Maggie1944 and her two dogs reading in 2013

Yes, I am going to see if I can train the dogs to read.

And spend much more time reading, myself.

First, must wander my way through the rest of 2012.

I liked Paul Cranswick's plan to share scenes from his past and I thought I'd give it a go:



This is Seattle at an unknown date probably about 1950 when I was 6 years old. We did not live "downtown".

Books Finished during this thread's life

1. The Last Unicorn finished on 1/21/13

Karen - If you can get the dogs through a few pages I'll try with the kids' cats.
Will be with you for the duration next year of course.

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Perfect!

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Benny is so so so cute! I want to schmoozle his ears and smooch his nose!

Reserving a spot for the new year!

Hi Karen! Loved seeing the picture of Benny. Hope you all enjoy your reading. :)

Hi Karen, he's such a cutie!

Benny is gorgeous, Karen. And he poses so well for the camera. Marking your thread for 2013.

Welcome back! And welcome to the pups!!

Thanks, all.

Richard, he does love to have his ears schmoozled and his nose smooched. He is the definition of a love bug, for sure. Phebj, I tried to visit with friends, and show my rental house to some potentials. The friends and I had a great brunch, the house: no one showed up. Wilkiec, he is too cute for words. And he likes to dance around in circles on his hind legs when dinner is in his foreseeable future. Makes me laugh. Cameling, yes, he is gorgeous. But I have some work to do to get him to sit still more for the camera. He tends to see me pointing it at him, and he decides he needs to be closer to me for a smooch. Thanks, Jim. Thanks for setting group. And my "reading dogs" will be sure to help fill my quota of books for 2013, don't you think? They appreciate your welcome!

Eat any good books lately? ;)

Karen, Benny is SOOOOOO adorable! I can't wait to meet him (perhaps he will come to TPB for the January meetup?).

I'm refusing to start my 2013 thread until at least December 31. I can hardly keep up with my one thread plus everyone else's!!

Merry Christmas to you!!

Awwwww!

I saw on the introductions thread that you read a lot of books on birds. I've recently developed an interest in that subject, so I'll be watching your thread. Your dog is adorable, by the way!

Tanglewood, I will be watching for you. Your screen name is the name of an island where my church group used to take us when we were in high school. I am very fond of that name, and I'm unlikely to forget it. I am no longer associated with that church and don't know if the island still hosts kids, but I hope it does.

Welcome!

@Tanglewood is also the name of a music center and estate in Massachusetts that hosts the Boston Symphony Orchestra. I went once, and it was beautiful.

Hi Karen,

Happy New Year! Starred your thread.

Hi Karen,
Found you and Benny! Happy new year.

Hoping for more pictures of Benny (and Greta, too!) soon...

Thanks for stopping by friends. I am doing a good job of reading all day today, in between eating and napping. I did join FictFact and it almost led me down the garden path to buying another book. As if I don't have enough already, already!

Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead looks like a great start to a quick series of three. Lots of research, and yet set in the foggy distant pasts, where legends and magic survives! Maybe soon I'll get to it.

If you are on FictFact let me know and we can follow each other, and temptations will reign!

Wow, I have missed a lot of the Barsetshire books by Angela Thirkell! Glad you reminded me about FictFact. xoxoxo

oh, are you there, too? Angela Thirkell, eh? I'm off to add her to my rapidly increasing ideas of books I will read, someday.

Here are the two dogs who will help me with the reading!

Love the pictures of the pups, Karen! I hope they (and you) get a lot of reading done in 2013!

Back to follow your reading for another year!

Hello maggie, just stopping by to wish you a very Happy and wonderful 2013!

I love the photos of your dogs :), do you have a photo of right dog with its face as well? I absolutely adore dogs and we have got one ourselfs, also he doesn't like to read with me :)

Sure, I do! She is quite fun to photograph, when I have the time to follow her around and catch her before she moves! Here she is thinking about LibraryThing and why it keeps me from taking her for a walk:



You probably know she is a Miniature Schnauzer.

The new dog is a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. They are great fun, both of them. Keep a sometimes lonely little old lady good company!

Starred! Wishing you and your pups a Happy and Healthy New Year Karen!

Oooooohhh.... cute and cuddly furkids pictures! That stops me in my tracks as fast as books do. Both the schnauzer and the spaniel have such adorable and expressive faces. I especially love the soulful eyes and cute nose of the spaniel Benny. Leaving a star so I can find your thread again!

Yay for dogs (or cats) who help with reading!!

OHHHh
so cute!

Hi Karen, hoping 2013 is a great year for you and all bibliophile canines. I'll never keep up with your posts, but it's sure fun when I get a chance to pop in xxx

jen the pen, you'll be welcome when you find me

You have two adorable dogs, Karen. It looks like they are fast friends already. I follow you around other people's threads a lot, so thought I'd just give in and add another star to my galaxy!

Happy New Year dear lady - I look forward to more words of wisdom from that chair!

Happy New Year, Karen!

Happy New Year Karen:)

I look forward to following you for another year of books, dogs and life:)

。☆ 。☆。☆
★。＼｜／。★
Happy New Year!
★。／｜＼。★

Sophie says hello to Greta and Benny! Greta looks like she is contemplating the bookshelf in that first picture of her. Happy New Year!

Bright blessings for a new year!

Thanks everyone!

Happy New Year, Karen! You have been a great addition over here. I've enjoyed your company as we have made our way through our reading life.
Those book shelves look a bit crammed up there! Looks very familiar. Hugs!

OK, I'm going to start Anna now!

Hi maggie, also I recognised your name is Karen :). Thanks, for the wonderful photo of your Schnautzer she just looks adorable!

As you say, dogs make wonderful company and for myself they make a lonely walk in the forrest much more entertaining.

Good luck on Anna Karenina, I was thinking about re-reading it but I think I give it a pass this time.

Karen - FYI, I started The Path to Power today. You were right about Caro - he's very good. But I don't like Johnson very much...

A very Happy New Year, Karen! May it be blessed with good friends, beautifully written books that speak to your heart, and loads of laughter! LOVE the pictures of the doggies - thanks for sharing!

Your dogs are awfully darn cute! I bet they are good company, whether they ever learn to read or not.

Happy New Year, Karen! Go Benny! Go Greta!

Thanks, Bianca. I appreciate your kind comments about the photographs. Dogs do make wonderful companions and I am very smitten by these two, although I still miss my Nicky (he died this last November). I have dipped into Anna Karénina and am loving it.

Jim - Ah, yes, Caro. He is one of my heroes in the author world. I eventually came to see Lyndon B. Johnson as a human being and understood some of what made him who he was. I agree he was not, and probably no one will ever be able to make him, an admirable person. Although I think Doris Kearns Goodwin did rather idolized him. Good luck on the journey of those books. I'll be interested to see if you get hooked on them and carry on after The Path to Power.

Mamie, thank you! Its been fun sharing stories this last year. May there be many more fun ones to come.....

Stopping by to star you, Karen.

Stopping by to star you so I can keep track of how life is treating you. Hope the New Year is starting out to be a good one.

Julia, thank you for stopping by. I agree the dogs are darned cute, and I even live with them. They are wonderfully good company and I feel very fortunate to be able to have a place big enough and enough resources to pay for food and vets. Not everyone is so fortunate and I know that! Happy New Year to you, and happy reading.

Joe, thanks for dropping in and encouraging the little buggers. Greta has curled up in her bed and is going back to sleep before breakfast as befits the "lady of the house" while Benny is begging to sit in my lap while I have my first cuppa.

