Top Ten Worst Places and Time periods to accidentally time travel

 One of the things my siblings and I like to do is imagine we had a time machine. Sometimes we talk about what we wish we could see or experience. Or if we changed something in history, what the consequences would be (great cause and effect class, btw). Recently, I asked what would be the worst times and/or places to accidentally land yourself in and get stuck as I would probably get myself killed. The Sibs are still forming their list. This was my top ten and the reasons why.

1. Pompeii

Firstly, Vesuvius. I don't think I would ever feel comfortable being near a volcano even if it was dormant. So being near a violently active one is a pure nightmare. Secondly, the lifestyle difference is way too sharp.

2. French Revolution

I like paranoia in movies or books. Not every day life. Also super fond of my neck. I'm very connected to it. Madam Guillotine and I wouldn't be friends.

3. Lusitania

First, I can't swim. Second, this ship sank so fast I question whether I would've even been fast enough getting my life jacket on. Third, I don't like large bodies of water soooooo...........

4. Galveston Hurricane

Can't Swim. Even if I could, the flooding could've still drowned me or the debris could've taken me out.

5. Salem Witch Hunt

If my time machine was ever so rude as to yeet me as is during this time period, I am probably going to die. My clothes and speech are way to modern, I'm going to be a glaring red flag.

6. 1666 London Fire

Um,fire. I don't do fire unless it's in a grill. This fire ate a nice chunk of London and killed a goodly portion of people. So, nope.

7. San Francisco Earthquake and Fire

Same as above, also I don't want to experience an earthquake. I like not experiencing that. Again.

8. Chicago/ Peshtigo Fire

Still same as above. The Peshtigo Fire was America's deadliest fire and many people still know little about it. It would be incredibly easy to get lost in the chaos. So, Double Nope.

9. The Children's Blizzard,1888

Blizzards are great when in a cup from Dairy Queen, with modern conveniences, all the supplies one could need, and heat. Lacking all these, I refuse to leave. I will help fix the time machine.

10. Any time or place with the Black Plague

Yeah, that will always be a hard pass from me. I will pick up a plague suit on my way out. I'm staying in the machine until you all get it going again. I am not doing it.

As always, feel free to leave me a message below.

K-Dramas I watched recently

 I thought I would let you all know a little about what I watched recently. No, I did not binge watch in one sitting. That would make me some type of zombie. <insert shudder>.  Synopsis are from Asian Wiki.

The Legend of the Kitchen Solider

Kang Seong-Jae is a soldier and gets transferred to the Ganglim Post, where First Sergeant Park Jae-Young, First Lieutenant Choo Ye-Rin and Military Cook Yoon Dong-Hyun are stationed. Kang Seong-Jae was the best trainee at the training center, but due to his poor family background & being raised by his single poor father, he is classified as a soldier under special observation. With his experience helping his father's food truck, he is assigned to be Yoon Dong-Hyun's assistant in the cafeteria kitchen. At that time, a game-like hologram "Cook's path" appears in front of him. As he completes the quests given by the game-like hologram, his cooking skills improve. He becomes recognized for his skill and supported by the people.

Absurd comedy meets edge of your seat drama. This show is one I watched as it aired and strangely wasn't filled with crazy anxiety over. Honestly, this show is a masterpiece of how to blend together a bunch of things you never expected to work. Also this show is straight up food 🌽. IYKYK. Watch while eating or if you have done so already. You're welcome.

Filing for Love

Joo In-A works as the head of an audit department at Haemu Group. She is a perfectionist, who never allows compromise when it comes to work. If somebody gets marked by her, that person gets ruthlessly crushed by her. She is professional enough to earn the title of the youngest female executive at Haemu Group. She gets entangled with Noh Ki-Jun, who she has appointed to deal with internal scandals, and encounters chaos at work. Noh Ki-Jun is smart and good looking. His life goes by smoothly, but Joo In-A's appearance suddenly puts a brake on his smooth life. He is demoted from the elite audit team 1 to the problematic audit team 3. His job is to deal with internal scandals.

