Morphy Moseys through 2013 - Year 3

Morphy on Her Steed (Age three years)

This is my third 75 Books Challenge. I read about 250 books a year, so I'm not worried about meeting the challenge!

I mostly read fantasy, preferably urban, but also enjoy general and genre fiction, historical romance, classics, popular non-fiction, and will honestly try any genre at least once.

I prefer story over language and my favorite books are the ones I just want to hug after I'm done.

I don't so much review books as leave some sparse comments.

I have more challenges and lists than I know what to do with and am not going to list them here except as notes to the books I've completed.

Books Read in 2013: 149

My best books of 2013 are:

Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Wonder by R. J. Palacio

My best book of 2012 was:

The Fault in Our Stars by Green, John

My best books of 2011 were:

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by McKillip, Patricia
Bridge of Birds by Hughart, Barry
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Wells, Rebecca
Garden Spells by Allen, Sarah Addison
Soulless by Carriger, Gail
What I Eat by Menzel, Peter and D'Aluisio, Faith
Ready Player One by Cline, Ernest

My favorite books from the last five years are:

Essential Spirituality by Roger Walsh
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
The Stand by Stephen King
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Katherine by Anya Seton
Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Morphy's Mighty Monthly Reads for 2013 (Green Dragon Group Reads)

January (1001 Fantasy) - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

February (111 Science Fiction) - The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

March (50 Mystery) - The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

April (111 Nonfiction) - The Great Influenza by John M. Barry

May (1001 Fantasy) - Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis

June (111 Science Fiction) - A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge

July (50 Mystery) - Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith

August (111 Nonfiction) - The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

September (1001 Fantasy) - Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny

October (111 Science Fiction) - The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

November (50 Mystery) - The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers

December (111 Nonfiction) - Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

Group Read Links: http://www.librarything.com/topic/146136

***

The LT Green Dragon Book Club's next meeting is at the Ridgedale Barnes & Noble on Saturday, April 20th at 1pm. We are reading Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear.

13 in 13 Challenge (18/91)

1. New to Me Minnesota Author (1/1) DONE
2. Complete Lois McMaster Bujold Bibliography
3. Graphic Novels (2/3)
4. Second Book in Series (1/4)
5. Book to Movie
6. Around the World (1/6)
7. 2011 TBR Code List
8. Cover Color (3/8)
9. LT Recommended (2/9)
10. If You Like... (1/10)
11. Paranormal Creatures (4/11)
12. Green Dragon Lists (3/12)
13. LTers Choose from the Ultimate Reading List

Thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147584

I stole this from someone else at LT and tweaked the last few ratings. I can't give credit because I don't remember who I copied it from! Since I started using this I've noticed I've been handing out more 6's and less 7's.

My rating system:

10 stars - The book completely enthralled me. Could not put it down. Got something more out of it than just entertainment -- it enlightened or educated me in some way. Can definitely see myself reading it again. Will keep forever and never loan it out.

9 stars - Not quite perfect but almost so. I will actively push this book on my friends and family.

8 stars - A really great book in all respects with perhaps some minor flaws. Highly recommended.

7 stars - Better than average but with some flaws. Recommended.

6 stars - Average. An entertaining read but probably forgettable. Will not reread. Recommended for entertainment value to readers with similar interest.

5 stars - Slightly lower than average. Some aspects of the story, characters or writing troubled me. Probably will not recommend.

4 stars - Finished but did not like. Would not recommend.

3 stars - Had some redeeming qualities or else I couldn't have finished it. Nothing to recommend it though.

2 star - I can't believe I finished this book. What am I? A masochist?

1 star - No book ever gets this rating. If it's a 1, I can't finish it.

Places I've read through February 2013:


visited 15 states (6.66%)
Create your own visited map of The World


visited 30 states (60%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

86. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: TIOLI #10 (double letters title/author)

Summary: A mother and son connect while she is dying from pancreatic cancer by forming a book club

Opinion: Thankfully, this wasn't as sappy and sad as I thought it would be. While there is a lot of lovely discussion about books, this is mostly about the lives of the mother and son - both successful in their own rights, both passionate about their causes and beliefs.

Rating: 8

87. Gift of a Letter by Alexandra Stoddard

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: TIOLI #10 (double letters title/author)

Summary: About letter writing - both inspiration and tips

Opinion: I read this because I wanted to improve my letter writing to pen pals. I'm not sure why, but it didn't help or inspire me as much as I was hoping. I guess I was wishing for more concrete steps and less flowery inspiration.

Rating: 5

88. Wing Commander: Freedom Flight by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: TIOLI #3 (embedded - deform, formed, defer, erode, freed, deem, deer, demo, doer, dome, feed, ford, fore, form, free, from, mere, more, mode, rede, redo, reed, reef, doe, fed, fee, foe, for, mod, ode, ore, ref, rod, roe), reread

Summary: Light military space opera about a space fighter helping to defend the planet of a bird-like race from the cat-like invaders

Opinion: I wouldn't have read this if I wasn't trying to complete Lackey's bibliography. It's not my type of book. But it was a light romp, good for an afternoon's reading - battles, intrigue, culture clash with new races, a daring rescue, etc.

Rating: 5

89. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #19 (Orange - cover), LT Recommended (13 in 13), Ultimate

Summary: A housemaid becomes a nurse then a private detective in early 1900s London

Opinion: I really enjoyed this. I felt it was more fiction than a mystery though as most of the book was flashback and back story. It had a wonderful sense of time and place and I love books about the servant class in England especially during this time of change (pre- and post-WWI.)

Rating: 8

90. Frost Burned by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #9 (13th page, 4 syllables - emergency), next in series

Summary: Adam and the rest of the pack have been abducted and Mercy has to find how who and why

Opinion: This was an average Briggs' story. There wasn't a lot of emotional engagement and the plot didn't feel tight enough for me. But, then again, this is Briggs so it was a fast, enjoyable read with likable characters.

Rating: 7

91. Passage by Lois McMaster Bujold

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #4 (two people cover), Bujold (13 in 13), next in series

Summary: Fawn and Dag travel down the river and gather companions

Opinion: It's a travelogue. Yawner. I didn't like it when Twain did it (Huckleberry Finn), nor did I like it when a favorite author does it - even in a fantasy setting. She tries to make it more interesting by adding motley characters and giving Dag some ethical problems, but it doesn't help.