Roni, thanks for the star. And Tina, you, too! Life is treating me very well indeed!

It is cold and clear here this morning and I am especially appreciative of the pellet stove. Both dogs had found their way into the bed to stay warm with me last night and are quick when they go outside, too. A good day for reading.

I am starting a new practice today: not commenting on people's threads unless it is more than just a "hi, how are ya?" Too many people to answer, more lurking is suggested for the month of January. Then, I'll know better who's thread really is mine for the following: finding new books, reading reviews which appeal to my reading tastes, etc. So if I do not comment on your thread please do not take it personally, there are just too many. I'll be lurking around but not always talking (which is highly unusual for me, may only last a day or two, we'll see).

I know what you mean, Karen. No worries. RD says, based on his experience, the threads will calm down in a while after the New Year exuberance, so maybe that will help. Have a good reading day with Greta and Benny.

#56 That's mainly my style, Karen...I lurk and read, but comment only rarely. I've starred your thread and I hope to keep up with your reading. Your dogs are so sweet.

The family is going to Lacey on Saturday to do heavy packing for 90-year-old FIL who is moving into an apartment at the end of January. I'm trying to get out of it, but.....

Oh, darn. I'm sorry, but I do understand sometimes family things do come up at "the last minute" more or less; and the sense of needing to be there, well, it is real. I will wish you can make it, but if not, well, we can start planning the next one for Portland!

Karen, I, too, am planning to lurk more in most of the threads...I can't possibly keep up!

If you are here to just check out my latest post, it is up above on #1. I just put a pic of Seattle back in the way back up there.

great shot and thanks for pointing it out!

Yeah, but I don't want to be there. I want to be at TPB with y'all.

Hi Karen- Just checking in. I hope you are enjoying A.K. So far, it seems to read pretty fast. I am on chapter 27 and hope to read a few more pages before bed tonight.

Whoa, baby! I am just starting Chapter 17, but I agree it is reading quickly. I'm enjoying it and finding keeping people straight no more difficult than learning the names of 130 middle school kids + 50 faculty members back in the day. Ha!

I have had a busy week and more busy busy busy ahead. Ha. Luckily one of the busy things to do is a meet-up of a small group of Library Thing folks on Saturday. And a trip to my favorite island on Sunday. Pray it does not rain.

OK, I've got to do make myself some dinner. Oh, btw, my fav camera is back from repair shop. Hip hip hooray!

56 maggie - That's what I do. If I don't have something more to contribute, I don't comment. And I first read threads in "your posts", the if I have time I go to "your starred" and/or "your groups".

/lurk

Hi Karen44!

relurk

Oh, I bet you are SO glad to get your camera back. And guess what this means? BENNY PICTURES!

Maybe. He is a bit of a challenge. He does not stop moving often, and he always looks at the camera. We may have to "work" on this.

My camera is the best! Here's a pic of Benny for your viewing pleasures:

Ah, how great. He looks very comfortable.

He does look very comfortable, Karen. He's very charming looking.

What a sweet picture!

Karen - Your idea of limiting comments on other threads is a sensible one but a difficult one to follow - when people visit I always find that a return visit is essential!
Hope my thread makes the cut when you decide!

Joe - RD is as ever right - everywhere that is except his own thread!

Karen - have a lovely weekend. x

Thank you, Paul, and I will try to get around to good friends with excellent taste in books, and some of the rest of you, too!

Here's another picture taken with my Good Camera, and edited in Flickr:

Greta Garbo in front of pellet stove, in a cat bed:

Karen - hahaha have never enjoyed being slighted quite so much!

What super dogs! Lucky you. :)

71 - Definitely a cutie .....

I love your dog photos. They are soooooooo adorable. Glad to hear that you enjoy AK. I am planning to re-read it this year at one point. I think the last time I read it was about ? two decades ago.

Wish you a lovely weekend!

So pleased that you have your camera back - beautiful pictures of Benny and Greta:)

Paul - I'll confess: I have a learned at my Mother's knee sarcasm and tendency to insult with humor, and I have tried to curb it for many years but every once in a while it trots out to be appreciated. I am glad you enjoyed my little humor.

Alex, Thank you. He is a handsome cutie pie, and has a tail with wonderful white "feathers". I enjoy showing him off around the dog parks.

Bianca,Thanks for your good wishes. We've got a mini-meet-up planned with some LT folks in the Seattle area. At a book store. My favorite new toy is being able to access FictFact on my phone, and I'll be able to search for used copies of my favorite series. I really should be saving money as my rental house is vacant and I just hired someone to clean up the yard. Books vs. paying the yard man? hmmmmm

calm, thank you. I am glad to have it back, too. Tomorrow I will take a trip to Vashon Island, off Seattle in Puget Sound. I used to live there and wish I could now too but it seems to be too expensive and not appropriate as I age and need my doctors more often. Sigh. But the good news is that I can take my camera and do some photography! Yea!

This is why I am not making more progress in Anna Karénina!

Hope your weekend is wonderful!

Hope you have a great day tomorrow. Just looked up Vashon Island and it looks lovely. I'd have loved to visit it in times gone by though, when the orchards and strawberry farms its history says it had were there. Are there any remnants of the farming lifestyle left?

And the tree with the bike in it seems to be a big thing about Vashon online. Is it still there and as big an attraction as it seems?

Vashon does continue to have some "farming" going on, particularly organic vegetables. I think there is some market in Seattle for restaurants to buy high end, carefully grown veggies. There are some sheep and people who do nice hand made woolens. There is a healthy and large artists community, potters, fabric arts, and painters. My favorite photography teacher lives there, too. But most of the island is haven for wealthy retired people, or folks who are willing to commute to Seattle for work. The latter must have very good jobs because land and commuting are both expensive.

There are woods to walk through, beaches to comb, and roads to bike. I plan on having a great time but I imagine the weather may make the photography a bit tricky.

The bike in the tree is not there any more. And most all of the stories are just urban legends. No World War I boy left it there when he went off to war. Nope. It was funny, though and when still there was worth looking at.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hi Karen. So glad you got your camera back. I loved the pictures of the dogs and can't wait to see more. Benny has such big brown eyes! And where did you get the bed that Greta is sleeping in? That looks like a really interesting design.

I had some European drinking chocolate today that I think you were the first to bring to my attention. It's made in Eugene, OR. It was delicious but I was surprised by the ratio of milk to chocolate--1 tablespoon of milk to one square of chocolate. I ended up adding more milk; otherwise I would have had to eat it with a spoon. Quite delicious!

Yes. It was being passed out at our local Third Place Books bookstore just before Christmas. It looked so delish! Different from our typical ho choco. Where were you able to buy it? I still have one piece, maybe I'll make it tonight. Seems like a hot chocolate kind of an evening.

The kitty bed has a round base, with unusually tall sides, 9 inches; and then, one side is kind of squared off with a "hood" which is 12 inches tall. Kind of looks like a baby bed with a sun bonnet like thing. My foster daughter gave it to me, and someone had given it to her. So I do not have a source for you, sorry. I am sure a big kitty would love it; and my 20 lbs dog does for sure. She likes the cozyness of it, and the warmth. Sits right by the stove.

I got it at the Boise Co-op, our local natural foods store. I don't think I would have gotten it if I hadn't heard about it already from you. It was definitely a hot chocolate kind of day here--starting out at about 3 degrees this morning and only getting in the 20s for a high.

