What Mare Read in 2025

This year I read 79 books/novella’s, down quite a bit from last year. I spent a lot of time during the late summer and fall editing the book I’m writing, so that obliterated a chunk of my reading time… When I decided to do another revision on the book, all those hours spent on editing seemed like a waste, but I learned a lot about my own writing foibles, so not a total squandering of my time. The revising continues…

I keep lists of books I want to read everywhere ~ one on my phone Reminders list, one on the phone Notes, plus an Excel spreadsheet ~ LOL! The Reminders list is titled B&N and comes in handy when Barnes & Noble runs their 25% off pre-order sales, which are almost as exciting to me as the Scholastic book sales at school many moons ago. I love the anticipation of getting a new book in the mail weeks or months later ~ it’s always good to have something to look forward to! 😊 The 25% preorder sale is on now until 1/1/26, for B&N Rewards members.

I ran through the two Barnes & Noble book journals (See the 2024 post) I used to record and review the books I read, so I bought a pretty notebook (below, right). The journal only allowed one page per book, with specific information to fill out and a star rating system ~ not much room to write my thoughts. Since the notebook I’m using now is just simple, lined pages, I can write as much as I want about each book without squishing my writing and sometimes adding sticky notes. Loving the freedom! YAY!

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Thursday Thoughts ~ August 7, 2025

Happy Sugar Diamonte’s Birthday Eve!

Sugar Diamonte is the main character in my cozy mystery series. Her birth date is 8/8/88, the same day I started the best job I ever had, at The Pennysaver, a weekly print advertising mailer in Southern California. I worked there for 27 years with the finest group of accounting folks that became family, many of them employed there as long or longer than me. It’s my little homage to them and our time together, giving Sugar a birth date so close to my heart.

Sugar looks like Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping and a pivotal scene in the book unfolds at a movie theatre after she and her neighbor, Maybelle, see The Lost City.

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Thursday Thoughts ~ July 3, 2025

Happy Second Half of 2025! Can you believe it’s already July!!??

My doctor had been threatening to put me on a statin for my bad cholesterol. She gave me a few months to bring it down and it did come down a little, but in the greater scheme of things, it’s still high. So, now I’m on a statin, like all those people you see on the Old Folks TV ads… When she first mentioned statins, I balked. Usually, I’m happy that I live in an age where there are so many little medical miracles helping us to age well. The Husband has been on one for years. I guess I was so impressed with myself only being on one prescription medication at this age (thyroid issues ~ 30 years), that I was a little disappointed to break my record. My BFF pointed out that it’s really no big deal and I believe her. Thanks, Zan!! I haven’t had any side effects, so that’s good. Retest in two months to see how it’s working. Fingers crossed!

During errands yesterday, we happened on a little car show in Placentia.

You may not be able to see the grill on this car well, but The Husband is pointing to a cartoon of the character Rat Fink, which was created at Knott’s Berry Farm as sort of a sarcastic version of The Mouse, down the street at Disneyland. LOL!

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