Richardderus thread 6

Okay, I got tired of looking at that poorly done piece of art. Here's a William Etty nude that's a WHOLE lot better to look at! He was an academic painter, no innovation in his soul whatsoever, but he was a decent draftsman, and a reasonably good composer of subjects. This bland, blah thing is considered the man's masterpiece. Frankly, I think this dude's ass is a lot better as a painting and a whole lot prettier to look at.



Cats. *shudder* Now I need a dose of man-butt to rid this thread of cat-tiness.

THIS thread is for NEW books read, those published from 2009 to the present.




The Books off the Shelf thread for 2011 is up, though sort of nekkid. My goal there is now 30 books from my shelves read and donated, shared, or generally gotten out of the house.




This thread is for any book I review that was published in 2008 or before, whether I own the book or not, and for whatever reason isn't a book I will get off the shelves.




Review #1: ...thread 3
Review #2: thread 4

Review #3: thread 5

Books reviewed in post:

5. Expiration Date...#203.

4. The View from Lazy Point...#164.

Good evening, Richard.

RD- Now, we're going kinky huh? What's the story with this picture? Or should I leave it to my imagination?

Found you again, RD. ((Hugs)) and xx smooches xx

Hi RD! Found ya!
I'm not even gonna ask what this guy is doing.

A touch of Pre-Raphaelite art on a cold winter's eve:


I love the art of Frederic Leighton...

Much better than cat pictures eh?

Aren't you lucky that the rest of us enjoy man butt, too?? (well, many of us... and probably the worst offenders on the feline thread)

Hi Richard,
Appreciating the art.
I just read a book that you should check out, Bernice Rubens' Mr Wakefield's Crusade, very funny and clever, I need to write a review for it.

Good choice, Linda!

YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE

There is to be no graphical representation of any member of the Felidae, most especially including Felis cattus domesticus, from any visitor to this thread. Failure to abide by this will result in daily postings to the offender's thread(s) of pictures carefully calculated to offend and annoy the said offender. Animal/child abuse pictures will be posted. Images of people in concentration camps. Any and everything that might annoy, offend, hurt, or cause spiritual anguish will be used, and used repeatedly.

This is not humor, or idle threat, or in any way an exaggeration. I will do it, and I will keep on doing it, and I will hound offenders to the end of their time on LT.

Don't try me. It will happen. I am not kidding, folks, I hate cats, I find pictures of them nasty, and I don't want to see them in my own thread
EVER
AGAIN.

Is this in any way unclear?

Yes, captain. Although I must point out that I was not one of the offenders.

catching up on threads RDear and I see your last thread was tainted with cats- at any rate *hugs*!

...

OIC... sounds like you really mean it, Richard. I apologize for the offense I inflicted on you - though on my part it was done in a spirit of teasing. Sometimes my judgement is not the best.

Your threat doesn't suit you therefore I sense a real problem and will not exaccerbate it in the future. Remember this when stink bugs come around again. Friends?

**sitting by the side, wondering just what is going on???**

CLAUDIA! YOU GENIUS! STINK BUGS!!!

Oh, perfection...I shall post videos of the little buggers having sex...photos of them coming out of their eggs...I even found, and have reserved for a nuclear day, a video of a woman with a stink bug in her hair! (America's Funniest Videos.)

*rubs hands in gleeful anticipation*

Of course it started out as teasing, and was taken as such by me; I then said "stop" and it didn't. This isn't short-term verbal jousting, this is eternal irritation and annoyance because the pictures don't go away. Cats disgust me on a visceral level. I detest looking at them. A joke's fine, but when someone says stop, stop. It's really the lack of respect for my clearly stated desire to have it stop that makes me angry. It was thoughtless, and inconsiderate. I assume it's over now.

Post 1: Haha, that isn't subtle at all...

It's not a very good painting, either, but it did the trick. (Pun optional.) It was the first one that came up on my Google Images search, so I figured what the hey...and it's a nice looking butt, for all the artist isn't, shall we say, gifted.

I've just reviewed the last 30 posts or so on the defiled thread, and I do not see where you said "stop". If you've made it that clear in the past that this is more than just a simple "I don't care for cats" thing, then I missed it. You will get no more offensive photos or references from me.

The last **65** posts on the old thread had no input from me at all, it was a busy one yesterday. You'd have to look a lot higher, and not to say that you should. The comment wasn't directed at you, Linda3rd.

A joke's a joke. This one went too far.

Dear Richard,
I personally was not involved in the *** postings but maybe the culprits will be kind enough to go back and remove their visual postings as a penance just to show their regret at irritating your sensibilities. Maybe you should ask. Then if the postings are not removed you have true justification to aggravate them in return.

For you, I hope that this thread remains clear of all **** unwanted topics/visuals. Cheli

Soooooo, have you read any good books lately, Richard.

Gosh, I hope you were ok with the fox in the henhouse...it was meant to be sympathetic.

As long as we're talking about books: My Reading Life by Pat Conroy is a must-read even for Conroy detractors...The View from Lazy Point isn't very good...The Last Kashmiri Rose is very very good.

The *** incident is closed. I don't want to see the horrid things here, it's one place I don't want to be reminded of their sneaking evil slimy ways. In public I can't help it. Here I can, and I want to.

It was the first one that came up on my Google Images search

Maybe you should have had the safesearch filter on. :P

Question regarding the ban of The Unmentionable animal, does this count as a violation?

I don't know, I won't click the link for fear of needing to go nuclear on you. :-P

There is nothing to fear. You are safe. You can trust your friends on your threads.... most of the time.

(I clicked and it is safe. Not a _ _ _ ! )

OK, OK, I cave.......Finally added My Reading Life to my wishlist. Everyone has given it such rave reviews, I must soften my steal shell. Hmmm, The Last Kashmiri Rose, is it in anyway similar to A Passage to India a book I very much enjoyed.

>25 Ape: I clicked...it does...ew

>27 maggie1944: "MOST of the time" eh Karen44? *chuckle* and when I can't, Katy bar the door!

>28 Carmenere: Lynda, Lynda...Conroy is not Satan. (That's Dave Eggers.) It's a very nice book, and it's short, and it's got many charming qualities.

If this was a blind date, I'd run far and fast if I was you....

The Last Kashmiri Rose is a mystery, so no, it's not a lot like A Passage to India in plot terms. It's a lot like it in narrative language terms, though.

#30> While it is an impressive pic I urge you to delete this from the thread. It would make a great profile pic so why not put it there instead.

I thank you for your 'warning,' and I give my sincerest apologies to any who may have been irreparably damaged in mind and eye by my display of wanton, sensuous feline photography, posted wholly in ignorance.

I received a copy of The Last Kashmiri Rose from Suz last year. I will have to see where I put it!

29: *Sniffle* Fine. :(

I don't want pictures like the one in the first post to appear on my thread, so I won't even ask about cougars...

Hi Richard - Just catching up. Hope things are going well for you. Seeing as I'm here I better


glitter-graphics.com

your shiny new thread.

glitter-graphics.com

Good Lord, I saw the painting up top and thought "I know that guy!!!"

Never mind the threats of retaliatory horror..it would take a lot to fluster me, Sweetie...and i don't post no "pussy" pictures!!!

*maniacal laughter ensues*

;-}

jdthloue, that was my thought too! I mean, from the shoulders up.

Just thought of who that gentleman reminds me of- Hugh Jackman! Eh, Eh??

starred!

that is a completely other starting painting, any details available?

Tamara, I can see Hugh.

