Pat's (phebj's) Reading! -- Page 3

Welcome to my third thread of 2012.

This is a picture of Cannon Beach, Oregon from Ecola State Park. It's one of my favorite places and we're heading there at the end of June to celebrate our 23rd anniversary. I can't wait!

Deleted double post.

Books Read in 2012

Finished in January (7)

1. Drinking: A Love Story by Caroline Knapp (memoir--4 stars)
2. Madlenka by Peter Sis (children's picture--5 stars)
3. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck (fiction; classic--5 stars)
4. Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say (children's picture--4 stars)
5. No Great Mischief by Alistair Macleod (fiction--4.5 stars)
6. Real Life on Cannery Row: Real People, Places and Events That Inspired John Steinbeck by A.L. Lundy (non-fiction--3 stars)
7. Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 by Sally M. Walker (non-fiction; YA--4 stars)

Finished in February (4)

8. The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter van Tilburg Clark (Western fiction--4 stars)
9. The Owl Service by Alan Garner (YA fantasy--3 stars)
10. The Conductor by Laetitia Devernay (children's picture--3.5 stars)
11. The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck (fiction--4.5 stars)

Finished in March (7)

12. The Musicians of Bremen A Grimm fairy tale retold and illustrated by Niroot Puttapipat (children's--3.5 stars)
13. A Scattered Life by Karen McQuestion (fiction--3 stars)
14. The Best American Short Stories 2009 edited by Alice Sebold (short stories)
15. By the Iowa Sea: A Memoir of Disaster and Love by Joe Blair (memoir)
16. The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill (mystery)
17. Tibet: Through the Red Box by Peter Sis
18. 13 Words by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Maira Kalman

Finished in April (4)

19. The Night Following by Morag Joss (fiction; psychological suspense)
20. The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism by Theda Skocpol and Vanessa Williamson (non-fiction; politics)
21. My Letter to the World and Other Poems by Emily Dickinson, with illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault (poetry)
22. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (YA fiction)

Finished in May (2)

23. Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber (4.5 stars)
24. Not the Last Goodbye: On Life, Death, Healing, and Cancer by David Servan-Schreiber (4 stars)

Finished in June (1)

25. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Finished in September (2)

26. Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person: A Memoir in Comics by Miriam Engelberg (5 stars)
27. The Red Devil: To Hell with Cancer--And Back by Katherine Russell Rich (4.5 stars)

Finished in October (1)

28. The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson (3.5 stars)

Finished in November (1)

29. Mortality by Christopher Hitchens (4.5 stars)

Finished in December (2)

30. Safe from the Sea by Peter Geye (4 stars)
31. Black Dog by Levi Pinfold (4 stars)

Ellen I meant to respond to your comment on my previous thread--What kind of exercise are you building into your life these days, and is that by specific recommendations of the docs? My friend who is, as of today, one day away from her last radiation session, has been faithfully going to jazzercise through it all. She says it has helped her sanity and her sense of feeling good in her body.

A big congratulations to your friend on finishing her treatments and exercising during them.

Exercise was the one lifestyle thing both my medical oncologist (for the chemo) and radiation oncologist strongly promoted. There are lots of studies that show it helps with the side effects of treatments as well as preventing a recurrence. The specific recommendation I got was from my MO who wanted me to lift weights at least twice a week. In my case, my cancer is strongly estrogen receptor positive and body fat is (somehow) connected to more estrogen in your body. So the less body fat the less estrogen.

I'll respond in more detail soon. I've been reading tons about this topic and it would be good for me to summarize it.

I'm still trying to get into a good routine based on everything I've been reading. Right now, I walk 3 to 4 miles most days of the week but these are dog walks so not aerobic. I've been lifting weights and doing the treadmill twice a week at the Y but want to add another day and I have a weekly yoga class. My main goal is to exercise more intensely than I am now because I really enjoyed that when I was doing it last year before my diagnosis but I know it makes sense to do that gradually. Hope this wasn't more than you wanted to know.

I've read 23 books this year but only commented on the first ten. So here are a few more rambles:

Book No. 11--The Wayward Bus by John Steinbeck (fiction)--4.5 stars

The back cover of the book I read with this story refers to it as exploring “an expansive comic vein as a group of bus passengers are taken on an unexpected detour.” I probably looked at it more as a tragedy than a comedy. All of the characters seemed miserable and not particularly happy to have company. I nevertheless loved this book which is a testament to Steinbeck’s writing and ability to bring his characters and locales to life. I loved Cannery Row more though so that’s why this one got 4.5 stars.

Steinbeck started the book in Mexico in the summer of 1945 while overseeing the filming of The Pearl. I had Jackson J. Benson’s John Steinbeck, Writer: A Biography home from the library while I was reading The Wayward Bus and jotted down these quotes about TWB:

The death of the President, the end of the war in Europe, the sense that we were entering a new era--all contributed to {Steinbeck’s} sense of dissatisfaction.

{And from a letter Steinbeck wrote to his publisher:}. . . my bus is something large in my mind. It is a cosmic bus holding sparks and back firing into the milky way turning the corner of Betelguese without a hand signal. And Juan Chicoy the driver is all the god the fathers you ever saw driving a six-cylinder broken down, battered world through time and space.

People on the Steinbeckathon threads often mention that Steinbeck’s books contain a lot of symbolism. I’m not sure I always pick up on that when I’m reading but it certainly doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of his books.

Hi Pat- Gorgeous photos! The Oregon coast is so beautiful. Good to see you back. I've missed you.

Book No. 12--The Musicians of Bremen A Grimm fairy tale retold and illustrated by Niroot Puttapipat (children's)--3.5 stars

I picked this book up for two reasons--I loved Grimm’s fairy tales as a child and I recently discovered this illustrator. The story is very brief--a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster who have outlived their usefulness to their owners band together and forge a new life for themselves. Their goal is to get to Bremen and be musicians. The story is so famous that there’s a statue of the characters in the town of Bremen (even though they never make it there in the book). I enjoyed the illustrations more than the story.

Here’s an illustration from the book and a picture of the statue in Bremen:

Here's the statue. For some reason, I can never get two pictures to post right next to each other.

Hi Mark. Glad to see you here. I've missed you too!

Welcome back, and Happy New Thread! That is a gorgeous place, no doubt about it. So different from N.C. and S.C. beaches.
Thanks for the explanation about the exercise. You may finally push me into eating less (I think I exercise enough), although I think that my drs don't mind my being a little heavy in order to have something to fall back on when I have my first serious illness - whatever and whenever that happens.

Book No. 13--A Scattered Life by Karen McQuestion (fiction)--3 stars

This was a birthday gift and a quick read. It alternately tells the story of three different women about a pivotal year in their lives. The characters and plot were interesting but I wish both had been developed more.

Probably the most interesting thing about the book to me is the story of how it got published. After trying to get her fiction published for ten years, McQuestion finally offered the book on Kindle. It got such rave reviews, she ended up getting a movie deal and having the book published in paperback by AmazonEncore. As her website says “Today she has seven books under the AmazonEncore imprint, two of which are published in paperback by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She’s achieved her lifelong dream of being an author and couldn’t be happier. If she ever complains about her life, she should be smacked upside the head.”

Hi Peggy! I would definitely say my doctors were more concerned with me losing weight than gaining it at least during the treatments.

I love all beaches but one of the things I love about the Oregon beaches is they're virtually empty compared to what I was used to growing up on Long Island. Probably because you need a wetsuit to swim in the ocean out there even in the summer.

Hi Pat, lovely beach at the top. I'm so glad you'll be returning to a favorite spot. I'm afraid the Amazon Encore imprint is not going to draw me in. Call me a snob but I prefer regular publishers with regular editors who actually make sure the book is readable.

Bonnie A Scattered Life was the first book I've read published by Amazon Encore and I can't say I was overly impressed but the author certainly seems thrilled about it. It has something like 223 reviews on Amazon with a 4 star overall rating. From the little I know about publishing this way, it seems she's pretty successful. This was a gift so I was trying to focus on the positives and the publishing story was the best I could do.

Pat, I love that picture at the top of your thread. I have a picture of a different view (taken from the beach looking out at the rocks). You were a single woman when my DH and I were there in the 80s! Whatever the perspective or time, it's an awe-inspiring place.

Pat - astonishing shades on your top of thread photo. Congratulations on your new thread and I hope everything is going well for you. The Musicians of Bremen was one of my favourite stories as a child.

Hi There. I'm simply stopping by to say you are on my mind today.

Hi Pat, great new thread and fantastic picture to start it off. Makes me feel like kicking off my sandals and going for a walk along that beautiful beach.

Pat, definitely not more than I wanted to know. Thank you for sharing your regimen and your hopes for maintaining your health. I don't always carry it out to the degree that I would/should/could, but I'm a firm believer in the healing power of exercise: walking, running, yoga, weight-lifting (which I'm a mucket about doing, to sort of quote Katherine Hepburn), etc. I hope you're able to keep it integrated into the daily life.

Also, the Oregon Coast is perhaps my favorite place on earth. I'm missing Oregon desperately this evening, feeling quite blue about it, in fact, and I'm glad you get to go there to celebrate your anniversary. Cape Perpetua, near Yachats, is my center of gravity.

Welcome back, Pat! Wow, that pic looks like a wonderful location for a little R&R and to celebrate 23 yrs of marriage. woo hoo!
I'm a huge fan of Jazzercise but as with other exercise routines I'm not willing to drive more than five miles to get to a workout. Needless to say I dropped out when the group moved to a neighboring city and left the town hall across the street. Just call me a lazy exercize commuter.
Enjoyed your book udates :0)

Hi Pat!
Cannon Beach looks unreal! Just beautiful...
Maybe someday I will see it for myself :-)

Wow, what an amazing beach, I can see why it's one of your favourite places! It looks perfect for an anniversary holiday.

Your picture definitely makes me want to visit Oregon. It's been on my list of places to go for such a long time I hope I actually get there one day.

Hi Pat, what a beautiful photo at the top of your thread! I have never been to Oregon, but hope to remedy that!

Delighted to see The Musicians of Bremen here - it was one of my most favorite books growing up - different illustrator, Paul Gallico, maybe? I'll have to go look -- I have it somewhere!
The top photo is breathtaking.

Hi Pat--Glad to hear you are doing so well.

The photo of Cannon Beach is beautiful, and I'm jealous you'll be visiting there soon! Although I've been there 6 or 7 times, I've never been in the summer, when I've heard it's more crowded.

We're trying to have a mini-meetup in Seattle June 23 or 24, when a fabulous bookstore, Third Place Books, is having a 40% Off sale of its great selection of already low priced used books. Any chance of your stopping by?

Adding my appreciation for that fantastic photo - what a wonderfully wild combination of sea, shore and mountains.

I think I've read a version of the Musicians of Bremen story too, but so long ago that I don't remember much about it...

wow Pat that is a stunning photo!

Wow, Pat, that photo is gorgeous! Enjoy your visit there!

Glad to see that you are doing well.

Hi Pat, I sure hope you have been enjoying your time in Oregon. I picture you walking on the beaches and/or poking around the many quaint shops in the little towns. Hope you are having a great vacation.

Just a drive-by wave! That Oregon beach looks beyoootiful... Found any cool bookstores??

Hi, Pat! Hope you've had a wonderful vacation and will soon show up here again. We miss you (and fret) when you're not around, but certainly you're more than welcome to time away!
Read anything good lately?????

Hi Pat ... I love the picture of the beach topping your thread. Gorgeous! Hope you're enjoying your vacation .. .take pics!

