Good morning! Today’s post will link up to The Sunday Salon, The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves, for weekly updates.
**Mailbox Monday is hosted at the home site: Mailbox Monday.
And let’s join Kathryn, our leader in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, at Book Date.
My week has brought good books to my shelves and great reading material, some from the backlog, allowing me to finish reading and reviewing three books. Six blog posts were a reminder that reading and blogging go hand and hand. Or hand in glove, a nod to one of my titles from this week. One downside of the reading and blogging, which included a lot of blog visits, is that my eyes are so tired that I am struggling to type this! That doesn’t happen often.
Some of the eye fatigue also comes from all the viewing I’ve done: movies, shows, etc., all online, which is another kind of eye strain.
When I searched my tiny fridge yesterday, I felt a momentary panic. Almost empty! And yes, I get food brought from the residential kitchen, but nothing has improved from those quarters. Not only is the food often “slop,” (sorry about that!), but they tend to bring things I didn’t request, while ignoring those that I specifically asked for. I photograph my menu requests as a reminder of their failings. Can I say that I’m not popular? LOL. And they ran out of red wine again!
So…complaints aside, I added a nice little grocery app to my phone and ordered food from Save Mart…and it arrived within three hours, and I got exactly what I requested.
I still get a lot from Amazon, too, and the orders are coming more quickly. Yay!
So I’ll stop complaining for a bit, while we grab some more coffee and study the details of my week.
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LAST WEEK ON THE BLOGS:
Tuesday Excerpts: “A Good Marriage”
Tuesday Potpourri: Adding to My Shelves…
Coffee Chat: Comfort Reads and Viewing…
From the Backlog: Bringing it Forward…
Bookish Friday: “The Closer You Get”
Review: The Girl in White Gloves, by Kerri Maher
Review: Little Secrets, by Jennifer Hillier
Review: Hungry Heart, by Jennifer Weiner – (Nonfiction Challenge)
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INCOMING BOOKS:
Three books came in my mailbox! And I downloaded two e-books.
The Turning of the Key, by Ruth Ware
A Heart in a Body in the World, by Deb Caletti
Clock Dance, by Anne Tyler (for reread)
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Downloads:
This Is How I lied, by Heather Gudenkauf
The Closer You Get, by Mary Torjussen
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CURRENTLY READING: The Sweeney Sisters, by Lian Dolan
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That was my week. Exhausting, but with good books…and a delicious glass of red wine from the bottle my daughter sent over to compensate for the kitchen failure to send any. LOL.
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AN INTERIOR JOURNEY 
Too bad about all the kitchen failures …. but I’m glad you’re able to get items delivered from the Save Mart — that’s key. Without wine where would we all be? We cannot survive this Administration without plenty of wine and cursing. It’s just maddening! I hope you can get some fresh air there …. as it does wonders here. Have a great week!
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Oh, Susan, I have been pretty patient with the lockdown, which has been going on here for two months…but lately, their food failures have worsened. It’s like they’re not even trying any more. Today, at both lunch and dinner they didn’t bring the entree…only the soup! I must admit that I threw a bit of a fit tonight, and told them I really needed more than soup. I needed something I could chew! They sent someone to bring me a tuna salad. LOL. It took them half an hour, but they did remember the wine, so I sipped that for a while.
I am very happy about the Save Mart ordering! As for the fresh air, we get two walks a day, scheduled, for twenty minutes. I often forget, since I don’t like walking on a schedule. Sigh.
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Thank goodness for Amazon and the food deliveries huh? That would be incredibly frustrating to not get what you request, and to have poor food quality to boot. And kudos to your daughter for saving the day with the wine haha! 🙂
Mary Torjussen has a new book? Ooh I still haven’t read her last one yet.
Hope your week is good!
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Thanks, Greg, I have given this place a lot of time to improve their food; I’ve been here almost a year! If I didn’t like the apartment and most of the staff, and if we weren’t in the middle of a Pandemic, I would be out of here. LOL.
So grateful for the wine gift from my daughter…and the food deliveries.
I’m enjoying my books and movies. Stay safe and well.
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Boo to the kitchen and big thumbs up to Save Mart.
