But... It's Not a Fish

Today (November 3rd 2026) is World Jellyfish Day!  There are over 2000 types of jellyfish and some of them are edible.  I have never eaten jellyfish.  I have to say they do not look delicious to me.  But then neither does a lobster, and I like lobster.  So there is just no telling. But eating jellyfish is just one way to celebrate this glorious day.  You could go to the aquarium and look at jellyfish.  Or read a book.  There are a lot of picture books about jellyfish.  

The Jellyfish Bus by Suhyeon Lee

Slowpoke, the jellyfish, is a jellyfish bus but when he gets fired for being too slow he takes the opportunity to travel.  On his trip he encounters all sorts of sea life and maybe finds a place his slow pace is just the right fit.

I like the big, bold, bright illustrations.  It is an oversized book and the large scale helps convey the vastness of the ocean.  I love all the creatures that Slowpoke encounters, all real animals that can be found in the ocean.  And I think that seeing the animals in the book will encourage some readers to explore sea life further.  The story is good too.  At first Slowpoke is sad that he can not be a bus, but then he uses the time to explore other things.  Eventually Slowpoke finds a place where his slow pace is just the right thing.  It is a fun book that can be read over and over.

Start the Day Off Right

Today (October 29th 2026) is National Oatmeal Day.  Oatmeal is a great way to start the day.  Or to bake into cookies.  Oatmeal can help lower cholesterol, is full of fiber and rich in antioxidants.  So go eat some.

I eat oatmeal on a semi regular basis.  The way I eat oatmeal most times is overnight oats.  I think it is an easy way to have oatmeal ready in the morning that I can just grab and go.

There are a million recipes online for overnight oats.  I found one a long time ago (I can't remember where) that had equal parts oats, milk, and yogurt.  I have used that as my guide for all this time.  Making changes to suit me along the way.  I can no longer find a recipe with these proportions. Which just goes to show that it is not an exact science.

As of right now I use a third of a cup of old fashioned oats, one third of a cup of yogurt and half a cup of milk. I get the store brand (read cheapest) oats, you know the ones that come in the cardboard tube, whole milk (from a cow) and plain yogurt, sometimes Greek and sometimes not.  I
add chia seeds and some sort of sweetener, usually sweetened condensed milk.  Leave it in the fridge overnight and then mix in some sort of topping.  I find this makes a perfect amount for my breakfast.

So no matter what the recipes say, you do you.  Pick the milk you like, dairy or not, pick the yogurt you

like or can afford or none.  I have used whole milk mostly but tried coconut milk too.  I have used Greek yogurt and non Greek yogurt, I even tried vanilla flavored yogurt.  I have tried honey, brown sugar and maple syrup as sweeteners.  And I add all sorts of things.  Nuts, seeds, fresh and dried fruit, peanut butter, coconut, chocolate chips, or whatever I have.  

There is the very basic recipe from Delish.

Six different flavors from Lemon and Zest.

More flavors from Love and Lemons. 

Make them as simple or as complicated as you like.  But give them a try.  You just might find the perfect mix for you.

That's a Big Print

Today (October 20th 2027) is National Sasquatch Awareness Day.  Do you believe in Bigfoot?  I do not believe that there is a humanoid creature out in the woods somewhere but I do enjoy watching Bigfoot movies and shows about people looking for Bigfoot.  Even if you do not believe that Bigfoot is real you can not deny that Bigfoot is great entertainment.  

Bigfoot vs Megalodon

Bigfoot vs Megalodon 2

Bigfoot vs Megalodon: Resurrection

The year is 4045 AD and Earth is uninhabitable.  The last of the humans are fighting the aliens, the Archons, and they have enlisted Bigfoot to fight the aliens and the Nazi experiment, the Megalodon. 

These movies are not good.  Let's get that out of the way right from the start.  Neither are they bad movies.  They are just made for a very specific audience.  The bad movie lovers audience.  So I am not going to say whether these are good or bad.  I am just going to tell you about these movies and let you decide for yourself.  They are all CGI.  It wasn't bad but it did make it look like a video game a lot of the time.  And then the video cuts away and a piece of stock footage was pasted in.  Sometimes you hear someone talking about a hamburger and then it cuts to a picture of a hamburger, but other times I didn't even understand what the cut in footage had to do with anything.  There is more dialog than action.  A lot of the dialog is about sex, even a scene where Bigfoot is trying to get it on with a robot.  The plot is a bit of a mash.  There is a bit of everything.  Bigfoot, a walking Megalodon, an evil clown, a werewolf, a message about us killing planet Earth, a Nazi experiment, aliens, the Sun God Ra.  I mean everything.  All that makes the plot is a bit of a jumble, especially in the third one.  But I watched all three right in a row.  So there is something to be said for them.  I found them entertaining.  Some of it I even found funny.  But they are not for everyone.  I saw the title and immediately knew I had to see these.  If you do not have the same reaction these are probably not your cup of tea.  I went into these movies with my eyes wide open so I was not disappointed.  I just wish there were more scenes with Bigfoot and Megalodon in the same place. Other than that I think you can figure out from the title and plot summary if this is something you will enjoy or hate.  

