does the First Lie Win?

 

   

I have been very impressed with the books chosen by the Reese Witherspoon Book Club. I feel the books are more accessible and entertaining with a clear mission: to spotlight stories with women at the center.  Her selections often span contemporary fiction, thrillers, and historical novels and it is apparent that she chooses many of the books to adapt them into a film or series. I often find I am casting many of the characters while I read the book.

One of my favorite selections from Reese Witherspoon’s book club is First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. It’s a fast-paced, twisty thriller centered around Evie Porter— a con artist, who is living a carefully constructed lie. Her identity, her relationship, even her home life is all part of an assignment from a mysterious employer known only as Mr. Smith. But when her assignment is Ryan Summer, she finds that she is developing real emotions for him and her lies begin to surface and secrets unravel, Evie finds herself caught between completing her assignment and her loyalty to her mark.

The book is packed with suspense, flashbacks, and a few gasp-worthy twists that kept me flipping pages late into the night. It’s not just a thriller—it’s a character study wrapped in a con game. My understanding is that this book currently is in the development phase for Hulu. No release date yet but trust me you will want to read the book first 

The true question in this book is "Who are we when we shed our masks? And what happens when the lies start to feel like truth?" I would love your feedback on these questions.

Happy Reading.

Heavenly coffee

 

Lately, I’ve been indulging my passion for coffee shops. I suppose it all began back on Long Island, when I was young and I’d hop on the Long Island Railroad heading into Manhattan looking for adventures. My first stop? Chock-Full O’ Nuts—the place with that heavenly coffee.

Sure, the coffee was good. But what really stole my heart was their date-nut bread and cream cheese sandwich—it was one of their most iconic offerings. This sweet, simple sandwich featured two slices of dense date-nut bread slathered with cream cheese, often with chopped walnuts mixed in. Divine doesn’t even begin to cover it. And the ambiance, if you could call it that, was oddly comforting. Just a continuous lunch counter, no frills. You’d hover behind someone seated, waiting for them to finish so you could slide into their spot. No reservations, no pretense.  No booths, no baristas, one kind of coffee served black, with just cream or cream and sugar and sandwiches. Simplicity at its best.

Chock-Full O’ Nuts wasn’t just a coffee shop—it was a New York institution born from resilience. William Black started with roasted nuts in Times Square, pivoted during the Depression, and created a chain that served affordable lunches to working-class New Yorkers. Jackie Robinson even joined the company after baseball, a quiet nod to its progressive spirit.

Charlotte, NC is full of cafés that serve excellent coffee and creative food, and I am on a mission to try as many as possible. Amélie’s on Pineville-Matthews Road holds a special charm. I visited recently with a friend, and despite the ongoing renovation—yes, it’s a bit messy—the experience was delightful. The coffee was rich, the food good and the decor is eclectic and whimsical   It’s the kind of place where mismatched furniture, a collection of art and chandeliers made from rolling pins or upside-down cakes feel perfectly at home.

I returned with my daughter not long after, and she captured a quick video that sums it up beautifully

Check this YouTube short by my daughter. 

If you have ever been to Chock-Full O’ Nuts in Manhattan, please share your experience and tell me your favorite sandwich.  Also, if you are in Charlotte try Amelie's.  They have 4 locations in the area and let me know what you think.

1. Uptown – 380 S College Street

2. Park Road – 524 Brandywine Road E

3. Carmel Commons – 7715 Pineville Matthews Road (the one you visited)

4. NoDa – 136 E. 36th Street

I feel Bad About my Neck

I Feel Bad About My Neck and Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron

I feel bad about my neck.  Honestly, I feel bad about my neck—and I have for a while now. It’s one of the many subjects Nora Ephron tackles in her book, and I couldn’t agree with her more. According to her dermatologist, a woman’s neck starts to go south at 43. I’m not sure why 43 is the magic number and not a milestone like 45, but that’s what she said.

And here’s the worst part: it can only be fixed with surgery. Botox won’t help. I HATE SURGERY. I HATE SURGEONS. A very good friend of mine recently had the procedure done, and she looks absolutely amazing. But she’s much braver than I am. And once again, for the record—I HATE SURGERY.

So now I have to decide just how badly I really feel about my neck. Maybe I’ll start wearing scarves. Or maybe I’ll buck up and go for the surgery—and while they’re at it, they can throw in some liposuction, a tummy tuck, and oh yeah, a nose job!