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My sentiments exactly, Kathryn. Last night I kind of threw a fit when they brought only soup, coffee, and dessert. No entree. The cook went back to the kitchen and brought tuna salad, at my request; it arrived a half hour later. That is the annoying part about sending things back. Alas.
I could actually enjoy a meal of only soup if it were a nice size and thick. The soup here comes in a very small portion and as thin as water. Sigh.
Enjoy your week, and stay safe and well.
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Laurel-Rain that sounds like prison soup to me! Or maybe prisoners get better.
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I’ve been thinking the same thing, Kathryn!
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So, they have a menu you can order from? And then they bring you something you didn’t order? I would be so mad about that! Good thing you can get groceries from somewhere else.
Your books this week look fantastic! I have the Ruth Ware one, too on my kindle. We’ll see when I get to it. I’ve become obsessed with the show Casa del Papel, it’s so good!
Have a wonderful week ahead, stay safe and healthy 🙂
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Thanks for visiting, Linda, and the worst thing about their poor delivery is that they act like they’re the victims. Well, some are better than others. They are probably getting tired of wheeling those carts around with food trays. Luckily I have a microwave to heat up things that arrive cold.
I’ll have to check out that show! My Ruth Ware came in hardcover, so I’ll add it to my growing shelf…after I read it.
Stay safe and well.
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Laurel-Rain, I found this week exhausting, too! But what isn’t made better by a good book or television show and a lovely glass of red wine?! 😁 Sorry to hear the food is not great where you live, but good that you have a good grocery deliver and daughter to rely on to get some nice treats in.
I hope the coming week is a good one, take care and happy reading! 🙂
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Thanks, Jessica, I feel fortunate that technology has brought us phone apps in these times of shortages and lockdowns. And better food to supplement the not so nice….lol
Enjoy your week, reading great books and viewing good shows/movies.
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Thank you – Already watched two good films today 😊
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Yes the delivery time for essentials has reduced drastically in the last week. I am glad that you found a grocery so that you can get what you ordered on time. Stay in and safe.
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Thanks, Gayathri, it settled my mind that I could quickly access certain items that I can’t get on my own, being “stuck” here in the apartment. LOL.
Stay safe and well.
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Well done to your daughter for stepping in and delivering the essentials! I’d love to join you in a glass of red wine but unfortunately it doesn’t mix well with my medication. I’ll make do with your picture instead LOL. Happy reading 😁
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Thanks, Cathy, I have to moderate the wine, but red wine usually settles me down nicely, lol. One glass, of course.
I was very happy to get the wine, and Champagne was also delivered, which I had on Mother’s Day with my cranberry juice for a mimosa. Little treats, much needed nowadays.
Enjoy your week!
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I’m so glad you found the app for Save Mart. I wonder if a call from one of your children to the administrator might help with the terrible food and service from their kitchen. You’re paying good money to reside there you’d think you could get decent food, right?
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Oh, I know, Mary, and my eldest son in Prague is voting for son Brett, from LA, to handle it. He is good at this sort of thing, and also very annoyed with how they are not providing the foods I need. My friend who works for state licensing says that they should be providing special diets at those prices, since my main issue is how much of the food is high fat and greasy. LOL.
Thanks for your thoughts, and have a great week.
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Great that you found a clever way to get your food. I spent half an hour looking for items at Target and then when I got to the line, I found it would take an additional half hour to get through it, so I had to leave. Thank God for these apps and curbside where you can plan your day better.
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Thanks, Trin, I am so grateful, too. I hesitated for a while, not sure it would work…and then I was ecstatic at how smoothly it went!
Have a great week!
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I get eye strain from the computer because of work. I noticed things are getting delivered faster now as well, thankfully. I ordered a few things online from Walmart and they arrived withing a few days. Glad you got the wine after all!
Enjoy your books, I like the cover on the Anne Tyler one.
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Thanks for visiting, Nai, and eye strain can really defeat us! I hope we both get enough rest so that we can keep reading and viewing.
I am happy for the speedier deliveries, too, and also love the cover on Clock Dance.
Stay safe and well.
