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Showing posts with label Wednesday Elf. Show all posts

Saturday, January 25, 2025

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

A while ago, I reviewed The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley. It is the story of a solitary green notebook that brings together six strangers and leads to unexpected friendship, and even love.

Clare Pooley, a British author, has a special knack of weaving together clearly flawed (as aren’t we all in one way or another), but lovable characters and allows them to prove how worthy they are. This was so true in The Authenticity Project, and is even more so in her latest novel ~ How to Age Disgracefully.

Cast of Characters

Lydia - who takes on the job of running the Senior Citizens’ Social Club now that her children are grown, expecting she will spend her time drinking tea and playing gentle games of cards.

Art - a failed actor who has somehow turned into a kleptomaniac, and his best friend, William.

Ruby - a banksy-style knitter who creates unusual public yarning projects.

Daphne - who just turned 70 and regrets the number of years she has hidden away from her rather checkered past. Hoping no one any longer pays attention to who she was, she now feels a need to find some friends and stop being so alone.

Ziggy - a teenage dad - and his adorable toddler daughter, Kylie.

And, last, but certainly not least as she eventually plays a large part in the story, is an orphaned geriatric dog named Margaret Thatcher (after the former British Prime Minister) who sometimes gets called simply ‘Margaret’ or “Maggie”, depending on which of the senior citizens you ask.

A Brief Synopsis of How To Age Disgracefully

How to Age Disgracefully: A Novel

When you find yourself approaching the later decades of life, you discover that age makes you invisible and secrets are easier to hide.

When this group of seniors come together at a senior citizens’ center that shares space with a daycare, hilarious results are in store.

When an accident involving a partial collapse of the buildings’ ceiling causes the local council to threaten to close the club, the members of the Social Club join together with their tiny daycare friends next door, along with Ziggy, his toddler daughter and the geriatric dog, to save the building.

Their unorthodox methods may actually work, as long as their pasts, and the police, don’t catch up with them first. They certainly do turn out to be a far cry from the genteel 'tea & card playing' group Lydia thought they would be!

Summary

How to Age Disgracefully is an absolutely delightful story with a charming group of characters. Clare Pooley has outdone herself with another ensemble comedy filled with characters who prove we are limitless at any age.

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Reviewing Two Similar Rummy-Style Card Games

Several years ago I learned a new card game called Three-Thirteen (3/13). It is played with a regular deck of cards. The rules are simple and the game is very enjoyable played with two or more players.

The other rummy type card game I just began playing is called Five Crowns.

Three-Thirteen Basic Rules

3s in each suit in a deck of playing cards

Image Source: Pixabay

As each round is played, each player tries to combine all the cards in their hand into one or more sets (as either 3 or more of a kind, or as a run, or a combination of both). When a player’s hand is complete, they lay down their hand and all other players get one more turn to try and improve their own hand to reduce their score.

Play begins with a three-card hand and the number of cards increases by one for each subsequent hand from 3 to 13 (kings). Designated wild cards can be used for any card when saving runs and sets. The wild cards change with each round with the jokers always being wild and each round having as its wild card the card that equals the number of cards dealt for that round (i.e., with 3 cards, 3s are wild, with 4 cards, 4s are wild, etc.)

At the end of the final round (Kings), the winner is the player with the fewest number of points. There are several variations of Three-Thirteen, as seen here in the Wikipedia article.

Since learning to play 3/13, I have taught it to everyone in my family. So anytime I get together with siblings, children, or grandchildren, this has been our card game of choice.

Recently, I joined a card group at my apartment complex. They get together once a month to play cards and then share a meal. My first time I planned to play whatever the group had decided on, but also hoped to eventually teach them my favorite card game ~ Three-Thirteen. When I arrived for my first visit to the group, I discovered their preferred game was Five Crowns. Turns out that the rules are basically the same as my beloved game of 3/13. What fun! I learned a new game with new friends and still get to play my favorite rummy card game!