Totally love your pictures, Richard. Excuse me while I go mop up the drool.

howdy

((Hugs)) and xx smooches xx for today, RD.

*waves* Hope auntie continues to improve ...

Hugs and smooches to all...very busy day yesterday, and another coming up, so I'll see y'all this evening barring exhaustion!

xo

glitter-graphics.com

I agree Hugh Jackman...good call Tam :)

Wow, I suddenly like that painting a lot more. Hugh Jackman, eh? *studies image scrupulously* I'll go with it.

Of course, if anyone needed proof that men is men no matter who they commingle and conjoin with in acts of concupiscence, I forgot it was Valentine's Day.



Happy V-day, all.

Of course, if anyone needed proof that men is men no matter who they commingle and conjoin with in acts of concupiscence, I forgot it was Valentine's Day.

*snerk* You owe me a new keyboard...I can't get the coffee snort detritus out of this one. :)

And a Happy Valentine's Day to you, Rdear. Hope you get a sweet treat of some sort!

xo gail

Hope You will have a good evening.
Happy Valentines Day!

Just got around to this thread and that first picture is causing me to wince in more ways than one. To the artist, "Dude, put down the brush. It's not you." To the subject, "Dude, put down the hammer. SRS is available under your insurance plan."

Hello RDear! I'm finally caught up on the previous two threads, and am hoping that you and Auntie are both doing well.

Happy Valentine's Day to you! *smooch*

Valentines doings??

Crikey, this thread is definitely NSF these days. I nearly broke my finger trying to minimize the screen this morning when I innocently clicked in to see what's what with Richard. I would be curious to know how the artist got the buns so perfect, and everything else so mediocre. It looks like a "Pin the elbow on the nude guy" game.

glitter-graphics.com

((Hugs)) and xx smooches xx to get you through the day, RD.

Strolling through to see stars, deleted posts, and questionable women in rather matronly cat costumes. Not what I've come to expect of you, Padre. ;)

58> Oh thank god, so the excess glitter images aren't a typical sight?

>59 tootstorm: One hopes not.

Good morning, all, and a great big "oops" for forgetting it was V-Day therefore not visiting y'all various threads with my own li'l greetings.

Another beautiful, sunny day...but so cold it's unpleasant! It's 27F! Brrr. And I had to go out because I didn't check the status of auntie's soap...out...so off to the store in this freezer-burn-inducing 25mph wind.

That pic at the head of the page is by a prize-winning (!) artist...apparently his name is Luke Gehring...not a great talent, but Linda3rd hit it on the head, so to speak: He got the buns perfect, the rest, well, to be charitable it's not professional quality. One forgives a lot for the callipygian perfection of the subject.

I read The Dreyfus Affair by Peter Lefcourt, a pretty good book about two pennant-contending baseball teammates that *whomp* find themselves in a world of shit because they fall in love with each other. It has a feel-good happy ending, so we know it's not based on fact, but it was fun to read.

callipygian

Haha! I had to look the word up. Really? It's a real word?

>61 Ape: 'Tis. More useful than one would imagine at first, y'know? Easier to get away with than muttering "nice ass" everytime the thought flits through one's mind. (Every few seconds in my case.)

Oh, great idea. Thanks for the tip, Richard. I can see it now. "Wow! Do you know what callipygian means? Because, if I could, I would apply that term to your breasts."

You think it'll work? :P

Thank god there are no food posts.. I am hungry!

Steven, you might have more luck if you tried, "I'd love to explain the term to you, but in a quieter and more private environment." Mention the word breasts, and you've tipped your hand. So to speak. Just sayin'... :-)

Oh, great idea. Thanks for the tip, Suz. I can see it now. "Wow! Do you know what callipygian means? Do please allow me lead you down this dark, scary and uninviting alley while I explain it to you..."

...you think that will work? :P

Still not working, Stephen! Although I assume that the dark, scary and uninviting alley is outside your home and so your are out and about, which is very bold of you. : )

Richard, I wanted to thank you again for A Guide to the Birds of East Africa, read it this morning instead of writing my paper, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

A GIF I can love.

What a hoot! Where did you find it?

On a blog I read once in a while. I was hugely amused because it was the avatar of one of the responders to the blog.

Richard, keeping track of you is a not a feat for the weary. Love your definition of terms; hystercal.

Love it!!

I'd love it better if it were bigger. And I'm talking about the GIF, in case anyone was dozing.

74: I don't know, I think it looks a bit larger than the average guy.

*awkward silence*

Errmmm, we aren't talking about the GIF in post one, are we...?

No, that would be a JPEG. I'm talking about the GIF in Post #(Oh, that's unfortunate) 69.

I SO need to remember that word...

#76 ROFL :)

I don't 'favorite' many things but that one does it!

#76 ROFL 8o)

Love the "it is believed that"... Carries the extra whammy of being the passive voice...

Love the gif in #69. *grin*

Thank goodness your threads fill up quickly. I am heartily sick of looking at that lad's backside and less than enchanting face.

Just a quick stop off to say hello, Richard. My own behind - callipygous or no - is very behind on all the threads. Must try to drag it round and get caught up!

> 69: Richard dear
then you might like this too:
The Glenn Beck Conspiracy Theory Generator
Fair and Balanced Paranoia, Delivered on Demand

Anita

((Hugs)) and xx smooches xx and thanks for the laugh!

Good and happy morning! I wish all who come here a better day than I am having: Auntie needed suppository assistance for bowel health this morning, and since the aides refused to do it, I had to.

My day, whatever it might have been, has a theme.

I made the GIF bigger, and I think I'll post it every so often just because it's so hilariously funny.

Everyone listen up: Go get and read Swamplandia! by Karen Russell. The Divine Miss brought me an ARC and I about had an attack from laughing, sniffling, and generally havin' myself a time while slurping this book up. She's the same woman who wrote St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, a story collection that I now *need* to read. But anyone who has characters who elope with snarky ghosts, who buy swampland in Florida and when they discover that it's unusable for anything much build a roadside attraction on it and pretend their white-person family is Indian to attract tourists, who call their star gators "pure appetite(s) in a leather case", deserves your book-buying dollars and attention.

That is all.

there is a LOT of buzz about Swamplandia out there - the Times today, for instance. Both books sound delicious.

Sorry your day started out nasty. (And why don't the aides aid??). I hope the warmer weather has helped your aches and pains, in any case.

I have St. Lucy's Home sitting here...for a couple of years now.

Today's Times piece now read, and thanks Judy for bringing it to my attention, I agree with Janet Maslin that this is a book to contend with...things that usually make one wince and flinch are so well-done it's not even a temptation!

>89 tiffin: Might be time to move 'er on up the stack....

I almost wish that I wasn't auditing my American Realism in Lit class so that I could use a few of these terms in the written papers that I don't have to do. I do plan to use them (sparingly) in my class comments!

Swamplandia added based on your very brief review: laughing, sniffling, and generally havin' myself a time while slurping this book up

Plenty good enough for me Richard.

Richard

Swamplandia was posted on Good Reads and it looked interesting. Reading your comments sends me scurrying to my local library home page to see if I can get a copy.

I hope the rest of your day is a good one.

*tired wave* slept 90 minutes or so last night
Cory on the way home.
*blinks*

I also added Swamplandia to my wishlist. Sounds to good to miss!
--BJ

I already had Swamplandia! in the BlackHole or I would add it again, RD.

