The Person Below Me.. The Twenty-sixth wonderful thread

TPBM has an odd pet. (from the previous thread)

http://www.librarything.com/topic/61728&newpost=1#lastmsg

Well, I don't know about odd. But we have a Siamese Fighting Fish that we enjoy watching. He is a pale pink color with dark blue and red fins that are long and trail in the water. I find it very calming to sit and watch him drift around. We keep him in a large, glass vase that has bamboo in it and he swims in and about the stalks.

TPBM has another type of pet that they can tell us about.

No: I don't even have an imaginary pet.

The person below me is a nervous wreck.

Not today. I'm just sleepy. A little anxious over some paint choices I made. I'm not happy.

The person below me knows who Beryl Cook is. (I just found out she died last year and I so like her work.)

Just checked my catalog(ue). Beryl Dean (died 2001), Beryl Kingston (no CK, got to look her up. Good she's still alive.), but no Beryl Cook.

TPBM has discovered lots of authors who died recently because of working on CK since the Memes pages were put up.

Yes. It's always startling, especially when it's an author I've just stumbled upon.

Coincidentally (if there is such a thing), I just finished reading this essay on death by Roger Ebert after following a link posted on another LT group:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/05/go_gently_into_that_good_night.html

When I saw the title of the thread, I thought at first that Roger had died. Shook me up.

TPBM is all shook up.

Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!

Please dont ask me whats on my mind
Im a little mixed up, but Im feelin fine

TPBM Loves Elvis

I guess you could say that. Another firm from downstairs moved in over the weekend, and the dust literally hasn't settled from retrofitting the office.

He's a little too before my time for me to be interested, and not quite far enough before my time for me to be interested. If that makes any sense. (I might be able to translate when I'm a little more awake.)

The person below me is having some serious allergy issues.

Nope, just some stuffiness

TPBM wants to know who Beryl Cook is.

Oh, I know exactly who Beryl Cook is - not a writer, but a painter of louche ladies and much missed (except by art snobs!).

http://www.berylcook.org/desktopdefault_BC.aspx?

TPBM has a favourite work of art.

Yep, 'The Primavera' by Botticelli. Even wrote a short story about it.
TPBM is meeting up with some friends tonight.

No, but I'll be going to my knitting circle tomorrow night.

The person below me is a member of a _________ circle/bee.

How do you say 'Klosterarbeit' in English? we make flowers and things out of gold thread to decorate various items.

TPBM also has an unusual hobby.

I spend a lot of my time on a website where I can list all my books, scan in their covers and even, if so minded, write self-indulgent reviews for nobody's benefit but my own.

Quite a few folk I know think that is very unusual, if not peculiar.

TPBM plans to visit the next Winter Olympics.

No; Vancouver is on the other side of the continent. And anyway, I just spent a weekend there last June.

The person below me has never read Persuasion (get to it already!).

you're right and I am unlikely to either.

TPBM has read Moby Dick and Liked it!

Read it. Thought it was worth reading.

Oddly enough there is a cartoon in this week's New Yorker magazine that shows a whale sitting up in the crow's nest of a boat and Captain Ahab climbing up the mast, spotting him, and saying "It's always the last place you look."

TPBM enjoys the art and humor of Roz Chast.

I can take it or leave it although some of them do me giggle :)

TPBM has another favourite cartoonist

Yes - Bill Tidy. Anyone heard of him? One of his that sticks in my mind pictures the office of the White Star Shipping Line with many tearful people walking away: a man standing at the door has a polar bear on a lead and says ....

TPBM can suggest the punch line

Oh dear! A threadstopper!

The answer is: "...yes, but what about the iceberg?"

And now for something completely different...

TPBM will oblige.

My grass is growing at an alarming rate.

TPBM just came home from taking a walk.

No, I just got home from a cheap dinner and trek to a bookstore.

TPBM is so glad the weekend is near.

Oh yes. Last weekend was exceptionally busy and I'm still whupped. I can't wait for 5 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.

TPBM mailed Mother's Day cards in plenty of time.

I did, yesterday, and included a long (for me) letter.

I'm worried that Mom may die of shock.

TPBM is worried about something else.

I'm worried about the dentist tomorrow. I'm pretty sure my teeth are in good shape, but I really dislike people poking around in my mouth!

TPBM has something nice planned for their mother on Sunday

I wish I could say yes, but sadly I haven't even gotten my card in the mail. I'm trying to decide what paces to put my own family through on that day.

TPBM is being a better son/daughter

Somehow mailing Mom a card makes little sense to me, since I still live with her. (Moving out requires that my job actually pay.)

The person below me knows of someone in New York City who's looking to hire a receptionist.

New York City is the capital of the world, and I don't know anyone there. That is a lamentable deficiency in my circumstances.

The person below has had their own receptionist.

Nope. I have never had a receptionist. Come to think of it, I have never even had an administrative assistant. Bummer.

The person below me is experiencing a fit of the doldrums.

NO! Because I just saw my first hummingbird of the season! (I was a little down before that though)

TPBM also saw something delightful today.

Yes, I saw some very beautiful flowers, bouganvillea, palo verde, brittle bush and others. Made a nice roadside view. I also saw a cute baby picture on my msn homepage.

I also had my car worked on and there wasn't as much to be done as I expected. Ditto for the dentist yesterday!

Sophie, Thanks for the link about Beryl Cook.

The person below me (edit) plans to see the new Star Trek movie.

Saw it this weekend and it's surprisingly quite good :)

TPBMwas also pleasently surprised today

I was. An old acquaintance sitting behind us in church offered my son a job interview for a position this summer (cross your thumbs, folks).

The person below me is watching old Star Trek episodes in a fit of nostalgia brought on by the new movie.

No, I just got home from seeing the movie (my Mother's Day present). It did trigger some nostalgia, in a very positive way.

TPBM likes to be creative with presents.

I would like to be creative with presents, but as there are no children in my life, it's much harder - buying pressies for grown-ups gets tougher each year! My husband already has pretty much everything he needs, so when his birthday (late Nov) and Christmas come around, it's a real struggle ...!

TPBM has a mutual "no pressies, let's just have a holiday" deal with their loved one.

Many years back my siblings and I, I'm the oldest of six, decided we would only gift each others kids at Christmas and give cards only for Birthdays, no exchange between the siblings. A few years ago with the niece/nephew count coming in at 16 and many of them getting married and procreating themselves, we decided that the original set of siblings would draw names and get only one present for the name drawn. Works well so far, except our brother opted out, and the great niece/nephew count is up to seven at this date. Lots of baby presents still going out. Good thing they aren't all into big weddings and that tidy checks takes care of that.

TPBM is stunned by the expotential enlargement of families.

Right now I'm in a place where I am thrilled by the way the family is getting larger. I love that my kids have multiple aunts and uncles and cousins and second cousins and so forth in their lives.

TPBM wants fish for dinner.

I do, but almonds and mixed nuts are more likely.

The person below me has driven a purple car.

I took drivers' ed in a purple car, as a matter of fact.

The person below me has seen a good movie recently.

Are we back to Star Trek? Or was that on a thread in a different group?

TPBM can't remember the last time he/she went to a movie theater to see a first-run film.

Hmmmm . . . . Gosh. I don't think I can. I much prefer DVDs at home, unless it's a date or I'm with a friend.

If I think of it, I'll edit to post later (though I realize it's not that important - I'd just like folks to know that my memory isn't completely shot!).

TPBM goes to the movie theater at least once a week.

ETA: it was either "The Devil Wears Prada" or "The Cabin." I remembered it as soon as I got up from the computer, but didn't come back to update this until today.

Well, I try to ... here in Dunoon we have a two-screen flea pit, and if there's anything on that we are even vaguely interested in we go along, just to support it - but most weeks it's nothing but teenage films, of which there appear to be an increasing number these days - siiiggghhh. If we're prepared to travel (ferry and train) to Glasgow, then we have the wonderful Glasgow Film Theatre, but we really have to WANT to see a film to make it worthwhile (last one was "In The Loop", which is f*****g wonderful!).

TPBM has done some acting in a film (even just a home movie or a student project).

Hmmm - I once attended a job interview that was filmed (a whole extra level of stress I could have done without!). Apart from that, just the usual 'starring' roles in childhood home movies.

TPBM would rather take pictures (photos) than be in them.

Absolutely

TPBM has helped man phones at a PBS fund drive.

No, but my sister did. I have bought things from the PBS auction, and certainly donate at pledge time.

TPBM enjoys Will Shortz, the puzzle-master on Weekend Edition.

Absolutely! It's part of my Sunday morning. I think I pledged within the last year or so.....

TPBM still misses Bob Edwards.

Where is everyone?

I don't miss Bob Edwards, because I get to hear him on my XM radio where he hosts "The Bob Edwards Show". Enjoyable.

TPBM has been out enjoying the spring weather (whatever that may wherever he/she is).

Yes, I have. Woke up to a beautiful blue sky this morning! It doesn't happen all that often in Britain!

TPBM chuckles at the candidates on The Apprentice

While I enjoy much of reality TV, (Amazing Race, for example is awesome fun) I detest Donald Trump and can't enjoy The Apprentice.

TPBM watched a season finale on TV this week.

Yep - it's that time of the year here where lots of shows come to an end.

With reference to numbers 46 and 47 above ..... TPBM (like me) has never heard of Bob Edwards

Nope, never heard of him either!

TPBM is glad they're a grown-up and don't have to go to school any more.

