Relationships Ruined by Judgmental Collectors

I was disappointed when several collectors made judgmental statements about those of us who watched the CW Nancy Drew television series.  We were criticized for enjoying the Easter eggs.  Some people said that the story arc of the first season was extremely obvious and that we were foolish for falling for it.  Huh?

Let's talk about behavior in the series book groups that no one questions.  Collectors often bring up the names of books that they are reading and will remark with sheer joy about how a series book character like Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden is mentioned on a certain page.  The book that mentions the series book character is not a children's book or anything remotely like a series book.  And yet, other members will jump on the post and say that they are going to buy that book and read it.  Everyone is enthusiastic and happy.

For someone like me, a name appearing in a book will not cause me to want to read it.  When the book is a work of fiction aimed at adults, I would never consider reading it just because Nancy Drew is mentioned on page 157.  Other people do decide to read the book for just that reason, but I assume that the book is something that would also be of interest to those people.

Consider what I just stated and think about it.  These people seem to decide to read the book just because of the Easter egg, but they more likely will read the book because the Easter egg brought a book of interest to their attention.  They know that they will like this book that had previously escaped their notice.

I would never make a disparaging remark aimed at these people.  Why?  I get it.  I can see how bringing the book to their attention would spark their interest.  It makes no difference whether the book would interest me, and their interest in the book is not my concern.

Now, let's get back to the collectors who criticized those of us who watched CW ND.  Paraphrasing from memory, these collectors said that we were only watching the show for the Easter eggs and that it was silly that we were excited about finding the Easter eggs. 

I cannot express how much these statements personally offended me.  I was disappointed to read the critical statements.  Some of these people just weren't thinking of how their comments came across, and I can give them a pass.  I have lingering resentment towards a few other collectors whose comments took on a tone that came across as especially insulting.

I did not watch the show only for the Easter eggs.  That should be clear based on what I have already revealed in this post.  When group members mention a work of fiction that contains a mention of Nancy Drew, I do not go out and buy it.  I'm not going to read a book or watch a television show solely because of Easter eggs.  

I read books and watch shows that are within my area of interest regardless of whether Easter eggs are present.  Any Easter eggs are just an added bonus.

One type of show that I enjoy features young people (children up to early 20s) who are involved in events that have some paranormal or supernatural content.  I am a big fan of Friday the 13th: The Series.  To be clear, this is the television series featuring Micki, Ryan, Jack, and later Johnny, who recover cursed antiques sold by Louis Vendredi, who had made a deal with the devil.  The series shares the same name as the movie franchise with Jason Voorhees, but otherwise, it has nothing to do with it.

So, I like shows like that.  I also have enjoyed Wednesday on Netflix, for instance.

In my case, the CW ND show turned out to be exactly the kind of show that I enjoy watching.  I would never have been aware of it if not for its use of the name Nancy Drew.  I should not have had to read the judgmental statements about how people like me were supposedly only watching the show for the Easter eggs and that we were stupid for doing so.  I did not understand why prominent collectors were letting the existence of this show ruin their relationships with other fans. 

And yes, some series book collector friendships have been ruined because of the squabbling about the CW ND series.  While I didn't lose any friendships, I am now quite uncomfortable around several collectors.  I also have lingering resentment over how I was treated as a group moderator during the fall of 2019.  

I do understand these people not liking the show.  Stating their opinion was fine.  Making insulting, judgmental statements about viewers of the series was not fine.  They crossed a line when they did that.

I am combining two draft posts here.  The other part has to do with how the CW ND show has benefitted me.  Yes, I'm serious.

I watch very little television and practically never watch movies.  Because of CW ND, I have watched a few other things that I've really enjoyed.  The show Cruel Summer was recommended as a show that CW ND fans might like.  It's quite different from CW ND, but I love the teen characters and the mystery/suspense involved.  I would have never watched it if not for reading comments about CW ND.

I am now more inclined to check media based on children's and teen books, and it's because of this show.  I watched The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix and loved it.  I have only read a few Baby-Sitters Club books and am not a fan of the book series.  But my rudimentary knowledge greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the show. 

I watched the Netflix movie trilogy based on R. L. Stine's Fear Street books.  I dislike Stine's writing style, so I'm not a fan of the books at all.  However, I enjoyed the trilogy a lot even though it does have some gruesome kills that are not to my taste.  

I have also been introduced to modern music via these shows that I never otherwise would have heard.  

The CW ND viewing experience has been very positive for me, and I wish that other people didn't feel the need to tear us down for watching the show. 

We are allowed to watch frivolous modern entertainment that is completely different from the book series.

eBay and Etsy Stores Back to School Update

I previously stated my intent to keep my eBay and Etsy stores open during the start of the school year.  In my last post, I wrote:

I'm already having an increase in symptoms, including some distinct memory problems.  The memory problems will worsen when I go back to work.

So... the plan is to keep the stores open.  If I end up too impaired, then I will shut down without warning.  We'll see how it goes.

The symptoms that I was already experiencing were due to my latest medication change.  Since my body is already in flux from the medication, this puts me in a weakened state where a flare can come on much more easily.

I went back to work yesterday, and some noticeable inflammatory skin reactions had begun by the time I got home.  My lips were irritated by yesterday afternoon.  This morning my scalp hurts.  The skin reactions indicate that a new autoimmune flare is in progress, and that the flare is likely strong.

Feeling my neck, I can tell that the swelling in the left lobe of my thyroid has increased in the last 24 hours.

I feel okay, other than the back-to-work adjustment that everyone feels.  The trouble comes in 7 to 14 days.  There is always a delayed reaction where increased fatigue and significant mental impairment hit me in the couple weeks after a flare.  And I already have mental impairment from the medication change.

I have been mulling over what to do since last night.  As of right now, I expect to close my eBay store tomorrow morning.  eBay is the site with the more rigid expectations, so that will remove some stress.  Also, I don't have that many sales anyway.

I will try to hang on to Etsy and keep it open.  The main reason is because I pay for each listing.  It's kind of silly, though, because I pay a monthly subscription to eBay.  However, I'm locked into the monthly subscription, since I get a lower rate when I renew by the year.  eBay has more sales, so it's more worth the cost.  That's why I feel like I should stay open on Etsy if possible just because I get less for the cost.

As of right now, Etsy will remain open for at least one more week, but I could deactivate the listings at any time if I find it necessary.  

If you want to buy something on eBay, you should do it today.  If there's something you want on Etsy in the near future, it would be a good idea to get it purchased just in case.