((Hugs)) and xx smooches xx

*umph! pushes rock aside... climbs out from under*
Oh, hi RD! Hope you have a good day...
it's all relative, of course. :}

Oh well, not such a good day. Auntie's back in the hospital, an infection in her right hip...the house-call doc came as soon as I hollered, but really that's just pro forma because I knew that was the place she had to go once I saw her owie. Damn. Poor thing.

Just haven't got much left over right now. *smooches* to all!

*smooches*

(((HUGS)))

*Smug hooches*

Your threads get a lot of hugging and kissing, huh?

Thx @ Swamplandia. Now on my long long long wishlist now, too. 8)~

Gentle hugs.

Sending good thoughts...

*smooch* right back, and I hope you are having a restful evening with a warm and snoring pooch.

love and {{{{{{{{richard}}}}}}}}} to you, Sweetie, as always. You are having a long haul there. Remember you're a good man and doing all you can.

*waves* Drive by hug, for good measure. Sorry about Auntie :(.

*big fat sloppy kiss*
I'm so glad you're my friend!

Except when you heartily recommend books that I have to read ASAP...

aw, the poor old dear...she is really having such a time of it. Sorry again, Richard.

What everyone else said, RD. We are here for you. I am sorry both you and Auntie are going through this again. ((((Hugs)))) and xxxx smooches xxxx

xo
Horrible

oh no!! not again! Terrible.

Hope it sorts soon and she is back to being as healthy as she can be ..
So we know what is going on with Auntie.. how about what is goin on with rd?

*waves*

sorry about auntie..{{hug}}

Thanks, everyone, for the kind thoughts...I'm happy to report that auntie's doc is doing the proper antibiotic therapy as of now, and they're looking for signs the infection might have spread. It's not likely, but I'm pleased that they're doing it, and without so much as a single shriek of fury from our end.

I got fried chicken in for dinner, and forgot I've got a dog...she got up on the kitchen counter and ate all the bones off my plate! I found out when the plate hit the floor. She's in trouble, but she doesn't care. Bones = heaven to this pooch. I'm mostly snoozing and watching the History Channel, well up until the Thermopylae program which has no nudity therefore no interest. Yesterday it was 60, today it's 35 and tomorrow the same, all with 30mph winds. Bit chillers walkin' the bone thief.

Back to Erast Fandorin in Special Assignments.

Dear Richard, what a lot you've been through. Best wishes to you and Auntie, and the dog. Hope there are no ill effects from the bone-thieving episode.

Richard- I've had Swamplandia! on the List, as soon as I heard about it! I'm so glad you loved it. It looks like I'll have to splurge and pick this one up!

Richard--Hope Auntie continues to improve. I am busy fine-tuning my WL for next weekend's shopping spree. Can't wait to see you! Big Hugs.

oh, this is a hard, hard time. I'm glad they didn't argue with you this time.

Take care of yourself. I hope the dog doesn't suffer from the feast.

*limping in after falling over all the posts in this thread to wave hello*

Hi ever'body! Beauthiful day! Sunshine, less wind, no warmer though. Auntie's doing well. I'm sleeping a lot, because I don't have to be on the listen for anything untoward, which is wearing.

Somehow I just don't care about reviews. I am reading but reviewing isn't much in the picture. Too much work, I suppose.

Have a happy Sunday, all!

Enjoy the sunny day .. even if it's windy, the sun makes all the difference. Glad Auntie's doing well and you're getting the sleep you need at long last.

*smoooches*

Hi Richard, trotting by..... glad you are resting and reading.

Hi richard - good to hear you sounding so chipper this morning.

Happy Sunday, RD!

Happy Sunday evening to you.

Hi Richard, glad to hear auntie's doing well and you're relaxing.

Drive by hugs...

just dropping by to say how glad I am that things are going well for you, DVM and Auntie. Don't crease your knickers over not reviewing. I think we all go through phases where we realize the most important thing about books is to READ them. We can bloviate about them later when we feel so moved. So keep on reading..virtual hug incoming.

((Hugs)) and xx smooches xx, RD. I am glad to see you are getting both sleeping and reading done!

Monday! Hope to see you today.. miss ya!

Just dropping in to check on you. My mom is still here on her visit until the end of the week, so my online time is very limited.

{{{{hugs}}}}

Taking care of yourself, too, right, Richard?

Daily ((hugs)) and xx smooches xx

Kim is supposed to give you hugs and smooches from me when she visits too!

? where are you?

We all hope you're okay and Auntie and the DVM as well. Check in when the spirit moves.

{{{{Rdear}}}} *smooch*

*waves* hope you're having a good day. Rest up, read, and only review if you feel like it. :)

Hi RD, Hope all is well and you are de-stressing. {{{HUGS}}}

Sorry about the latest episode. If your absence means you're resting and reading...good on ya. If otherwise, I hope you're coping OK. ( Did Tina just equate your reviews with bloviation? ;>) What a lot of love there is here!)

*waving feebly*

*lurching back to MS to stare at it blankly*

I hadn't realized how very bleccchhhy I felt. I spent most of yesterday flat on my back, sleeping and sleeping some more. Today feeling fair to partly cloudy. Still have very little energy, I fear.

Auntie's bones are fine, I'm glad to report, and her lungs remain clear. We're down to fighting back an infection with antibiotics, so she will be fine in a few days. Glad for her. In the meantime, I'm back to sleep! Make hay while the sun shines, or rather, the eyelids can close at will.

I send love and smooches to all!

Sleep and feel better. That's an order! :)

>141 jadebird: Seconded! Oh, and read good books. :)

Rest dear one!

Oh dear #138!! I certainly didn't mean to imply that Richard's reviews are bloviating. I was tongue in cheeking that all of us go through phases where we want to spend time reading and don't feel like doing reviews. I often feel like I might be seen as bloviating when I just blurb something down to fill space. I try not to do that, and Richard's reviews are definitely not the filling space variety.

Anyway....glad to hear that dear RD is sleeping, resting and getting better....

{{{Hugs}}}}

I've slept...I feel okay...and I am really gettin' psyched to meet our own Berly in the flesh this Saturday! Goody good good good!

I read a little bagatelle called Duck: An Outer Banks Village. I am always fascinated by the Carolina coast, and this book lept into my arms in the Salvation Army (I needed a jacket, they have cheap ones). I walked into the books area and a rude lady shoved her basket in front of me, hitting the shelf unit; this book and a pristine copy of A Beautiful Blue Death fell into my arms. For $2.10 with tax, I got them both, and both are eagerly sought on PaperBackSwap, one person offering an extra point for a clean copy!

I also got myself a fast-food hamburger. Second in a month. Unprecedented! I **never** get to eat greasy, salty, delicious fast food, as The Divine Miss Disapproves and is not quiet about it. She's right, of course; but sometimes I just want what I want. So I got her sugar cookies, which are the never-fail shut-her-up food.

So, Tina, accusing me of bloviation, are we? Well, I say bunkum to that! ;-P

Sometimes terrible food is just what the soul needs.

So true. I needed with a violent, unignorable passion, a double cheeseburger with a large fries, no lettuce, extra onion, extra mayo. They insist on giving me a sugary bubblewater with it, blechickptui, but I usually find someone in line to give it to.

**I changed the picture at the top of the page!**

Much nicer now.

Sometimes terrible food is just what the soul needs.

I made Chow Mein yesterday, with leftover pot roast...not quite as bad as the canned crap, but pretty close. I just had a craving for "junky Chinese"....oh, and i plopped the mess on those Chow Mein noodles that come in a bag (or a can)....pure sodium heaven!