Five Crowns Basic Rules

PlayMonster Five Crowns — The Game Isn't Over Until the Kings Go Wild! — 5 Suited Rummy-Style Card Game — For Ages 8+

Five Crowns differs from playing with simply a regular deck of cards (or two decks if you have more than 3 people) in that there are five suits (your regular hearts, spades, clubs & diamonds, plus a STAR suit.

The game consists of two 58-card decks (116 cards in all) containing the five suits, each consisting of eleven cards from the 3s to the kings. There are also six Jokers in this game, used as wild cards in each round.

As with the game of Three-Thirteen, Five Crowns is won by the person with the lowest score at the end of play.

Summary

Whether you play Three-Thirteen or Five Crowns, these rummy-style games are quick, easy and a great deal of fun to play. If you enjoy playing cards, you will find these two games extremely pleasurable.

Links to Related Reviews of Playing Card Games & Playing Card Holidays:

*A Review of Two Similar Rummy-Style Card Games was written by

~Wednesday Elf

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Saturday, January 11, 2025

Flashpoint - An FBI Thriller by Catherine Coulter

Agents Savich & Sherlock return in a new novel in Coulter’s bestselling FBI Thriller series.

Synopsis of Flashpoint

Flashpoint: An FBI Thriller (An FBI Thriller, 27)

A year ago, Elizabeth Palmer was almost killed, along with hundreds more, in what police thought was an attempted terrorist bombing of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Today, Elizabeth feels her life is finally getting back to normal. She’s optimistic and her painting is going well. Suddenly, her world changes in a flash with three new attempts on her life. Because of her connection to the terrorist attack, MI-5 gets involved to find out who is trying to kill her ~ and why.

Meanwhile.....

At the same time, back in the U.S., twelve-year-old Autumn takes on a summer job to watch over Tash Navarro, a shy, bullied little boy who is staying with his uncle while his father and stepmother go on a honeymoon in Europe.

While teaching Tash to hike, Autumn learns that Tash is psychically gifted just like her. They learn that Archer Navarro (Tash’s father) is suspected of embezzling from his own firm and he is being sought by both the FBI and Interpol. When Archer and his new wife disappear, Tash is scared and becomes convinced that his father needs help.

Autumn wants to help Tash, so she reaches out to the only person she knows who can help find them - Dillon Savich of the FBI, who also shares the psychic gift Autum and Tash have.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth, desperate for answers to who wants her dead, flies to D.C. to get help from Savich and Sherlock. Special Agent Rome Roxe is assigned to protect her in a race for survival from deadly assailants.

Summary

Flashpoint is an action-packed, nonstop thriller from Catherine Coulter. It is #27 of 27 in her FBI Thriller series starring Dillion Savich and his FBI partner and wife, Sherlock. More than one mystery needs to be solved before this story is done. Fast-paced and an enjoyable read.

*Review of the book “Flashpoint” by Catherine Coulter was written by Wednesday Elf

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Saturday, December 14, 2024

More Good Today Day - Holiday Review

Looking through a list of wacky, wild and funny holidays for December, I came across one for December 14th called "More Good Today Day". Reading that it is a gratitude/share kindness/caring kind of day, it seemed to fit in this mid-December counting the days until Christmas time. We are all feeling 'good' as we prepare to celebrate the holidays with family/friends and it seems appropriate that we take a bit of time on December 14th to share those good feelings.

Holidays That Celebrate Kindness, Generosity and Caring

Learning about the More Good Today Day holiday, I discovered that there are a number of holidays throughout the year which focus on the positive words and acts of kindness that belong under the umbrella of More Good Today! Check out the following dates that encourage us all to be more caring and extend acts of kindness that help make this old world of ours a better place to live.