Yes and no. I don't reckon maturity as others do, so I may or may not be grown up. I liked school, even worked for awhile on a master's degree, but I don't much get it. So I go for no-fail education now: books, one off seminars, church discussion groups. I have a frequent dream of being at the end of the semester not having done any of the work and another where I haven't been to class in so long I no longer remember when and where it is.

The person below me lives at a school.

I don't, although with neighbors like mine, it's not much better than living in a dorm (she says, listening to music from upstairs so loud that it sounds like it's playing in her own apartment).

The person below me has rainy weather today.

We've had quite a bit of rain this spring, and there was a little thunder shower this morning. But right now the sky is clear and blue!

TPBM is listening to live birdsong right now.

It is almost 1 in the morning so the birds are sleeping. As I should be.

The person below me has a doctor's appointment coming up.

Yeah, funny how the phrase ''call back'' takes on a whole new meaning when you pass the half century mark. Have to back for a re-run of the blood chem panel. I told his nurse that I have a garden in severe need of the kind of medicine only I can give, but she was unimpressed.

TPBM was surprised to see that Memorial Day and the official beginning of summer is just around the corner.

Not really. I think Memorial Day is earlier this year, relatively, so I can see where it "snuck up" on people. In library-world, where I spend a good amount of time, we live 3 weeks ahead (because of the due dates) so I'm already looking ahead to June.

The person below me has already grilled food (outside) this season.

Funny you should post that. No, I haven't, but just yesterday I bought My Very First Gas Grill. Didn't like to spend the money, but now I'm really looking forward to regular grilling.

TPBM has an electric grill that actually grills.

No, I have a gas grill that died this spring, I am hoping to fix cheaply, whenever I can find the time to get the broken part.

TPBM thinks the only true way to grill is over charcoal.

Yup. That's true.

The person below me likes cold potato salad.

I had it once and didn't like it. (Hence not having it since.)

The person below me likes cold tuna salad.

A salade Nicoise - yes; the taupe and yellow sploge of mashed tinned tuna and corn kernels - no.

TPBM has a firm opinion as to the relative merits of rump, sirloin and rib-eye steaks.

Since we buy beef by the fractional cow (most recent purchase, a quarter), I've come to know cuts of beef better than I used to.

I like all 3 cuts mentioned, but you need to choose based on what you're going for.

Rump roast should be cooked slowly with moisture, like in a crock pot. Or on the stove with a clove-studded onion, carrots, celery, and beef stock, covered.

Sirloins should be grilled. They are quite lean.

Rib-eye steaks should also be grilled but are fattier and to some are preferred because the fat gives the meat more flavor.

TPBM has had a steak within the last week or so.

No, but yesterday I ate the thickest porkchop I've ever encountered.

The person below me knows lots of ways to cook rhubarb.

Not lots of ways, no, just the best way...which is, of course, strawberry/rhubarb pie. I also favor rhubarb crumble, rhubarb bars, and strawberry/rhubarb soup (a cold fruit soup that we of Nordic ancestry seem to enjoy).

By the way, karenmarie, I'm going to ask you next time I have a beef question!

The person below me had a nice day today.

The sun is shining and i'm in work so no not really :)

Getting back to rhubarb

TPBM knows of the rhubarb triangle and can tell us where it is

A bit south of you, Polly, I think. I had Barnsley in mind but on googling, the apices are, apparently, Wakefield, Morley and Rothwell. Interesting history -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhubarb_Triangle - they had enough soot and ash there, it says!

While we're on idiosyncratic Yorkshire crops, the liquorice fields of Pontefract are not far away.

TPBM thinks of Liquorice Allsorts with nostalgia but some distaste.

Unfortunately, for me with black licorice it is almost all distaste, very little nostalgia. I never liked the stuff. At all.

The nostalgia: When I was in Denmark, I gave it a genuine try, since my acquaintences there assured me that in DK they have the very best, real licorice. And it's true: Europe does have excellent brands of natural licorice, not the artificially-flavored stuff that is most common here in the States.

Hated it even more.

TPBM has been to a festival to celebrate a famous local food (i.e. Garlic Days, etc.) and will tell us where and what the food was.

I grew up in Garden Grove, Ca., home of the Strawberry Festival- shortcakes, ice cream and red-head contests.
TPBM is planning a little getaway.

Yes, we're going to have a few days staying in a hut right on the Cornish coastal path: it used to be Marconi's wireless station - not the one he used for the first transatlantic signal, but nearby. Now belongs to the National Trust. Might manage to see a chough.

TPBM is a knowledgable bird watcher.

I wish I was. I've never had really good distance eyesight and could never see the little bird way over there. When they do get closer, I would like to know what they are.

The person below me is able to mimic a bird call.

Yes, to the delight of my storytime attendees. I am quite a good whistler and can do some bird calls. I like to confuse the local cardinals, in particular, by responding back to them.

The person below me is also a whistler.

Not so much, but I have seen Whistler's Mother (aka Study in Gray and Black).

TPBM has a favorite work of art.

Right now? Arik Braurer's 'Moses and the Burning Bush' on display at the (Vienna, Austria) Dommuseum in a special exhibit. But that will change when I see some other exhibit. (Close behind is his 'Colours of Hope' in his private collection which I was also able to see recently.)

TPBM also saw a good exhibit or two recently.

If you define recently as 5 months ago, my family and I went to see The Dead Sea Scrolls at the Raleigh NC Science Museum. It was exquisite and moving.

TPBM has discovered a bird's nest in one of their trees, shrubs, or even hanging planters.

We fresh cut our Xmas trees from a rather wild-grown lot and at least a couple of years we've found bird nest in them. Also, when the leaves dropped I saw a very tiny nest in my ornamental cherry tree that is intriguing me. I waiting and watching to see who will build in that tree this year.

(The Dead Sea Scrolls? I'd love to see those!)

TPBM attended/ will attend a graduation this spring.

No, I don't have anyone close by graduating. I am glad I missed the Arizona State University graduation ceremony last week. It was outdoors, 100 degree temperatures, Obama speaking, and tight security. The news reported that people would be allowed indoors for a drink of water if they had a ticket. Sounded hot, uncomfortable, and irritating to me. Hmm, I need an attitude adjustment.

The person below me is feeling cheerful.

Yes, I am. I usually do, unless something bad happened.

The person below me went to a flea market today.

No, but it's still early. :)

The person below me will come up with some clever idea for a stitch holder that I have with me at the office.

What's a stitch holder... hold on while I google... Well, if its a "double ended" stitch holder it looks like you could use it to seal a half-used bag of something, like coffee perhaps with a small one, or a bag of Doritos. Or, you could use a single or a double as a spike for several memos and such.

Or you could just fiddle with it while thinking.

The person below me doodles.

I do! Gotta love the doodling. : )

TPBM loves to cook

Yeah, I do - at least the leisurely weekend dinner party kind of cooking when you can make more elaborate plans and take your time in the preparation and execution. The ''every day'' after work dinner preparation is more of a chore!

TPBM has eaten a fantastic meal recently that they didn't have to cook for themselves.

I have. A wonderful meal of homemade deep filled steak pie in a rich gravy with mashed potatoes and fresh veg. followed by a rhubarb crumble with a thick crunchy topping and homemade custard

MMMMmmmmmmmmm

TPBM can make perfect shortcrust pastry

I wish I could - I vastly prefer it to puff pastry - but I can't seem to get the knack, so I use the frozen pastry. My sister always claims it's because my hands are too warm, and that cold hands make great pastry ...!

TPBM is nostalgic for something they used to eat when they were younger.

Funny you should mention that because just the other day I was saying that there is one thing my grandmother used to make that no one has made since in our family, even though we are big on keeping up food traditions. They are called Karjalan piirakka, little rye pastries with rice pudding in them. So good, but I guess hard to make.

TPBM has another.

Potato pancakes (she always said "panacakes") like my Polish grandma used to make. They weren't latkes, they were thinner and crisper with more emphasis on the shredded potato. I watched her make them, but she measured by eye, so although I remember what went in them, I'm vague on the proportions. I make a decent pancake when I take the time, but they're not like hers.

Hmmm... I wonder if she cooked them in bacon grease. That would make a difference .... puts potatoes on the shopping list

TPBM has a favorite potato dish.

I think we're going to have Green Potatoes and Ham for supper tomorrow. Reading Between the Recipes has a lovely recipe for 'Cream of Green' in it. I used it a lot last summer when the greens in the garden needed more harvesting than we could eat. I discovered that I could make scalloped patatoes with this as the liquid, and we have enjoyed last summer's bounty several times over the winter.

I still have some in the freezer as the garden starts producing this year.I need to use it up fast, preferably before I start making new batches.

TPBM also has ways of using up garden surpluses.

Well, in New England they say don't leave your car unlocked during the summer or someone might put a bag of zucchini on your seat. One plant produces sooooo much!

TPBM is planting a garden.

My husband is out planting crops.

TBPM loves springtime in the country.

Humph. Depends on the country in question! Here in the west of Scotland, the cherry blossom didn't last five minutes before it was all blown off the trees by a nasty north-easterly wind straight from the Baltic. AND it has hardly stopped raining all month ...

TPBM wonders what people find to make small talk about when they live somewhere with a reliable climate as opposed to wildly variable weather ...!

Pets. You can seldom go wrong getting people to talk about their pets. Second choice, the weather somewhere else.

Not that I've ever lived with a reliable climate. I wonder if any place has one any more.

TPBM chats about the news.