I often crave a fast food burger...but i live over a mile from the nearest Mickey Dee's...so second thoughts are usually the order. Besides I do a pretty good burger on my own...with Worcestershire/dry mustard...and grilled onions to top it all off....homemade "skinny fries" don't take very long in a HOT oven....and a simple domestic beer for libation..then i be's happy.

Forget the sugary bubblewater...it makes me belch and leaves a really weird aftertaste!

Glad your ship is sailing on calmer waters, matey!
*****hug&smooch******
;-}

Much Better :-) He looks more touchable.

Richard funny you should mention bunkum fast food! The only time I ever get a craving for it, and succumb to said craving, is during long road trips such as the one I just completed yesterday. After driving a total of almost 3000 miles in the last 3 weeks, on Sunday, I pulled into a wendy's - said "Yes" when the voice in the unintelligible ordering machine asked if I wanted a combo meal --- I NEEDED the fries-- and then was furious after I'd gotten back on the road and discovered that not only were the fries missing, but the idiots had included not only pickles, but ALL the fixin's on the burger (I ordered it plain - specifically said just meat and bun).

So yesterday, I had to give myself another chance and went into the rest stop on the turnpike to stretch legs, take a p break, and fuel up on calories, carbs, and fat. This time I stood there checking the whole package for the suspect pickles (much to the chagrin of those behind me in line).

The Burger King jingle is correct - special order don't upset us. THey got it right. And you Richard are right --- there are times when it just plain tastes good.

I behaved well (eating wise) on this whole trip, so I felt I could treat myself.

>151 tututhefirst: I never eat at Wendy's for precisely that reason: I *never* get what I ordered. "No Lettuce" appears to bumfuzzle the ordertakers there. "Extra onions"? Clearly that old guy didn't say that! He said "Extra lettuce and no onions" for sure! And what please means "mayo"? So I get mustard, their icky bright yellow stuff, and ketchup to the point of drippage. After all, I *did* say extra.

Bugger King all the way. ESPECIALLY on the road!

>150 cindysprocket: Don't he just? *drool*

>149 jdthloue: What's chow mein?

Hi Richard ,I'm visiting ur post for the first time.

>152 richardderus: A sophisticated guy...such as your Sweetness...don't know Chow Mein...well, here's a little ass-ist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chow_mein

.......basically, stewed/steamed veg and/or meat...on top of "crispy" noodles...either the canned/bagged variety....or you could "crisp" you own...depending on your Junk Food craving

*happy to be of service...do you want fries with that*

;-0

Isn't fast food just perfect, sometimes? I don't eat it often (maybe once every couple of months?) but every once in awhile I just get that craving for grease-and-fat yumminess, and I have to have something. I tried McDonald's BBQ chipotle angus thingy recently. *Thumbs up!*

My mom would only ever go to Burger King when I was growing up. Only on rare occassions did we go to McDonald's. As a result, I like McDonald's more now. :P

I think I've been to Wendy's...ummmm, maybe 3-4 times in my life? A decade+ ago? *shrug*

>155 Ape:

oh yessss!

Where's Richard? to control this thread????

;-)

mmmmmmmm french fries!

holy crap rd..

>158 mckait:

What's holy? the crap, or RD??

;-}

I'm guessing this isn't a PG thread..haha :)

First time visiting Richard's thread and the first thing I am greeted with is a giant rear end...nice....... ;)

mmmmm french fries is right, Kath .. i wouldn't say no to some right now, especially if they're lightly spiced, and come with a side of bacon sandwich. :-)

Did the influx of junk food beat the last surviving germies to death, Ricardo?

#148 I can't believe I'm saying this but... I'm actually missing Marie Antoinette.

I like the balance of tones in the new painting, Padre.

Hardy's (used to be Roy Rogers) is my fast food of choice. They *say* that all of their burgers are cooked to order, and it's a nice hunk of beef with perfectly crispy bacon and fresh onions. Mmm, and sea-salt-coated "natural cut" french fries. Plus, I'm a sucker for fountain Coke, so I indulge in that as well.

Of course, this baby doesn't let me eat meat very often. When I was expecting B I was sure he'd come out a bacon cheeseburger. And Max was going to be a bottle of hot sauce.

This one? Hhmmm. A tomato sandwich with a side of french onion soup. ;)

Another favorite comfort food: homemade fried rice. I discovered how easy it is, and oh man.

Review: 4 of seventy-five

Title: THE VIEW FROM LAZY POINT

Author: CARL SAFINA

Rating: 3* of five

The Book Report: Carl Safina is an August Personage. He's a Guggenheim Fellow. He's a MacArthur Fellow. He's won at least two awards for literary merit in writing about science. He founded Blue Ocean Institute. He's been on the teevee, too! PBS, even Nightline! Here he chronicles the full twelve months of his year of environmental activism and study for our delectation and enlightenment.

My Review: I am not delectated and not particularly enlightened, and if I didn't owe a review to the publisher, I'd just quietly pass this dull, overwritten snoozefest to someone who's never read Silent Spring and therefore has no basis for comparison re: quality advocacy writing with a personal touch.

A note to editors: Capitalizing Species Names Is Like Having Your Eyelashes Plucked. It Starts Out Annoying But Ends Up Inducing Homicidal Feelings Towards The Perpetrator. A cedar waxwing is a cedar waxwing, not A Cedar Waxwing.

Don't You Also Hate Seeing The Word Realtor Capitalized? Why Stop There? Why Not Also Capitalize Doctor, Dentist, Undertaker, Accountant? Puhleez.

Ok, all that cap typing hurt my fingers.

and now we know what RD was doing while the fast food discussion was underway -- reading! Too bad it wasn't as yummy as a nice juicy burger.

Personally, I'm off to have some tomato soup with Parmesan popovers.

nice to have you back, rd :)

>164 richardderus:: The Safina only got from me, also, Richard. I also felt the drudgery of being compelled to review it.

>165 Chatterbox: Me too! I *still* have a cramp from all that shift-key action! And, with the steady chilly rain outside, I think I'll join you in the soup...only it will be my breakfast.

>166 mckait: *smooch*

>167 TadAD: Drudgery. Perfect word for that book. It was drudgery to have to finish it. The chapters, in and of themselves, were even drudgery to have to finish. I will never ever read another book by Safina.

RD- Good to see you sir! Enjoy your visit with Kim!

Hi, Richard! I'm just catching up . . . woefully behind on the threads.

Sorry to hear that Auntie had another setback, glad to hear that she is getting good treatment at hospital and doing OK.

And, as for you, yes, sometimes terrible food is exactly what the soul needs!

With the rating you and Tad have given The View from Lazy Point, I'm just too lazy to add it to my obese wish list. Thanks for the heads up, Ricardo.

Pics are mandatory when you meet Kimmers, hear?

Yes, please take photos and post them.

Oh dear, pictures and me...we just don't get along...I'll do my best.

pshaw! you look good in pictures... hand the damned thing back and forth would ya?

Just stopping by with a 'hello' - hungry for a big ol' Whopper now, but will have to make do with the beef roast with oven-roasted potatoes and Yorkshire pudding I've got in line for dinner (and bread pudding for dessert).

did you have fun?

Hello, Richard. Hope you and Kim had a good weekend. Thanks for the heads-up on the Safina book. I'll be sure to stay away from that one; too many good ones to read in one lifetime. Take care of yourself!

Hi Richard, lucky you, getting to do all these LT meet-ups. I'm sure you had fun.