What Would You Do With Eight Arms?

Today (October 8th 2026) is International Octopus Day.  I happen to think that octopuses are awesome.  I have only ever seen an octopus on TV or in an aquarium.  I think it looks cool when someone reaches into the tank and the octopus wraps his tentacles around their arms.  I would like to try that.  But maybe with one of the smaller ones.

Secrets of the Octopus by Sy Montgomery

Sy Montgomery talks about her experiences with octopuses, and the joys and trials of working with them.

I really liked this book.  I have been interested in octopuses for a long time and always enjoy hearing stories about them.  And there are some great stories in here, about great escapes, human-octopus interactions and observations made in the wild.  I learned a lot too, starting with the fact that the correct term is octopuses, not octopi.  Sy talks about how people think differently about octopuses than they used to, they have become less villein and more hero.  I learned about how the study of octopuses has revealed that many things people thought about octopuses were wrong.  The book also tells you how hard it is to study them sometimes because they do not always play by the rules scientists make.  The book is rather short, so it is a quick read that never bogs down in science that you can't understand.  And there are a lot of beautiful photos that are a joy to look at.  All of it was interesting and engaging.  If you like octopuses you will like this book.  If you do not like octopuses, read this and become an octopus lover.

Perfect Savory Treat

I love empanadas.  I have made them at home a couple of times.  I made the filling and bought the wrapping.  They were still a lot of work.  They tasted good but it is so much easier if you can get someone else to make them for you.

I have always known that not all empanadas were fried.  I just thought that fried ones would be better.  It turns out that is not always true.  

I have discovered The Perfect Empanada.  Their words not mine.  But I have trouble denying it.  I have never been to the commercial kitchen in Warren, Rhode Island. I have always gotten mine at the Copley Square (Boston, MA, 560 Boylston Street) Farmer's Market.  You can find them there on Fridays from May to November.

There are usually four or five different flavors, one is usually a vegetarian option.  They are not the same flavors every week, so if you keep going back you can keep trying new things.  

The empanadas are Argentinian style.  I do not know all the differences between Argentinian and other empanadas but these ones are baked.  At the stall at the farmer's market you can get them hot and ready to eat or partially baked and then frozen so you can finish them at home and have them nice and fresh from the oven.  I have personal experience that they make a wonderful late night snack, dinner, or breakfast.  I have never had them for lunch but I'm sure they are good then too.

One of the things I was happy to see was that the dough is stamped with the name of the filling so if you buy more than one kind you can tell which is which.  They are $9 a piece and worth the price.  They are packed full of deliciously spiced and flavored fillings.  

The man who runs the stall, who I believe is Pablo, the founder of the company, is
friendly and informative and has great customer service.  He remembers us every time we go there.  

On the website there is a schedule of all of the markets they go to and when they will be there.  If you have ever enjoyed an empanada, and you are close by, I suggest that you stop and try it out.  I don't think you will be disappointed.  

It's All Greek to Me

In the mood for some Greek food?  

I was, so my husband and I went to Zo Greek in Assembly Row.  

I had been there several times before.  Once to sit and eat in and then a bunch of times to get take out.

There is a lot of food here that I like.  I almost always get the pork gyro.   The pita is soft and fresh, the meat is cooked nicely and the tzatziki is a perfect compliment the salty (but not too salty) meat.  You can get it with fires or a salad, both of which are good.

The fried halloumi cheese is wonderful as is the tomato soup and the spanakopita.  The kolokythekeftedes (zucchini and feta fritters) are one of my favorite things.  They are crispy on the outside, soft but not mushy on the inside.  And they are surprisingly flavorful.  

I have never been disappointed in any of the food.  

But...

The first time I ate in the restaurant the service was wonderful.  Friendly and attentive. I also had no problems all the times I got take out.  But the second time I ate in was a little different.  No one was rude or unfriendly but I ordered two pork gyros.  When the waiter went to put in my order he asked me if I had wanted the pork or the chicken.  I said pork again.  And we were still served chicken gyros.  They fixed it quickly without any problems but I was slightly annoyed since I had said pork twice.  And then when we were almost done with our meal and wanted to order a beer it was hard to get anyone's attention.  Even though the bar (where we were sitting) is not that long and we were the only ones sitting at it.  