Actually, I more wonder if anyone does live in a reliable climate, because my good friend in Arizona still talks about the weather. But it is a good conversation-starter. If the weather fails me, I just start to play I-Spy and comment on what I see.

TPBM is wondering how much it would cost to get his/her favorite set of books rebound.

I already checked. It costs a small fortune and I haven't finished putting kids through school.

The person below me would love a personal library with shelves of leather-bound books. Wing chair and snoozing cat on rug optional.

I'd rather have the wing chair and snoozing cat. I've been doing a bit less well lately in finding new books I want to read, let alone that come letherbound.

The person below me is suffering from high pollen counts.

You said it sister!

The person below me owns a kindle reader.

For all the reasons that people give for not owning a Kindle and because of its cost, I don't own a Kindle. When the technology matures and the monopolies get busted, maybe.

The person below me owns a Sony reader.

Nope. I just own print books and audio books. I haven't even graduated to mp3 yet.

The person below me loves electronic gadgets.

Only if they're actually useful and the technology has developed sufficiently - I'm not what you'd call an early adopter! I inherited a first generation iPod many years ago, and it still works fine - until it breaks I'm not replacing it :-)

TPBM splashed out some money on something they feel faintly guilty about recently.

Well, yes, actually. I purchased the same book in three different editions in the space of two weeks, spending more than $50.00 for the text of a book in public domain. Why would I do that? I have no particularly good answer, except that the first two editions were purchased in error. Amazon is not always my friend.

The person below me has purchased duplicates of a book title.

Not as often since I've been on LibraryThing. I do have about six duplicates. They are in a bag in my truck, I'll one day go to the book resale shop not far away and trade them for some books, hopefully not ones I own already. A couple of my duplicates are purposeful. I was gifted with hard-cover copies of a couple of favorites and can't bear to give up my old paperbacks.

TPBM has a special event of some sort coming up soon.

Yes. Tomorrow night I am going to a reunion dinner with my girlfriends, and we haven't been together in about 5 years. We all worked together in the 70's and 80's and remained close friends, but over the years some moved away and life got in the way of seeing each other all the time. Well, all five of us are in town right now and we are looking forward to seeing each other in person instead of communicating by e-mail!

TPBM has something special planned for this weekend.

Not unless you count going to the local Memorial Day observance. I'm not a big fan of wars (exercising Queen of the Understatement option, here) but I do realize that those who have fought and died on behalf of my country deserve to be remembered . . . and fewer and fewer people do so anymore. Memorial Day has really become a 3-day holiday weekend rather than the somber observance it was intended to be.

TPBM will move the thread back to a less weighty subject.

I found pigeon feathers in the trash today. They were pretty light. I don't know why the cat put them there.

The person below me cannot reconcile the viciousness of cats towards their prey with their furry cuddliness.

I don't have a problem with that. Everyone's got to eat something.

TPBM has other existential questions about pets.

I'm not entirely sure if the questions are existential, but I rather go along with rdurick - our cat would often bring mice and shrews into the kitchen, alive, to torture (only accurate description). True, the victim ended up as a snack with a few unwanted body parts left under my chair (as head of household, I suppose). I know that I wouldn't treat a chicken like that before I ate it. Mind you, shrews are really bad-tempered, mean-minded critters - just as well they aren't as big as cats.

TPBM is happier with a cordon sanitaire between themselves and nature-red-in-tooth-and-claw.

Hmmm...I will say that I would be a vegetarian if I had to kill my own meat. I like to think that meat comes from supermarkets, in unidentifiable shapes. I try never to think of it as cute, or even not cute, critters.

The person below me is a vegetarian.

I was for many years, and then one day I snapped and realised life without Brussels pate was unbearable ...

The advantage is that I now have a good repertoire of menus, as I know plenty of meat-free recipes that are yummy - but I can have roast chicken (free-range, I stress) as well.

This is just anecdotal, of course, but I used to get about six bad colds a year when I was veggie, but since I recommenced eating meat two-and-a-half years ago, just the one cold ...

TPBM loves a bacon butty.

Is there anything better??

Thick slices of fresh white bread slathered in best butter,crispy bacon.

Siiighhhhh

TPBM prefers their bacon buttys with something else on it

OK, you gals from the UK need to put in translations for us poor cousins from the states. I'm sure I would love a bacon butty just as you described it, with the addition of a nice thick slice of home grown tomato.

#103, Robert, I prefer to think of it as a genetic instinct rather than viciousness. After all, they are predators, it's not their fault we have anthromorphized them into cuddly, sweet little toys, they are small tigers, one and all.

TPBM disagrees

As I said, no problem with killing and eating, it's the toying with the prey that I find disagreeable. I would exempt cats with kittens from that condemnation; the sweet little kitties have to learn how to predate somehow.

TPBM will not eat pigs that haven't been allowed to spend their lives outdoors.

On the contrary, I couldn't agree more. At times my furry companion will do something that I could choose to be frustrated at or angry about. But then I tell myself: she didn't ask to come here to live, and she's just following her kitty instincts. If she is behaving aberrantly for a cat (like chewing on/eating plastic), then I have to look at what's going on. Is she stressed, hungry, whatever? But if she's doing a cat thing, she's just being herself. I'm supposed to be the rational animal, so I'm the one who needs to adjust.

TPBM wonders where all the pet psychics have gone.

Not really. It's not like there are crowds of pet-psychic psychics making much of themselves or anything.

The person below me is looking forward to the three-day weekend.

Oh, you have NO IDEA just how much I am looking forward to this three-day weekend. No big plans -- maybe I'll do some baking just for fun -- but no demands to report anywhere!

The person below me likes to bake (food -- not yourself!)

Oh, yes. I actually entered a recipe in the Pillsbury Bake-off this year. Just one, which makes me a mere dabbler by recipe contest standards.

TPBM eats something special at this time of the year.

Ooo, I'm a big fan of the Pillsbury Bake-Off. Never had it in me to enter though. And yes, I love to eat seasonally, so right now I'm loving native asparagus, and looking forward to the berries of various sorts that will be available soon, as well as sugar snap peas and everything else. Good eating to come, that's for sure!

TPBM enjoys reading cook-books (not just using them for recipes.)

I know these foods are mostly available year-round, but I really enjoy eating seasonally - I've been enjoying asparagus and rhubarb and looking forward to strawberres in June, blueberries in July, corn and salmon on the BBQ in August. Yummy.

TPBM isn't such a foody as I!

Yes to both of the above. I'm not much of a foody, but I LOVE reading cookbooks. Rarely cook anything from them, but enjoy looking.

TPBM is one of those people who makes cooking look effortless.

I don't know about that, but one woman I know was completely wowed by my ability to chop, dice, slice, etc., vegetables with my chef's knife. She kept asking, how did you learn to do that? I kept answering, I saw it on FoodTV and kept practicing. . . In other words, it's not rocket science; but I won't pretend that everything I make turns out looking like a food magazine photo.

But I am pretty well known for my deviled eggs.

TPBM has a signature dish or two.

Yes, Sweet Potato Souffle, which I saw in a cooking magazine a couple of years ago and now my husband asks for it for any special occasion.

TPBM has big plans for Memorial Day.

Not big, but nice; a neighborhood cook-out.

Sweet potato souffle sounds yummy, btw.
And I love, love deviled eggs.

Okay, now I'm hungry.

TPBM is remembering someone this weekend.

Nope. Too busy enjoying the four day weekend.

TPBM is also on a different holiday schedule from the US folks.

No, I'm on the US schedule this weekend. But we're doing a slow weekend in lieu of traveling down to Virginia in two weeks. If we work this weekend, we can play THAT weekend.

The person below me is expert in the art of making trade-offs in daily life.

Yes, I run my daily chores in a series of trade-offs. If I clean a bathroom, I give myself half an hour reading time, likewise the dusting, sweeping, laundry etc. If I didn't reward myself, I probably would never get any work done - I am much more the grasshopper than the ant!

TPBM actually enjoys housework.

So long as I am out, and it is being done by someone competent.

The person below me does something that most people don't enjoy doing with elan.

Sorry, but I don't even know what elan is.

TPBM will bemoan my ignorance.

Not at all! I have gone to Roget who suggests(among others): vim, vigour, pep, sparkle, verve, passion, ardour, glow, vivacity and, my favourite, panache.

Sounds good, whatever it is. As the old Seattle lady said: "I'll have whatever she's having".

TPBM shares with me the regret that age does limit the opportunity for vim, vigour, etc.

Especially the day after I've attempted to do something with vim, vigour, etc. I'm sure today will be that day, spent most of yesterday making beds, clearing away junk that should have been done months ago. My reward was an evening spent with four delightful young women who were close to my deceased nephew. They give me hope for the future.

TPBM knows some young people like that.

I do. My 2 step-sons are polite sweet-natured wonderful young men (17 & 14 yrs old)
The world is a better place for knowing them

TPBM has recently been surprised by the actions of youth

My two teenagers are constant sources of joy, inspiration, exasperation, and surprise.

TPBM thinks today a great day for a nap.

Totally! In fact I have just woken up from a lovely afternoon nap. (It's hangover recovery time from a hen do last night. I can't handle the pace these days! : ))

TPBM has done something fun this weekend

Um, well...(sigh)...frankly...y'see... (gulp) (meekly)...no.

The person below me is, at least, feeling rested on this holiday weekend.

Yes, so far.

The person below me can speak French.

No. In fact, when I was an exchange student, the French teacher kicked me out of class because she insisted on trying to teach me, and it was slowing the classroom down. Had never had a minute of French instruction in my life, while this was probably 6th- or 7th-year French for my classmates.

