Member: Jodyreadseverything

I can't believe I didn't friend you before now...duh! Will write soon.

vintage_books

posted by vintage_books at 3:21 pm (EST) on Nov 18, 2009

I took the book to bed last night for a quick read before Ray came up but he happened to arrive at a point where I couldn't stop reading so I went back downstairs 'just to finish this chapter'. Finally went back to bed at 2. I'm now up to page 213 (no doggy-disasters yet) and utterly gripped. I was supposed to be going into town today for some fairly urgent shopping but I'm sure that'll wait until the weekend. Do you think Rob'll mind if I turn up at his launch with my nose stuck in someone else's book? I really hope I can get it finished before Monday as we're going up by train and I can do without this darn great tombstone in my luggage.

posted by Booksloth at 6:21 am (EST) on Nov 13, 2009

hello Jody,
Just finished 'the birthing house'. I agree whole heartedly with your review. Just wish I read your review before I bought it.
bob

posted by bjbookman at 6:04 pm (EST) on Nov 11, 2009

Just noticed you have Company of Liars and haven't rated it yet. I just finished this and it was a briliant read. Is it still on your TBR pile? Highly recommended if so!

posted by Booksloth at 8:00 am (EST) on Oct 26, 2009

*waves* Hi!! Are you okay? Thinking about you and your dear family.

Hugs,
Katherine

posted by katylit at 3:57 pm (EST) on Oct 23, 2009

Jody, Hello to you and the little boy. I hope his daddy is well, too. Is he home with you right now? It has been quite some time since I have been by to say Hello. I took a look at your reading list and it looks as though you have been very productive. I have been writing lately so not reading quite as much but certainly not stopping. I have been collecting some great books and anticipate reading them over the next few months. I try to get my reviews done in a timely fashion. I have been having a heck of a time getting to sleep at night, and I wish I could read or write while I am up but I doze off at that point, I just seem to watch television and read a line or two. I have had a horrible toothache(two teeth actually) and I am having them pulled on Tues. Another of the joys of getting old. Well, drop me a line and update me on the boy and the dog. What is this I read about somebody's fingers getting bit? Not by anydoggie I know, right? That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Are you doing the group read? I am. I have my book ready and waiting.Also, I am attempting to write my novel this November on NaNoWriMo. I have warned the family that there is the potential of supperless nights and have taught them all how to do their own laundry. HeeHee ;) Enough for now, but next time I have to tell you about the crazy new kitten we got recently. Her name is Maude but we call her Meep because that is the sound she made when we got her and she was small enough to fit in a coffee scoop. A pretty little calico, she only weighs 5 lbs at 4 months old. Good night, Mary Beth

posted by mmignano11 at 7:13 pm (EST) on Oct 11, 2009

I still blame the postwoman. I really don't understand how it's possible to get one's had so far through the letterbox that you get bitten. I don't pretend to be an expert letter-poster but I have done it a few times and the letters left my hand long before my fingers were anywhere near enough for any dog waiting inside to bite them. If she's really getting bitten every week she is doing something very strange.

Skeelo is always rather proud of himself when people think he is fierce. A man came to the door trying to sell something the day after I came out of hospital, when I was still very slow to get off the sofa and needed my stick to get across the room, so I was quite bad-tempered at being got up just to tell some twit I don't need double glazing or whatever it was. Skeelo shot out the door and danced around his feet. The guy was actually shaking! He kept saying "He won't bite me, will he?" When people say that (especially when he is doing his little dance and wagging his tail like mad) I now say "Only if I tell him to". The poor guy looked as if he was about to cry. Cruel of me? Well, no - partly because the chances of anyone being bitten by my dog are considerably less than the chances of them being savaged by a hedgehog, and also because if you are scared of dogs, what on earth are you doing in a job that has you annoying the rest of the population by knocking on their doors at all hours of the day just to be a damn nuisance?

posted by Booksloth at 1:29 pm (EST) on Oct 10, 2009

Yes, it did get me out of going to the dentist that day. Because he had a very hairy tail and was bleeding quite profusely, he made some quite beautiful red 'brush' strokes all over the waiting-room walls, which the vet liked so much he was quite reluctant to wash them off.