I will have to look online at kitty beds. My cairn likes to curl up in tight spots although he's a healthy boy at about 23 pounds so I guess I'd need to make sure it's big enough for him.

Did you have your LT meetup today?

Yes, Deborah (Arubabookwoman) and Lisa (labsf39) and I met. We were upstaged a bit by a big band that was playing. Third Place Books is a really neat place and they have all sorts of community events + a big room circled by food venders + a lovely large books store of used and new books, and magazines. So, the place was packed and a bit noisy. However we had a nice chat, talked about Nobel prize winning authors, and my two purchases: Throne of Jade (book 2 of Temeraire series) and An Extraordinary Theory of Objects. This last book just caught my eye and I bought it on impulse. In order to save myself from more impulsive buying, I left and they shopped some more! Great day.

No photographs sorry to say. I was just not thinking and did not bring my camera.

I think your Cairn will fit in this bed. I should let you know that Greta is a pretty big girl and could easily weigh more than 20 lbs if I let her eat all she'd like to eat. She is easily 15" at the shoulder and her body (from base of neck to tail) is probably 16". She fits into it fine, room to spare.

I'm so glad you got your good camera back--I enjoy all of your pictures, both the dogs and scenery!

So sorry I missed you and Lisa and Deborah. I hope we can schedule another one (perhaps after my FIL is settled into his new apartment). I would much rather have been there with you all today. I was fairly bored packing boxes.

I also hope you have a wonderful day on Vashon tomorrow. I'll be going for a run, doing laundry, and watching the Seahawks (with a book in my hand, of course).

I finally finished ToR, by the way! :-)

#89: Too bad about no pictures, but I am glad to hear the meet up was a success!

Ellen, I think the next time we schedule a Meet-Up we could do it at Elliott Bay. I know driving in to town can be a hassle but trying to talk over the level of activity at TPB yesterday was a challenge, too. Maybe a place where there are no other distractions will be better.

Camera will be going with me today! And in between rain drops, perhaps I can get some good dog activity, or scenery.

Morning Karen- I'm glad you are enjoying A.K. I'm into chapter 24, Book 2. I think he introduces the new characters well but "IF" he keeps on adding new faces it could get cumbersome. This book is a commitment but he's a heck of a storyteller.

I'm so glad the Meet-Up went well! Hooray! I can also vouch for Lisa! I met her last summer. She's a wonderful person.

8 am Sunday morning: I am packing the car and going on an adventure.

have a wonderful one!

Ooh, an adventure! Have fun.

Just dropping by to see what's going on...love the pictures!

Bennie is as beautiful as you described. I went overboard on book-buying after you left, but Lisa was much more restrained, buying only 2 books I think.

Elliot Bay sounds good--I haven't been there since it was down on Pioneer Square!

Karen and Deborah, if we do try a meet-up at Elliott Bay, I would like to propose that we include a trip around the corner to Molly Moon Ice Cream...... :-)

Did Bennie come to the meet-up? (Is Bennie the new pup?)

Oh! Ice Cream. I love I scream! Yes I do!!!

No, Benny did not come to the meet-up, I just talked way too much about my dogs, like I frequently do! He is the best. Yes, he is the new pup.

Today, I left my house at about 8:15 am to go to Vashon Island. Did not give the dogs an out of the car break even though I selfishly stopped at Starbucks just before the Fauntleroy Ferry and had a coffee and pastry. Drove to Vashon town, did some looking around, went into the grocery store bought cookies for my friend, looked at some houses for sale (I so wish I could move back to Vashon). And finally, at about 11 am arrived at Norman's house. As I am trying to cleverly unlock the back of the Subaru to let poor doggies out, I lock the car and lock my keys, my phone, my purse inside the car. So then over an hour later when AAA arrives to unlock the car, they finally get out. Eight am to One Thirty or something like that! Oh, bad dog mommie, bad dog mommie

We did get a long walk in through the woods and visited with a neighbor of Norman's before they were put back in the car. And then after lunch I gave them another walk. But we did not get home until after 6 pm. Long days riding around for them. They've spent the evening play fighting with each other, and Greta is now beating down her dog bed so she can rest! Whew.

You can imagine I only read a few pages of Anna Karénina while waiting to get on the ferry. Tomorrow doctor's appt. should result in my being able to read a few more pages.

Oh dear! So sorry to hear about the lockup.

So frustrating to have the keys locked in the car! Well, no one suffered irreparable harm.

*smooch* for Monday purposes.

Oh dear!

You're certainly not alone though. My mum locked her dog in the car last year, and my aunt and uncle had to call out the AA at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve because their dog was locked in the car. At least all's well that ends well.

Yes, no harm done except I was very embarrassed in front of my friend! The tow truck driver, sweet man, even told me he had locked his keys in his tow truck the night before and of course, all his tools were locked up! He did not tell me how they solved that puzzle.

Oh Karen, sorry to hear about the dogs getting locked in the car. It was probably worse for you than them! Hope you got some good pictures of Vashon Island. I've never been there but you make it sound wonderful.

Unfortunately, rain and bad light meant no photographs! Maybe next time.

The more behind I get in reading threads, the less I want to tackle reading threads. I'm off to go up stairs with AK under my arm. I think I am a little bummed out by the visit with the lungs doctor today. My breathing tests show a decline in capacity. Hummmmm

Oh, well, I'll think about it tomorrow.

Oooh, I hate breathing tests. I always feel fine but then they give me my results and they're not as good as I'd like. Damn asthma!

between having asthma and barely surviving a pulmonary embolism, I can identify with lung tests that aren't very good. but then I'm at the point where I'm just glad I'm breathing at all.

Well the doc. did reassure me he is not seeing emphysema or pulmonary sclerosis. As a former smoker, I tend to rush to a little tiny panic place. I think I'll just keep breathing.

Breathe slowly, Karen, and deeply as you can. :)

I'm glad you and the pooches are alright, Karen. My experience with dogs is that they are wonderfully forgiving. :-)

Rest up Karen. My mother does have emphysema, and you want to avoid that (obviously). Do you have breathing exercises you do?

I thought about doing some exercise to increase my lung capacity and then I realized the doctor is trying to discover if there is a trend, and then to try to find out if it is caused by the meds or the disease of RA. So, now is not the time to work at increasing the capacity. Later that may become relevant; and yes, I do have some exercises I could do.

Thanks for the idea, though. I am very sorry to hear about your Mother's difficulties. Not a good deal, at all.

Sorry you're having trouble with breathing capacity, Karen. I'm glad you're working on it with the doc. I was a smoker way back when, and understand the worries.

Jumping in to say your dogs are SO cute! Also, I love Elliott Bay!!

And I hope your lungs get better. I have lung tests tomorrow, so I will get to sit in the phone booth and pretend to be superman.

Thanks for the good wishes, and back X2 for you! Yes, the doggies are do-gone cute!

Karen - Trust that you are feeling ok and that the lungs are working fine, or at least well enough. Shame we got no pictures from your meet-up.

Here is a Meet-Up of a different sort!



They play 2 - 5 times every day! So good for them both, and makes us laugh, too.

Paul - I am feeling mostly fine, although I can confess I do feel a little less energy than I think I should have.

Karen- Just checking in. Love the doggie pic! How is it coming with A.K.? Keeping your attention? I am closing in on the halfway point. Whew! I LOVE it but It's LONG!

Great doggie picture! I'm glad they are getting along so well.

