Crazymamie's 75 in 2012 (Page 21)

Putting the 2012 Thread to Bed...

Currently Reading


December
101. If I Stay by Gayle Forman (4.25 stars)
102. Leave the Grave Green by Deborah Crombie (4 stars)
103. Mourn Not Your Dead by Deborah Crombie (4 stars)
104. Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck (5 stars)
105. Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
106. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
107. Devil's Peak by Deon Meyer
108. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell (4.25 stars)

January
1. The Sense of an Ending - Julian Barnes (4 stars)
2. Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor (4 stars)
3. 11/22/63 - Stephen King (5 stars)
4. A Drink Before the War - Dennis Lehane (4 stars)
5. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card (4 stars)
6. Cannery Row - John Steinbeck (4.5 stars)

February
7. The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien (5 stars)
8. The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway (audiobook) (4 stars)
9. The Woman in Black - Susan Hill (4.5 stars)
10. City of Bones - Michael Connelly (4 stars)
11. Behind the Beautiful Forevers - Katherine Boo (4.5 stars)
12. Mockingbird - Kathryn Erskine (5 stars)
13. The Wayward Bus - John Steinbeck (4 stars)
14. Pronto - Elmore Leonard (4 stars)
15. The Snow Child - Eowyn Ivey (4 stars)
16. Riding the Rap - Elmore Leonard (3.5 stars)
17. The Two Towers - J. R. R. Tolkien (5 stars)
18. Once There was a War - John Steinbeck (4.5 stars)
19. The Coroner's Lunch - Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
20. Below Stairs - Margaret Powell (3.5 stars)
21. 84, Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanff (5 stars)

March
22. Blood Red Road - Moira Young (4 stars)
23. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde (3.5 stars)
24. Thirty-Three Teeth - Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
25. King Soloman's Mines - Henry Rider Haggard (4 stars)
26. Still Life - Louise Penny (4 stars)
27. By the Iowa Sea - Joe Blair (4 stars)
28. A Share in Death - Deborah Crombie (3.5 stars)
29. A Severed Head - Iris Murdoch (4 stars)
30. The Return of the King - J. R. R. Tolkien (5 stars)
31. The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck (4 stars)
32. Don't Look Back - Karin Fossum (3.5 stars)
33. I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith (4.25 stars)
34. Disco for the Departed - Colin Cotterill (3.5 stars)

April
35. The Moon is Down - John Steinbeck (4 stars)
36. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley (audiobook) (4 stars)
37. Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe (4.5 stars)
38. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Joan Aiken (4 stars)
39. Blacklands - Belinda Bauer (4 stars)
40. Chess Story - Stefan Zweig (4.5 stars)
41. Sea of Poppies - Amitav Ghosh (4.5 stars)
42. Julie of the Wolves - Jean Craighead George (3.5 stars)
43. All Shall Be Well - Deborah Crombie (4 stars)
44. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green (4.5 stars)
45. Rules - Cynthia Lord (4 stars)
46. Darkness, Take My Hand - Dennis Lehane (4 stars)
47. The Shape of Water - Andrea Camilleri (4 stars)
48. Cinder - Melissa Meyer (4 stars)
49. Binocular Vision - Edith Pearlman (4.5 stars)
50. The Wrestling Match - Buchi Emecheta (2.5 stars)

May
51. The Redeemer - Jo Nesbo (4.5 stars)
52. Casino Royale - Ian Fleming (3.5 stars)
53. If Death Ever Slept - Rex Stout (4 stars)
54. Persuasion - Jane Austen (4.5 stars)
55. Lost Light - Michael Connelly (4 stars)
56. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (4.5 stars)

June
57. In the Heat of the Night by John Ball (4 stars)
58. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (4.5 stars)
59. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (4 stars)
60. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (5 stars)
61. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie (4 stars)
62. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (4.5 stars)
63. Anarchy and Old Dogs by Colin Cotterill (4.5 stars)
64. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett (4 stars)
65. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (4.5 stars)
66. Train Dreams by Denis Johnson (4 stars)
67. The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan (4.25stars)

July
68. Farewell Summer by Ray Bradbury (4.25 stars)
69. The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson (4.5 stars)
70. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (4.75 stars)
71. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (4.5 stars)
72. A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levine (4 stars)
73. Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (4.5 stars)
74. River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh (4.25 stars)
75. Curse of the Pogo Stick by Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
76. The Terra-Cotta Dog by Andrea Camilleri (4 stars)
77. No Longer At Ease by Chinua Achebe (4 stars)
78. Call For the Dead by John LeCarré (4 stars)
79. Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley (4 stars)

August
80. The Merry Misogynist by Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
81. The Stone Cutter by Camilla Läckberg (3.5 stars)
82. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (4 stars)
83. The Guards by Ken Bruen (4.5 stars)

September
84. Killing the Tinkers by Ken Bruen (4.25 stars)
85. Death Without Company by Craig Johnson
86. The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan (4 stars)
87. The Devil's Hearth by Phillip DePoy (4.5 stars)
88. March Violets by Philip Kerr (4.3 stars)
89. Naked in Death by J. D. Robb (3.25 stars)
90. The Magdalen Martyrs by Ken Bruen (thinking)

October
Nothing to see here. That's right; there's nothing to see here.

*tour guide does the backward hand wave thing as she continues the tour of the thread, "...and we're walking, we're walking…"

November
91. IQ84 by Haruki Murakami (4 stars)
92. Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin (4.25 stars)
93. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (4 stars)
94. The Pearl by John Steinbeck (4 stars)
95. Chocolat by Joanne Harris (4.5 stars)
96. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (5 stars)
97. More Baths Less Talking by Nick Hornsby (4 stars)
98. Burmese Days by George Orwell (3.75 stars)
99. Love Songs From a Shallow Grave by Colin Cotterill (4 stars)
100. The Chicken Chronicles by Alice Walker (3 stars)

5 Star Reads from 2012:

11/22/63 by Stephen King - my first novel by King, but it won't be my last

The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien - what a fabulous journey these books that make up The Lord of the Rings turned out to be

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine - the main character reminded so very much of my own daughter, Rae, that it made me cry to see her spirit captured so beautifully

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff - hard to beat a book about books, delightful

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury - took me back to my childhood summers and introduced me to that magic that is Bradbury's writing

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad - not one misplaced word

Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck - absolutely the right book at the right moment, it made me laugh the whole way through

Didn't get 5 stars, but these books were magic:

The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill - because it introduced me to the wonderful world of Dr. Siri

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith - because I loved the voice of this book's narrator

Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh - a lovely, sweeping saga

Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman - a fabulous collection of short stories by an author who should be more well known

Persuasion by Jane Austen - this perhaps deserves five stars, loved the letter that still makes my heart skip a beat when I think about it

Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin - I loved this journey that retraced Orwell's footsteps through his days in Burma and linked his writings to Burma's history

Chocolat by Joanne Harris - pure magic

An idea stolen from Heather (souloftherose), who borrowed it from Liz (lyzard): ongoing series that I am actively reading. This doesn't include series where I have the first book in my TBR pile (i.e. series I haven't started reading yet aren't included). An asterisk (*) indicates a series where I already have a copy of the next book. A pointing finger (☛) indicates a series where I am waiting for the next book to be released.