You've intrigued me with your review of The Musicians of Bremen. I don't believe I've read this yet ... so off to the obese wish list it goes. I just love that statue of them though ... what a good excuse to try and plan a holiday in the area. :-)

Hi Everyone! Thanks for keeping my thread alive. :)

We had a great time in Cannon Beach. It was just what the doctor ordered--good food, long walks on the beach, scenic drives, a bookstore visit, and some great conversations with my husband about all we've been through the last year. Since we've been back, we've been busy with a visit from my BiL who came to celebrate my MiL's 90th birthday and then my SiL had some surgery and we've been helping her with the recovery.

And, despite a growing understanding that no one knows what caused my cancer and no one knows what I should do to make sure it doesn't come back, I'm still spending alot of time trying to figure out what to do to prevent a recurrence. Luckily, one of the local hospitals is doing a series of 6 week courses for breast cancer survivors about how to move on after treatment. These are so popular I couldn't get in until September but I'm looking forward it.

Thankfully, I have enough hair now to go without a wig or scarf because it's been really hot here. I think today is the sixth day of triple digits and it's supposed to be 106 this afternoon. This heat wave has led to alot of fires near us and on this morning's dog walk, it was not only very smoky looking but you could smell it big time. They're forecasting thunderstorms with lightening but not much rain the next couple of days so I hope it doesn't get too bad. There are alot of newer homes up in the foothills around Boise that could be at risk.

My reading is still pretty haphazard and I'm not finishing much. My one recent book that I got all the way through was Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I'll definitely be looking to read more of her books. The one mistake I made was to look ahead at the section headings and see where the story was going. Wish I hadn't done that because it spoiled one of the twists.

Anyway, besides obsessing about my health, I've been really enjoying my membership at the Y. I'm there for about 2 hours 3 days a week doing cardio, weights, yoga and pilates. I feel very comfortable there and it's only 5 minutes from my house. I also signed up for 4 classes at the Osher Institute (BSU Continuing Ed) that start in the fall: one on falconry, one on the Owyhees (a big wilderness area of southwest Idaho that recently got protected status from the US gov't), one called The Meaning of Life, and one on Hinduism. The only literature class they had for the fall was a course for 6 weeks reading Our Mutual Friend and I didn't have alot of enthusiasm for that.

Hopefully, by the fall I'll start re-emerging from this health obsession because as far as I can tell I'm actually pretty healthy at the moment.

Pat, I'm smiling from ear to ear after reading your latest update. The vacation sounds absolutely perfect and so restorative, and I'm really happy to hear how well you're doing. I loved Gone Girl too! I caved in to the buzz on LT and elsewhere, and I actually bought it in hardcover (rare for me), but have no regrets whatsoever!

And ... falconry? That sounds pretty interesting. Will you actually be handling birds?

Hi Pat, sounds like the Oregon coast worked it's usual magic! Due to a family reunion in August we are heading the other way this year and after catching up with family in Alberta, we are planning on dropping south and driving through Montana, visiting the Badlands in North Dakota, and the Black Hills in South Dakota.

Gone Girl seems to be very popular here at LT, I have only seen excellent reviews and I am looking forward to getting my hands on a copy.

Your choice of courses is both interesting and eclectic. You'll have to keep us advised of how they are going.

I would certainly expect that your health would remain a constant issue but it sounds like you are taking the right approach with both your workouts at the Y and the Survivor Seminars.

It's great to see you back here on LT.

Hi Pat, so glad you had a great vacation. Looks like a gorgeous spot you went to for sure! Sounds like you've got a lot of good things going on right now. Your comment about Our Mutual Friend made me smile, because I'm actually participating in a group reading of it here at the moment (http://www.librarything.com/topic/139161#3482507) and while I wasn't initially going to participate, I'm glad I decided to finally because I'm enjoying it quite a lot. I have no worries that you'll be fully engaged in those courses you did sign up to, what an interesting mix! What do they teach you in falconry? Do you actually handle falcons???

WOW! The vacation sounds idyllic, and I'm thrilled that you had such a good time. The health concerns sound rational and normal. The courses sound interesting. Of course, I'm sorry that you aren't pulled toward *OMF*, but maybe someday.
GLAD to see you back!!

Pat, I'm so glad you had a wonderful vacation at the Oregon coast. I'm glad you're feeling healthy and enjoying your trips to the Y --- and I hope you get some rain and some relief from the heat. The fires this year in some parts of the country are just so brutal. I've jumped on the Gone Girl bandwagon, adding it to my obese "hold" list at the library.

I'm glad that you had such a wonderful vacation, Pat! It's great to see you here again.

So glad to see you back here Pat. Your vacation sounds absolutely lovely and apparently just what the doctor ordered. I'm so glad you are actually feeling healthy and you must be energetic taking four classes. I myself will only be taking one course in the fall but am really looking forward to it.

Very happy to have you back - I think your obsession is entirely spot-on and will diminish gradually as you feel more confident... ?

Pat, I was so happy to see some activity over here! Welcome back!

Glad you had a restorative vacation Pat! I'll look forward to hearing about your classes.

It's great to hear from you again, Pat and I'm so pleased the vacation proved to be wonderful!

I plan to read Gone Girl at some point so will try to remember not read the section headings before I get to them!

Hi Pat! I'm glad to hear that you are doing well. Your classes for fall sound fascinating - what a variety! And the class on moving on after breast cancer sounds like it will be very helpful. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Hi Pat, good to see you back online. Please please please clue us in on The Meaning of Life after your course this fall. I have been giving serious consideration to a philosophy course because I love to read about such deep subjects in novels.

I plan to read Gone Girl as soon as my friend's name comes up at the library. Last time I checked there were almost 200 people on the waiting list for 10 copies. My LT and RL friend Nancy is #17 and said we could both read her copy. Yay!

Pat, I'm so glad to see you back, and to hear that you are vacation-relaxed and healthy! I've reserved Gone Girl, but it loks like it will be a few months before I get it :)

Wow, things sound great, Pat. I look forward to your course feedback. It always makes for lively discussion. Yup, Gone Girl is on my radar too. I'm really impressed with your loyalty to fitness and healthy eating. The interaction at the Y must be be great too. Take Care :0)

I'm glad to hear that your vacation was so good! Wishing you good health!

Just stopping by to say Hi Pat. Glad to hear you had a good vacation.

*waving* at Pat

Hi pat! How's it going?

I am so happy for you, Pat! You have come a long way and deserved that perfect vacation with your hubby...he deserved it too.

It seems you are doing all the right things to lead a healthy lifestyle. You do what you can and pray for good results ;-)
Good luck with your plans for the coming fall season. Hope to see you around from time to time - as you are able.

Pat, Cannon Beach looks amazing.

I love the Oregon coast. Love it. No really, love it!!!

Hi Pat, thinking of you!

Hi Pat. Just stopping by to say hello and I hope you are doing ok. We miss you!

Hi Everyone! Sorry I've been away from LT for so long. Not a whole lot new to report.

On a sad note, my Mom passed away at age 88 in August after having Alzheimer's disease for the last 10 years. Her death was peaceful and seemed to be painfree and I'm grateful for that. Now that both my parents are gone, my sister (who has some mental health issues) is the beneficiary of a trust they created and for which my brother and I serve as co-trustees. It's been quite challenging trying to reconcile what the trust actually says with what my sister wants! It's also been an opportunity to practice not getting stressed out. So far I'm doing pretty well.

My fall classes have started. The one on falconry was mostly a look behind the scenes of what The World Center for Birds of Prey (http://www.peregrinefund.org/about) does here in Boise--which is breed birds of prey in danger of extinction, educate the public, and house a world class archive and library of falconry. We never got to handle the birds and I'm not sure if I'd want to. Their talons can be pretty scary looking. One of the woman who taught the course has been working with birds of prey since she was 6 and just recently found new homes for the birds she owned. She explained that she and her husband never had a honeymoon and haven't taken a vacation in their 23 year marriage because they could never find anyone to properly care for the birds in their absence. Today, we saw five birds fly, the most spectacular of which was a Eurasian Eagle Owl. I didn't have my camera with me but if I can find a good picture on the internet, I'll post it. It was a magnificent and scary looking bird.

My Moving On After Breast Cancer courses are about half over and have been helpful although not as helpful as I expected. Mostly that's because I've learned so much on my own by researching things on the internet and taking books out of the library that most of the information is not new to me. It really is amazing to me what you can teach yourself with the help of the internet and books!

I've continued on with my exercise and have been asked to become a LiveStrong mentor. I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing but they're rolling out the LiveStrong program at the Y near me in November (up to now, it's only been at the Downtown Boise Y) and that's where I'll be "working." I also started Weight Watchers about 5 weeks ago and have lost 10 pounds and would like to lose about another 20. It's a little harder this time because their new (to me) program is anti-fat as well as anti-carb (with the exception of fruits, veggies and whole grains). But so far so good. I'm feeling very healthy these days with the good eating and exercise. :)

My reading is still mostly health related although I was compelled to order Sheila Bair's new book on the 2008 financial collapse after hearing an interview on NPR yesterday (Bull By the Horns) and I bought How to Live about the life of Montaigne at a little bookstore in McCall, Idaho when we were there for a few days recently. (McCall is a mountain resort town in west central Idaho that my husband's family has vacationed in for years.)

Well, I guess that's about it for now. Hope you've all been well. I'm looking forward to slowly getting caught up with all of you!

Pat, I am so glad to hear from you. I am so sorry to hear about your mother and the difficulties you have faced managing your sister's trust. I hope you are able to continue to practice not becoming stressed -- that's much easier said than done.

What a journey you've had, and it sounds like you are taking great care of yourself and staying healthy -- enough to be a mentor -- good for you! I am so impressed you're taking a falconry class -- how wonderful! Such unbelievable dedication your instructors have. Wow.

I am so happy you're posting on LT, Pat. I have been thinking about you. Take good care.

Great to hear from you, Pat. I am also sorry to hear about your Mom, and I too, hope that you are able to keep the stress levels down.

Nice to see you post, Pat, and learn that you are doing so well. I'm so sorry about your mom.

It was so nice to see your post, Pat however you have my deepest sympathy regarding your mom's passing.
Looks like you're doing the things you enjoy and enriching your life through learning and leisure. Hope to see you around here again soon.

Great to see you back here, Pat. I'm very sorry to hear about your mother.

Lovely to hear from you Pat! Adding my condolences for the loss of your Mum - and with the being a trustee for your sister, I hope you manage to keep the stress levels under control. And well done for becoming a mentor for others.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, Pat, but I pray that she has found some restful peace at last.

Pat, I'm SO glad to hear from you. I'm very sorry to learn of your mother's passing, but glad you are in good health and doing well. Don't be a stranger!!

It's good to hear from you, Pat. It sounds like you've been doing well in challenging times!

Hi Pat, it's wonderful to see you posting again. I'm sorry to hear about your Mom but the long road she'd been on for ten years has finally come to an end so you can be grateful for that. At least that's how I felt with both of my parents who both finally succumbed to the effects of Alzheimer's Disease. I'm glad you're able to keep the stress at bay. And yay for taking another course:)

I'm so sorry for the loss of your mom, Pat. 10 years is a long time for her to struggle with this disease and I'm glad the end was a painless one for her.

It's good to hear you're in good health and that you're able to keep the stress at bay. The mentorship sounds interesting.

I add my voice to all of those above - so glad to hear from you and so sorry about your mom. Yours is a voice here, that I love to hear.

Pat, lovely to hear from you. I'm sorry about your mom passing, but it sounds like you're dealing with the stress of dealing with your sister very well, congrats on that! It seems like you're doing all the right things and I'm sure you'll be a great inspiration to others as a mentor. xx

Pat, it's great to hear that you are so fit (and calm) these days. So sorry about your mother. I felt that I lost my mother twice - once to AD and once to a peaceful passing - much like your situation. Take your time getting caught up. It sounds like you're quite busy these days.