I am so angry on your behalf about your post office problems. What a mountain out of a molehill! If I were you I'd be very tempted to get tee-shirts printed saying 'My post woman is a wimp'. And it must be a real sod when you have parcels from Waterstones. Can't they leave them in the garage or some outhouse or something?

posted by Booksloth at 5:09 pm (EST) on Oct 9, 2009

I saw the sae-monsters one too! There seem to be quite a few of these around at the moment, including one where it's Mr Darcy who is a vampire. The zombie one was quite fun although mostly for its novelty value and the illustrations - I'm not sure I'd bother with any more but I did think it was a lovely idea for students to read in tandem with the real thing or as a young person's introduction to the classics.

I'm on The Monsters of Templeton at the moment (still splicing it with The Kindly Ones but I'm not sure I'm going to get much further with that one). TMOT is very different from what I expected but it's actually going rather well. Apparently it has a lot of links with James Fennimore Cooper but I wouldn't have known that as he's not a writer I know anything about. It's still perfectky enjoyable on its own merits. I'd have liked a bit more about the lake-monster though.

posted by Booksloth at 1:30 pm (EST) on Oct 9, 2009

Oh poor, POOR Scottie! I'm sure she will have forgiven Joseph by now but I do hope she still got some cake (which sounds lovely and you just wrecked me diet). One of our beardies, Biggles (my 'heart dog' as I just saw another dog described today on LT - Biggles and Skeelo were joint 'heart dogs' to me) lost the very tip of his tail in a door-related accident. It was mt fault and I never forgave myself, though he was very phlegmatic about the whole thing. I was in a rush and nervous because I was on my way to the dentist (and I'm phobic) and I accidentally caught the very end in the hinged side of the door. He had to have the end stitched and wear a bandage for a while but he never stopped wagging throughout the whole thing.

BTW - have you heard any more about the postwoman incident? Hope it's all been dropped and forgotten.

posted by Booksloth at 1:22 pm (EST) on Oct 9, 2009

Jody: I was touched by your note. It is a comfort to speak to someone who understands. I honestly don't mind talking or hearing about Lee from others, and talk about him often myself. But sometimes the little private things mean a lot, and not everyone "gets it." Bless you, dear. Mary Lou

posted by MerryMary at 3:38 pm (EST) on Oct 5, 2009

I should have said, Once is actually a children's book (though one of those that is good for adults too). There is a sequel (called Then, which I have also just ordered) and a third book, Now, not yet published. I believe they can be read in any order.

posted by Booksloth at 3:27 pm (EST) on Oct 4, 2009

Just a quick note to say I have changed my LT name from The_Library_Nook to KellReader.
xx

posted by KellReader at 12:52 pm (EST) on Oct 4, 2009

'Once' is, coincidentally, another Holocaust book but very different in terms of length and viewpoint. It's appealed to me for quite a while and seems to be written in the voice of a young boy (Jewish, I think) and his story of the incidents that most affected him throughout the war. Each chapter begins with 'Once . . . ' and goes on to describe an event that has helped to shape his life and survival. Mind you, that's how I think it goes after a very cursory flick-through and I might well find out I'm quite wrong once I read it properly. Being a nice short one it should get read fairly soon, I think, so I'll let you know if it's worth getting.

posted by Booksloth at 4:04 pm (EST) on Oct 3, 2009

Ooh-ooh! And you just rated Incendiary - one of my favourite books of the year so far! Isn't it fantastic! Did I recommend it? - I did to lots of people, I know. And I take it that means you've also read The Other Hand (which I probably also recommended)? What an amazing writer Cleave is - I just wish he wuld hurry up and write about a million more.

And have you seen the film of Incendiary? I only just discovered it and sent for the DVD while I was meant to be recovering and it was pretty good. They changed the ending, of course (don't they always?) but the rest of it was very well done indeed and the girl who played the main part (she was also in Brokeback Mountain) was absolutely brilliant. (The journalist was played by Ewan MacGregor who I always find pretty watchable.) Recommended as long as you can stand them messing with the story.

posted by Booksloth at 2:26 pm (EST) on Oct 3, 2009

Well, that sounds more exciting than whatever happened here. There was nothing on the TV news or on the local paper's website so I'll just have to assume all the local police decided to meet up for a coffee. Let's hope nobody was bust getting murdered at the time.

