyed the Burgess Book of Birds.

I actually started feeling better yesterday afternoon. I still have a cold, mind you, but the experience is much more normal. I think the chemo pills have weakened my system. Today I went for a 20-minute walk. ETA: I had an MRI early this morning, and got a call from the doctor telling me everything looked great!

There's one in a small cemetery around here that says, "He done what he could."

Nothing this week. I've got a cold (tested negative for covid) and it is just knocking me out. I was in bed all afternoon yesterday with a stuffy nose and headache and melted my brain with youtube videos. Today does not really look any better, though I will make an effort to be upright more frequently, as my lower back has complained about laying about in bed so long. Does sitting up count as exercise? 😄

I once took a summer class, and at the last class, the professor had a pizza party. One pizza had anchovies on it. She said she always did that, and there were never any anchovy leftovers. I thought it was surprisingly good, but know I'd never be able to convince my family to try it. So yes, but only once.

Nothing yesterday, because yet another meeting. Today, I reviewed my old pattern, and starting working on learning the new one, with dd8 to help me.

I didn't start hanging out on the chat board until last year when I started going through chemo treatments. Since then, I've read just about everything you've shared, and have prayed for you and your family. People often say, "It is what is is." I don't like that phrase. I much prefer, "Well, this is what's happening now," because there is some agency to it, and lets you take the next needed step. You always seem to be taking the next needed step, which to me says you have a great deal of fortitude and that you are strong. Continuing to pray for you all.

Thank you for posting the Hipster Nativity. It was a good laugh to start the day. The solar panels on the stable - priceless! 🤣

My mom used the standard recipe from the paid BH&G, using extra sharp cheddar and a tablespoon of Nance's mustard.

I will post a photo of mine and the story that goes with it the first week of December. Thanks for starting this thread!

I exercised most days last week, though I didn't post here. This week is an anomaly in that there has been some meeting or other for me to go to nearly every day. So no exercise Monday or Tuesday. I went to my first Intermediate TKD class this evening. I have to order some sparring gear. My favorite part of TKD are the patterns. Not really looking forward to sparring, but it's supposed to be no contact, so it should be ok.

We do Christmas pajamas, about every other year. I buy them large and the kids can wear them two years, because it's kind of expensive for a family of six. If it's not a buying year, everyone just wears the PJ's from the year before. We wear our Christmas jammies throughout the year, so they get good use.

This community is compassionate, but sometimes compassion means being able to let go and allow things pass away. I think this is one of those times, and as a community, we should just let this thread die in peace.