Joshua Tree Forest, writing news, books, and more pandemic memes (Weekend Coffee Share #30)
Last week I bored you with my trip to Vegas. This week I’m going to bore you with the drive home. Then we’ll talk books and time travel back to March 2020 for some more early pandemic memes. But first: welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Natalie the Explorer, and the What’s on Your Bookshelf Challenge, hosted by Deb, Sue, Donna, and Jo. Grab a drink, pull up a seat, and let’s get to it.
Writing News
- My short nonfiction piece about my mother’s last Christmas, “A Christmas Duet,” was published by Harmony, a literary magazine from the University of Arizona Medical Humanities Program. It’s published under my real name, so you’re all about to learn my not-so-secret identity. You can read it–and many other wonderful pieces–here.
- I entered Vanishing, Inc., my time travel romantic suspense, in the RWA Kiss of Death chapter’s Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense Contest. Winners are supposed to be notified in May.
Books
Finished in the last month
I haven’t been reading as much as usual, so the list of what I’ve read since last month’s What’s on Your Bookshelf post is embarrassingly short.
- The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism – Dr. Jennifer Gunter. If you’re someone who is, has been, or will be in menopause, read this book. The title accurately sums up the content: medically-accurate information grounded in the latest research findings, presented in a way that is positive and pro-woman. While you’re at it, follow Dr. Gunter on Twitter. She’s awesome.
- Murder-Go-Round: Thirteen at Dinner, The A.B.C. Murders, Funerals are Fatal – Agatha Christie. This collection of 3 lesser-known Agatha Christie mysteries was fun but didn’t hold my interest as much as her work usually does.
- The Librarian Meets Dracula: An Erotic Tale (The Librarian Series Book #1) – Eda Mueller. I don’t usually read erotica (nothing against it, just not my preference), but I stumbled across this short story and couldn’t resist. The premise of the story, and apparently the entire series, is that fictional characters materialize in a small-town library and bang the librarian. Clever idea–says the librarian 😉 — but the execution was… OK. I’ve read regular old romances that were more explicit, so if you like your sex on the tamer side, give it a try.
Currently reading
- Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park – Conor Knighton. When Knighton’s fiancé dumps him before their wedding, he gives up his apartment in LA and commits to spending a year visiting every national park in the US. Part travelogue and part memoir, this book is entirely wonderful: funny, insightful, and beautifully written. And I’m learning all kinds of weird facts about US national parks that I didn’t know. Bonus!
- Anonymous Sex – Hillary Jordan and Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan (editors). For someone who doesn’t usually read erotica, I’m reading a lot of erotica this month. I read a review of this book somewhere and was so intrigued by the premise, I bought it. It’s a collection of short stories from well-known literary authors but with a catch: the authors are listed alphabetically at the beginning of the book, but we aren’t told who wrote which story. The idea is that they can write more honestly about sex if they get to be anonymous. I’ve read the first few stories, and they’re a) literary, b) weird (kinda goes with literary in my experience) and c) fascinating. If you like the modern style of literary short stories–and you don’t mind sort-of-explicit sex–you’ll like this collection.
- Lamb – Christopher Moore. People have been telling me for years I need to read Lamb. I finally listened. I’m about halfway through, and it’s hilarious.
Joshua Tree forest between Wickenburg and Wickieup, Arizona
As you’ll know from last week’s post, we drove to Vegas for my birthday. I was expecting a long, boring slog through the desert. What I got was a long, interesting slog through the desert. Two deserts, in fact: the Sonoran, where I live, and the Mohave, where Vegas lives. I don’t know where the official dividing line is between the two deserts–and I’m too lazy to look it up–but there’s a transition zone north of Wickenburg that includes the iconic plants of both deserts: the saguaro (Sonoran) and the Joshua tree (Mojave). In fact, there’s an entire forest of Joshua trees!
In case you were wondering, a Joshua tree isn’t actually a tree. It’s a U2 album.
It’s also a type of yucca. I know, I know, in the age of fake news, we drive on parkways and park on driveways, and yuccas are called trees, dogs and cats are living together, mass hysteria…
Oops, had a 1980s flashback there for a minute. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah, Joshua trees that aren’t trees but yuccas. Yucca brevifolia to be precise. According to the National Park Service, they’re a member of the agave family. No, I don’t know if anyone has tried to make tequila out of them, but probably. Humans will make booze out of anything.