The other 3 books I got were The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell - I'm reading that at the moment and, although it's well-written, I'm not sure I'm going to make it to the end of 900+ pages of a (fictional) Nazi's excuses as to why he did the things he did - Dracula, the Undead - supposedly a follow-up to the real thing by Stoker's great-nephew. I didn't notice until I got it home that it has got one absolutely dreadful review on LT. - and The Monsters of Templeton, which just lokoed fun. A bit of a mixed bag really, though to make up for that, I did get a parcel this morning from Amazon containing Once by Morris Gleitzman, A Moment of Silence by Anna Dean and Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro, which I've been waiting ages for.

I didn't realise I could check my wishlist from the shop _ what a brilliant idea! I'll remember that in future. And the two books you suggested are still on my list so I'll get there eventually. Apparently the magazine is due out next week so I'll have to go back soon.

posted by Booksloth at 2:17 pm (EST) on Oct 3, 2009

And I just finished True Murder. One creepy little book!

posted by Booksloth at 12:26 pm (EST) on Oct 2, 2009

Now look what you made me do! I wrote down the names of your 'recommends' and went into Waterstones - just for a look, you understand, not necessarily to buy. It was only when I got in there I realised I'd left the scrap of paper I'd written them on at home and couldn't remember what they were called or who they were by. So I had to buy three others that I had no intention of getting. Sometimes I think I shouldn't be allowed out on my own.

Anyway, something interesting seems to have happened in Plymouth today. As I was leaving there were an ambulance and about 10 police cars parked by the top of the shopping centre with more police swarming around than I have ever seen all in one place at the same time. And I had lunch just down the road! Too bad I didn't get to see all the exctiement, whatever it was.

posted by Booksloth at 11:38 am (EST) on Oct 2, 2009

Now those both sound interesting. And I'm off into town in a minute to meet a friend for coffee, which means going dangerously close to Watertstones - a place I had no intention of going until your message! And I can reciprocate too - I'm just into the last few pages of a book that I'm surprised to see nobody else on LT has. It's called True Murder by Yaba Badoe and it's been quite delicious so far. About a group of children who find some tiny bones in the attic of one of their houses. When the bones are identfied as being human, they set themsleves up as secret detectives to try and discover where the babies came from. Sounds fairly ordinary, but there are lots of od goings-on among their families too - old secrets that won't die, one set of parents going through a divorce, not to mention some fairly weird dynamics between the children themselves. It has a lovely sense of understated building tension, is well-written and continues to intrigue right to the very end. I'm making a note of your recommendations to take with me today - bad girl!

posted by Booksloth at 6:50 am (EST) on Oct 2, 2009

I've just left you an urgent message about conkers!

posted by Booksloth at 7:40 am (EST) on Sep 29, 2009

Hi J, as it is late I am just dropping in to say Hello, but I will stop by to fill you in on what's being read at my house, what my animals are up to, and new additions...and how are the baby boy and his canine companion? And their mom and dad? Be back tom'w MB

posted by mmignano11 at 2:26 am (EST) on Sep 18, 2009

Jody, how precious!~!
The group read in on the 50 book challenge. Mark does a really good job setting them up as he sets up a separate thread for each section of the book to be read so as not to have spoilers in there for those of us who are a little slower or busier than others. It works out great!~!
That way, you won't have to worry about keeping pace with anyone. And you can read at your "leisure" as little Joseph allows. (What a little blessing that baby is.)
Anyway, I will get your preferences to Mark and hopefully we will have a title soon. You will be hearing more as the time draws nearer.
Thank you so much for your quick response.
big hug,
belva

posted by nannybebette at 5:54 pm (EST) on Sep 9, 2009

Hi;
Mark and I have been discussing the possibility of another group read in November and want your input. We have narrowed it down to two books at this point. "The People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks and "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. So chat it up with friends or us and let us know if you are up for it and what you think. Probably the same plan as with "Pillars of the Earth" which seemed to work out perfectly for almost all of us.
Think it over and give one of us a shout.
hugs and looking forward to hearing from you,
belva

posted by nannybebette at 10:53 am (EST) on Sep 9, 2009

Thank you! I tried to get an early night as I have to be up at 5 tomorrow but I knew I wouldn't get to sleep, so I'm downstairs again making the most of the final few hours I can eat and drink! Leah wil email when there is some news and I'll be in touch as soon as I can.
xx

posted by Booksloth at 6:52 pm (EST) on Sep 6, 2009

I'm glad Incendiary got to you too! I've just discovered that it has been filmed (with Ewan McGregor) and I've sent off for the DVD so I'm looking forward to having that arrive, even though I'm expecting it might be rubbish.