Hi everyone...had a delightful meet-up with Berly! Both of us being on the more worn-down side, we opted to go to an old and dear haunt of mine and have snacks and drinks. Well, *I* call eggs benedict a la steak frites snack food...mimosas for madame, Belgian ales for me...and a nostalgia trip for me! The Divine Miss and I started our RL book circle in that very bistro about 17 years ago. There exists a photo...if I can find my camera....

Then Chatterbox and I met on Sunday for a lovely, sunshiney brunch-and-ramble. Instead of Union Square, where I was with Berly, Suz and I went to Cafe Charbon, where we all met in December. I **finally** gave the lady her birthday present, most of a month late...a three-volume set of the Heptameron, the supposedly definitive text from 1879; pretty little edition, presented to TDM's mother when she received her PhD in French Lit in 1936. I can't make heads or tails out of the antique Fench. TDM, a sentimentalist of the highest conceivable order, doesn't want to read in foreign languages anymore, and we figured that, of all the people we know, Suz could best appreciate the weird glories of such a thing. She seemed to like it, but one never knows with cat people. They could be faking it. It's the catly thing to do.... ;-P

Afterwards came a trip to the quilting supply store. I've never been to such a place before! This one has some beautiful stuff in it. The shoppers were a mixed bag, as one would expect for an artsy-fartsy store in the gayest neoghborhood of NYC. One very imposing-looking gent walked in wearing a *beautiful* kilt, an Arran sweater, and the coolest sporran I've ever seen. He was there shopping for pretty floral fabrics to line his studly kilts. All the way from London, he was! Came to the store special! Being, as both Berly and Suz can attest, too shy to open my mouth in public *snort* I divined all this psychically. (Actually the three of us had a lovely chat.)

*sigh* Life is good auntie-wise as well, so all is ticking over nicely chez moi. And y'all?

Sounds like a marvelous weekend, Richard. I'm happy for you.

Thanks, Regina! It goes a long way to erase memories of the struggle that was January, for sure and certain. Say...have you read any of the Inspector Lynley mysteries by Elizabeth George? I've recently re-discovered them. Very, very beautifully crafted stories, and I think they'd appeal to you. A Great Deliverance is the first one.

cathing up, glad to read you had a good weekend with real life meetings ;-)
I like the new start of your thread.
I have never read Inspector Lynley mysteries, but have seen the TV adaptions.
Nathaniel Parker plays Lynley and he is a good looking guy ;-)
Anita

Humph. Messing around in my neighborhood and nary a hint. Well, maybe we'll catch up next time. I'm glad you got some fun time after all the sturm and drang of the last two months.

I shall ignore the slurs regarding cat people, note that Richard was very enthusiastic about a quilt pattern featuring felines, and remain very grateful for my works of art/books! Now just have to find a shelf worthy of them...

>182 FAMeulstee: I'll second that -- and I adore his partner as well.

Love the quilt-kilt nexus, but a lining in a kilt???? Real scotsmen (and I've got one) don't even wear.... oh well... let's not go there, but rilly! Truly, my husband can't barely stand anything BUT real wool, everything else is 'too hot' or 'doesn't breathe' - me, I can't even look at wool without scratching myself all over.....

Some of the stuff he was buying for the kilt linings were hilarious! Really bright, big patterns, from florals, to one with neon colored pencils (you'd have had to see it...)

I'm glad that you and Berly and Suz had such a nice time this weekend! :)

real wool sounds itchy.. especially on.. well.. bare skin.

Thanks for the recommendation, Richard. I have read a couple of those and find her writing thrilling, but the subject matter always seems so dark. If I remember correctly, by the time I finished the book I would be overwhelmed by the feeling that the world was filled with sinister people. I love mysteries, but sadly P.D. James has made me feel that way too. Right now I am re-reading The Amazing Adventures of Father Brown by G.K Chesterton. These are more my style. After reading his stories I don't feel as though all is hopeless!

Richard my dear......sounds like you had a wonderful weekend. I am delighted to find another Elizabeth George fan. I think the Lynley series some of the best mystery writing of the past 20 years. I positively abhor the PBS series they made from it. Mostly I think because Lynley is a BLOND for god sakes, and because they just have erased, obliterated, or totally ignored so many of the subtle and intricate side plots and relationships that make this such a great series. They head my re-read list. In fact, darn you, they sound so much more fun than trying to figure out whether I really want to read another Jean Auel. WHAT WAS I thinking???

Another fan of Elizabeth George here. She weaves a wonderful story and I love the atmospheric descriptions of London and Englad in general.

I own Heptamaron too, alas, in English. I hope to finally read it this year as it is part of my 11 in 11 challenge.

So glad you had such a great weekend, Richard.

Hallo, Richarddear. Glad things are on an even keel.

XO
Horrible

Sounds like a glorious weekend! I'm so glad things are going well for you again :)

>182 FAMeulstee: Hi Anita! Oh my gracious goodness me...Nathaniel Parker...what a lot of beautiful man he is! But he's not at all my idea of Lynley. The books are more intricate and they have more *oomph* than the TV show. If you can find a translation, I'd recommend reading one to try them out.

>183 ffortsa: Hi Judy! Well, now, don't be too hard on me...I stood on 14th and hollered up at your window, but you never opened it. XD Besides, I will see you and Jim tomorrow for Winesburg, Ohio, won't I?

>184 Chatterbox: It was a cute idea for a quilt. That's all. Cute. Y'know, for *other* people.

>185 sibylline: I want lining, I want errrrmmm modesty assistance, and wool is The Devil when it touches my *arms* so the idea of, well, more intime contact makes me need a shower and a Benadryl. *skritchscratch*

>186 Chatterbox: I talked him into the pencils.

>187 BookAngel_a: Hey Angela! Thanks, it was a lot of fun.

>188 mckait: PLEASE let's not discuss it! *squirm*

>189 thomasandmary: I guess they are on the dark and stormy side...I think it's what I like best about them! Father Brown...now there's a series I haven't even thought about in ages. I'll have to dig one up. Have you ever read the Miss Silver series by Patricia Wentworth? I liked those a lot, and you'd search long and hard to find a series cozier than that.

>190 tututhefirst: Hi Tina! I saw that you were reading one of those...truly, my dear lady, I cannot *fathom* what you were thinking. Once was enough, and when they stopped coming out, that should have been a clue....

I like looking at Nathaniel Parker. But the TV series isn't anything like as rich and intricate as the books are, as who could expect them to be; still, considered as TV projects not adaptations, they're alright.

>191 Carmenere: I read an English translation from the 19th century, not the original French...too hard!...and it was based on the same original MSS edition as the set we gave Suz. Marguerite de Navarre died in 1549, and the first published edition came out in 1558, but it was seriously bastardized. It wasn't until the 19th century that anyone went back to the original MSS. It's not an easy read, no matter what.

>192 Ape: Thank you, sweet cheeks.

>193 karenmarie: Hi Horrible! They are plugging along fine, blessedly.

>194 dk_phoenix: Faith! How nice to see you! *smooch*

Richard, I have never heard of the Miss Silver series. Thanks for the recommendation; cozy mystery is definitely more my style :-)

I've added The Clock Strikes Twelve to my Amazon wishlist. Do you think that would be a good place to start in the series?

I love the Miss Silver stories -- they are one set of cozies that has earned a permanent place on my shelf! I think anywhere is OK to start. Most of them were published from the late 30s to the 1950s and are very of their era... I think one of the earliest ones is The Case is Closed.

Well, Richard, I forgive you for not shouting loudly enough. And yes, we will rendesvous on Wednesday.

