Double K Thanksgiving Time!

Brilliant James Baldwin

Sticking with Kay

Today I got to hang out with one of my most favourite people ever to exist on the face of the earth, Kayla. I've been stressed to capacity the past few days and feel too depressed to even cry it out. Kay had off so I went to Philly and we drove into Center City to the last Goldie Falafel, the one on Sansom. We looked at it as our last time there, since who knows how long they will remain open. Then we drove back and chowed down at her and Kenny's house. I told her what was bringing me down and, like she always does, she just listened and agreed that adulting is so not fun. Being with Kay is easy and she is consistently there to be understanding and comforting. How did I get so lucky to be born into this world at the same time as her and also to have her for one of my absolute dearest friends and confidantes? 

September 2026 Books

♥ The Winners by Dominick Dunne - I saved Dominick's first book for last and I wish I hadn't. I figured since it was based on a book written by someone else that it would be lacking the flare and depth of Dunne's later works. Wrong! It was chock full of characters from so many of his other novels and their lives in the highs of high society. Also, I started off liking Mona Berg, the chunky outcast who strives to climb the ladder of success. By the end of the novel I despised her. Dominick Dunne has the ability to write such rich characters; some are real and flawed, but instantly likable, such as Frankie Bassett, where other ones are utterly deplorable, like Mona. I'm so sad that there are no more new Dunne novels for me to read and discover and adore. But then I remember that my memory is utter crap these days and I can re-read his catalogue all over again, knowing that I've forgotten nearly the whole story of each book.

♥ Mandy by Julie Edwards - I very nearly gave this book away without reading it. Sometimes when I'm going through my books I can be ruthless. "I've had this twelve years and haven't read it - it's going!" Something in me stopped myself and said to keep it, read it next, and if after chapter one it hasn't hooked me, drop it off in a Little Free Library and move on. I went out for a late night smoke break one September and decided to start Mandy. I decided that by the time the cigarette was down to the filter, I would know whether to keep it or give away. I was instantly drawn in. It felt like when I read A Secret Garden or Anne of Green Gables. A sad and lonely orphan girl who finds beauty and solace in nature. It was beautifully written and was one of those stories where as soon as I started reading it, the world Mandy lived in opened in my mind's eye. Her bedroom in the orphanage, the trees and meadows and the stone wall, and of course, her beloved cottage. I saw it all before me and hated to put the book down and return to reality.

¹ - audiobook
² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

Embrace the Whimsy

BuzzFeed article link here.

Lucy in Disney

I told Lucy that a "gift" she could get me would be to take a photo and then text it to me with a little message, as if it's a digital postcard. She followed through!

Chester County

Last week I took a bunch of photos out the window as Finn and I drove through the back roads of Chester County on the way to meet Isabella in Phoenixville. I really love my CampSnap camera and think these pix turned out really well.