1. African Trilogy by Chinua Achebe: Next Up: Arrow of God (3/3)

2. *Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones: Next Up: Third Grave Dead Ahead (3/4)

3. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache by Louise Penny: Next Up: A Fatal Grace (2/8)

4. *Commissario Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri: Next Up: The Snack Thief (3/15)

5. ☛ Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor: Next Up: Days of Blood and Starlight (2/3)

6. *Divergent by Veronica Roth: Next Up: Insurgent (2/3)

7. *Dr. Siri Paiboun by Colin Cotterill: Next up: Slash and Burn (8/9)

8. Duncan Kincaid/ Gemma James by Deborah Crombie:Next Up: Dreaming of the Bones (5/15)

9. * Dust Lands by Moira Young: Next Up: Rebel Heart (2/3)

10. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan: Next Up: The Dead tossed Waves (2/3)

11. *Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly: Next Up: The Narrows (10/18)

12. *Harry Hole by Jo Nesbo: Next Up: The Snowman (7/9)

13. ☛ The Ibis Trilogy by Amitav Ghosh: Next Up: ? (3/3)

14. *In Death by J. D. Robb: Next Up: Glory in Death (2/44)

15. *Inspector Sejer by Karin Fossum: Next Up: He Who Fears the Wolf (2/9)

16. Jack Taylor by Ken Bruen: Next Up: The Dramatist (4/9)

17. *James Bond by Ian Fleming: Next Up: Live and Let Die (2/14)

18. *Kenzie and Gennaro by Dennis Lehane: Next Up: Sacred (3/6)

19. *Lady Julia Gray by Deanna Raybourn: Next Up: The Dark Enquiry (5/5)

20. *Matched by Ally Condie: Next Up: Crossed (2/3)

21. *Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larrson: Next Up: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest (3/3)

22. *Philip Marlowe by Raymond Chandler: Next Up: The Little Sister (5/8)

23. *Raylan Givens by Elmore Leonard: Next Up: Raylan (3/3)

24. *Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris: Next Up: Dead in the Family (9/12)

25. Temperance Brennan by Kathy Reichs: Next Up: Grave Secrets (5/15)

26. Vish Puri by Tarquin Hall: Next Up: The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing (2/3)

27. *Walt Longmire by Craig Johnson: Up Next: Kindness Goes Unpunished (3/8)

28. *Wine Country Mysteries by Ellen Crosby: Next Up: The Chardonnay Charade (2/6)

29. ☛Wolf Hall Trilogy by Hilary Mantel: Next up: ? (3/3)

And I am stopping by to just gawk!

Mamie, just posted on the old thread, while you were working on this!

OK, the first picture is a gem! Just wonderful! I made the little girl's bed this morning and she hugged me because she liked it! Kids are just too precious to ever take for granted..

Yes, if the snow is photography worthy I'll take some pictures, but remember my big, wonderful camera is sick and I have no health insurance for it. So pictures will be taken by a lovely new, and quite respectable, point and shoot.

re: Vick: He got a concussion

Oh Dear... poor evil bottom feeder... sigh

LOVE the top pic...

Oh boy that top pic is so wonderful. What a shot!
Looking forward to the fun part of the year......and lots of reading (for me anyway:))
Nice to "see" you again Mamie. Sorry Ive missed so much, but my chances of catching up are (lets face it) not good.

Happy new thread, Mamie. Adorable picture! "The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in the heads"

Hi Mamie,
Who is the sweet little angel in #1?

Karen - You're first! So glad that you stopped to gawk! That's Abby in that photo at the top of the thread - I'm delighted that you liked it. So true that kids are too precious to ever be taken for granted, I find myself hugging mine just a bit tighter and for a bit tighter these days. Thank you for taking photos of the snow if it is worthy! I bet you can take breath taking photos with any camera because you have such a good eye. Just saying...

Lucy - How very fitting that you are one of the first visitors to my last thread of the year! Thank you so much for everything! Loved your last message on the previous thread. For those of you who missed it, here it is:

"As I understand it in Holland and Germany you'd put your shoes outside and St. Nick would put nuts and an orange and maybe a small gift or two in them?? Something like that? Some bright kid said to him or herself, Hey, wait a minute! A stocking would hold a lot more stuff... and that was the beginning of the end.

I LOVED The Hobbit. Can't wait to go again. A handsome dwarf though, seems like a contradiction in terms......but who cares! I loved it when they were singing! Chills."

So glad to hear that you loved The Hobbit - Craig is off this Thursday through Christmas, so we will be seeing it very soon. LOL about the handsome dwarf!

Kath - I knew you would see that as universal justice. Glad you love the photo!

Megan! How ARE you, darling? How's that back up foot that ending up getting all of the attention? Thanks so much for stopping in over here - aren't new threads wonderful? Do not worry about catching up - where you landed is just fine!

Lynda - Thank you! That quote does fit so nicely, doesn't it? Hope all is well with you.

Cee!!! Darling! You posted while I was posting! That is Abby up there - she is sixteen now. Hardly seems possible. I have been thinking about you, and sending good mojo your way. Hope you are doing better - thanks so much for stopping in.

*puts pie a little off-center on table*

th' whipcreeeem 's a li'l s s strongr'n I though'
'twas

Mmmm I told SWMBO about "the handsome dwarf" and she immediately replied "so what, I married one!" - I'm not sure whether that was a compliment or not.
Congratulations on your latest thread. Your daughter above captured my mood last night and this morning as I awoke still holding Anthony Trollope figuratively of course.

Richard - That sounds perfect! Good thinking! *snags plates and starts dishing it up, dips finger nonchalantly into whipped cream to steal a taste...eyes water slightly as she tries not to cough* Um...maybe we should eat this sitting down.

Paul - At least she thinks you're handsome?! Thank you - and glad to hear that you were only holding Trollope figuratively. (On account of him being dead and all)

I am so far behind in my reviews, but I did want to share a few thoughts on some of the books that I have read recently. So I am going to at least try to put together some mini-reviews.



Book #95 Chocolat by Joanne Harris (4.5 stars)

I truly loved this book. All of it - the characters, the story line, and also the wonderful writing. It felt like what the title suggests - an indulgence. When Vianne Rocher and her young daughter arrive in Lansquenet, France and set up shop, they find that they have unwittingly stirred the ire of the village priest. Not only is she a single mother who does not attend church, Vianne also has the audacity to keep Sunday hours. The harder she tries to make a home for herself and her daughter in the small town, the more determined the priest becomes that they should be driven out. I was trying to explain the plot of this book over on Susan's thread, and here is what I came up with: If anything, I'd say it's about how narrow minded thinking can justify evil done in the guise of righteousness. It's about how pettiness is always threatened by an open heart and an open mind. I liked the hidden depths of a well told story that had me thinking about it well after I'd finished reading it.

"We sat down to the table in the cramped kitchen. The table was left from the shop's bakery days, a massive piece of rough-cut pine crosshatched with knife scars into which veins of ancient dough, dried a consistency of cement, have worked to produce a smooth marbly finish. The plates are mismatched: one green, one white, Anouk's flowered. The glasses, too, are all different: one tall, one short, one that still bears the label Moutarde Amora. And yet, this is really the first time that we have owned such things...The novelty of possession is still an exotic thing to us, a precious thing, intoxicating. I envy the table its scars, the scorch marks caused by the hot bread tins. I envy its calm sense of time, and I wish I could say: I did this five years ago. I made this mark, this ring caused by a wet coffee cup, this cigarette burn, this ladder of cuts against the wood's coarse grain. This is where Anouk carved her initials, the year she was six years old, this secret place behind the table leg. I did this on a warm day seven years ago with the carving knife. Do you remember? Do you remember the summer the river ran dry? Do you remember? I envy the table's calm sense of place. It has been here a long time. It belongs."

Hi Mamie! Love the photo! Just adorable
Hope you are well!

Book #96: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (5 stars)

I have a confession to make. I bought this book simply because I loved the cover, which you actually have to see in person to fully appreciate, and because it has deckled edge pages. Shallow, I know. However, after reading Katie's thoughts on it over on her thread, I decided to give it a go sooner rather than later. Lucky me - this is one of those rare books that pull you into its pages and won't release you until you have finished the last word on the final page. Entrancing...riveting...without one misplaced word. A tale of dark adventure...

"Going up that river was like traveling back to the earliest beginnings of the world, when vegetation rioted on the earth and the big trees were kings. An empty stream, a giant silence, an impenetrable forest. The air was warm, thick, heavy, sluggish. There was no joy in the brilliance of the sunshine. The long stretches of the waterway ran on, deserted, into the gloom of overshadowed distances. On silvery sandbanks hippos and alligators sunned themselves side by side. The broadening waters flowed through a mob of wooded islands; you lost your way on that river as you would in a desert, and butted all day long against shoals, trying to find the channel, till you thought yourself bewitched and cut off for ever from everything you had known once- somewhere- far away- in another existence perhaps. There were moments when one's past came back to one, as it will sometimes when you have not a moment to spare to yourself; but it came in the shape of an unrestful and noisy dream, remembered with wonder amongst the overwhelming realities of this strange world of plants, and water, and silence. And this stillness of life did not in the least resemble a peace. It was the stillness of of an implacable force brooding over an inscrutable intention. It looked at you with a vengeful aspect."

Hi Chelle! Glad you love the photo! We are all well here and very much looking forward to Craig having time off over the Christmas holiday - can't remember the last time that happened. I need to stop by your thread and catch up.

Hi Mamie- Congrats on the new thread! You've been such a wonderful addition to our little LT World and I can see no reason why '13 can't be just as good.
Love the opening photo of Abby. So precious!
I started Curse of the Pogo Stick today! I LOVE this series.