Thanks, Mark and Roni. It is great. Except mischievous behaviors seem to be ruling the day. I was late getting home as I was working with the Apple store and the Barnes and Noble store to get my Nook app successfully downloaded onto my Mac Book Air. Success was mine! Yea! But meanwhile, I forgot to block the garbage can area..... and the recycling area...... and dinner was late! It was my fault of course!

I love the doggie tug-of-war!

Me, too!

Great picture of the dogs, Karen. It's so nice that they enjoy each other.

LOVE the dog pic! Just dropping in to wish you a fabulous weekend, Karen!

Hi Karen

I love the dog photo.

Here is a photo of my Shetland Sheep do Lilly. She will be a year old in February.

Quickly, she became an integral part of our family.

Oh, Linda! She looks like a beautiful dog. Still a puppy, I'll bet.

Pat, and Mamie, thanks for stopping by. I know I've not had much book talking to do. I'm making s....l.....o.....w...... progress in reading Anna Karènina and enjoying it. But I don't have much to say about it. Otherwise, just making my way through the days, one day at a time.

Today, I'm a little off my feed. The shoulders are feeling the RA, as are the wrists. I do not like this one little bit Usually my meds keep the symptoms under control but today they are acting out, a bit. I need to just bury my head in a pillow and take a long nap.

Lilly is beautiful!

Karen, does the weather affect the level of pain you have with the RA? I do not have RA, just regular old osteoarthritis but I find that excessively damp weather makes my hip ache even more than usual.

Karen your dogs are very cute! My dad's two Schipperke's, Cosmo and Wanda, play tug a war every morning. Wanda likes to play it with humans, but only if they will immediately lose, so she can run off with her toy.

Linda, Lilly is beautiful! I would get a Sheltie in a heartbeat if I had a yard but at least I get to share my studio apartment with two lovely cats :)

Love the puppy tug of war! I hope you keep feeling stronger every day, Karen.

And Lilly is a looker, too!

Julia, (rosalita) - the weather does seem to have some effect on me. Cold, damp weather does seem to make life a little more uncomfortable, and there is a little more pain. But with RA, an immune system disease, it is difficult to know what triggers the inflammatory response which causes red, hot, painful joints. Old wives tales abound as it is a disease that was even found in the skeletal remains of so-called cavemen. Not a new deal, so probably not caused by modern life. I saw an estimate recently which said it is about 53% a hereditary disease, and about 47% responsive to environmental factors, including diet, weather, and the over all health of the person. And then, it is all complicated by the fact that I have both Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. Who knows what the cause is of the pain? The best advice I've received from doctors, other than take my meds, is to try not to use the affected joints too much.

So, I'm busy typing all evening long.... hahahahaha

Michelle, you are so right. Having a dog in a small apt. in an urban environment is very difficult. I tried it once, and would not volunteer to do it again. My back yard is not large but it sure helps when a sick dog wants to "go out" at 2 am. Shelties are beautiful! The only Schipperke I ever met was so hyper and jumping up and down that I could not tolerate him. I think he was left alone too much. My new dog, the white and red guy, is a jumper but since he wrestles with the old dog, the grey one, he has some need to rest which I appreciate no end.

Ellen, I don't think I can expect to feel stronger unless I get a great deal more serious about exercising. So far, I've not done that. I am hoping the lung thing will go away. (Denial is a powerful mental tool)

I am on my way to feed the dogs, feed myself, and then..... ta da.... I will be in the Green Dragon chat room for a bit this evening, if any of you would like to join us live chattering, please do. You go to the Green Dragon home page and click on the Chat comment in one of the paragraphs. It will lead you to the sign in page.

Love the picture of your dogs playing, Karen! Stopping by to wish you a happy weekend!

Oh Karen I love all the pics of your dogs, they are absolutely darling. I'm sorry about them being locked in the car but I'm sure they've forgotten all about it by now. My hubby has emphysema and RA, not exactly the way we expected to spend retirement but there you have it. So I can sypathize with your ailments. Have a lovely weekend.

We have three cats at home in our condo but I am so much more a doggy person and love seeing the picture of all the lovely friends that I can't have with a Malay wife who has a phobia about dogs. (Probably because she realises I keep willing them to bite her!)

Have a lovely weekend dear lady.

Lori, thanks for stopping by. Busy weekend ahead and a day off on Monday which will be busy too. Going to have lunch with a friend with whom I used to "do politics". We went to many a meeting together, trying to get our government to be better. I guess we did not succeed. Maybe we'll talk about that. There must be some accomplishments we can remember.

Bonnie, yes, I agree the dogs seem not to have cared all that much. They still hop into the back of the Subaru sure that they are off for an adventure. It might only be to the grocery store parking lot, but it is not being locked in the house!

I am sorry to hear of your husband's ailments. That is a difficult combination. I will hold you both in the light, and picture you sharing as much joy as life can give you, today and into the future. **hugs**

Paul, oh no! It is sad to have a phobic who can not cope with domesticated canines. I spent my professional life with cats as I was not home enough to be a good companion to dogs. So, only in retirement have I been able to take care of my canines. One of whom sleeps on my foot, and the other sleeps nearby making me smile happily. Thanks for the nice wishes for the weekend. I do have the good fortune of having 3 days in a row "off". Will be showing the rental property, coffee with my daughter, a visit to the Apple store for more help learning my computer, and then on Monday lunch with a buddy. Good times.

Howdy do, passing through, smooching at you.

Super cute dogs!

i hope that the lung thing DOES go away-- it is actually really hard to exercise with bad lungs -- because when you are short of breath, it's natural to want to slow down. I have a lung disease, and right now I am better; so maybe you will get better, too.

Sorry about the RA--it's awful. Have you considered using something like Speakright? Voice recognition software is way better than it used to be.

Enjoyed the dog pis, thanks! I had a Sheltie cross, years ago. She was wonderful.

I'm keeping you in my prayers, Karen.

Rhonda, thank you for your good wishes. I am hoping too that what ever is limiting my lungs will stop doing that. It might mean that I'll have to change RA meds which might raise other problems. No body ever said getting older is a "piece of cake, or a walk in the park".

The dogs make me smile just about every day.

Thanks, fuzzi.

Hi Karen,
I hope you're enjoying this frigid but sunny weather we're having!
Book club Monday evening, yes?

yup. I will be t here a little bit early to get started on dinner. And maybe if I get organized I'll have sold some books to them. I am just about out of books that they are willing to buy, most of what is left will have to go to Half-Price books and they even will send most of them to Goodwill. My shelves are mostly TBR or reference or really, really sentimental volumes.

Morning Kath- How are you? Still trying to find the right groove? Hey, it'll come. How are you enjoying A.K.? Is it a joy or a chore? I love spending time with these wonderful characters but not this much TIME! LOL. I should be done by next weekend or so. That's the goal anyway.

I am enjoying it, no doubt. Just keep falling to sleep, or being distracted by a kid, or a dog, or a hunger pang. It will come as it will.

Happy Sunday, Karen. I hope the R.A. lets up on you!

Stasia, RA is a pervasive, always with you, kind of a disease. The medications usually do a good job of keeping the symptoms suppressed although sometimes there are small reminder pains which let you know the disease is there, lurking as it were. Most of the time I don't even think about it, but this latest visit with the lung doctor has caught my attention. Nothing to be done right now but wait until the next breathing test to see if the reduction in lung capacity is on going, then, if yes, the doctors will put their heads together and have some ideas of what to do.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to enjoy life, read a few good books, and chat with friends. Also, will love happy times spent with kids!

Karen, my cousin has RA & it really can be a bear.

I've succumbed to a bad cold. Skipping a dual baby shower this afternoon. Still hope to come to TPB tomorrow evening.

