heartache still tastes like you

Music of the Week

Was trying to finish audiobooks, so not a ton of music this week

Taylor Swift
Ellie Goulding
Dua Lipa
Demi Lovato
Gracie Adams

Books of the Week

Or the books I finished since I last posted about books 2 weeks ago. To be precise.

The Four Spent the Day Together by Chris Kraus: Fiction. My Rating: ★★ (or 2.75 stars) This is what I get for not reading more book reviews before I commit to books. Can’t believe I used 40% of my monthly audiobook hours on this book! (Have to love the whole pay for everything, OWN NOTHING. but I digress…) UGH. I think the NYT or Washington Post recommended it, and I fell for it. Wow. Anyway, don’t bother. lol. I thought it was a true crime book. But nope. I just finished it, so I’m still in shock. I would share the notes I took on this book, but they wouldn’t make sense… just like the book. I might have strong feelings about this book. Might drive me back to therapy.
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield: Fiction My rating: ★★★ From my notes: Good writing and interesting, but underwhelming.
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing: Fiction My rating: ★★★★★ Hmmm. The reviewers on Amazon are clearly confused. The book only has an average of 4 stars. But this is the best fiction book I’ve read in a long time. It’s hilarious. Dark humor about a senior citizen serial killer. So, of course, I love it. It just came out in August of 2025. I wouldn’t be surprised if this book becomes increasingly popular. It’s not the best writing, so it won’t win any literary awards, but it doesn’t take anything away, so it’s average fiction storytelling. The humor makes this one of my favorites. I’m so glad I randomly came across this book while browsing online.
A Nearly Normal Family by M. T. Edvardsson Fiction My rating: ★★★★ Just found out this is a Netflix series. Don’t know if it’s in English. (Takes place in Sweden). But I will add it to my watch list for later viewing. It’s about a family and a murder. Not great, but held my attention until the end, even though I guessed the ending early on. So, I was kind of reading to confirm whether what I thought was true was true. It’s not thrilling.

Still stuck on fiction. Help! I am reading a few nonfiction books, but I haven’t finished any in January. I started a memoir last week but didn’t finish. I started and didn’t finish Told You So by Mayci Neeley. I read about 30% and didn’t try to rush it before it was due back at the library. It might be a good book. Others love it, but when she said, “I’m never going to have to get a real job,” or something very similar, I kind of lost interest. It was her younger self talking, but I usually read memoirs of people I can relate to. Not working belongs in fantasy books for me. Or at least a fiction book. Not a memoir!

Btw, the author works now. I have no idea what she does/did. Think she has her own business. Don’t really care enough to research it.

Tarot of the Month

I don’t know what’s going on. I’m very disappointed in the tarot. I used different decks, so my shuffling can’t be blamed. Guess I’ll blame the universe. Here are my card pulls so far:

January 18 – Five of Pentacles (for card of the year – lol. thanks.)
January 19 – Knights of Wands RX (what do I need to know right now?)
January 24 – Knights of Wands RX (what do I need to know right now?)

I used the same deck for the first two pulls. The deck on the 24th is one I haven’t used in a while. Yet I pulled the same ambyssal card – Knights of Wands RX. WTF? As if the 5 of Pentacles isn’t bad enough. I get the point. I don’t need tarot to tell me my life sucks. I already know because I’m here.

So, my interpretation of Knights of Wands RX is money problems, a lack of direction, and bad work. So, yeah. I need to get my car fixed, but I’d already been canceling stuff prior to that, so I thought I was doing okay before the car issue this week. Apparently not…according to the Tarot, the Universe, and Everyone.

But the message is repeating. I have no idea what I’m missing, so I’m going to ask the AI to see if I get a better or different message.

To AI: I pulled Knights of Wands RX two weeks in a row with different decks. Rare for me to get repeats so close together. Not focusing on social relationships, what message do you think I need to get for “What do I need to know right now?”

From AI:

The core message

Act first, refine second.

You’re in a window where movement matters more than perfect planning. Pick a direction and commit to a short sprint. The card is less “think about it” and more “take the first real step and let reality answer you.”

What it’s probably pointing at (non-social)

A project wants ignition. Something you’ve been circling needs a launch move: publish, apply, pitch, ship, test, start.
Energy is available, but it burns fast. Use it now, but don’t pretend it’s infinite. Plan for quick wins, not a marathon.
You need friction, not inspiration. The Knight improves through contact with the world—deadlines, prototypes, feedback, reps.
Choose one target. This card can mean “too many sparks.” Your risk is scattering. Your medicine is focus.

The caution baked into the card

Don’t confuse urgency with importance.

Knight of Wands can chase heat. The repeat can be a warning to:

stop starting new things to avoid finishing one thing
avoid impulsive “big swings” (money, commitments, dramatic pivots)
watch for burnout from going too hard, too fast

A clean “do this today” interpretation

If you want a practical translation:
Do one bold, specific action in the next 24–48 hours that moves your most alive goal forward—then set a small containment plan so you don’t flame out.

And now it’s going on and on about what I should do about my car. I already know!!! I hate when AI does this, even when I don’t know. I’m asking about tarot. I could easily ask about my car. STAY ON TOPIC!!! It asked me what I meant by “right now,” and I mentioned that I don’t really specify a topic like work, home, creativity, etc. I’m vague on purpose. Anyway, I’m going to let AI go on talking about car problems. Not answering right now. I have to work my part-time job, so I can have money to maybe fix the car.

BTW, the answer is okay. But nothing I couldn’t find online, of course. I can see how it could be helpful to have it in this format. Better to read than most websites…with tons of ads.