Another new thread!! And I ADORE the picture up top. Falling asleep with book in hand. Perfect. Also loved Heart of Darkness and the deckeled pages don't hurt either. We saw The Hobbit last night and we all can't wait for the other two movies to come out. Hugs!

Book #97: More Baths, Less Talking by Nick Hornsby (4 stars)

This is a book about books - well, it is a collection of articles about the reading life of Nick Hornby. Check out Richard's or Bonnie's review to get a good sense of what it is all about. It's clever and funny and irreverent, and you are guaranteed to add a few books to your WL while reading it.



Book #98: Burmese Days by George Orwell (3.5 stars)

I read this book after reading Finding George Orwell in Burma. I was curious about it, and if you want the ending to be a surprise, you should really read Burmese Days before reading Emma Larkin's memoir about retracing Orwell's life in Burma while he was stationed there. Burmese Days was Orwell's first novel, and you can tell that he wrote it after being witness to the effects of colonialism first hand. If it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, its because it's supposed to. Imperialism and colonialism aren't pretty and neither are the characters in this book, many of whom it is impossible to like. That it was Orwell's first novel shows, I think, but still, it is compelling and in the writing we see brief moments of what Orwell will achieve in later works.

"The real work of administration is done mainly by native subordinates; and the real backbone of the despotism is not the officials but the Army....It is a stifling, stultifying world in which to live. It is a world in which every word and every thought is censored. In England it is hard even to imagine such an atmosphere. Everyone is free in England; we sell our souls in public and buy them back in private, among our friends. But even friendship can hardly exist when every white man is a cog in the wheels of despotism. Free speech is unthinkable. All other kinds of freedom are permitted. You are free to be a drunkard, an idler, a coward, a backbiter, a fornicator; but you are not free to think for yourself."

Hi Mark! Wow! Thank you so much for the kind words - means a lot to me. Glad you like the photo of Abby. And Dr. Siri! Yes!! I just adore that man!

Kim - So happy that you adore the photo at the top of the thread. And Heart of Darkness - I have already been through it twice. I read it first (in November), and then I went back later (this month) and listened to the audiobook which is read by Kenneth Branagh...um, brilliant! Branagh really nails it. And it's so wonderful to hear another positive vibe for The Hobbit, which I plan on seeing very, very soon.

Hi Mamie - Love the quote you chose for the HoD review. And so jealous about your listening to Kenneth Branaugh read it, too! The narrator I had was very good but I can only imagine how great Branagh would be.

What a lovely, special photo to start your thread. After last Friday, I will be ever so glad to see my daughter, son in law and three children when they arrive Thursday evening.

My daughter is an Assistant Principal at a middle school in Dayton/Beavercreek Ohio. All my grandchildren (four) are middle school age.

Seeing your photo of Abby reminds us all of how precious our children and grandchildren are.

Book #99: Love Songs From a Shallow Grave by Colin Cotterill (4 stars)

This is the seventh book in the Dr. Siri series. For those of you unfamiliar with Dr. Siri (are there any of you unfamiliar with him?!) - he is the head coroner, okay the only coroner, of Laos, placed in that position by the Communist regime that presides in the country after the Vietnam War. What makes Dr. Siri unique is not just his ability to see dead people...um, we're not talking corpses here...he can commune with these dead people, although it is not a perfectly working system. Dr. Siri is also in his seventies, possesses a keen wit and a wicked sense of humor, and likes to play detective. In this book, we begin at the ending and flash back to the beginning. As in the previous several books, there is a darker tone here. One of my favorite things about these books aside from the quirky characters and the clever dialogue, is the witticisms.

"A hero without faults is like an omelet without little bits of eggshell in it."

"...there were power lines down somewhere between his brain and common sense."

"Intentions can be as flimsy as toilet paper in a cheap bar."



Book #100: The Chicken Chronicles by Alice Walker (3 stars)

I really wanted to love this book, and not just because it was my 100th book of the year. I wanted to love it because it was written by Alice Walker and because it is a memoir, and I love memoirs. This book however, falls short. It isn't that the subject isn't interesting - it is. Ms. Walker is raising chickens, and she has some fascinating and thoughtful insights to share, not just about chickens, but about life. What didn't work for me was the fact that she addresses the book to her chickens, and even this would have been merely whimsical and perhaps clever if only she hadn't decided to constantly refer to herself in the third person as Mommy. It detracted from the narrative and really got on my nerves. Still, if you can stomach that, there are some gems to be found within these pages:

"On one of his tapes, m teacher Jack Kornfield talks about what we are likely to think about as we are dying. The most important question we will ask ourselves--having long given up asking such questions of others--is 'Did I love well?' After all, we're the only ones who could know. I think an acceptable answer is: I loved as well as I could."

Hi Mamie, congratulations on your lovely new thread and on reaching your 100th book.

Hi Katie! I had a hard time choosing a quote - there are so many good ones, so thanks. And Kenneth Branagh was da Bomb reading it! da Bomb!! Well worth the purchase if you are so inclined in the future, especially if it should be on sale.

Linda - Hello there! Thank you - last Friday was so very difficult. I still feel unequal to the task of talking about it. Just so very sad - there are no words. Totally agree with you that all children are precious and to be cherished. Counting the days with you until you can be with your grandchildren and hug them tight.

Thank you, Judy! What an incredible year this has been for me - so glad that you were a part of it!

What wonderful minis, Mamie! The illustrative quotes are terrific, too. Outstanding job!

Why thank you, Richard - coming from you that means so much because you are my Review Hero. *secretly hopes this is not too much pressure* Seriously, I love reading your reviews which are always full of a wonderful combination of irreverence and sentiment - they feel honest and real and are always a pleasure to read.

*smooch* What a lovely compliment, Mamie, one I appreciate a lot! *smoochiesmoochsmooch*

Your check's in the mail.

Mamie I'm so hopelessly behind! My mom has pneumonia and I had to put her in the hospital on Friday but thank goodness she was discharged today. We've had a very rough year. Still hasn't been able to get the knee replacement redone. (NIGHTMARE!) The one bright spot is her primary care physician. I opted for concierge care for her and it has been worth every penny. I wish every senior in America could get this kind of care. *sigh* in a perfect world.

All your reading of late sounds wonderful and I'm going to have to put those Burma books on my book bullet list.

I'm not ready for Christmas yet but I can't wait until it gets here. I'm supposed to work that day but a lovely soul of a woman named Sue offered to cover my shift. Bless her!

Richard - LOL! No need for remuneration - I meant every word of it! *smoochiesmooch back*

Roberta! So sorry to hear about your Mom - glad she was able to be released from the hospital, but I cannot believe she still has not been able to get her knee replacement redone. What a nightmare for both of you. I have not heard of concierge care before - exactly what is it?

I have had wonderful luck with my reading lately. I would recommend both Burma books - they work well together. I would like to continue exploring Orwell next year, so I am planning on reading 1984 next.

I'm not quite ready for Christmas, either - still need a few gifts, and of course, I still have to wrap everything. I always procrastinate the wrapping - not sure why. Anyway, I would love to have it finished up before Christmas Eve! And am I reading right - someone offered to cover your shift on Christmas Day?!! Incredible!

Mamie, what a nice new thread! I also read Chocolat earlier this year and loved it. It's a wonderful, expansive novel.

I have Devil's Peak on my bedside table (thank you Richard) and I'm trying to decide if I can complete it before my flight on Friday. Or maybe I'll just renew it. :-)
I've been working my way through Team of Rivals again this week.

Wow 100 books in a year with trees crashing through your roof, house-hunting, house-showing, moving, resettling...MOST impressive!! Congratulations on surviving the year with humor and on an even keel as well as on reading an impressive 100 books.

Yes you read it right, someone is working Christmas for me! Woo! She gets time and half and since I am salary I would get squat. So double woo. Woo Woo!!

Concierge medicine (direct medicine, boutique medicine) is where you pay an annual retainer for your primary care physician. In return they have only a max of about 1000 patients. Some, including mine, charge additional fees for services. He and his partner have opted out of Medicare/Medicaid and don't file private insurance. It is strictly cash pay based. The plus is I can get a same day appointment. I have access to the physician's email and cell number. I get my emails returned promptly and I can request a 45 min, 90 min or even 2 hour appointment if I need. The doctor follow us in the hospital and it is included in the annual fee. A complete two hour physical is included in the annual fee. Also, and I pray I don't need this anytime soon but he will do a home visit if needed.