Ellen, I am sorry to hear of your cold. I know that can make one feel quite without energy.

If you make it, great. If not, it is truly understood.

I am in a reading slump. Can't seem to find the energy to read either threads and postings here in LT or a book. I have three started and none appeal right now. Hmmmmmm

Well, perhaps later when RL is not quite so action packed.

And when will that be, pray tell?

I'm in a bit of a reading slump myself. Here's hoping we can both kick it soon!

yes, I join you in hoping!

Karen I am dropping in to catch up. My Mom has been in the hospital since Dec 21st but she is in the rehab now. Thank you for the lovely positive thoughts you gave us. I am all caught up on your canine adventures and meet ups. I love the cat bed. My friend Darci uses them for her dogs and when my dogs are at her house they just love them. I'll be popping in and out but not making the daily rounds right now. Take care. Sending you wonderful thoughts for your lungs.

Thanks

Hi Karen.
Well, not to be daunted, I picked up my copy of Guards! Guards! from the library today. I'm taking it with me for my L.A. weekend, as a counterbalance to AK (which will be what I read on the plane).

I got my copy on my Nook, and AK, too. I can read them either on the Nook itself when the kids are not egging me on to playing Angry Birds, or on the computer at home, in bed, wherever. Maybe I'll take it with me to the rental house open house on Saturday. Life just keeps rolling along....

OK, I'm listening to a podcast. Unfortunately it is making me want to read The Death of Sweet Mister and Dewey Decimal System which is probably the WRONG thing for me to do right now since I'm not reading what I have started!

Books on the Nightstand

Ah!

The joy of podcasts and LT.

I'm going to try multi-tasking with AK and GG ---- I hope they "go together" alright.

Open House?

I am hoping this is the last Open House in my rental house for a while. I have a deposit and credit checking is going on...meanwhile I continue to get calls and I think having some people interested as back up is not a bad idea. So I'll go to the empty place, turn on the heat, and sit in a lawn chair while people do or do not come to see the place. Three hours.

And bring a book!

I don't think I know how to leave my house without a book. I've left my cell phone behind, even my wallet, but never without a book! Thanks for the reminder of how important it is!

I have just read some more comments about Anna Karènina and I am motivated to make some significant progress in that book today, or tomorrow. Lucky for me I have 4 days in a row without any kid responsibilities so I expect some good reading will be done.

Karen - not sure what an Open House is but it sounds a bit invasive! I think I've figured out that you are trying to let a property and of course I wish you every success with that.

Have a lovely weekend and plenty of reading time sans little ones,

Thank you, Paul. Yes, I have a house which I am trying to rent to someone stable and able to pay enough to pay the house's bills. The theory was that it could help finance my helping my niece with her kids but rather than contributing to positive "cash flow" it has been a drag on the budget. I will be very happy when this effort is completed, and new people are enjoying the house.

A good weekend it shall be!

Good for you for sticking to it with Anna Karenina, Karen. It's a long one, but worth the read, no doubt about it. Enjoy the weekend!

I seem to be approaching the horse race which so many have enjoyed. Looking forward to it.

HELP! Someone, I've let the name slip my mind, will be attending the Am Library Assoc convention in Seattle, next weekend, Saturday, 1/26, and this somebody wanted to organize a little Meet-Up of Library Thing folks. I was going to find a nice place to go, which I am working on doing. However! Having forgotten the name of this person, I can not communicate....

Does anyone know of whom I write?

Meet-up in Seattle next weekend ? Downtown? Convention Center?

Help help help

Hi Karen

I do remember someone mentioning the ALA Seattle convention and after a talk search I see that Benita (@benitastrnad) mentioned it in one of Mark's threads.

Edit to add - of course I don't know if this is who you need to find.

Edit again to say that I just visited Mark's thread and he said the same:)

yes, that is the person I need. Thank you both!

Any one else in the Seattle area interested? let me know.

I won't be attending the ALA convention but I might be up for a drink or dinner or ...

OK, that could be perfect! Except I was wrong, it will be Sunday, not Saturday! ha

Benita has posted that she will be available to meet with LibraryThing folks at 2 pm on Sunday, and then later (5 pm +) we'll go to dinner. Sunday! Sunday!

*waving* at Karen

I hope you have a wonderful time at the meet up. I have not been disappointed in any of the ones I have been privileged to be a part of yet!

*snivels* Somebody forgot about me in the chat room...

oh, dang! I'm sorry. Morph. I have not been focusing on the FACT that it is Monday. Just that it is a day off for me. So, I'm off....

(171) Would love to be there...

OK, I'm reading Anna Karènina and hit a passage which just upset me and I slammed (figuratively since I'm reading on my Nook) the book closed. Have not been able to pick it back up.

The Last Unicorn is much happier reading for right now.

Morning Karen- I'm glad you connected with Benita. You'll have to spread the word, if anyone else in your area is interested. I hope I can make the Chicago ALA, otherwise Benita might beat me up.
I'm glad you are sticking with A.K.! Keep at it!

ETA-Which passage was it?

I can't describe the passage in AK which made me so mad without spoilers. I will stop by your profile page and write a private message to you....

if others must know, go to my profile and ask me, I'll answer

I almost never pass along you tube stuff but this one made me smile and be happy to be human

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwe-pA6TaZk?rel=0

Thanks for the link, Karen. That was fun. Is Matt Harding someone that's well known in Seattle? I think my favorites were the underwater scene in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Papua New Guinea (sp?) but it was nice to see Boise in there too.

Also, just a reminder to bring your camera next Sunday. ;)

Oh, yes, I should do that. Thanks. It will not rival the youtube thing you just saw, of that I am sure!

Maybe when Paul does his US tour he can LTers in each location to dance and then post it on You Tube!

Love Matt Harding! Thanks, Karen. And the ALA convention meetup sounds great.

OK, I have finished reading The Last Unicorn which is I believe the first book I have finished this year. I appreciated its light tone and style, the spoofing and joking about Fairy Tales while all along also being a fantasy. And the Happy Ending which was not quite so totally happy for all involved. Just like life, eh?

I love the The Last Unicorn, but both the book and the movie never fail to make me cry.

I'll confess, my eyes did get a little swimmer-y towards the end.

Glad you enjoyed it, Karen.

The world is nicer for having unicorns, whether they are made up creatures or not. :)

Hoping to join the Seattle party on Sunday!
Sunday.
Sunday.
Still trying to figure out where we can eat, though.....

I went to bed way too early last night as I wanted to listen to the radio's tribute to Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Fell to sleep, now I'm up way too early on Tuesday. Awk.

I think Sunday's Meet-Up will end up being an occasion for us all to use our cell phones. Ellen, you suggested an Italian place, up the hill a bit from the Convention Center... I think that might be the ticket. What do you think?

Nope, it's closed on Mondays..... :-(

*smooch* as I race past...

Oh, I got a *smooch* Hip hip hooray!

ETA: I'm enjoying Anna Karenina again, have gotten into Guards, Guards and find it to be fun, although not my favorite type of book/humor, and I've located The Lions of Al-Rassan which I think I will add to my list for Fantasy February.

Still working on dinner options for Sunday. I have a basketball game that day, will see how the schedule works out. I think the Palace Kitchen may be our best bet, depending on people's willingness to walk a bit. It's just under a half-mile from the Convention Center. On 5th, between Virginia and Lenora.