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Urg! They’ve no call to get huffy if they claim to provide a service which they CHARGE for – and then fall down on the job! I figure the reason why it’s getting worse is that they know you can’t go anywhere through the pandemic – shame on them! I hope your son gets on the case and sorts them out, Laurel. As regards the eye strain – I don’t know what kind of e-reader you have, but if you can, tint the pages. Whenever I use Word these days, I always colour the page and cuts down my eye problems massively. Black on white is so harsh! Have a great week – with better food!
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Thanks for your kind thoughts, Sarah, and you are right that they are more careless, knowing we can’t up and leave right now! Sadly, the delivery staff are not the ones who load up the plates and trays; they just deliver. But they are on the receiving end of our displeasure. Sigh. Last night, however, the main cook was there…I wonder if it was calculated. I let him know my displeasure and he went back to find an entree that I requested. It took a while. Passive aggressive much?
My Kindle works pretty well to reduce eyestrain…the computer can be challenging, but I’ll try out those tips for cutting down on harsh lights. The word documents are difficult. I have been enlarging the text lately. That helps.
Enjoy your week, and stay safe and well.
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Yes – I have everything on my computer set to 150% and that helps, too!
As for the way you are being treated right now – disgusting! It’s at a time when everyone is feeling so vulnerable and food is such an emotional aspect of our lives…
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I couldn’t have said it better!
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Aw I hope your eyes feel better soon!
I don’t know how you manage to read and blog so much… here’s hoping for a good week ahead for you! And enjoy the red wine!
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I hope so, too, Geraldine, as reading and viewing do depend on alert and relaxed eyes. I do try to mix things up, between reading and blogging.
I did enjoy that red wine…and ordered another bottle with my grocery app. LOL
Have a safe and well week.
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It has to be horribly frustrating to get bad food service during this stressful time. Occasional use of your new app sounds warranted.
At least you got some great books this week. I’m still have trouble reading. That’s baffling to me.
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Oops. “Having trouble.”
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Thanks, Deb, and I hope to finally successfully deal with the food service here, although just when they offer and deliver something palatable, they blow it again for several days in a row. I’ve been here almost a year already, and if not for a few things I like (my apartment and some of the staff), I would have left already…except for that little Pandemic thing. LOL.
Enjoy your week, and hopefully books will appeal to you again. Stay safe.
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I’m sorry about the kitchen failures and your eye strain. I hope you get some rest and your eyes are feeling better. You have so many good books on your list. Enjoy them! Have a great week and stay safe.
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Thanks, Yvonne, I hope the same for you…and I am glad to announce that my lunch order came just as I requested it!
Let’s see how they do tonight. Perhaps making a fuss, albeit a fairly quiet one, can yield results?
Stay safe and well.
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I’m glad you found a grocery store to deliver, I’m sorry it’s necessary though.
My eyes are also feeling the strain of so much screen viewing since most of my reading has been ebooks too.
Wishing you a great reading week, and plenty of red wine
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I am happily finding books and movies to enjoy, while also resting my eyes periodically. That seems to be yielding good results so far today.
Enjoy your week and your books, Shelleyrae, and stay safe.
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I am sorry to hear that you are not a fan of some of the meals prepared by the kitchen. That would be tough since I really do like to enjoy what I am eating 🙂 Thank goodness you were able to get food delivery. I do experience eye strain regularly which is why I sometimes have to take an evening and give myself a break from looking at anything online for a bit. Nice new reads this week! I do hope you love them all!
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Taking a break from reading and viewing does yield positive results…and I’ve been slowly picking up books and movies again today.
My breakfast and lunch order were good today. Let’s see what happens tonight! It is hard to order, since most of what they offer is either unappealing or not good for my digestive system (fats, etc.).
Enjoy your week, and stay safe and well.
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Your poor eyes! I hope you can give them a break for a day or two. It sounds like a good week overall, even with your kitcchen failures. I’m glad you were able to get a delivery.
Stay safe and happy reading!
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Thanks, Bea, who knew that getting a grocery delivery would help me shore up my strength to fight for better kitchen deliveries. Today’s deliveries have been spot on.
Stay safe and well, and enjoy your week.
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It feels good to complain at times right?! I’m glad your order from the grocery app came fast. That should make things better.
Stay safe and happy reading.