Jennifer's Series Books on eBay

Jennifer's Series Books on Etsy

Keep in mind that how I feel this afternoon could cause me to decide to close Etsy by tomorrow morning.

Remember that if you have a health condition, whether it's autoimmunity or some other chronic condition, you should feel no shame in not being able to do everything that you would have done years ago.  Each of us must be content do what we can.  Be kind to yourself.

Collector Negativity and Criticism of Other Collectors

This post was written in December 2022.

Many collectors come across as quite negative when they post online.  Even collectors who are generally positive make negative comments at times.  We've all been negative at one time or another, and I must begin by saying that I have certainly been guilty of that.  I try not to do it these days, since it is detrimental to our hobby. 

I am concerned that the ongoing negativity has already driven many collectors away.  I know for a fact that the negativity has reduced participation in the groups.  I know this because of comments made to me via private messages.

1.  I am aware that some people never post in the groups because they are intimidated by certain people.

2.  I am aware of proposed projects that were canned because of negativity. 

3.  The bullying that began on the old Applewood message board and in the alt.news.nancy-drew newsgroup in the late 1990s continues (click here for more information), although it usually occurs outside of the groups.  I saw evidence of this bullying in my Facebook newsfeed as recently as October 2022.  They still haven't stopped, and they do drive others away.

Let's cover some of the different forms that the negativity can take.

Making Fun of Cover Art and Illustrations

Collectors often poke fun at cover art and illustrations, but sometimes this is taken too far with little concern for how others feel.  Around 20 years ago, the cover art of a certain Judy Bolton book was ruined for me because a few other collectors went into great detail explaining what was wrong about how the illustration was painted.  I see their comments every time I look at the jacket, and I used to love that jacket.  I still like the jacket, but I would have preferred not to have had the flaws pointed out. 

Altered book covers can also ruin our enjoyment of the original cover art.  I can think of one altered cover that is captioned in such a way that it points out what is wrong with the cover art, therefore ruining it forever.  That one is a Hardy Boys book that I will never see the same again.  The altered art is amusing, but it ruins the cover forever.

A certain Nancy Drew book has been used by all the crafters on Etsy and elsewhere.  It has a caption about Nancy burying her last f***.  I hate seeing that statement placed on a Nancy Drew cover.  I am beginning not to like the actual cover art of that Nancy Drew book.  What a shame.

Being Negative or Contrary 

I had what I thought was a happy post about colored illustrations.  I was surprised that the responses were rather negative.

People said that the book was ruined.  Robin Kane books aren't worth more than a few dollars, and the coloring is so nice that it adds to the value of the book.  Trust me on this.  I've kept the book because I like the coloring, and I don't collect Robin Kane.  I have no doubt that I could sell the book easily.  People need to lighten up.

Also, someone might joyfully report on a find and mention how nice the book is, using a word like "excellent" or "pristine."  Often, someone will correct them, telling them that the descriptor they used isn't correct, that the book is in worse condition.  That's just rude.

Qualifying One's Positive Statements

I see this very often.  Someone will remark that they like certain more modern Nancy Drew books, but then they immediately add that they like the original text books better.  Or they might say that they like the cover art of a later picture cover edition, but then quickly add that they like the Tandy art better.  It's actually okay to like both.  Liking one doesn't take away from the other.  Why qualify the statement?

Making Insulting Statements About Other Collectors' Purchases

This has happened to me lots of times.  I've been told something to the effect of "I'd never pay that much for..."  So?  They didn't; I did.  It's my money, and I can spend it how I want.  Saying that they'd never pay that much is an insult.

I've been told that what I paid for something was more than someone's car payment.  What does their car payment have to do with what I paid for something?  Exactly nothing.  Again, insult.

I was criticized for some of my first printing Nancy Drew purchases.  My top goal was to get all 38 books in first printing books matched with first printing jackets, a goal that I finally reached in early 2019.  Very few collectors have achieved this goal.  The last I heard, the number of fans who have succeeded is fewer than five.

I purchased the first printing books and jackets however I could.  I was willing to accept less-than-perfect condition since owning all 38 was very important to me.  I purchased some books that had water damage in order to get the jackets.  The books could be upgraded.  

Nancy Drew 1st Printing Auctions Part 3

In the above post, you can see a badly water-damaged first printing of Hidden Staircase that had a first printing jacket with a water stain on the spine.  I purchased that book, and I was told that my purchase was foolish.  I matched the jacket with another book, shown in the below post.

Nancy Drew First Printing Auctions Part 4

More than one very prominent Nancy Drew collector expressed skepticism about my purchasing decisions.  Some thought that any mold or mildew from the jacket would pass to the book and on to others.  Apparently, this can happen.  But did it?

If you looked at my "Part 4" post, you saw what my Hidden Staircase book looked like 12 years ago when newly paired with the water-stained jacket.  Here is what it looks like now.

Huh.  It doesn't seem to have changed.  Of course the condition of the book and jacket aren't perfect, but the first four Nancy Drew books in first printing books/first printing jackets are extremely scarce, if you haven't noticed.  Why insult me over the condition of my copy?  I'm proud of it.

I've been told that my library editions are nice but that others would only collect them if they weren’t library discards and were in extremely nice shape.  These comments weren't intended to be insults, but they irked me a bit.  I couldn't help how I felt, even though no slight was intended.  I was left feeling like my treasures, my beloved library editions, just aren't good enough for most collectors because they are library discards and have wear.  It's best just to tell me that the library editions are nice and leave off the rest of the statement.   

Pointing Out High Prices and Making Fun of Them

We've all done this but mainly on listings that are truly overpriced and will never sell.  It's a bit different when something sold for a high price, people are laughing about it, and you're the buyer.

In 2018, several sellers listed Japanese series books on eBay at fairly high prices.  I purchased many of them.  I was glad that the prices were a bit high, because I had very little competition.  Otherwise, I would have missed out.

People made fun of the prices, which irritated me.  I wrote, "One person even posted a laughing emoji about the prices.  Seeing someone make fun of the prices of books that I was buying was rather annoying."  I added, "When the books were mentioned on Facebook, some people questioned why the prices were so high.  Some thought that it would be better to go to Japan and find the books.  Assuming that the books could be found, one still has to pay airfare, lodging, and transportation.  The books would not be cheap once the other costs were factored in."