Image: Pixabay

January 24th is known as National Compliment Day, a day to promote positivity by brightening someone’s day.
February 17 is National Random Acts of Kindness Day
June 1st is National Say Something Nice Day
June 7 - World Caring Day
October 5th is National Do Something Nice Day
On the 4th Saturday in October, we are encouraged to participate in Make a Difference Day – which is a “national day of doing good”.
November 13 is World Kindness Day
November 28 is GivingTuesday - A day of global generosity
December 1st is known as World Generosity Day

Summary

So, pick a day to be extra kind, or caring or generous and discover how giving out positive vibes also makes YOU feel GOOD. That would seem to be the positive message behind this More Good Today Day!

*More Kindness and Caring Reviews to Read and Embrace:

Embracing the True Spirit of Christmas Through Acts of Kindness by Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Embracing the New Year: A Journey of Kindness, Tolerance and Authenticity by Barbara Tremblay Cipak

*Holiday review of More Good Today Day written by Wednesday Elf

Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde (2014-12-23)

Share a Little Kindess: A Children's Book about Doing Good in the World

Feeling Grateful: How to Add More Goodness to Your Gladness

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Saturday, December 7, 2024

Christmas Novels Review

Holiday themes are always popular novel subjects, especially around Christmas Time. It is the perfect time of year for stories of love and romance, hope and happiness.

In addition to the classic reads, such as A Christmas Carol and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, many authors publish Christmas novels for your holiday reading enjoyment and for gift-giving.

Debbie Macomber and Christmas

Perhaps the most well known author to bring out new Christmas novels is Debbie Macomber. She has earned the title of “the official storyteller of Christmas” by virtue of her annual Christmas books. Six of these stories have been made into original Hallmark Channel movies.

A Christmas Duet Synopsis

Debbie Macomber’s 2024 Christmas novel, A Christmas Duet, is her latest story for this holiday season.

A Christmas Duet

Hailey Morgan is an assistant high school band teacher in Portland, Oregon. Hailey’s life has always revolved around music. She once hoped to make a living composing her own songs, but the reality of life changed that.

As holiday time draws near, Hailey dreads having to again spend Christmas with her meddling family. When her close friend offers a family cabin, empty this time of year, for a solo retreat, Hailey decides it is time to do something to make herself happy.

Hailey arrives at her friend's cabin in a small Washington town, expecting a peaceful getaway. However, her plans are initially disrupted when she discovers that the cabin is unexpectedly inhabited by several wild animals.

Lucky for Hailey, the local mayor’s son - Jay - is very willing to help make the cabin livable. Jay is charming and also happens to be a former musician.

Hot Chocolate and Christmas cookies at holiday time.

Image Source: Pixabay

It doesn’t take long before Hailey and Jay are inseparable, enjoying holiday traditions together. They chop down a tree and decorate it while sipping hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire. They also spend time playing music together and, with Jay’s encouragement, Hailey begins to believe she might yet succeed as a songwriter.

Hailey is truly enjoying her snow-dusted oasis at the cabin, but her family’s holiday drama interrupts her newfound peace. Also, Jay reveals some things that present complications of their own.

With challenges and complications interrupting her Christmas paradise, Hailey has to learn to stand up for herself and find a way to embrace the holiday spirit.

Summary

Debbie Macomber’s Christmas novel “A Christmas Duet” puts us in the festive spirit. The magic of Christmas becomes a part of the plot and captures the essence of the holiday season. A delightful holiday read.

Saturday, November 30, 2024

Damn Yankees Musical Comedy Movie Review

Anyone who knows anything about me knows I am a huge baseball fan, that of all baseball, but most especially the New York Yankees. What you may not know is that, as a teen in the 1950s, I was also a big Broadway musical fan. Living near the upstate New York city of Rochester, the excitement of New York City and Broadway shows was appealing to me. Not being able to go there myself, I followed every musical that opened on Broadway, buying the record album and learning all the words to all the songs.

