Funny Stuff This Week

I just had to share some things from some of the blogs I follow. I also found some myself.

2026 Book Blog Discussion Challenge

Nicole at  Feed Your Fiction Addiction announced that she was stepping down from blogging. She co-hosted the Book Blog Discussion. I then wondered if the discussion challenge would still be happening. From it It Starts at Midnight, now the sole host:

Welcome to the 2026 Book Blog Discussion Challenge hosted by… just me. Yes, let us please take a moment to celebrate our favorite MG Fantasy author, and all her incredible successes that require her to take a step back from blogging, and like, go buy copies of her book, yeah? (Emotional moment time: this is really hard for me- Nicole and I have been doing this for a decade, guys. I am tearing up writing this post, in fact. But it’s a mix of happy and sad tears, because while I am sad for me, I am so very thrilled for her much deserved and well-earned success as an author!)

Anyway, I zhuzhed up the button, because starting our second decade felt like a change was due- plus without Nicole’s animal friends, I had no one to dress up every month- this will lighten my load by doing just one graphic per year!

The Levels:

1-10 – Discussion Dabbler
11-20 – Creative Conversationalist
21-30 – Chatty Kathy
31-40 – Terrifically Talkative
41+ – Gift of the Gab

Once again, I am aiming for the first level, then see how much farther I get. The new graphic will displayed on my posts.

Rainy New Year

How did the new year start off for you? In my area, it has been raining since around New Year's Eve. The rain would stop for a while each day, only to let up again after a while. 

We had a five day at work on New Year's Eve, and I got sleepy during the first half of the movie. We watched the Wonka prequel that came out in 2023, my second time seeing it. As someone who has taken to staying home on NYE, the rain that night did not bother me. 

Over the first days of the year, I have tried getting out when the rain has stopped, only on at least two of those days, to see the rain starting up again just as I am heading home.  The rain is expected to continue for at least another two days this week.

Having to stay inside has somewhat given me cabin fever. This also comes form being off two Fridays in a row, as well on Christmas Eve. I woke up last Friday, nearly forgetting it was Friday! 

The county library has been closed for the holidays, and is reopening today. I plan to go again once the rain stops. 

January Bookish Bingo

The new card for January is here.

My Books:

1. The Odious Duke--Barbara Cartland (3 squares): Physical Book, Shelf Love, Not in a Series
2. Snow White Learns Witchcraft--Theodora Goss (6 squares): E-book, Special Abilities, Gods/Demi-Gods, Vengeance, Deadly Trials, Free Space
3. Self-Sufficient Living--Andy Westley (3 squares): Audiobook, New Start/Staring Over, Exercise
4. The Indigo Girl--Natasha Boyd (3 squares): Book Club, Simple Book Cover Design, Siblings
5. Two Can Keep a Secret--Karen M. McManus (2 squares): Library Book, Secrets
6. Devil in Winter--Lisa Kleypas (2 squares): In a Series, New Series
7. The Librarian of Auschwitz--Antonio Iturbe (2 squares) Long, Librarian
8. Pachinko--Min Jin Lee (1 square): One-Word Title

22 books completed on January 27

2026 Reading Challenge @Blydyn Square Books

 Another I have been doing. 

1. Pronoun in the title: Me (Moth)--Amber McBride
2. Color in the title: Red at the Bone--Jacqueline Woodson
3. An author's first novel: Made You Up--Francesca Zappia
4. Geographical word (mountain, sea, etc) in the title: Tress of the Emerald Sea--Brandon Sanderson
5. Blue cover or spine: The Indigo Girl--Natasha Boyd
6. Set in 20th century: The Orange Blossom Special--Betsy Carter
7. Bio or memoir: This Close to Happy--Daphne Merkin
8. Female protagonist: Devil in Winter--Lisa Kleypas
9. Adjective or adverb in the title: Happily Ever Afters--Elise Bryant
10. One-word title: Pachinko--Min Jin Lee
11. Title starts with "The": The Accidental Bestseller--Wendy Wax
12. Set in Europe: The Viscount Who Loved Me--Julia Quinn
13. Written before 1990: The Odious Duke--Barbara Cartland
14. Author who uses initials: The Quilt--T. Davis Bunn
15. Children's book: First Job--Jane Sorenson
16. Former bestseller: Empire Falls--Richard Russo
17. Recommended to you by someone else: Little Pieces of Hope--Todd Doughty & Josie Portillo
18. Been planning to read for at least a year: The Cracker Factory--Joyce Rebeta-Burditt
19. Self-help/self improvement book of any kind: Self-Sufficient Living--Andy Westley
20. Photograph on the cover: Conservation Canines--Isabelle Groc
21. Part of a series: The Fates Divide--Veronica Roth
22. Audiobook: Sounds Like Love--Ashley Poston
23. Set in a seaside community/area: The Wedding People--Alison Espach
24. Romantic book: Match Me If You Can--Susan Elizabeth Phillips
25. Funny book: Apple Crush--Lucy Knisely
26. Read at least once before: The Acorn People--Ron Jones