Let me tell you my Mom's health issues are so complicated that even though I'm a nurse I don't know what I would have done this past year without this kind of attention. We have needed it. I thank God every day we can afford it. I wish every senior could get this kind of care. I see every day at the hospital where if folks could just spend a little more time with the doctor things might get sorted out earlier. It's not the doctor's fault either. Reimbursements are horrible for them. I've known a few docs that have large geriatric practices that have had to give up their individual practice and go join a huge group or go get a new specialty like anesthesia because they couldn't pay the bills anymore.

Ellen - Thank you! I did really love Chocolat and your comments on it are what made me purchase and read it right away, so thanks for that. I plan on reading the follow-up novel The Girl With No Shadow next year.

You should definitely renew Devil's Peak - very, very good so far. I do not think there is any hope of me finishing TOR this year - I keep picking up and reading other books. LOL! Maybe next year.

Reba - It has been a busy year, hasn't it?! I have actually read 104 books altogether so far - but I was so far behind in my reviews that I have just finished up posting reviews of the books that I read in November. I am guessing that I will end up with about 108 total books read for the year. Thank you so much for your lovely compliments and kind words -I would not have survived nearly as well without the support of this wonderful group! So thank you, Reba, for helping me make it through in one piece.

Roberta - Thanks for getting back to me! Congrats on snagging the day off on Christmas - how wonderful! That concierge medicine sounds like just the ticket - so glad that you can provide that for your Mom and that the service is available. I will be keeping the both of you in my thoughts and prayers - hoping that she is able to get her knee replacement redone very soon. My heart hurts for both of you that she is still waiting.

Mamie, congratulations on the new thread and reaching 100 books! That is such a cute picture of Abby at the top. I think I have Heart of Darkness somewhere, as I got it free with a magazine. Now I wonder what sort of magazine was giving it away, as it is not bright pink with cupcakes on the cover, but I definitely remember getting it...

100 books? Congratulations to you! Some wonderful reviews here...

Interesting health care info....

I'm so excited about the kids coming home this weekend, I can't concentrate... however.. I am worried about the weather :P ( of course )

hugs

Susan - Thank you! I am laughing about the free edition of Heart of Darkness - what a unique giveaway!!

Kath - Thank you, sis! Hooray for the kids coming home this weekend!! How fun! Are they coming on Friday? I'll check your thread. What's the weather - winter storm? Rain? It's bright and sunny here and going to 69 - can you believe that? I'm still in shock that this weather goes with December.

Morning Mamie (that never gets old!)- Congrats on #100! Yah. I'm glad you liked the Hornby book and I hope you can check out his other "books on books". I'm glad the Dr. Siri series remains so consistent. I'm currently reading/listening to book 5.

Morning Mark! Thank you! I will definitely be reading his other books taken from his columns - have you read any of his novels? And yes, Dr. Siri is still as fun as ever - and I am excited that there is a new book coming out in the series in the New year as I have just one left before I am all caught up and left waiting for more.

Hi Mamie, since you aren't my Facebook friend *sniff* you won't know, but you are credited with finding a quote which I've tweeted and Wall-posted. It's the Cotterill quote about omelets and heroes. Still makes me giggle.

Wow, you're speeding along on the Dr Siri series, Mamie. I've lagged behind a little but I have to pick it up again with the next, The Merry Misogynist.

Congratulations on reading 100 books this year Mamie! (And whilst moving house too!) You've hit me with Chocolat - I'll try and borrow my Mum's copy soon.

Chocolat is on my list for 2013.

100! Yay.

Excellent review of Burmese Days - I think it is a book that has a lot of power. It affected me strongly when I read it first, which was ages ago.

Woo Hoo on the 100 books! Another WH for Craig being off call for Christmas. I'm glad there are doctors on call for those who need them.

I intend to read the Dr. Siri series in 2013. There's lots of LT love for those books.

Mamie... are you on FB?

I'm home, tired.. watching NCIS... both of them..

Whatcha up to?

Woot 100 books! Congrats! Just checking in to the Pecan Palace!

Have a lot of fun at your party! What will you wear? What will you take?
Will there be pictures :) maybe one of you and hubby before you go?

The weather reports are getting worrisome..

take care and remember to come back and tell all after the party!

Hi, Mamie. I've been remise in keeping up with your thread, so today I'm off from working with the kids and I have a little extra time. So. #1: Congrats on 100+ books. That is so cool.

#2: update on dog situation. The latest, and greatest, is that my friend Robin has found a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who needs a new home. He is young, and healthy. I think because he is a he and a little bit smaller than Greta, she should be happy. She can continue in her role as the "top dog" in the house. Here's a pic of what he might look like:



#3: Have a wonderful time in your new home with the holidays.

Hi Mamie, just passing through. I should be wrapping gifts but hopefully I can get to that a little later on.

#58 - Karen, I have been following your quest for a second dog and enjoyed every minute of it. I hope this one works out as I have been around a few Cavalier King Charles and they are very loveable, and make wonderful additions to your home. Hopefully, you will continue to update us as I am looking forward to hearing how Greta Garbo accepts her new house mate.

I am too silly over my dogs, and of course I'll try to keep you all posted, but, I think I'll try to do most of it on my thread. Don't want to use too much space in this fine place as we've other things to keep track of..... like a swimming pool! And the tallest Christmas tree in LT!

Here's one place you can check to see what is what with the dogs. http://www.librarything.com/topic/145153

>16 Crazymamie: aw thanks Mamie, back up foot is looking a little like the Bride of Frankensteins foot. They replaced the plaster and I couldnt look at it for too long, all bruised and swollen with black suture marks all down one side, eeek. And the toe all out to the side on a funny angle! *swoon*
The surgeon thought it looks just fine though, and that is what counts!

>31 Crazymamie: shame your 100th was a little bit of a let down, but a celebration to be had for the occasion anyway!? Congrats.
People cannot believe when I say I have read 93 this year alone, I feel a bit like a show off! But I do love to show off about such a topic close to my heart. And if people like us chose to use our time reading rather than doing any number of other things we could be doing....then more power to us!
Big ups Mamie ;)

Breezing through to see what's up in Mamie-land today....

Hey Mamie.. How was the party? Are you done with all the pre Christmas stuff? and as Caro asks,
What do you have planned for Mamie land next?

*smooch* for tuckered-out partylady.

Congrats on reading OVER 100 books this year - especially with all you had going on! Wow!

Bet you were the brightest sparkler at the party! Nice they included spouses :) Kids must be getting excited....

Just dropping by as I attempt to catch up with you all before the New Year! Congrats on over 100 books this year! Quite the accomplishment!

You're not back from the party yet, Mamie? Whhooooeee.... this is SOME party! Pictures!!! Stories!!!

Okay everybody, I am sorry to report that I do not have any exciting party stories - I have been sick instead, which, trust me, was not very exciting. Anyway I am feeling much better now, which is good because I have not yet wrapped one single present. This is always the part that I get stuck on every year - not sure why I procrastinate the wrapping except that usually wrapping gifts means that I have to shut myself away to sort them all first (um...and find them, as I usually hide them). Then I have to wrap them in the appropriate paper - we use different paper for each kid so that they know which gifts belong to them (eventually). We do not put the gifts under the tree until Christmas Eve, which is how my Mom always did it. Then the kids always try to figure out who has which wrapping paper - I am very sneaky. We like a full tree, so lots of presents, but not every present is expensive, in fact most of them are not. One year Daniel got an entire box of Fruity Pebbles (his favorite) that he did not have to share with the girls, and he was thrilled with it. I almost always think that the small gifts are the most delightful - the tiny everyday things that people took note of and remembered - your favorite coffee, a bottle of nail polish in your favorite color, a batch of your favorite cookies. My first Christmas after college, when I was living on my own my Dad gave me a gift that made an impression on me - a new tape measure that was just like his own. I thought he was being silly because when I was younger I had broken one of his tape measures through carelessness, and we had sat down and talked about the difference between an accident and carelessness - always be careful and thoughtFUL when borrowing other people's things because they have given you not just their things, but also their trust. Anyway, he had a different lesson in mind - one that has stuck with me through the years. This tape measure was to use to measure myself - and what should I measure up to, Dad, I asked him, waiting for the punch line. Your own standards was his answer. When measuring yourself you should only use your own tape measure, not anyone else's, which is why he said no when I asked if I could have his old tape measure instead. Your own standards, he repeated, not mine or anyone else's. That tape measure has served me well, and is my all time favorite Christmas gift. Now I am wondering - what is yours?