Rating: 5

92. A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #9 (13th page, 4 syllables - prosperity), Second Book (13 in 13), next in series

Summary: Aurora inherits a house... and a hidden skull

Opinion: This was less about a mystery and more about her inheritance and how she and people around her reacted to it. It wasn't as charming as the first book. There was less interaction with interesting characters and Aurora seemed less likable - more insular and standoffish.

Rating: 6

93. Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #14 (green cover), next in series

Summary: In between novella to the Plum series

Opinion: Bit of fluff. And not as funny as the numbered novels. It was really lacking any of the charm or humor. An adding another man (Diesel) to the situation really doesn't help. It's bad enough that Stephanie can't decide between two. Don't add a third!

Rating: 5

DUP. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #3 (embedded - errors), reread

Opinion: Actually, I've reread it a few times but this is the first time I've listened to it (Stephen Frey version.) Wonderful!

94. Beyond World's End (Contemporary Fantasy - 7)
95. Spirits White as Lightning (Contemporary Fantasy - 6)
96. Mad Maudlin (Contemporary Fantasy - 5)
97. Music to My Sorrow (Contemporary Fantasy - 6)
98. Wheels of Fire (Contemporary Fantasy - 6)
99. When the Bough Breaks (Contemporary Fantasy - 6)
100. Chrome Circle (Contemporary Fantasy - 6)
101. The White Gryphon (Fantasy - 6)
102. The Silver Gryphon (Fantasy - 5)
103. Exile's Honor (Fantasy - 7)
104. The Robin and the Kestrel (Fantasy - 6)
105. The Eagle and the Nightingale (Fantasy - 7)
106. Four and Twenty Blackbirds (Fantasy - 6) by Mercedes Lackey


Notes: Lots of TIOLI challenges, rereads

Yes, I can really pump them through when stressed... heh.

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh (pg 142)
Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer
The Great Influenza by John Barry
Fat is a Family Affair by Judi Hollis
Zoo City by Lauren Beukes
Reunion in Death by J. D. Robb

On Deck:
Robin's Country by Monica Furlong
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch

Morphy, I used to have a rocking horse just like that one!!

Hiya Morphy! Great pic at the top. We had one of those ponies in the living room, too. My brother and I used to drag it in front of the TV to watch Saturday morning fare, and fought over who got to ride it most. My love for the pony died one day when he pinched my finger quite atrociously in the rear spring. (I may have been too heavy and sitting backwards...)

I've been eyeing Maisie Dobbs for a while now... hmm...

And, in regards to your question on the last thread: I was an avid reader since the age of 3. I read encyclopedias, novels, newspapers, anything I could get my hands on. I did tons of recreational reading. In fact I often got in trouble for reading when I shouldn't have been! It's just I always had a sort of visceral aversion to the "classics" of American Lit and hated being forced to read them. I hated it in college too. Very few American titles captured my appreciation, and I think I avoid them still because of the sour taste left in my mouth after having to read so many really bad "classics".

I've got Frost Burned on request right now. Looking forward to it. Also I had no idea Lackey wrote space fiction. o.0 Anyways lookig forward to seeing what you get to next. Happy reading!

What a cute little cowgirl you were, Morphy. It's fun seeing the pictures of you as a child. Congratulations on reading over 100 books!

I had one of those horses too! I spent hours on it.

I really liked Maisie Dobbs. I felt that the author did a lot of research, and conveys a strong sense of an era of huge social change.

Nice new thread!

Congrats to the Mr. on his new job! WOOHOO!!

And isn't Stephen Fry wonderful? Sigh.

Oh! What fond memories you've brought back for me. When I was a kid, I could spend hours galloping on my horse. My uncle in Texas sent me a cowgirl outfit complete with boots and hat and I'd be little Lynda Oakley.
BTW: My son loves good jokes so I shared those you posted on your last thread with him. I'm sure he will share with his classmates today.

>17 ronincats: Roni, it's a fun little shot, isn't it? It was that or the one from the same Christmas with me holding a piece of cardboard that said, "Save Your Money, the South Will Rise Again!" While I'm sure it would have initiated comment, I don't think it would have been the type I particularly liked. Ha!

>18 UnrulySun: Kathy, I was just three years old so I don't remember the horse. I was five before I have any regular memories.

>19 Kassilem: Melissa, well, Lackey doesn't write very *good* Science Fiction. LOL.

>20 Donna828: Donna, for all I said that I wasn't going to shoot for 300 books this year, it certainly looks like I'm going to make it, doesn't it?

>21 SylviaC: Sylvia, I agree. That's why I liked Maisie Dobbs so much.

>22 Esquiress: Es, thanks for visiting!

>23 scaifea: Amber, he is. I'm now listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. His voice is just so smooth!

>24 Carmenere: Lynda, that gives me an idea for a future Morphy pic. I have a Halloween shot of me in a cowboy costume! Let me know how the jokes go over.

***

Tunes Thursday

Everyone loves Bohemian Rhapsody, but one of my other Queen favorites is this one - a tribute to Elvis Presley. And while I love Freddie Mercury he really was a fugly man. (Sorry!)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE34cSvZCd8

There goes my baby
She knows how to Rock n' roll
She drives me crazy
She gives me hot and cold fever
Then she leaves me in a cool cool sweat

***

MrMorphy starts his spanking new job at 8:30am this morning. His commute will be a terribly long five minutes. It will be his first permanent and not temporary or contract work in years. This job will include a variety of tasks including assembly, electronics, programming and in the future he may even get to travel a bit. He'll have benefits including sick time and medical insurance. Whoo hoo!

Also, I just got notice that I'm graduating in May with my Associates in Applied Science (Accounting) with High Honors. Go me!

Yay, Yay, Yay! on the accounting degree. And high honors, too! You've done yourself proud!

What are your plans for your shiny new degree?

Lovely new thread, Morphy! Who knew that so many of us had that same pony pictured at the top of your thread! Count me among the masses! I also had Marvel the Wonder Horse - remember him?



And congrats on finishing your degree! WahHOO for you! With High Honors!! So full of fabulous! Wishing MrMorphy the best of luck with his new job - hope it is everything that he wanted and that he loves working there.

So much wonderful news!

Congratulations, Morphy, on attaining your degree with HIGH HONORS!!! And I'll bet that medical insurance is a big relief. Is there a waiting time before he is covered?

Great news for MrMorphy and congratulations to you as well.

Yay! Not too much longer now till graduation! Congrats, Morphy!