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Thanks for stopping by, Maureen, and I am happily enjoying my stocked refrigerator while also savoring the better service I have had today…after complaining. LOL.
Stay safe and well.
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It does seem like too many days all I do is sit at the computer reading stuff. You read some good books this week! I loved The Turn of the Key; I hope you enjoy it. We rely on deliveries here and luckily my delivery shoppers have done extremely well for us.
Have a great week and stay well!
Anne – Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
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I am enjoying the grocery app so far. I have a few more things to order….yesterday was a test run, and they succeeded so well that I plan to forge ahead.
Enjoy your week, Anne, and stay safe and well.
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They forgot the wine Laurel??? But that’s criminal! LOL I hope next week the fridge will be stocked as you like.
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They said they didn’t have any red wine…they said it abruptly, and with a big smile, which annoyed me the most. LOL.
Thanks for visiting, Sophie.
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I read A HEART IN THE BODY IN THE WORLD last year and found it very thoughtful. It is also a trigger book, so beware. Glad you found the shopping app. I wonder if the food from your living arrangement is limited by the coronavirus or just bad planning on their part. Ugh. My Sunday Salon and Coronavirus Diary
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Okay, I’ll be watching for those triggers, Anne. Enjoy your week, and stay safe.
As for the dining room, they have a big company that supplies everything they need, and I don’t believe the lack is from the disease. They just don’t pay attention to the requests, and then shrug and say “oh, well,” when someone complains.
Except yesterday, I made a fuss. And they brought something I requested. Not the original request, but an acceptable one. But it came slowly, of course. LOL
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I find that my eyes feel very fatigued and sometimes even blurry after too much reading and computer time. It’s terrible that you are having such a difficult time getting the food your order. You are fortunate to be able to order from outside sources ( I assume you are in an Independent living situation) , but that is no excuse to short you. Wonderful that your daughter sent you wine! Hope all is good this week.
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I am in the independent section of this residence, but the sheltering in place order prevents any of us from leaving our apartments. We’ve been on lockdown for two months.
We could leave, but if we do, we won’t be allowed back in.
So…the shopping app and what my daughter managed to send helped a lot. BTW, we are not allowed to see anybody, either. Not family and not friends. The orders are delivered to the staff, who bring it to our apartments.
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Sounds like the food situation will be resolved this week. Happy eating and reading!
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Thanks, vvb, I do like the feeling of taking control of a situation.
Enjoy your week!
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I would be complaining too.
So happy you were able to order food and have it delivered.
Nice mailbox…..I LOVED THIS IS HOW I LIED, but you know that already. 🙂 ENJOY when you read it.
Take care, Laurel.
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I can’t wait to read This Is How I Lied…I love this author.
I am also glad that my food situation is somewhat more manageable, since I can now order groceries from my app. To supplement the paltry foods they deliver, food I already paid for. Sigh.
Thanks for visiting, Elizabeth, and stay safe. Enjoy your books and your week.
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I feel so bad you’re having so many problems with your meals. You probably pay good money and they are not keeping their end of the bargain. Looks like you got some good books that will make for some good reading. Good wine and good books…it does help.:-)
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Thanks, Laura, I do pay a lot for services that are not being rendered. Skimpy and unattractive meals are not what I signed up for. I have struggled with the food here for almost a year (that’s how long I’ve been here!), but the last two months of lockdown have been the worst.
Breakfasts aren’t bad. If I could have breakfast for every meal, that might work for me. LOL.
Enjoy your week…and I do love wine and books.
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Oooh, I just added THIS IS HOW I LIED to my TBR! I am interested to hear what you think of it!
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I hope to love it, Melinda…her books always keep me engaged, so I am looking forward to it.
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We are so lucky to be able to order online. Imagine being in lockdown 40 years ago! The Sweeney Sisters is still on my wish list. I will keep an eye out for your review.
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So true, Veronica; it is a blessing that we have the technology to help us deal! Not only with ordering things, but watching movies and connecting online.
I am enjoying The Sweeney Sisters. Stay safe and well.
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No red wine?? Gawk. Looks like you have some great books though!