Dear Pat, I'm so glad you're back! Again, I'm sorry to hear about your mother's final struggle with Alzheimer's. I'm glad that you're taking care of yourself, and I think they have gotten a deal when you agreed to mentor other LiveStrongers. GOOD for you!!!
I look forward to your being able to settle into some of your old reading patterns.

Hello, Pat! Good to see you back. My sincere condolences on your mother's passing. I hope the Alzheimer's years begin to fade from memory soon, and you can think back on good times. Wishing you also the strength, serenity and compassion you need to deal with the trust situation. That kind of thing is never easy. It sounds as though your life is full of challenges, but some of them should be rewarding, at least. Love hearing about the birds...we spotted an osprey at our local beaver pond in the last couple months. Watching it swoop and fish is such a treat. Stay well, and like Laura said, don't be a stranger!

Hi Pat -
Like everyone else, I'm happy to see you back here. You really are an inspiration. You have found a healthy and important new direction for your life - good luck!
Sounds like your study of the birds of prey is fascinating...

Good to hear your Mom went peacefully - though it was sorrowful for you to lose her... as Donna says - really twice.
My condolences to you and your family.

I too hope my Mom passes peacefully when her time comes - though I'm almost sure it will be a long while - and after more years of struggling with AD. I fear she will fight all the way though I admire her strength of will. I wish I could figure out a way to help her accept her final years gracefully, but she just wants to be back in her world of 20-30 years ago.

Your post made me smile - thanks for sharing!

Hugs as always. A gentle one for your mom's passing, and joyful hugs that you are doing well otherwise.

It was good to see your post.

Pat I am another happy to see you back on the threads - the group is much better when graced by your brave, thoughtful and intelligent presence. Sorry to hear about your mum but having faced something very similar with my gran who passed away at 87 after spending her last few years inveigled in the haze of Alzheimers, I would have thought that her passing now allows you to remember her how she was before the onset of her debilitation. x

I may sound like an echo, but it really is great to see you posting. You started out with "not a whole lot new to report," but you had plenty to report! First, my condolences on the death of your mom. My, what a long struggle she had! I am glad the end was peaceful. Best wishes to you for managing your sister's trust. And I'm really impressed with your classes, exercise, mentorship . . . and Weight Watchers, too!

Hi Anne, Judy, Joanne, Lynda, Darryl, Genny, Stasia, Laura, Dee, Bonnie, Caroline, Lucy, Ilana, Donna, Peggy, Linda, Claudia, Janet, Paul and Terri! And thank you all so much for the condolences on my mother's passing. Like several of you said, it was like losing her twice. And, actually, the beginning stages of the disease were the hardest. It's just so tough to watch someone lose their abilities, especially when they have some awareness of what is happening.

I've been slowly making my way through each of your threads (or I will be soon). So much to catch up on! But it's much more fun than reading the discussion boards on BreastCancer.org where I've been the last few months. That's a great site with good information but there are alot of people on it that are having a bad time and since that's not my situation right now, it sometimes depresses me.

Yesterday, my husband and I met with the accountant who's been filing the trust tax returns and spent an hour and a half discussing the intricacies of inherited IRA accounts now that my sister is the beneficiary. I remember when my father set everything up in 2003 that the inherited IRAs sounded very complicated but just figured I'd throw myself on the mercy of experts when the time came. Unfortunately, this seems to be a topic even the experts get confused on. I asked if there were any books I could read on the topic and the one recommended has an ominous title--The Retirement Savings Time Bomb! I immediately ordered it from Amazon and hopefully it will make things clearer.

It's funny that events in my life have led me to read books on science and medicine and now financial investments. I never liked science and math so this has been a stretch for me.

Well, back to some trust issues. See you around the threads. :)

Sorry you're having to deal with those trust issues. Our son has autism, and whatever is in our estate will go into a special needs trust for him when we're both gone. We hate to leave that hassle for the trustee (my brother-in-law) but we want what's best for our son when we're gone -- as I'm sure you want what's best for your sister.

Hi Pat,
It's so nice to see you back posting on here. I want to add my condolences about your mother to everyone else's. I'm glad her death was peaceful.

On a happier note, I'm keen to see how you find the Sheila Bair book and suspect it might end up on my wishlist!

Hi Pat,
My sincere condolences on the passing of your mom. 88 is a good long life, but we are never ready for the loss when it comes. I hope you are able to sort out the tax and inheritance issues; sounds like a recipe for ickiness all around.
Take good care.

Good morning Pat! I don't envy you wrestling with those tax and trust fund issues - I hope the book helps make things clearer.

Hi Terri, Cushla, Ellen and Genny! Thanks for the visits. :) I've been out and about on LT trying to catch up with threads but I must admit that when I see someone's thread getting close to 200, or especially 250, I've been waiting for them to start a new one before I jump in.

Terri I know my parents wanted what was best for my sister and so do my brother and I. The main problem is that my sister doesn't think that we do and she becomes abusive when we don't agree to give her all the money she wants now. The trust instructs us to provide a lifetime income for her and she wants a lump sum payout. It's hard to do something for someone who is hostile about it but I know she has problems (she's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and also paranoid schizophrenia but receives no treatment because she doesn't believe she needs it) so I try to be understanding. Most of the time I succeed but when she gets really nasty, I find myself detaching and becoming indifferent towards her and then I don't like myself. :(

Cushla thanks for the condolences about my Mom. And, I got my copy of the Sheila Bair book and started it but my reaction was that I may have read too many books about the financial crisis. I'll have to see if I get back to it or not. It will probably depend on how the economy does and how many parallels I see to what happened before.

Hi Ellen! Thanks for your condolences as well. I just got back from visiting your new thread. I'm hoping that things settle down with the trust after we get into a routine with it.

Good morning to you too Genny! I got the tax book and it helped a little but I'm still confused so I'll be calling a lawyer that was recommended to me on Monday to make an appointment.

Hope everyone enjoys what's left of a beautiful Fall weekend! We're off to see a movie called Looper that my husband wants to see. It's supposedly about time travel and the mob and got some good reviews.

Pat, it's so lovely to see you posting again. I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your Mum and sorry to hear about the additional stresses that's meant regarding your sister. I've known people in a slightly similar situation before and it's so hard to try and do what's best for someone when they don't believe that's what you're doing.

I also hope the tax issues start to become clearer. The UK Revenue had a poster campaign a while back to encourage people to do their tax returns with the tagline 'Tax doesn't have to be taxing' which always made me laugh because it so often is and I say that as someone who gets paid to wrestle with it. Unfortunately I probably know even less than you do about US trusts so I don't think I can offer any assistance :-( The book title you mentioned doesn't sound very encouraging!

Hope you and your husband enjoyed the film.

Oh, that's so hard when you try to help someone, and they not only don't appreciate it, but become abusive. My father suffered from dementia near the end of his life, and trying to help him manage his affairs was a nightmare -- God bless my brother who lived in the same town as Dad and did more than his share of the hard work in that regard!

Don't be hard on yourself about detaching when your sister gets nasty; sometimes that's the only way to get through those times. And if the terms of the trust say "lifetime income," you can't very well give it all in a lump sum. She'd probably blow through it hastily, and be in a pickle when it was gone. That's the whole point of the trust, right? It's just such a shame that she refuses help for her mental health issues. That's really sad.

Hi Pat- I'm so behind over here. Keeping up with my LT pals has become a mighty task. I'm sorry to hear about your mother passing. I'm sure she had a wonderful life.
Hope you are having a great weekend. Try to find a copy of the Big Burn. A perfect historical read, that is set in your part of the country.

Pat, you are all over the place here, and it's great to see you! That said, you know you're doing what's best for your sister, and I'm frankly glad that you can detach when the going gets nasty instead of getting nasty back. Take care of yourself - and we like you all the time!

Just stopping by to wish you a happy and calm week ahead.
PS: I agree with you re: the busy threads, I just can't keep up and I feel bad I don't have time to visit all my favorite threads. Ack!

Well, I actually made it back to my own thread! Thanks for all the visits guys. :)

Heather thanks for the condolences for my Mom and commiserating with me about my issues with my sister and the trust.

Our main issue does seem to be tax related. We saw a trust lawyer who had been highly recommended to us and who we liked but he said he couldn't help us with the tax issue because it was not something he dealt with. He's supposed to be giving us a referral to someone who can help us but said it will most likely be someone who deals with multi-million dollar trusts and who's advice will be more expensive. (Word to the wise: do not designate a trust as the beneficiary of your IRAs because no one seems to know who's life expectancy to use for the yearly required minimum distributions!)

"Looper" was good as far as the time travel angle but it was extremely violent (often unnecessarily in my opinion) and the last half hour was somewhat over the top but I still found it entertaining. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable recommending it because of the violence though.

Hi Terri. Thanks for understanding the situation with my sister. I have to admit I am sensitive about being seen as a bad sister. For the time being we've gotten into a routine of emailing rather than speaking on the phone and that's been going much better.

Part of the lifetime income issue is that we've gotten conflicting advice on how soon we have to payout the money in the inherited IRA trust (one person said 5 years, one person said based on the actuarial life expectancy of my mother--which would be another six years--but my father wrote the trust to say it should be paid out over my sister's life expectancy). I'll stop now on the trust. I've obviously been spending too much time on it.

My sister refusing to get help has put a huge strain on our family but for the most part she's never been so bad that we could force the issue and I must say that she has gotten somewhat better as she's gotten into her late 40s and now 50s. My parents were never able to withhold support for her in exchange for treatment. My brother and I both disagreed with this approach but then we weren't her parents and I assume that makes the situation much harder.

Hi Mark! Good to see you and thanks for the good wishes about my Mom. And thanks for plugging The Big Burn which I bought after "enjoying" The Worst Hard Time so much but of course haven't read yet. I really like Timothy Egan and try to read his regular online column in The New York Times about politics as seen from a Western perspective. Since our politics are similar, you'll probably enjoy his latest piece about Romney: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/category/timothy-egan/.

Thanks for your kind words Peggy! I've really missed all the support I get here on LT. Hopefully, though, I'll soon get back to discussing books because I am reading again. I'm about halfway through Cloud Atlas which I'm loving and almost done with the graphic version of the 9/11 report. I've also started This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz, another winner recommended by Mark.

Hi Lynda. Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm doing better about keeping up with most threads but it's mostly reading rather than commenting. I just can't bring myself to un-star anyone after I've gotten to know them.

Thought I'd add a little update about our latest trip in the Pacific Northwest. We were in Astoria, Oregon last weekend and had a great time staying at a hotel on the Columbia River that used to be a salmon cannery--The Cannery Pier Hotel. It was very stormy that weekend and they even closed the bridge that connects Oregon and Washington over the Columbia because of high winds but it made for a very atmospheric and romantic stay in that hotel with the wind and rain lashing the windows. It was also a great perch to watch the ships go by to and from the Pacific Ocean.

Astoria used to be a fishing and lumber town until the 80s but now they're focusing on tourism so they have some great restaurants, a fantastic maritime museum, a river walk and a trolley line along the river while still retaining alot of the original flavor of the town. It made for a great and very different coast experience.

The only negative was I broke my toe when I stubbed it on a piece of furniture in our hotel the last day of the trip. I've been trying to stay off it this past week to let it set but today I'm venturing out to the Y to at least do the bike and the weights again. No treadmill for another 5 weeks according to the doctor. :(

Here's a picture of our hotel and that's the bridge they had to close because of the weather.

*Shiver, shudder* Crossing that bridge would make me uneasy in good weather. I do not like long high spans like that...prefer more substance beneath me. Sorry about that toe. Ouch!.

