When I was teaching I hated Monday…as did every teacher in my district. We were required to stay at school for meetings until…I think…5 o’clock. It wasn’t outrageous but resentment ran deep among teachers who volunteerily stayed late or worked through lunch or came in early any way…so Monday was a come home grumpy day…a toast for dinner day…an exhausting day! But now that I am not teaching…Monday is a happy day! An early workout, a Mexican Taco Bowl for lunch…dinner is Ina Garten’s Meatloaf…already made and in the refrigerator…ready for the oven. Den is making his special smashed potatoes! Oh my…I do love Monday…plus tonight is American Idol! Are you watching? I love it!
Today was also Bullet Journal Day! One thing I learned? It’s hard to prep a journal with a lively Tonk who is interested in everything! My Roxie Blue!
Books! Books! Books!
I finished these over the weekend…both were really awesome. This one was from the library…I forgot how much I love this series!
This one…I tried not to read it but I couldn’t help myself…I don’t think it’s coming out until June so I will save the review…but it’s about a family and what adultery does to a marriage and a family. And…it was really yummy!
Now I am reading and totally loving this one…it has one of my fave characters…the creepy dysfunctional serial killer…yikes!
I am also reading this…it’s a fantasy involving muses, flickering people and a battle…it’s fascinating but I read it in spurts!
Still reading this…a fantasy involving a dragon, a dragon lord, Shakespeare, Tolkien, Jane Austen and many more authors…it’s good but I am also reading it in short bursts…I should not have started two really good fantasies at the same time…my bad! I really want to finish my two fantasies this week! I think I will!
New and delicious books that I do not have…yet! However…scratch the Emily Giffin book…that just appeared in my email from Random House and Ballantine through NetGalley! Yahoo!
Some new and delicious books that I do have…
Date With Malice came in SNAIL MAIL from one of my fave publishers…St. Martin’s Press. Between You And Me and Family Trust are from my much loved Edelweiss…and all of my other ebooks are from the lovely publishers and NetGalley!
In case you are wondering? I went out to dinner on Saturday night! We went rather early…6 ish but it was so crowded…I forgot it was St. Patrick’s Day! But my hair looked ok for short spiky weirdly curly hair…and we had fun!
Have a great Monday!
Patty
Books, Thoughts and Adventures 
I’m so glad you ended up going out to dinner!! I’ll bet it was crazy with St. Patrick’s Day, but that probably added to the atmosphere and excitement. Your books all look good. Hadn’t heard about The Ever After yet, it looks interesting. Hope to read Anna Quindlen’s new novel soon, too. Happy Monday, Patty!
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Thank you so much! Yes…there was a table near us filled with ladies having a great time but it was so much fun going out and feeling normal that I hardly heard them! I hear great things about Anna Quindlen’s new book…I am looking forward to it!
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It’s overcast and cool here today so that meatloaf sounds divine. Most of your new books look great. I saw most because you know I don’t play well with fantasy. I am soooo glad you went out to dinner!!!!
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I know…you and Laurel Rain are not fantasy readers…I loved going out! The evening was perfect! I think I just needed that one little step!
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Ooh, those martinis look so good!
So does that meat loaf, and then I started thinking back to the last time I made meat loaf…so many years ago! I’ve had it occasionally at Marie Callender’s, but not lately.
The Ever After looks very good…and I loved Alternate Side. I recently downloaded Raspberry Danish Murder.
Enjoy the books, going out, and your spiky curly hair!
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Why…thank you! Sometimes you can buy a premade meatloaf at Whole Foods…ready to bake…I don’t know why but meatloaf makes the house smell meaty and amazing!
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Oh Susan Wiggs has a new book out! That will be going on my want to read list. Awesome that you had such a great week of reading. I so identify with you over Mondays when teaching, the kids were always not with it on a Monday after the weekend. We didn’t always have our meeting on a Monday but one day in the week would drag through to 5 pm if not two!!
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Monday…back to school…with twitchy sleepy kids…was never fun! Yes…it’s the latest Susan Wiggs book!
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Yeah! I am so glad you went to dinner Saturday night and had a fancy drink. Awesome! It’s so much fun to go out to dinner. 😉
I will be watching Idol later- it is one of my guilty pleasures (have watched it since season 2). I only wish I was having meatloaf for dinner. Yum. One of my favorite meals.
Monday is long enough without having to stay at work for an extra meeting. Ugh. We have ours on Thursday mornings before school- which can be tough, but at least we are home at the usual time (whatever that is- as some people stay late and some don’t).
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I think it was the actual forcing us to stay late that we all resented…it was in our contracts…meatloaf is comforting…and necessary sometimes…I am loving American Idol!
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I haven’t made meatloaf for ages. The teen is not too fond of it and usually I only have a pound of ground beef at a time. I’ve made the Pioneer Woman recipe sometimes. I want to reread the Flavia de Luce books again. I loved her; she cracked me up whenever she became indignant because an adult treated her like a child, LOL. I want to read more of Joanna Fluke’s series too.
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Usually I make turkey meatloaf but this one was a mix of meat from our lovely butcher…it was all steaky and ketchupy and yummy!
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Yippee! So glad you decided to go to dinner, sounds like a success!
Rhonda
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It was! I needed to make that first step!
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The meatloaf looks great! Haven’t had that in ages. Glad Mondays are better now. 🙂
We Own The Sky and The Immortal Writrs both sound great!
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Meatloaf was yummy! Both books are great!
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It seems blue is the trend for bookcovers!
I do love to check out music competitions on YouTube, but I much prefer UK and French The Voice versions and also UK X Factor sometimes. I like to check out worldwide The Voice editions too, from Russia and Portugal to South Africa, once even Mongolia 🙂
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Checking out different venues would be fun…this new American Idol is weirdly fascinating…sometimes the Voice is totally annoying and over the top…with the judges fake feuding.
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I miss meatloaf. I’ve made it with gluten free Chex instead of breadcrumbs and it’s close but not the same without true break crumbs.
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What about Panko? Does Panko still have gluten? Or oatmeal? Darn that gluten!
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Yes. Panko has gluten too. I’ve used rice crackers crushed up but the texture is weird.
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So sorry! What about your gluten free bread? Toast it and then zap it in your food processor!
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It’s different somehow. It doesn’t absorb the juices the same as regular bread. It’s passable at best. I have also used dried potato flakes but they affect the taste.
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That is truly sad…today for lunch we had leftover meatloaf…someone makes a deep rich gravy without any preservatives in it so I heated meatloaf slices in gravy and served it over leftover mashed potatoes…so good!
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The Ever After caught my eye so I’ll watch for your review. Can’t wait to read the new RaeAnne Thayne – love the series and her books.
Meatloaf AND smashed potatoes – yummy Monday!!
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It was a great book…I really enjoyed it! And yes…the meatloaf was the perfect Monday night dinner!
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Patty – Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, The Next Girl. 💜💜💜
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Carla…you are very welcome!
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