Another thing Nora Ephron talks about is purses. And honestly, I kind of agree with her. I won’t try to paraphrase her brilliant explanation—she says it best—so I’ll just let you read it for yourself.

As for me, I go through phases with my purse. Sometimes I carry a small one, sometimes a large one. Right now, I’m deep in my large purse era. I’ve realized I can actually measure my stress level by the state of my purse’s interior. When I’m really stressed, it’s basically a mobile trash bin. When I’m feeling calm and collected, it’s surprisingly organized.

Cooking and cookbooks are another topic Nora Ephron explores in her book. She actually met some cookbook authors and was influenced by them. I remember back in the ’80s, I was pretty obsessed with both. I had the time, the interest, and—most importantly—no kids around to complain when I made something out of the ordinary. They used to call it “orphanage food,” which eventually got shortened to O.F. What do kids know anyway?

Now that I’m semi-retired, the creativity bug has bitten again. I don’t cook a lot, but I do love to experiment and try new things.

Read the book she is very insightful

Who Needs Meat and Potatoes for Dinner?

 

I am a grazer, and as I get older, I find myself leaning into that even more. With working part time and all my, social engagements, I often don't have the patience to cook a whole dinner. But who am I kidding, even when I was working full-time and chauffeuring my daughter to her many activities, I still had evenings where I just didn't feel like making the tradition traditional “meat and potatoes” dinner, so I didn’t.

Instead, I’d whip up what my family lovingly called a “do dad dinner”—a meal cobbled together from repurposed leftovers or ingredients on hand, meant to be less stuffy and more spontaneous. It wasn’t about shortcuts; it was about creativity and flexibility. (or so I tell myself)

The secret with meals like these is being thoughtful. It’s easy to turn “low effort” into “high calorie” if you’re not paying attention. But when you stock your pantry with purpose, do dad dinners can be healthy, satisfying, and scalable—perfect whether you're feeding just yourself or your family.

These days, I always keep the essentials on hand: canned beans, good tuna, lentil pasta, rice, orzo. They’re like culinary puzzle pieces—ready to snap together into something nourishing. I also keep flour tortillas in the fridge for wrapping up leftover veggies or chicken. A little cheese, a quick sauté, and dinner is done.

Recently, while wandering through the cookbook aisle at my local library, I spotted Snacking Dinners by Georgia Freedman—so I checked it out. Her idea of “snacking dinners” isn’t quite the same as mine, but she offers some great ideas for what I’d call true snacks. One dish that caught my eye—and that I’d happily consider a satisfying dinner—was her white bean and salami toast. Simple, quick to put together, hearty, and just the kind of thing that is satisfying without being fussy.

These are the ingredients I always keep on hand—ready to be elevate my do dad ingredients and help me transform them into something satisfying. They are my building blocks for spontaneous, low-effort meals that still feel thoughtful.

🥫 Shelf Staples

• Canned beans (white, black, chickpeas—whatever suits your mood)

• Good-quality tuna 

• Lentil or chickpea pasta

• Orzo, rice, or quinoa

🧊 Fridge Friends

• Flour tortillas (for wraps, quesadillas, or impromptu flatbreads)

• Eggs (the ultimate do dad dinner hero)

• Cheese odds and ends (grated, crumbled, or sliced)

• Leftover roasted veggies or cooked proteins

• Yogurt or sour cream for sauces and dressings

🌿 Flavor Lifters

• Fresh herbs or scallions

• Lemon juice or vinegar

• Garlic and ginger (fresh or paste)

🍽️ Quick Combos

• White beans + tuna + lemon + herbs = Mediterranean mash-up

• Orzo + roasted veggies + feta = warm salad or cold bowl

• Tortilla + scrambled eggs + salsa = breakfast-for-dinner wrap

So, tell me—what’s your version of a do dad dinner? What pantry staples or snacky combinations do you reach for when dinner needs to be quick, comforting, and just a little bit clever?

Change Good or Bad? When your Cheese Moves

I first discovered Who Moved My Cheese? during a leadership seminar. Each of us was handed a copy and told to go home and read it. At the time, I didn’t give it much thought—but then I figured, why not give it a chance?

The book is short—easily read in an hour or two—but its impact lingers far longer. It’s a parable featuring four characters: two mice, Sniff and Scurry, who rely on instinct, and two little people, Hem and Haw, who represent human behaviors. Their names cleverly reflect their personalities.

They live in a Maze—a metaphor for the world we live and navigate daily: our workplace, relationships, and communities. Their goal? To find Cheese, which symbolizes things we strive to achieve in our lives, success, love, health, or happiness.