Karen - Hope your week is going well. I wish I was able to join you all in Seattle on Sunday; I would refute the suggestion of Pat's that I encourage our members towards stepping the light fandango. Dancing and Paul is a combination not to be encouraged for love nor money. x

I would love dinner rather than settling for a coffee shop. Coffee at 5 pm on Sunday is not my idea of wise.

Any one interested in joining us, here's the thread of discussing it: http://www.librarything.com/topic/148784#t

Yes, I am going to see if I can train the dogs to read

How's that coming along? ;)

Well, when I go to bed each night with a book, they join me.

Is that progress? :D

I had a shock this morning. A colleague from years ago, who was 6 years younger than I, is reported to have died of pancreatic cancer. He was a great favorite friend of mine, and of many. He was delightful, and smart, and kind. As a young black man he was recruited to one of the most prestigious private schools for high school; then attended Harvard, returned to Seattle, worked for the same private school, served on the public K-12 Seattle school board, and then went back to working for the school. Now the school is 50% (give or take) students who are "non-white" and the curriculum is global. That man made a huge difference in this community. I am so sad to not be able to think of him as alive and still on the path. )-;

Karen, I'm so sorry about your friend. Gone way too soon. Your words are a nice tribute to him.

Thank you for your kind comment. Yes, he is gone way too soon!

Karen, I'm so sorry to hear about your colleague and friend. As one who lives in Seattle and perceives the city to (mostly) value a top-rate education for all its youth, I tip my hat to him for the positive impact he had. P read the obituary and said he sounded like a wonderful man.

So sorry to hear about your friend--it sounds like he contributed greatly and will be missed likewise.

Why does it seem all the best people die far too young? I am sorry to hear about your friend, Karen. Your words are quite a tribute to him.

I'm sorry for your loss. :(

It is kind of strange that I should be reading Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight just now as I think about T.J. and his impact on Seattle. I was very involved in the civil rights protests here and am aware of how far the city has come; and how much still needs to be done in educating our children to be without ignorant prejudices and racism. T.J. was a giant in this effort.

Ellen, I'm glad you and your partner were able to read of his life. Yes, Stasia, he will be missed. And I appreciate all your kind words. My eyes will be leaking for a while I am sure.

Morning Karen- I am very sorry to hear about your friend. How sad. Have a great time at the LT Meet-Up! You guys will have a blast!

Thanks for your kind thought, Mark.

Yes, I am looking forward to it. Any day playing with books and book lovers is a good day!

Sad news about your friend, Karen. As Stasia says, too many good people die young.

I am sorry to hear about your friend.

" Any day playing with books and book lovers is a good day!" Amen, my friend! Give everyone a hug for me!

Ah,yes! And pack the camera!

I'll go do that right now.

Thanks, Tanglewood, and msf59 for you visit to my humble thread!

Just "bought" the complete works of Winston Churchill for my Kindle from Project Gutenberg for $.00 through Amazon. Amazing. We'll see how much I read. Sometimes I worry that actions like these remind me of the cliche "it is worth what you paid for it".

No, no, Karen --- you got a great deal. Paul has been recommending the reading of Churchill's war memoirs..... presumably your complete works include these.

See you later today!!

I hope so. It has not shown up on the Kindle yet. Will be checking in with Amazon any minute now....

I mentioned it over on Mark's thread, but I don't think that's the Winston Churchill you want. It's an American author with the same name :(

Yes, I think you are right! Well, as I said: worth what I paid for it.

I love being fooled, but I think Amazon could do better!

Getting caught up here. I join everyone else commenting with heartfelt concern/condolences upon learning about your friend.

*waving* at Karen

Karen - chiming in with a tropical hug and heartfelt commiserations regarding the loss of your friend.

Oh, Paul, I do love me those tropical hugs! Makes me think of my Hawaiian vacation, next one, for which I must be buying a ticket soon!

Today, along with regular work I have a stack of Advance Reader Copies to put in my inventory. Yesterday's visit to the Am Library Association meeting was very sweet.

Here's my list of books:

I was able to pick up, and carry, 22 new books! I have entered them into my inventory so if you wish to see a cover you can go to my home page and look at the recently entered pictures. I know they do not all have the right touchstones.

FICTION
Murder Below Montparnasse by Cara Black
Return to Oakpine: A Novel by Ron Carlson
Tarnished: The St. Croix Chronicles by Karina Cooper
The Wurst is Yet to Come by Mary Daheim
The Name of our Tears by P.L. Gaus
The Little Elvises: A Junior Bender Mystery by Timothy Hallinan
The Fame Thief: A Junior Bender Mystery by Timothy Hallinan
Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride
Close to the Bone by Stuart MacBride
Life After Life by Jill McCorkle
Finding Camlann: A Novel by Sean Pidgeon
The Cleaner of Chartres by Salley Vickers
The Blood of Heaven by Kent Wascom

Nonfiction:
My Animals and Other Family by Clare Balding (memoir)
A Disease in the Public Mind: A New Understanding of Why We Fought the Civil War by Thomas Fleming
Bend, Not Break by Ping Fu (memoir)

Childrens' books
The Last Train: A Holocaust Story by Rona Arato
Letters from an Alien Schoolboy by R.L. Asquith
Cloneward Bound: The Clone Chronicles #2 by M.E. Castle
The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan
Prisoner 88 by Leah Pileggi

Not all of the touchstones are working properly. I suppose that is because the books are new.

Sounds like a great meet-up, Karen. Looking forward to hearing more. 22 books! Way to go!

T.J. clearly was a special guy. My condolences to you, and to the Seattle community. That's a big loss.

Thank you, Joe. It is a huge loss, you are right!

I am excited to share the 22 books with the folks in my RL reading group, and I am excited to read some of them, too.

Reading is Good!

Karen - Look forward to seeing your full list and I can sympathise as I know how heavy some of those hauls can be. Last month I bought 50 from a book fair and almost did myself an injury getting the books to the car.

Please share a bit more about the meet-ups - photos?

I'm sorry I haven't checked in more regularly. Belated kind wishes sent your way regarding the sad, sad news of the death of a dear friend.

He sounds like he was a wonderful person!

Gentle hugs to you.

-----------

What a great book haul! Yes, yes, photos of the meet up please....

I note that you've asked which to read first?
For me its a no-brainer Karen - Cold Granite the first of the DS Logan McRae books and one of my favourite series.

Ah! I'm glad to be reinforced for having picked that one!

Here's Benita and I just as we are beginning our odyssey through the maze of publishers booths. I am on the left, Benita on the right.

What a great photo! It is always wonderful to connect faces with names.

Yay! A picture. You both look so happy and why wouldn't you be getting ready to pick up all your free books.

Oh, dear goddess, I've forgotten if this is Kate or Abby! Oh, dear what a fine little old lady I make. Both were delightful to meet and very welcoming. (Update, 1/29 - pretty sure this is Abby. BTW, Abby is the leader of LibraryThing for Libraries)

and so of course, this is Abby or Kate. What a photographer I am. I am supposed to take notes, but I was just too excited. (update, 1/29, pretty sure this is Kate)

My intention is to take all the books to my February book group meeting and there I'll get a pic of Ellen, and others enjoying the haul!

Now I think I need to finish my dinner and go to bed with a good book!

Karen- Thanks for the photos! You and Benita look very happy. I also like the photos of Abby and Kate, or Kate and Abby.
That's a great book haul. I would pick The Little Elvises, because I just read a review on this series and I have never read Hallinan. I've heard good things about Cold Granite too and have it saved on audio. Enjoy!

what fun, Karen. love having the pics. i keep trying to interest our local librarians in LT but either they don't read much (????) or they don't go on-line much. i can't get anybody interested. thus, it's very, very exciting to see Kate and Abby, or as it might be, Abby and Kate and the sign.

enjoy your haul!