Wow! Lots of good news here. Congrats to you on your degree -- with high honors, woo-hoo! And congrats and best wishes to Mr. Morphy on his new job! I am happy for both of you.

Wow as well! So much good news happening here at the moment. Congratulations on your degree and so pleased that Mr Morphy is in a permanent position with an easy commute.

>26 streamsong: I'm going to be a bookkeeper, streamsong. I'm already doing it on a volunteer basis for a non-profit from my home a couple hours a week.

>27 Crazymamie: Mamie, the only bad part about this new job is that we just found out it may not be a full 40 hours. Wish we had known this ahead of time. *mutters* Ah well.

>28 Esquiress:, 30-33 Thanks, Es, Rhian, Kathy, Terri, and Kerry!

>29 ronincats: Yes, Roni. Especially as, as I said above, they are still determining his hours. It will be a few weeks before we know what the medical insurance situation is. The good part is if he has enough hours, they will pay for half the premium.

***

Film Friday

Okay, Mark can't call this a chick flick either! I love Whoopi in this...

Jumpin' Jack Flash



Video Clip is not safe for work - has language (heck the entire movie is filled with it, she has a trash mouth):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVK9Ym5tZtU

(trying to decipher the lyrics to Jumpin' Jack Flash)

Terry Doolittle: Mick, Mick, Mick! Speak English!

Just catching up and thrilled to see all the good news, Morphy. :)

Wow, such great news, Morphy. What a load off your mind it must be. Congrats!

A big congrats on your upcoming graduation, and to your husband on his job. *crossing fingers* that it turns out to be full-time (and if not now, soon!).

Congratulations on all the good news!

Fantastic news about MrMorphy and congratulations on your scholastic achievement, Morphy! What excellent news, especially since now he gets medical benefits.

I'm blown back by the number of books you read in a year. You must be a speed reading demoness. ;-)

So glad that MrMorphy got the job! And congratulations to you for finishing that degree. *stadium wave* *massive applause*

A round of drinks on me!!!

>35 MickyFine: Thanks for stopping by, Micky!

>36 jnwelch: Joe, it is such a relief.

>37 bell7: Mary, well, so far he's worked every day. Let's hope it keeps up!

>38 humouress: Thanks, humouress!

>39 cameling: Caro, I'm hoping to read less now. I've been on a book, and unfortunately food, binge the last few weeks. I've gained far too much weight and need to get back on the wagon.

>39 cameling: Jill, thanks!

***

Music Monday

I'm certainly not the market for this song or video, but I can't help it. It's so fun!

California Gurls by Katy Perry ft. Snoopy Dogg



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F57P9C4SAW4

California girls
We're unforgettable
Daisy Dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We'll melt your popsicle
Oooooh Oh Oooooh

My favorite memory of this song is riding with a group of friends while one of my male friends belted this out :)

>42 Esquiress: Yes, Es, it's one of those songs it's fun to sing in the car at the top of your lungs on a hot summer day!

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

We're going to talk about one of those naughty subjects... religion (spirituality).

I was brought up a "social Christian." We went to a Christian church because that is just something everyone did. In actuality, my father was a non-practicing Christian Scientist and my mother was a closet Pagan (believed in reincarnation, would burn paper with wishes on it, read Tarot, etc.) As an adult, I went through a seeking period of many Christian denominations, then Agnostic, New Age, Wicca, and just general Paganism. Finally, I've ended up with believing there is some type of Deity but I think it's too big for humans to relate to so we create religions that deal with just facets of the Divine. This is sometimes called "soft polytheism." I believe that there are many paths to the Divine and none are "the one and only."

I'm a member of a very liberal Christian church. I don't believe in the Christian tenets but I'm still a welcome part of the church. I joined for the community and volunteer several hours a week.

I'm envious of those with a religious practice that gives them serenity and peace and it's something I'm working toward. I don't have a daily spiritual practice mostly because I don't give it priority.

So, tell us your story. As in, do you have faith? What faith are you? Do you have any spiritual practices? No proselytizing though, please!

I'm some kind of combination of Deist, Agnostic believer, and Unitarian Universalist. I believe in god, but only due to my personal feelings, not anything preached by any church or organized religion.

Hello Morphy,
wonderful new thread with another lovely child photo of you. Isn't it wonderful to still have so many photographic memories from yourself when you were little?

Hm, your Tuesday question is a difficult one. I am brought up as a Martin Luther Protestant, but had from childhood proplems to relate to a god and to the bible and got quite often into trouble with the pastor - sometimes just because I asked too many questions. I still don't believe in a god, but I would not insist that there isn't one because of my own believe. I have always been interested in all kind of aspects of Religion - maybe because I have always been very interested in History. I am always fascinated how some people draw strength and happiness out of their beliefs, but get cross if people try to explain to me that my own believes are wrong. I am also always fascinated how people of different types of believes try to convince each other that they are right/wrong. I was able to listen into a friendly discussion a few weeks back between a Christian and Muslim collegue about their believes. That was very enlightening.

I have no idea what I am, but I was raised Evangelical, hard-core.

I guess I'm Agnostic now.

My mother was quietly Catholic and my father was vocally atheist. I grew up without strong feelings either way.

Morphy, with focusing all my thoughts on your Tueday question I completely forgot to congratulate YOU AND MR MORPHY! So, here we are I am so pleased to hear that your husband got the job *big smile* and "high five" for getting such a brilliant degree. Well done Morphy!!!

I'm a Deist, although I was raised in a Methodist home. I'm also an aspiring (read: very fledgling and quite ignorant) Buddhist, which isn't really religion, but I thought I'd go for full disclosure. Tomm is a Deist, too, but his parents are Lutherans and really quite hate that we're not. And it's all my fault, of course. Sigh.

What a question, Morphy! I must say, though, it's heartening to see so many here who aren't mainstream (what I'm used to anyway). Where I grew up, and where I live now, it's very unusual for someone not to be either actively Catholic or actively Protestant. In fact, I'm not aware of anyone in town who doesn't fall into one of those categories. Well-- perhaps one Wiccan, if her bumper sticker is to be trusted.

I grew up going to Catholic mass and Southern Baptist Sunday school (that's the hellfire and brimstone version). Hated both, questioned both, was shunned by both. My Mom grew up Catholic but lived by the tenet that a personal connection to God was enough and church was extra. My dad just went to Baptist church when someone made him.