Meanwhile, Jeon Jae-Yeol is a third generation heir from a chaebol family that runs Haemu Group. He seems like a perfect guy, but he hides a void behind his elegant appearance. He opts for reality over love to win a precarious race for succession in the Haemu Group. Park A-Jeong  works as Jeon Jae-Yeol's secretary. She realized that her beautiful appearance can make her life more difficult, so she has kept her guard up. Yet, she begins to have a severe crush for the first time in her life.

If you are looking for an enemies to lovers workplace rom-com that will make you laugh until you pee a little, look no further. I know that is a tiny bit of an over share but that is the best way to describe it. We got an alpha shell, beta core male lead and a tiger female lead. The second male and female leads' storyline is also incredibly compelling.

Sold Out on You

Matthew Lee is young farmer nicknamed Quail. He speaks with a gruff tone, but he has a warm heart. He cultivates white-flowered nuri mushroom with great care. One day, Dam Ye-Jin shows up during his tranquil routine. She is the top host for home shopping network Hit and she is personally obsessed with white-flowered nuri mushroom. She is here to renew their contract for the white-flowered nuri mushroom. No matter how many times he refuses, she persistently pursues him. Their relationship soon blossoms into romance.

The journey from "meet-hate" to "I love you" is hilarious and fun. Sweet, cute, and fun. Tsundere male lead who can't turn away from someone in need of help and a female lead who puts a good front on in front of everyone but is silently breaking inside. Rom-Com with healing.

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call

Baek Kang-Hyuk  is a genius trauma surgeon who has performed surgeries in conflict zones around the world. He is confident in his abilities and has a bulldozer like personality when he thinks he is doing the right thing. He begins to work at a university hospital and leads the severe trauma team there. The severe trauma team is a double edged sword for the university hospital. This is because as the severe trauma team saves more patients, the hospital goes further in in the red financially. Besides Baek Kang-Hyuk, the severe trauma team consists of Yang Jae-Won, Nurse Cheon Jang-Mi and anesthesiologist resident Park Gyeong-Won. Yang Jae-Won belonged to the proctological surgery department that is led by Professor Han Yu-Rim, but Yang Jae-Won was scouted by Baek Kang-Hyuk and joined his team. Yang Jae-Won becomes Baek Kang-Hyuk’s first pupil. Baek Kang-Hyuk turns the severe trauma team from a nominal existence to a team that actually goes out into the field and saves lives.

Do you like medical dramas? If you are fond of arrogant doctors, spunky nurses, gory cases and hospital politics, this show may be for you. It took me way longer than I expected to get through this 8 episode series. I did procrastinate....

My Royal Nemesis

Kang Dan-Sim is known as Joseon's most villainous femme fatale and she is given poison by law. When she awakens, she finds herself in the year 2026 and in the body of Shin Seo-Ri, who works as an unknown actress.

Cha Se-Gye is the only heir to Chail Group, which is one of the leading companies in South Korea. He is notorious for his arrogant and rude behavior. One day, he is confronted by Shin Seo-Ri. She dressed like a shaman and acts like she is from the Joseon era.

Time travel, Palace intrigue, and Chaebol drama all with a dose a refreshing humor. I literally had a spit take moment with this show. I like that the show didn't take itself super seriously. If you're a K-Period Drama newbie or just someone who only indulges occasionally, this is something you will like. It blends the past and present spectacularly.

Hope you all found something you would like to watch yourself. As always, feel free to leave me a message below.

Stress, Man, Stress

 At the time I am writing this (August), our refrigerator has decided to quit working. It was old and what on earth were we to expect after that big power surge? Surely not that it would keep going like it was straight out the factory? Oh no. How very unrealistic. So here we are, food in coolers and our neighbor's freezer, waiting for a new one.

If this has ever happened to you, you know how inconvenient it is. If not, let me give you a comparison. It's like being all soapy from head to toe when your water heater dies in the middle of the worst winter to date. Need another one? How about running out of gas on the middle of the world's longest bridge during the nastiest storm you've ever seen. In short, inconvenient and the timing could've been better. I know you can't time things like this but if I could, I would.