The play sounds wonderful! I do love it when these people have to really use their imagination to get round the practicalities - it often gives it an extra dimension that I could never have imagined.

I'm doing okay about the op - just looking forward to getting it over and done and the possibility that it just might leave me pain free for the first time in 14 years. I did most of my worrying when it was first offered and I had to weigh up all the pros and cons, so it would be pointless to start fretting now. Of course, I'm only human and I'd be stupid to completely ignore the possible risks, but I have faith in the surgeon and I know the percentages are all in my favour so I'm really just looking forward to getting it out of the way. I'm leaving a list of addresses with Leah to email but I feel I'm already asking a lot of her by having her round to look after Ray and the animals (even if 2/3 of them are hers!) so I'm not pushing that too much but leaving it as a 'if you've got time' thing. One thing that's for sure, though, is that as soon as I'm hope (and I'm hoping it won't be more than a few days) I'll be emailing everyone. Either way, you shouldn't have to wait too long for news!

xx

posted by Booksloth at 4:01 pm (EST) on Sep 3, 2009

How was the play? Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner - it's been another busy week - but I was quite envious of that, it sounds like a wonderful night out. Hope you were both well enough to go and that your bruises are starting to die down. Another busy-ish week this week. My bag is packed ready for next Monday and a part of me feels as if I'm going on holiday while another part is starting to worry about what I'm going to do if I wake up and can't feel my toes. I've got two days on the helpline this week as we're still in the middle of people's real holidays so I'm filling in for others who are off soaking up the sun, then I've just got Friday and Saturday for a couple of urgent-ish bank appointments and we still have to go and be witnessed signing the wills (something I was supposed to make an appointment for today but forgot - oops!) Hoping you're still enjoying your new rooms!
xx

posted by Booksloth at 2:32 pm (EST) on Sep 1, 2009

Hi Jody;
Just got home from Texas late yesterday and wanted to stop over and say "Hey, how's it going?"
Have you been reading any good books while I was gone? I only read one complete book while at Robbi's. "Battle Cry of Freedom" and it was mesmerizing. She and my friends kept me very busy for all of the 2 weeks. I was able to almost finish another on the flight home.
It was soo good to get home until I got home and found the dishes hadn't been done in 2 weeks; my last coffee cup was still in the sink. But apparently they ate out a lot. But the hubby took awesome care of the grandsons while I was away and of my mother also (and was happy to do it so I could go and spend some time with Robbi) so I didn't say anything about anything. I am just so appreciative that I was able to go and be with her for those two weeks. I got up at 5 A.M. today and cleaned the bathroom and did the dishes. The rest I will catch as catch can, but at least now the bathroom doesn't smell like a latrine and when I want to eat I can find a clean dish. So it's all good.
We went to the Pocket Sandwich Theater while I was there and they were showing a vaudevillian type play in which the actors interact with the audience. Popcorn fights are the rage and we had a blast throwing popcorn at the actors and other patrons and having popcorn rain down upon us as well. I can't wait to go back the next time!~! It was so much fun.
And they have Half Price Books stores all over the Dallas/Ft Worth/Plano/Irving/McKinny area. I think we hit everyone of them and I had to go to the P.O. and ship books home so as not to have to pay the heavy toll to check baggage at the airport. I travel so light. One very small back pack and my purse. That's it. Needless to say I do a lot of laundry while there, but traveling light just works for me.
Missed you and our conversations while I was gone. Can't wait to catch up on your thread and all the others. But I wanted to say hello as I know it will take time to play catch up.
Will see you on your thread.
belva

posted by nannybebette at 11:52 am (EST) on Aug 25, 2009

By the way - how are you all? Just hoping the flu hasn't spread round the family.

posted by Booksloth at 4:48 pm (EST) on Aug 24, 2009

I don't think I answered your question about going into hospital. All being well, it should be the 7th September, which is now just under 3 weeks to go. Treated myself to a pair of slippers yesterday so I have to have it done now!

posted by Booksloth at 2:10 pm (EST) on Aug 19, 2009

I googled your lovely chair and this was one of the pics I got. Well, it made me smile.