At first, there’s plenty of cheese. Isn’t that always the case when something is new? A fresh relationship feels amazing, maybe even like love. A new job challenges you to grow and excel. A move to a new community brings the excitement of discovery, even if it’s prompted by a job change or the decision to downsize or upsize. You’re learning your surroundings, seeking new friends. And while change can be energizing, it can also be hard.

As in real life, things shift. The cheese begins to disappear. Sniff and Scurry adapt quickly, leaving their comfort zone to search for new cheese. They trust their instincts. Hem and Haw, however, struggle. They cling to what remains, unsure how long it will last. What should they do?

Not long after that seminar, my company began downsizing. In hindsight, I think the seminar was their subtle way of saying, “The cheese may run out.” I kept thinking about Haw, saw myself in him. After the cuts, I still had my job, but many colleagues who I had worked with for years and enjoyed seeing, weren’t so lucky. It was a difficult Goodbye.

I reread the book and chose to embrace change. I found a new job at a satellite company. At first, it was exciting, cutting-edge technology, new challenges. But the company was poorly run. The founders were great salesmen, but not strong businessmen. They hired the wrong people to guide their growth. I stayed for a while, but it wasn’t a good fit.

That’s when the lessons from the book came rushing back. It was time to find new cheese. This time, the transition was easier. And I found a job that was truly wonderful.

I try to keep the main lessons Haw learned which he wrote on the wall as he searched for new cheese.  They are:

• “If you do not change, you can become extinct.”

• “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”

• “The quicker you let go of old cheese; the sooner you find new cheese.”

I live my life with these things in mind.

We’ve all been Hem or Haw at some point—hesitant, uncertain, hoping things will stay the same. But sometimes, the best thing we can do is lace up our sneakers and go looking for new cheese.

Have you noticed your maze shifting lately? Please share your story

You may want to read the book. Its an older book.  I am not sure the local libraries keep a copy.  If they don't have it, check Amazon, here is the link.

Wacky Mahjong in Honor of International Mahjong Day

 

International Mahjong Day is celebrated on August 1.  In honor of this day our mahjong community got together to celebrate by playing Wacky Mahjong.

Wacky Mahjong is an online platform that adds a whimsical twist to the timeless game of Mahjong. It combines classic tile-matching gameplay with unexpected quirks and competitive features, turning each match into a lively battle of strategy and speed. Players can sign up, collect play credits, and jump straight into the action—whether you're a seasoned pro or just in it for the fun.

If you're familiar with standard Mahjong or Mahjong Solitaire, Wacky Mahjong adds a layer of whimsy—think unexpected tile designs, humorous animations, or themed challenges that break from tradition.

The organizers did a fantastic job bringing the online game to life in person, and I’m sure everyone had a great time. Their creativity and attention to detail made the event both engaging and memorable.

August 9th, National book Lovers Day

 

National Book Lovers Day is August 9th. It is a joyful tribute to the written word.  I am proud to call myself a book lover.  For me, books are not just entertainment, they are my companions and portals into places I have never been. I am at peace when I am reading.

This year I plan to willingly sacrifice an entire afternoon to read a book, I might finish one I’ve already started, or I may dive into something new and let the story carry me away.

I’ve been participating in Amazon’s quarterly reading challenge, and my original goal for the year was 52 books—one per week. But it’s only August, and I’ve already read 40, so I’ve decided to raise the bar to 75. In addition to reading on Kindle, I still enjoy the feel of a physical book now and then. Since Kindle doesn’t track hard copies, I tally those in my head. By reading both digital and printed books, I know I’ll reach my goal, and maybe even surpass it. So, I’ve decided to quietly increase the number in my mind, just for fun.

Books have a way of marking time, shaping thought, and deepening joy. On August 9th, I’ll celebrate not just the stories I’ve read, but the ones still waiting to be discovered.

Can you picnic?

 

There’s something quietly magical about picnics. You can enjoy one anywhere, a patch of grass in the park, poolside, or even your own backyard. But when I think of a picnic, I imagine a beautiful outdoor setting paired with thoughtfully prepared, culinary-inspired food, shared with friends or family.

That wasn’t always the case.

The setting? I had that part down. Scenic spaces have always called to me. But the food, the kind that feels inspired and a little indulgent, I am still working on that.

I still remember the first time my family joined friends for an outdoor picnic and concert at a vineyard. The scene was stunning: rows of grapevines, the late afternoon sun, music drifting through the air, and a sense of ease that felt almost like the setting of a movie.

