diff --git a/foodie_automator_reddit.py b/foodie_automator_reddit.py
index 386a693..4f33b79 100644
--- a/foodie_automator_reddit.py
+++ b/foodie_automator_reddit.py
@@ -315,7 +315,8 @@ def curate_from_reddit():
                 image_source=image_source,
                 uploader=uploader,
                 pixabay_url=pixabay_url,
-                interest_score=interest_score
+                interest_score=interest_score,
+                post_tweet=True  # Post the X tweet on the first call
             )
         finally:
             is_posting = False
@@ -323,7 +324,6 @@ def curate_from_reddit():
         if post_id:
             cta = select_best_cta(post_data["title"], final_summary, post_url=post_url)
             post_data["content"] = f"{final_summary}\n\n{cta}"
-            
             is_posting = True
             try:
                 post_to_wp(
@@ -337,7 +337,8 @@ def curate_from_reddit():
                     uploader=uploader,
                     pixabay_url=pixabay_url,
                     interest_score=interest_score,
-                    post_id=post_id
+                    post_id=post_id,
+                    post_tweet=False  # Skip X tweet on the update call
                 )
             finally:
                 is_posting = False
diff --git a/foodie_automator_rss.py b/foodie_automator_rss.py
index 8525ded..f247366 100644
--- a/foodie_automator_rss.py
+++ b/foodie_automator_rss.py
@@ -307,7 +307,8 @@ def curate_from_rss():
                 image_source=image_source,
                 uploader=uploader,
                 pixabay_url=pixabay_url,
-                interest_score=interest_score
+                interest_score=interest_score,
+                post_tweet=True  # Post the X tweet on the first call
             )
         finally:
             is_posting = False
@@ -328,7 +329,8 @@ def curate_from_rss():
                     uploader=uploader,
                     pixabay_url=pixabay_url,
                     interest_score=interest_score,
-                    post_id=post_id
+                    post_id=post_id,
+                    post_tweet=False  # Skip X tweet on the update call
                 )
             finally:
                 is_posting = False
diff --git a/foodie_utils.py b/foodie_utils.py
index e9f8a52..3dcd3fb 100644
--- a/foodie_utils.py
+++ b/foodie_utils.py
@@ -72,7 +72,28 @@ def save_json_file(filename, key, value):
         logging.error(f"Failed to save or prune {filename}: {e}")
 
 def load_post_counts():
-    counts = load_json_file('/home/shane/foodie_automator/x_post_counts.json')
+    counts = []
+    filename = '/home/shane/foodie_automator/x_post_counts.json'
+    if os.path.exists(filename):
+        try:
+            with open(filename, 'r') as f:
+                lines = f.readlines()
+                for i, line in enumerate(lines, 1):
+                    if line.strip():
+                        try:
+                            entry = json.loads(line.strip())
+                            # Check for expected fields in x_post_counts.json
+                            if not isinstance(entry, dict) or "username" not in entry or "month" not in entry or "monthly_count" not in entry or "day" not in entry or "daily_count" not in entry:
+                                logging.warning(f"Skipping malformed entry in {filename} at line {i}: {entry}")
+                                continue
+                            counts.append(entry)
+                        except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+                            logging.warning(f"Skipping invalid JSON line in {filename} at line {i}: {e}")
+            logging.info(f"Loaded {len(counts)} entries from {filename}")
+        except Exception as e:
+            logging.error(f"Failed to load {filename}: {e}")
+            counts = []  # Reset to empty on failure
+    
     if not counts:
         counts = [{
             "username": author["username"],
@@ -81,6 +102,7 @@ def load_post_counts():
             "day": datetime.now(timezone.utc).strftime("%Y-%m-%d"),
             "daily_count": 0
         } for author in AUTHORS]
+    
     current_month = datetime.now(timezone.utc).strftime("%Y-%m")
     current_day = datetime.now(timezone.utc).strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
     for entry in counts:
@@ -598,7 +620,7 @@ def get_wp_tag_id(tag_name, wp_base_url, wp_username, wp_password):
         logging.error(f"Failed to get WP tag ID for '{tag_name}': {e}")
         return None
 
-def post_to_wp(post_data, category, link, author, image_url, original_source, image_source="Pixabay", uploader=None, pixabay_url=None, interest_score=4, post_id=None):
+def post_to_wp(post_data, category, link, author, image_url, original_source, image_source="Pixabay", uploader=None, pixabay_url=None, interest_score=4, post_id=None, post_tweet=True):
     wp_base_url = "https://insiderfoodie.com/wp-json/wp/v2"
     logging.info(f"Starting post_to_wp for '{post_data['title']}', image_source: {image_source}")
     
@@ -703,16 +725,17 @@ def post_to_wp(post_data, category, link, author, image_url, original_source, im
         timestamp = datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()
         save_post_to_recent(post_data["title"], post_url, author["username"], timestamp)
 
-        # Post article tweet to X
-        try:
-            post = {"title": post_data["title"], "url": post_url}
-            tweet = generate_article_tweet(author, post, author["persona"])
-            if post_tweet(author, tweet):
-                logging.info(f"Successfully posted article tweet for {author['username']} on X")
-            else:
-                logging.warning(f"Failed to post article tweet for {author['username']} on X")
-        except Exception as e:
-            logging.error(f"Error posting article tweet for {author['username']}: {e}")
+        # Post article tweet to X only if post_tweet is True
+        if post_tweet:
+            try:
+                post = {"title": post_data["title"], "url": post_url}
+                tweet = generate_article_tweet(author, post, author["persona"])
+                if post_tweet(author, tweet):
+                    logging.info(f"Successfully posted article tweet for {author['username']} on X")
+                else:
+                    logging.warning(f"Failed to post article tweet for {author['username']} on X")
+            except Exception as e:
+                logging.error(f"Error posting article tweet for {author['username']}: {e}")
 
         logging.info(f"Posted/Updated by {author['username']}: {post_data['title']} (ID: {post_id})")
         return post_id, post_url