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl...

posted by Booksloth at 1:55 pm (EST) on Aug 16, 2009

It sounds wonderful - I so wish I could have been there to see Andrew's face! And yours too, I imagine! Are you allowed to post photos or is it one of those things where you have to keep it all a secret until the show airs? I am so looking forward to seeing this - you will kep me updated on any information you get about dates, won't you? Especially if they happen to show it while I'm in hospital, because then I'll have to leave strict instructions for Ray to record it - and for the kids too, just in case he forgets. You hear so often of rotten things happening to nice people, or nice things happening to horrible people, it's a real treat to hear of something nice being done for nice people and I'm going to imagine this every time I feel a bit fed up. Did Scottie manage to get her face on camera? And what does she think of it all - or hasn't she noticed any difference yet? I bet she had to go round and sniff everything when she came back in the house.

posted by Booksloth at 5:47 am (EST) on Aug 15, 2009

So how did it go? It WAS today, wasn't it? I do hope it was as much fun as it should have been and you are now luxuriating in your fantastic new stuff! I want to hear all about it, of course.

As for that SK thing, I do recall the bit you were thinking of and I remember being a bit confused at the time. I think the thing about the DT stuff is that you always knew there were revelations to come so I tried not to let these things bother me at the time. It was something I rather expected would be made clearer by the end and now you've reminded me it never was! Maybe I need to reread the whole thing again?

posted by Booksloth at 4:41 pm (EST) on Aug 13, 2009

I know you're going to be too busy to be checking LT today, but wanted you to know that I'm thinking about you and hoping it will be a very fun day. I can't wait to hear all about it. You should start a new thread just to tell us all about the reno on the GD, it's so exciting! Don't forget to include pictures and maybe the show's website, if they have one. So cool!!

By the way, a letter's winging it's way to you today :-)
*hugs*

posted by katylit at 12:47 pm (EST) on Aug 13, 2009

By the way - I hope the food poisoning has now well and truly gone. And how is it that men can leave major jobs around the house for years then suddenly decide to start them the minute you turn your back, at the most inconvenient time possible (usually in the week before Christmas in our house)?

posted by Booksloth at 7:50 am (EST) on Aug 12, 2009

I also just got to the one about the Dark Tower stuff. No, we haven't talked about it and we must! I love the way King's books have these links to each other and I'm really looking forward to Under the Dome later this year. What was the revelation you discovered? (Though I must warn you, I have a way of forgetting everything I've read pretty much as soon as I've read it.)

posted by Booksloth at 7:33 am (EST) on Aug 12, 2009

I'm just trying to catch up on some of my messages of the past couple of weeks and I came across the one you sent me about discount vouchers for kitchen stuff which I don't think I ever replied to. Thank you for sending that - I never do think to look for these things so it's always great to be reminded. I really must make a habit of checking!

posted by Booksloth at 7:02 am (EST) on Aug 12, 2009

Excellent! Just packing ready to fly back to England so I will message you my address when I get back if that is ok!

posted by KellReader at 1:27 am (EST) on Aug 10, 2009

Just wanted to say I absolutely loved your review of "New Moon". I was cracking up because it's so true. The book is so pathetic it's actually funny. I'm still trying to figure out why this stuff is so popular.

posted by forkyfork at 12:07 pm (EST) on Aug 3, 2009

For sure, we'll add your name to the penpal list. We'll make sure you get someone besides Katy for your penpal in this project :o)
Actually, I'm hoping to get more than one penpal through this. The official one I get paired up with and a couple of unofficial ones!

posted by sandragon at 1:36 pm (EST) on Jul 31, 2009

I've had a quick word with BRE about all this rolling around. Hope it does the trick.

