Start Your Engines

Doesn't this first Monday in December - which also happens to be the Monday after a long and leisurely Thanksgiving weekend (here in the U.S., at least) AND "Cyber Monday" (my normally quiet email inbox is having a party with all the uninvited guests this morning) - just feel a lot more Monday . . . than even a regular Monday?

Time to . . . 

Here are a few things I stumbled across or thought about this weekend. . . 

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A Quote

"Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now."
   --- Alan Lakein

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A Word

Tom recently introduced me to another word that I'd never heard before.  It's another word that is (apparently) more common in science than in regular life . . . but is DEFINITELY one I want to incorporate into my everyday language. Because so much fun to say!

Am I right?  It just rolls off the tongue in such a pleasing way!  
(I'm going to use this word all winter long.)

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To Read

Do you borrow ebooks from your library?  Do you ever marvel at how the "hold" wait times can be so dang long?  (Like . . . nearly a year sometimes for new or popular titles?)  Well.  This recent article from the Washington Post breaks it down for us.  Fascinating!  

How about you?  Do you borrow ebooks from your library?  How are your wait times?

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To Make

So.  I have said . . .  I am not making any gifts this year.  
But.  
Well.  I caved.  I AM making a few quick gifts this year.  And part of that is because I discovered this pattern.  

I made the first (of 4) (let me clarify . . . I'm making 2 pairs) last night in the time it took Tom and I to watch The Irishman on Netflix.  (Granted . . . that is a long slog of a movie, clocking in at just over 3.5 hours.)  The design is clever - and kind of magical the way it comes together (there is no seaming).  A tiny bit futzy, but not TOO futzy.  If you're looking for a quick gift, check it out!

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And.  That's it for this Monday!

If you haven't yet, please take a few minutes to complete our Read With Us survey.  This is the last day for the survey -- and we'd love to hear from you, whether you read Just Mercy with us or not.  (And if your have already completed it, thanks so much!  Your responses are very helpful to us.)

And . . . be sure to join us tomorrow when we announce our next Read With us selection!

 

Comments

[Bonny]

Library wait times have really increased for me lately. Because of their embargo, both of my libraries are no longer even purchasing books from Macmillan for the first 60 days after publication. I just can't think of libraries as "cannibalizing sales", but publishers have to do what they have to do. I've started filtering Overdrive by looking for "available now" books and am finding plenty of books worth reading!

[Kat]

I have noticed an uptick in wait times at the library - which I hope does not continue in these frigorific months! (Ha! That is an awesome word!!)

AND!! That pattern! Sigh - you just increased my Christmas Knits! (by 2 pair!!) LOL XO

[Sarah]

I regularly borrow ebooks (and audiobooks) from the library and have always puzzled over the wait times. Often they end up being shorter than I expect in the long run, but I've learned to expect them for popular books and find something else to read in the interim.

I love frigorific -- it sounds like a made-up word, and my browser seems to agree because it's telling me it's spelled wrong!

[Vera]

FABULOUS word! Definitely will be adding this one to my list of favorites (thanks Tom!). I do borrow e-books and wonder about the wait time...and then they appear as available much faster than I expected (like how can I be number 68 and have it appear in under 3 weeks??). Love those woodland loafers - they are great. What colors are you knitting?

[Carole]

Oh, I could go on AND on about e-books and publishers and I could explain why those wait times are sometimes shorter, too. That's a good article and it covers the gist of the situation. Damn but those loafers are cute. I sort of wish I hadn't followed the link!

[Margene]

Sometimes I am able to get a book before it becomes popular (reading lots of reviews helps) but if the wait is long and I think it will be a great book, I'll buy it (usually the audio). The whole thing with publishers and libraries aggravates me. Greedy publishers aggravate me. I would like to hear Carole explain the all of it.

[Patty]

Frigorific! Such a good word! I spied those slippers over the weekend but moved along...can't look back, can't look back. :-)

[Carolyn S Thomas]

Adorable loafers! And frigorific? How is that NOT common parlance?! What a wonderful word!!! A fun way to start the week---thank you!

[Mary]

ooohhh frigorific is going to be my new-favorite and for sure much-used word this winter. thank you Kym and Tom!!

[Vicki]

Ooooh, those slippers! And that WORD!!!