I had been reading the Lynley series, but it got too soap-opera for me. All those star-crossed lovers and lost opportunities and deep, disuniting feelings. Please stick to the mystery and leave out quite so much of the angst! So I haven't kept pace. Maybe some other time, I'll go back pick up the series.

Thank you Suzanne for your help.

>199 Chatterbox:, 201 Suz is correct, start anywhere. They're completely winsome and charming. My mother said of them, "Good lawsy me, that Miss Silver needs a chest doctor for the cough" and my then-boyfriend chaffed me about reading them, "ANOTHER one? That old lady only wrote one book, just changed the title!" My response was, "I know she only wrote one book. I just happen to like that book a whole lot."

>200 ffortsa: Ah good! Looking forward to seeing you, though be forewarned...Stella is coming too.

Review: 5 of seventy-five

Title: EXPIRATION DATE

Author: SHERRIL JAFFE

Rating: 3.875* of five

The Book Report: Flora, daughter of Muriel and wife of Jonah and mother of Lulu, has a dream...she stands in the prisoners' dock in the Cosmic Courtroom hearing her life's ending announced for twenty-five years hence, when her oldest daughter (still in utero at the time of the trial) will be twenty-five, she herself will turn sixty, and her mother will be dead (or else how would her mother be standing there in the Cosmic Courtroom?). She pleads for her life, reminding the Cosmic Court that her child will need her, all to no avail. She will die on her sixtieth birthday. Fast forward to Flora's fifty-ninth yer, most of which we spend with her as she obsesses and frets and generally acts like an ass about her upcoming expiration date. She still has her mom, now an 87-year-old widow; her children are grown and gone, now twenty-four and twenty-two; her rabbi husband still desires her, still fascinates her, still makes her toes curl with the joy of their intimacy and vigorous sex life. (Are you hatin' on her yet? I sure am, whiny broad needs a board upside the head, look at all the stuff she's got! Sheez.) Her mother, a selfish woman in Flora's eyes, is boldly starting life anew; her own work as a professor is satisfying but undemanding (loathsome! this woman's LOATHSOME!); her world, in short, is enviably settled into positive grooves. She, however, sees only the onrushing expiration date. She and sexy rabbi Jonah spend the day before her birthday at a meditation retreat in the mountains. She drifts to sleep after a late-night bout of ecstasy-inducing sex (bitch!) and has another dream...the sequel to her first one...and....

That's it. And.

My Review: The book could have been called "Grumpy Old Women." Flora and Muriel have an evolving mother/daughter dynamic, one that makes them feel simultaneously and by turns comforted and angered and annoyed and misunderstood and cherished. They are both lucky and blessed in their men, and they both see themselves as put-upon by the other as well as by their failings as human beings. In short, they're about what you'd expect well-off women at the last stops on the train to be. It's this universality that makes the story fun to read, and the life details that Jaffe endows each woman with are well-chosen to illustrate the more universal and general attitudes and needs that the women have.

For anyone Jewish and female and over 50, this will probably bang you like a gong. I'm only one of those things, and it still managed to bong me a good clip on the family-love spot. But its primary charm, its main selling point, is that the people in it are well and truly family. You the reader are taken into the family. You overhear the phone calls, you peer into the thoughts of these women and see yourself, your mother, your sister. This is a very, very good thing.

What's NOT so good is the book's very close resemblance to a short story that got fat. Dialogue? Little. Plot? Rudimentary, or if we're being polite and positive, spare. It's not *quite* enough for four stars. It's good, and I'd never say *don't* read it, but I will not make a case for spending $28 (!!) for a hardcover of it. How much is the NooKindle version? Under $14? Go for it.

I'm looking forward to reading Patricia Wentworth's "one book". LOL. You sure do have a way with words! My book comments consist of " it was good, I liked it". Yours are like listening to a symphony, a very amusing one, but a complete and inspiring performance!

Wonderful review!
--BJ

Wow, a book we agree on. I just discovered your comments on Swamplandia! - I loved it too, I'm trying to assemble my thoughts to write a proper review. I read St Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves last year and would highly recommend it.

Richard

I'm so glad you were able to rest and relax with wonderful LT friends.

I hope March brings spring glory and days of sunshine for you.

Ricardo, sounds like you had a lovely lovely weekend... but where are the pictures?!!!! waaah....

I love your review for expiration date. Can't say I want to read it enough to run out and spend money on it, but I certainly know what to expect if I ever pick it up! *thumbs up*

Everyones's into mystery/thrillers. I will give Elizabeth George and patricia wentworth a try.

....what linda said...

>203 richardderus:: "Short story that got fat" is something that I overreact to...it's a character flaw but a truth, nonetheless. So I think I'll pass on that one.

~203 - Good review (not that I have ever read a bad one from you) but it doesn't sound like my kind of book.

Pleased that things are going better for you and Auntie, hope things continue well for you and yours.

Wonderful stories of the meet-ups.

>204 thomasandmary: Aw shuckins, Miss Regina, I'm a-gonna blush myself into a stroke!

>205 billiejean: Thank you BJ!

>206 elkiedee: *gasps*clutches chest* W...w...we agree on a book?! Luci! How can this be in this timespace continuum? Still and all, it's a terrific book. The Divine Miss snatched it back from me as soon as I put it down, for her own reading pleasure on a long train trip she's taking. I suspect I'll get a chance to read it again, but I'm not too sure what that'll do to my rating.

>207 Whisper1: Spring glory and sunshine days sound fabOO, Linda, and thanks for using your pull with your sister the Weather Goddess to order 'em up! Remind her to treat you well, too.

>208 cameling: I am so bad with picture posting. Maybe they're up in Berly's thread?

>209 dk_phoenix: Hiya Faith! This is a good liberry borrow.

>210 mausergem: Oh goody! Well, maybe goody. The reason I like mysteries is that they appeal to my orderly side. So seldom in life is a real baddie caught and dealt with appropriately. It warms me to think that it *can* happen. So mysteries fill a need in me.

>211 mckait: Thank you, sweetness. *smooch*

>212 TadAD: Tad, give this book wide berth. You'd HATE IT. From the precious premise to the sloppy execution, it would offend and annoy you. I predict this with great confidence.

>213 calm: Thank you, calm! I appreciate the props. All is moving along nicely, at least for the moment, and I have hopes it will continue.

TOnight is Book Circle night, discussing Winesburg, Ohio. Anderson's influence on both Faulkner and Hemingway is very clear. He's got a deft hand with characterization, but he's not quite the craftsman that Faulkner would prove to be...his jumps in time feel like boo-boos, not choices. And he's not quite the storyteller Hemingway would prove to be, miring himself in the quotidian and missing the many opportunities to universalize his characters' angst the way ol' Ernie did.

I long to see an "American Masterpiece Theatre" created, and the stories here dramatized for it. Would win Golden Globes and Peabodys and such-like prestige awards, done well.

Richard

I'll be interested in learning what the book club has to say about Winesburg, OH

RD, my doorman received your sweet contribution to the cause of expanding waistlines with a broad smile - I'm sure the rest of the staff will enjoy it as well.

Ahaaaa, so THAT was what was in the fridge....

Did you & stella get home OK, RD??

I'll post summat about Winesburg tomorrow, too tired now, need sleep...

Gadding about I see? Glad you are having fun! :)

Hi RD, So good to see you back to your expansive self again. ( I mean that in the nicest possible way!!! )
Hope you are truly feeling better and have more opportunities for fun. You spread it around so well! :)

Dear R, what a fun review (#203)! I may give this a go when I find it at the library or at a more reasonable price.