Now, I'd say I'm a sort of atheist (although the word atheist makes me cringe because it usually means a loss of friends or at the least strange looks and a cold shoulder). I will admit that I don't understand everything in the universe and allow for the possibility I could be wrong, but I don't think there's a presence out there anywhere. I'm not worried about other people's beliefs, and only get upset when someone tells me I'm damned, or tries to preach to me or my child without an invitation. I've taught her to think about everything for herself and come to her own conclusions.

Wow, Morphy, you know how to ask the hard ones. I was raised devout Catholic, even attending parochial school for 3 years, and all of my family still is.

I am devoutly agnostic. If God does exist, she is beyond human comprehension with our limited senses. I think Augustine got it all wrong with his conceptualization of original sin, which was then adopted in the fourth century by the Church. I am an avid reader of histories of religion, starting with 4 semesters of Indian and Chinese philosophy way back in college, and religious documents. I'm currently powering through another of Karen Armstrong's books, The Great Transformation, where she chronicles how four mainstream cultures underwent a sea change within the same 3 centuries, from the 5th through the 3rd centuries BCE, that resulted in the concepts of compassion and the golden rule emerging that currently underlie most of our major religions. Those cultures are Chinese, Indian, Greek, and Jewish. Fascinating book.

*waving* at Morphy

As for religion, I am a Baptist, although I rarely get to church these days because of my schedule. I believe that God does exist and that He loves me unconditionally.

However, I am sick to death of people 'cherry picking' the Bible to suit their belief system and I am especially heart sick at those who call themselves Christian and act in any manner but that of someone proposing to be Christlike.

I wasn't especially raised anything; my parents believe in God, but they're not too fussed about worshipping. I went to mainly Church of England schools, so I learned about that aspect of religion, but I've grown up all over the world, so I'm fairly open.

My thinking evolved to God does exist, and that goes hand in hand with science, for me (I mean, we're just a cluster of cells, so how did we come to be sentient?).

I think all the (genuine*) religions started out being well-meaning, and lay down a good foundation for living especially within the culture and environment where they originated; but people (very often the religious leaders themselves) take the words and twist them to their own meaning. For instance, the crusades of the middle ages had Christians fighting Muslims, but from where I'm standing, Christianity grew out of Judaism, which has the same roots as Islam (to simplify greatly). So I'm not very fond of religion, which, I suppose, makes me agnostic.

I hope what I've put down doesn't offend anyone - just thinking out loud.

(*genuine as in not a self-serving cult)

>44 norabelle414: Nora, I think I'm a Deist, too. I believe there is a Deity. Everything else is gravy.

>45 drachenbraut23: Bianca, one of my favorite books is Essential Spirituality by Roger Walsh which discusses the practices which are similar between the world's major religions such as compassion and service.

>46 Esquiress: Es, I really have no idea what to call myself either. If pressed, I say I believe in God.

>47 SylviaC: Sylvia, I wonder how much my ambivalence is because my parents were so ambivalent.

>48 drachenbraut23: Thanks, Bianca!

>49 scaifea: Amber, Buddhism is more of a practice, certainly.

>50 UnrulySun: Kathy, my grandmother used to say I could worship a tree and she wouldn't care as long as it made me a better person. Sounds like your mom.

>51 ronincats: Roni, I think God is beyond what we can imagine, too. That's why we created all those gods and goddesses and religions. So we have something to relate to.

>52 alcottacre: Stasia, that's what I most envy about some faiths. The absolute belief that they are loved unconditionally.

>53 humouress: I agree that most religions started out well-meaning, humouress, and then grew far too big. The dogma became more important than the faith.

***

Wacky Wednesday

* I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.

* Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

* The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

* Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

* There are two kinds of pedestrians: the quick and the dead.

* Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

* The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

* Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

* Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?

* Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

* How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

* Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"

* Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there? I'm gonna eat the next thing that comes outta its butt."

* Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?

* Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don't point to their crotch when they ask where the bathroom is?

* Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?

* If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

* If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

* Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

* Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?

* Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

Some of those lines made me LOL for real!

Morphy, forgive me if I missed it but when does Mr Morphy start his new job? I hope he's enjoying it if he already has.

I'm way behind here...but I found How to Train Your Dragon really enjoyable too. :) I just started my nephew on the book (which apparently is not like the movie at all). I'll probably check it out when he's done with it.

>55 UnrulySun: Kathy, he started last Thursday! They had him start almost right away. And, yes, he's enjoying it. Yay!

>56 The_Hibernator: Rachel, let me know what the book is like. Sometimes if I've seen the movie first and really liked it, the book is disappointing. That happened to me with Howl's Moving Castle.

***

Tunes Thursday

Originally written in 1929 by Irving Berlin and covered by everybody, Puttin' on the Ritz is a fun song - even showing up in the movie Young Frankenstein. This is my favorite version!

Puttin' on the Ritz by Taco



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG3PnQ3tgzY

Have you seen the well-to-do, up and down Park Avenue
On that famous thoroughfare with their noses in the air
High hats and arrow collars, white spats and lots of dollars
Spending every dime for a wonderful time

>54 Morphidae:: Love the Wacky Wednesday one-liners. Why oh why can't I remember some of these funny lines when I need them?

So glad Mr. Morphy is liking the new job...and Big Hugs for graduating With Honors. Go, Morphy!!!

What Donna said!

>58 Donna828:-59 Thanks, Donna & Stasia!

***

Film Friday

This is one case where I liked the movie more than the book. It might be because I watched the movie first, but I doubt it. I didn't like the characters in the books and I thought the plotting was all over the place. Whereas the movie is a favorite. Being a Disney movie, I can't find a clip, just a trailer.

Howl's Moving Castle



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UibodUGoL4M

Old Sophie: All right Calcifer, lets get cooking.

Calcifer: I don't cook! I'm a scary and powerful fire demon!

Had a lovely dinner last night. It was volunteer appreciation for WeCAB, the local transport nonprofit that I do dispatch and bookkeeping for. I also somehow became treasurer when I wasn't looking. We had cocktail shrimp, cheese and crackers, fried cheese curds and strawberries for appetizers then some type of chicken dish with a creamy sauce over wild rice and vegetables, then various bars for desserts. I had a chocolate one with nuts. Yum! I won a booklet with the history of our town and the person who won a gift certificate for Walgreen's couldn't use it so gave it to me. It was a delightful evening.

Tomorrow morning I'm volunteering at the local senior center. Hidden Treasures, the shop I go to once a week to spend time with the "ladies", is having a boutique before a fashion show and I'm going to be the cashier and money counter.