posted by Booksloth at 1:55 pm (EST) on Jul 30, 2009

You can't hear this, but I am appaluding madly (at least, I was before I started trying to type). Well done Joseph! You're a clever litle boy!
xxx

posted by Booksloth at 6:56 am (EST) on Jul 28, 2009

Pleased to hear you had a good time. It sounds like the idweal way to spend a few days with both dog and baby. I trust Scottie had a good time? Just off to get the wonky window on my car fixed. Back later.

posted by Booksloth at 4:20 am (EST) on Jul 27, 2009

Lovely! Which seaside? Hope you have a great time and the weather is good for you.

posted by Booksloth at 5:28 am (EST) on Jul 22, 2009

makeover program????

yay on you !!!!!! how exciting :)

k

posted by mckait at 5:25 pm (EST) on Jul 19, 2009

It does sometimes take a nudge like that to get you organised. I hope you will get yours sorted out now. It's mum's death and the thought of my surgery that have me finally making a will. I think I've even managed to persuade Senor Sloth as well and he's always been one of those people who thinks that if you make a will you die.

posted by Booksloth at 10:44 am (EST) on Jul 16, 2009

It doesn't sound horrible at all - I think it's completely understandable. Are there other people on the site who actually knew her? If so, then maybe you'll hear the follow-up when they know what happened. I do hope her poor husband has lots of family and friends to help out.

posted by Booksloth at 7:17 am (EST) on Jul 16, 2009

Hi Jody;
That is so cool about the home makeover thing. My husband is addicted to those shows and would love that plus our house is almost 100 years old (in 2014) and needs a lot of maintenance work done on it. How thrilling for you. Are they doing the kitchen, bath, what? Oh wait til I tell him I know a celebrity. Yeah, you don't want to have to move any more books for them than you must, poor thing. hee hee

In the first line game; would you please explain to them that my computer has gone all wonky one me and is not wanting to load the threads and I keep having to boot it, so for now I am just posting my reads and reviews on my thread until I get the thing fixed or get a new one. Perhaps they will allow you to take my turn in my absence if you ask them nicely. I'm afraid it will completely crash if I try to do any more than just post to my own thread and that is even pushing it. It just keeps working and working and goes nowhere most of the time.
You're cracking me up about Joseph and his new eyor book.
That donkey can hardly talk any way. He t--a-l--k---s
l---i-----k---e t----h--a----t. Too funny, but I am sur that Joseph is probably the brightest baby boy to be born in the last 2000 years!~! LOL
Good talking with you. Take care. See ya here or on my thread until I get this old thing taken care of.
hugs n snugs,
belva

posted by nannybebette at 6:24 am (EST) on Jul 16, 2009

God, Jody, that's a terrible story and it's a strange thing how we can feel so affected by that kind of thing happening to someone we haven't even met, but it's incredibly upsetting nonetheless. Everything you say about her longing for her baby makes it even more tragic - not to mention the awful thought of that poor baby growing up without the mother who so wanted and loved him. I'm so sorry for that family and I know this must have really upset you. I bet Joseph has had more than his fair share of cuddles today. It rather sounds as if some negligence will be discovered when more is known about what happened, although I suppose it's possible it may not have had any connection with the birth. It does make you appreciate what you've got, doesn't it?

posted by Booksloth at 4:57 pm (EST) on Jul 15, 2009

Meant to add - do you know when it is being done?

posted by Booksloth at 1:31 pm (EST) on Jul 13, 2009

I started turning a bit green right from the start but when I got to the bit about the bookshelves I looked like a big blob or Kryptonite! Pulsating! I'd give almost anything to be there watching. You will make sure you take lots of 'before' and 'after' photos, won't you, or you'll never be able to believe it yourself! Any sign of a four-poster for Scottie? I'm so glad you're getting this done. You deserve it after all you've been through in the last few years and I know what it's like to live in chaos. In our last house we had a beautiful kitchen (for about a year) but we couldn't bring it with us when we moved and we've never been able to afford to get another done in the 23 years we've been here. Once the will is finally sorted a new kitchen and utility room will be my special treat and I'm already started o get VERY excited about it. I might be able to get some brilliant ideas from you, maybe?

posted by Booksloth at 1:30 pm (EST) on Jul 13, 2009

Just dropping by to say hello. "Hello!"