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Most nights they bring it, but then, out of nowhere, they’ll say, with a snarky smile, “no red wine tonight.” I know they hate that they’ve been delivering these trays for two months now, and most of us are not happy with the food. But being without the wine does seem like adding insult to injury.
Enjoy your week, Candace, and I am loving my books! Stay safe.
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Not getting what I want or need has definitely been a pain throughout this whole ordeal. Even my regular delivery drivers are messing up. I guess I should be happy that I can afford what I’m buying and not gripe, but it seems so challenging to stay cheery sometimes.
Hope you have a great week. Eager to hear what you think of The Sweeney Sisters.
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I completely agree, and when I “kvetch” about it, I do feel bad, since there are some who can’t afford to buy extra things when they are shorted by those who should be taking care of us.
I am enjoying The Sweeney Sisters, Cheryl, and hope that feeling continues.
Stay safe.
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I haven’t tried any of the grocery apps yet. My brother likes to go grocery shopping and is good about getting the things I put on his list even if they are things he doesn’t like to eat. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kathy, and it is fortunate that you have someone in the home who can buy what you want and need.
I hope the grocery app continues to work…and I supplement that with my Amazon orders, too.
Enjoy your books…and stay safe.
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I have eye strain too. I think it’s because I have been watching a ton of TV. I’m glad you were able to get the groceries you need. I get grocery deliveries, but they don’t always have what I want. I hope you have a good week!
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Thanks, AJ, I am trying to take breaks from reading and viewing…and so far, today is better.
I ordered groceries again today, and they replaced one item with another, but they communicated via text before taking that action. I am really liking the service. Now my fridge is almost too full!
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Your post made me smile when to wrote about your food/wine requests being ignored LOL Glad you found a work around. I always feel better when we have a full freezer and pantry and probably have over ordered during the pandemic LOL
Enjoy your new books. Sweeney Sisters makes me curious.
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Thanks, Diane, I do want my cupboards and shelves to be full, just in case, especially when the food and wine are not forthcoming from the kitchen. Food I have paid for in order to stay here.
One of the staff members that I don’t like said something to me when I complained about “no wine.” He said “beggars can’t be choosers,” and I reminded him that a paying resident is not a beggar.
I try to avoid him. I haven’t liked him from the beginning. Most staff are more pleasant than he is. LOL.
I am loving The Sweeney Sisters.
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I am glad you were able to find a quick and reliable source for groceries so you don’t have to strictly depend on the kitchens. Especially after those red wine failures! 🙂
Hang in there Laurel!
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Thanks, Erin, I am happy about it too! I do have to wait until I’m almost empty to order each time, as there is a minimum amount we have to order to get the service. That shouldn’t be a problem, though.
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I’m glad to know you were able to have some things delivered and got everything you want! Groceries deliveries truly are a blessing right now.
I really enjoyed The Turning of the Key, I hope you do too. Enjoy your books and have a great week!
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I am glad you enjoyed The Turn of the Key. I got mine as a paperback version, as I am still filling up my bookshelf…slowly.
Thanks for visiting, Kay, and my mood improved so much when I got those grocery deliveries.
Stay safe and well.
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Sorry to hear the food isn’t better and to your requests. That must be frustrating.
Sounds like you got a good food delivery app so that is happy.
I’m glad you are enjoying your reading and getting some interesting books.
Have a good week and enjoy your reading and watching.
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Yes, the food delivery has made all the difference, especially since many of the foods from the kitchen actually still make me sick (too fatty, etc.). Now I can substitute my purchases. Although it is frustrating, since I’m paying twice to eat! I pay this place, and then order my own foods. Sigh.
Books are helping keep me on track with my moods. Thanks for visiting, Martha, and stay safe and well.
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Slop for food and incorrect orders… Yeah, I’d be less than impressed by that! At least you managed to get a shop delivered, and so quickly! Over here, we’re struggling to get a slot booked and when we do it’s typically a week or two to wait for delivery!
I hope this week has been a good one.
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So sorry you have to wait so long for deliveries, Nicci. I feel fortunate to have a grocery store nearby that is delivering quickly. It has only been that way recently, however. Before I found the delivery service, I relied on Amazon a lot.
Stay safe and enjoy your reading.
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