*Back in a bit to respond to individual posts - thanks for keeping my thread warm!

Mamie, you were around when I came to your thread, but then I had to read it all and you're probably gone now, doggone it. Your father sounds like a very wise man, and I'd treasure that tape measure and its message too. Wow! You could build a novel around that. And I love the story of Daniel and the Fruity Pebbles. Anyway, I'm sorry that you've been sick, and I hope that you're back to 100% over the weekend so that you and your family can enjoy Christmas.
All-time favorite Christmas gift? I don't know ---- my Kindle? DH accused me of carrying it around like a baby doll for weeks. My beautiful baby doll Cassie? Or my beautiful blond doll Libby for whom my aunt sewed a lovely wardrobe? Very conventional stuff.
Congratulations on your 100 books!!!!!

So sorry you've been ill, Mamie, and I hope you continue to recover. I love your Christmas stories, particularly Dan and the sweets! I agree that the best gifts are ones that show people have been paying attention.

I'm not sure what my favourite ever present has been, but I do remember the year I got my first Barbie doll. We would wake up to a pillowcase of presents under the tree, mostly little things but one of them was our "big" present. Barbie was mine. I think I was nine at the time, so this was the mid-70s. She came with one dress on her, one pair of shoes, and a hairdressing set - a comb, brush (I think) and a thing that curled her hair. I was so excited! There were other sets of clothes available, but they cost a fortune, so my mother had made her a wardrobe of clothes from the material that she used for her own clothes, so Barbie had a very fashionable 1970s wardrobe - flared trousers, long dresses and so on. Some months later, when we were on holiday in a little town in the middle of the North Island, I bought a "Malibu Barbie" with my pocket money (she was on sale and cost $4.99, although I have no idea how I can remember that all these years later), but her hair would never curl. She had sunglasses, though :-)

Hmmm Nothing comes immediately to mind, although I am remembering this ghastly pink terrycloth bathrobe with some huge floppy rosettes on it (real late sixties style) that I adored that my aunt, who indulged me, gave me and that I know sort of irritated my mother because she thought my aunt was 'spoiling' me (which she was not, by the way). I wore that thing until it was all strings...... Ah well..... we saw it on this shopping trip and I loved it, and she went back and got it for me and sent it.

Mamie, so glad you are feeling better! Not too many days left for wrapping. Usually I procrastinate on that, too, but this year I was ahead of myself and did it early. Probably because I live in such a small house that when the kids are here they could find gifts sitting around, so I needed to wrap them up. Look very festive under my very small and happy tree.

My favorite Christmas present was a coat my Mom bought me when I was in college. It was camel-hair color with a fur collar (back in the days when fur was not on the no-no lists). It was perfect for walking around on the University of Washington campus during the winter. I could pull the collar up around my ears and stay warm in the rain and wind. The U of W campus is very large and walking from class to class could take 15 minutes. In a rain storm, that is a long time. That coat served me very well.

I am killing time this Saturday morning until it is late enough to go pick up one or two kids from my Niece's and then we go to my friends to check out the Spaniel. We'll see if Benny likes Greta, and if Greta likes Benny, and then if Benny can tolerate the crazy kids. Fingers are crossed because I think I am already set on getting this guy. I'll let you know.

I'm still here, Peggy. Thanks for stopping by. I am convinced that my Dad was indeed a very wise man, and I am thankful for every single moment that I had with him. Thanks so much for your kind words - I am feeling much better today, so things are looking up. And thanks for sharing your memories - I love my Kindle, too! Your handmade wardrobe for your doll reminds me that one year my two aunts that I have talked about before sewed me an entire wardrobe for my Barbie dolls - there were winter coats with real fur trim (because my Mom worked as a seamstress doing alterations from home for a local dry cleaner and got to keep the scraps). Everything was lovely and detailed and they had made a closet by covering a paper box with contact paper and adding little tacks for doorknobs on the flaps of the box. It was wonderful!

And I was thrilled to make it to 100 books, so thanks!

Sorry to see you a bit under the weather Mamie. Have a good rest and get yourself fine for Christmas.

Sorry you're feeling unwell, Mamie. Hope you're back on your feet soon. Love the story about the tape measure -- what a lovely gift and wise advice. I'm afraid I never had a gift with great meaning like that but for a period between say 10 and 13 or 14 my favorite gift every year was a paint-by-numbers oil paint set. I would start it as soon as the presents were all opened and loved every minute until it was finished (several days later because the paint had to dry between colors sometimes). Guess I have always beena frustrated artist. As someone said last night when complimented on Christmas stockings she had made " they're a kit..I'm not creative but I can follow insructions" -- that's me alright!!

Sorry to hear thatyou've been poorly Mamie. Hope your feeling better now. Mr SandDune has been ill as well - there seem to be such a lot of bugs going around at the moment.

Oh dear, keep mending dear Mamie so it won't be necessary to say "Merry Sickmas" to you!

My favorite xmas gift was my mother dying on xmas eve. We'd always had such beautiful, decorative, and delicious xmases! She left at the time of year that I already associated with her, and with the only pleasant memories I had of her. It really was a thoughtful gift. I'm sure it was deliberate as I'd left the hospital for a shower and was coming back, which I'd told her, so we could have hot chocolate and wait for Santa. *piff* dead!

Thanks, Mama. It was the loveliest gift she gave me. An odd thing to say, I guess, but true nonetheless.

Hi Mamie,
What a bummer to be sick when you have so much to do - but I'm thinking you must need the rest and slow-down your body is insisting on... soak up that southern sunshine and feel well!

I got my favorite Christmas gift when I was about 12 y/o???
It was a skating skirt! Black corduroy with a white satin lining - a perfect circle - short and sassy! There was never money for frivolous stuff - and this surely was. I felt like an ice princess twirling around on the ice. I only skated outdoors - whenever there was ice (which back then was almost all the time in the winter). I was shocked that 1) Mom spent the money on it and 2) that she let me wear it in the cold. Of course, I was never cold wearing it but basking in a warm glow :-)
I don't think she'll ever know what it meant to me. Maybe she did since I wore it so much!

Mamie, I did renew Devil's Peak and have very much enjoyed it. I left it home rather than lug it to NC when I only had about 30 pages to complete. Excellent read.

I'm so sorry you have been sick, and right in the lead-up to Christmas! Our family has always been one with lots of presents under the tree, and probably not always as careful about money as we should perhaps have been. P's family has always been a bit more restrained. When our nephews were younger (they are now 25 and 29), they really wanted lots of presents under the tree. One year we bought each of them a multi-pack of socks (along with one or two more interesting presents) and I wrapped each and every sock individually and in a different container or format. They caught on after a few but the story lives on. It was one of my prouder "Santa" moments.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and one for which you feel much better!

I loved your story of the tape measure gift. Your dad is very wise.

So sorry to hear that you've been under the weather, Mamie. I hope you are feeling better.

A memorable Christmas gift for me was from my sister. She's three years older than me, and is an excellent sewer. You are probably too young to remember but Granny Gowns were all the rage in the mid-sixties and she made a beautiful pink and burgandy one for me. I wore it with great pride to a New Years dance, and I felt like the belle of the ball! I must remember to remind her of this when I see her in a few days.

I'm glad to hear you are feeling better, Mamie. It's a terrible time of year to be under the weather!

One of my favorite gifts was also from my father. I spent the spring semester of my junior year in college interning with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Christmas before I left, my dad, who is not always the most thoughtful person, gave me a 1st edition of Advise and Consent by Allen Drury which deals with a fictional controversy involving the SFRC. It was a wonderful book, still one of my favorites, and I was so touched that he made that connection for me. I feel it was his way of saying he was proud of me.

Hi, Mamie, hope you are feeling better, and all set for Christmas.

I did bring this sweet little boy dog home. He is so sweet. I am a bit torn as he is so much more a regular dog than the schnauzers. He smells like a dog, he acts like a dog. And Greta has her nose quite out of joint. She is sulking, I swear. She looks at me like - "what did you do?" "I can't believe you brought that dufus home" "what? I have to put up with a dog who jumps on his hind legs so he can give you a kiss?"