Recently, I paid a lot of money for a book.  In one of the groups, the auction was mentioned.  Someone posted a laughing emoji with a short remark about Nancy Drew collectors.  Now that some time has passed, I have realized that no insult was intended, but I felt quite insulted at the time.  People often type short statements with little thought about how they might be taken.  It's easy for someone else to take offense when the statement is too short without enough explanation of the meaning.  We all need to be careful that we are clear about what we mean.

Taking Advantage of Other Collectors

Over the years, a number of people have taken advantage of me or attempted to do so.  Regarding the book mentioned immediately above, I avoided posting about my purchase online due to the laughing emoji plus another comment seen on Facebook.  Someone was hoping to get a copy of the dust jacket.  I'm not interested in doing that. 

First and foremost, it's too much trouble.  I have printed color copy jackets in the past, and it's often not easy to get the colors to reproduce how they should.  The process is a lot of trouble for little monetary return. 

Second, I don't feel that it is right to expect me to copy a dust jacket of a book that was quite expensive.  I can't charge much for a copy dust jacket.  I shouldn't charge more than the cost of the paper, ink, and postage.  I am not going to make someone a copy of something for which I paid at least 20 times more than what they will pay for a copy dust jacket. 

I felt a bit put out and offended about the situation, and it took away a bit of my joy in that acquisition.  It really did.  Worst of all, I couldn't reveal the purchase.  Of course I could just say "no," but collectors expect other collectors to help them out.  I just won't ever talk about that book.  I'm hoping that the other one that later came up for sale went to that person.

Toxicity Towards Harriet Stratemeyer Adams

This post was written in September 2022.  I softened the title (Seriously, I did!) and some of the phrasing so that I don't get into too much hot water.  Even so, I'm prepared for possible attacks.  People who hate Harriet Adams are combative with those of us who defend her.

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In August [2022], a post was made in the Nancy Drew Book Fans group about how unfortunate it is that some fans pit Mildred Wirt Benson and Harriet Adams against each other.  More specifically, these toxic fans hate Harriet Adams with every fiber of their being and cannot stand anyone suggesting that Harriet ever did anything right.

Most of the people who responded to the post were reasonable.  One person took the opportunity to bash the Nancy Drew television series on The CW.  That person first said that "we can all agree" that the original text Nancy Drew books are the best ones.  They also said that the television series is "garbage."

First, I disagree with the blanket statement that the original text Nancy Drew books are the best in all cases.  Many of them are the best, but not all of them, at least not for all fans.  I don't like the original text Shadow Ranch or Broken Locket.  I like the revised text stories better for those titles.

Second, it's okay not to like the current television series, but calling it "garbage" is toxic.  Just say that you don't like it.  You can say why you don't like it.  Your opinion is 100% valid, because it is how you feel.  But using a word like "garbage" immediately angers the people who like the show and causes them to disregard your opinion.  That's not what you want.

By the way, another toxic word that has been used to describe the Nancy Drew revised text books is "abomination."  That's going a bit far and is quite offensive to those of us who enjoy many of those books.

I responded to the post about Harriet Adams and Mildred Wirt Benson, since I take every opportunity I can to defend Harriet Adams.  I feel like she needs to be defended, since so many people hate her.

I admire both women, and they cannot be compared.  Their contributions were tremendous and completely different from each other.  Mildred's writing is incomparable (aside from Walter Karig's excellent three books), but Harriet ran the Stratemeyer Syndicate for 50 years when women didn't run companies.

I have made fun of Harriet's writing (like when the Dana Girls leap into the air like giant grasshoppers), but I admire her so very much.  It saddens me that so many people cannot look past her statements to the press during the 1970s.  How sad that a very successful woman's life is judged solely by a few comments that she made.

Yes, Harriet didn't tell the truth.  In a perfect world, she would have.  This isn't a perfect world, and sometimes people say things that we wish they hadn't.  Harriet thought that hiding the ghostwriters' existence was best for her company's legacy.  She couldn't know how people would feel decades later.

I lean towards being Team Harriet, and I take any chance I can to defend her.  She kept Nancy Drew going all those many years.  If Harriet hadn't taken over the Syndicate and kept it going, Nancy Drew would have faded into oblivion right after her initial release.  If Nancy had disappeared, I would have never read the revised text yellow spine books in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  I would have never known of Nancy Drew.  Thank you, Harriet, for keeping Nancy Drew alive.

I did get 18 likes, so some people agreed.  Separately in the comments section, the bashing of Harriet ensued.  One person wrote that Harriet took credit for work that Mildred did.  I made this response. 

Harriet's company did own the rights to the stories outright, so they could claim whatever they wanted.  While I don't like reading the statements that Harriet made in the 1970s, my take is that she was doing what she thought was best.  I believe that Harriet thought that the best way to protect her family's legacy was to pretend that the ghostwriters did not exist.

This person then responded that I and another commenter were giving Harriet too much credit.  They related the story about how Harriet was surprised to see Mildred at the Grosset and Dunlap trial.  Harriet allegedly told Mildred, "I thought you were dead."  This person then read meaning into what Harriet said, saying that Harriet thought that she could get away with claiming to be the author since she thought Mildred was dead.

If Harriet thought that Mildred was dead prior to seeing her at the trial, she sure didn't just a few years before during the time that she made the false statements to the media.  Mildred made contact with the Stratemeyer Syndicate during the late 1970s regarding the Nancy Drew television series.  So, Harriet knew very well that Mildred was alive in the late 1970s.  Aside from that...

Harriet was 89 years old and out of her gourd.  Harriet's final story, The Secret in the Old Lace from 1980, had to be rewritten from start to finish by Nancy Axelrad after its rejection by Simon & Schuster.

In the comment thread in the group, I made one more attempt:  

Harriet's mind had deteriorated by the time of the trial.  I know this to be true because her writing had deteriorated by the time of the last few books that she wrote.  There is a real difference in Harriet's final books as compared to the ones from five or more years before.  Harriet's final book, Old Lace, had to be rewritten completely by Nancy Axelrad since it was unusable.  Harriet wrote that book around the time of the trial.  Harriet wasn't all there mentally, and that's why she made such a rude comment to Mildred.

And of course, the other person wouldn't let it rest and told me that I was wrong.  I was told that Harriet lied about the authorship.  I was told that I could spin it all I want, but "a lie is a lie."

I've been mulling this over ever since. 

Gosh, how wonderful for some people that they have never made a mistake and never done anything less than perfect.  They can be the judge and jury for the rest of us.