It was just the once.  Maybe they were having a bad day.  There was nothing that convinced me not to go back.  I will give them another chance (maybe more than one).   The food is good so even if upon a revisit I am slightly disappointed in the service, takeout will still be on the menu.

A Better Mousetrap

Today (September 4th 2026) is National Wildlife Day.  I would say I like wildlife.  I watch nature shows and movies about animals.  I escort bees and spiders out of my house.  I enjoy watching the rabbits hop around my backyard.  I thought it was cool when I saw a family of skunks, all of the little ones following their mother around.  But I do not want to meet most wildlife.  I do not want to go on safari.  I do not (as cute as I think mice are) want mice living in my house.  I do not want to pet anything that can eat me.  But books and movies are good.  I like those.

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach

All around the world, as the population (of humans) grows, people are coming face to face with wildlife more often.  For various reasons this does not usually go well for the animals or the humans.  This book takes a look at what humans do when faced with unwanted animal interactions.

Mary Roach travels the world to find out what happens in various places when humans meet wildlife.  I'm not going to lie, it is not usually good for the wildlife.  A lot of the accounts in this book are about killing large numbers of animals, animals that people have deemed pests.  Animals that eat crops, or ruin machinery or break into homes.  This book looks at ways people have tried to kill these pest animals, or scare them off, or move them to another location, or coexist with them.  There are lots of methods but few good answers.  It is interesting to see the different ways people have tried to solve this problem and all the different ways people react to the problems and all the solutions.  There are people on every side of this issue.  Roach writes with a lot of humor which lightens the mood even though she is talking about machine gunning birds, or poisoning opossums.  I found it all very interesting, from the sometimes crazy methods people have tried to the unexpected consequences of those methods to the times the animals won and the humans were forced to give up.  No matter what side you are on in this debate I think you will find something of interest here.

Let Me Get You A Room

Today (August 26th 2026) is National Dog Day!  I think dogs are awesome.  I always want to pet every dog I see.  At the moment it is not possible for me to have a dog.  But that does not stop me from enjoying dog watching at the park.

Hotel For Dogs starring Emma Roberts

Two orphan siblings turn an abandoned hotel into a home for stray dogs.

This movie is rather predictable.  A lot of things happen that are impossible.  It is full of cliches.  But it is not unenjoyable.  The acting is okay.  There are a lot of cute dogs.  I think kids will like all the gadgets and inventions.  I like that the movie encourages people to adopt dogs.  I had fun watching it.  My major criticism is that the children break laws and engage in a lot a of bad behavior that is all just later excused because it was for a good cause.  Consequences were mentioned but no one ever had to face any.  Which might not be a good message to send.

Swim For Your Life

Today (August 7th 2026) is National Sea Serpent Day.  Today is the perfect day to take a boat ride on Loch Ness and look for Nessie.  But if you do not happen to be in Inverness, maybe you could just read about Nessie, or one of the other sea serpents out there.  Or if you are really ambitious you can bake some blue cupcakes and put little frosting sea serpents on top or knit a sea serpent sweater.  Or maybe you are not as interested in sea serpents as I am.  But that just makes no sense.  Sea serpents are awesome.

The Loch by Steve Alten

Marine biologist Zachary Wallace almost drown in Loch Ness as a child.  As an adult he still has night terrors about it.  When his father is on trial for murder he sends for Zachary to come back to Scotland.  Now Zachary will have to face his fears and figure out what really happened all those years ago.

I like stories about Nessie and sea monsters in general so I was drawn to this.  And I think this is a nice twist on an age old tale.  It seems very well researched.  There is a lot of history and science woven into the story.  Sometimes not as well woven as I would liked.  For the most part this is a well paced plot, but when you get several pages of Scottish history it does tend to drag a bit.   There is a lot going on here.  You have romance, monsters, Knights Templar, secret plots, generations long oaths, life long traumas, reconciliations with family, and more, but it doesn't end up convoluted.  Everything fits into the story well.  There is an interesting collection of characters for the reader to love and hate.  I like the quotes in the beginnings of the chapters from people who say they saw the Loch Ness Monster,  they were a nice touch.  The ending was satisfying.  It was a fun read for me.  If you are interested in Nessie, or just like a good sea (well, water) monster story I think it will be a fun read for you too.

Go Hug a Friend

National Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August.  Which is today, August 2, 2026.  So go out there and catch up with some friends.  

I'm Sticking with You by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, illustrated by Steve Small

Bear and Squirrel do everything together, they are together all the time.  Until Squirrel decides he wants some time on his own.