Meanwhile, I did develop a modest grasp of Danish, as I was intended to do.

TPBM has either been an exchange student or has hosted one.

Not exactly an exchange student, but when I was a mature student back in the early 90s, I went to live in Copenhagen as part of the Erasmus scheme and studied at Roskilde University - had a great time, but came back utterly penniless - Copenhagen is not a cheap city to live in! And, sadly, I picked up very little Danish - everyone spoke English :-)

TPBM has a hankering to live in a different country.

Nooo...I have had enough trouble adjusting to a different region in this country.

The person below me bought something shiny recently.

No, but I did buy a colorful apron (blue, red, yellow, green) on Friday in the hopes that I would be able to cobble together a make-shift get together this weekend. (That part didn't work out.)

The person below me didn't have friends over this weekend, either.

Was surprisingly social this weekend, actually. Had friends over and went to a cook-out in the neighborhood. Managed to read a couple of quick books though as well, so I guess I wasn't all that social.

TPBM enjoyed a quick-read book this weekend as well.

Magic or Madness by Justine Larbalestier, a YA. I enjoyed it but won't bother with the other two of the trilogy.

For some strange reason I went from a quick read light book to the much more complex A Pirate of Exquisite Mind by Diana Preston and am enjoying it very much.

TPBM is also surprised by the genre or style of the book they're reading.

Not right now. I'm rooting around in my to be read pile looking for something to take my fancy. Oh, wait! I just started an audio book, Longitude by Dava Sobel, that sounds really interesting and is a little out of the ordinary for me these days.

The person below me remembered our military folks in some fashion this weekend.

edited to put touchstone back, I hope.

I tried to be cognizant of the service others have given to our country and keep them in my thoughts yesterday.

The person below me went to a parade yesterday.

No, I went to a beach - a more British thing to do at this time of year, always assuming that it isn't raining, which, surprisingly, it wasn't.

We remember our war dead on Remembrance Sunday or Armistice day (Nov.11).

TPBM wishes that the 'Great Powers' if they can still be called that would learn the lessons of history and leave Afghanistan.

We can wish for the acquiring of wisdom without much hope of getting the wish fulfilled.

The person below me suspects that we all might well be more concerned with North Korea than with Afghanistan.

North Korea is certainly getting towards the top of the list at the moment, but it's such a depressingly long list ...

TPBM is guilty of skipping the bad news in the paper and reading a nice escapist book instead.

I try to balance out my need to be a Pollyanna with my need to be a realist. A realistic Pollyanna? Hmmm.

The person below me is not excited about bathing suit weather.

Can't wait til fall, except for my vegetable garden. Summer is heat, humidity, daughter away at camp, and the idea of me in a bathing suit is criminal.

Blech.

TPBM remembers a special summer celebration.

The joys of watching sons' at graduation parties. One more year and the youngest graduates from college.

The person below me is looking forward to being part of a Green Dragon summer meet-up! Face-to-face and all that.

I can't remember if there is one happening near me. If there is, assuming I can make it, then yes.

The person below me is enjoying chilly rainy weather today (like me).

That's our weather, but I can't say I'm enjoying it. (Which isn't to say I'd be enjoying lovely weather while I'm at work.)

The person below me is taking a class in something.

I will be on June 1st! I'm taking an online class, my first one. I prefer in-person classes, but you can't beat the convenience of going to class in your jammies.

TPBM has taught a class in something.

Yes, I have. I used to teach drama workshops to 11-13 year olds. It was a lot of fun....most of the time. : )

TPBM is looking forward to the weekend.

Yes: by then I'll have gotten dyes. Since I already have my pans and bottles, I'll be playing with yarn and color this weekend.

The person below me has dyed something (other than hair).

I think I did a tea stain thing once and I seem to have some memory of dye in an old basin but I can't remember what or why.

The person below me has an interesting scar. (I just got a new one from minor neck surgery.)

I have a few interesting scars; a set of serious scars when I broke my leg in three places (2 bones coming out of the skin) and the subsequent surgeries, and a smaller, perfectly round scar in the center of my palm like a stigmata that I got from an incident involving a picnic table and some glasses.

TPBM has never had stitches.

Well, I had a stitch in my gums on either side of my lower jaw back when I had my wisdom teeth out. But other than that, I don't think I've ever needed stitches.

Unless, of course, you're counting needlecrafts.

The person below me thinks it's way to early for people to expect them to be alert.

Early? It's 10am. I've been up since about 7:30. Most days I'm up at 6:30. Ten isn't remotely early.

The person below me has a picture on the wall near them.

Lots of bookcases in this room, no room for pictures.

TPBM does some sort of volunteer work.

Not at the moment, but I am thinking about organizing a charity knit-along. (A knit-along is where a group of people knit the same pattern at about the same time; a charity knit-along is one in which the finished products get donated to charity.)

The person below me is thinking about organizing a charity something else.

Edited to explain the concept of a "charity knit-along.

Nope, I don't organize anything like that, as selfish as that may sound.

The person below me gets paid to organize *something* (an event, a person, a household, whatever).

Well, he allows me grocery and gas money if that counts. (oh, yeah--oh, yeah) and book money too!~!

TPBM has a wee, small secret.

(don't use Lt when heavily medicated. the 2 don't mix well.)

Yup.

TPBM has a small secret but, unlike me, s/he will spill the beans.

I think we all have small secrets and they are secret for a reason.

The person below me enjoys the music of The Puppini Sisters.

Never ever heard of them! Were they formed from the break-up of the Scissor Sisters? Or possibly cousins of Sister Sledge?

TPBM is not enjoying weather when it's too hot

It is true. I am on my back porch with an electric fan on and an umbrella up against the sun.

The person below me has seen a moonbow.

No, I don't think so. I didn't even know the moon made such things!

The person below me showers/bathes at night rather than in the morning.

I do both. I cant stand starting the day without a shower and i cant go to bed without washing off the days general grime

TPBM spends hours and vast amounts of money in Lush

Well, Body Shop rather than Lush but then, I'm old fashioned I suppose LOL

TPBM is in some kind or other of choir, however amateur it is

No, it is best for the world that I don't mix with choirs.

The person below me actually enjoys singing or speaking in public.

I certainly enjoy speaking in public, but then it's one of the things I do for a living: it would be tough for me if I didn't enjoy it!

TPBM is also reading outside in the sunshine today.

I like speaking in public. Spousal Unit, he's the singer. Maybe I'll catalog his CDs, if the "It's NOT a BOOK" police will agree to turn a blind eye.

TPBM has something unusual cataloged on LT.

Nope. Just books. :-)

TPBM has a favourite Genesis song.

Um, probably not. Although I think a nice bouncy drinking song about Cain and Abel might make it into the "Top 40". On second thought, maybe that ought to be a slow country music style ballad.

The person below me actually knows the Genesis to which Tid is referring...

Isn't that the group to which Phil Collins belonged? He sang 'You Have No Right to Ask Me How I Feel" as a solo act, I believe.

josiasporter, I am on my back porch with an umbrella up against the sun reading LibraryThing.

The person below me carries a very big umbrella when it rains.

No. In fact, in some parts of the city, they're consideded a bit rude. (We need the sidewalk space.)

The person below me stays home when it rains.

I wish i had the choice

TPBM is having something more exciting than a scotch egg for lunch

No lunch at all - too busy!

TPBM works too hard as well.

I work, but hesitate to suggest that I work too hard.

The person below me doesn't feel guilty when suspected of slacking off.

I enjoy my lazy times because when I'm not being lazy I work like a son-of-a-gun.

The person below me understands the allure of Twitter and will explain it to those of us who don't.

Oh no, I killed the thread.
Forget Twitter.....

The person below me still sends old-fashioned letters by snail mail to loved ones.

No, I confess that I've completely converted to email and (full disclosure here) Facebook and Twitter for purposes of communication. The phone also works.

The person below me reads books on his/her cell or smart phone.

Nope, complete Luddite here - can't bear reading text on a screen, and will always prefer books, newspapers or magazines ...

TPBM can still remember the sheer burst of pride experienced when he/she passed his/her driving test.

My mobile phone is one of those 'dinosaurs' with a tiny screen on which I can just about make out the number I am calling - fortunately it will not receive Twitter's tweeting twits, but neither will it receive a book!

TPBM believes that traditional books will always beat a digital format

Oh, yes. I fear being stranded somewhere with a digital book, depending on batteries, circuits, etc., and having it fail just at the really good part. (This has happened to me with audio books.)

A print book travels much more safely in my opinion.

178> I've been sending postcards. They are easy, cheap and don't require much time writing. And they show that I'm thinking about the recipient. I'm horrible at email and letters.

180> I can and it was a long time ago.

The person below me has been affected by a scary movie. For example, being afraid of the ocean after seeing Jaws or being afraid of the shower after seeing Psycho, etc.

Ugh. I still have flashbacks to Seven. And that was at least 12 years ago.

TPBM avoids watching ANY movies.

. . . with her husband. I can't go see movies with him, because he only enjoys movies if he can criticize them to pieces afterwards, and I only enjoy movies if I can get fully absorbed in them and don't have to discuss any details afterwards.

TPBM knows making his/her own coffee at home is cheaper, but prefers to pick up a cup on the way to work, because it saves on the dishes.

And because I know they are sneaking in a lot more sugar than I would at home. Sugar and caffeine are like rocket fuel.

TPBM has been trying to track down books by a certain obscure author.

