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.

I dunno how I would feel about receiving a taxidermied mouse.

Rosie's insight on this issue is very wise, I think.

When I was little, my folks would just walk out into the part of the back yard that was all over grown and cut down some random tree. Sometimes if it was too tall, they would cut the top half off. And then, because apparently tree stands didn't work or something, they would have a wire attached to to two points on the wall on either side of the tree and looped around it so it wouldn't fall over. Needless to say, the trees were not perfectly shaped.

Yesterday, I took a 25 minute walk, followed by pattern practice and stretching. Today, I lifted some weights, with dh on hand to make sure my form is ok. We have a very busy weekend, with several extra activities for children, so that is all that is going to happen over the next two days.

Last night, I spent almost 40 minutes working on my pattern, lifting some weights, and stretching. I think maybe today, I will either walk for a bit, if it is still nice outside, or do some indoor cycling.

On Tuesday, I spent 30 minutes on my pattern, weights and stretching. I missed the group belt testing last week, so I was the only student who tested last night, and the whole dojo was watching me. This week also happens to be the last week a fourth degree black belt is here before he moves away. He has been with this dojo for decades. So he was in charge of my testing, and said I did my pattern very well. I'm sad he is going away because he's an excellent teacher. He also taught the class last night - he usually just observes from the back. So, my sore legs today are like his going away present. 😆 Dh asked me how I felt after testing, and I said I was more impressed with myself than I thought I would be. Today, my plan is to practice my pattern, lift some weights, and stretch.

I hope the little one recovers quickly!

TKD class last night. Maybe some weights today. Definitely need to practice pattern and hopefully some self-defense moves with dh, since I will be belt testing on Wednesday.