It is a particulary long (and old) bridge Linda--4.2 miles!

The only good things about the toe were I got a wheelchair at the Portland airport and went straight to the head of the very long security line and now that I'm home, I'm supposed to ice it as much as possible so I feel justified sitting in front of the computer. :)

Ouch! Looks and sounds like a great trip, minus the toe breakage. Hope you're all healed up soon!

Thanks Ilana. It is starting to get better and I was able to do the bike and weights at the Y today so I feel good about that.

You really put me to shame Pat. I should follow your example and get into an exercise regimen... I'll get there eventually!

Hi Pat, I'm very envious of your trip to Astoria. We haven't spent much time there, mostly just passing through, but that hotel looks like a great place to stay. My husband particularly loves a stormy day near the ocean, of course, only if we are safe and snug in a cabin or hotel.

I recently read the graphic version of the 9/11 Report and I thought it was quite well done, especially the time line provided.

Sorry to hear about your toe, but glad it doesn't seem to be holding you back too much.

Wow Pat! You are on a great reading tear! You go girl! Cloud Atlas, This is How You Lose Her and the GN 9/11 report. I loved all of them too!

And thanks you for the Egan article(s) on Romney. (What an evil photo of Mitt!). Egan seems to nail everything. Please send those along if you see any more.

I love Astoria too!

Hi Pat, sorry to hear that your weekend trip ended on a sour note. I had a broken toe once and I remember the healing process is lengthy. But good for you to try to get your workouts in even if they are a little bit adjusted. You're getting Cloud Atlas in just in time for the movie!

Pat, I love the picture of the bridge in Astoria. I do love that part of the state.
And even though you posted it for Mark, I just went over and read Egan's essay about Romney. I hope at least 51% of the electorate (and the electoral college) see things his way.
I hope your toe continues to mend well!

That hotel and bridge are amazing!
I hope your toe is feeling a lot better. I know that not exercising when you've been accustomed to it has been frustrating. I don't necessarily love to go, but I get antsy if I don't. I was a clumsy child and jumped on my own 2nd toe in my Buster Brown shoes jumping rope when I was 7 or 8. I broke it, but there was nothing to do for it except let it hurt and heal. Real fellow feeling here!
Nice timing for Cloud Atlas for sure! I loved the book and can't quite imagine the movie...

The Musicians of Bremen was one of my most favorite books as a tweeper. So glad you love it too.

I broke my toe on vacation too one time - one moment of inattention in an unfamiliar place. Argh! So sympathetic.

What an extrordinary photograph and an obviously interesting hotel Pat.

So sorry to hear about your toe, Pat ... but you got back on to the bike to exercise?! *shakes head incredulously*

Ilana I've now exercised enough that if I do nothing I don't feel well. For me, it's all about getting in the habit which can be incredibly hard to do. Of course, in my case, I now have major health reasons for getting in better shape and that has certainly helped with the motivation.

Judy if you ever get a chance to stay at that hotel, I highly recommend it. All the rooms face the river and the views are quite unique.

I finished The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation last night and the timeline was my favorite part of it too. I'm still not sure how I'm going to rate it because there were parts I found confusing and I can't figure out if it was the format or not. With graphic books, I sometimes don't know what order to read the sentences in if the page is too busy. On the other hand, I think the subject is confusing with all the different people involved, names I can't remember well, and numerous government agencies to keep straight.

Hi Mark. Glad to hear you're a fan of Astoria too. I'll try to do better with keeping up with Egan's columns and send along any that look good. I tend to forget to check them but a friend, who's a major political junkie, usually sends me the good ones.

Hi Bonnie. I actually decided to give Cloud Atlas a try because of all the movie commercials. They look interesting and I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. I'm still about halfway through because I'm reading the section on Sloosha's Crossing and it's slower reading for me. Now that I know who the actors are I keep imagining Tom Hanks and Hallie Berry as the various characters.

Hi Ellen. Oregon is such a varied state landscape-wise. I've spent most of my time there in Portland or along the coast but we celebrated my BiL's birthday several years ago in Bend and was surprised by how much I loved the high desert landscape in the eastern part of the state.

Peggy, that's exactly it, I feel antsy if I don't exercise for several days in a row. I also badly bruised a toe doing a Jane Fonda exercise tape 25 years ago and I still remember how long it took to heal. Thanks for the "fellow feeling." :)

Hi Lucy. Glad we both enjoyed The Musicians of Bremen. That reminds me, a book you recommended to me some time ago--An Episode of Sparrows--finally came up on my PBS list and it turned out to be a virtually new New York Review of Books Children's Collection edition. I was thrilled. Still haven't read it yet but I love looking at it.

Hi Paul. Glad you liked the photo. I'm anxiously waiting to hear what your travel plans are to the US. I predict many LT meetups along your way.

Caroline--no need to shake your head. You're one of my exercise heroes with all your runs in scenic locales.

hi pat -
hotel looks awesome
would love to stay there sometime!

what's with vacation and broken bones?
glad you are getting better and trying to keep up with as much normal activity as permitted.
me too -
i figure when i get really good at doing everything one-armed, i'll be all better and not know what to do with *two* healthy functioning arms! lol

Hi Pat, I'm adding that hotel to my mental list of where to stop when we manage to visit the Pacific Northwest. Looks wonderfully unique!

Sorry about your toe...I know how painful that is. A while back I was stepping over my dog when the doorbell rang and her big, brick-like head jerked up and cracked my big toe. Ouch!

I might have to reread Episode - it was my first Rumer Godden and I think I must have read it -- too many times to count, I think.

Claudia I think that may be one advantage--learning to do things with your other arm--that may stick. Years ago I had alot of trouble with repetitive stress injuries (RSI) in my arms from using the computer incorrectly for long periods of time. It started in my right (dominant) arm so I started doing more things with my left arm and even 10 years later I sometimes favor that arm. Of course it took me much longer than a couple of months to recover from the RSI. I hope the next few weeks go fast for you. I do think being on vacation may have made me less observant and careful.

Hi Joanne. Thanks for commiserating with me. It's amazing how many other people have broken toes.

Lucy I went back to look at when you recommended An Episode of Sparrows. It was after I read the NYRB edition of Lizard Music and didn't like it much. You went to look at the other volumes in the NYRB Children's Collection and recommended An Episode of Sparrows, Mistress Masham's Repose and The Peterkin Papers as the standouts. You didn't actually say you read any of them but I immediately put them on my PBS wishlist and a little over a year later AEoS finally turned up. I'm still waiting on the other two but then I assume not many people trade their NYRB editions on PBS.

Pat - Thanks for the information and photo of your visit to Astoria. I've filed it away in my brain :) I am hoping to convince my husband to do an Oregon/Washington coast trip next year. I'd fly into Portland, visit Powell's then drive along the coast and into the Willamette Valley a bit for some wine and then head up to Washington and spend a couple of days in Seattle... Sigh - a girl can dream!

Sorry to hear about the toe. . . but the hotel and bridge look cool!

Pat, I hope your toe heals quickly so you can get back to exercising in the way you're accustomed to. I get cranky if I miss my morning walk. It gets my day started on the right foot. Lol.

I enjoyed the graphic version of the 9/11 Report. I would never be able to get through the dryness of the real thing. I'm not a fan of graphic novels, but the nonfiction graphics I've read have been a good way for my brain to absorb a few facts without overtaxing it. I can be a lazy reader sometimes.

I have read them -- I wouldn't recommend something I haven't read without being clear I haven't read it..... now I want to go and look at that list again!

Okay - so I looked at the list and I stand by those choices but want to add four more if you haven't already read them

A High Wind in Jamaica Richard Hughes
The Wonderful O, Thirteen Clocks James Thurber
The Bears' Famous Invasion of Italy Dino Buzzati

tiptoeing away.....

Katie I really hope you get to make that Oregon/Washington coast trip. Have you ever been before? If not, you're in for a huge treat. My first time seeing the NW coast was about 20 years ago and it's been a favorite place to go ever since.

Hi Terri. Thanks for stopping by. My toe continues to improve each day and other than long dog walks, it's not really preventing me from doing anything.

Hi Donna. I haven't read too many of the non-fiction graphics. I think my first was Radioactive which I loved. I'm just about to pick up Pyongyang at the library which I believe both Mark and Joe recommended. I probably wouldn't have ever picked up the full 9/11 Commission Report at 600 some pages either.

Lucy, thanks for those other suggestions. I just put A High Wind in Jamaica and The Bears' Famous Invasion of Italy on my PBS wishlist. I've got copies of both Thurber books but still need to read The Wonderful O. Lots to look forward to!

Hi Pat, just checking in to see how the boo boo is coming along.
What a dream vacation! Being forced to stay in that amazing hotel due to inclimate weather.
Must look into the 9/11 report Graphic.
Take care!

Pat- I hope you enjoy Pyongyang. It's funny, informative and fast. Have a great weekend.

HI Pat:

Wow that inn likes so great! Hope your toe is feeling better. I had an aunt that lived in Astoria who hosted several family reunions there. Then, we'd go off to the coast, turn left to go to Cannon Beach and the gorgeous haystack rocks. The Washington/Oregon coast is so beautiful--I hope to make it back there soon.

I've added all 3 of the nonfiction graphics you mentioned to my wish list. I read my first one, Persepolis about a month ago and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. All of these look fun and interesting.

Hi Lynda. Thanks for checking in with me. My toe is doing fine but I"ll be very happy when I can get back to doing the treadmill. Losing weight is much harder when you can't exercise some of it off. And with Thanksgiving and Christmas on the horizon, the season of sitting and eating is just around the corner.

Thanks Mark. I got an email that Pyongyang is ready to be picked up at the library so I should be getting it tomorrow. "Funny, informative and fast" sounds good since my other main read right now is Team of Rivals.

Hi Janet! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you get a chance to stay at that Inn sometime. It's a very unusual place and I can't wait to go back. We're thinking we'll go back in early June next year when they have the Sandcastle Festival in Cannon Beach. The other neat thing about being in Astoria is you can just hop over that bridge into Washington and from the guidebook I've been consulting it looks like there's some great places to check out over there too. Hope you like the nonfiction graphics when you get a chance to read them.

HI Pat! Sorry to see about you losing your mom and the subsequent issues with the IRA thingy.
Hope your toe feels better quick! That hotel under the bridge looks very nice! Must have been a great trip

Hey Chelle. Good to see you here and thanks for the condolences. I've been lurking on alot of threads including yours and loved seeing the pictures of your wedding and your wonderful cakes. You're very talented!

I may hate the Ducks, but.....

Lovely to see your thread buzzing Pat and that your dodgy toe is not inconveniencing you overly. Have a relaxing weekend.

Oh my, what a bridge!! I'm so sorry to hear about your toe -- more reading time, I say!

Ellen, I'm guessing you're a Beavers fan!

Hi Paul. If my thread is buzzing, I'm not even sure how to describe your thread. Maybe, exploding?

Thanks Anne. I have been reading more so there's always an upside.

Hi Pat- Yes, I would not call Team of Rivals "Funny, informative and fast". Although it is very informative. 1 out of three ain't bad. Hope the weekend went well.

Thanks Mark. It's been a great weekend, especially with the extra hour. And I agree, Team of Rivals is very informative.

Just dropping by to catch up on you and say hi Pat.

Maybe you can get on the treadmill with a pair of crutches till your toe is all healed again?

Just kidding, obviously. :-)

Hi Ilana. Thanks for stopping by. Not being able to do the treadmill has given me the opportunity to learn how to use the elliptical bike which also exercises the arms. So that's been a good thing.

Ellen--LOL!