Let’s look at some more of these weird not-trees:
Until this trip, I’d never seen a Joshua tree in bloom before.
That bud kind of looks like an artichoke, doesn’t it?
As you probably noticed from some of the pictures, this particular patch of desert also includes some cactuses. And me being me, I had to take pictures of them:
I also had to take pictures of other weird plants in the area, like this one:
And since I made a U2 reference, you know I have to throw in a video. Here’s the first track on Joshua Tree and my favorite U2 video. This appears to be a long version with some extra footage at the beginning. It’s also a great song. Crank it up! And check out all that 80s hair in the audience. And Bono looks so *young*.
2020 Covid Memes, Episode 2: Toilet Paper
Now that we’ve had our obligatory visit(s) to the 80s, let’s twiddle the dials on the Wayback Machine and set our destination for March 2020. COVID sucks, but it spawned some of the funniest memes I’ve ever seen. Last week we explored the quarantine variant. This week we’re going to revisit one of the weirdest parts of the early pandemic: the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020.
Humans are weird.
And have interesting priorities:
Some people got a little desperate:
I’m not saying toilet paper was hard to find, but…
Damn right we did. And we liked it.
I toilet papered my friend’s car once. If I’d known then what I know now…
While some folks got desperate, others embraced the profit potential:
I’m not saying toilet paper was expensive, but:
And with that: Have a wonderful weekend! May your toilet paper always be soft and plentiful.
36 Comments
Bobbiem91
Good luck on the contest and Congrats on the published story. You are moving ahead quite quickly and you deserve if. I enjoyed those meme’s The TP crisis still isn’t over and that is scary–almost as bad as the looming gas crisis. Hmm,. What happened to covid?
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! At least in Flagstaff, if the toilet paper situation got dire, I could use leaves. All I have here is cactus.
Gary A Wilson
Hi Janet.
Loved your harmony piece. Excellent, just excellent.
You beat me to making smart remarks about the lowly Joshua Tree.
I wanted to say that it’s not a tree, but a desert shrub trying to grow itself out of the desert, and failing.
I also loved this batch of Covid-TP memes. If we must endure memes – I want these. . .
Okay – it’s back to work for me.
Blessings.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks so much. I composed most of the first draft of the Harmony piece on the way home from that visit and wrote the draft as soon as I got home. I’m glad it’s found a home.
I love Joshua trees! They’re survivors. I also love memes (some of them) for their cleverness and the way people find humor in, well, everything.
Have a great weekend!
Jo
Congratulations on having your short story published & good luck for the RWA contest. But mostly, thanks (not) for making me spill my tea when I giggled to the toilet paper living on a prayer meme. (I had to put my tea down so I wouldn’t spill more.) Oh and the Joshua tree…who would have thought it wasn’t just a U2 album?
Janet Alcorn
Oops, sorry about your tea. I’d love for my blog to be known as something you don’t read while drinking 🙂
Re: the U2 album, apparently the Joshua tree from the album photo shoot was located somewhere in Death Valley, and it died in 2000.
Jo
The worst was, I was indulging in a very rare lazy Saturday morning drinking tea in bed lol.
Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com
I knew that Joshua trees weren’t really trees, but I didn’t know they were a member of the agave family. Those blooms look a lot like agave blooms, though. Learned something new today. I never did understand the TP crisis and, fortunately, didn’t have to use alternatives. Hopefully this upcoming Covid wave won’t make everyone hoard again. People are weird.
Janet Alcorn
People are *so* weird. We really don’t deal with crises well. The quote from Agent K in Men in Black was spot on: “A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it.”
Amila
Glad to read that you could finish reading some books. These trees are still attractive although those has some weird look too. The toilet paper memes are funny and thanks for sharing.
Visiting via #WeekendCoffeeShare
Janet Alcorn
Thanks for stopping by! Joshua trees are both beautiful and alien–and tough survivors in a harsh environment.
Retirement Reflections
Thank you for joining us at What’s On Your Bookshelf. Happy belated birthday and congratulaitons on your short story being published. Best of luck with your upcoming entry!