It's a shame that Harriet Adams has been vilified in the collecting community.

Look, Harriet lied.  I admit that.  I don't usually use that word, because it's too negative, too toxic.  

In the late 1800s, author Horatio Alger wrote a large number of "rags-to-riches" books about young boys who succeed through hard work and perseverance.  Horatio Alger's books were the predecessors to the output of the Stratemeyer Syndicate.  In fact, Edward Stratemeyer read Alger's books when young and was inspired to write his own books.  

During his life, Horatio Alger was accused of molesting young boys.  He was forced to resign as minister of a church after the allegations surfaced.  While we have no proof of whether the molestation actually occurred, the accusations sound credible. 

Come on, people.  If you're going to vilify a series book author, then Alger is the one to pick.  Instead, we vilify Harriet Adams for lying when Alger allegedly molested young boys.  Which is worse?  Lying or molesting children?  I hope your answer is molesting children.  In the series book groups, Harriet's sin of lying is apparently the most despicable act that a human can possibly commit. 

Horatio Alger and the 100-Year-Old Guilty Secret

Horatio Alger Entry in The New Encyclopedia of American Scandal

And yes, lying is bad, but I'm just saying that it's not the very worst sin that a person can commit.  We need to keep this in perspective and not blow it out of proportion.

The problem with Harriet Adams is that she did something so public that everyone knows about it, and many collectors just can't see past it.  I am able to see past it, so I will continue to stand up for her. 

Harriet Adams was flawed, but I admire her for her huge contribution to the lasting legacy of series books.  Sometimes we have to look past the flaws and accept that someone's lifetime contributions are worthy of being acknowledged.

Simon & Schuster's Problem with Nancy Drew and What to Do About It

The bulk of this post was written in February 2023 and was never finished.  I found it as I went through old draft posts, so I finished it up well enough to publish.  Here it is.

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Fans are often asked about the Nancy Drew Diaries series.  They wonder whether the series is aimed at younger children because Nancy looks so young on the covers.  They also wonder how good the series is and what previous Nancy Drew series it is most like. 

These questions are not easy to answer.  The best answer that can be given is to suggest that a couple books could be read to see what they are like.  Even that won't tell the entire story.

The Nancy Drew Diaries series is like none of the previous Nancy Drew series.  The series is highly inconsistent, making it impossible to compare to previous versions.  Also, the Nancy Drew Diaries series is a watered-down version of Nancy Drew.  The stories are sometimes bland and boring; other times, they are bizarre.  The series is wildly uneven with Nancy acting significantly out of character in some books. It depends on who the ghost writer was for each book.  There is little oversight by S&S on these books.

I briefly looked at one of the Nancy Drew Notebooks stories to see how they read.  This passage is from pages 2 and 3 of Nancy Drew Notebooks #63 The Snowman's Surprise. 

When the girls reached the park, Nancy thought it looked beautiful all covered with snow.  The trees were covered with snow.  The benches were covered with snow.  Even the swing sets were covered with snow.  Nancy liked the way the snow crunched under their feet and the way the cold air made their cheeks tingle.  She loved winter!  She especially loved winter vacation, when they could just play and not have to go to school.

The above text is obviously for young children.  The text is repetitive to help children learn to read.  Nancy Drew likes to play in the Notebooks series, while in the Diaries series she drives a car.  The Nancy Drew Diaries covers make Nancy look rather young, but she is an older teenager.  I am mystified as to why Nancy looks so young on the Diaries books.

It's become difficult to understand exactly what Simon & Schuster is doing with the franchise.

This is the opening of Nancy Drew Diaries #24 Captain Stone's Revenge:

The airplane made a wide turn as it descended through the clouds toward Burlington International Airport.  I pressed my face against the small oval window.  All at once, I could see green hills, fields dotted with farms, and our ultimate destination: the clear blue waters of Lake Champlain.

"We're almost there!" I said.  It was my first trip to Vermont, one of the smallest and least populated states in the country.  I couldn't wait to explore, try the world-famous maple syrup, and of course, go sailing at my friend Megan's new club and resort!

"Thank goodness!" George grumbled behind me.  Our small commercial jet's seats were grouped in twos.  George had taken the seat behind me and Bess.  She was using the empty space next to her to stash her computer, e-reader, and cell phone.

"Motion sickness?" Bess asked, dabbing on fresh lip gloss in preparation for landing.

"No, my e-reader is about to run out of charge!" George said with a groan.  "And I'm right in the middle of a really good book!  What sort of airplane doesn't have power outlets?"

"Maybe the kind that's built to fly, not charge all your equipment?  I mean, I know which one I'd prefer," I teased.  George gave my seat a little nudge and we laughed.

Bess put the cap on her lip gloss and dropped it into her navy-blue purse.  As usual, her outfit was perfectly themed for our destination.  She wore a blue-and-white-striped shirt with a sailboat crest on the front, white linen pants, and a pair of navy Top-Siders.  Her cousin George, on the other hand, was outfitted in cargo pants with enough pockets to hold all her electronics.  (I don't even want to talk about how long it took us to get through security back in River Heights!)

The intercom dinged and the captain came on. "Hello, passengers," she said in a smooth voice. "We're making our final descent into Burlington, where skies are clear and the temperature is seventy-five degrees on this beautiful June day.  In preparation for landing, please return your seat backs and tray tables to their upright positions.  We'll be on the ground shortly!"

I folded the Sudoku puzzle I'd been working on, tucked it away, and clicked my tray table back into place.  I sat up straight. The plane took a sharp turn and descended quickly, angling toward the runway. In a matter of minutes, the wheels touched down with a thump. We lurched forward in our seats as the plane slowed.  I pulled out my phone and switched it off airplane mode.  A text notification immediately filled the screen.  It was from Megan.

Nancy!  I'm so sorry, but I'll be late picking you up.  Had a little accident this morning. Nothing major!  Will explain when I get there.  Can't wait to see you all!

Poor Megan!  I wondered what happened.  I told Bess and George about the delay, then quickly texted Megan back to let her know it was no problem, of course, and we hoped everything was okay.  I never minded having a little time to explore, anyway.  There's always something new to see and learn, wherever you go.

The opening to Captain Stone's Revenge is okay, but I don't like it.  I have been trying to figure out how to articulate exactly what the problem is.  It bores me, mainly.  But why?  I think the problem is all of the mundane details.  The introduction is not interesting.