Damn Yankees really appealed to me, from the perspective of both my interests, musicals and baseball. THe play opened on Broadway in 1955. I don’t really remember most of the original actors, except for Ray Walston and Gwen Verdon. And, of course, the music.

The following year, the traveling road show of Damn Yankees came to the Auditorium Theater, a Performing arts theater in Rochester, New York, and my uncle took me to see the play for my birthday. The memory remains a special one for me.

Damn Yankees was made into a movie in 1958, with Ray Walston and Gwen Verdon recreating their Broadway play characters for the movie. The movie also starred Tab Hunter as young Joe Hardy.

Movie Synopsis

Damn Yankees

Damn Yankees was a musical comedy based on the book “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant” (which adapts the Faust theme of a deal with the devil to the world of American baseball in the 1950s. This was a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball and the storyline centers on the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators baseball teams.

Joe Boyd is a middle-aged fan of the unsuccessful Washington Senators baseball team. When he sees his team lose once again, he declares he would sell his soul to the devil to see his team beat the Yankees. Of course, the devil appears, disguised as the suave conman, Applegate (Ray Walston). He promises Joe he can restore Joe’s youth and make him a ball player who can win the pennant for the Senators. Joe agrees, but insists on an escape clause - if he leaves the team the day before the last game of the season, he can return to who he was with his wife Meg, instead of having his soul belong to the devil.

Joe becomes young Joe Hardy (Tab Hunter), a talented ball player with tremendous home runs and game-saving catches. Joe leads the Senators on a long winning streak into contention for the pennant. But he misses Meg and keeps sneaking back home to get a glimpse of her.

Applegate gets worried that Joe could leave before the end of the season and ruin his plans, so he tries to entice him away from thoughts of Meg by bringing in his demonic right-hand girl, Lola (Gwen Verdon), a seductress. But Joe loves his wife and Lola fails.

Summary

By the end of the season, the Senators are on the verge of overtaking the Yankees when Applegate tries one more time to ruin everything. Check out the full write up of the plot of Damn Yankees here on Wikipedia.

I watched this movie on Friendly TV for free. You can also view it for free on Tubi, or buy the movie on Amazon Prime Video.

*Reviewer’s note: I had not heard the music to Damn Yankees in more years than I care to admit, yet I was delighted to discover that I still remembered all the words to songs such as Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets) and (You Gotta Have) Heart. A fun memory trip back in time.

*Damn Yankees Movie Review written by Wednesday Elf

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Saturday, November 16, 2024

Reviews of the First Three Books in the Sid Halley Series

Dick Francis was a well-known British steeple-chase jockey who, after retiring from one profession, became an internationally known author of horse-racing mysteries.

Dick Francis wrote more than 40 novels, which were mainly stand-alone stories with a single central character. The main characters in each book were not repeated in other books. There was one exception due to one character becoming so popular that Francis’ readers asked for more. Thus, the author began the Sid Halley series.

Character Sid Halley was a steeplechase jockey until an injury left him with a crippled hand. He subsequently became a one-handed private investigator after discovering he had a natural affinity for the work. His specialty, due to his considerable knowledge of the horse racing industry, becomes centered around crimes related to racing. Dick Francis featured him in three novels.

Review of the First Three Novels Featuring Sid Halley

Odds Against (1965)

Former jockey Sid Halley landed a position with a detective agency following a career-ending injury. While setting a trap to catch a penny-ante thug, Sid lets down his guard and ends up getting shot.

While recovering from his bullet wound at the home of his former father-in-law, Charles, he is intrigued to learn that some invited weekend guests are planning a takeover of a famous race course with the intent of selling the land for housing and making a bundle. Charles wants Sid to prevent this from happening, but these criminals are experts and have gotten away with similar situations in the past.

Halley goes up against them, and finds the odds are against him succeeding, or even surviving.

