Intro:

First off, there was a glitch in last week’s posting. I don’t know what caused it, or how to fix it, or even it it showed up to anyone but me; however, I’m working on it. I write the blog in Word, then copy and paste to Word Press. I had a couple of links in the blog and when they went to WP, they opened, which was fine, except the second one covered a whole paragraph. That was not fine. I’m repeating the paragraph here, and adding some more.

Books: Read. To Cipher and to Sing —by Ian Lahey. Boy Howdy! Could I relate to some of this book. The tag line on Amazon is, “The one thing which is worse than watching androids take over your job is having to teach them your job yourself.” Professor Gordon Fairlight is a book nerd, a teaching nerd, and doesn’t have a techie gene in his body. He’s not fond of androids, either. His wife, on the other hand… Lahey writes with, as he says, accidental humor and believability, and this book is great fun. I truly enjoyed it. Available electronically from Amazon. For whatever reason, the Amazon gods have decreed I can’t post a review of his book from my account, so here is the review I tried to post. 

The Girl Who Lived in a Shoe and other Torn-Up Tales—Compiled by Bernice Seward. A young friend of mine (almost all my friends are, by definition, young, especially when compared to me!) asked if I’d read a story she was working on and comment. I did. I loved it. The other day she told me the book in which it appears is now published, and a couple nights ago she dropped a copy off for me. I took the book to bed and laughed all the way through it. Well, chuckled, maybe. When I wasn’t outright laughing.

The next morning, as I was reading the reviews, I realized it’s a child’s book of retold and considerably more relevant, fairytales. No, the large print and delightful illustrations didn’t trip that switch when I read it. Sigh.

Five women have re-told five of our more famous fairytales and made them much more relevant to today’s children. The book is written for 2d-3d grade level readers (that didn’t trip the switch, either.  Double sigh.) I have a small collection of kiddie books I haul out and read every so often. Life was so much simpler then, and for a while, I can once again enter into that simpler, happier, world.

If you have short people on your list, this is a great book for them. Get a copy for you, too. You can read it and keep it for when short people come to visit. I dare say, it’s also one you can read out loud several times and not tear your hair out while doing it 😉

Of course, Auntie Lenora believes you can never have, or give, too many books. In fact, she has a couple of her own that you might like to buy… read… gift… (See My Books, above). If you order from her, she will sign and ship them per your directions. (Price of shipping varies depending on how you want it shipped.) 

Entertainment:

Peacock: I’m still working my way through Columbo. Season 6, episode 1 was the first one I came to I don’t remember seeing before. I’m in season 8 now. Ian Lahey (To Cipher and to Sing) calls them, “howcatchem” stories. Always a treat to discover the how.

Solstice &c: Today is our Winter Solstice. Shortest day of our year, longest night. IF you are fortunate enough to live under a cloudless sky, you may get to see the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in the night sky.

Then there are whatever days you exchange gifts, if you do. Now THAT can be entertaining, especially if you have short people who love to play with the wrapping more than the gift. We in my family are celebrating our gift giving day in July! Please feel free to join us on your own schedule. 😉

Outro: 

Wahoo!!!! We have two vaccines in the pipeline. Now if they’ll just get from the pipeline to the States, and then into the arms of the people. Come next summer, we may see ourselves no longer wearing, or being asked to wear, a mask. Social distancing may become a thing of the past, too. I wonder how long it will take us to be comfortable being close to strangers and now-and-then acquaintances again? Please, don’t let your guard down until we get the “all clear” from Dr. Fauci. Wear your mask, remain socially distant, celebrate the Holidays in June or July!!! Plan that wedding in the park on 4 July, and really celebrate with all those fireworks!! 

In the meantime, Stay Safe, Stay Healthy. You are important to Auntie Lenora, not to mention your immediate friends and family!

Whatever Winter Holiday you celebrate, have a happy one, and learn to Zoom 😉

Auntie Lenora