Challenge completed on July 25

Xennial Movie Challenge

This is at this Instagram account, which did the Board Games challenge last year. There are a lot of prompts on this one! I don't know if I'll get them all, but will be happy no matter how many I get. The prompts are on StoryGraph.

1. 10 Things I Hate About You Retelling: Snow White Learns Witchcraft--Theodora Goss
2. A Christmas Story  Eye on the cover: Eye of the Beholder--Jayne Ann Krentz
3. A Few Good Men Features military: The Last Kashmiri Rose--Barbara Cleverly
4. A League of Their Own  Features sports: Match Me If You Can--Susan Elizabeth Phillips
5. A Nightmare on Elm Street  Tree on the cover: Moss Hysteria--Kate Collins
6. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective  MC works with animals: Say You'll Remember Me--Abby Jimenez
7. Adventures in Babysitting  MC named Chris (regardless of gender, variations allowed): The Night We Met--Abby Jimenez
8. Airplane!  Hilarious read: Success is 90% Spite--Jane Zei
9. Alien  Sci-Fi: CatStronauts: Mission Moon--Drew Brockington
10. Amadeus MC is a musician: Sounds Like Love--Ashley Poston
11. American Beauty  Flower on the cover: How to Walk Away--Katherine Center
12. American Pie  Food item on the cover: The Year of Pleasures--Elizabeth Berg
13. American Psycho  Character has a secret life: The Italian Teacher--Tom Rachman
14. An American Tail  Features immigrants/refugees: Pachinko--Min Jin Lee
15. Annie Jewelry on the cover: The Lady Has a Past--Amanda Quick
16. Apollo 13  Set in space: Atmosphere--Taylor Jenkins Reid
17. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Set in Britain: The Odious Duke--Barbara Cartland
18. Back to the Future  Dual timeline: A Fall of Marigolds--Susan Meissner
19. Batman Character with a dark past: Carve the Mark--Veronica Roth 
20. Beetlejuice Repeating word in the title: Blue Lily, Lily Blue--Maggie Stiefvater
21. Big  More than 500 pages: The Librarian of Auschwitz--Antonio Iturbe
22. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure Features a historical character (fiction or nonfiction): Carter Beats the Devil--Glen David Gold
23. Billy Madison Set at a school: The Dream Thieves--Maggie Stiefvater
24. Blazing Saddles A western: Her Renegade Rancher--Jennifer Ryan
25. Braveheart  Set in Scotland: The Endless Beach--Jenny Colgan
26. Caddyshack  Animal on the cover: Apple Crush--Lucy Knisely
27. Carrie  Unpopular MC
28. City Slickers Urban to rural storyline or vice versa
29. Clerks  Features a death: The Girl Who Smiled Beads--Clemantine Wamariya
30. Clue Mystery: The Viognier Vendetta--Ellen Crosby
31. Clueless Classic retelling: The Wrath and the Dawn--Renee Ahdieh
32. Crocodile Dundee Knife/Dagger on the cover
33. Cruel Intentions Dysfunctional family: The Paradise Problem--Christina Lauren
34. Dances with Wolves  Indigenous rep
35. Dazed and Confused Set in the 1970s: On the Hippie Trail--Rick Steves
36. Dead Poets Society Poetry or written in verse: Me (Moth)--Amber McBride
37. Die Hard A book with lots of action
38. Dirty Dancing Set at a camp or features camping: The Acorn People--Ron Jones (re-read)
39. Dirty Harry Character with a catchphrase
40. Dumb and Dumber Features a best friend relationship
41. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Author with initials in their name: The Quilt--T. Davis Bunn
42. Edward Scissorhands Features snow: Us Against You--Frederik Backman
43. Empire Records Coming of age: The Saturday Night Ghost Club--Craig Davidson
44. Fargo Thriller
45. Fast Times at Ridgemont High Features a dream sequence
46. Ferris Bueller's Day Off  Breaks the fourth wall: Hamnet--Maggie O'Farrell
47. Field of Dreams Set in the midwest US
48. Fight Club Mental health rep: This Close to Happy--Daphne Merkin