He ran around a bit, needed to be taught how to go up and down the flight of stairs to the second floor, was quite disturbed by a noisy car outside and ran about as if there was a monster coming; but, finally did fall into a little snoring sleep at the foot of my bed. I am sure he'll settle in, and Greta will learn to love him. He does have pretty good manners.

I'm not falling to sleep tonight so I'm reading threads. ETA: here's a picture -

I hope that by the time you read this message you are recovered. What a year you had...listing one house and then selling it, buying another, moving and then getting settled in your new environment. Your cheery spirit tells a story of adventure. Your body may be saying to slow the pages of the adventure a tad and to allow yourself quiet moments.

All the best to you my dear for a wonderful holiday.

Mamie -- hope this morning finds you feeling better!

Wishing you a super quick and total recovery! I feel the same about wrapping.. always have.. and for the same reason! i hate locking myself up in a room with not even a cat for company and trying to get things sorted out. No fun.. and always confusing with stuff everywhere and the tape disappearing and the scissors running off every 2 minutes. ugh!

BUT, Merry Christmas and much happiness to you and yours sis.... I am so happy that you found us this year.. and look forward to another wonderful year of becoming friends...
hugs

Hi Mamie. Sorry to hear you've been sick but I'm glad to hear you're feeling better now and I'm doubly glad you weren't sick over Christmas. I love your stories about Christmas. I'll have to rack my brains to think of my favourite or most memorable Christmas gift but I do remember the way my Dad used to wrap our Christmas presents - he always tried to disguise what they were by wrapping them in strange ways. One year I had a T shaped package: hard in some places and softer in others. I could not work out what it was. When I opened it I discovered two books of which the top had been put into the slot of a tissue box to make a T shape. There was no way I was going to guess that!

Merry Christmas to you and your family - hope you all have a healthy and happy day together.

Mamie, I hope you are well on your way to a total recovery. I haven't wrapped any of the presents either. So either I'll be staying up late tonight to do them, or I'll have to wrap them tomorrow.What I have done though, is start to put the presents out in little piles according to family groups so at least I don't have to hunt them all down as well. Still a few people we haven't quite gotten gifts for, and who may end up getting a bottle of muesli from the big batch I made today.

I love the story about your dad and the tape measure. Your dad was surely a very wise man.

Hi, Mamie ~ Just stopping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Sorry to hear you have been sick but happy to know you are feeling better and will be able to enjoy the holidays. BTW, my parents also put our presents under the tree on Christmas Eve, and my, weren't we kids wild things for days prior, anticipating the event. I wonder how my mom stood it!

Mamie, thanks for an always interesting thread with wise thoughts and heartwarming stories. It has been great getting to know you this year, and I look forward to more stories from you in 2013. Wishing you and your family a warm and wonderful Georgia Christmas.

Wishing you and your family a very happy first Christmas in Georgia.

Hi Mamie- I did not know you were not feeling well. Sad Mark. But I am glad you are feeling better now. Happy Mark. I hope you are able to get some things done today. Hugs!

Mamie, I hope you're continuing to feel better. Happy Christmas to you and your family.

Merry Christmas Mamie!!

I wish you a happy and healthy Christmas! Feel better soon!

Hi Mamie! Just stopping by to say that I enjoyed your thread very much and I hope that you will be feeling better soon :)

However, I wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas!

Just stopping by to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, Mamie. I will look for you on the 2013 threads as I will not be around much until the new year. I am leaving the day after Christmas to visit my Mom.

Just stopping by to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Mamie!

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Mamie!

Merry Christmas Dear One!

Wishing you wonderful holidays to you and your wonderful family Mamie, and much looking forward to continued exchanges in 2013! Thank you for your note too and hope you feel all better by now.

Merry Christmas, Mamie!


glitter-graphics.com

Hi Mamie! Busy busy I see (by your absence) ;)
Hoping for a wonderful first Georgia Xmas for you and the family. We are very nearly at the end of Xmas Day here and it has been wonderful- really great to have family and good friends all around. Forget all your worries and have others wait on me hand and foot (This only happens under Drs orders I promise! 2 weeks down, 4 weeks to go on crutches).

Have a great day, and a great holiday!

I wish you a very Merry Christmas in Georgia, a wonderful and relaxed time with the family, and all the best for 2013!!

glitter-graphics.com
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas in your new home!

Morning Mamie! And Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful day with your family. Big Hugs!

Just dropping by (and delurking) with some Christmas cheer from me and the Moomins (another great LT find). Can't wait to hear all about your first Christmas in Georgia!

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

Hope you had a merry day.

Okay, I am going to work hard to catch up on my poor neglected (by me) thread. So sorry it has taken me so long to get back here - I have kept up with all the messages, but have not posted. So here goes...starting waaaayyyy back up there with post #49 from Richard:

Richard - So glad you liked the Cotterill quote! I do not have a FB account - I have never even been on FB! *gasp* I should probably look into it, as my nieces and nephews have been begging me to get an account for years. But if I did, you would certainly be considered a friend!!

Caro -I am loving Dr. Siri! The Merry Misogynist is where it takes a it of a darker tone.

Heather - Thank you, and I hope that you like Chocolat when you get to it.

Lori! Good to see you! And I'm so glad that Chocolat is on your list for 2013 - hope you love it as much as I did!

Thanks, Lucy! I do think that Burmese Days is a powerful book with a lot to say.

Donna - Thank you! It was wonderful to have Craig off for several days over Christmas. And I am so happy that you are going to include Dr. Siri in your 2013 reading - so fun!

Kath - I am not on FB. And I never made it to the party because that is when I got sick. It was just a carry-in for luncheon during the office lunch hour, so no big deal. Craig said it was fun and that all of the food was fabulous.

Deb - Thanks for checking in on me!!

>post 58: Karen - Thanks for catching up and for the congrats! And your news is so very exciting! Of course we now know what happened - you brought the adorable puppy home. I am so happy for you! One of my close friends had a King Charles Cavalier for many years, and he was so gentle and fun-loving. And you are always welcome to post photos and news on my thread.

Judy - Thanks for stopping by. I always procrastinate the wrapping, too, and then wish that I hadn't!

Megan - So glad that your recovery is coming along well! What a long haul - you are being a much better sport about it than I would be. And I was thrilled to make 100 books this year (now 106), so it was okay that the 100th book was not a five star read - at least it was not a total bust!

Caro - Thanks for breezing through...pretty boring lately, huh? Have to see what I can do about that!

Kath - I ended up getting all the wrapping done ahead of schedule. I actually didn't have to wrap anything on Christmas Eve, so that was ever so fabulous!

Richard - smoochies back to you!

Cee - Thanks! Didn't make the party on account of sickness, but I appreciate your lovely thoughts! It was nice that they included spouses.

Brit - How very lovely to see you, dear! Thanks so much for stopping by! And for the kind words! I was so happy to reach 100, especially since October ending up being a big fat zero for finishing books.

Caro - Sorry to disappoint. No photos or stories as I didn't make it to the party - maybe next year!

>70 susanj67:: Susan - Thanks so much for your kind thoughts and words! Your story about your first Barbie doll brings back memories of my own. I had Malibu Barbie, and she was one of my favorites along with Skipper! One year my two aunts made me an entire wardrobe for her that was to die for - winter coats with fur muffs, poodle skirts, bellbottom jeans...They must have worked long and hard to provide so many detailed outfits - and they were all hanging neatly in a cardboard box that they had covered with contact paper and turned on its side so that the flaps became the doors of the closet. It was wonderful - in fact, I think I still have it in the attic unless I passed it on to one of my nieces.

Lucy - I LOVE the robe story!! Hooray for your aunt!

Karen - Thanks for sharing the story of your camel-hair coat. I bet you were quite striking in it! And we know how your meting with puppy went - total success! LOVE the photo that you posted of him in message 83, and your stories about him already convince me that you are completely in love with him. I am so very happy for you and Miss Greta Garbo! Please give both of them a scratch behind the ears for me.

Paul - Thanks for your good wishes - they worked! I was all better in time for the big day.

Reba - Thank you for the good wishes - like I said to Paul, they worked! And you bring back fond memories - I used to love those paint-by-number sets, which, trust me, is the only kind of artwork that you want to see by me!!

Rhian - Sorry to hear that Mr. SandDune has been sick as well - hope he is feeling better. And what about poor J who I read over on your thread woke up with the flu this morning - so not fun! We spent many, many years where at least one child was sick and holiday plans had to be changed at the last minute. Always such a bummer. Hope J recovers quickly!