Let's compare that opening to the opening of one of the Nancy Drew Digests.  I selected #125 The Teen Model Mystery.  I wanted a title well into the run of the digests but not from the very end of the series.  I also selected a story that is good but not one that could be considered excellent.  The book is just an average title in the set.

Nancy Drew paused at the curb, waiting for the light to change.  A stiff breeze off nearby Lake Michigan whipped a few strands of her reddish blond hair across her face.  Just a few blocks away, the skyscrapers of downtown Chicago gleamed in the morning light.

Nancy's friend Bess Marvin suddenly grabbed her arm.  "Look, Nancy, there's Cindy!" she exclaimed. "There, on that billboard."

Nancy followed Bess's pointing finger.  Across the street, mounted on the roof of a six-story brick building, was a big poster advertising a sale at a local department store.  A tall, slim girl with honey blond hair was shown dashing happily across a street, carrying several shopping bags.

It was their friend Cindy Sunderland, a River Heights girl who had recently moved to Chicago to pursue a career in modeling.  With its high cheekbones, tip-tilted nose, and dazzling sky blue eyes, Cindy's face was unmistakable.  No wonder she was fast becoming one of the hottest teen models around.

"Isn't she terrific?" Bess added.  "Just looking at her picture makes me want to go catch that sale."

Nancy laughed.  "Come on, Bess," she said.  "You've never seen a sale you didn't like."

Bess flushed.  "Well, maybe you're right," she admitted.  "But Cindy's picture does make that ad stand out.  I just know she's going to be the next big supermodel.  And it's so cool that she asked us to come watch her film this commercial—especially considering that we've only met her a few times."

Nancy giggled.  "She could hardly not invite us, you dropped so many hints when we saw her last month," she reminded her friend.  "But I think she wanted a little moral support, too.  From what she said, it's a really big break in her career—to move up from ad photos and fashion shows to TV commercials.  It could lead to an acting career someday.  I bet she's pretty nervous."

Bess nodded.  "It's too bad George had to go on a trip with her family this week.  She would have loved to come along."  George Fayne, Bess's cousin, was the third member of this trio of best friends.

The light changed.  As they started across the street, Bess looked around at the run-down buildings.  "Nancy, are you sure we're in the right place? she asked nervously.  She flinched as an elevated train rattle past the next intersection.  "Nothing around here looks like a movie studio."

Nancy grinned.  "This won't be that kind of studio, silly," she corrected Bess.  "Cindy is making a commercial, not a feature film.  Come on, the building must be on the next block."

The address Cindy had given them turned out to be that of a solid-looking brick building with wide-arched windows on the street level.  Over the entrance a craved stone panel bore the name MacAllister's Stores.  Elaborately sculpted vines and flower would through the old-fashioned lettering.

I like this much better!  Looking at this text as compared to the Diaries text, I can begin to articulate what the problem is.

Changing the books to first person narrative was a mistake.  We are reading about Nancy Drew (said with a lilt), not I.  The first-person narrative is even worse in the Hardy Boys Adventures, since it's often hard to tell which brother is narrating.  At least the first-person narrative is passable in the Nancy Drew Diaries series.

When I read a Nancy Drew book, I want to read about Nancy Drew.  I don't want to read "I" over and over.  I want to delight in that beloved name.  It's important to see the name Nancy Drew on the first page of the story.

The Nancy Drew Diaries have moved away from the essence of Nancy Drew.  Oh, it's there at times, sure, but we can appreciate our reading experience much better when we see the name.  Yes, it does matter.

I have been reading John Benton's teen books.  Each book features a different protagonist, but all of the books are in first person.  I don't mind the first person, but I find that I can't remember anything about any of the books when looking at the titles.  The character's name never imprints on my memory since I see "I" all through the book.  I have to look at a summary in order to remember anything.

Making Nancy Drew first person watered down the character.

This is what S&S needs to do.

1.  Drop the first-person narrative and return to the story of Nancy Drew. 

2.  Make Nancy look more like a teenager on the covers. 

3.  Include Nancy's best friends on some of the covers (Thanks to Todd for mentioning that Nancy's friends are no longer on the covers). 

4.  Come up with more creative plots that are not just sabotage.  It's quite easy to come up with good plots.  Just take ideas from the old Nancy Drew books.  Use one of the old stories to inspire a new plot.  Change it up some.  Or use artificial intelligence to do it!  

I have thought this through.  Since the folks at S&S and their ghostwriters are unable to think of anything except for bland sabotage stories, it's time to use a computer to do it.  I experimented with ChatGPT and asked it to write me a Nancy Drew story.  It came back with what would work well for a publisher's summary.  A ghostwriter could flesh it out into a great story, something much better than what is coming out of the franchise. 

Follow this link to see what ChatGPT gave me.

Nancy Drew Plots Created by Artificial Intelligence

I have stated what S&S should do to make Nancy Drew better.  Now, I have a specific proposal. 

For the 100th anniversary (or please even sooner, Nancy Drew needs help!!!), S&S should relaunch Nancy Drew in third person dialogue.  The books would hearken back to the digest series in style.  The digests are so much better.  

If the series is relaunched, then it needs a new title.  It has to be something different.  The new series would start over with #1 like how Girl Detective started with #1.  Using "Classic Nancy Drew" might be problematic due to the legal agreement, so that might not work.  They could call it "Detective Nancy Drew" and start with #1.  Or maybe "Nancy Drew, Girl Sleuth."  Just something with a different name from all previous incarnations to make it a new series but use the text and story style of the digests

I want to say that the series should be made more young adult, but I fear that would include romance.  I don't want romance in a Nancy Drew book.  I'd rather see Nancy look like an older teen on the covers with stories that are more detailed.  That would be enough.

That's what I wrote in February, finished up and edited to be more cohesive.  Someone put a bug in S&S's ear.  Nancy Drew needs help!

Nancy Drew Plots Created by Artificial Intelligence

I'm going through old draft blog posts and am getting some of them finished up.  Since this one is relevant to another one I'm finishing up, it must go up first.

Back in February, I had this idea that Simon & Schuster could come up with better Nancy Drew Diaries plots by using a chat bot.  This is not a joke.  It sounds like a joke, but the Nancy Drew plots currently being used by S&S are completely pathetic.  Sadly, artificial intelligence can create more interesting plots than the people actually creating the plots at S&S.

I gave ChatGPT some prompts.  Here are some prompts in bold followed by what ChatGPT gave me.  ChatGPT gave me what are really just plot outlines, but they could be fleshed out into something great by a good ghostwriter.  

