Yesterday was our Tuesday group. If I go to Mah Jongg at 1:00, I waste the whole morning until then. I had some coffee early and then ate lunch - some leftover lasagna - because if I skip lunch, I get too hungry by 3:30. I'd much rather play in the mornings, but afternoon is when the Y gives us a room, and we haven't get started playing in our homes - not sure we ever will since Tom and Jan don't even live here. It's so easy this way. They furnish a nice quiet BIG room, tables and chairs and the game, so all we need to do is bring ourselves and our card. I always forget to take pictures there. It's nothing special in terms of a room (it's an added-on prefab building where children have an after-school class) but it serves us fine. They even ordered some new card tables for us.
Yesterday, there were 5 people for another table. They play faster than we do and talk more than we do. It's ladies who have known each other and played together for many years, so they have a lot in common. Our table is quieter and more studious (nervous), and Tom doesn't put up with much chatty nonsense, so we're pretty focused!
Almost all of us had a mah-jongg during the afternoon. I think. I can't remember. Sharon tried the Halloween card, which is hard to focus on since we don't use it all the time. She was within a pair of reaching MJ. Then Jan had been blessed with 5 jokers and had a pretty hand of consecutive number lineup, all Bams. Next Tom laid his winning hand on the board, and it turned out that he had forgotten one simple rule about a concealed hand (you have to actually conceal it), so his was declared dead while the other 3 of us finished the game. I got close on that one, but it turned out to be a Wall game. Next game, I tried the same hand, and it worked out. There were only about 3 tiles left, and Sharon and I both claimed the tile when it was discarded, but I was ready for MJ, so I got it. We learn a lot and have some laughs. It's a good way to spend an afternoon. Sharon and I will play again Thursday with Elisette and either Gina or Adriana. We're all still in the learning phase, so it's low key and fun.
I worked on cleaning my sewing room out when I got home and not much else. After it got dark, Elise reminded me that I had forgotten to pick up or order cat litter, and I wasn't going out and risk hitting a pedestrian. Nights are for not driving for me. I was getting ready to make the laundry exchange for Emily, so I asked if they had some extra litter we could get to tide us over until the next day, and Ryan, who was going by the grocery store anyway, brought me a big box of it. It's nice to have family to get you out of trouble.
I finished my book, which I was proud of, since it was not that great. The Boyhood of Cain by Michael Amherst - recommended by some book club or something. I returned that one and had downloaded a few more from another book club's recommendations:
1. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I've read this and remember really loving it but have forgotten it. So I'm reading it again. I'll also see if she has any new books I haven't read. Eleanor is ''an eccentric and regimented loner whose life beautifully unfolds after a chance encounter with a stranger." The eccentric loner appeals to me. This is from the Reese Witherspoon Book Club.
2. Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy. Again, this book involves a chance encounter, but this time it's with a pet mouse that gives a woman the will to live. I have to admit it's not my unusual type of book, but I'll give it a try. I'm all for second chances, I guess.
3. The Wedding People by Alison Espach. Seems like I've tried to read this one, but we'll see. "A Today Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick, a Goodreads Choice Awards 2024 Winner, and long-listed in many Best of the Year 2024 picks." It certainly has good recommendations. Reading a review, it's once again a new beginning for someone named Phoebe. There seems to be a pattern evolving here.
4. The Storied Life of A. J. Filkry by Gabrielle Zevin. Another new beginning, it looks like, this time from a man, "owner of Island Books, the only bookstore on Alice Island, who has lost his wife." I think we see where this one is going. I must have found the new beginnings in old age section to pick my books. I'll get started on Eleanor this morning.
The only other things I have to do is make some cookies for the girls and check their salty snacks since they'll be coming over after school today. Graysen is loving not having to stay after school for cross-country and has nothing scheduled until soccer starts. There is a Halloween dance this weekend.
I might work on the sewing room some more. I do have a few little projects I want to finish. Actually, more than a few. I opened the trash can last night and just let go of some old stamps I had had around for more years than I want to think about. I never stamp anything, and it's extremely messy dealing with stamp pads. I'll organize the other projects and try to make myself accountable to finishing a few things. I found 6 partially finished quilts - or maybe more if I'm counting. I'm not sure I'll get back to those but might leave them for the girls to have to worry about. I'm more in the mood for small and quick things. I made some gray dishrags last week that turned out pretty with no effort, and we were really needing some.
Now for a cup of coffee. Elise called me from the grocery store Monday to ask which flavor of coffee I wanted since they had their new K-cups on sale. I am never able tell much difference between them, but I think she got some cinnamon and hazelnut flavor. She's a pushover for flavored coffee and tea. I enjoy the Holiday Blend at Christmastime every year, but it's not out yet, I guess.
Bowie can hardly wait for me to get up in the mornings, so he can have my spot for a little nap.
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