I give up...I was trying to read the name badge on the second abby/Kate photo, but I can't...

I think Abby is the first one, but I'm not sure. Love the photos!

Wow! What a haul! What a great meet up!

Waving as I jog by! (the only jogging anybody is getting out of me)
Hi again! I had to come back because I just went back to see if I missed anything and I just wanted to say how absolutely gorgeous your doggies are. I love the one of them having a tug-of-war! When my pups do that they like to use my dish towels so now I have many dish towels that look as though they have been shredded by a Tasmanian Devil. They are all fairly new so I refuse to throw them away. The older ones I tear up for rags but I keep using the torn ones because they haven't even lost that new towel feeling from being washed so many times,
I also wanted to extend my deepest sympathy for the loss of your friend. Why is it the good die young, or at least before their time? He had many good years ahead of him.

What a great haul of books, Karen. I have to back Paul, Cold Granite is the first in a wonderfully dark and twisted series set in Aberdeen, Scotland.

DQ, good to hear that, since I have Cold Granite in the TBR pile.

Well, now, to catch up with you all.

Joe, yes, it was a great haul of books and I do recommend you find a way to attend the ALA meeting in Chicago in June! I am almost finished reading Muhammed Ali's Greatest Fight and then I must finish Guards, Guards for the Feb. RL book group meeting and then Anna Karènina! I think the lovely ARCs awaiting me are great motivators to do it!

Paul (225), Well, what more to say. I met Kate and Abby and we laughed and enjoyed ourselves and then Benita arrived at the LT booth after having mailed several boxes of books home. I then told her I would just follow her around.... and she was a great generous guide. As she walked from booth to booth picking out some great books to send to her home, she also found time to point out some interesting titles to me; and then, I'd wander off to look at childrens books. Not too many ARCs in the kids sections which is understandable as there are few children librarians or should we say librarian children.

At about two hours + 15 minutes my bags were full, my arms were strained, and my feet were beginning to hurt. We found a couple of chairs and rearranged the books so they'd carry more balanced. I used my cell phone to establish that Ellen was, in fact, waiting out by the registration desk. So off we went to find her, my car, and a restaurant. Gave the doggies a brief walk.

I will need to come back to read the thread and of all the fun! But needed to congratulate you on your haul!

226, Linda, thank you for your kind good wishes. I think of him often, and some others who have passed recently (even my sweet Nicky) and I realize afresh that one of the tasks of maturity is Olympic Level Letting Go.

227, Paul OK! I appreciate your taking time to make a recommendation. Cold Granite will definitely be in the running for first of the ARCs to read.

229, Linda Yes, I know what you mean about connecting names with faces and then with the wonderful conversations we have here. I also like it when I can generally picture where the person lives, too, although it does begin to be challenging to keep straight all the screen names, real names, professions, residence, and book loves. Ha ha ha. But that does make this place a wondrous and special place to hang out and enjoy. You certainly do contribute to the fun. Thanks for stopping by, and I'm glad you liked the pictures.

232, Pat, You are so right! I am one of those folks who thrives on the energy from others. I love conventions and the like in small doses. Then, I need to retreat to the quiet of my home and do the reading. Ying/yang, I suppose.

235, Mark, thanks for the compliment. I feel so badly that I've confused these lovely ladies' names. I hope someone comes along soon and clarifies it for us all. Good idea on what to read first. Both of those series are new to me but looked promising from Benita's comments, and from the blurbs on the covers, etc. So they are in the running for 1st to be tackled.

Ellie, 236, Ellie, I know what you mean. I have this tendency to think any thing about which I am enthused should be easily transferred to others by my just telling them about it. So many polite stares. So many "oh, uh, huh".

I would like to know more specifically about LibraryThing for libraries. Must go do a little researching.

237 Lorelei, thanks for trying. I did that, too, and it did not work for me either. Boo

I hope someone who knows will come along before too long.

238, foggi, Thanks for stopping by. and your idea of who is who in the photos is helpful.

239 Stasia, thank you for dropping in, also. Yup, it was a great haul. I had to clear off one shelf in my bookcases to put them all up off the floor. I have at least a year's worth of reading ahead of me.

Well, there are pictures of Kate and Abby on http://www.librarything.com/whoweare.php but Kate has her face covered up!

Lenora, you are my hero! And that is a great link.

#243 -- Usually there are tons of ARCs of children's and YA books at Midwinter; there are thousands and thousands of children's and teen librarians who attend that conference. Perhaps they had taken most of the ARCs by the time you got to the exhibits? Midwinter is a huge deal for the world of children's lit because of the Newbery and Caldecott awards being announced at that conference, and the publishers usually bring their best to it because they know that all of the youth media award committees, notable children's and YA books committees, and other influential people in the world of children's lit will be there. Granted, there are never many picture book ARCs because they are so expensive to produce. But I'm surprised you didn't find more in the children's book area!

foggi, I plead "not enough energy". It is true we did not visit very many publisher booths. I expect to do the place really justice one would have to tour the booths on more than one occasion. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I was mistaken.

#252 -- Yes, when I attend, I like to visit the exhibits in three or four short trips, because it gets overwhelming fast!

Yes. So true.

Mary Beth, #240 Thanks for the compliments on the dogs and the pictures. What a trip is trying to take pictures of moving dogs, especially when I'm in a little room. And thank you for your kind words of condolence.

241, Judy yes, it was a wonderful haul of books! I did use Cold Granite location as one of the reasons why I picked it up.

242, Jean It will be interesting to see what you think of it. It will probably be a couple three weeks before I can get to it, but it is definitely in the running for the first of the ARCs to be picked up!

Any one else I tried to answer each of my visitor's comments. I hope I did not miss any of you, but if I did, please let me know.

Back to our regularly scheduled palaver......

What a great time that looks like you had, Karen44! I send hugs and smooches and apologies for being neglectful. I'm finding bureaucracy still in my way with the boiler repair contract problem I'm currently dealing with. Soon will be back to normal posting routines. I hope!

I know life can grab our attention away from what we'd rather be attending. Hopefully, the issues shall be resolved favorably to you, soon, if not already!

Never worry about apologies. Life here in LT is pretty relaxed and only if you are unwell, and in pain, and unhappy, do we worry.

I've been busy trying to catch up. Tomorrow I have a lovely day off from too many responsibilities. I am looking forward to reading - I'll probably be focused on Guards, Guards so I can finish it before our RL book group meets on Feb. 11th. Then, back to AK.

I am asking for peoples opinions as to which of the ARCs I should read first....

if you have time, I'd be curious what you might say.

Thanks, loveycuddles...so happy about your rental property!

So. If it was me, I'd pick The Wurst Is Yet To Come for my read. I am so not in the mood to think!

I sure get that! And the cover is really cute, too, She is a local author. Lives up on Capital Hill in Seattle.

Oh, wonderful pictures and a great book haul, Karen, none of which I have heard!

Summary so far: two votes for Cold Granite; one vote forThe Little Elvises and the Wurst is Yet to Come.

I finished reading Muhammed Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. The United States of America last night; and made some progress in Guards, Guards. So the ARCs are definitely on the horizon... soon, soon. I will try to write a little review of the Muhammed Ali book today but suffice it to say, here, now, that I liked it a good deal.