Write a mystery with Nancy Drew investigating a mystery at a library.

Nancy Drew was a young and talented detective who was known for her sharp mind and her ability to solve complex cases.  One day, she received a call from her friend, Bess, who told her about a strange mystery at the River Heights Library.  Apparently, the library's valuable collection of rare books had been disappearing one by one, and no one seemed to know how.

Nancy was intrigued by this case and decided to pay a visit to the library to see if she could help.  When she arrived, she met with the librarian, Mrs. Stevens, who was visibly upset.  Mrs. Stevens told Nancy that the library had recently acquired a valuable collection of rare books, but they had started disappearing a few days ago, and they had no idea who could be behind it.

Nancy started her investigation by talking to the library staff and asking questions about the missing books.  She learned that the books had been taken at night, when the library was closed.  This made Nancy suspicious, as it suggested that the culprit was someone who had access to the library after hours.

Nancy also took a closer look at the library's security system and found that there was a small gap in the cameras' coverage that would allow someone to enter the library without being seen.  She decided to stake out the library that night to see if she could catch the thief in the act.

As Nancy waited in the shadows, she saw a shadowy figure enter the library through the gap in the cameras.  She quickly followed the figure and found herself face to face with the library's janitor, Mr. Green.  Mr. Green was holding a rare book in his hand and appeared to be very nervous.

Nancy confronted Mr. Green, who admitted to stealing the books because he needed the money to pay for his daughter's medical treatment.  He told Nancy that he had planned to return the books after he had the money, but he couldn't bear the thought of going to jail.

Nancy understood Mr. Green's situation, and she decided to help him instead of turning him in to the police.  She worked with Mrs. Stevens to find a way to help Mr. Green get the money he needed, and in the end, he was able to pay for his daughter's treatment and return the stolen books to the library.

Nancy had solved another mystery, and she was proud of the work she had done to help someone in need.  The River Heights Library was once again a safe place for rare books, and the town was grateful for Nancy's help.

I then asked ChatGPT to add dialogue to the River Heights Library plot.  This is what I was given.

Nancy Drew was a young and talented detective who was known for her sharp mind and her ability to solve complex cases.  One day, she received a call from her friend, Bess, who told her about a strange mystery at the River Heights Library.  Apparently, the library's valuable collection of rare books had been disappearing one by one, and no one seemed to know how.

Nancy was intrigued by this case and decided to pay a visit to the library to see if she could help.  When she arrived, she met with the librarian, Mrs. Stevens, who was visibly upset.

"Nancy, I'm so glad you're here," Mrs. Stevens said, her voice shaking.  "We have a problem.  The rare books in our collection have been disappearing, and we don't know how."

Nancy was shocked.  "Do you have any leads on who might be behind this?" she asked.

"No, we don't," Mrs. Stevens replied.  "We've checked the security footage, but we can't see anything.  It's as if the books just disappeared into thin air."

Nancy started her investigation by talking to the library staff and asking questions about the missing books.  She learned that the books had been taken at night, when the library was closed.  This made Nancy suspicious, as it suggested that the culprit was someone who had access to the library after hours.

Nancy also took a closer look at the library's security system and found that there was a small gap in the cameras' coverage that would allow someone to enter the library without being seen.  She decided to stake out the library that night to see if she could catch the thief in the act.

As Nancy waited in the shadows, she saw a shadowy figure enter the library through the gap in the cameras.  She quickly followed the figure and found herself face to face with the library's janitor, Mr. Green.

"Mr. Green, what are you doing here?" Nancy asked, surprised.

Mr. Green was holding a rare book in his hand and appeared to be very nervous.  "I... I... I took the book," he stammered.  "I needed the money to pay for my daughter's medical treatment.  I was going to return it, I swear."

Nancy understood Mr. Green's situation, and she decided to help him instead of turning him in to the police.  She worked with Mrs. Stevens to find a way to help Mr. Green get the money he needed, and in the end, he was able to pay for his daughter's treatment and return the stolen books to the library.

"Thank you, Nancy," Mrs. Stevens said, grateful.  "You truly are a remarkable young woman."

Nancy smiled.  "I'm just glad I could help," she said.  "The River Heights Library is a special place, and it deserves to be protected."

Nancy had solved another mystery, and she was proud of the work she had done to help someone in need.  The River Heights Library was once again a safe place for rare books, and the town was grateful for Nancy's help.

In another session on a different day, I was given this.

Title: The River Heights Threat

Nancy Drew is back in her hometown, River Heights, and is asked to help solve a mystery at her old high school.  The school has been receiving anonymous threats, causing fear and disruption among the students and staff.

Nancy starts her investigation by talking to the school principal, teachers, and students.  She discovers that the threats seem to be targeting a specific group of students who are involved in a student council election.

As Nancy delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of secrets and rivalries among the students.  One of the candidates for student council president has been caught cheating on a test, and another candidate has been spreading false rumors about their opponents.

Meanwhile, Nancy receives a new threat that puts her own life in danger.  She realizes that the person behind the threats is someone close to her, someone she thought she could trust.

Nancy continues her investigation, using her detective skills to gather evidence and find the truth.  She finally uncovers the identity of the person behind the threats, bringing the case to a close and restoring peace to River Heights High School.

In the end, Nancy discovers that the threats were made by a student who was upset about losing the election.  She turns the evidence over to the police, and the student is arrested and brought to justice.

Here's another plot that I was given.  I am pretty sure that ChatGPT was inspired by The Mystery at Lilac Inn.  

Title: The Missing Heirloom

Nancy Drew receives a letter from her friend, Emily, asking for her help in solving the mystery of a missing heirloom.  Emily's family has owned a valuable diamond necklace for generations, but it has recently disappeared from their safe.

Emily believes that the necklace has been stolen, but no one in the family will admit to taking it.  The police are investigating, but they are having trouble finding any leads.

Nancy travels to Emily's hometown and begins to look into the case.  She starts by interviewing the members of the family and the staff of their home.  She discovers that there were several people who had motive and opportunity to steal the necklace.

One of the family members had recently lost a lot of money in a risky business venture and was in desperate need of funds.  Another family member was known to be an avid collector of expensive jewelry.  The maid who had access to the safe where the necklace was stored was also acting suspiciously.

Nancy continues her investigation and uncovers more clues.  She finally discovers the truth behind the missing heirloom and puts an end to the mystery.