Richard - So pleased that you didn't have to wish me a Merry Sickmas! Your story leaves me not knowing whether I should laugh or cry. So I'll just hug you, (and fix you a G&T) as I have a difficult Momma myself and not many fond memories - but I do have the Christmas memories that she helped to create for me, as she used to so love that holiday, so I guess that was her time to shine.

Cee - I did exactly as you said, and I am feeling much better! And good thing that I soaked up all that Georgia sunshine as it has poured cats and dogs for the past two days. It was nice to be home all comfy and cozy and know that we had not one thing that needed to take us out in it!

Oh, how I love the story of your short and sassy skating skirt! Wonderful! I could picture it so clearly in my mind's eye from your description. What a lovely memory - thanks so much for sharing it!

Ellen - So glad to hear that you have been enjoying Devil's Peak - I am almost finished with it. It's good, isn't it? Love the story you shared - your nephews have a wonderful memory thanks to you. They will never forget that - kids help us learn to be tickled by moments that seem small at the time but get bigger as we remember them. And thanks for your lovely and thoughtful wishes!

Carol - Glad you liked the story. He was indeed very wise - I am still learning from him, and he has been gone for over a year.

Judy - Thank you for your good wishes. I did not know what Granny Gowns were, so now I have learned something new! That was so lovely of your sister - what a great memory for both of you! I cannot sew at all, but Rae can - she learned in a class in middle school and then asked for a sewing machine for Christmas that year. We got one for her, and a friend of mine taught her how to use it. When Craig and I were shopping for the kids for their Christmas jammies - we always give them new jammies on Christmas Eve- we were having trouble finding ones for Birdy. She is fourteen, but she is very short. All the bottoms looked too long in the women's section, but the ones in the kids' section were too babyish. The store clerk asked if she could help us as we were holding up the bottoms of one pair, so we explained our difficulty. She suggested that I just "nip up" the bottoms - a "quick hem" she said. Well, I can't sew, I admitted, but maybe my oldest daughter could do it. "You don't sew, but your daughter does?!" For some reason she thought this was just the funniest thing - free teddy bear for you, she declared. And that is how Birdy got the free stuffed bear with her Christmas jammies!

Thanks, Katie! And that's a great story about the connection that your Dad made with you by choosing such a thoughtful gift. I think you are right - he was letting you know how proud of you that he was.

Karen - I actually responded to your post above, but I'll just say again how thrilled I am for you and how much I love that photo that you posted. Wonderful!

Linda - Thanks so much for your lovely post - what a kind and generous heart you have! You are right - it has been a very busy year. Time to slow things down a bit and sit back and enjoy. So that's just what I did!!

Reba - Thanks for hoping - it worked!

Kath - You totally get my wrapping woes!! A kindred soul! At least now they are over for another year - WahHOO!! And thanks so much for your wonderful words - I have had so much fun this year getting to know all of you. What a blessing each of you has been - it would have been a great discovery any year, but especially this year when I really needed all the love and support and words of wisdom that everyone shared. I am looking forward to next year, too! Can't wait to see what it brings! Hugs for you, sis. Thanks for being so fabulous!

Heather - Thank you! Love that story about how your Dad wrapped gifts - how fun! That sounds like something my Dad would have done, but forget the books. He would have taken all of the tissues out of the box and wrapped them together and then wrapped the box separately. And then he would have said that you had gotten two gifts - tissues and a tissue holder!

Okay, so I made it to post 88 from Caro, which I will respond to tomorrow. Thanks ever so much, everyone, for keeping my thread going while I was under the weather. Tomorrow I will share some funny Christmas stories - hot off the presses, because humor never sleeps in Mamieland! (At least it had better not) Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday!

Merry Christmas Mamie!

Merry Christmas Mamie! Thank you so much for the awesome books!! I was so excited to see that you were my secret santa! Great job picking out books, I love them!!
Hope you and your family had an amazing Christmas! xo

Just a quick stop to see how you're doing :)
Still a wee bit busy in my world....

Merry Day After Christmas Mamie! Sorry I've been so lax getting around the threads but well the holidays really stole my LT time. I can only hope to do better in 2013:)

Mamie - glad to see you fully recovered for Christmas. Looking forward to more-of-Mamie in 2013.

*drive-by wave* Hope you had a Merry Christmas! Can't wait for your funny Christmas stories... :D

Caro - I did end up getting the gifts wrapped with a day to spare, so all was well. Glad you liked the story about the tape measure.

Mary! Thanks so much for stopping in and for your lovely Christmas wishes - we had a very good one! And love hearing that your Mom put the gifts out on Christmas Eve, too! I love hearing everyone's different traditions and stories.

Donna - Thank you so much for your very kind words and lovely compliments. I have enjoyed following your thread as well and learning about your beautiful grandchildren and the reading about the books you have read. What a fun year this has been - and we get to do it all over again next year! Delightful!

Rhian - Thank you so much - we had a very wonderful first Christmas in Georgia, and I greatly enjoyed doing my Christmas shopping in much warmer weather! Sorry that J woke up sick, but so very glad that you are all now feeling better, and that you didn't have to cancel your plans. Wishing you only good things in the new year.

Mark - All better now! Thanks for your good wishes.

Susan - I am completely well now, and no one else got sick, so that was a blessing. Thank you so much for your lovely Christmas wishes!

A big round of applause and a hearty thanks to all of you who left such wonderful graphics, photos and wishes for our Christmas holiday - it made me smile to see such colorful posts! Thanks to: Chelle, Bianca, Judy, Caro, Ellen, Cee, Linda, Ilana, Terri, Megan, Nathalie, Lynda, Mark, Pat, Lucy, and Roberta! Each and every one of you has made this such a wonderful, magical year for me!

Chelle - So delighted that you liked the books that I picked for you. I was so thrilled to be your Secret Santa!! I have both of them waiting in my TBR and am hoping to get to them in the New Year. I chose the sequel to Blood Red Road because it was you and Mark that got me to read that book this year (which I loved), so it seemed fitting to supply you with the sequel. I chose Zoo Station because I have heard such wonderful things about it, and am wanting to dip into that series this year - it will be fun to see what we each think of it when we get to it.

Kath - Sorry that you are still so busy - things have been a bit crazy here, too. Now we will have to begin the process of taking all the Christmas stuff down - why oh why is it so much more fun to put it up then to take it down?!

Bonnie - Thanks for stopping in! I hope that you had a fabulous holiday and enjoyed every minute of it! It's never too late for good wishes! I am so looking forward to 2013, and you can be sure that I will be once again following your adventures - already wondering what literary treasures you will point me towards!

Paul - Never better! I can't wait to see what 2013 brings - and I am touched that you are looking forward to more of my thread!

Faith! I had a lovely Christmas - hope you did as well. Now I am all caught up, I can get to the Christmas stories!!

I am with you on the Christmas stuff.... PIA to take down :)
One day soon I hope to be caught up and able to catch up...

I am so glad that your first Georgia Christmas was a good one. My Adam made it back to his place last evening.. so he is safe and sound...

I am sitting here with the fire and hoping Cory wakes soon.. I feel like the last weel lasted 2 months!
I enjoyed it, but now sorting things out is going to take another week ... lol

Hi Kath! I always have to talk myself into taking down the Christmas stuff - or bribe the kids! Right now bribing the kids is sounding like a brilliant plan! The girls were supposed to get haircuts today - this morning, but the hairdresser had to cancel (secretly thrilled that I don't have to go out), so we rescheduled for next week. Anyway, the funny thing is that I set my alarm so that I would be up to take a shower and have coffee before taking them - I don't usually set an alarm, just get up when Craig is getting ready for work. The alarm goes off at 7:30 am, and Craig bolts out of bed and is halfway through the bedroom door going I don't know where when he stops and says, "What is that?" I am laughing because I have never seen anybody leap from bed like that and his hair is sticking up on one side which is almost impossible because he has such short hair - but is is sticking out so comically, and he is looking so confused that it cracks me up. That's my alarm, I tell him. What time? he asks, and I tell him. Now it's like a scene from Laurel and Hardy - he turns first to go out of the bedroom, then spins back and comes toward the bed..."I'm getting up at 6:45," he says. No, you're not, you're getting up at 7:30, I tell him - it's 7:30 right now. He turns toward the bathroom and takes a few steps, changes his mind and heads back out of the bedroom towards the kitchen, then he's back: "It's after 7:30," he says. Yes, I say. He stands there a minute, I can hear the wheels turning in his head...he heads towards the shower...I can hear the water running, and then I hear him exclaim, "It's after 7:30!" Poor baby - don't you just hate when you start the day feeling off balance like that?