posted by suitable1 at 9:39 am (EST) on Jul 13, 2009

That is so ungrateful - and so the way I feel too! I hate surprises as well. Still, it does sound as if this might be a very nice one, but I too would be worrying about the dog right now. And when you say you are getting your revenge on TV, are you saying that Andrew knows nothing about this? How brilliant is that! I promised myself a lie-in today for the first time in longer than I can remember and it was past 12 when I finally crawled out of bed so Things are probably half way through for you right now. Here's hoping it all goes well.

posted by Booksloth at 7:44 am (EST) on Jul 10, 2009

Now I'm looking forward more than ever to seeing it! Any chance of a punch-up between you and them? And I hope you're going to make sure Joseph and Scottie both get plenty of exposure.

posted by Booksloth at 1:54 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2009

I must admit I only very rarely watch them (most of what I've seen has been in clips shown on other shows - including the teapots) but it does seem to me that the Carol Smiley one was deliberately contentious and went out of its way to do the very opposite of what the people really wanted. I'm sure that won't happen to you!

posted by Booksloth at 1:43 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2009

Just as long as yours isn't that one where they turned a woman's perfectly nice sitting-room into what appeared to be a low-class bordello, and made her cry (I think it was the one with Carol Smiley).

posted by Booksloth at 1:17 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2009

Ray tells me the one he was on was called DIY SOS but he was only shown for literally about 4 seconds (though his window was there for a bit longer)!

posted by Booksloth at 1:12 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2009

No, you didn't. That's so exciting! (Don't suppose they'd care to nip down here just before they start and finish cleaning Mum's kitchen?) Seriously, though, that's amazing. Ray was on one of those programmes once, as he is a stained glass worker and somebody wanted a glass panel between two rooms. That was his 15 mins of fame (actually it was more like 15 seconds). But the really exciting thing is that you get all that stuff done! I'm so thrilled for you - you really deserve it. What exactly are you having done? And do you know yet when the programme will air? I can't wait to see it! Don't you dare 'forget' to tell me when it's on, just because they catch you on a bad hair day (which is exactly what I would do).

The house sale also completes on Friday and I've just had a call from the solicitors to ask me what I want them to do with the money. I've been so rushed off my feet lately, I'd forgotten all about that bit, so it made me feel a bit more cheerful about the whole thing!

Good luck on Friday - I'll be thinking of you!

posted by Booksloth at 12:01 pm (EST) on Jul 8, 2009

OMG your little novella is SO adorable! All my frustrated grandma genes are kicking in! Mazal tov and may you have much nachas (pride and joy) in the latest addition to your ouevre (sp?)! Please give him a squeeze and a kiss form me! By the way, I loved OUR MAN IN HAVANA when I first read it, years and years ago. Did you like THE HOST? I liked it MUCH better than her TWILIGHT books, though it took me a while to get into it. If you liked OUR MAN IN HAVANA you might also enjoy Ross Thomas' CHINAMAN'S CHANCE. Oh, and give your little one another hug and kiss from me. He is just bee-yoo-ti-full!

posted by RachelfromSarasota at 8:55 pm (EST) on Jul 7, 2009

hey Jodyreadseverything! I haven't been on librarything for a long time; I just got back on.
Ugh! and i haven't been to the library for like two weeks; i'm lucky my friends gave me books before summer so i don't have to worry about not being able to have anything to read. But i'd rather go to the library to borrow the books i've been waiting for for months.
It really sucks!

Well happy reading!!!

posted by ragulto101 at 12:50 pm (EST) on Jul 7, 2009

I know just how she feels - especially if he's wearing the baseball cap backwards. You can ask her to give the next one a nip from me too.

posted by Booksloth at 5:09 pm (EST) on Jul 6, 2009

Weird. It goes through the motion but doesn't actually do anything. Maybe we should make a bug report of it.

posted by BarkingMatt at 3:24 pm (EST) on Jul 6, 2009

That's strange, I'll try from my end.

posted by BarkingMatt at 3:22 pm (EST) on Jul 6, 2009

I am kath mcstay on facebook... so that request is from me :)

posted by mckait at 8:18 am (EST) on Jul 5, 2009

Sorry, it wasn't sawing, it was drilling!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rryNobB_r...

posted by Booksloth at 6:09 pm (EST) on Jul 4, 2009

One of my favourite Eddie moments is the bit about cats sawing behind the settee. Do you know that one?