Sounds like a nice time, Morphy!

"I also somehow became treasurer when I wasn't looking."

That happened to me, at our school's parent council. At least you're good with numbers. I work very, very slowly to make sure I get the numbers the right way around.

It sounds like a nice evening, and I hope there will be lots of money for you to count tomorrow.

Howl's is a favorite here!

LOL, sounds like everyone is excited about your degree!

Morphy - so pleased to see the good news for both you and Mr. Morphy.

Liked Stasia's take on religion and note that that applies equally to all the organised religions - it is normally some asshole putting himself forward as an authority pontificating on the ills of the world and help everyone hate each other.

I am not christian and neither is SWMBO but we went into Durham Cathedral recently on my trip to the UK and arrived mid sermon from mayhaps the Bishop himself. I have to say his sermon was wonderful and specifically said prayers in a very heartfelt manner for those of all creeds, beliefs and denominations. If there were more like those chap around people wouldn't go to war misappropriating God or their vision of God.

Have a lovely weekend. x

>62 Esquiress: It really was fun, Es. It was held in a local senior apartment complex. It's a large set of building and we were in "The Court" - an atrium filled with light and openness and greenery. A nice change to the never-ending winter.

>63 SylviaC: Sylvia, I'm looking forward to today. It's hard for me to get out of the house with my disability but it's so worth the effort.

>64 UnrulySun: Kathy, I know! But I'm just eating it all up.

>65 PaulCranswick: Paul, I agree. Some people give religion a bad name and others are what it "should" be. The problem seems to be the former are louder than the latter.

***

The fund-raiser was mentioned in the State of the Thing newsletter yesterday and after more than a week of quiet, we have activity again. Yay! LibraryThing members are the best community in the world.

the fund-raiser was mentioned in the State of the Thing newsletter ... How cool is that??!! :-)

I'm so glad Mr. Morphy is enjoying his new job. Things are looking up!

>67 EBT1002: Thanks, Ellen! I'm looking forward to at least a few months of peace and quiet.

***

Music Monday

Fun song. And I like singing, "Whoo hooo... Whooo hooo..."

Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQmDUEv939A

Well my heart knows me better than I know myself
So I'm gonna let it do all the talking.
I came across a place in the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse and a cherry tree.

Oh, I love that song, Morphy! And Howl's Moving Castle is a favorite around here although I have not read the book- it is in the stacks waiting patiently for me. I have seen the movie, though, which all of my kids adore.

I saw the fundraiser mentioned in The State of the Thing - so cool!

And your dinner sounds lovely! And your comment about becoming the Treasurer tickled me: "I also somehow became treasurer when I wasn't looking." I laughed out loud! They are so lucky to have you, Morphy!

Love that song...

>68 Morphidae:

I now know what the next song will be on our ipod.....Thanks! Great song.

Hi Morphy!

I'm sorry to have been away from your thread for so long - I hope I can remember all the things I was thinking about saying!

Congratulations to MrMorphy on his new job - has the hours issue worked out?

Woohoo to you! Graduating with High Honors in anything is impressive - I can't imagine doing it in accounting! Good for you!

From way back on your last thread: Ethan Frome. Hated it. Really. What were they thinking making high school students read it? Were they trying to make everyone hate literature?

Thanks for all the fun songs and wacky jokes - you make your thread a happy place.

Morphy- I love Black Horse and the Cherry Tree! That was a terrific album. What happened to KT? She started so strong.

>69 Crazymamie: Mamie, they are lucky to have me! I am awesomesauce with fantastitoast!

>70 Esquiress: & 71 Es & CSailin, I listened to it like three times yesterday. Whoo hoo.... Whoo hooo...

>72 Dejah_Thoris: Dejah, no, still waiting to sign up for health insurance. They said after six to eight weeks. He's been working full time so far though. So keep your fingers crossed.

And I'm glad you think my thread is a happy place!

>73 msf59: Mark, she's still releasing albums and touring. Just not as popular as she once was.

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

Do you have any "special" books? This could be a book handed down from a relative or one you spent extra money on to get a special edition, etc.

For me it would be my Easton Press leather bound edition of To Kill a Mockingbird. I've had it for years and still haven't removed it from the plastic wrapping. I got it for $35 at a church auction.

For MrMorphy it would be Lee's Priceless Recipes published in 1894 that he got from his grandfather or perhaps his first edition Tarzan and the Ant Men, also from his grandfather.

I have a copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz that was published in 1929. It is in pretty poor condition from being read over and over and over, but I'm okay with that because I'm a believer that books should be read.

"I am awesomesauce with fantastitoast!"

I love that.

My OLD (Oxford Latin Dictionary), which my grad school friends and professors all chipped in to buy for me for my birthday one year. It was an extremely thoughtful and completely unexpected gesture and I broke down and cried when they gave it to me.

>75 norabelle414: Nora, I'm tempted at times to open up and read my To Kill a Mockingbird but I just can't do it.

>76 Esquiress: Es, me, too! It's giggle-worthy.

>77 scaifea: Amber, what a wonderful gift.

***

Wacky Wednesday

From notalwaysrelated.com

(I am visiting my dad, who is recovering from surgery to remove almost half of his large intestine.)

Me: “Hi, dad. How are you feeling?”

Dad: “A little weird, and very sore.”

(A huge, silly grin spreads across his face.)

Dad: “I have a new nickname, though.”

Me: “Already, huh? What’s that?”

Dad: “Semi-colon!”

I'm 50 pages into Gone Girl and I'm about to Pearl Rule it because, frankly, I'm bored. Any feedback? Should I keep going? I heard it gets better halfway through but do I really want to read another 150 pages before it gets interesting?

I have seen reviews both positive and negative for Gone Girl. Personally, if the book is not doing it for me by the 50-page mark, I will ditch it, but then return at a later date. I try and give every book at least 2 shots before deciding it is just not for me because I am very much a moody reader.

>80 alcottacre: Stasia, a book gets one chance with me. I'm pretty easy going when it comes to giving books a chance. It takes a lot for me to put a book aside. I can count on my hand how many I don't finish a year. So if I put it aside, I'm done.

***

Tunes Tuesday

Shake your boogie woogie woogie! The video is surreal but fun.

