This b’day gift from the spouse is, tbh, very accurate for me 😏

Also, one of the tiny cacti on the window sill is growing…something? Little penis? Huge zit? An appendage slowly reaching out to the wild vine outside??

Before we went away I saw a lil’ patch of wild grape vine down in the corner - eh, it’s only two feet tall, I’ll deal with it when we get back. One month later and a fucking triffid is taking over the house.

When your kid works front of house at the theatre and tells you which is the best seat to book. ❤️😄 #Beetlejuice #PrinceEdwardTheatre

Well if one has to hobble around using a walking stick one might as well get something a tad stylish from the venerable James Smith & Sons of London. Custom fitted and everything - I feel Right Posh.

Privileged to see this utterly brilliant flamenco version of “Love’s Labour’s Lost” at Shakespeare’s Globe yesterday. Yes! Shakespeare with flamenco! It works really well! If you’re in London don’t miss it. Superb & creative staging, top-notch performances.

I was 15 when I saw this - blew my mind that someone could show passion and intensity (and despair) in a painting of flowers.

Stopped in at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square to see one of my favourite paintings and…oh. Well. Fine. FINE. I’ll just have to go back to Philly then 🙄

If you’re in London, catch this special exhibit of portraits of Elizabeth I and her court, showing how portraits were used as image projection and propaganda. But hurry, it ends this week! Descriptions in alt. At the Philip Mould Gallery on Pall Mall.

Why, London, WHY Yes I know it’s hotter in Philly /SoCal / Texas whatever, but there’s no A/C here and I dare any USian to ride the Northern Line tube in rush hour because JFC 🥵 And yes UK is Celsius but it was still Fahrenheit when I emigrated and however you measure it it’s Too. Damn. Hot.

Fantastic & unique story - devoured in two days. An African woman with inexplicable powers, a baffled Chicago cop, a string of impossible murders across US and UK. Fantasy + mystery = One of my favourites this year. #BookSky 📚💙

London in the blitz; unapologetically adventurous Iris stumbles across actual angels & a nasty fascist woman intent on changing history. Brilliant evocation of the daily grind of the war, memorable characters, hell of an ending. Sequel planned for next year - can’t wait. 💙📚 #BookSky

Trans’d from Chinese & a somewhat different writing style (fair amount of telling & head-hopping) but propulsive and fascinating. A poor woman in Hong Kong sets out to find who cyber-bullied her 15-year-old sister to death. Couple of great twists at the end. #BookSky 💙📚

My god. What a brilliant heart-breaker of a tale. Sci-fi at its best: philosophical, shattering, awesome in every sense. This one will stay with you. “…placing ourselves inside their mouths and pretending to truth.” @slhuang.com 💙📚 #booksky

Devoured this in two days. Great plotting with two alternating POVs; a wealthy family on a remote island, secrets & lies revealed one after another; building to a stunning climax that I did NOT see coming. The final three words - wow. Highly recommended. #BookSky 💙📚 @trishasakhlecha.bsky.social

Me, finally up at noon (it was a long day): what’ll we do for, er, brunch? Him: Seder leftovers Me: OMG yes! Aunt Na’s gluten-free chocolate covered matzah!! Him: er… Me: I’m a grownup. Chocolate. Covered. GF Matzah. I mean, she baked it separate and labeled the bag it’d be rude not to.😋

@aptshadow.bsky.social is a gods-damn genius poet of a writer. Children of Time = I’m rooting for spiders; Children of Ruin = how an octopus might think/be; and Children of Memory just wrecked me with questions about sentience & memory and what it means to “live.” Sci-fi at its best. #booksky 💙📚🪐

A delicious and deviously fun slow-build thriller with a hell of an ending. Writer “borrows” a plot from his now-dead student; book becomes a best seller; then the anonymous emails start. (Also a painfully insightful portrayal of what it’s like to write!) #booksky 💙📚

Him: are savory foods just cheese delivery systems for you? Me: yes. Point? (There’s some rice and Amy’s brand black bean chili under there.)

All fixed. Bunny was very brave.

A much-loved white bunny in pre-op (grandma’s lap) bravely waiting to get his right arm sewn back on.

A fantastic tale! Inspired by the Chinese classic “Water Margin,” but with a feminist & queer twist; great plot & delicious vengeance; bloody and all the best kinds of heroic; deep characters and a really satisfying ending. #BookSky 💙📚 #Fantasy

Stuart Turton is a frickin genius. Loved his book “The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” & this is even better. A batshit premise but it works brilliantly, slow reveals and great characters. Mystery & sci-fi & philosophical conjecture. Delicious, thought-provoking. #Booksky 💙📚🪐

Burned thru this one in two days (“just one more chapter…”) and holy crap I just discovered a new author to love. Creepy but also very funny and so, so lovely. Great characters. And the dog…❤️ @tkingfisher.com #Booksky 💙📚

Great book! Starts out cute & light - the sheep want to solve their shepherd’s murder! - then quickly develops many layers and questions. The sheep are a delight and I did not see the ending coming. Couldn’t put it down. Upcoming movie should be a treat. #ThreeBagsFull #BookSky 📚💙

Every year the neighbors’ Ginko does this and every year I think “Next year I’ll remember to park on the street in October” and every year I forget…

Bringing light in the darkness. (And cookies; many many cookies.)

Back in the US of bloody A after a month in London & gods dammit but I need a comfort read. @marthawells.com #Murderbot

Well, yes… (No, I don’t do subtle) (sign on the wall at Euston station underground)