Janet Alcorn
Thanks, thanks, thanks!
rawsonjl
I LOVED Leave Only Footprints; it was such a fun way to learn more about the National parks. Another great book was Dear Bob and Sue– between the two I have decided I’d like to visit all the national parks at some point too. Thankfully we were always well stocked with toilet paper so I didn’t have to worry much when the shortages were really rampant but all the memes were hilarious. I honestly expected cold medicine, tissues, and stuff like that to get scarce but not toilet paper.
Janet Alcorn
Oh, I didn’t know about Dear Bob and Sue–it just went on my reading list–thanks! I’m a national park fangirl. I’ll go out of my way to go to the weird, small parks, I’ve had a national park passport since they first came out in the 80s, and I consider my visit a failure if I don’t get my passport stamped. I have this retirement fantasy about spending a year visiting the lesser-known parks and writing about the experience. Like, everyone’s been to Yosemite (one of my favorite places), but have you been to John Muir’s home? Read his letters to his wife? That kind of stuff.
Natalie
Janet, Congrats on your published story and good luck with the contest. Your closeup photos of the Joshua tree bloom are beautiful. Thank you for your hilarious TP memes and linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Have a wonderful week!
Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com
Just popped back in after I read your beautiful story in Harmony. My father suffered from dementia and I felt every sadness and every joy of your last Christmas with your mother. Well done.
Janet Alcorn
Thank you so much, and I’m sorry your dad had dementia. It’s such a cruel, cruel disease, for the patient and everyone who cares about them.
joylenebutler
Haha. I have a few thoughts. 1. You are definitely NOT boring. 2. We have weird trees here in Mexico too. 3. Poooor kitty!!!
Janet Alcorn
Poor kitty is right! And poor owner if they dare go through with that move. I sense an ER visit in their future.
Sue from Women Living Well After 50
Hi Janet, I remember The Joshua Tree album by U2. Congratulations on your work being published and fingers crossed for the writing contest you have entered. You’ve provided some great choices for books this month (not in the genres I usually gravitate towards). Thanks for joining in the What’s On Your Bookshelf? Link Up and see you next month. Happy reading and writing! x
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! I love exploring new genres, and I’ll read pretty much anything. Happy reading to you too!
Scribble and Scran
“In case you were wondering, a Joshua tree isn’t actually a tree. It’s a U2 album.” LOL!
As I write my reply I’ve got Magic (Mick Smiley), cranked up on the stereo after being taken down memory lane…got to be one of the all time non appreciated music film moments. What is freaking me out more is that I now think I’m now looking more older than Bill Murray!
Janet Alcorn
Wow, I haven’t listened to “Magic,” in ages! And now I want to watch the original Ghostbusters again.
Have a wonderful week!
Scribble and Scran
I’ve been pleasure delaying on watching the new one, thought I’d do my homework by watching the first 2 as prep. Just not got round to it.
Jackie
We’ve done many drives in that area and could never get tired of it!
Janet Alcorn
It really is lovely and fascinating out there.
Elizabeth Seckman
The tribute to your mom was so sweet. I’m glad the cobwebs were wiped away long enough to share a moment with her daughter.
The TP memes were hilarious. And the U2 reference sent pop out my nose. Thanks for the emotional roller coaster.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! Anytime I can make someone snort soda, I count it as a victory 🙂
Debbie
Thanks Janet, I learnt a lot while reading your post! I actually sang that Woah I’m half way there, Living on a square – I couldn’t help myself! So many chuckles and well done on your story being published too!
Janet Alcorn
ROFLOL – I sing it every time I see that meme! It made editing the blog post a bit of a challenge 🙂
Thanks!
leannelc
Hi Janet – congrats on the published short story and thanks for the toilet paper memes – always a good laugh. I also had a U2 flashback with all the talk of Joshua Trees – I’m feeling young again!
Janet Alcorn
Hooray for feeling young! Music is great for that.
Kirstin
THose photos in the desert are gorgeous. I enjoyed your story about your mom and tears pricked my eyes. I’ve now lost both my parents…way to young in my opinion. Not to dementia or alzheimers, but still hard. Those memes are hilarious! Oh my. I need to come back and read them some more.
Janet Alcorn
Thanks! I’m sorry—losing a parent is so hard.