Baby Likes to Rock It by The Tractors



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJKb1BoQ6Ts


She said her name was 'Emergency' and asked to see my gun
Said her telephone number was 911
Got brother Jimmy on the T.V. - Killer on the stereo
She said if you want to get it... you got to let it go
She got the boogie woogie woogie spread all over the place
She's got it stacked to the ceilin' - got it stickin' in your face
Ya know my baby likes to rock it like a boogie woogie choo choo train

I said something stupid. Sorry, carry on :)

I'd say if you're not liking Gone Girl, ditch it. Though I have heard rumor that it gets more interesting as it continues...I didn't really like the other Gillian Flynn book I read, so I'm not certain I even want to pick up Gone Girl.

>82 Esquiress: Es, I saw what you wrote! I went searching Paul's thread but couldn't see what you were talking about. Came back here and you changed your message!

>83 The_Hibernator: Rachel, I did. The writing and plot weren't interesting enough to get past the unlikable characters. Back to the library it went!

***

Film Friday

MrMorphy and I quote the line, "SQUIRREL" from this movie all the time.

Plus not many movies make me cry at the *beginning* of the movie.

Up



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTBQYAE-pMk

Carl Fredricksen: Hey, let's play a game. It's called "See Who Can Be Quiet the Longest".

Russell: Cool! My mom loves that game!

***

We're going to Cinema Grill tomorrow. It's a movie theater and restaurant. We're going to see GI Joe: Retaliation (the only one MrMorphy and I could agree on) and eat burgers.

We say SQUIRREL a lot too! And we love those movie theaters. (Alamo Drafthouse around here). They usually have some fun events. We took the kidlet to see Grease there when they had a singalong, and we were *this* close to going to the marathon food-n-film fest to view all three LotR movies. They were serving Elevensies and Coney Stew... but we couldn't get away for 18 hours, lol.

We always get a pitcher and a plate of warm cookies. Have fun!

>84 Morphidae:: Hey, Morph... he said something on my thread about taking LT by storm, and here he was talking about MAMIE, not MORPHY. Luckily, Dejah got me all straightened out, so I could quickly change it :) I guess not quickly enough!

I am forever getting people's names mussed. I can't keep IRL names straight for the life of me.

Morphy has been taking LT by storm for quite a while!

In my family there's quite a bit of claiming the the squirrels did it - from The Santa Clause 2. The cats frequently use this excuse....

"Morphy has been taking LT by storm for quite a while!"

It seems so, with such a great fan club around :)

Morphy - You and Es both taking the group by storm this year. If anything this year has shown how much you are loved in this group despite the occasional faux pas when it comes to book-choice, hahaha

Hope you and Mr. Morphy have a lovely weekend.

Yes, Morphy, you are fantastic and appropriately well-adored. You deserve all of that adulation!

>85 UnrulySun: Kathy, we ran some errands before going to the movie and I ran out of steam so we are going today instead. Getting older sucks!

>86 Esquiress: Es, me either. When I respond to posts, I have the threadbook up so I can refer to people by name. I have a hard time remembering.

>87 Dejah_Thoris: Dejah, or we blame the dog for various things. "Who farted?" *points at dog*

>88 Esquiress: Es, nah, wasn't me!

>89 PaulCranswick: Paul, haha! Just because SOME people have boring taste...

>90 Esquiress: Es, ululation? Ayeyeyeyeyeye!

***

I am so happy that MrMorphy is in a job that he likes. He's playful and happy again.

On the flip side, I am having a terrible time with my eating disorder. For the last month, my eating has been out of control and I've regained 26 pounds. Anxiety has been awful and I feel on edge all the time. I've been self-medicating with food. I'm seeing my doctor on the 15th and she's getting me back into the binge eating disorder program. After a year of really good results, I feel like I'm back where I started and I'm scared to death I'm going to regain all the weight. I'm hurting and don't know what to do to get myself back on track.

Morphy, remember you have a huge online support system, and we're all rooting for you!

Oh, Morphy, I'm so sorry to hear that. Do your best, and try not to guilt yourself into feeling even worse. Shit happens!

Morphy- Sorry about the relapse. How frustrating. Hope you can get back on track. Sorry, Gone Girl didn't work for you. I would think, that if the first 50 pages didn't grab you, then this is just not your cuppa. Fortunately, there are a billion other books to fill the void.

Stress (and you've had a lot of it lately) can be brutal. Don't knock yourself for responding to it in ways that bring you comfort. It's great that you're going to get some help! I hope that with MrMorphy being happier in his new job and you rejoining the program your stress levels will lessen and and you can find some strategies to get back on track. You've done it before - you can do it again!

Morphy, you are beautiful and wonderful. We are here for you, sistafriend!

PS: "ululation" is a fantastic word.

I'm rooting for you Morphy. I had my own eating disorder, and while it takes time things do work out. I hope you feel better and less stressed soon.

Morphy, I was wondering how it was going. Are you keeping up your food diary, no matter what you eat? That's the only thing that works for me, and it means when you go in to your doctor and group, the pattern is right there to be worked on. Relapses are, unfortunately, very normal, as we all well know, and with a little bit of additional structure now, you can get back on track.

Up is a fantastic movie. I remember seeing posts on Facebook about how Pixar can tell an amazing love story in 10 minutes, versus the feeble attempts of books/movies like Twilight. Ha!

I'm sorry to hear about your fall from the weight-loss wagon. Roni's right, though - these things are not unusual, and we all know that you can get yourself back on track, Lady!

>92 SylviaC:, 93, 96. 97 Thanks, Sylvia, Jean, Es, Melissa

>94 msf59: Mark, and there have been plenty of books that you've recommended that I've enjoyed!

>95 Dejah_Thoris: Dejah, it always seems that I have the hardest time when the "storms" are over. When everything settles down is when I struggle the most. Weird, huh?

>98 ronincats: Roni, no, I haven't been keeping up with my food journal. That's my best tool and the one that falls by the wayside when I'm struggling.

>99 scaifea: Amber, no matter how many times I watch that first 10 minutes, it touches my heart.

***

Music Monday

It's a tossup on whether I prefer this one or Bad Romance with this one winning out slightly. I just wish the video weren't quite so long. I could do without the extended intro. In fact, I just watch the video and I much prefer Bad Romance's video. This one is just yuck. But I do prefer the song itself.

Telephone by Lady Gaga with Beyonce



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVBsypHzF3U


Not that I don't like you, I'm just at a party
And I am sick and tired of my phone r-ringing
Sometimes I feel like I live in Grand Central Station
Tonight I'm not takin' no calls, 'cause I'll be dancin'

I'm going to lean on my support here and start a binge-free days count. Binge free means I journal my food and that I stay within my calorie range unless it's a special occasion like a dinner out (which shouldn't be that often.) I need to stop this.