I think Elizabeth George is a great writer, really, but I hate the violence and terrible darkness of her work. Still, I'm giving her one more go (gee, that sounds a bit off, doesn't it?) in my Mystery March reading. On the other hand, I only found the Miss Silver books so-so.

Glad you're doing so much better! I hope that Spring will be a real reawakening of your happy self, and that the dark days of January will be *it* for crappiness this year.

{{{{{Richard}}}} from Danny

I don't think I've ever read Elizabeth George. One of these days I may try her -- I tend to go for the darker kinds of mysteries when in the right mood.

ETA typo fix

>217 Whisper1: The book circle wasn't very chatty last night, Linda...they mostly liked the book fine, or at least failed to loathe it. No one offered up any trenchant insights, well except Stella who noted to me (sotto voce) that everyone in this hick burg should've gotten themselves a dog and they'd've been happier. Much chatter about the writing, boiled down to "not very good, was it?" Our host said he thought the book was lousy, but he always says that.

>218 ffortsa: All those brownies, the doorpersons won't be able to *fit* through the doors!

>219 Chatterbox: We arrived home in 42mins. Construction starts at 10p, so I missed all the lane closures and the detours! W00t! Of course, this morning I'm stiff as a new boot from all the sitting. I **love** my blue-gel cold packs!

>220 mckait: The sidewalks of Manhattan are very...interesting...when navigated by a crippled old man with a curious, excited young girl on a leash. She sniffed. She licked. She tried to make a dozen new friends every block. In the car, she curled up and went blissfully to sleep. I dont know what I'd do without her!

smooch back, RD!

One of the most interesting bookclub meetings we had recently was about a book we mostly all disliked - When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro. Except that it generated such a great discussion I'd say I was ashamed to admit it was my choice. But it was such a great meeting that I'm still patting myself on the back. We're reading One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni for Sunday's meeting and I have some pithy comments about it all stored up ready to unleash on the group. A disappointment.

>221 -Cee-: After book circle snicky-snacky, Claudzilla, expansive should read "expanded"! I ate at least a half-pound of cheese (what I didn't sneak to Stella), at least as much salami, and oodles of strawberries and grapes, plus all the ginger cookies iced with pistachio numminess I could vacuum in before others noticed them. Our host does us proud on the nibblements front! *smooch*

>222 Matke: Miss Danvers! *blush*

Most cozy readers like a certain specific edge of the cozy spectrum. How do you feel about Miss Seeton and Aunt Dimity?

>223 tymfos: Start anywhere, Terri. They're not especially better read in order, IMO.

>225 karenmarie: Oh dear. I hate to hear that the book was a disappointment, since she wrote one of my very favorite books: The Palace of Illusions. Ah well, no one can bat 1.000, and even .500 is excellent.

Go get 'em, girl! xo

>226 richardderus:: Don't like either Miss Seeton or Aunt Dimity. Too cloying for my taste, although I know that lots of people love them. What I like is snarky humor, not too obvious; a decent plot that doesn't stretch one's imagination to the "Oh for heaven's sake!" stage; good characterization. I used to read cozies assiduously, but they have lost their charm for me, or perhaps it's just old-age crankiness rearing its snake-like head. On the other hand, I don't like things that are self-consciously intellectual. Hmm...on the completely opposite hand, I enjoy the Precious Ramotswe series by Alexander McCall Smith. Well, now I've shown what a contradictory mess I really am, haven't I?

Richard

I'm glad you had such a delightful time at your book circle. I love hearing your descriptions.

Let's hope spring arrives soon and with it the hope of good health and sunshine.

>229 Whisper1: Thank you, my dear! Since it's 24 here just at the moment, spring feels like it's doing its usual multiple personality disorder thing.

>228 Matke: Oh good. Both of them make me queasy as well. I'm a fan of series mysteries, it's true, but I don't think I'm anywhere near as addicted as I once was. I still love Donna Andrews books, and look forward to each new Meg Langslow mystery. I've lost interest in Sookie Stackhouse, because the books are starting to feel phoned in. Inspector Rutledge, Joe Sandilands, Erast Fandorin, and the like are filling up my mystery addiction shleves.

Richard, it's great to see you out and about and cranking out reviews. Speaking of mysteries, only a few months to go til the new Three Pines mystery makes an appearance :)

Can I claim credit for the ginger/pistachio nibbly cookies? They came from the same bakery that provided the chocolate/candy cane matzoh goodies that you nibbled at over Xmas... Think I'll bring them again next time since they just VANISHED.

Jim and I agree that we would have had little to talk about without your insights yesterday evening. I certainly was guilty of not bothering to calibrate the state of fiction when Anderson wrote, and while I don't think he is a great writer by any means, it's interesting to think that he might have helped free better authors to experiment with fiction forms.

I'm sure you have more than a few of these to share. I need some laughs with snow piled all around me and likely to be here for many weeks yet.

#230 : Ricardo, I'm assuming you also have Karin Fossom's Inspector Sejer series on your mystery addiction shelves too? If not, you're being terribly remiss ... and should add them asap!

>231 brenzi: Hi Bonnie! Thanks.

>232 Chatterbox: MORE MORE MORE I WANT MORE MORE WHERE IS THIS CRACK EMPORIUM ANYWAY

>233 ffortsa: ...I had insights...?

>234 mckait: *returns wave non-graphically*

>235 sibylline: LOLOLOLOL I love those titles!

>236 cameling: I am *veryvery* leery of the Scandinavian crime writers after the pain and horror of the first part of that horrible, vile, muck-sucking dragon tattoo book whose very touchstone brings on shudders and heaves and gooseflesh in all the wrong places...who knew one's colon could have gooseflesh.

A propos of mystery series...let me warn the more pernickety among us to avoid The Last Templar by Michael Jecks. They are set in 1316/1320 and the following are a selection of the eyelash-under-the-lid, twitch-inducing howlers I've regally glided over until I just *couldn't* anymore:

-The Kingdom of Outremer
-The British Army
-"Mrs." Anybody

I jumped ahead to the end to see if I'd guessed right, I get a C because I got one right and one wrong; I ain't about to read another one of these marvies. ANNOYING.

I loved your descriptions of your meeting with folks from LT. You lucky dog you :)

Re: Jecks. I'd been warned off them, but had two in my shipment (pre e-book days). The first one I read I really enjoyed. I was pleased. So I began the next one I have. Snoresville. I am interested in the story, but it's painful getting through it! So I pick it up and read a few pages in between other books ('cause I really do want to know what happened).

The Jecks I liked so well was The Templar's Pennance. I'm guessing it must be one of a kind in the series. Too bad. I learned a ton in that one and found the pacing as well as char development just super.

touchstone not loading. oh, btw, i hadn't read any other of the series and felt that book worked just fine as a stand alone.

Richard, I'm getting the impression that you like mysteries??

The folks over in The Green Dragon are beginning the process of making a list of great ones. You can check it out here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/111265#top

>239 suslyn: Suse, no one warned me off them, and I'd've been grateful. The one I read most of is the first in the series, and it's the ONLY one I'll ever pick up. Still and all, I'm glad you enjoyed The Templar's Penance. I shall note the title and exempt it from my new rule to cast holy water and pronounce anathema on all the others should they come across my path.

>240 maggie1944: Karen44, hi! What gave you the idea that I like mysteries? *skritchskritch* As to the Green Dragon, those people over there get real mean real fast so I think I'll stay home here in the 75er-verse. Thanks for letting me know, though!