By the time you read this. we will either have our fridge fixed or have a new one. That doesn't mean this stress wasn't real or bothersome. It just means we survived it.

As always, feel free to leave me a message below.

The Post 400

 It is just a little amazing to me that I managed to make it to this milestone. I never imagined that I'd write for so long and have so many posts.

I have always loved writing. My fondest childhood memories almost always included either reading or writing. In school, words always made sense to me in a way numbers never really did. Don't get me wrong, I passed math. I just felt more comfortable working with reading and writing.

In short, it's both surprising and not surprising that I managed to get this far. This blog was a slow start but I like how far I've managed to come. So, here's to another 400! 🎉

As always, feel free to leave me a message below.

Robin Hood Retelling that won't make you cringe

 As a kid loved watching the Robin Hood episodes of Wishbone (Yes, I know I am dating myself with that comment). So, in honor of childhood memories, here are a few of my favorite retellings of Robin Hood.

Sherwood - Meagan Spooner

Robin of Locksley is dead.

Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on, but the people of Locksley town, persecuted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, need a protector. And the dreadful Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff’s right hand, wishes to step into Robin’s shoes as Lord of Locksley and Marian’s fiancé.

Who is there to stop them?

Marian never meant to tread in Robin’s footsteps—never intended to stand as a beacon of hope to those awaiting his triumphant return. But with a sweep of his green cloak and the flash of her sword, Marian makes the choice to become her own hero: Robin Hood.

Robin of Locksley is dead. He died in the Holy Land protecting King Richard the Lionheart. Now Marian, grief-ridden, finds herself looking for something, anything to keep herself busy. She may have, sort of, found being a vigilante (in the guise of her dead fiance) as her new calling in life. It really does hit you in the feels right from the start. Just a heads up for all those who ship Guy of Gisborne and Maid Marian, this is for you😘. He will not be our villain here. He shall be the Love Interest.

Hood - Jenny Elder Moke

Isabelle of Kirklees has only ever known a quiet life inside the sheltered walls of the convent, where she lives with her mother, Marien. But after she is arrested by royal soldiers for defending innocent villagers, Isabelle becomes the target of the Wolf, King John's ruthless right hand. Desperate to keep her daughter safe, Marien helps Isabelle escape and sends her on a mission to find the one person who can help: Isabelle's father, Robin Hood. As Isabelle races to stay out of the Wolf's clutches and find the father she's never known, she is thrust into a world of thieves and mercenaries, handsome young outlaws, new enemies with old grudges, and a king who wants her entire family dead. As she joins forces with Robin and his Merry Men in a final battle against the Wolf, will Isabelle find the strength to defy the crown and save the lives of everyone she holds dear? In Hood, author Jenny Elder Moke reimagines the world of Robin Hood in lush, historical detail and imbues her story with more breathless action than has ever come out of Sherwood Forest before.

Imagine if Robin Hood and Maid Marion had a daughter. She'd have her mother's bravery and her father's cunning mind. Her high jinks will leave you in stitches and at the edge of your seat. I dare you not to enjoy this one.

A Daring Sacrifice - Jody Hedlund

A reverse twist on the Robin Hood story filled with romance, adventure, twists, and turns, a treat for all fans of historical fiction and medieval stories, featuring a strong female character who can kick butt in a cloak.

For three years, the Cloaked Bandit has terrorized Wessex, robbing the nobility by knifepoint and a well-placed arrow. But little does anyone know, this bandit is in fact Juliana Wessex, the rightful ruler of the land, and a girl her tyrannical uncle—the current Lord Wessex—believes was killed along with father.

Juliana has become skilled at hiding from Lord Wessex in the forest, using her stolen goods to provide food and shelter to the peasants her uncle has taxed into poverty. But when she robs Collin Goodrich, her red hair betrays her true identity. Lord Collin remembers Juliana from their childhood—and challenges her to stay on his estate for a week in hopes she will leave her thieving ways and become a proper lady once more. Juliana is intrigued by Collin and his charms, but only time will tell if he can overcome her distaste of the nobility—as well as win her heart.