In the end, Nancy finds the missing necklace and returns it to Emily's family.  She also uncovers the culprit behind the theft, bringing the case to a close.

............................................

I would love to read these plots as finished Nancy Drew Mysteries.

Etsy's Folly, eBay's International Shipping, and the Start of School

I decided to relist most of my expired Etsy listings, and I also added quite a few new listings.  Etsy sales are poor, but I want to give Etsy the best chance that I can.  If sales remain too low, then I will consider closing my Etsy shop.

I mentioned in my previous post that Etsy has moved the item description to the bottom of the page underneath the reviews.  Etsy sellers are reporting an increase in returns due to buyers having not read the description that they can't find.  

In order to counter this problem, I have added an image to each listing.  That image contains the text, "Scroll down below the reviews for the item description."

I have heard that the item description has not been moved for all users.  I can see the old item page in one of my browsers, so I can confirm.  Even if some buyers think I'm weird, I would rather have the message in all of my listings in order to help the impacted buyers find the item description.  It's a rather important part of a listing.

On eBay, I sent an offer for 15% off to some buyers who had watched an item.  I do this at least once every couple of months.  I don't send offers to everyone who has watched an item.  Many of my listings are already at the very lowest I will take.  I go down the list of listings eligible for me to send offers and go with the ones where I don't mind going lower or where I just really want to get the item sold if at all possible.

I use eBay's international shipping program.  It's better for me, and it may be better for the buyer as well, depending upon the situation.  It does have one serious disadvantage.  eBay's international shipping does not allow items to be combined.  I have had two buyers let me know about the problem, requesting that I place the books they want in a single lot.  

I pull the books they want, take one group photograph, add the individual prices together, and then create the listing.  This results in the buyer being charged eBay's international shipping rate just one time instead of for each individual listing.

A few of you suggested that I begin selling books on my website due to the low eBay and Etsy sales.  I'm not interested in doing that.  I choose to sell on eBay and Etsy so that I'm not responsible for driving traffic myself.  If I were to set up a store on my website, I would have to do a lot of advertising.  That's worse than my current setup.  The cost of selling on eBay and Etsy is not a concern.  Convenience is more important than avoiding the fees.

Setting up a store on my website would also be a lot of trouble.  That's not feasible for me.  I have an autoimmune disease, and I need to control my stress.

Furthermore, I am not worried in the slightest about the low sales.  I'm a bit mentally detached.  This is due to my roller coaster thyroid levels of the last year.  Here is a rundown of my year, indicating by month whether I was undermedicated or overmedicated based on how I felt.

August 2022 - under
September 2022 - over
October 2022 - over
November 2022 - under
December 2022 - under
January 2023 - under (even worse)
February 2023 - under
March 2023 - slightly under, felt normal for around 10 days at the end of the month
April 2023 - over
May 2023 - over (even worse)
June 2023 - under
July 2023 - under

My levels were just right for around 10 days out of the last year.  That is why I'm mentally detached and don't care one way or the other.  My books will sell, or they won't.  At least they are listed.  I have other concerns.

I go back to work on Thursday, August 10.  School starts one week later on Thursday, August 17. 

As of now, I plan to keep my stores open.  I have misgivings, which are increasing.  

In the middle of July, my medication was adjusted again for the fifth time since I had Covid in July 2022.  This is a slight dose increase.  I had trouble getting the prescription and had to go to mail order.  While I was waiting on my 81.5 mcg dose, I alternated between 75 mcg and 88 mcg, which averaged to 81.5 mcg.  It is okay to do that, although my body is so sensitive that it isn't ideal.

I started the new 81.5 mcg dose yesterday.  It's the same medication I have been taking (Tirosint) with the same four hypoallergenic ingredients.  My body shouldn't be able to detect a difference, yet it does.  My body knows that I've never taken the 37.5 mcg and 44 mcg (paired together to add to 81.5 mcg) capsules before, and I am already having a reaction even though I really shouldn't be having one.  My body is that extremely sensitive.  

This is why I'm having an increase in misgivings about keeping my stores open.  I'm already having an increase in symptoms, including some distinct memory problems.  The memory problems will worsen when I go back to work.

So... the plan is to keep the stores open.  If I end up too impaired, then I will shut down without warning.  We'll see how it goes.

Jennifer's Series Books on eBay

Jennifer's Series Books on Etsy

Thyroid Update - Continuing to Seek the Correct Post-Covid Dose

I write these posts hoping that people seeking answers will stumble across them via their online searches.  The online thyroid groups and websites are full of misinformation.  Some of the information is helpful, but everyone is different.  I was extremely overmedicated in 2016 and 2017 and didn't realize the extent of it due to the widespread online content that indicated that everyone should have their T4 levels at the top of the range.  If I had known better, I would not have agreed to some of my medication changes during those years.  

I also now realize why I became so much sicker in 2014 when I started thyroid medication.  I had an increase in fatigue, aches, and pains plus a host of other symptoms that I never had in the first place.

It wasn't that I needed to take a bunch of supplements each day or that I needed to go on an extremely restrictive diet.  I didn't need to check my adrenals, detox my liver, or follow the dozens of bizarre suggestions that are recommended online.  

All I needed was to be on a clean thyroid medication. 

Tirosint, a name-brand version of levothyroxine, is a liquid gel cap with only four ingredients: levothyroxine, gelatin, glycerin, and water.  It is hypoallergenic.  Many thyroid patients, including me, are sensitive or allergic to the fillers used in all other thyroid medications.  We are forced to take medications that increase inflammation, thereby exacerbating our autoimmunity.  We then feel worse after starting treatment.

Generic levothyroxine (the first order of treatment) gave me terrible pain in my gums to where I had to go on a bland diet and could hardly bear to brush my teeth.  Even brushing softly with the most gentle toothbrush I could find caused intense pain.  I had awful aches and pains all over my body that I never had before treatment. The fatigue was far worse than before treatment.

Synthroid was the next order of treatment.  I was okay on the 50 mcg dose that was white with no dye added, but I soon needed a higher dose.  The 75 mcg dose had a dye in it that made me feel as if I had the flu for up to four hours each day.  During those four hours, I had a fever of above 100 degrees and felt very ill.  

I was placed on natural dessicated thyroid (WP Thyroid and later NP Thyroid) for a number of years.  These medications are considered the "be all to end all" by the online folks.  Not for me.  I was very allergic to them.  I had terrible itchy rashes that were nearly unbearable at times.  The rashes were so awful that I had to take four to six antihistamine pills each day to make the itching bearable.  Quitting the natural medication ended the rashes.