I think I've spent the past 6 weeks reading G.K. Chesterton but he's not really that obscure. I continue to root around for different works. (BTW, MsTrust, I do like the photo on your profile of your library bookshelves!)

The person below me is suffering from insomnia.

No, though I have been woken up by random things the past couple of nights.

The person below me likes to watch game shows.

As a matter of fact, I did used to enjoy the Game Show Network's reruns of the old quiz-style game shows, like Joker's Wild, Password, etc. And they had some newer ones (or versions of older ones) that I lliked too, such as Pyramid and Lingo. I no longer have cable TV, and refuse to pay for a satellite system, but I do enjoy Jeopardy on occasion.

TPBM has a sudden need to click to an online game or crossword puzzle.

(Oh heck; see you folks in a little bit!)

Edited because tonight I am awake enough to be able to spell "jeopardy" correctly. I knew it was wrong last night, but just couldn't fix it.

Wow. You must be psychic :-)

Right before I read this thread, I decided to open a second browser window so I could play games and read LT at the same time.

TPBM loves coincidence.

Wow, I was just thinking that very thing as you were typing it !!

But yes - I do love them, and the more outrageously unlikely they are, the more I like them.

TPBM has a great coincidence story of their own to relate.

Don't know if this qualifies but here goes. Standing in a luggage store earlier this week, I had seen one of those handbags that has steel cables in its strap and frame. I'd seen it in one of my mail order catalogs weeks before. I looked at it in the store, but didn't immediately see a price tag and wasn't so very concerned about safety that I was willing to go through the trouble of tracking down a sales person. This morning, I was thinking (again on an idle basis) that it would probably be easier to check the price on the web anyway. When I checked my email, there in my box was a marketing email from a third retail outfit, featuring the *very* bag that's been on the fringes of my awareness for the past few weeks. Coincidence? I think it may be a sign from ABOVE that I should take precautions before traveling this weekend and purchase the handbag to keep wallet and cell phone safe.

The person below me recognizes a good rationalization when s/he sees one.

Nope, I don't. If what you wrote is a rationalization, I saw it as a rationale (one ignores the omens at one's peril). Also I bought a fountain pen today; I could not come up with a reason other than "I want it." (I didn't buy the $400 one.)

The person below me has had a black toe nail.

Haven't we all!

The person below me is a bit of a klutz.

I may be

I may not be

If I only knew what a "klutz" is!

(Not a word used in the UK)

* oh apparently it means קלאָץ (I'm none the wiser!)

TPBM has invented words of their own

Not intentionally. But when I'm too tired to think, if I try to use polysyllabubic words, they have a tendency to grow strange.

The person below me knows of a special place.

Yes. It is a wonderful comic book and game store in Falcon Heights, MN (between Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Twin Cities) where they have a game room with lots going on most nights. If I were there right now, I'd be playing Dungeons & Dragons with my favorite DM.

TPBM has a favorite game.

Maybe, maybe not. I don't much like most games. I was in my fifties before I could enjoy watching a baseball game. As an undergraduate I played Go as very much a beginner, but I haven't pursued it though I still think of it as my game. Once a month I play Speed Scrabble (played with Scrabble tiles and in which each player makes his own matrix) with folks at a potluck at church.

The person below me plays self-invented games as did Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes.

It's true, I do! Of course, I hardly ever win because the other players cheat so much. I also like puzzles.

The person below me paints things funny colors.

I painted a bust of Apollo in metallic gold. It's on my front table.

TPBM always carries a certain item with them.

'Tis true. A USB memory stick with all my emails, writing, documents, etc (anything that's not pictures and music basically) from the past 15 years! "Life on a stick".

TPBM wishes me a happy holiday (I'm off today).

Happy holiday, Tid! Have a great time. : )

TPBM is off on a trip somewhere lovely this year

Only our typical camping trip to Maine...which is lovely, but I'd really like to go somewhere new and exotic. I'd love to go to Italy, for example.

TPBM has been to Italy.

No, I haven't.

The person below me has been to Montreal.

I have. About two years ago, when I moved to New England, a friend here told me that he was going to Montreal with a group of his friends, and did I want to come along? So, three days after I drove from Michigan to New Hampshire, I went on a trip to Montreal, with one person I knew and about 8 people I'd never seen before in my life.

We had a blast, actually.

The person below me has fun plans for the weekend.

I'm taking the kids to the local spring fair. Normally I would consider this fun, but it conflicts with a big used booksale in another town.

The person below has entered an item in a contest at a fair.

Yes, my Caramel Apple Cake won first place last year. I'm going to enter three or four cakes this year.

TPBM likes unusual flavor combinations.

I do have a weekness for cheese and jam sandwiches :)

TPBM also enjoys some unusual sandwich fillings

Not so much. My favorites are egg salad, tuna salad and ham and cheese. Not unusual at all.

The person below me enjoys eating a Cornish pasty (another of my favorites).

edit to change word.

A 'proper' pasty, certainly. I was visiting the Lizard (the most southerly point on the British mainland) last week and had one from Ann's Pasty Shop. They are said to be the best in Cornwall, if not the world.
http://www.connexions.co.uk/lizardpasty/pasty.htm

Most pasties from supermarkets are travesties.

TPBM likes another portable food

I must admit I'm a sandwich lover. Any kind really...simple, extravagant, big, small. I love a good egg-salad, or a greasy philly cheese steak, or anything in a wrap.

Oh, but the best portable food is an ice-cream cone.

TPBM has a favorite sandwich.

Grilled mozzarella and thinly sliced German Johnson tomatoes fresh from my garden on whole wheat bread. A wonderfully sloppy sandwich.

TPBM knows all about "pink" tomatoes, including German Johnsons.

Well, I googled the phrase and learned alot, but I don't know ALL. I'm a failure at omniscience.

The person below me likes the idea of mozzarella and tomatoes on whole wheat for dinner this evening.

Why, yes, but tomatoes aren't in season here, I don't digest wheat well, and neither of us do well with dairy. *sigh*

Instead, we'll do Cornish hens with a bit of improvised stuffing and a few herbs from the garden. Side veg TBA; might have to dig in the freezer for that.

TPBM hasn't gotten to the grocery store recently, either.

I haven't. I have plenty of turmeric and cocoa, but I'm concerned about the seltzer. Also, I haven't had ice cream since Wednesday, and a pseudo half gallon could make the day; maybe tomorrow.

The person below me prefers some other sweet to ice cream.

Actually, I'm not too fond of sweets in general. I did, however, just eat a blueberry tofu thingy that was pretty good.

The person below me eats dessert every day.

Hardly ever - given a choice between dessert and a starter, I nearly always choose the starter (especially if it's herrings in sour cream ...!).

TPBM has a nice view from their window at the moment.

Hmm? Eileen?

Well, I do have some lovely views out my window. My gardens looks so lovely in May and June, then by July and August they are just big weedy messes. I can't imagine why.

TPBM is also an occasionally neglectful gardener.

I'm very neglectful. I love looking at a beautiful garden but I'm just not motivated to create one. My new house is mostly gravel and cactus in the front and pavers in the back.

209> Thanks, abbottthomas, for the link. My grandfather was a "Cousin Jack" and pasties are the only obvious ethnic food my Polish grandmother taught my mother to fix.

The person below me learned to fix some special food from his/her parent.

edit to modify tpbm.

Lemon Meringue Pie. It is my very favorite, what I asked for instead of a birthday cake. When I was ten she let me learn to beat the meringue and as I got older added the other bits. I know it's my imagination, but after making it for nearly 45 years, mine is still not as good as hers.

TPBM is listening to early morning radio, as am I. 'Do the Locomotion With Me' that'll wake you up.

Not at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. But I'm more than happy to do the Locomotion with you (if only to keep the brain functioning).

The person below me has been to a castle recently.

No, since we don't exactly have castles in New York City. (Things that look like castles, yes. But castles themselves, no.)

The person below me is sleepy.

God, yes. It's been hard to stay awake this afternoon. I've had to get up and walk around a couple of times.

But, it's almost time to go home. I have to stop off and pick up crickets for the gecko and drive 30 miles home.

Both of those things should wake me up!

TPBM has an unusual pet.

Spooky - the first TPBM on this thread refers to an odd pet ...!

I did once work in a lovely pub where one of the resident pets was a ginormous tarantula - the landlord couldn't understand why his custom was dropping off. Really, he couldn't!

TPBM has green fingers (literally or metaphorically!).

No, the dye has worn off my fingers since I changed the color of some yarn just over a week ago. Anyway, they my fingers ended up more of a muddy off-black.

The results:
1. A sock blank -- yarn machine-knit into a rectangle before dyeing to facilitate stripes -- shown here before having the excess dye rinsed off (it really came out a bit lighter and grayer):


and 2. Two skeins of merino sock-wight yarn:




The person below me thinks I should have used Kool-Aid instead of acid dyes.

I thought the acid was in the Kool-Aid! Oh, man...

TPBM gets the reference.

As a child of the sixties, I certainly get the reference!

We just got back yesterday from our road trip to Yellowstone. Today I am trying to catch up on all the laundry - Ugh. After twelve days of leisure, it's hard to get back into the daily grind.

TPBM has been to Yellowstone National Park.

No. But then, it isn't what you'd call walking distance from New York, and I don't drive.

>276
I got that reference, but unlike DeltaQueen, I'm not a child of the '60s.

The person below me knows what kind of acid I really did use for that dye job (and therefore why it wouldn't be added to Kool-Aid).