Whip Hand (1979)

Sid Halley, ex-jockey turned detective, returns in the second book in the Sid Halley series. Sid lost his left hand due to an earlier racing accident and subsequent beating by thugs. Now he is spending his time working as an investigator, specializing in racing crimes, helped by fellow detective Chico Barnes.

Sid & Chico suddenly find themselves in the middle of investigating three different horse racing problems at the same time.

First, a trainer’s wife wants them to look into problems in her husband’s racing stables involving horses whose 2-year-old form are failing as 3-year-olds.

Then, Charles, Sid’s ex-father-in-law, asks Sid to find a man who has conned Sid’s ex-wife Jenny and left her in police trouble over a fake charity.

Finally, Sid & Chico are approached by both a racehorse owner and Lucas Wainwright, head of the Jockey Club’s security service, to look into certain syndicates which should not have gotten through the checking process.

A fascinating Dick Francis thriller.

Come to Grief (1995)

Sid Halley returns in book #3 in the series.

Still continuing to work as a private investigator, Sid goes to help solve the problem of who could have maimed a pony belonging to a little girl suffering from leukemia. While investigating, Sid discovers that there have been several shocking violent acts against horses left unattended overnight in fields.

Sid eventually becomes convinced that the perpetrator is one of racing’s most beloved figures - and a personal close friend. The case thus becomes the most troubling of his career.

Summary

These first three books in the Sid Halley series set the stage for a continuation of the series by Dick Francis’ son Felix. The rest of the series will be found in another review coming soon.

Odds Against

Whip Hand

Come to Grief (Sid Halley series Book 3)

*The Sid Halley series of book reviews is written by Wednesday Elf

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Saturday, November 9, 2024

Holiday Themed Gifts for Newborn Babies

As the holidays approach, we may find a new name or two added to our shopping lists this year in the form of family/friends' newborn babies.

This gift guide may be helpful in deciding on the perfect gift for a new baby.

Genius Baby Toys The Original My Baby's First Thanksgiving Playset with Turkey, Teddy Bear, Pumpkin Pie, Native American Girl
First Thanksgiving Sensory Toy by Genius Baby

A cute developmental toy for the new baby to enjoy, My Baby's First Thanksgiving Playset comes with a Tom Turkey who has jingle sounds, a Pilgrim Teddy Bear who squeaks, and a crinkly Pumpkin Pie toy. The Native American Girl is also a rattle. These soft plush interactive toys fit inside a tote bag hand-embroidered with a turkey applique and the words “My 1st Thanksgiving”.

My First Thanksgiving Bib

inktastic My First Thanksgiving with Turkey and Leaves Baby Bib

What would be more appropriate for a newborn for this holiday mealtime than the gift of a darling baby bib with a sweet baby turkey and the words “My First Thanksgiving” printed on it. This soft cotton bib would make a really cute holiday baby gift.

First Christmas Tree Ornament

Since my daughter was born just one week before Christmas, I know what it’s like to have a newborn at holiday time.

Personalized Christmas Ornament for Baby's First Christmas

Baby's First Christmas Tree Ornament

A very appropriate newborn gift for an infant’s first Christmas would be a personalized ‘first’ ornament.

This one especially appeals to me with an image of a reindeer and a sleigh filled with a Christmas Tree, along with 1st and baby’s name and the year.

This ceramic ornament is lovingly handmade by the Etsy Store called NorthPoleGiftsUS.

First Christmas Outfit

Personalized Newborn Romper With Hat

Personalized baby romper outfit with hat

First Christmas Outfit

One of the cutest and most clever personalized baby outfits I’ve come across is this absolutely adorable “Sorry Santa, I drank the milk” newborn romper.

The sleeves have the fold over mitts and a fold over foot cuff for a footed romper option. The bottom snaps open to make easy access for the quick diaper changes.

The outfit comes with a knotted beanie hat that will be personalized with the baby's name in the same font and colors as the romper.

This outfit and a wide variety of other 1sts are available in the Etsy Shop called Qatasta.