A rightful heiress doing her utmost to take care of her people who are suffering under a usurper's cruel reign. A Knight curious about the woman who had the audacity to steal from him. A deal between the two of them. An Enemies(?) to Lovers tale that is filled with those trademark Hedlund toe curling moments along with words of faith.

The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest - Melanie Dickerson

In the Robin Hood reimagining, a beautiful maiden poaches to feed the poor, while a handsome forester is on a mission to catch her.

The margrave owns the finest hunting grounds for miles around—and who teaches children to read, but by night this young beauty has become the secret lifeline to the poorest of the poor.

For Jorgen Hartman, the margrave’s forester, tracking down a poacher is a duty he is all too willing to perform. Jorgen inherited his post from the man who raised him . . . a man who was murdered at the hands of a poacher.

When Jorgen and Odette meet at the Midsummer festival and share a connection during a dance, neither has any idea that they are already adversaries.

The one man she wants is bound by duty to capture her; the one woman he loves is his cunning target . . . What becomes of a forester who protects a notorious poacher? What becomes of a poacher when she is finally discovered?

A blend of Swan Lake and Robin Hood set in 1300s Germany. We have a beautiful Poacher who gives her kills to the poor and a handsome Forester who fall in love with her. He doesn't know that she's the one he's searching for. She is praying desperately that he won't find out. Oh, the tension!

I hope I inspired you to find a fun new read, not vigilantism. I do not advocate that by the way. As always, feel free to leave me a message below.

Gotta Love Politics

 Love in the political world is a rare thing to see or encounter. So many things we think are real turn out to be fake. Below are some books that I think you might like.

The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead

As a shy school librarian, Alexis Stone is comfortable keeping out of the spotlight. But when she’s dumped for being too meek—in bed!—she decides she needs to change. And what better way to kick-start her new more adventurous life than with her first one-night stand?

Enter Logan, the gorgeous, foul-mouthed stranger she meets at a hotel bar. Audacious and filterless, Logan is Alexis’s opposite—and boy, do opposites attract! Just as she’s about to fulfill her hookup wish, the hotel catches fire in a freak lightning storm. In their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Cameras Logan promptly—and shockingly—flees.

Alexis is bewildered until suddenly pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. Turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot candidate challenging the Texas governor’s seat. The salacious scandal is poised to sink his career—and jeopardize Alexis’s job—until a solution is proposed: he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong?

Headsup: this one is spicy and not for kids.

Let's come of the heels off of a nasty break up by reinventing yourself into a new daring version of yourself. ✔ Proceed to lie about your real name to the super hot stranger who comes to your rescue.✔ Finding out that your almost ONS (stupid fire)is running for Governor✔Fake date for two months without catching feelings: Epic Fail. Two Opposites clash and attract in this juicy novel. Word of caution: if you are a Conservative, this book may be too Liberal to your taste.

Stars,Stripes and Summer Nights by Celeste Dador

Abigail Cary-Alzona, eldest daughter of President Constance Alzona, just wanted one normal night as a teenager. But after an impulsive pizza order later makes her front-page news, Abby is officially exiled to a Wi-Fi-free country inn for the summer, along with her little sister, Elle.

The inn belongs to Gabriel Calabrese’s family. Gabriel is sarcastic, camera-obsessed, and definitely not dazzled by presidential perks (also, kind of the reason for the whole pizza fiasco). But Abby’s determined to make the most of her time away from the White House—with a summer bucket list full of things real teens get to do. Pool parties. Picnics. Maybe even a first kiss.

As she and Elle dive into small-town life, Abby starts to see what makes Gabriel tick. And maybe, just maybe, she’s falling for him. . . .

A YA novel

A First Daughter, who always puts her family first, yearns to spend her last summer in high school like a normal teen. Until a little incident (ahem....Pineapplegate), she is sent to spend the summer with her aunt who is currently living in small town, US of A. Not the Summer Abby planned. Especially since the whole cause of Pineapplegate will be there too. And don't think she'll forgive him because he's smart, hot, funny, and did I mention hot?

Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner

Wes left Addie at the altar two decades ago . . . and that was supposed to be the end of the story.

When her life crashes and burns in a flurry of secrets and redacted information, Addie Atwater-Elwyn hightails it home to the tiny mountain town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado--back to living with her dad, back to working a low-paying job, back to a life of disappointments. Growing up, nobody expected their local girl to become a high-ranking CIA analyst, married to a gorgeous CIA operative. But that was Addie's life until she lost . . . well, everything.

Now she's trying to pick up the pieces of her broken life with a little help from old friends. But there's one old friend she knows her life is better without--Wesley Hobbes, her childhood sweetheart who left her standing at the altar when they were eighteen years old. Truth be told, Addie would be perfectly content never seeing Wes's stupid face ever again--which makes it very inconvenient that he's now a beloved senator and presidential frontrunner, his face everywhere she looks. But that has nothing to do with Addie personally. He might make history, but in her book, he is history.

So, when the unwelcome Wes appears back in their hometown, no one rolls out the red carpet--not Addie and not an entire town that was forced to pick sides (and unanimously chose Addie) decades ago. Senator Hobbes certainly won't win the popular vote in Adelaide Springs.

Wes, meanwhile, is sitting on a few secrets of his own, including the political scoop of the decade: he'd seriously rather gouge his eyes out than spend another minute in politics, much less ever go anywhere near the White House. Addie knows there has to be more to the story, and her curiosity is clouding her judgment. You can take the girl out of the CIA, but it's not so easy to shake the CIA out of the girl. Of course, it's not just curiosity (and the acknowledgement that his face isn't so stupid after all) that's been reawakened inside her. But after more than two decades, it's too late. Wes and Addie already had their chance. Right?

This one is a sweet Second chance Romance. Addie is, maybe just slightly, bitter still about Wes leaving her at the altar 22 years ago. The 40 year old Former CIA analyst widow can't seem to wrap her brain around the man Wes has become. Wes just wanted to take a teeny, tiny brake from his Presidential campaign in his childhood hometown. He didn't expect that the first person he'd meet would be the one he hurt the most in the town he hurt the most. Rebuilding this burnt bridge is going to take some work. Word of caution: Be prepared for spoilers from her other books.

First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

When Cornelia Litchfield Case, the widow of the recently assassinated president, learns that his successor, a widower, expects her to continue to fulfill the responsibilities of the first lady, Cornelia disguises herself so she can have some time on her own, meets a man with something to hide.

A widowed former First Lady goes on a unannounced (she ran away from her Secret Service Detail) road trip across America. Along the way she crosses paths with a snarky teenage waif and her infant sister, and a very jaded, very handsome undercover reporter. It was funny, heartwarming, and romantic all at once.

I hope you all manage to find a new read. As always, feel free to leave me a message below.

You have to hold it in

 Recently, LB2 and a family member has been building up their own little ebook library. In passing, I saw a few of the authors were ones I already had works from. I enthusiastically said they could get a copy from me and they didn't have to go hunting around for the rest of the series. I got them covered.

I was, to put it bluntly, rebuffed. LB2 said that if he wanted something from me he'll ask and sent me on my way. My family member said that I got her all confused and ask me to go. They want to build on their own terms, with little assistance from me.

I won't lie and say it didn't hurt. It did. I was trying to be nice. But, mature me understands that it is cruel to deprive a fellow bookworm the joy of cultivating their own little library. Immature me will just have to get over herself.

So I will now try, keyword here is try, to let them be. If they want book recommendations or more, let them come to me. I don't want to ruin that new book buzz for them and it seems like I had been. It stings even more because I just had a massive blip and lost a good portion of my books. So it hurts. Like I just lost I don't know how many books and I will have to try and recover.

Honestly, I want to ugly cry. The kind where snot dribbles down your face and you eye swell up. But one must keep it together. I lost some music and books that I can probably get back. But all my ASMR...😭 My little stories that I'd listen to as I worked😭😭😭. I will recover. Eventually. So while that happens, I will not be focusing on writing about books so much. Let a girl heal.

As always, feel free to leave me a message below.