I "liked" Naked Books on FB awhile ago after an LTer (Anne, I think) recommended it and just had to repost this:

>133 phebj: Like! Hi Pat!

Pat - why didn't Romney think of that, he would have swept to power!
Have a great weekend.

Happy Saturday, Pat! I like #133 too. Now that's a platform many of us can agree on.

Now that's a platform many of us can agree on.

LOL! I'll vote for books any day!

Pat- I follow Naked Books on FB! Great poster. Hope you had a great weekend.

At least LTers would be in agreement with that political poster Pat. But I'm sure there would be some voters out there who would oppose that stand. Too far left/right/out of the mainstream/etc. etc. etc;-)

Hi Joanne, Paul, Terri, Lynda, Mark and Bonnie! Isn't it great that books brought all us LTers together? Too bad that won't work on a wider scale.

Well, not only did I finish a book but I wrote a review (or, more accurately, a book report)!

Mortality by Christopher Hitchens--4 ½ stars

This is primarily a collection of essays that appeared in Vanity Fair magazine. It’s a short but powerful read that Hitchens was hoping to turn into a longer book about his 19 months of “living dyingly” after being diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer in June of 2010. While he hoped for a cure he knew from the beginning that his chances were not good (somewhere between 5 and 20 percent depending on who he talked to and which treatments he considered).

The essays cover such things as: “Christian” online commenters betting on whether he’d renounce his atheism before he died, or worse, the person who wrote about his cancer being “God’s revenge for using his voice to blaspheme him”; a short handbook of cancer etiquette for people who don’t know what to say to someone who has cancer and end up saying something totally inappropriate; his fascination with genomics and the cutting edge treatments he received; and his great fear of losing the ability to speak and write as side effects of his treatments.

Here are a couple of quotes I liked about his love of the spoken and written word:

“The most satisfying compliment a reader can pay is to tell me that he or she feels personally addressed. Think of your own favorite authors and see if that isn’t precisely one of the things that engages you, often at first without your noticing it. A good conversation is the only human equivalent: the realizing that decent points are being made and understood, that irony is in play, and elaboration, and that a dull or obvious remark would be almost physically hurtful.”

“I often grandly say that writing is not just my living and my livelihood but my very life, and it’s true. . . . I feel my personality and identity dissolving as I contemplate dead hands and the loss of the transmission belts that connect me to writing and thinking.”

One of the saddest parts of the book to me was the Afterword by his wife, Carol Blue. Hitchens' essays deal mostly with his illness and he faces it head on and matter-of-factly. His wife talks about his life before that. I loved the following quote which described how good his life used to be:

“At home at one of the raucous, joyous, impromptu eight-hour dinners we often found ourselves hosting, where the table was so crammed with ambassadors, hacks, political dissidents, college students, and children that elbows were colliding and it was hard to find the space to put down a glass of wine, my husband would rise to give a toast that could go on for a stirring, spellbinding, hysterically funny twenty minutes of poetry and limerick reciting, a call to arms for a cause, and jokes. ‘How good it is to be us,’ he would say in his perfect voice.”

Fittingly, her final comments are about how she still hears Hitchens’ voice when she goes into their library at home and reads his papers and the notes he wrote in his books.

This is the first book I've read by Hitchens and I highly recommend it. Like his wife, I'm very thankful that we still have his writings. And I did feel as if he were personally addressing me in this book (with the exception of the few times he used words I've never heard of).

Pat, I'm a regular reader of VF and read Hitchens' columns as they were published. He had such a unique perspective on things, both pre- and post-diagnosis. And what an elegant writer.

I was once on a train from NY to DC with him and he was kind enough to help me with my bag :)

Wow, how wonderful that you met him, Katie! Have you read any of his books? I'm trying to decided what to try next.

Eh, I wouldn't say I met him. I was too shy to admit to recognizing him :-P I have not read any of his books - I find an entire book of that intellect and wit rather intimidating!

Hi Pat. I raelly enjoyed your review of Mortality - I have Hitchens' God Is Not Great on my Kindle but haven't read it yet. And Katie, that's a nice story about him!

Fabulous review of Mortality, Pat! I bought Hitch-22 earlier this year, which has remained untouched, but I'll add this book to my Christmas wish list.

I find an entire book of that intellect and wit rather intimidating!

Katie I have to agree I find him somewhat intimidating too although, except for him using some words I've never heard of, I didn't experience that reading Mortality. Even though you didn't officially meet, I still love the story of your encounter with him.

Cushla and Darryl I'm glad you enjoyed my comments on Mortality. I'm starting to think it's one of his most accessible books. I think I'll see what my library has of his books to figure out what I want to try next.

I have never read anything by Christopher Hitchens Pat, but you have certainly enticed me.

Nice review of Mortality, Pat. I'm adding it to the list.....

Pat- Good review of Mortality. I've been meaning to read some Hitchens for a long time. Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Bonnie, Ellen and Mark. I hope you all like Mortality when, and if, you get to it. It's very short and can easily be read in 2 hours (if not less). And, thanks for the compliments on the "review". :)

Currently reading:

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. I'm at page 120 out of 754 in this. I like it so far but I'm not loving it. I think I saw a comment of Bonnie's that the pages just weren't turning for her and that is certainly the case for me at this point in the book. I'm not giving up but I have no idea when I'll finish.

Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled his Greatness by Joshua Wolf Shenk. I originally took this book out of the library and it looked good so I decided to check out some LT reviews. Heather did a great review of it in September and gave it 5 stars. That was enough to lead me to order my own copy. I just started it but I predict I will finish this one before Team of Rivals.

All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age by Hubert Dreyfus and Sean Dorrance Kelly. The Osher class I'm taking on the Meaning of Life is following this book pretty closely so I ordered a copy. Dreyfus is a philosopher at Berkeley and Kelly is chair of the philosophy department at Harvard. They discuss various classics and other works through the ages (including Homer's Odyssey, Dante's Divine Comedy, Melville's Moby Dick, David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest and the movie Pulp Fiction) to show how we've arrived at a time where many people feel there is no meaning to life and are overwhelmed by and ill-equipped to deal with the many choices in their lives. One of the blurbs on the back cover frames the question of the book this way: "How have we passed 'from the intense and meaningful lives of Homer's world to the indecision and sadness' that too often characterize modern times?". I've never been a fan of philosophy but this book is very engaging in it's discussions of the authors and their times. I'm about a third of the way through and for now I don't think I'm going to follow where they seem to be leading--which is we have to think less and recapture the wonder and gratitude of the ancient Greeks in order to live a meaningful life--but it's been a good read so far.

Safe from the Sea by Peter Geye. This author was discussed on Mark's thread and I got the book out of the library. It's about the relationship between a father and son set in Minnesota where a shipping accident on Lake Superior seems to be the pivotal event in their lives. I'm not sure if I'll finish it before it goes back to the library but I'm glad I've heard of Peter Geye.

Hi Pat. I can't keep up with threads either, but wanted to stop by and wave hello.

I too enjoyed your review of Mortality - I haven't read anything of Hitchens' writings, perhaps this would be a good place to start, though it is sort of at the end.

Hi Pat, I've just dropped by to wish you a lovely Thanksgiving holiday.

Hi Ardene, Genny and Judy! It's always lovely to see I've had visitors.

Ardene I go through phases where I'm fairly up to date with the threads and then RL interferes and I fall very far behind again. I think I'm finally getting used to it because it doesn't bother me as much as it used to.

Genny, Mortality was the first thing I read by Hitchens. I'm not sure if I would have picked up anything else first because I am a little intimidated by him and haven't been sure if his writing would go over my head or be too intellectual. Mortality is about 95 pages I think (I've already taken it back to the library) and a very quick read. It made me realize what a great person he was and now I want to try something else, so for me it ended up being a good start.

Judy thanks so much for the Thanksgiving wishes. I was about to wish you the same before realizing you've already celebrated your Thanksgiving holiday. I am really looking forward to ours. I love the meal and my husband is the cook between the two of us so I don't have to stress over making the meal. Lucky me!

Both Mortality and All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age sound very interesting, Pat. Thanks for sharing them with my wishlist!

Hi Linda! Thanks for stopping by. Hope you find both those books to be worth the read when you get to them.

Hi Pat, I've just set up the first thread for the December Group Read.

A Tale of Two Cities

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Happy Thanksgiving, Pat!

Pat - Happy Thanksgiving and it is nice to see you back and so active in the last few months.

Pat, best wishes to you for a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving, Pat! Have a great day with the family. Glad you are enjoying Safe From the Sea. I hope I can bookhorn it in, in the next few weeks.

Thanks for sharing your books with me, Pat...................

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Pat.

Thanks for all the good wishes everyone. I've been making the rounds of all my starred threads but just in case I missed anyone--HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Here's a picture (and a fantasy) of my favorite part of the meal--lots of pies!

Happy Thanksgiving! Nice to see you out and about on the threads.

Happy Thanksgiving, Pat!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful, Pat, and that it involved several pies.
I'm also reading Team of Rivals and enjoying it, although it's going a bit slowly because I'm simul-reading some fiction works.

Judy thanks for the link to the A Tale of Two Cities tutored group read thread. I'm really looking forward to it.

Judy, Darryl, Paul, Laura, Mark, Lynda, Anne, Katherine, Tad, Leah and Ellen--thank you all for stopping by to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving. As the years have gone on, it's become my favorite holiday. I love the meal and the way my husband cooks it. I really lucked out in marrying someone who loves to cook because, other than baking, I've never gotten into it.

I've gotten into a bit of a book buying binge lately and have recently purchased the following books:

In connection with my Meaning of Life class:

All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age by Hubert Dreyfus and Sean Dorrance Kelly
Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience by Stephen S. Hall
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

In connection with reading Team of Rivals:

The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery by Eric Foner
Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness by Joshua Wolf Shenk

In connection with going to hear a talk by Timothy Egan on November 28th:

Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis by Timothy Egan

In connection with recent LT Recommendations:

Kristin Lavransdatter: Vol III The Cross by Sigrid Undset
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

Oh lucky you going to see Timothy Egan, Pat. I read a novel based on Edwin Curtis' life, The Shadow Catcher by Marianne Wiggins which was quite good. I'll get to Egan's new one at some point but I also have his The Big Burn:Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America.

Pat, I'm wishing you a late happy Thanksgiving; I hope you're still celebrating. It seems to me that you're also cerebrating! I hope that you enjoy Kristin Lavransdatter 3, but you do need to read the first 2 books if you haven't before book 3 means much to you.
Let us know what T. Egan is like and what he has to say!

172: going to hear a talk by Timothy Egan on November 28th
Oh, lucky you. I watched the PBS / Ken Burns documentary on the Dust Bowl this week and was reminded that I have The Big Burn waiting...

Bonnie thanks for the recommendation for Shadow Catcher by Marianne Wiggins. My library has it so I'm going to check it out. Right now I have 17 books home from the library. There are so many great LT recommendations that I just keep taking books out even though I have no chance of reading them all.

Hi Peggy! I am still celebrating Thanksgiving because we have so many leftovers which in a way is my favorite part. I did read the first two volumes of Kristin Lavransdatter for a book club about 7 years ago and never got to the third one on my own. Linda (Linda92007) just did a great review on the trilogy and it reminded me I wanted to finish it. Her review is still on the "Hot" list if you want to read it but it sounds like you've already read all three volumes. I think reading the last one over the winter will be fitting. I remember how cold and snowy Norway sounded and how primitive the 14th century seemed while reading the first two books. I'm going to be thanking my lucky stars I'm in a nice warm house in 2012 reading about it.

