u/uglyheadink

Had a good month, but for the last week I started like 4 books and just couldn't get into them. Not sure if I'm just fatigued or what.

Been looking for a kind of Lord of the Flies/Yellowjackets (TV show) kinda book. Was hoping for that with Grace Year but it fell flat for me.

Currently trying to read Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, and I think the satire is a bit too on the nose? Idk how to describe it. It's a bit over the top. It has made me laugh out loud a handful of times, I think I just need to power through. I haven't seen many talk about it on Reddit, and it doesn't have the best reviews. Any other recs for feral/stranded/what-really-happens-without-society-and-desperation type reads??

As for this month--

I liked Blob, but wish it had focused more on Bob. It felt a bit rushed most of the time and would have liked more development.

Fallow was really good, but the third act felt like an entirely different book. Both would be good books, but it gave me whiplash.

Really liked Annie Bot, and had a hard time putting it down, but two weeks later and I barely remember how it ended which isn't a good sign.

Best Offer Wins was entirely unhinged and a super fun read, but was a bit unrealistic at times.

I feel like a lot of my reads lately have had unlikable (at least at first) MCs, which I think I need a break from

For books I've tried and couldn't get into (from this sub):

- My Year of Rest and Relaxation (literally couldn't stand the MC, and not in a fun way)

- Paradise Logic (a bit out there in the writing style, would like to try to tackle again when I'm in the headspace for something that reads like it)

Got a couple more spooky reads on my TBR, but saving them for deeper into fall. Going to try to keep it lighter for the last 20 days of summer, haha!

Had some fun, good reads this month though!

Don't know where to post this but it made me happy, haha!

They had a timer on me, and I ran out of time to plate the roasted corn, and there is an unpictured ramekin of apple sauce for each plate. 😂,

Got demerits for the corn being served separate, but they said my ✨presentation✨ was perfect, the pork loin was moist and seasoned well, and my gravy (our gravy, they put on their aprons and helped with that part to learn) was ✨ restaurant quality ✨. 😂

Presented it all dramatically talking about "pureed potatoes" and "marinated this that and the other".

Sparkles to add their emphasis. Been loving cooking with them, and my daughter even brought out her magnifying glass to observe the cook on the pork loin, hahaha. The kid cooking shows have really opened their minds to trying new things, and loving the kitchen.

Recently started using Roku Live or whatever to watch dumb game shows/cooking shows for background noise, and saw this ad for visiting Spokane.

Video looked off so I paused it, just to find this weird like backwards/inverted message advising that images are AI??

First of all, why? There are countless drone videos of this exact shit. Or, just, you know, walk on the damn bridge and film it yourself?

Secondly, why was the AI disclaimer so inverted and weird? I've never seen a disclaimer look like that... Is that a workaround AI peeps are using now??

Lastly, who is the audience here? Maybe people staying in hotels, if hotels offer Roku Live now? Idk, I haven't stayed in a hotel in decades lmao. But if so, they're already visiting Spokane? Why are you advertising Spokane IN Spokane??

Anywho, has anyone seen this, or have any insight?

**SPOILERS AHEAD.**

Only powered through because I was already half way done and didn't want that to be a total waste. Kept hoping it would pop back, but the last several chapters were a genuine chore to get through.

When it shifted from being a spooky paranormal story, to being some weird sexual predator?? I felt it left SO many holes and unexplained things, and just got so boring.

I saw someone compare it to House on Haunted Hill, or something genuinely paranormal and spine chilling.

Genuinely not a fun read. Anyone else try it out? What are your thoughts?? I just wanted a good actual scary ghost book!

I always look up Reddit discussions before anything else, and was surprised by how negatively this book seems to have fared.

Granted, I did feel it was very predictable. But I really enjoyed Tova's perspective, and ESPECIALLY Marcellus's (my biggest gripe was that I would love to hear more of his side, honestly just give me a whole book of his perspective please!) I wasn't a big fan of Cameron's character, but I am bias because he reminded me of someone and I had a hard time rooting for him.

But overall, it was a cute, fun read--and I found myself having to take an extra break at work to excuse myself because I cried too much at the ending (granted, I cry at everything so not the biggest praise). I enjoyed it, though it wasn't anything life changing... but it was a fun quick read to bllow through, and I am curious to hear your thoughts!

Also found out they made a movie when looking up discussions about the book, and it has Sally Fields so I am cautiously optimistic about a possibly good movie adaptation?!

Drenched the cubed potatoes in Franks Red Hot and some olive oil, baked at 400 until fork tender then broiled them til crispy. Topped with cheddar and feta (no blue cheese), and drizzled with Franks again. Topped with parsley of course, because everything looks better with parsley.

10/10. So good. Made it two nights ago and already craving it again.

Was craving something "buffalo", and had some potatoes to use.

Don't know if I'd call it a recipe, just kinda threw it all together. But:

*Mixed diced potatoes with maybe 1/4th cup of olive oil and 1/4th cup of Franks Red Hot.

*Mixed in garlic powder, a pinch or two of salt, and pepper.

*Baked at 400 until fork tender, broiled for a little bit to get extra crispy.

*Topped with cheddar cheese and crumbled feta (no blue cheese). Baked again till melted, and topped with parsley and a drizzle of more Franks.

Never used to like Franks, but I've been craving it like crazy the last few weeks. Nothing gourmet, but it was SUPER delicious. Made it a few nights ago and am already craving it again, haha!

Would probably use more hot sauce next time for the original coating, but you could still definitely taste the "buffalo" flavor with just the potatoes!

I'd give it like a 6/10.

Tasted almost identical to KFC Mac and cheese, if I remember that right. Very creamy, sure, but didn't taste like any kind of cheese at all. Just tasted creamy, bland, and artificial.

Tried doctoring it with pepper and garlic powder and hot sauce and that helped. Could maybe be better with some real cheese mixed in, or maybe baked, but it's already so creamy I feel like adding more cheese might be overkill.

Saw everyone raving about Main Street, but could only find this. I definitely won't be buying again, but honestly it lasted for three meals and cost less than $4, so I shouldn't complain. And the cost is why it's a 6, and not like a 4 or 5.

(Also reposting super quick because I added a photo of it under my weird orange range light which made it look alien lol, this is a more natural light.)

Had some leftover chili to use up. Chili is also a good cheap bulk cook! We haven't eaten canned chili in years. Chili is so easy and cheap to make. It lasted us for almost four dinners, including this one!

Anyways, put a TINY amount of shredded cheddar on the outside of the burritos when I grilled them so they got a nice cheesy crust. Threw in the chili, a bit more shredded cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.

Cheap as all heck, and absolutely delicious. Excuse the paper plates, I've been swamped haha.

Discovered that if you rinse canned potatoes, they don't taste canned. Had like 10 cans I've acquired randomly throughout the years and never touched...

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Fried these up in some butter until browned and crispy, added some sharp cheddar and a little drizzydrizz of ketchup. And of course parsley, because I am fancy.

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Took like 10 minutes and 3 ingredients. Can't go wrong. I will never stop loving cheese and potatoes.

Also, side note, I got a three day ban for quoting Samantha on this sub, so be careful, crawlers! Haha!

Been itching to share. Working on some side characters, about done. Next I wanna do some mobs. Super dumb little project, but I am having fun with it!

(Please kindly note I haven't drawn in ages, so I'm rusty as hell. Also I have always sucked at drawing men's hair, so excuse that. Hoping to flesh that out better.)

Any notes before I do my outlines and coloring and whatnot? Kinda excited about this dumb little project!