No clue. Hydrochloric acid? Or perhaps sulfuric acid, as in the old rhyme: Little Johnny is no more. What he thought was H2O was H2SO4

My son got his driver's license today. Just had to mention that.

TPBM is also finding that his/her kids have grown up too quickly.

Never had kids, but I was very alarmed last year to become a great-aunt, as my niece had a baby - I'm sure she was only nine years old last time I looked ...!

TPBM has been putting off a chore, but will definitely get round to it today!

You better believe it!

When my mother passed away four and a half years ago, she left hundreds of Braille books. My brother finally found a place to donate them (a school for the blind). So today I have to finish going through all those boxes.

TPBM knows how big Braille books are.

No idea, but I'm not sure I want to know.

BTW, the acid used in that dyeing process is nothing more strange than <drumroll> vinegar! And heavily diluted, too.

The person below me saw the schematic at the back of this week's NY Times Book Review.

Nope. I didn't buy a physical copy of the NYTimes this past weekend.

The person below me doesn't like the NY Times Book Review.

It's not that I'm against it so much as I just don't care. The short form of the essays keeps even a meritorious critic from saying enough, and the audience is pretty middle brow (I am middle brow, but I have high brow tastes (NYRB, TLS)).

The person below me thinks high brow tastes are dishonorable.

I'm not even sure what "high brow tastes" are. Cultured? Anyway, I don't see how "taste" can be honorable or dishonorable. So, I guess I'll say no.

TPBM has a blog.

I have a livejournal, which I guess is a blog.

The person below me reads blogs.

Both for personal and professional reasons, I do read blogs.

The person below me will tell us about their favorite blog.

Nope, I don't read blogs. I used to keep one when I lived in DC but I gave it up because it probably opened me to libel and certainly to getting my butt kicked.

The guy in the apartment next door to me was broken into the day before yesterday. He was out and wasn't hurt. Today I got a security alarm.

The person below me was recently alarmed.

I am frequently alarmed. Some of you know why.

The person below me loves where they live.

I really do, other than being 35 miles from where I work it's a perfect place! (hope your next apartment is a LOT better than this one!)

TPBM hates having to rent a place to live.

I would if I had to but I don't so I'm OK. I do, however, see some social advantages for my (unattached) children in sharing rented accomodation, as they do. Not quite 'Friends', but sociable nonetheless.

TPBM thinks that house prices have further to fall.

It's not house prices that I want to come down. It's the rents. I'd like to be living not with my mother, thank you.

The person below me is unconcerned about high rents.

Yes, I am unconcerned. We and the bank own our house and my daughter still lives at home (she's almost 16).

TPBM recently joined a real life bookclub.

No, I've thought about it a bunch of times but never have gone to a meeting.

The person below me learned a new card game recently.

Yes. Well, sort of. I learned San Juan, which is a card game but with game-specific cards, not with a regular deck. It's fun.

The person below me plays cards frequently.

No, I haven't played cards since a family holiday last year, though I'm having to play with TinyBookworm's "picture lotto" cards rather frequently at the moment.

The person below me plays chess.

Good grief, no - for some reason I'm terrible at chess. However, I have actually won beer money (in Copenhagen, where beer money is serious money) playing backgammon - I'm a demon at it!

TPBM loves a good long game of Scrabble.

No, but my husband does.

The person below me enjoys the board game, Monopoly.

I do, although I haven't played it in a couple of years.

TPBM is glad it's Friday

I sure am. It's been my status message on Facebook since before lunch.

The person below me doesn't care what day it is.

I guess being retired, I don't really care, but I still retain that old feeling of relief when Friday comes!

TPBM still thinks of Friday and Saturday nights as "date nights".

Yes, I do, even though I'm retired too. And I'm astounded that the weeks pass so quickly. Just like weekends used to when I was working. :)

The person below me has a movie he/she wants to see this weekend.

Unfortunately there are no movies this weekend that i want to see. I did just get some new dvds, though...

The person below me is listening to some good music right now.

Yes - the second act of Wagner's Gotterdammerung, a concert performance by the Halle Orchestra on the BBC's brilliant iPlayer service.

TPBM has noticed the absence of WholeHouseLibrary from the thread, and hopes he has simply found better uses for his time (Collections, possibly)

I have noticed his absence but thought it was something only I didn't know about.

The person below me has eaten aerosol whipped cream straight from the container.

Oh, yes. I'm guilty. I also like to take a fresh strawberry, squirt some whipped cream on and pop in my mouth. Mmmm.

I also noticed this afternoon that WHL was absent. I haven't spent much time on my computer lately and just thought he might be away. I hope he and family are okay.

The person below me will pay bills this weekend.

Yes, but for my daughter's high school band boosters. I'm treasurer.

BTW #254-256, there's a thread about why WHL has been absent on the threads.

Maybe I'll be back

TPBM has gone to a bookstore recently and walked out without a single book in hand.

I often go into bookstores to browse and don't purchase anything (because I work in a library, I sometimes want to see a book before ordering it for the library.)

I miss WholeHouseLibrary...I hope the bad behavior he referenced in the above linked thread doesn't refer to us over here. Sigh.

The person below me is going to a book sale today or soon.

I'm saving my pennies at the moment for the Green Dragon Get Together (Mid-Atlantic) next weekend when we'll hit some wonderful bookstores.

And like you, I really miss WholeHouseLibrary.

The person below has met another LT user in the flesh.

I have indeed. My girlfriend!

TPBM has actually married someone they met through LT.

I suppose there were computers around when I met my wife, but as I recall, they needed big rooms and had these cabinets with huge reels of tape running backwards and forwards.

I'd love to know if anyone can answer josiasporter's question in the affirmative, so TPBM will go back to #260, please.

>257 Thanks for the link, karenmarie. Sad reflection on (some) human nature, isn't it?

Hi all,
This is the only time I've been in the Talk tab for over a month now, and I don't expect to be back until ... I really don't know. There is too much I have to overcome at this point, and as the Zen Master said, "We'll see". I've read the previous couple of messages, and whereas I should probably be more appreciative of your thoughts, I'm more numb than anything else. And, TRTN, it wasn't this thread that ignited my present situation.

I've been keeping my catalog up-to-date when I can, and reading (a LOT!!!) -- I'm on my 3rd book in less than a week!

Here's the reason I'm posting this message:

Congratulations are overdue to jillmwo for her Post #136 in this thread.
It is Post #10,000 since the original post on 6-Sep-07.

TPBM Will offer heart-felt congratulations, and apparently respond to the challenge of Post #260.

Later, maybe.

I too met my husband when computers were the size of a room, and the thought of computers for personal home use was an outlandish fantasy. I met my husband on a sort of blind date (I had seen him before at a dance).

I am so happy that WholeHouseLibrary checked in with us, and hope to welcome him back full-time soon, he is missed.

Edited to add my congrats to jillmwo for achieving our 10,000th post on TPBM!

TPBM would like to tell us how he/she met their significant other.

I met my husband at a science fiction convention in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

TPBM knows of (and maybe has even attended) Balticon.

Digression to Speak To WholeHouse, I'm sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed and do hope for a positive outcome in the long run. Please don't ever hesitate to contact me via LT if there's ever a chance to connect.

Balticon sounds like a trade association involving Sweden, Finland, Estonia, etc. Or maybe a convention of sub-continental food producers from the Birmingham (UK) area. Not my scene ;-)

Another digression for WHL - the appropriate Latin motto is something like noli illegitimi carborundum, loosely (very) translated as 'Don't let the bastards grind you down'. Hope you get back into your stride soon.

TPBM will be more sensible about 'Balticon'

Sorry, I can't - I'm giggling too much!

TPBM has a favourite Beatles track.

What? I'd have to pick one??? Are you nuts???

A true fan sings along with the song on the radio, then starts singing the next track on the album.

The iPod random shuffle generation doesn't understand that reference. TPBM does.

I do. But not Beatles albums for me. I grew up on folk music.

TPBM plans to go to a folk festival this year.

I do, but I start singing the next song on the playlist.

I'm iPod random shuffle generation, but some of my technology is a bit old skool. (So are some of my knitting needles.)

The person below me wishes people would quit being old skool and get with the program already.

Oh, I wish it three or four times a week.

The person below me is feeling really *grumpy*.

Oh yes. It's my default condition.

The person below me has a favourite scent.

Garlic! And I live in a town house next to a mostly Thai family; yummy.

The person below me would just as soon avoid the odor of other people's garlic.

Doesn't bother me, as I love the smell so much I even like it second-hand - and I've probably become immune anyway, given the amount that we can get through in a week. Keeps the vampires away, donchaknow?!

TPBM had a really weird dream last night.

I dreamed that my ex-boyfriend wouldn't take a hint and either thought we were still together or were going to get back together. So far as my dreams go, that was definitely not weird. In fact, it was not really unrealistic at all. Bah.

The person below me has computer problems.

Most certainly. Here at work, the computer is varying degrees of slow with periodic halts. At home, my spankin' new laptop can't talk to the wifi. If I want to use the internet at home, I have to use mom's computer.

The person below me has even worse computer trouble.

Totally, but I really wish my PC would get out of topics of conversation. MY PC is just not worth talking about. ;)
I'm new by the way; what age group is this site aimed for?
tpbm lost something important recently

Ha, my job! I was laid off about 5 weeks ago (along with 25 other employees).

There isn't an age group that LT is specifically aimed at, though I believe you have to be at least 13 to have an account. Otherwise we have booklovers in high school and well into retirement.

TPBM just loves a particular type of candy.