Hi Katherine. I do feel lucky to be seeing Timothy Egan. I just happened to hear a commercial for his talk on the radio the other day and immediately went to get tickets only to find out his talk is free! It's the first lecture hosted by the recently formed Andrus Center (founded by Cecil Andrus, a four-term Democratic governor of Idaho, which is very unusual in this state). Egan is supposed to talk about the recent election and his new book. I'm hoping to get my copy signed.

I did the same thing, although all on my own, no book club, read the first two Lavaransdatter's and then...... i don't know why I didn't finish them. Question is, do I even have them anymore?

I love your little book splurge, Pat. I, too, recently ordered The End of Your Life Book Club after all the conversation about it here on LT.

And I'm with you ~~~ Thanksgiving is, by far, my favorite holiday. Food and gratefulness. What's not to love?

Hi Pat- I will have to make sure I read Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher early next year. Egan has quickly become one of my favorite NF writers.
Congrats on picking up The End of Your Life Book Club. It's definitely a keeper. Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Lucy I vaguely remember feeling like I needed a break after reading the first two Kristin Lavransdatter books close together. I really loved the book group I belonged to back in NY and have kept all the books we read so I know my copies are upstairs in our guest room. Hope you can find yours easily (if you still have them).

Hi Ellen. I'm currently reading about 4 or 5 books but I've been saving The End of Your Life Book Club to read before I go to bed as a treat. It's excellent. Hope you get to read it soon.

Hi Mark. I am loving The End of Your Life Book Club. It's such a great example of how books enrich our lives and help us connect with other people. I've only read The Worst Hard Time by Egan, as well as an occasional NYT column of his, but he is also one of my favorite NF writers. I own unread copies of Breaking Blue, The Big Burn and now Shadow Catcher. I suspect I'll end up trying Shadow Catcher next after hearing him speak about it but also because a friend's grandfather (Edmond Meany) is featured in the book. She's thrilled about going to this talk because she's taking a bunch of the books to be autographed as Christmas gifts for her relatives.

Pat, your book buying bonanza sounds like an early Christmas. Almost as tempting as the pies-a-plenty pic you posted. Loved it! I may be getting "pied out"... We had way too many desserts and I couldn't hurt anyone's feelings now could I? *burp*

I had forgotten about your meaning of life class. Can you share any takeaways with us?

Donna I'm making that tricky transition back to more healthy eating. I ate so many starchy and sweet foods over the Thanksgiving weekend that weren't part of my normal diet and now I feel like a slug who just wants to eat for energy. Today has gone well in the food department though so hopefully I will have more energy tomorrow and actually look forward to exercising again.

The Meaning of Life class has been more interesting than I expected. It's a total of 4 weekly two-hour classes and we're halfway through. Basically, it's a history of philosophy and I have no idea whether there will be any conclusions. He recommended the following books but with no requirement to read them:

All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age by Dreyfus and Kelly
The Search for Meaning: A Short History by Dennis Ford
Who Are We? Theories of Human Nature by Louis P. Pojman
Wisdom: From Philosophy to Neuroscience by Stephen S. Hall

I've started reading All Things Shining and Wisdom: From Philosopy to Neuroscience, both of which are good. The other two books my library didn't have and their cost on Amazon was pretty high so I doubt I'll ever look at them.

I wish I had some concise takeaways at this point but I don't. The main thing that's interested me so far is the discussion of David Foster Wallace in All Things Shining and his advice that you need to control your thoughts. The second chapter of the book is called "David Foster Wallace's Nihilism" and it's about the meaninglessness of modern life as expressed in Infinite Jest and The Pale King but also about DFW's desire to discover meaning.

That chapter also discusses a commencement speech that DFW gave in 2005 at Kenyon College. It's in that speech that he talks about the importance of controlling your thoughts and living in the moment. Here's a quote:

". . . learning how to think really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience. Because if you cannot exercise this kind of choice in adult life, you will be totally hosed."

It's haunting to read this speech knowing what ultimately happened.

I'm not sure what my ultimate rating will be for All Things Shining so I don't know how much I'd recommend it but if you can get a copy out of the library, I'd recommend it just for this chapter since I know you read Infinite Jest recently. I also really liked the Kenyon College commencement speech and read that in The Best American Non-Required Reading 2006. After Wallace's death, it was turned into a book called This is Water but there were a number of negative comments on Amazon over how it's presented in that book in a way Wallace never would have approved.

Thanks for sharing your class Pat. I find the DFW quote both fascinating and eerie.

Pat, thanks for sharing the class. My husband is a huge DFW fan and I've given him some of his books in the past as gifts ... thinking about All Things Shining now for Xmas, will look into that further.

Very interesting comments on your course, Pat. Is the format strictly lecture-style or does it allow for discussion? I would expect there could be some lively discussions.

All Things Shining definitely looks like one for the WL - I'm on the DFW Extreme Adventure myself - so far three books - the short stories in Oblivion, Infinite Jest and just recently The Broom of the System. I've started the essays, title eluding my brain for the mo'. The whole question of the 'meaning of life' is an overwhelming one indeed, and along with controlling the direction of one's thoughts, is the possibility that the whole question is best shoved aside in favor of getting on with living in the moment. E.G. when one starts moping about about the meaning of the life universe and everything, time to pack a towel (Douglas Adams) and go out and study a flower in depth (William Carlos Williams). The wonder at what is can go a long way to assuage what can't be understood. Uh oh, I'm pontificating..... but still, the fact is, the fear of meaninglessness can get overwhelming no matter how hard you work at containing it. Possibly with incredible vividness for someone as bright as Wallace. I'm asking for some bios of him for xmas.

Your comments on my MOL course have me itching to write more but unfortunately I have a busy day and no time to really respond at the moment so will have to return tonight.

First up today is my Hinduism class! We'll see if that adds anything to the discussion.

Glad you're enjoying your Meaning of Life class Pat. I'm going to be starting a short online class in December via Coursera (site recommended by SqueakyChu). I'll look forward to your take on the Hinduism discussion.

Bonnie, Laura, Linda, Lucy and Ardene, thanks for your comments about my courses and about David Foster Wallace. So far the Meaning of Life class has been mostly lecture. There's probably 150 people in it and there never seems to be much time for questions or any discussion. Maybe that will change with the last two classes.

the fear of meaninglessness can get overwhelming no matter how hard you work at containing it. Possibly with incredible vividness for someone as bright as Wallace.

Lucy your comments are similar to ones in this academic article called "Getting Away From It All: The Literary Journalism of David Foster Wallace and Nietzsche's Concept of Oblivion" (http://www.ialjs.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ljsvol_1no_22/89%20Roiland.pdf). It was posted as an LT review of This Is Water. The author of it talks about DFW's non-fiction writing showing his extreme consciousness and how he was "plagued by what he couldn't let go."

"{DFW}suffered from an absence of oblivion, whose active role, according to Nietzsche, is 'that of a concierge: to shut temporarily the doors and windows of consciousness; to protect us from the noise and agitation . . . to introduce a little quiet into our consciousness.'"

He quotes Wallace from the introduction to Consider the Lobster and Other Essays:

"Writing-wise, fiction is scarier, but non-fiction is harder--because non-fiction's based in reality, and today's felt reality is overwhelmingly, circuit-blowingly huge and complex."

The wonder at what is can go a long way to assuage what can't be understood.

I'm thinking you would love All Things Shining because from what I can see so far your comment is where they may be headed in terms of finding meaning in a secular age. The authors seems to be saying we need to be like the ancient Greeks, not in terms of believing in multiple gods, but in terms of having a sense of wonder about life and a sense of gratitude for what we experience rather than overthinking everything.

Ardene the Hinduism class was just a one day (two hour) course and probably much too big a topic for that time frame. We reviewed some concepts like Karma that I've heard of before but unfortunately I didn't really learn anything new about it. Probably the most interesting thing was how all encompassing Hinduism is as a religion or way of life. There is no one god, even atheists can be Hindus, most Hindus worship at home, there is no one sacred text, etc. Luckily, the teacher was a good and entertaining speaker so it was an enjoyable class but I can't say I walked out feeling like I learned a whole lot.

I'll be interested to hear about the course you're taking at Coursera. I checked out the website briefly and it looked like they had some interesting classes. I've never taken a class online and am very curious about that way of learning so please let us know how it goes.

Hi Pat, I saw over on the Group Thread that you will be starting A Tale of Two Cities this weekend, I am planning on starting it then as well. I'm looking forward to this one.

Me too, Judy! I'm not sure I would have read it on my own because I've never been a huge Dickens fan but I think I'm going to get so much out of this GR with all the added material we'll be getting from Heather. I've lurked on a couple of the tutored reads and have been amazed at how helpful the tutors are and how their enthusiasm for an author or a book rubs off on the tutees.

I enjoy reading about your classes, Pat. There is just so much information out there to absorb. To bad there are not any classes as to how to get more hours out of a day to accomplish absorbing it all.

I'm going to try out Invitation to World Literature, an Annenberg Learner online course and it will shape my reading in 2013. Here is the link if you're interested http://www.learner.org/index.html.

I've also been using Open Yale Courses to follow my Bible Timeline class and found it pretty interesting. That link is http://oyc.yale.edu/

See you in France for AToTC!

Lynda I like your idea about getting more time out of the day. Lately I could really use that. RL has gotten in the way of my reading and LT time but in a good way. I will definitely check out the link to the Annenberg Learner classes online so thank you for letting me know about it. I think 2013 will definitely be my year to try online learning.

I have another busy day today and will be back late afternoon but just wanted to say I heard a great talk by Timothy Egan last night. He's a fantastic speaker and very personable. When I got my book signed, I told him he had alot of fans on LibraryThing and he looked puzzled and said he had never heard of it. He wrote it down; hopefully he'll check it out!

Hi Pat! I thought I'd drop by :) Hope you have a great rest of your week!

Hi Callia. I'm so glad you did drop by! Hope you have a great weekend coming up too. I'm hoping to finally see the movie Lincoln on Sunday and am really looking forward to it.

Pat- Very cool! I'm going to see Lincoln as well on Saturday...I get extra credit in History if I see it!

Well, that's pretty neat of your History teacher! I hope we both enjoy it. In my case, I'm also hoping it will push me to finish Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It's a long book, about 750 pages, and I've probably only read 150 of them. It's not a bad book but it just doesn't call to me to pick it up and read it, especially with everyone on LT constantly recommending so many other wonderful books to read.

I think so too! I'm excited to see it. I agree...There are so many recommendations here that all look good!!! It's hard to find the time!

>197 phebj:: I loved Team of Rivals, so I pretty much read it straight through. However, I do think that there are a lot of books where, once you lose momentum, it's hard to get it back. There have been many times where I started something, got distracted for one reason or another, and couldn't pick it back up. Then, I tried again a year or so later and whipped right through it. Dunno why.

Hi, Pat. I'd love to stay and chat about the meaning of life (!) and the other things happening on your thread, but I'm too busy! (That's supposed to be funny.) Glad you're so engaged in so much interesting stuff - it's a pleasure to visit!

#109 Pat, 2 hours is definitely not enough time to cover Hinduism. Are there any temples in your area you could visit? I've visited a couple of places locally, once with friends, once with some people from the Unitarian congregation I attend. I found the physical spaces and rituals fascinating since they are very different than what I grew up with. :)

I'll let you know how coursera works out. This is my first online course, so I'm curious about how things will go.

There have been many times where I started something, got distracted for one reason or another, and couldn't pick it back up. Then, I tried again a year or so later and whipped right through it.

Tad you give me hope for Team of Rivals. I usually think if I can't continue with something, I'll never get back to it but maybe not. We're going to see the movie Lincoln tomorrow so that may do the trick.