My picnic contribution? Definitely more “grab-and-go.” than gourmet. Let’s just say I took the easy route and stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken, picking up a bucket of chicken and biscuits. And to be fair—fried chicken is delicious. There’s nothing wrong with it. But my friend? She had quite literally prepared the most delightful gourmet spread. Every dish felt intentional, and full of flavor. It was clear she’d put real thought into her choices, crafting a menu that elevated the entire experience. She was an inspiration—and that picnic planted the seed for how I wanted to show up creatively in moments like these.

Since then, I’ve learned to embrace the art of the picnic. It’s not about perfection—it’s about expressing my creative side. A crusty loaf of rosemary focaccia, marinated olives, a chilled bottle of prosecco, and a wedge of brie. Add my peach, arugula, and bleu cheese salad, and my work is done. 

Picnics are really more than just a meal. They’re a chance to be creative with a touch of improvisation. I’ve come to love the process—choosing ingredients, packing with intention, and setting the scene. And maybe that’s the real beauty of a picnic. It invites us to pause, to gather, to celebrate the everyday. It reminds us to take pleasure in simple things like focaccia, brie and prosecco and shared moments with friends and family.

Passages des Panoramas

 

Before I travel somewhere, I like to do my homework and research the area.  I read what trip advisor recommends and see what seasoned travel writers have to say. So many travel writers are quick to point out that when in Paris you should step beyond the iconic sights.  Please don't get me wrong, the Eiffel Tour and Sacre Coeur are absolutely a must see.

Passages de Panoramas often comes up so when my daughter and I decided to visit Paris last Fall, we put it onto our must-see list. The most impressive thing about the Passages is the fact that you step off a busy Parisian boulevard to enter a place that has been in Paris since 1799. It's the city's oldest covered passage. We were expecting old world charm and the whisper of patrons who had passed through this hallowed hall. In some ways it did deliver. You do feel like you are stepping back in history with its faded grandeur. But in reality, the shops and restaurants lacked the spark we were hoping for, and it felt like it had lost its soul. 

One silver lining, there were no crowds.  It was nice to visit, but not somewhere I would recommend or plan to return to.

And when in Paris it is essential to see the tourist sites.  The Basilica of the Sacre Coeur is stunning.  Located atop Montmartre it is the highest point in Paris and offers spectacular views of the city. And Montmartre itself is a must see. The cobblestoned streets, the artists painting and the cafes serving outstanding food is a must. 

We had lunch at the Cafe Chappe. It was buzzing with the lunchtime crowd, but we were glad they could squeeze us in.    The reviews may be mixed, and the staff is not particularly warm and fuzzy, but the pasta dish we ate was delicious.  

Elinor Olifant is Completely fine

 

Meet Eleanor Oliphant. Chances are, we all know someone like her or perhaps have a relative who shares her quirks. She struggles with social skills and cues. She tends to say exactly what’s on her mind, regardless of the setting. Her life is carefully planned and structured to avoid unnecessary interactions with people. Weekends are spent with her creature comforts: frozen pizza, vodka, and phone calls with “Mummy.” And yet, in her mind, everything is just fine.

A chance encounter with Raymond, the awkward and chronically unkempt IT guy from her office changes her well-ordered life.  When the two stumble upon Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become unlikely friends who rescue each other from the lives of isolation they have each been living. Raymond’s patient warmth and clumsy compassion gradually help Eleanor confront the emotional wounds she’s long kept buried. Slowly, through shared acts of kindness and quiet companionship, the three start to mend the loneliness that had long been part of their lives.

Living in a retirement community, I see shades of this story all around me. Living here has brought me into contact with so many wonderful people, neighbors who genuinely care for one another and offer support in small, meaningful ways. That sense of camaraderie is something I deeply cherish. This type of interaction can be life changing for some.

Of course, like any community, there’s a small minority who seem to find satisfaction in complaining or stirring up conflict. Whether it stems from personal unhappiness or simply a difficult disposition, their negativity can cast a shadow. Maybe a chance interaction in their life, can change their attitude. Still, I try to meet it with understanding, even if I don’t always know the reason behind their behavior.

As for me, I’ve reached a point in life where I no longer take time for granted. I don’t know how many days I have left on this earth, but I do know how I want to spend them: being happy, helpful, and kind. Be Kind to one another!

If you have not read Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine, consider adding it to your reading list.  I really enjoyed it. And please comment if you have read the book.