Thanks! Ha, yes I'm over 13; I almost thought it was a site for adults though, until I saw the omnipresent Twilight...
Not really about the candy...Actually no yummy options are popping up right now..when they're there, you eat them!
Aw, it wasn't a personal lay off...Your skills will buoy you to anew job though, with some luck. People are more lenient in the summer...probably. ;)
tpbm uses ink for art

No. I was always a pencil pusher.

The person below me is drinking more water now that its June and the temps are rising.

Haha.
Definitely more water. I made my own lip balm, too, from a book. Using Vaselin of course, & honey.
tpbm is new to library thing

I'm new to library thing and I'd like to go on record that I've been drinking steady since spring!

TPBM does something shocking every spring.

I wish. Spring zips by so fast that I forget to do just about everything I meant to. It is only summer that seems to linger. But I am happy that we've had more than two weeks in a row with temperatures below 100.

The person below me has a favorite month.

I'd go for June. Reasonably warm - shirtsleeve order - early dawns and late light evenings, the scent of philadelphus drifting through the window and the prospect of a month or three more of summer.

TPBM plays tennis

Oh, no. Not me. I stumble across courts, miss the ball, and fall into nets. It's just ugly.

The person below me carries more than one bag with them to work (tote bag, lunch bag, whatever).

Don't work, don't bag! (Actually I DO bag - I have a different little group of things in each bag depending on where I'm going, so that's 3 or 4 bags per week!)

I just re-read this thread from the top and discovered this :
"TPBM has discovered lots of authors who died recently because of working on CK since the Memes pages were put up."
Oh my god! Is LT such a dangerous place to work in?? Oh my god! There should be a health warning ... or perhaps a little tuition in the placing of subordinate clauses LMAO :-))

TPBM is looking forward to Wimbledon fortnight.

Nope everything fits into one.
nope, couldn't care less about tennis, sorry

WHL - in case you're still reading, leave me a PM with your email if you would be so kind.

TPBM usually brings their lunch to work.

I don't work right now. Haha. I do pack my lunch to school though, mainly one resuable hard shell plastic container.
And by the way I suck at tennis too, jillmwo. Only the threat of hitting a ball onto the roof entailing a punishment keeps me from roofing. ;)
tpbm likes light reads once in a while (you know...remind you of your childhood)

Since I read mostly for pleasure, a lot of reads would be considered light reads. I have also recently read a couple of YA novels that I really enjoyed - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Graceling by Kristin Cashore.

TPBM often eats meals while sitting at the computer.

Never - I like to get away from the screen for my lunchtime sandwich, and also hate crumbs in the keyboard. I do drink gallons of tea whilst sitting at the computer, though!

TPBM can do a magic trick.

Well, apparently I can survive on almost no money--is that magic?

TPBM enjoys long road trips.

Not so much, mostly since I can't afford to actually go anywhere (even if I had a car and the license to drive it).

The person below me enjoys day trips.

Yes I do. When my husband and daughter and I go on a vacation, we prefer the day trip portions to the long get-there portions. Last month we went to the beach for 4 days. The highlight was going to Beaufort, Morehead City, and Emerald Isle for the day, just cruising around, stopping at antique stores, going to the Aquarium, eating at the Sanitary Restaurant and Fish Market (!) here's their link

TPBM has a nice trip planned for sometime this summer.

Ooh, that looks like a place with history!
Yes, I'm sure we have tons of family trips GOING to be planned out-my cousin and aunt will be coming here from China!! It'll be the first time, and I know this summer will be different.
tpbm has online friends

Yes, but I'm newish to LT, so I don't know many here. But I did just receive a lovely gift from a woman I've never met in real life through my LiveJournal.

tpbm takes marvellous photographs

I think I do, if I take enough time to set it up. But you can judge my short list for yourself.

The person below me has seen an unintentionally funny sign recently.

Not recently, but there is a sign just outside the town where I live that points the way to the "Secret Nuclear Bunker", which I always find amusing.

TPBM has had sunny weather today

There was sun during the brief ten minutes that I stepped out of the office. Beyond that, I cannot say.

The person below me had nice cool temps today.

I think so. It is only around 95 degrees. Usually this time in June is 110 to 115.

The person below me is taking advantage of the air fare specials of the last couple of months. (Oregon here I come!)

edit: I forgot me.

Actually, a bit yes, I am flying to Copenhagen on business on sunday, and then barely a week later to England on holiday, yay! Can't wait!

The person below me is also swamped with work but still procrastinating on LT

Yup, procrastination is happening - just don't feel like working today for some reason ...

#300 - Copenhagen is marvellous - have a great time and don't miss the Tivoli Gardens!

TPBM loves funfairs/amusements parks and has a favourite ride.

I loved the Bobs at Riverview, but they tore that place down in 1968. Most other rides make me throw up.

TPBM has a problem doing something they love.

I wasn't going to chime in again so soon, but I had to respond to this one - TRUE. My favorite hobby besides reading is knitting - and I've developed a really really bad case of trigger finger, so I can't knit anymore. :(

TPBM has found a new hobby!

Nope, I have to many already

TPBM Likes to spend the day out on the lake in a boat.

Not so much. I burn too easily.

The person below me likes to spend a day out in the local park.

I don't think I could spend a whole day at a park actually. (Unless, of course that park is at Walt Disney World!) I have such a lovely backyard that it feels like a park to me, though.

TPBM finished a big project recently.

No, but I am reasonably close to finishing a rather large brooch. In theory it will be done next Tuesday (my next day in the studio). Very exciting!

The person below me wears jewelry frequently.

I love jewelry. I own rings, neck things, and wrist watches; I even think that bracelets need not be unmanly. That said, I don't wear them; for time keeping I carry a pocket watch. (Some folk call good fountain pens pocket jewelry. If they are, then practically every time I go out I wear that kind of jewelry.)

The person below me, still thinking about 306, turns too many little projects into big projects. (I drove into town yesterday and found a parking place.)

Absolutely, I take whatever victories I can. And it takes me forever to get things done, sadly.

TPBM is ordering takeout tonight.

Nope, I'm eating a peanut butter sandwich at quarter to nine in the evening. No take-out does those.

The person below me is fond of peanut butter.

I live on PBnJ, as well as ramen noodles and all the rice I can choke down. I'm trying to save as much money as I can to buy a house.

TPBM has a wonderful house, with a library like something out of a Merchant-Ivory production.

Well, not out of a Merchant-Ivory. It's bright and sunny. You can see a portion of it on my profile page.

TPBM has recently had the luxury of seeing a play or concert.

This certainly wouldn't qualify as a concert or, perhaps, even a play, but when we were recently in Cody, Wyoming we watched a group called the Cody Gunfighters put on a gunfight performance. It was loud, boisterous and funny - just what the tourists are looking for!

TPBM is doing something special this weekend for Father's Day.

Special in a different way than you might imagine. We are taking our daughter to her 10th year at Camp Seafarer on the North Carolina Coast near a little town called Arapahoe. She'll be gone for 27 days. She waits all year for this and has been in such a good mood since school ended on the 10th.

So we finish packing tomorrow and drive on Sunday morning. It's a 3 hour drive. We spend about 15 minutes helping her get the stuff out of the car and into her locker and on her bed, then she's off to find old friends and we drive home. Sigh. I always miss her terribly. However, I've become reconciled and actually have come to enjoy the quiet(er) time.

TPBM has found a new and wonderful recipe.

Well not exactly new - it's mung dhal. But when I was away recently someone told me a completely new way to make it - it's all to do with making the spices paste FIRST, then adding the DRY dhal to that before ever thinking about adding water. It comes out much better :-)

TPBM can tell me the name of at least one author who died recently because of working on CK - ROFL (#5, #286)

Not so much because of working on CK, but I'm aware that Michael Cox died sometime in the past two months. I haven't read any of his fiction, but he was an expert on the work of M.R. James (whose ghost stories I have read).

The person below me has helper badges on his/her profile (whether for working on CK or for some other activity).

Unfortunately I can't, when I work on CK it's usually genders of authors, so many are missing in my catalogue and are very obviously one or the other.

TPBM has to work this weekend but really doesn't want to.....

I'm walking a neighbor's dog while they're away this weekend, but the only reason I wouldn't want to is the nasty weather we're supposed to get tomorrow.

The person below me never met a dog he/she/it didn't like.

There are very few dogs I haven't liked but to be fair, the ones I didn't like made their dislike of me evident, prior to my decision.

TPBM has been bit by a dog out side of play.

Yes, when I was quite young, but it didn't put me off them at all--I love the little/medium/big furry folk.

TPBM is reading more than two books currently.

What, one in front of each eye?! ;)

Seriously, I've got a book for over lunch, and lighter fare for when I'm home and wiped. Then there's the book I'm knitting from. And the book for the QuickBooks class I'm taking. So I guess that counts as more than two.

The person below me wonders why on earth I'd be taking a QuickBooks class.

Maybe take over payroll at your current employers so you can write your paycheck first on payday? ;)

TPBM does payroll for a business.

I wonder what a QuickBooks class is.

The person below me likes taking classes that are not required for school.

Oh, yes. My last two were tarot card reading and feng shui.

The person below me has had his/her palm or tarot cards read. Or maybe those head bumps... :)

I've been reading cards for more than 30 years, and Spousal Unit reads cards professionally, so yes, I've had my cards read a lot.

The last time I had my palm read was maybe 1977. One prediction was waayyy off--five kids? right, not me--but the other one, permanent health issue starting around age 50, was spot on. However, one could reasonably expect any middle-aged person would develop some long-term health issue, so the reader doesn't get too many points for that one.