Hi Peggy. Always nice to have you stop by. I completely understand about being too busy. I feel like I stepped into the fast lane a week or so ago and I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to get out of it. So far I'm enjoying everything I'm doing so no complaints.

Ardene I'll have to ask if they're any Hindu temples in Boise. I know I've heard people talk about Buddhist temples here. Thanks for the idea. Hope you have a good experience with your online course.

Pat, I am 400 pages in and feel like I have got momentum in ToR now - I want to pick it up more than earlier on. I hope the movie works to make you want to keep reading!

Thanks for the encouragement Cushla! We just got back from the Lincoln movie which I thought was great so I do have renewed interest in finishing the book. There's so little that I know about the Civil War era and so many books on it that this could become a long time reading interest.

With you, plugging along in Team of Rivals. I'm quite enjoying it but keep getting distracted by fiction reads. Typical.

Hi Pat- Wasn't "Lincoln" terrific? How about those performances? Good luck returning to TOR.

I so want to see "Lincoln". This just wasn't the week. We had our annual holiday party (a bit early due to every other weekend in December being 100% booked with kids' activities) and it took all Julie's and my spare time to get ready. It was all worth it, however, as we had a blast...although my head was a bit thick the next morning! :-D

Hi Ellen, Mark and Tad!

Well, seeing the movie seems to have done the trick with getting back into Team of Rivals. I read 50 pages last night straight through which is a first for me with this book. It certainly helped that it was a gripping read. I read the chapters on "The Turbulent Fifties" and "The Gathering Storm" which covered the Missouri Compromise and its repeal with the passage of the Nebraska-Kansas Act, the Know Nothing Party (love the name), the formation of the Republican Party, the Lincoln-Douglas Debates on slavery, the brutal assault of Charles Sumner by Preston Brooks after Sumner's anti-slavery speech in the Senate, and finally, the Dred Scott case.

I thought the actors were all great in the movie. They did a good job making the passage of legislation that you knew the outcome of seem suspenseful. I especially liked Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln, Sally Fields as Mary, David Strathairn as Seward and David Spader as William Bilbo, a Republican Party operative (who Wikipedia says had been imprisoned and after being freed by Lincoln worked on getting the 13th amendment passed). And, of course, Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens.

Mark and Ellen the only person in the book I didn't see (or missed) in the movie was Salmon Chase. Was he there?

Tad glad you're getting in the holiday spirit. I hope you can see Lincoln in the movies though because I think it's meant to be seen on the big screen.

Hi Pat, I hope to get to the movie as some point too. I'm glad you enjoyed it and it has sparked more interest in the book. Interesting that Thaddeus Stevens played a big part in the movie as he is not even mentioned in passing in the book.

Hi Bonnie. I checked the index to Team of Rivals and it shows Stevens turns up on 4 separate pages (out of the 756 pages in the book). I suspect they wanted him in the movie because of a great scene that he appears in towards the end. It would be interesting to see why Doris Kearns' Goodwin didn't use it in the book.

Did you read the article that someone posted on the Group Read thread (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/22/what-s-true-and-false-in-lincoln-movie.html) about what was true and what wasn't in the movie? It's a good article but if you haven't seen the movie yet, I'd probably wait to read it since it does give away what the scene is with Stevens (and the good news is that it actually happened).

Salmon Chase -- if he was there, it was in bit part.

hi Pat!
Stopping by to see how you are doing...
Love the sound of your MOL class :-)
Be well!

Thanks for letting me know that Ellen. I didn't realize until after the movie was over that I hadn't seen him. I just went to look at the cast list and didn't see either Chase or Bates listed. I think I mistook someone else (maybe Stanton) for Bates.

Well, I am still reading but not making a whole lot of progress. I'm currently working on:

Team of Rivals
A Tale of Two Cities
The End of Your Life Book Club
Safe from the Sea

My Osher classes are over for the Fall and if I can cobble something coherent together from my notes from the Meaning of Life class, I'll post it. I was pretty enthusiastic about my classes this semester so I signed up for ALOT of new ones in the Spring. Here they are:

January:

Online Educational Resources: the Khan Academy and YouTube (one day class)
Presidential Power, Foreign Affairs and the Constitution (4 classes, one a week)

February:

Egypt's Contemporary History (4 classes, one a week)
Why States Matter in a Federal System (4 classes, one a week)

March:

Technology in Your Home (3 classes, one a week)

April:

The Idaho Territory (3 classes, one a week)
Pushing Back the Boundaries: Living in the Golden Age of Astronomy (2 classes)
History of American Ideas (4 classes, one a week)

May:

The Architecture of Faith (4 classes, one a week)
Deception and Deception Detection (one day)
Training a Race Horse (one day)

As you can see, I'm loving being a student! Too bad they didn't have any literature classes I wanted to take. The main one was a 5 week course on Moby Dick and I just wasn't sure I was up for that. There was also a one day course on The Landscape of Robert Frost's Poetry that I would have taken if not for a conflict.

I'm loving being a student!

Wonderful. Sometimes I fantasize about going back to school and just taking classes I want. I would probably major in something a bit different this time around (having been a Psych major and Sociology minor my first time around).

What a wonderful selection of classes, Pat! I love the diversity of subjects. It'll be awhile before the programs in this area announce their Spring schedules and the winter months are pretty quiet. I do hope you get a chance to put together some comments from your Meaning of Life class.

Woohoo! Those classes sound great!
If I could afford it, I would surely be a full time student for life.
I understand ;-)

Hi Pat, just catching up here and may I say I am absolutely awed by the courses that you will be taking in the spring. I hope your reading is going smoother and that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel regarding TOR.

What a nice selection of diverse courses, Pat! You're not preparing for an appearance on Jeopardy, are you? ;)

Oh Pat I am more than just a little jealous of you and all the wonderful courses you will be taking. I'm skipping next semester but fully expect to be taking something else in the fall.

Hi Pat! It's so nice to see you have been enjoying your classes!

Hi Ellen, Linda, Claudia, Judy, Lynda, Bonnie and Chelle! Thanks for all the enthusiasm for my classes. I ended up with a couple weeks this Fall where I was going to the Osher center several times a week and kept on seeing some of the same people each day and realized that there must be quite a few people that took more than one class a week, and I thought "why not?". We'll see if I end up thinking it's too much.

The other thing I forgot to mention was that I snuck into an art class my sister-in-law was taking at Osher. Part of it involved the Google Art Project and I was wondering if any of you had heard of it and, if so, had any experience with it. You need to access it through Google Chrome and it's free. Right now, there are several hundred museums and galleries around the world that participate but they expect there to be more as time goes on.

Basically, it's a way to "walk around" these museums from the comfort of your chair and zoom in on the works of art. The class I sat in on was on the Hudson River School of Painting and the first hour we looked at slides of paintings. The second hour, we used the Google Art Project to walk around several galleries in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and look at details of some of the same paintings. The colors were amazing and so much better than the slides.

I actually haven't tried to use the Google Art Project myself yet. I got the impression it takes awhile to get used to navigating it. The professor had a 20 something intern move us through the Met galleries and occassionally it took him several trys to get close to the paintings we wanted to see.

If you're interested, check out the description on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Art_Project) which does a much better job of explaining it. Obviously, it would never replace seeing the works in person but considering I'll never travel to all the museums that are participating, it's a great way to see them without the crowds!

Before I forget, I wanted to post a picture of a painting I saw in the class. It's by Martin Johnson Heade and was done in 1859. It's called "Approaching Thunder Storm" and is supposed to reflect his feelings about the coming of the Civil War. I thought it was timely considering my reading of Team of Rivals, plus I loved it. :)

Hi Pat- I LOVE the painting! Wow!

The light in that painting is stunning, Pat! And what an interesting art class.

I love the list of classes you're taking - very eclectic. A one day class in Training a Race Horse? Hmmp, how does that work?

Thanks for sharing the information on the Google Art Project, Pat. I went to the site and had no difficulty navigating. It seems pretty straight-forward if you search by collection (museum) or artist (alphabetically). It looks like you can set up your own personal "gallery", but I didn't try that feature yet. There are many museums listed and it would take some time to fully explore them. I am limited by being on a laptop, but I assume that the experience is quite different if you are viewing them on a large screen.

Yep, 223 is lovely. Beautiful.
I love the little dog sitting next to him. So small and innocent and vulnerable.

I made my way through a couple more chapters of Team of Rivals this evening. I may finish this in 2013, but I am enjoying it and learning a lot!

The Google Art Project sounds very interesting. I will investigate.

I have always been interested in art Pat and prided myself (almost certainly misconceivedly) on my "eye". This is not a hotbed for world art but has some good local artists. I have looked up Martin Johnson Heade and his work certainly is stunning.

Have a lovely weekend. x

Wow Pat - the list of classes in msg #214 looks pretty full on to me! I love the 'Training a Race Horse' course :-)

I hadn't heard of the google art project - thanks for the link. I had a little play and the resolution they've got on some of the pictures is incredible. I could zoom right in to one of the van Gogh pictures and see the individual brush strokes - much more detail than I'd be able to see if I went to the gallery in New York.

#223 I love that painting so I went to see what else there was by the same artist on the google art project - he really uses light well.

Hi Mark, Joanne, Linda, Ellen, Paul and Heather! I'm glad you liked the description of the art class and the picture by Martin Johnson Heade. According to Wikipedia, some classify him as part of the Hudson River School and others as a "Luminist" artist. Luminism is apparently an offshoot of the HRS and focuses on the effects of light in landscape which does seem like a pretty good description of "Approaching Thunder Storm." Heade was most well known for his pictures of New England coastal salt marshes. Here's one of his most famous paintings, called "Sunlight and Shadow: The Newbury Marshes":

Just a little more information on my Training a Race Horse "class". This is an afternoon trip to see Tree Top Ranches in Parma, Idaho (about an hour outside of Boise). It's basically a behind the scenes look at how they raise and train race horses. Their most famous horse is Rousing Sermon who has run in several (I believe) recent Kentucky Derbys. Tree Top Ranches is owned by Larry and Marianne Williams who are well known in Boise. They're currently building a park here to be named after Marianne. One of the reasons I wanted to go was because of how beautiful everyone said the location was. Here's a picture of it (the barn is in the foreground and the Williams' home in the back):

What a beautiful location, I bet that's going to be a great day trip at a pretty time of the year, and an interesting subject as well. You'll have to let us know how it goes, Pat.

Pat, thanks for that link to the Google Art Project. The Internet can be a wonderful thing. I'll check it out more thoroughly when I have time. Wow, your spring classes sound pretty awesome. I'm glad you explained the race horse class. I love field trips -- wish I could tag along!

>231 phebj: Oh my god! For me, that's like something out of a dream. I wish I could join you!

Hi Judy, Donna and Joanne! I wish you all could go with me on this field trip too. I will definitely let you know how it goes. Unfortunately, I have to wait until May. :(

I still need to spend some time with Google Art Project myself. I'm so used to knowing what I'm doing when I visit websites that I don't have alot of patience with learning something new on the computer. Hopefully after Christmas, I can set aside some time to learn what it's all about. We always host a Christmas Eve dinner for about 25 of my husband's relatives so for now that's what I'm focussing on getting ready for.

I actually finished a couple of books, both recommended by Joanne!

Safe from the Sea by Peter Geye--4 stars

The story of a troubled father/son relationship dating from the time the father--an officer on an iron ore freighter on Lake Superior--survives a catastrophic shipwreck. The story is told by the adult son who goes home to Minnesota to tend to his dying father and, in the process, finds out what really happened during the wreck. This was a good book but a couple of times I was taken out of the story and was aware it was a debut novel. Overall though I would recommend it and am glad I read it. Probably my favorite part was the setting--a storm-tossed Lake Superior during the shipwreck and then the isolated family cabin on the Lake where the father and son reconnect as winter approaches.