Finished reading an ER book, Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. The United States of America last night. I am having a hard time writing a review of the book without accounting for the historical times it describes. It is recommended for any who have even the slightest interest in knowing more of those times, and of Muhammad Ali. The book takes his story from his early development as a boxer to the Supreme Court hearing his case. The author's history is well documented and seems, to me, to be reliable.

Cassius Clay, as a young man, discovered his natural talent as a boxer early in his life and was on his way, via winning a gold metal in the Olympics, to being rich and famous when he made two choices which changed all that. First, he converted to The Nation of Islam in about 1961 and then, much later, he decided to decline the invitation to be drafted into the U.S. Army and fight in Vietnam. This author does an excellent job of accounting the racist environment in which he boxed, and lived, and the history of the impacts of his decisions.

The Nation of Islam was not, and is not, the same as the religion we know today. It was an off shoot developed in the U.S. by Elijah Muhammad, and preached by Malcolm X. It was a mixture of Islamic religious ideas and ideas of black nationalism, anti-racism, and black self determination in the U.S. during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960-70s. Elijah Muhammad "gave" Cassius Clay his new name, Muhammad Ali, and influenced him greatly, as did Malcolm X.

The author does an excellent job of accounting all the legal maneuverings to send Muhammad Ali to jail for his "draft dodging". He puts these events in the context of the historical segregation in boxing which made many white boxers refuse to fight black boxers, and paranoid FBI wiretapping Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders, of the riots when King was assassinated, and the internal battles inside The Nation of Islam which resulted in Malcolm X being assassinated, also. Muhammed Ali was attacked for his stand against the War in Vietnam, and was stripped of his title as Heavyweight Champion. He became, for many racist journalists, politicians, and regular people, the poster child for the Anti-War movement before it had become mainstream.

Well, you know I want you to read Bend, Not Break because I get it when you are done!

OK, now we have: two votes for Cold Granite; one vote for The Little Elvises, one vote for The Wurst is Yet to Come, and two votes for Bend, Not Break.

Wow, Karen, I had forgotten about Muhammad Ali and the Vietnam War. That was a great review and I'm off to give it a thumb.

I know, Pat. Reading that book was very much like revisiting my young adult self, watching all the politics become so combustible. Boy, oh, boy, he was roasted by the press and by the establishment and he knew all along that the man on the street knew he was still the greatest. He is an interesting person and it turns out, according to the author, that his condition now was not caused by boxing; but by chemical pollution near where he used to train. Sad, that!

That's another thing I didn't know about him--that his mental condition wasn't caused by the boxing. It is very sad and very scary.

I'm just starting to read things (online mostly) about the dangers of chemicals in everyday products and it's tough to get them out of your life.

My understanding is that it is not his mental health which has been affected but his physical health. He does not have Parkinson Disease, but rather something different called Parkinson Syndrome. Nevertheless, it is sad. He does have an active family life and does many charitable activities. He is still very much involved in being a Muslim. The author of the book credits his current wife with having created stability and health in their family life.

Thanks for clarifying that. I'm afraid I know very little about Muhammad Ali!

I hope your day off was a good one, Karen. And that you've recovered from carrying those 22 books around!

#263 The Muhammed Ali book sounds like something Mr SandDune would really like, as he would be interested in the historical perspective as well as Muhammed Ali's life itself. He's very much a well-liked personality in the UK. I seem to remember he was voted best sportsperson of the twentieth century.

Morning Karen- The Ali book looks interesting. He's an extremely interesting man. I remember reading about his friendship with Malcolm X and their subsequent falling out.
Hope you have a good day. Is is still raining?

Nice review of Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight, Karen! I'll add it to my wish list.

Books Finished during this thread's life

1. The Last Unicorn finished on 1/21/13
2. Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight: Cassius Clay vs. The United States of America finished on 1/29/13

I remember those times well, Karen, and believe Muhammad Ali later became even more famous and beloved for the integrity and dignity he showed during that time. The sight of him lighting the Olympic flame years later is unforgettable. Great review, and thumb from me.

Thank you, Joe. I appreciate the thumbs up!

Oddly enough, slowly but surely I am being moved to care a little bit more about the quality of my "reviews". I still don't think of them as proper reviews but they do need to be somewhat up to "snuff" because I know my friends here will be reading them. Or at least, some friends will. And after all, that is the reason for practicing good writing, isn't it.

Ali's Greatest Fight is now on my wishlist, and I am thinking about a re-read of The Last Unicorn.

It is nice to know that I can "push" some books! I love it when people pick up something I've read and reviewed. I hope you like both!

You enabler, you.... :)

yup

I have decided to Pearlize Guard, Guards. I gave the book a good 100 pages but really I keep wondering why I am reading this book which occasionally makes me smile, but does not seem to provide anything else. My RL book group is tolerant of members who quit on a book which is just not making it. Thanks to the poster "So Many Books, So Little Time" which seems appropriate for some of us "Seniors".

I am back at AK and I hope to get large chunks read this weekend. I'd rather not go too far into Feb. with the Jan. book.

Morning Karen- I think you skipped me up in #273. Or was that on purpose? LOL. Back to A.K., huh? Good luck. I am already deep into FF.

Mark, you are so right, and Darryl, too. Just skipped right over you two fine gentlemen. Not at all nice! I am sorry.

Hi, Mark. I see it has become Friday, and I think your vacation is done? Back to slinging letters about, are you? Yes, i'm back to reading in the Anna Karènina tome. I will finish that book although I'm afraid it has become a little bit tedious.

Darryl, thanks for stopping by. I'm glad I was able to draw your attention to the Muhammad Ali book. I think it is a worthy read!

Happy Friday, Karen! Kudos to you for your persistence with AK. I think I had a similar experience with Moby-Dick.

Thanks, Joe. I may try to start my RL group's March book soon, The Magus might be an interesting counterpoint to AK.

Karen, I hope you like The Magus. I've committed to read that in March when Mark reads The Collector so we can both get a Fowles TBR off our shelves.

Yes, I think that is why I asked the RL book group if we could move it to March. Ellen may be reading it, too.

I didn't realize that. The more the merrier!

I'm in!

Yay!

OK, I read a book today. When in doubt, pick up a good kids book and enjoy yourself, I said to myself. So that is what I did.

Prisoner 88 is a first book written by Leah Pileggi and she should be proud. It is written for ages 10-13, which must have been just right for what I was feeling. 142 pages, published by Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc. I read an Advance Reading Copy I picked up at the ALA convention in Seattle.

A ten-year old boy was actually convicted of manslaughter in Idaho in the late 1800s and was sent to the Idaho penitentiary with adult prisoners. This book takes the scant facts about this boy's experiences and fictionalizes them for readers aged 10-13, or if I was classifying it 10-99+.

A sad and yet delightful story told of this abandoned boy who is doing what he can to make it in a very harsh world, and the few adults he meets a long the way, some of whom are helpful, some not . Jake is naturally angry at his circumstances but a few adults around him seem to be able to understand and yet guide him towards maturity and education while he thrives. It is not a sweet story, and the ending is not a "happily ever after" but it is a very satisfying story, well told by a competent author.

Recommended highly for kids of all ages, but it would be especially appropriate for middle school students, along side of their studies of U.S. History.

ETA: This is book #3 for 2013: Prisoner 88 by Leah Pileggi, published 2013 Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.

Karen, Prisoner 88 sounds like something I'd like to read. Do you have any idea when it will be released? I'm not seeing it at my library or even on Amazon.

I will send you a PM with the information on the book's back cover

Let's go get a new thread