Phrenology I don't go for, but I think those ceramic phrenology heads are neat. (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Phrenology-Head-Bust+Palmistry-Hand-Ceramic-%1A-NEW-BOXED_...)
I want one. There's a place near us that carries those and a ceramic palmistry hand, too. I want them both. I cannot justify spending money on them, but I want them.

I've always wanted to read tea leaves, but since we rarely drink loose-leaf tea, I haven't pursued it.

The person below me knows how to make a decent cup of tea.

Well, I think so!

TPBM is going to watch a movie today.

Only on the TV - choice is between Lethal Weapon, which I've seen before, and Firewall with Harrison Ford which I haven't. Firewall sounds like the usual HF plot - good guy having to save family from nasty bad guys - so maybe I'll doze in front of Mel Gibson.

TPBM intends to celebrate the summer solstice.

I won't be sacrificing a goat, or dancing naked under the stars or anything like that, but we are having a family BBQ tomorrow (although it's really for Father's Day).

TPBM is a practising Wicca or knows one.

I know several practicing Wiccan and Pagan folk. I think it's all silly, but at least they don't proselytize.

The person below me likes opera.

I do. And I think if the fine print allows it I will use my Borders 40% coupon for a DVD of a Purcell opera.

The person below me doesn't buy DVD's.

Oh, but I do buy DVDs. Lots of 'em. I don't like the current trend in licensing content (via pay-per-view or on-demand viewing) when I can own a physical copy.

The person below me has been watching one movie on DVD or on television every weekend.

I probably watch more than one movie each week, although my dvd player is currently broken so I have to watch them on my computer *sigh*

The person below me just started watching a new tv show.

Yes, I've been watching the new series of The Supersizers Eat... with the fabulous Sue Perkins and the gorgeous Giles Coren.

TPBM has been having a lazy weekend

Yes I am. Yesterday I spent the day with my five year old granddaughter and our highlights of the day were a walk on the beach and a trip to the library. Today we are going to a family BBQ which means I don't have to cook.

Happy Father's Day to all.

TPBM is going on a picnic today.

Not exactly. I've been walking a neighbor's dog three times a day, for starters.

The person below me will explain why I thought seeing this

was so funny I got out my camera and took a picture of said neighbor's TV.

Edited to use smaller version of photo

Might you be suggesting that the New York State Legislature is empty of meaning or otherwise full of hot air? Public servants get abuse no matter what they do....

The person below me is actually feels positive towards their local and state government.

Hmm, well, some of the time, yes. I'm happy my town has a very nice library and there was a fair amount of useful help during the time of the horrid flood, from local, state, and national governments.

TPBM is planning a very nice dinner for tonight.

Not really. (Dad lives in another state, and I'm off taking care of other people's pets this weekend.)

I took that photo because there was what can best be called a coup in then NY legislature. Nothing has happened since, legislatively speaking, and I cant help but think the two are related.

The person below me has pet-sat.

Not me, but I've had a pet pet-sat terminally. My, dare I say slightly heavy handed, mother in law 'cared' for our hamster while we were on holiday abroad. On our return I was presented with the deep-frozen corpse - I think the idea was for me to do an autopsy. The poor little creature had been let out for a run and perished during recapture.

TPBM has got a better story than that!

A hamster I had many years ago went to stay with a friend whilst I was away. It got into his oven (whilst a chicken was roasting in there), fell 20 feet off a spiral staircase and then got into a wardrobe and ate most of my friend's favourite coat.

That hamster was evil!

TPBM has an enjoyable crush on someone they know.

No, I was seriously burned by my last serious relationship and am not interested in any new romantic relationship, real or imagined. I do like looking at Carter on HGTV but he isn't someone I know.

The person below me visited a hospital recently.

As long as "last fall" is recent enough and I don't have to have visited on my own behalf, then yes. A friend of mine had something come up too late in the day to go elsewhere, and too serious to put off. I was with her at the time and went with her to the ER. It was a long night.

On a brighter note -- since we could probably use one after the above -- the person below me has read a very funny book recently, and will tell us about it.

Yes, I've just finished reading America Unchained by Dave Gorman. It's about travelling across the USA and not giving any money to 'The Man' by using any corporate chains. It was very funny and also very informative.

TPBM is trying to learn a different language

Non, c'est non pas possible. I tried with three of them (French, German, Latin) before surrendering to the fact that I'm only any good in the one I grew up on. (Uh, English.)

TPBM is not a morning person.

So true. I try to avoid scheduling anything requiring any sort of intelligent behavior before 10 (and certainly not before 8:30) for that very reason.

The person below me thinks "not a morning person" doesn't exist, and people like me just need to go to bed at a more "reasonable" hour.

No, it's not about being in bed at a reasonable hour. I got to bed at a reasonable hour (roughly 10pm) every night and I still feel the need for coffee to jump-start my brain at 6:00am. Perkiness isn't really part of my personality or temperament.

The person below me believes coffee is A BAD THING and that humankind should avoid such stimulants.

No, no, a thousand times no! I'd give up alcohol, if pushed, but not coffee. I'm a bit lazy about washing up so I've got a Nespresso machine as advertised by George Clooney and it's great. Caffeine filled pods for daytime and de-caff before bed. Commercial over.

TPBM has a favourite pizza.

That would be "a kind that doesn't make me sick" since I can't eat cow's milk cheese or most kinds of meat that goes on pizza (and, back when I could, I really only liked cheese or cheese-and-pepperoni pizza anyway).

The person below me likes pretty much any kind of pizza.

I like pizza in most varieties, but I could live the rest of my life without pepperoni or without crap pizza. Two national chains do okay: Sbarro when they are offering their stuffed pizza and California Pizza Kitchen for designer pizza. A local chain with its inspiration in the North side of Boston does the apotheosis of real American pizza; their garlic and onion pizza is marvelous but so is their vegetarian. I could probably live on judicious selections of those pizzas.

The person below me thinks of pizza as a junk food treat.

If it comes out of a freezer and you have to pull off plastic wrap- yes it's junk food, but no, it's not a treat.
If it's homemade or from somewhere that doesn't cook the dough in a puddle of grease, it can be healthy. Funny, my husband and I went to a new pizza place for lunch today- grilled fresh mushrooms, housemade sausage and fresh fennel and olive oil. That's not bad, right? I keep telling myself that as I choke down that third piece.

TPBM likes old black and white movies better than the latest.

I do,I do!

The person below will name a favorite black-and-white movie.

Better, a whole series- the Hope and Crosby 'Road' movies. Love 'em.

TPBM has met a movie star.

I don't know about a star, but a doctor friend of mine had a speaking role in The Dirty Dozen. He was the pilot of the DC3 from which the team jumped. He said "Go!" - that was all.

Sadly he was murdered in a US motel.

TPBM can come up with someone higher up the pecking order in a cast list.

Well, I never met any of them, but I used to live in LA so I did see some stars. Here are my sightings: Ralph Nader at the movies, in line ahead of me; Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters, in a movie theater lobby, late like we were; Carol Burnett, at the counter at the Beverly Hills Cafe, where we were having lunch (separately).

TPBM has a pet sitting on or near him/her.

Sadly, not tonight. My mom is in the hospital (not life threatening) and I am in a different city than my poor pet kitty. But he really liked the can of tuna I put down for him this morning before leaving town.

The person below me enjoys browsing at hardware stores.

Yes. Next to bookstores, hardware stores are one of my favourite places to browse. Office supply stores are fun too.

The person below me would rather do some other kind of shopping.

Yes, hardware stores are not for me. Bookstores are great, as are stores with electronics (computers mostly), games (digital or analog), music, movies, gadgets, funny little things. I just don't like shopping for clothes.

The person below me is starting the weekend after finishing work today

Yes I am! And I'm very excited about it too. The reason's not good - I have to take tomorrow and Monday off without pay - but the time's great. I'll worry about the paycheck later.

Lots of fun stuff planned including baking a cake, playing in the vegetable garden, watching tennis, and being company on Saturday and having company on Sunday.

TPBM works weekends but has time off during the week.

You're confusing me with my spouse. That's HIS work schedule.

The person below me finds work spilling into all 7 days of the week.

Sometimes, yes - I work as a self-employed legal audio typist over the net, and if there's a big workload then I tend to work late and at the weekend. But when it's quiet, I can stop work early and go and read a book!

TPBM has a dream job/is currently doing their dream job.

Well, I work in an FE academic library so yes, it's my adult dream job. My dream job as a child was to be a fairy princess. I've not fulfilled that dream yet...: )

TPBM also wanted to be a member of magical royalty when they were younger.

Very close; I wanted to be either a medieval knight or a French duchess or an international jewel thief or a spy. I'm pretty sure I got these ideas from books!

TPBM is also watching Wimbledon this week.

No, but my family will be. I have bought extra books to tide me over until the deluge of tennis passes.

The person below me overdid things last weekend.

No way! It was SO HOT and I was supposed to drive my mum and two siblings to N Devon on Monday, so I was semi-comatose the whole weekend...

TPBM is going to watch the Andy Murray match this afternoon.

Confessing to all sorts of ignorance at this end --> I haven't the foggiest notion who Andy Murray might be nor am I sure of his sport (although I am assuming it must be tennis, given the preceding discussion of Wimbledon.) *Embarassed, digging of toe in dirt*

*brightens up* I know! I'll start a new thread in an effort to distract the audience.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/67658

TPBM will cheer such altruistic behavior.