49. Flight of the Navigator Features time travel: Maybe in Another Life--Taylor Jenkins Reid
50. Footloose Features dancing
51. Forrest Gump Historical fiction: An Offer From a Gentleman--Julia Quinn
52. Friday POC representation: Concrete Rose--Angie Thomas
53. Fried Green Tomatoes Set in the southern US: The Orange Blossom Special--Betsy Carter
54. Full Metal Jacket Character with a nickname: Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunnit--Lilliam Rivera
55. Ghost Paranormal: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister--Gregory Maguire
56. Ghostbusters Set in New York City: Color Me In--Natasha Diaz
57. Good Will Hunting Character who is a genius
58. Goodfellas Features organized crime
59. Grease Set in the 1950s: Master Harold...and the Boys--Athol Fugard
60. Gremlins Monster fiction: The Beast Within--Serena Valentino
61. Groundhog Day Features a time loop: A Gift For a Ghost--Borja Gonzalez
62. Happy Gilmore Disability rep: Maybe an Artist--Liz Montague
63. Harry and the Hendersons Features a cryptid or mythological creature
64. Heathers Features a clique
65. Home Alone Child MC: First Job--Jane Sorenson
66. Hook Features pirates
67. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Snake on the cover
68. Innerspace Features medicine/medical technology: When Life Gives You Pears--Jeannie Gaffigan
69. Interview with a Vampire Features vampires
70. Jaws Set at sea: Tress of the Emerald Sea--Brandon Sanderson
71. Jumanji Adventure story
72. Jurassic Park Features a park (theme, amusement, national, etc.)
73. Kindergarten Cop Character in disguise
75. Little Shop of Horrors Plant on the cover: The Reading Group--Elizabeth Noble
76. Labyrinth Character makes a wish
76. Matilda Middle grade read: The Twits--Roald Dahl
77. Men in Black Black cover: Gilded--Marissa Meyer
78. Monty Python and the Holy Grail Set during the middle ages
79. My Girl Character with glasses
80. National Lampoon's Animal House  New adult read
81. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Set during the holidays
82. Office Space Red cover: Great Big Beautiful Life--Emily Henry
83. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure MC rides a bicycle
84. Philadelphia Features terminal illness
85. Planes, Trains, & Automobiles Road trip: The Goodbye Quilt--Susan Wiggs
86. Porky's Problematic read
87. Practical Magic Magical realism: The Zig Zag Girl--Elly Griffiths
88. Pretty in Pink Pink cover: Plum Tea Crazy--Laura Childs
89. Pulp Fiction Multiple POVs: 6 Rainier Drive--Debbie Macomber
90. Raiders of the Lost Ark Set during WWII: The Last Telegram--Liz Trenow
91. Rain Man Neurodiverse rep: My Rainbow--Trinity Neal
92. Raising Arizona Features infertility or adoption: The Wedding People--Alison Espach
93. Reservoir Dogs Color in the title: Red at the Bone--Jacqueline Woodson
94. Return of the Jedi Second in a trilogy
95. Risky Business Features a car crash
96. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Features royalty: The Viscount Who Loved Me--Julia Quinn
97. Rocky A character who "goes the distance": The Gringo Champion--Aura Xilonen
98. Romeo + Juliet YA romance (Yes, I know it's a tragedy not a romance...just go with it): Happily Ever Afters--Elise Bryant
99. Say Anything Features unrequited love
100. Scarface Character with an addiction: The Cracker Factory--Joyce Rebeta-Burditt
101. Scream Features a journalist
102. Se7en  Number in the title: 44 Cranberry Point--Debbie Macomber
103. Short Circuit Acronym in the title or featured in the story
104. Sixteen Candles Features a birthday
105. Sleepless in Seattle Long distance relationship
106. Spaceballs Book that reminds you of another
107. Speed Character uses public transportation
108. Spies Like Us Features espionage: Code Name Butterfly--Embassie Susberry
109. Stand By Me Features a train
110. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope First in a trilogy: Camino Island--John Grisham
111. Stripes Red, white, and blue on the cover: Star Spangled Murder--Leslie Meier
112. Terms of Endearment Mother-daughter relationship
113. The Bad News Bears Yellow cover: The Bodyguard--Katherine Center
114. The Big Lebowski Characters go bowling
115. The Blair Witch Project Unique style (your definition): Breakout--Kate Messner
116. The Breakfast Club A group of misfits: All Your Twisted Secrets--Diana Urban
117. The Dark Crystal A book that scared you
118. The Empire Strikes Back Last in a trilogy
119. The Exorcist Horror: The Brides of High Hill--Nghi Vo
120. The Godfather Features a wedding: The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy--Mary Lydon Simonsen
121. The Goonies Features a quest: The Raven Boys--Maggie Stiefvater
122. The Great Outdoors Set outdoors: Lumberjanes Vol 5--N.D. Stevenson
123. The Karate Kid Mentor-mentee relationship
124. The Land Before Time A book that traumatized you
125. The Last Unicorn Fantasy: Tinkering Tink--Elle D. Risco
126. The Matrix Story within a story: The Accidental Bestseller--Wendy Wax
127. The Mighty Ducks Features a lawyer
128. The Muppets Take Manhattan Features the performing arts: The Silver Needle Murder--Laura Childs
129. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! MC is a police officer or detective: Killer Reunion--G.A. McKevett
130. The Neverending Story Horse on the cover: The Black Stallion--Walter Farley
131. The Princess Bride Romantasy: The Fates Divide--Veronica Roth
132. The Rocky Horror Picture Show LGBTQIA+ rep: Taiwan Travelogue--Yang Shuang-zi
133. The Sandlot Features a dog: A Cat Was Involved--Spencer Quinn
134. The Shawshank Redemption Story takes place over several years
135. The Shining Features twins: Two Can Keep a Secret--Karen M. McManus
136. The Silence of the Lambs Features a character named Bill (or a variation)
137. The Sixth Sense Book with a wild twist
138. The Terminator AI, cyborg, or robot character
139. The Truman Show Memoir: 107 Days--Kamala Harris
140. The Usual Suspects Locked room mystery
141. This is Spinal Tap! A book you would rate an 11
142. Three Amigos! Latinx rep: Brown Neon--Raquel Gutierrez 
143. Three Men and a Baby Features found family: Heart & Seoul--Jen Frederick
144. Titanic Features a historical event: Five Quarters of the Orange--Joanne Harris
145. Tommy Boy Features a character named after a parent/relative
146. Tootsie Character is an actor
147. Top Gun Features a plane: Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend--MJ Wassmer
148. Twins Features an odd couple
149. Uncle Buck Familial descriptor in the title (mother, son, sister, uncle, etc.): Cousins--Virginia Hamilton
150. Wayne's World Features a TV show, movie, play: The Not-So-Secret Emails of Coco Pinchard--Robert Bryndza
151. Weird Science  Manic pixie dream girl trope
152. When Harry Met Sally Name in the title: Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady--Nancy Springer
153. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Character trying to prove their innocence: The Storm--Rachel Hawkins
154. Willow Features a prophecy
155. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Book that has been adapted to screen: Sense and Sensibility--Jane Austen

2026 Foodies Read

 Another favorite.

My Books:

1. Empire Falls--Richard Russo
2. Killer Reunion--G.A. McKevett
3. The Year of Pleasures--Elizabeth Berg
4. The Endless Beach--Jenny Colgan
5. Apple Crush--Lucy Knisely
6. Lemon Zest--Lori Longbotham
7. Taiwan Travelogue--Yang Shuang-Zi
8. The Silver Needle Murder--Laura Childs
9. The Viognier Vendetta--Ellen Crosby
10. Five Quarters of the Orange--Joanne Harris
11. Vanilla Ice Cream--Bob Graham
12. Plum Tea Crazy--Laura Childs