BUSTLE and VIM

Kate Racculia.  Like, a raccoon.  Named Julia.  I wonder if Ms. Racculia says something like this every time she's asked to repeat or spell her last name.  Does she ever sigh and murmur, "Just read my books"?

Years ago I read her second novel, The Bellweather Rhapsody, and I loved it.  Imagine hundreds of band, orchestra and choir students all converging onto one hotel for an annual high school musical extravagan...

Merry Christmas, dear readers!  I hope you all get some quiet time this season to rest, reflect and enjoy.  For me, that rest and reflection time begins when school ends.  Santa Claus came to my preschool first thing in the morning this year.  And so did all the mommies.  And when they left 45 minutes later, and my wee preschoolers realized that they still had a whole day at school and were not leaving with said mommies, it wa...

 It has been a good month for reading, so let's get started!

To me, nothing says summer like a Mary Kay Andrews book.  And since it will feel like summer for another two months, you are not late AT ALL if you decide to read one of her books right now!   Mary Kay's books always take place in the South, maybe on an island off the coast of Georgia, or in Atlanta.  There is always a struggle facing our Southern heroine, but she has...

So, I thought I would once again do a Shopping-Fast for the month of January.  I did NOT, however,  give up desserts this time because I saw no reason to be completely uncivilized.

What to do when one is not spending money?  Visit the library!

Oh!  See that silver travel mug?  I got it at Starbucks (in December!!!) so that I could get FREE hot tea lattes for the entire month of January!  I'm pretty sure my neighborhood...

Hello, Dear Readers!  Vim here.  As you all know, Bustle and I love to read, and to share our recommendations with YOU.  And as is so often the case with us, we are very different in some ways, and remarkably of the same mind in others.  For instance, I tend to read a lot of fantasy and science fiction.  Bustle reads a lot of spirituality and self-help.  But the Venn diagram of where we meet is clear: Victorian Lady Detectives...

I have exactly 48 hours till my work resumes.  48 hours of summer vacation left.  And what am I going to do today?  That's right.  You guessed it, Gentle Readers, because you know me so well.  HEB and Costco!  Because, why shop at one grocery store when you can go to two?

The thing is, I can't remember all that I have to buy at the Costco.  Which is a real shame because my husband even made up a little...

Summer, glorious Summer, it's like you've just arrived, and you're practically over already.  

In late May, the three months of summer stretch out before me like a shimmering I-10, just going and going, with promises of Buck-ees.  I'll see all my friends, clean out my closet, start that knitted blanket I promised Younger.  And now it's July.  I've seen a couple of pals, my closet looks exactly the same, and it's way too ho...

My new manicure has been compromised.

My fingertips are burned and sore.

And I'm tired.

What have I been doing?  I'll give you three guesses.  Have I been...

a) teaching my preschoolers Fun With Bonfires and then rescuing the tiny tots from fiery skirmishes?

b) polishing my silver tea set for Meghan and Harry's wedding with an essential oil that the hippie mama from Arkansas assured me was all natural, but turned out to be qui...

Naomi Alderman's The Power has been sitting on my bookshelf since Christmas.  My husband bought it for me.  It was bundled with Jesmyn Ward's Sing Unburied Sing; I think I reviewed this book in an  earlier post as "excellent" and "horrifying."  Which probably discounts me from ever getting to write a blurb on someone's book jacket.

Anyway, I started reading The Power this week.  I'm not finished, but I was hooked...

Yes, it's a little late.  What do you think of Valentine's Day?  Did you pay homage to Saint Valentine, a 3rd century priest who was martyred for marrying Christian couples and other helpfulness during the reign of Claudius?  Naturally; what else does one do while sipping champagne and nibbling strawberries?

I work in a preschool, so Valentine's Day is a big deal - exchanging cards, the party, singing the Skinama...