posted by Booksloth at 4:37 pm (EST) on Jul 4, 2009

Oh, I LOVE Eddie!!!! That was a real joy!

posted by Booksloth at 4:31 pm (EST) on Jul 4, 2009

Um, no? That sounds as if you might think I'm a bit of a psychopath too.

posted by Booksloth at 4:20 pm (EST) on Jul 4, 2009

Oh no, do I have to start grieving over that too now? Wasn't losing Michael Jackson bad enough?

posted by Booksloth at 4:07 pm (EST) on Jul 4, 2009

hehe

I stole it from nannybette . She used it in a post and I was feelin' mean!!

LOL and thanks!

posted by mckait at 3:04 pm (EST) on Jul 4, 2009

I did it again! This is turning into a nervous glitch,

posted by Booksloth at 2:53 pm (EST) on Jul 4, 2009

Hi Jody :)

I am so glad to hear from you !
How are you and BRE doing :D

I have not even looked into the GD in ages so I an
only caught up with the folks who are on facebook,
or the 75 challenge. Tell me everything! Or not..
just do tell me that all is well with you?

kath

posted by mckait at 2:52 pm (EST) on Jul 4, 2009

No idea what made me click 'private' on that one.

posted by Booksloth at 1:46 pm (EST) on Jul 3, 2009

Have you heard any more from 60 Min Makeover yet?

posted by Booksloth at 1:35 pm (EST) on Jul 3, 2009

Thanks for the compliment & note.

posted by whiskeywaters at 12:09 am (EST) on Jul 3, 2009

If I tell Leah you have plans to go to Eurovision she'll be asking you to adopt her! I've never been to Norway either, though Mum and Eileen went a few years ago and never stopped talking about how beautiful it was. We have a kind of open invitation to visit if we want to but, because of having to get round all the fjords, it actually takes longer to get to Guy and Angie's house once you get off the ferry, than it would take to fly to America, so I don't think we'll be going for a while yet! It looks like the kind of place Skeelo would love, though, with all that water.

Though - a weird thing about him and water - he suddenly seems to have lost confidence swimming. I've tried to take him somewhere with water evey day this week so far, just for the purposes of cooling him down, and although he still can't wait to get in there, he now splashes around happily in the shallows but won't go out of his depth unless it's a real emergency (a stick to catch etc). It's weird: he's never been without one of us and we haven't noticed anything that might have frightened him. Can't understand it at all.

So what do you think of Drood? I've heard a lot about it but haven't actually be tempted to get it myself yet. It sounds as if it became a bit of a struggle in the end - or was that just life in general? I'm in the middle of American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld and that's going well, having spent a few months on Mount TBR, though not nearly as long as some books that will probably be scared to get off it by the time I get round to them.

posted by Booksloth at 8:08 am (EST) on Jul 2, 2009

Ooh, I loved that book - hope you enjoy it too. I also have a couple of others by the same author on Mount TBR and it's about time I got round to reading at least one of them - must bump them up a bit.

I'm having a completely knackering week. Had the removers out today and yesterday to take away the rest of the house contents and in between that I'm trying to make this place look half way reasonable too. Dog walks are exhausting in this heat. I go a bit earlier every morning but I still haven't found a cool time yet and poor Skeelo slopes along as if I was taking him to his own execution. We're managing a swim most days (well, he is, not me) to try and cool him down a bit but he soon warms up again.

We've now exchanged contracts on the house and should be completing on the 10th so I've now got to get stuck in cleaning there as well.

My aunt (Mum's younger sister, Eileen) had a couple of mini strokes a few weeks ago and, although there doesn't seem to have been any lasting damage, I know she's a great one for pretending on the phone that all is well so I won't be happy till I've seen her and I just haven't been able to get over there (Exeter) yet, but am planning to go on Friday. It's another day I would have liked to use for cleaning but seeing her is more important and I know it'll be a good day as my 'other' cousin and his wife are visiting from Norway and it's rare I get the chance to see them. Maybe getting a day off all the dusting and scrubbing will be a good thing and I'll be able to attack it all with renewed vigour on Saturday.

Hoe are Scottie and Joseph coping with the weather?

posted by Booksloth at 5:35 pm (EST) on Jul 1, 2009