I love the illustrations.  The look on Squirrel's face when his teacup breaks is priceless, among others.  And the story is sweet.  Everything doesn't always go right in the friendship of Bear and Squirrel, but they stick together anyway.  And when Squirrel decides he needs some space he realizes he likes doing things on his own but misses Bear.  And Bear (although angry at first) is happy to have him back.  It is a story of friendship surviving hardship, but also learning it is okay to have some time for yourself because friendship will survive that too.  

Ssssssssss!

Today (July 16th 2026) is World Snake Day. And this is important because snakes are awesome.  Some of them are crazy scary, sure, but still awesome.  Just remember, 'red touch black, friend of Jack, red touch yellow, kill a fellow'.  Okay, so maybe that won't help you out i every snake situation.  But it is a good little tidbit to know.

Sister Snake by Amanda Lee 'Koe

Two snakes bond and form a friendship stronger than any blood ties.  They take on human form and try to live in the human world.  But they have very different ideas about what that should look like.  They are bound by love and a shared, secret past, but is that enough to overcome the worries and trials of their very different human lives?

I thought the concept of this book sounded very interesting.  And it started off well.  But as the book went along my interest faded some.  I liked the idea of having two sisters that love each other very much but at the same time they can not stand each other.  That felt very true to me.  I thought it was interesting that the two chose very different human lives.  But although the relationship between the two was very complicated, the characters themselves were not.  They felt rather flat and one dimensional to me.  The only character I was really interested in didn't get enough pages.  The middle of the book dragged a bit.  It is a shorter book and moves quickly for the most part.  I do not know the story this is based on so I have no comparison to make, but as a stand alone, I was not disappointed but not impressed either.  I just found it lackluster and will soon forget all about it.  I wouldn't recommend it.

Stay Out of the Water

Today (July 14th, 2026) is Shark Awareness Day!  So go out there and make sure everyone knows about sharks.  But in a good way.  Sharks are not evil, just hungry.  Unfortunately,  there are a lot of movies out there that project a different message.  And I have to admit that I like the watch shark attack movies, especially ones where the sharks attack because humans did something stupid first.  Like this one.

Toxic Shark starring Kabby Borders

A singles retreat is terrorized by a toxic shark.

This movie is ridiculous.  The acting, writing and plot are all not great.  You kind of know how this is going to go.   You have the self-centered guy who refuses to admit the danger because it will cost him money, the loud mouth complainer who never actually helps, the people there just to get eaten and the ones you know will figure it out and live.  And why would a shark want to spray toxins on people before they eat them, or why would the toxins turn people into zombies?  I don't know and I don't think the writer did either.  But I actually found this entertaining to watch.  It was exactly what I expected from the title.  It was not as good as some but better than some.  If you are watching it you probably know what you are in for and I don't think you will be disappointed.  It is a bunch of people running around in not a lot of clothes, screaming and getting eaten, with a new twist I never saw before.  If you like B shark movies, this is for you, if you don't why on Earth would you watch something called Toxic Shark?

Beans Are More Than The Musical Fruit

Today (July 3rd 2026) is National Eat Your Beans Day.  For this very special day there are many different beans to choose from.  And so many different recipes to use.  And they are good for you.  They are low in fat and free of cholesterol. They are high in fiber, protein, iron, potassium, and antioxidants and some other stuff.  And I think they taste good too.  Everybody should eat more beans.

This recipe has cannellini beans in it. This recipe can also be used for National Quinoa Day and National Cabbage Day.  Because there is so much good stuff in there. You might want to give it a try for all the vitamins and minerals, and the taste.

I had some cabbage in my fridge so I was glad when I came across this recipe for Baked Cabbage Sliders from 101 Cookbooks when I was looking for a recipe for what I was going to make for lunch.

I have been trying to make some meals that are not meat or carb heavy so I look for grain or quinoa

(which is not technically not a grain) based recipes.  Hopefully they taste good too.  And it is a bonus when I have some of the ingredients (like half a head of cabbage that will eventually rot) already.  And if it has a mix of ingredients that are good for you, all the better.

So, because I was making these to bring to work for lunch and would have to make them after work I cooked the quinoa the night before I made the patties.  It saved me some time when I was making the patties the next day.  

I halved the recipe because it was lunch for just my husband and me and I didn't want a bunch of leftovers around until I knew what they would taste like.  

Since I had the quinoa already cooked I just mixed it with the eggs, and the cottage cheese.  Then I had to mash the cannellini beans into paste.  The recipe says to use your hands, I thought I didn't need to do that so I tried to smash them with the back of a spoon.  But the beans slipped out from under the spoon and I eventually had to get in there with my hands.  

Then you add the cabbage (well chopped, I didn't know what that meant so I chopped it small) and the scallions, then the breadcrumbs.  Then you let it sit, to firm up.  