"I feel like the last weel lasted 2 months!
I enjoyed it, but now sorting things out is going to take another week ... lol"
I know exactly what you mean - I'm right there with you, sis. Glad you got to see most of your kids.

*snerk* at poor Craig's bad start to his day...being disabled and so not working outside the home sounds so good at moments like that.

He's normally pretty smooth in the mornings, but...um...not today! It's still cracking me up because he just looked so funny. At least he's off this weekend.

#123 I love the Craig story! Does he know you tell us these gems?

He knows some but not all. It's probably best that way!

>111 Crazymamie: I had Malibu Barbie, and she was one of my favorites along with Skipper!
Boo Hoo, I was never allowed a Barbie :(
When my sis and me first lived together as adults, we bought some from the op-shops (2nd hand shops) and planted them head first in planter pots outside out front door! We thought we were hilarious.
We kept some of the nicer ones for inside (on top of the bookshelf) and were even given a Ken doll by someone for our flat-warming party! Just to keep the gals company. Oh, those were the days, and I use the term "adults" lightly!

LOL at Craig's dilemma... poor guy.

UGH Barbie! I never wanted one.. got one when I was 6 though.
Never liked her. I don't think Amy ever had one... but I wouldn't swear to it.
I know that I never bought her one...

Megan - The Barbie planters are totally cracking me up! Too funny!

Kath - So no to Barbie, huh? I loved any kind of doll, but especially paper dolls - those were my very favorites. What cha doing today?

Paper Dolls! I had them, and liked them. Amy had them, too :) Loved them!

Not doing much....you?

Just sitting around hanging out in LT right now. I made a big batch of potato soup for lunch and it turned out perfectly - and it was the perfect day for it because it is overcast and chilly here. Craig and Dan are putting the water heater in today! Very excited about that! Not much else on the agenda - probably just a luxury day of reading!

Sounds yummy!
Water heater? What did I miss? A water heater death, or did you need a bigger one?

LOL! I meant to say water softener!! We actually have two water heaters and they both work beautifully - and I love that the girls' shower and our shower are on separate ones which means that they cannot use up all of my hot water. So BRILLIANT!

ahhh perfect! Two water heaters .... bliss...

Yes, ma'am!

Shouldn't laugh at poor Craig (I hate mornings like that!!), but your tale is very amusing!!
I heard a rumor that you caved in to peer pressure and started your 2013 thread....

It's true, Ellen. *hangs head*

I hope your first Christmas in your new house was a wonderful experience.

Thank you, Linda! It sure was! I hope that you had a lovely Christmas as well.

Happy Sunday, Mamie! When it comes time to take down the decorations, there's no one to be found. So it's me and two lazy kitties. I think I'll turn up the Christmas music and dance around the room like a fool as I put it all away.
Wishing you and your lovely family and happy 2013!

Morning Mamie- Just checking in. The year is wrapping up and I just wanted to let you know, how nice it's been having you with us on the mighty 75. You've been such a perfect addition to our cozy little home. May we enjoy many years to come.

Yeah... what Mark said. Hard to believe that you haven't been here all along..!
Whatcha up to today?

Hi Mamie, I found my copy of Anna Karenina and it does, indeed, have deckle edges. :-)
More on that when I find our group read thread......

Happy Sunday, Lynda! That sounds like an excellent plan - ours are all still up! Guess it will be waiting until after the New Year...Thanks for your good wishes! Wishing for you and your family a year full of fabulous things and heart warming moments.

Mark! Thank you so much for that - it means a lot to me! I have loved every minute of this past year here on the threads, and you have been a big part of that. Thanks for making me feel so welcome and for being so charming and fun - you helped to make it a truly grand adventure!

Kath - Thank you! I can't remember what I did without all of you before I discovered LT - it boggles the mind! Today? Um...FOOTBALL! The last regular season games were today, and before you even have to ask, I will report that the Eagles lost today. So there - a little bit of happy for you! The Colts, the Broncos, the Bears, and the Giants won. Sadly, Mark's team knocked Katie's team out of the playoffs - well, sad for Katie. I'm sure Mark is thrilled!

Ellen - Excellent! As we speak, Amazon is processing my order - which I placed as soon as I read your info on the Anna Karenina GR thread. So thanks for that! You know how I adore deckled edge pages!!

I hate football :-(

I'm sorry, Katie!

Hey, Mamie, I spent the weekend reading in the end of the year readathon, and I'm pooped. Finished two books! Whoo hoo. But I wanted to stop by and wish you a very Happy New Year, and I'm looking forward to a new thread accounting your life, times, and readings in 2013!

Thanks, Karen! And two more books finished!! WahHOO for you! SO glad that you will be along for the ride in 2013!!

Very behind here, but wanted to stop by and say Hi! and thank you for being such a wonderful presence here on LT. Best wishes for 2013. Please keep it up!!

Mamie - I think you know that I think your threads have been a joy and a revelation this year. Long may it continue. Happy new year to you and yours at the Pecan Paradisio.

So have you taken down the decorations? I haven't I usually do it this day, but will probably wait until Wednesday.. I need some help with the tree... busy season.. I miss seeing you here...
oh and thank you fora the update on the VICK monster.

:)

Morning All! I cannot believe that today is the last day of 2012. What an amazing and life-changing year this has been for my family. I feel like Scrooge when he discovers that the magic has been worked all in one night and that he has not missed Christmas after all - for me, the spirits did it all in one year! We survived living in two separate states, the first anniversary of my Dad's death, a tree falling through our home, the sell of the property that had been home to us for fourteen years, and the move to the South to the lovely state of Georgia. Along the way we have made new friends and said goodbye to old ones, we have discovered new treats such as boiled peanuts, new ways of expressing ourselves (if all y'all pay attention, you might find new words fixing to creep into my vernacular), discovered the delights of owning one's own pecan trees, and, this last one is the best of all, been embraced by an online community of book lovers. What an incredible journey it has been! Thanks to each and every one of you who helped to carry my burdens and who listened with open hearts to my stories and commentary. I cannot imagine this past year without your generous love and support. I wish for each of you a New Year filled with magical moments and quiet reading corners and heartfelt laughter.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Kim! I am missing you on the threads! Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and wish me well. Wishing you and yours a day full of fabulous and a year full of wonder. Rest assured that I will continue stalking you in the New Year!

Paul - Thank you so much for your words which are always kind and generous, just like yourself. It has been so lovely getting to know you this year, and I hope to continue the lively banter far into the future. I think of you every time I see those beautiful pecan trees outside because you are the one who coined the phrase "Pecan Paridisio" which is how we think of our new home now. I need to have a sign made!! Wishing you the happiest of New Years!

Kath - Alas, I have not taken down the decorations yet- I guess we will be doing it together on Wednesday! It has been a busy season, and as much as I love this time of year, I am looking forward to a quieter schedule- well, as quiet as it gets around here at any rate! I should be able to post more as things settle down and return to normal. I miss you, too, sis! And you're welcome for the Eagles update- always looking for a way to send a bit of happy your way! Hope your day is all that you want it to be- a gentle foray into a New Year filled with good things and good friends.

Happy New Year, Mamie!

Thanks, Katie! Happy New Year!

Best wishes for a wonderful 2013, Mamie!

Thanks, Joe! Wishing you and yours a fabulous New Year also!

Happy New Year, Mamie!

What a delight it has been to participate in this book loving community and your thread is absolutely a highlight of the experience. You have such a wonderful attitude ... makes me smile everytime I come here. I hope you have a joyful 2013. I look forward to hearing about it here.

Thanks, Pat! I just love that graphic! Happy New Year to you!

Reba- thank you so much for those kind words! I have loved every moment of it, and I am so looking forward to another whole year of it. May 2013 be filled with fabulous for you!

glitter-graphics.com

Thank you, Caro!! It's so very fitting because Garfield was created by Jim Davis who was from Muncie, Indiana, which is just a stone's throw from where we used to live. In fact, because we lived on a county road, we actually had a Muncie address even though we lived in Yorktown. Here's hoping that your New Year is oh so full of fabulous!

Happy New Year, Mamie.

Thank you, Lucy! You helped me to make the last one oh so very special- thanks for that!

Just leaving a link to my 2013 thread: Mamie's 2013 Madness