Morphy, your honesty always staggers me. I am thinking about you and sending you good mojo. Up there you said to Dejah: "it always seems that I have the hardest time when the "storms" are over. When everything settles down is when I struggle the most. Weird, huh?" I don't think that's weird at all. I think that happens to a lot of people because when the storm is happening, you are just doing everything that you can to weather it and the focus is not on yourself. When the storm is over, then you have time to feel all those emotions that your were putting on hold while your focus was elsewhere. You let down your guard, and suddenly you realize how much the experience took out of you and you feel exhausted and edgy.

Hugs to you, dear one. I am rooting for you. "Go Morphy!" "Go Morphy!"

I think a binge-free days count is an excellent idea - you know we're all behind you, Morphy!

And I think Mamie has the post-storm situation exactly right....

The 30-day calorie challenge that you posted on here earlier worked very well for you, so I think posting your binge-free days would be a good idea, too. And it gives us all an opportunity to cheer for you!

Morphy - My heart goes out to you regarding your difficulty in keeping weight of permanently as I have struggled with rising weight ever since I got married (another thing to lay at SWMBOs door). From my cycling days my dear I have to say that you just have to get back on your bike after falling. Go back to doing the things that took off the weight in the first place the routine and the targets will then push you forward. Yesterday is gone and cannot be got back but tomorrow is yours. xx

Morphy, you're beautiful. We support you.

>102 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. Your support means a lot to me.

>103 Dejah_Thoris: Dejah, yours, too. I don't think I could do this without my LT buddies.

>104 SylviaC: Sylvia, everyone can use cheerleading, for sure!

>105 PaulCranswick: Paul, I know. When I track my food, I'm successful. When I'm struggling, the tracking is the first thing to go.

>106 Esquiress: Es, and you are beautiful, too. Beautiful for being such a blessing and support.

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

Do you collect anything (besides books)?

I used to have a unicorn collection that numbered over 100 items. But I hit my late teens, scoffed at my younger self's collection and sold it at garage sales. This wasn't general knick-knack stuff you could get from Hallmark. These were unicorns hand-sewn by a grandmother, porcelain from a grandparent's trip to Europe, gold charms, pewter figurines. I could weep over it now.

I'd like to start a collection of something. But I don't know what. Unicorns don't interest me. Perhaps blue butterflies for my username?

What do you collect?

***

Well, my calories were over but that was because of a food choice (leftover chicken alfredo) rather than a binge, so I'll count yesterday as:

I have a small collection of music boxes, primarily carousel horses and metal ones (sometimes both!), and a few other odd ones thrown in. I keep them with my books on the very top shelf. :)

And congrats on Day 1! We're rooting for you, Morphy.

With MrMorphy working (yay!) and my disability, we keep our house neat but not very clean - dust bunnies abound. So once or twice a year we hire someone to come in and deep clean. Today is the day!

Meanwhile, yesterday I did a lot of school work which means that all I have left is my final exam and I'm done with college forever. WHAHOO!

Okay, this is going to sound so lame, but I collect bowls that look like fruit or vegetables - real fruit and vegetables, no cutesy stuff. Big bowls that can sit on the counter or tabletop. I like to switch them out according to what's in season. I also have a secret weakness for cocktail napkins.

we have several hundred full size wooden decoys. They have over-run the house.

I don't really collect anything—I need all the space for my books. My husband collects toy tractors, which take up all of the wall space in the basement. He regularly goes to farm toy sales and auctions.

I collect penguin stuff. Oh, and animals I've won from claw machines. And we have a small collection of signed CDs from some of our favorite artists too.

Hooray for a deep cleaning!

Hi, Morphy. We all have days when we go backwards, but it's not the end of the world, so don't beat yourself up about it. We're all here for you.

I'm something of a hoarder, so I tend to collect everything; but I do have a thing for elephants. Not just any elephant, though, but unusual ones. When we got married, my husband had accumulated several (unintentionally, I think, but they formed a group which has turned into a collection). For example, one is carved out of stone, and it's back is carved into latticework, through which you can see a baby elephant, carved out of the stone. The whole thing is one piece, with no breaks.



Something like this.

This is the primary cabinet, but I do have two more cabinets of figurines plus about 70 cat mugs and several sets of cat dishes...

Fortunately, I have pretty well stopped collecting now. Trying to figure out what to do with my binder full of cat stickers now that I'm retired and can't impress my students with it any more.

I used to collect fridge magnets but a new fridge put paid to that one. Now I collect interesting wooden or ethnic kitchen utensils which is far more practical as they can be put to use. My brother collects old tools and my mother has an elephant collection.
My mother was married for a while to an American and they lived in an old villa in Sonoma. Her husband collected old appliances and they used them for everyday living. I visited a few times and it was quite hilarious/scary to make toast, dry your hair or watch a video. He also collected vintage clothing that had been used in movies and then collected tapes of the movies themselves.

Do cats count? Real ones?

And congratulations on day #1!

Go, Morphy, go!

Adding my congratulations for day 1!

Hiya Morph! Congrats on day 1! You can do this! You've got all of us here rooting for you. ♥

As far as collections go, I try VERY HARD not to collect anything any more. I loved collections as a kid, and had a good number of shadowboxes and shelves full of everything from ceramics to figurines to stuffed animals. Looking back, I was pretty near obsessive bordering on hoarding with my collections! But they collected dust and took over, and I simply couldn't move everything into a student apartment so I gave it all up. The only thing I allowed myself to take were a handful of Hagen Renaker miniature siamese cats which I'd had since I was a toddler. I really really love them. I bought my daughter one of her own recently, but I don't add to my own collection any more.



I put all my hoarding issues into books these days. :p

I collect sewing machines, to Tomm's certain chagrin, I'm afraid.

>108 bell7: Mary, I started collecting music boxes 20 or so years ago but after about five or six boxes, I lost interest.

>110 Crazymamie: Mamie, that's not lame at at. I want to do something unusual like that, too. And I'm like you with blank journals. I have more blank journals than I can possibly write in in my life time.

>111 majkia: Jean, whoa. Who's idea was that? (Considering the "we.")

>112 SylviaC: Sylvia, well, one thing I'm considering is getting copies of all books I've rated a 9 or 10. I usually get all my books from the library.