I did not use a 1/2 cup measure to make the patties.  I just divided the mix into 6 almost even parts.  (Since the recipe says the whole recipe will make 10 patties.) 

The recipe is actually called 'baked' cabbage sliders but it says you can fry them too.  That was my choice.   I fried them until they were browned on both sides and I was sure the egg was cooked.  They are a little  fragile at first.  But I think (because I didn't want to do two pans of patties) I crowded the pan and made them hard to flip.  

Based on the suggested toppings I made a sauce of avocado, Greek plain yogurt and sriracha.  I didn't use a recipe or measure anything.  I mashed two avocados, added the yogurt and sriracha until I liked the taste.  A little salt went in there too.  I thought about a touch of lemon juice but decided against it in the end.  But if you try you might want that for taste and to stop the browning of the avocado.  

I tried the patties right out of the pan and they were tasty and good.  They were also good the next day when we heated they up, not hot, but room temperature.  I think the sauce was a good fit. The recipe says you can add more cabbage and they will still stick together.  I might do that next time.  I might also make other changes.  But slight ones because I am worried about consistency of the patties.  

I liked these for lunch.  The three patties I had were very filling and perfect for lunch.  I will try these again.  

Out to Sea

Today (June 29th 2026) is International Fisherman Day.  If you have ever enjoyed a good piece of fish, or any kind of seafood, you owe it to a fisherman.  It might even be you.  So, if you know any fishermen go out and thank them.  Or if you are a fisherman, accept this thank you from me.  

Fisherman's Friends starring James Purefoy

A music executive stranded in Cornwall signs a group of fishermen to Universal Records to sing sea shanties.

This movie is a lot of fun.  There is a cast of great characters.  The acting is good.  The story is great (and sort of true).  You care about these people.  You want them to succeed.  You want the music executive to realize what is important and change his ways.  And I liked the singing.  The plot is a little predictable.  You can guess what is going to happen most of the time.  But watching this film just makes you feel good.  I laughed and cried.  And now I want to listen to some sea shanties.  It is not action packed, but it will keep you entertained through the whole film.  

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate

My husband and I decided we wanted to go see a play.  We enjoy plays but we don't get to go very often.  But it was a special occasion (our anniversary) so we splurged.  (We also went to dinner afterwards.)  We did not have anything in particular in mind so we just looked for what was playing locally.  

We found Eureka Day at the Huntington Theatre in Boston.  Since we live in Boston that was pretty local.  I really didn't know what to expect.  The play is a satire about a progressive, private school that tries to be inclusive to everyone.  When mumps breaks out at the school it leads to debates about policies and vaccines.

Now, the plot summery may not sound funny, but the play certainly was.  There were times when the whole audience was laughing out loud.  The laughs reached their height when the school council have a virtual meeting with the parents and you can see the comments the parents are typing the chat box.  

There are some serious moments too.  Although I did not actually cry during the play I did get a little misty eyed.  But these moments did not kill the light spirit of the play but instead made the light moments brighter.

The acting was great, the energy of the play and the audience was wonderful and the whole experience was a lot of fun.  And at the Huntington you can watch your play with a glass of wine or a beer if you want.  Which doesn't hurt.  

My sister is a teacher and when I told her I was going to see a play about a school she was not enthused.  She gets enough school in her life as it is.  But I think she would have liked this play.  

It was hilarious but spoke about important issues.  It managed to have fun with the topic without offending.  I would not suggest that children attend.  There are some hard topics explored but also I think a lot of the humor would be lost on them.

It is about 100 minutes long.  Long enough to develop some wonderful characters, and deliver a well thought out and rounded plot without the audience feeling the need to get up and stretch.

 

If you are looking for a fun night out, I would recommend Eureka Day.  

Help Save a Life

Today (June 14th 2026) is World Blood Donor Day.  A few hours of your life can save the life of someone else in need.  Please consider signing up to donate.

My work place had been having blood drives for a while before I realized there's and app for that.  Because of course there is.  What isn't there an app for.  So, I downloaded the Red Cross Blood Donor app.  

As someone who donates on a semi regular basis I find the app rather helpful.  You can put in a zip code and find the nearest places you can donate and make an appointment right there on the app.  It will tell you your blood type (I'm AB+), keep track of how much blood you have donated and tell you when you can safely donate again.  You can also fill out your Rapid Pass, which is a bunch of questions that you have to answer before you can give blood.  It saves you time when you get there if you have already done this.  If you have never donated before, these questions can get
rather personal, but I think you can understand why.