Black Dog by Levi Pinfold--4 stars

This is a new (2012) children's book for ages 4 and up about facing your fears. I loved the illustrations. The author/illustrator is Australian and I will be looking for more of his books.

Here's an illustration of Small Hope (the little figure in yellow in the bottom right corner) confronting the Black Dog:

Hi Pat, I'm glad you liked both books! I love that illustration - that's the one I thought of when I mentioned wanting to read it to a classroom of kids. They were all really charming, I thought.

What a great photo in post 231!

It has been too long since I visited here. I hope you know I think of you every day and send a continuing prayer for your health and well being.

Hi there Pat, you've been busy with your courses I see. That location in #231 is absolutely stunning and I love the work of Martin Johnson Heade. Luminous is right. Beautiful. Off to check out the Google Art Project.

Hi Pat!
Black Dog illustration - precious

#231 Wow - nice!
My 12 y/o granddaughter is doing a project in school - her chosen state is Idaho!
As part of her project she needs to pick 2 places she would like to see if she could go to Idaho. I should show her this place!

Oh! One more thing... #223 picture reminds me of my drive home today. As I crossed over the bridge, the sky was VERY dark. The sun was setting and shining very brightly on a flock of white seagulls flying across the dark clouds. What a sight... they seemed luminescent!

Have a nice weekend :-)

Pat, I just started Safe From the Sea last night. You were spot on about the setting. I used to live across Lake Superior from Duluth in Marquette, MI. The author describes the beauty and danger of the lake beautifully.

Have a wonderful family Christmas Eve dinner. That's our tradition as well. Thankfully my brother and SIL do the hosting duties.

Pat -OMG .. I just dribbled water all over myself when I saw the illustration from Black Dog ... too wonderful.

I love Christmas Eve dinners. They're my family tradition as well, so that's a little sad for me because I won't be with my family this year. Still, I'll make a smaller version of the Christmas Eve dinner at our house.

I didn't know about the Google Art Project either. Thank you!! After Christmas is going to be just perfect, and I'm not hosting 25!!! I wish you a good calm center and a lot of joy!

Joanne the illustrations really made the book. In general, I've been very impressed with the quality of illustrations in the children's books I've read recently. Without LT, I don't think I would have ever considered reading children's books at my age but I find them a delightful way to balance out some of the heavier books I read.

Hi Linda. I'm always delighted when you stop by and count myself lucky to have your continuing good wishes. :)

Hi Bonnie. So glad to hear you like Martin Johnson Heade too. I had never heard of him before the art class but I pretty much like all of his paintings that I've seen so far.

Claudia you'll have to let me know which two places your granddaughter chooses as her favorities in Idaho. A photography class I took years ago was the first time I really focussed on the effect of light. We were told that the "golden hour" (just before sunset) was one of the best times to take pictures. But I also love the light just before a storm hits. It seems so dramatic. Hope you have a good weekend too!

Donna I'll be interested in hearing what you think of Safe from the Sea considering you used to live in the area. I've never been anywhere near Lake Superior (or any of the other Great Lakes for that matter) but Peter Geye's writing made me feel I had been there and created a feeling of almost longing to see it.

Caroline I'm sure you'll have a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner, mostly because I think all of your meals sound delicious but I understand that desire to be with your family at the holidays.

Peggy I hope you enjoy checking out the Google Art Project. It was something that made me marvel at the wonders of the Internet. And thank you for that wish of a good calm center and a lot of joy. I like that!

I just wanted to say I've finally joined the Downton Abbey bandwagon. I've been reading all the posts on LT about it for awhile and now my RL friends have started to rave about it.

My husband uses our annual Christmas Eve party as an excuse to get some new technology toy (on the premise that the kids attending the party need something to do) and this year it's a new flat screen 3D TV. Since we have Amazon Prime, we decided to see what we could watch and lo and behold one of the first options to pop up was Season 1 of Downton Abbey! I've watched the first 4 episodes so far and I'm hooked. I look forward to the end of the day when I can see the next one.

It's been so long since I've enjoyed watching anything (besides the Daily Show and Colbert) on television so I'm thrilled by this turn of events.

Always room on the DA bandwagon, Pat! Let me scooch over a bit. I needed an escape from last weeks horrendous news and the early 20th century was perfect. So I watched Season 1 and 2 again to get myself primed for Season 3. For me, it's eye candy, not only Matthew but the scenery is gorgeous!

Speaking of eye candy, I can stare at Tree Top Farm for hours. So tranquil, so beautiful. I want that house!

Christmas Eve is my big party of the year. Only 14 people. I hope I'm able to manuever my mom into the house. I was hoping she'd have her prosthetic by now, but alas, we'll have to try to act as crutches to get her up the steps to the front door.

Another Downton Abbey fan, hurray! Pat, you may also want to check your local PBS listings. Since it's pledge drive time and the third season begins in January, our local affiliate is airing seasons 1 & 2.

Hi Pat! It's been forever since I dropped by. I've missed you! :) I can't wait for the next season of Downton Abbey... is there room on the couch?

Oh Pat, I love the image of Small Hope confronting the Black Dog.

And I'm another who is waiting with bated breath for season three of DA. KCTS has also been airing seasons 1 & 2, and we renewed our membership enough to get the DVDs of the first three seasons. Oh boy.

Hi Pat -- oh, I'm so far behind!! I got sidetracked, too, checking out the Google Art project and exploring the marvelous works of art. Thank you for telling me about this.

Hope you're having a good weekend.

Pat - I am off to the Tropical Island of Langkawi tomorrow until Thursday. I say this not really to make you jealous but as a precursor to proffer my seasonal greetings. I hope you have a lovely Christmas dear lady. x

Merry Christmas Pat!

Glad to see you're on the DA bandwagon! Good stuff!

Yah, for the DA bandwagon! Since my DW did not watch it with me the first time around, (kooky, I know!) I've been re-watching it with her and we are nearly halfway through Season 2. It's such a good show.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Welcome to the DA fan club Pat. I went out to dinner with some old friends from school last week and mentioned DA and none of the other four women had even heard of it. I was stunned! but...but...but...it was taking the country by storm last year and none of you have even heard of it?? I couldn't believe it. So I'm really glad you're enjoying it.

Have a wonderful time at your Christmas Eve party tomorrow.

>254 brenzi:: that's pretty amazing, Bonnie. I would have been stunned, too!

Merry Christmas Pat!!

I'm having fun following Chelle's sparkly reindeer around and extending my own less sparkly Christmas greetings. I hope you have a quiet Christmas tomorrow, Pat, after being the hostess-with-the mostest tonight!

I'm not too sparkly either, Pat, but have stopped by to wish you a wonderful Christmas and all the best over the holiday season.

Just wanted to stop over for a bit to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2013!

Merry Christmas, Pat!!!

May 2013 be a year of healing, of love and light and may the joy you bring to others be returned to you many times over.

I am blessed by you.

Wishing you a merry Christmas season, Pat, and a healthy, happy 2013.

All the best to you and your loved ones Pat, with plenty of good Health in 2013.

Merry, merry Christmas, Pat!

Merry Christmas, Pat!


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Merry Christmas Pat! Have a lovely day.

Merry Christmas, Pat! May you continue to have good health and great reads in 2013.

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Have a wonderful day, Pat!

Wow, so many visitors since I last posted on Friday! A very Merry Christmas to Lynda, Laura, Jenn, Ellen, Anne, Paul, Joanne, Mark, Bonnie, Chelle, Donna, Judy, Caroline, Katherine, Claudia, Linda, Ilana, Terri, Cushla and Darryl!

Our Christmas Eve party went very well but I was quite tired last night after everyone left. However, I immediately perked up once I remembered I had book gifts to open from Mark's Christmas Swap. Deb (vancouverdeb) did a great job picking out books for me and I got:

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers and
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick

And, despite being in the middle of 3 or 4 books right now, I couldn't stop myself from starting The Yellow Birds right away. I know I will love both these books and I first heard about them on LT!

We're expecting snow later today and I have nothing to do except catch up with you all on LT and read and drink hot chocolate, an indulgence that I usually stay away from.

For all my visitors, I hope you have (or had) a very Merry Christmas and got some good books!

Here's a picture of the Moomins opening their presents. I read on either Genny or Heather's thread that they had just republished the first Moomin book (The Moomins and the Great Flood) in hardcover and I have a copy winging its way to me.

Oooh great books from Deb! Nothing to Envy was excellent and I keep seeing comments about the Yellow Birds all over LT and the rest of the Internet.

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I want to wish you a glorious celebration of that time of year when we all try to unite around a desire for Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All. Merry Christmas, Pat!

Can you find the shark, the gray cat and the tan cat too?

Hope you had a merry day.

Cushla I lost track of how many LTers recommended Nothing to Envy but I'm glad to know you're also one of them. I think I'm going to love The Yellow Birds. It will be interesting to see how it compares to Matterhorn which is one of my all time best reads.

Thanks for your beautiful wish for this time of year Roni. I hope it comes true!

Lucy that's a great picture. I love your tree. If I had to take a guess (because I can't see the gray cat) I'd say he was down on the floor next to the couch in the tan cat's line of sight.

Hello hello, hope you had a lovely Christmas! Nothing to Envy sounds fascinating, I hope I can find a copy somewhere!

>245 phebj:: I've become a total Downton Abbey fan and am eagerly anticipating Season 3 becoming available in the U.S. I am quite annoyed that a British friend saw fit to tell me the shocker that started this new season.

I saw an interview on TV the other day with Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Rob James-Collier and Jim Carter. It was so odd to see "Thomas" being a pleasant and likable fellow, and "His Lordship" and "Carson" laughing like buddies!

I'll have you know, young lady, that I've requested every moomin book available to me from two local library systems. They're just so cute.
Best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful new year!

Just stopping by to wish you a Happy New Year, Pat. I'll be looking forward to following your reading in 2013.

Happy New Year, Pat! I love the Moomin cheer that you've been spreading through the threads!

It's almost here... Wishing you a happy, healthy new year, Pat. I'll see you in 2013!

Pat it has been a pleasure and a privilege exchanging posts with you this year - long may it continue. Happy new year. x

Happy New Year, Pat!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Pat, I seemed to have missed your thread this year! Yikes. Do not want to repeat that. Have you started a 2013 thread yet? Where is it? Can you help me. I want to have you starred before the New Year is here!

Please

In any case, Happy New Year to you and yours!!!!

Thanks for stopping by Faith, Tad, Lynda, Linda, Amy, Donna, Paul, Katie, Jenn and Caroline! I'm pretty sure I've made it to all your threads to wish you a happy New Year. We're going to be having some people over for dinner and then I'll be starting Season 2 of Downton Abbey so I can be ready for Season 3. I'm very intrigued by your comment, Tad, about a shocker for the first episode of Season 3!

I also finished The Yellow Birds last night which I'll be giving 4 1/2 stars to. I probably won't write up any comments on it until next year though.

Tomorrow I will start my first 2013 thread. Hope to see you all there!

Happy New Year, Everyone! (Hope I'm not overdoing the Moomins)

Happy New Year, Pat!!

Here's to a great new year ahead, Pat!

Best wishes for the New Year Pat!

I hope that 2013 is your best year yet, Pat!

Happy New Year Pat. I've been watching the replay of Season 2 of Downton Abbey and am ready and anxious for Sunday's premier of Season 3. Woo Hoot!

Happy New Year, Pat! May it be a good one for all of us.

Happy New Year Pat!

Happy New Year Ellen, Roni, Deborah, Peggy, Bonnie, Linda and Heather!

I hope to see you all over on my 2013 thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147261