Now I am on Tirosint only.  My insurance dislikes Tirosint due to its high cost and will only approve it for one year at a time.  Each year, my provider has to give documentation that the other medications have failed.  One time the rejection letter was sent to me, and I found it a bit rude to be honest.  Insurance companies do their best to keep people ill.  It's infuriating.

Now to my update.

My thyroid situation continues to be problematic.  On July 14, I passed the one-year anniversary of getting Covid.  My thyroid levels have been screwed up ever since July 2022.  As I've said in past posts, that's exactly why I didn't want to get Covid...

Check out my TSH.  TSH is thyroid stimulating hormone.  For someone with thyroid disease, it should be at the bottom of the normal range, at 1 or less.  A rising TSH indicates that the pituitary gland senses that the body does not have enough circulating thyroid hormone.

Basically, my TSH has gone bonkers ever since I had Covid.  My immune system is in turmoil, and it can take one to two years for it to settle down.  I was in a similar situation back in 2016, and that took two years to resolve.

T3 is the active hormone, and I'm getting back to a good level.  The body converts T4 to T3.

T4 is the hormone that is produced by the thyroid gland.  My thyroid doesn't produce enough, so the Tirosint I take gives me the T4 that I need.

The T4 situation in my body is complicated, and I'm not going to attempt to explain fully.  I will say that I cannot have my T4 anywhere near the top of the range.  I believe around 1 is what I need, and that amount is too low for many other thyroid patients.  It angers me to see the misinformation in the online thyroid groups where everyone insists that everyone should make sure their T4 is near the top of the range.  If I did that, I would be miserable from being overmedicated.  

Most thyroid medications absorb at a rate of 60% to 80%.  Tirosint absorbs at about 100%, so patients can be overdosed if providers don't understand how cautious they need to be with it.  Many providers think that Tirosint absorbs the same as other medications, but patients need to be on a lower dose of Tirosint than they would with other brands of levothyroxine.

Thyroid patients are rather vocal about what they need regarding their condition.  This is because our condition makes us feel truly awful when the levels are off.  Being overmedicated and undermedicated are equally bad but in different ways. 

Levothyroxine is a Goldilocks drug.  This means that it must be dosed at the precise amount that the patient needs in order for the patient to feel okay.  This is hard to do, as you can see from my bouncing TSH level.  My medication has been adjusted five times during the past year as we continue to seek the precise amount that I now need post-Covid.

The vocal nature of thyroid patients causes general practitioners to think that their thyroid patients are difficult and have mental problems.  Their patients have results in the normal range, and they don't understand why the patients continue to complain about symptoms.  They don't understand that we tend to be allergic to most brands.  They also don't understand that each of us has a specific level within the very wide normal range which is the only place where we feel okay.  That specific level is different for every thyroid patient.

At each appointment, I am direct about how I feel and what I think I need.  I am fortunate that my provider also has Hashimoto's thyroid disease and works with me.  She has told me of the gaslighting that she suffered when she was diagnosed, and her bad experience led her into specializing in thyroid disease.  Sometimes I defer to her opinion, and other times, she goes with what I feel is right.  

In January, I was not on enough medication and had very low energy levels.  The fatigue was intense.  I was taking Tirsosint 75 mcg.  My provider prescribed Tirosint 100 mcg since I was doing so badly.  Oh, no!  If I were on one of the less absorbable versions of levothyroxine, that dose increase would have been fine. 

I said that I wanted to go with 88 mcg and that 100 mcg would be too much.  I instinctively knew it would be too much.  I know how well my body absorbs Tirosint.  She reduced the prescription to 88 mcg.  

I was correct.  In late March, I felt perfect.  88 mcg was the way to go.  Unfortunately, the additional thyroiditis caused by Covid then cleared up, and I became overmedicated.  I cringe when I think about how bad that would have been if I had agreed to the 100 mcg dosage.

I titrated down by skipping one dose of 88 mcg each week.  In early June, my prescription was reduced to 75 mcg, although I suspected that would be too low.  However, we needed to see, so I agreed to go down to 75 mcg.

I could tell very quickly that it wasn't quite enough.  By late June, I was definitely undermedicated.  I was getting tired more easily, and my gums began hurting.  My recent labs show the decrease in T4.  I requested that my dose be changed to 81.5 mcg (via Tirosint 37.5 mcg paired with Tirosint 44 mcg), halfway between my two previous doses.  My provider agreed and said that it's worth a try.

It could be that my thyroid is tanking again and that I do now need 88 mcg.  However, the high absorption of Tirosint makes me cautious, so I want to try the middle dose first.  Tirosint is the best thyroid medication for me as it has none of the horrific side effects I've had from every other medication, but I must be very cautious with these dose increases.  

I had a problem getting the new prescriptions filled.  This has happened before, so I've changed pharmacies several times over the years.  I end up at whichever pharmacy can get my specialized thyroid medication.  Here I go again.

The problem this time is that Tirosint 37.5 mcg and 44 mcg are new doses that have only existed since early April.  Suppliers aren't stocking them.  I knew that it take me awhile to call pharmacies in central Oklahoma trying to find one that could get those doses.  I didn't care to waste an hour or two with no guarantee of success, so I went with the Tirosint Direct program.  Highland Specialty Pharmacy in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is a supplier of Tirosint through the Tirosint Direct program and is said to be the best source for Tirosint.

As I awaited the new capsules, I alternated the 75 mcg and 88 mcg capsules to simulate the 81.5 mcg dose.  I always have a variety of Tirosint capsules from past prescriptions and can use the leftover capsules when needed.

While I could have gone with a prescription for 75 mcg and 88 mcg and alternated, it's better for me to be on the same dose each day.  I can feel the difference when I take alternating doses.  On the days I take the 88 mcg, I feel hot for a short time.  That's a sign of too much hormone circulating.  I feel a bit cold on the days when I take the 75 mcg capsules, which indicates too low of a dose.  This variance tells me that I'm probably correct that I need 81.5 mcg. 

Before I conclude, I want to state that I don't feel bad at present.  I have some symptoms but am okay.  I'm not working right now.  It's going to be far different starting August 10.  I have some misgivings about keeping my eBay and Etsy stores open, but I'm going to wing it.  If I can't handle it, then I'll close whenever I reach that point.  If I can, then I'll keep the stores open.