Until the app I had only donated whole blood, but as I explored the app I decided I should donate platelets and plasma some times as well.  I did a little research (just to be clear, all on the internet, I didn't ask a medical professional, so don't quote me) and came to the conclusion that I might be able to help more people that way.  But I must warn you, platelet donation does take longer (about 2 hours) and there are two needles involved.  

I donate because it makes me feel good to know I'm helping others.  But there are
other rewards.  The app has virtual badges you can collect to encourage you to come back.  Donation centers also have swag sometimes.  I have a collection of shirts, but they give out other things sometimes too: sunglasses, socks, backpacks and such.  If you have the app you get points for each donation that you can use to get even more swag: hats, tote bags, camp chairs, thermos bottles, or of you are like me -more shirts.  And after so many donations you get a milestone pin.

I encourage all those who can to donate.  It does your heart good.  And you get free cookies and juice. But, one more warning, there is always a platelet or blood shortage so once you donate you will get calls and texts and emails asking you to come back.  Lots of them.  But that is a small price to pay for the good you could do.

Dive! Dive! Dive

Today (June 8th 2026) is World Oceans Day.  The oceans are very important for everything.  And there is so much that we do not know about it.  Today is the day to learn something new about the oceans.  Or take a swim in the ocean (but there are jellyfish, so maybe, no).  Maybe you can visit your local aquarium.  

Weird But True! Ocean 300 Fantastic Facts from the Deep Blue Sea by National Geographic Kids

300 fascinating facts about the ocean and the things in it and on it.  

This is the first Weird but True! book that I have read.  I think I will read more.  I started with the ocean because I am fascinated by ocean creatures.  And this satisfied all my ocean creature love and taught me some things I didn't know.  There were facts about the ocean itself, the creatures who live in it, and the people and ships that travel on top of it.  There are some awesome photos of things that people may not have seen before.  I liked the bite sized facts so no matter how much time you have you can get a fact or two in (if you can stop yourself from reading them all).  You do not learn a lot about anything but you learn a little about a lot.  I can see this inspiring people (not just children) to learn more about many things they see here.

Once in a Blue Moon

Tonight (May 31st 2026) there will be a blue moon.  It is a blue moon because it is the second full moon in the same month.  A blue moon occurs every two to three years.  The phrase 'once in a blue moon' made me think they were much more rare than that.  And it is not very likely the moon will actually look blue in color.  But you should go out and look at it anyway.

Blue Moon Rising by Simon Green

Rupert is the second son of a king.  An extra, unneeded, prince.  So to get him out of the way Rupert is sent on a quest.  But with the Blue Moon rising and the Darkwood spreading, Rupert must save the kingdom that does not even want him.  

Blue Moon Rising is fun to read.  It is witty. There is banter, danger, a dragon, a witch, love, demons, spells, betrayal, and much more.  The plot moves at a good pace and engages the reader.  The story breaks into parts in the middle but all the parts are just as interesting as the others and then they all come together nicely.  And there are a lot of good characters.  I think it is a good book for lovers of fantasy.  I do wish the dragon was in the story more.  I liked how things and people weren't what you expected, but it was used so much you were expecting it, which kind of misses the point.  I also thought it lost a little something at the end at the last big battle, that was the only time, in this almost 500 page book, that I started to lose interest.  If you like fantasy, you should take a look.

Who You Goin' Call?

Today (May 3rd 2026) is National Paranormal Day.  Do you believe in ghosts?  If so, then today is your day.  Get out there and hunt some ghosts.  Or search for a cryptid, or watch for UFO's, or try to move something with your mind.  

Ghost Trap (aka Little Ghost Grabbers) starring Ciara O'Hanlon

After a school project goes wrong, Cynthia has to do community service helping out in a house that is said to be haunted.  

I didn't expect this to be a great movie but I was hoping it would be okay at least.  I was disappointed.  The acting is bad.  The props look like they were cast offs from Ghostbusters.  The plot started out fine but quickly devolved into a bit of a mess.  The story didn't really hold together.  There were things that just didn't make sense with the rest of the story and it turned into a jumble of random happenings.  It was not scary, or funny, or heartwarming or anything.  I would give this one a pass if I were you.

That's no fish tale

Today (May 2nd 2026) is World Tuna Day.  The record for the most expensive tuna ever sold was a 535 pound bluefin tuna sold for 510.3 million yen ($3.2 million dollars US).  That is around $6000 per pound.  I do not pay that much for my tuna.  In fact, my tuna usually comes in a can from the grocery store.  But if you want to celebrate World Tuna Day by eating sashimi from a $6000 a pound tuna, you be you. 

I'll stick to my tuna salad.