Richard

People who get real mean real fast are to be avoided! I've had too many of them in my life. Now that I'm older and somewhat wiser, I carerfully spend my energy and time with loving, kind souls...just like you!

>242 Whisper1: Hi Linda! The Divine Miss and I were talking about you yesterday. She wanted an update on the surgical situation, so I told her you were steadily improving. PLEASE tell me I didn't lie....

I spend less and less time with others in general just now. I am simply not able to rouse up enough energy to flit about spreading my own unique brand of manure humor and gladness as I was before. It feels to me as if I'm resting up before a battle. I wonder what my subconscious knows that it's not telling me.

Richard...You know that this winter has been hell. It is no wonder your need to hibernate. Seriously, I don't know how you cope with it all.

I am slowly making progress. I'm very weary and impatient. Like you, I hibernate. I read, drink hot chocolate, bake oatmeal, raisin, walnut cookies and sleep, sleep, sleep.

I hope to see you in the spring/summer.

Hugs to you dear one.

How nice that Claudia asked about me...What a lovely lady.

Hi RD!
>237 richardderus: "...that horrible, vile, muck-sucking dragon tattoo book whose very touchstone brings on shudders and heaves and gooseflesh in all the wrong places..."
There are very few books I DON'T want to read... but this is one! Not even going there.

Maybe you could sneak over to the Green Dragon's lair just to take a peek at their list and scurry quick back here.

Well, Richard, I don't want to encourage you to do anything to disturb the harmony; but, just to speak the truth: The Green Dragon is one of the friendliest, nicest, most supportive places I've ever been in LibraryThing, or on the web, for that matter. I really hope you were "speaking sarcasm" and did not have a bad experience with The Green Dragon.

The only experience I've seen where one might call it mean is when some hapless author stumbles in to promote his/her book without having any idea where they were, and having spent no time creating a library on LT. Those folks are pretty much invited to leave, thank you very much.

Karen dear.. I have to disagree. It wasn't a hapless author that sent me fleeing the place..

>244 Whisper1: She's a nice little old lady, don'cha think? *smooch* and can I have a cookie, please?

>245 -Cee-: I strongly support this decision. I am sorry that I let *any* of it pollute my neurons.

>246 maggie1944: I had a dreadful experience in that place, Karen44. I watched a hapless older netizen, over 80 faGodsake, get flamed for innocently violating the unwritten but vigilantly policed rules of the place. It was unjustified, it was grisly, and I ain't-a goin' back to see if permaybehaps I get the same treatment. Been what, now, about four years since I set toe in there, and I feels no lack.

Because I get a wild hare sometimes, I go over to Wikipedia and look up authors who've just died to see if I can add to their Common Knowledge pages. I found one today, a poet of whom I had never heard: John Haines, former Poet Laureate of Alaska (they got poets? go know). That sent me haring off around the Internet to see what I could find, and this poem made me sit up and take notice:

If the Owl Calls Again
by John Haines


at dusk from the island in the river, and it's not too cold, I'll wait for the moon to rise, then take wing and glide to meet him. We will not speak, but hooded against the frost soar above the alder flats, searching with tawny eyes. And then we'll sit in the shadowy spruce and pick the bones of careless mice, while the long moon drifts toward Asia and the river mutters in its icy bed. And when the morning climbs the limbs we'll part without a sound, fulfilled, floating homeward as the cold world awakens.
****************************************************
It was the long moon drifting towards Asia that made me shiver. I think it's a beautiful poem, and now I need to find some of his books.

Interestingly, for someone who studied to be an artist, I can find not one of his paintings anywhere online. That strikes me as odd.

I hasten to add.. there are some mighty nice folks there.. like yourself..
but the few.. well, I come to LT for fun and relaxation. Different strokes you know :)

Richard and Kath, I am sorry you had those icky experiences. I am a veteran of many, many too many years of teaching in "rough" schools and perhaps I am not as sensitive as I could be. Most of the "flaming" stuff tends to fly right over my head. So, I am happy to let the "different strokes" be the conclusion.

Richard- Nice to see you bouncing around this morning, spreading your particular brand of cheer. Thanks for sharing the poem. It's beautiful! Actually I was interested in checking out the Green Dragon Group, just never did.

I wasn't thrilled by the Jecks series, either. Although I don't recall them being riddled with howling anachronisms, its been a few years since I read them so I wouldn't like to say for sure. The Templar's Penance was one of them, and *checks catalogue* The Boy-Bishop's Glovemaker was the other. No inclination to read any more of them.

No, no, no ... Karin Fossum doesn't do dark gooseflesh raising Scandi stories. Hers are set in Norway to be sure, but her main crime investigator does not have self-flagellating personal sins to atone for. Inspector Sejer is a kind man of sunny disposition and while murder is dark, her books do not (as least not as far as I have read) make you contemplate slashing your own wrists in depression.

Come on other Fossum fans ... chime in here .... doesn't our Richard need to try one out for himself?

Good morning, Richard. Checking in for my daily dose of Richardisms, and realized I haven't said hi for a while. *smooches*

Same from me - good evening from downunder. I haven't read Fossum or Jecks so can't add much to the discussion.

>250 mckait:, 251 It's purely a YMMV situation. I saw something I thought was awful, and generalized from it. Normally I'd frown on such an attitude, but really haven't seen a reason to doubt my judgment.

>252 msf59: Hi Mark! Maybe you'd have a great time there, best you should see for yourself. I think Karen44 is a great ambassador for the group!

>253 Eat_Read_Knit: Normally, Caty, I don't fuss about things like "Mrs. Puttock" or the like. Antique locutions tend not to sit well on modern eyes. But "the Kingdom of Outremer"??? And "the British Army"???? eeeuuuggghhh These clunked and plopped and stank.

>254 cameling: One. I'll read one.

>255 ronincats: Hi back, sweetness! *smooch*

>256 avatiakh: How do, Miss Kerry! Avoid the Jecks series. Now that I'm committed to read one Fossum, I'll report back, let you know if it's safe. xo

Last night's airing of "Firefly", beginning with 'Serenity' and *then* moving to 'The Train Job', was so much fun to watch. It seems the Science Channel people didn't have Dr. Michio Kaku learn about the series before he filmed his promos for "Sci Fi Science", though...he talks about warp drives, and the show *specifically* states that there is NO FTL TRAVEL and that Serenity operates on a gravity drive.

Who cares! "Firefly" is back on TV where it belongs! I hope the overnights were good. Even though I have the DVDs, I think (can't find 3 of the 4), it was peculiarly good to see the show *with* commercial interruptions. It's the way it was made to be seen.

I never, ever thought I'd say something like that.

crud. forgot :(

hug

just sending you a hug, before I go back into hibernation for a while...

I thought I was the only person on the planet who thought Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was blech!

Also, I understand your wanting to stay away from (internet)places where people might be mean. I've left whole websites because I felt like I(or other people) was being picked on and no one was standing up for me(or them). Thankfully I have learned that I can be perfectly happy on LT as long as I stay in the right circles and avoid a couple people.

Also, I like Firefly with commercials too. It gives me mandatory breaks to process what's going on, and makes the whole thing last longer. Like eating a really good meal very slowly :-)

Just piping up that we're all Firefly freaks in this house too!

Shiny!

I was 26 comments behind and enjoyed every one.

OK. Am going to have to watch Firefly again now! Sigh. Hard work!

V

*beep beep* catching up! *drive by wave*

yep

Shiny!

Stopping by for a Sanity Check...see we are still all "mad as hatters"

Yo, Sweetie...time for a new thread..(do you want me to become the new Thread Copper??)

;-p