some frustrating things've been on lately, so a quick post so I don't forget the good things too!

1) in unexpected coincidences, over the past two days at work, I've been hailed twice by nice older ladies who've asked if I have recommendations for their particular salon, which is honestly particularly funny after I spent how-many years as essentially [known to a patron], and I can still feel that mode snapping-to as needed. to the end that I've been invited to the next iteration of one circle, and traded reading lists for the other! I pointed her towards: The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm, the duino elegies, the handmaiden, Consul, and to keep an eye out for the next shakespeare mock trial. She recommended to me: a back-to-back of the turn of the screw vs the tale of two sisters, the blind assassin, and either portrait of a lady or the golden bowl!
I will say that it was a little hard to make fiction recommendations because my nonfiction kick has been going strong -- depending on how hard you want to go on Volkov's Testimony I guess -- but I'm pretty sure we've got the turn of the screw around here somewhere. I keep looking at my fiction to-read pile and thinking '...but what if 109 east place, for the hundredth time this month??'

and 2) my squash corner has gotten SO fluffy! I still don't know which is which but I'm just delighted that they've taken. there are a few fruiting bodies starting even! we'll see if they actually turn out but I'm just so happy whenever I visit my garden ^-^