Like the one from The Pioneer Woman I made for lunch the other day.  Why did I pick this Tuna Pasta Salad?  Well, as with most recipes I make that have a lot of choices, it is a mix of eliminating a couple I know I don't want for one reason or another, luck, the word easy in the title, and where I am when I get tired of looking.  And the picture.  I am swayed by the photo often.

I grew up eating tuna pasta salad.  I think a lot of people did.  It is easy, filling, you can add some veggies to provide some nutrition, and a box of pasta is often cheap.

This pasta salad was not the same as the one I grew up eating but it reminded me of it.  Tuna and pasta mixed with mayonnaise and some other stuff probably, I don't know, I was little and that was a long time ago.

But this was not just nostalgic, it was pretty tasty too.  And quick to make.  After you cook the pasta it is all chopping and mixing.  Some of which you can do while the pasta is cooking.  Just don't forget you are cooking pasta - not that I've ever done that.  I'm just warning you.  Anyhow.  After some chopping, a few tears from the onions, and draining, and cooling the pasta you mix it all together.

You get a nice little crunch for the fresh veggies, just the right among of sweet from the red pepper and the peas, a creamy finish with the mayonnaise and the sour cream and a few herbs and spices to add a little bit of extra flavor. 

It is filling but not too heavy.  It travels and keeps well.  I don't think there are many people who would not like it (except vegans).  There are a million different tweaks you could make if you wanted to customize it.  I really enjoyed it for lunch.  It would also be great for a pot luck, a barbeque or picnic, or just to have as a snack in the fridge.  And great to celebrate World Tuna Day is you don't have 3.2 million dollars for a bluefin tuna.

Be Super Today

Today (April 28th) is National Superhero Day! I happen to be a big fan of comic book superheroes.  (Batman is my favorite.)  But there are much more important heroes, real ones, people you might even know.  So, on this very important day - Go hug a firefighter!  I mean, ask permission first.  Don't be a weirdo about it.

Sometimes all it takes to be a hero is to go out there and do your best and try to always do the right thing, like Super Jumbo.

Super Jumbo by Fred Koehler

Super Jumbo is a superhero, even if no one else can see. it.  He is determined to save the day, whether people want him to or not.

First, the illustrations in Super Jumbo are adorable, and make sure you take a good look because a lot of the story telling is done with the illustrations.  The story is fun too.  Little Jumbo is determined to be Super Jumbo, a superhero who saves the day.  He isn't doing it for thanks or praise, which is good, because sometimes he gets it wrong.  However, that does not stop Super Jumbo from being a hero.  Weather he is stopping traffic to let snails safely cross the street or saving  a man's popcorn from the pigeons, he is always there to help those in need.  I really like this book.  It is a cute funny story about helping others and doing your best.  You don't have to be super to be a hero.

   

 

Is it a Chickpea or a Garbanzo Bean?

Whether you call it a chickpea or a garbanzo bean you should celebrate it today because today (April 21st 2026) is National Chickpea Day.  I like falafel and I like hummus but if you told me a couple of years ago that I would be eating a chickpea sandwich I would have thought you were crazy.  Now, I don't know you well enough to know if you are crazy or not but, I have come to realize that the idea of a chickpea sandwich is not.  Crazy that is.  

I am very much a meat eater and I like cake.  So, every once in a while, my husband and I try to eat something that has a little more nutritional value.  One of the things we keep going back to is chickpea salad sandwiches. We have tried several different recipes and have never been able to pick a favorite.

Some we have tried include:

Smashed Chickpea Avocado Salad Sandwich from Two Peas and Their Pod

Whole Grain Chickpea Salad Sandwich from Grain Food s Foundation

Chickpea Salad Sandwich with Lemon and Capers from Adventures in Cooking

Chickpea Salad Sandwiches from Taste of Home

But there are many more out there.

After trying the different recipes, we now only use them as a guide.  We pick the pieces we like from the different recipes and make our own thing.  Sometimes it depends on what I have in my fridge.  I happened to have parsley on hand, so I put some in.  Why not?

A few things that I always use is mayonnaise, celery, some kind of onion and I like to get a nice multigrain bread, both to cut down on the white bread I eat but also to have a good hearty bread to stand up to the salad without falling apart.  I usually add avocado as well.

I have never had a combination that I didn't like.  One of the things that I like about chickpea salad is that I can really make it anything I want.  If I like it, I put it in, if I don't like it I leave it out.  If you are looking for a lunch idea, I think a chickpea salad sandwich is a good choice.  It is not heavy, but it is filling and satisfying.  

I was surprised by how much I like these sandwiches.  I would recommend them to anyone who likes chickpeas.  Give it a try.  Have fun with it.  Mix it up and make it your own.  I think you will enjoy it.

What do you wish for?

