My 2017 Clubman (my fourth Mini) is in for repairs. My Loaner is the 2027 Countryman. Mini Cooper has lost its way. This car is not fun to drive. A Mini Cooper that isn't fun to drive??? Mind blown. It feels just like my husband's SUV. Boring. Clumsy. The door handles are terrible. How do you mess up a door handle?

The infotainment screen is a nightmare. I still despise the flippy button to shift into gear that started in the early 2000s. Mini followed the crowd and missed the mark. Mercedes is returning to knobs and shifters while limiting the interactive screen for a reason. The touchscreens are terrible.

The thing I love about Minis is the zippy driving, turning radius tight AF, and the simplistic controls. No huge learning curve. This thing I'm driving is a hazard. Nothing is intuitive. It's like getting a whole new OS for work instead of just being able to do have fun driving.

I recently lost my 16-year-old buddy. He was super spoiled and had a dog bed in every room because his joints hurt. My remaining dog is 1/4 the size, so I don't need these giant beds, halters, and stuff. I want to donate them to a shelter that really needs help, maybe one that keeps dogs that aren't adoptable, but in a good environment.

I've washed everything so it's in great condition.

I've scoured the internet. Even used AI, but to no avail.

I have no idea what has happened to drivers in the metro, but going under or exactly at the speed limit is mind-numbing. Are churches preaching that people should drive slowly? Is it a cult? What is happening?

I swear, every single day, someone is driving 55 in the fast lane where the limit is 60, but everyone knows you won't get a ticket if you go 68. Who are these people??

I've read so many posts that recommend these two brands as “super soft, luxurious options for hot sleepers”. Although percale gets more votes for sleeping cooler, I don't care for its feel.

My choice:
Brooklinen Luxe Sateen will be my choice going forward. I really like the envelope closure of the pillow cases. The feel is not noticeably different than the Hudson Park Collection. I had to put them side by side to notice that the Hudson Park collection is a bit smoother, but we honestly couldn't tell which set was on the bed without looking at the pillow closures or tags. Brooklinen does have more wrinkles straight out of the dryer, but it's hard for me to justify the price difference when the wrinkles smooth out easily on the bed. I really splurged for the Hudson Park Collection and regret paying that price for sheets that weren't dramatically better.

Here is my side-by-side review:

COST:

Hudson Park: $456 Queen Set
(on sale, regularly $740)

Brooklinen: $168 Queen Set
(on sale, regularly $209)

DETAILS:

Hudson Park:
680-thread count
100% Supima cotton sateen

For mattresses up to 16” deep
*Extra deep fitted and flat options for mattresses up to 23” deep at additional cost.

Regular open-ended pillow cases

Brooklinen:
495 thread count
100% Long-Staple Cotton

For mattresses up to 16” deep

Envelope pillow case closure

FEEL & LOOK:

HUDSON PARK:
- very smooth and soft, slightly shiny
- airflow is good
- resists wrinkles very well
- wide top hem
- top/bottom labels

BROOKLINEN:
- very smooth and soft, no shine
- airflow is good
- resists wrinkles ok
- standard top hem
- top/bottom labels

I recently asked why the Unity Point Nurses were often unhelpful or unkind. They're surface nice but seem miserable overall. I learned Iowa Ranks 48th out of 52 (Puerto Rico and DC) for nursing pay! With Unity Point spending millions to squash unionization instead of just paying their people better. This is disgusting.

We, as patients need to start making a ruckus to insist on better pay and benefits for our healthcare providers. Flood their mailboxes and inboxes…

Here is a link to Unity Point Executives

And a link to Iowa Clinic Executives

All those dumb surveys they send just leave a comment to “Do better. Pay and support the Nurses!”

I'm embarrassed I didn't know what was happening. I don't watch or read much news like a lot of other people. Maybe this will be the way.

There are so many who seem to hate their jobs or the patients. It's hard to tell which. I take older adults to their appointments so I see a lot of different offices. And the morale is in the pits. Iowa Clinic doesn't seem as bad.

I adore spicy romances, but many rely solely on smut. I liked the Ravenhood books – a lot. I was pretty happy with the legacy ones, too. But this latest, Birds of a Feather, made me realize the smut is just a bonus in the long-game story Kate Stewart has written.

Now I'm looking for more well-written, spicy stories.