Today (April 9th 2026) is National Unicorn Day.  I like unicorn stories.  Especially the ones where the unicorns are not passive gentle creatures.  Although those are good too.  And probably the ones you want if you are sharing them with children.

Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey

Thelma is a miniature horse who wants to be a unicorn.  One day she gets her wish (sort of).  But her wish doesn't turn out the way she thought it would.

Thelma worries that she is not special, and believes that she is not good enough the way she is.  Which is a feeling people of all ages can relate to.  When she gets her wish, and everyone thinks she's a unicorn, she finds it comes with unforeseen consequences.  Thelma the Unicorn is a story about being happy being yourself.  I think the illustrations are funny.  I love her donkey best friend.  The rhyming words are fun to read.  It is fun for the adult reading it and the children being read to. 

Thelma the Unicorn starring Brittany Howard

When a freak accident turns Thelma the mini horse into Thelma the Unicorn she finds overnight fame.  Thelma's life changes in a instant.  But is this new life what Thelma really wants?

I found this movie entertaining.  I like the animation.  There were impossible things happening, a narwhale always out of the water, talking animals interacting with people and other things but none of it was an issue for me.  It has a nice theme of being yourself and not forgetting the people who like you for who you are.  I liked Thelma's donkey friends.  Unfortunately Thelma was less easy to like.  And since she is the main character that was an issue for me.  Some of her issues I could relate to but I found it hard to connect with her so the heartwarming parts were not as heartwarming for me.  I'm glad I watched it.  It was fun.  But it is not a movie I would go back and watch over and over again.

As with most book and movie comparisons I liked the book better here.  I watched the movie first so I think I had a less dramatic reaction to the movie than other people who loved the book before the movie.  But I still side with the book.  I know that it is a picture book being turned into a movie so things had to be added.  But the whole rivalry between Thelma and the Narwhale took up too much of the story.  And Thelma was just much more likeable in the book.  I also feel something was lost in the movie when Thelma didn't decide on her own to stop pretending.  She was kind of forced to give it up in the movie and that made it less impactful.  Both are worth a look but I think the book is worth owning while the movie I would suggest you just borrow.

Where's my green shirt?

Today (March 17th 2026) is Saint Patrick's Day!  They say everyone is Irish on Saint Patrick's Day.  Well, I hope everyone likes corned beef and cabbage.  Or maybe you would rather have a nice Shepard's Pie.  Whatever you are eating don't forget the green beer.  

Four Leaf Cleaver by Maddie Day

Robbie has Pans 'N Pancakes all decked out for St. Patrick's day.  Which is perfect for the cooking competition show she will be hosting.  Everything is going great until someone ends up dead.  Now it's up to Robbie and the local police to find out who wanted the producer dead.

This is the 11th book in this cozy mystery series but the first one I have read.  It is easy enough to follow everything but I felt I was missing a lot of back story that would have been nice to have while reading.  It is a fun mystery with lots of clues and red herrings and misleading information like all good mysteries should have.  There is a long list of quirky and interesting characters that keep the reader interested.  There is a lot of talk about food, what Robbie is making for the restaurant and how, and what everyone is eating, along with some recipes in the back of the book (none of which I tried so you are on your own with those).  But if that doesn't interest you this might not be the book for you.  I liked how the police included Robbie and she wasn't going around behind their backs doing her own thing.  It was a clever mystery and a fun read that makes me want to go back to see how it all started.

Bacon Anyone?

Today (March 1st 2026) is National Pig Day!  If you are not already a pig fan, you should be.  They are cute (especially the baby ones) and smart and have a lot of personality.   I did live with a pig for years (not one as big as in the book reviewed here) so I know a thing or two.  I'm glad I did it but I don't think I would ever do it again.

Esther the Wonder Pig by Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter, with Caprice Crane

Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter took in what he thought was a small pig.  It turned out that Esther (as the pig was named) was a full size commercial pig who grew to 600 pounds.  This is the story of how they went from tiny pig, to redesigning their whole house to accommodate Ester, to buying a farm and starting an animal sanctuary.

I love a good animal story.  I love how these people were willing to go through all they went though for a pig they fell in love with.  But it all started on the wrong foot with me.  When Steve decides to get a pig (even if he thought it was a mini pig) without telling his partner I instantly didn't like him.  And the humor for me quickly got old and annoying.  There were a lot of stories of the messes Esther made (by the way how do you clean cooking oil off every surface in your home, like ever, never mind in a couple of hours?) and how she liked to eat but not much more about her.  She liked to cuddle but what else?  I wanted more Esther and less Facebook page and what it takes to become vegan.  It is a quick read and somewhat interesting but I can't say I would recommend it.