>113 Esquiress: Es, she has to come back! She worked all day but has about two more hours to finish. My house will be all sparkly! We even got to open the windows and air out the house for the first time since last fall.

>114 humouress: Yeah, humouress, my unicorn collection was like that. It was all unusual types, not just "knick-knack" stuff you'd get at Target, etc.

>115 ronincats: Roni, as I said to Jean, whoa! :D I could use some stickers. I bought a bunch of blank cards for writing notes and was going to buy some stickers to put on the front.

>116 avatiakh: Kerry, I have a small fridge collection that covers up a large stain on our old frig. I'd love to get rid of the collection and the frig though!

>117 Dejah_Thoris: Dejah, are you a old Tcat lady?

>118 Esquiress:, 119 Thanks, Es and Stasia!

>120 UnrulySun: Kathy, I want to find something unusual enough and keep my collection small enough that hoarding and dusting aren't issues. One or two shelves worth would be plenty.

>121 scaifea: Amber, you "only" have six or seven, right? I don't think he should complain until you have at least a dozen!

Wacky Wednesday

For your puzzler enjoyment...

1. Johnny's mother had three children. The first child was named April. The second child was named May. What was the third child's name?

2. There is a clerk at the butcher shop, he is five feet ten inches tall and he wears size 13 sneakers. What does he weigh?

3. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?

4. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet?

5. What word in the English Language is always spelled incorrectly?

6. Billy was born on December 28th, yet his birthday is always in the summer. How is this possible?

7. In California, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why not?

8. What was the President's Name in 1975?

9. If you were running a race, and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now?

10. Which is correct to say,"The yolk of the egg are white" or "The yolk of the egg is white"?

11. If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field?

I'll provide answers tomorrow.

I think I got them all!

Calories: 2199
Binge Free



It's a eating out day.

During the day, I'm off to Gillespie Senior Center. We're having meatloaf, mashed potatoes, veggies and a dessert for lunch. Not bad for $5. I'll work on some type of project for the shop. Last week it was putting strings into price tags. Nothing real exciting but I like doing it while I chat with the "ladies." They are all decades older than I am. I guess I'm sort of a mascot.

Tonight, we're going to a church dinner. The menu, "We will be firing up the BBQ & grilling BBQ Ribs served with Roasted Yukon Potatoes & Baked Beans. The Kids' Line will feature Calzones & Kettle Chips with Fresh Fruit. Root Beer Floats for dessert." $7 per person. Again, not bad!

Thanks for mentioning that book. I'm going to check it out.

I was raised Roman Catholic, but never go to church. Not only do I not believe in so much they preach, it angers me. Big time. Won't attend a place where as a woman I'm considered second class.

>123 Morphidae: Thanks for these, Morphy. Fun! Like Sylvia, I think I figured them all out. I passed them on to my puzzle-loving dad.

Good for you for helping out at the Senior Center. I'm sure the ladies appreciate it.

I think I got them all too. I had to read a couple of them twice, though, and check my assumptions at the door!

Hehe, I love those puzzles.

Good luck with your food tracking!

I think I'm good on the puzzles, Morphy - and I know you're great for day #2!

I think I got all but one of your puzzles :) Thanks for the smile, Morph!

Talk to me Tuesday is over, but I sort of collect wine.

And I read your puzzles out loud to P and we think we got them all correct. Very fun.

I will be checking back tomorrow to see if I got all of the answers correct too!

#122 by @Morphidae> Well, we went to a decoy carving show with friends and were fascinated. So began collecting from carvers we actually know. We started in 1978 or so and thankfully get very few these days, since the house is awash in ducks, swans and shorebirds.

1. Johnny's mother had three children. The first child was named April. The second child was named May. What was the third child's name? JOHNNY

2. There is a clerk at the butcher shop, he is five feet ten inches tall and he wears size 13 sneakers. What does he weigh? MEAT

3. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world? MOUNT EVEREST

4. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet? NO DIRT IN A HOLE

5. What word in the English Language is always spelled incorrectly? INCORRECTLY

6. Billy was born on December 28th, yet his birthday is always in the summer. How is this possible? LIVES IN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

7. In California, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why not? A WOODEN LEG IS NOT A CAMERA

8. What was the President's Name in 1975? BARACK OBAMA

9. If you were running a race, and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now? SECOND PLACE

10. Which is correct to say,"The yolk of the egg are white" or "The yolk of the egg is white"? NEITHER, THE YOLK IS YELLOW.

11. If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field? ONE

My answer to #9 was: Now I'm right here.
I got the rest of them right.

I got them all except for #7. I was thinking the answer was going to be that the man was not in California. The kids had so much fun with this yesterday - I was reading them out loud, and they were trying to figure them out. Thanks, Morphy!

>126 Margielukas: Which book?

>127 jnwelch: Joe, they do. And I enjoy getting out of the house.

>132 EBT1002: Ellen, how do you "sort of" collect wine? Collect it long enough to drink it? LOL.

>134 majkia: Jean, do you know how many you have? Do you have a list?

Sylvia, Roni, Zoe, Dejah, Es, Stasia, let me know how you did!

***

Tunes Tuesday

The song is fun but the werewolf in this video is pathetic. LOL. I'm pretty sure Tom Cruise sang along to it in the movie The Color of Money.

Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhSc8qVMjKM

Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen
Doing the Werewolves of London
I saw Lon Chaney, Jr. walking with the Queen
Doing the Werewolves of London
I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's
And his hair was perfect

>135 Morphidae:: I got most of them, but I think number 6 was easier for me than for other people!

Calories: 2430 (low)
Calories were higher than that I'm sure. We went out for Chinese but it's hard to estimate restaurant dining. I went over but not by a terribly large amount.

Binge Free



Today I have book club at my church. We're discussing Killing Lincoln and The Beekeeper's Apprentice. We missed last month because of weather so will be discussing two books. I'm also meeting with the spiritual care minister. I'm not a religious person and don't have a spiritual practice and I'm really feeling the lack. While I'm not Christian - more of a Deist - the minister is very open minded and caring. I'm hoping she can help me with getting started and also some other compassion issues I'm dealing with.

>132 EBT1002: Ellen, how do you "sort of" collect wine? Collect it long enough to drink it? LOL.

Yup. Guilty. :)

Oh, if that's the criteria then I totally collect wine too.

>136 SylviaC: I had the same answer as Sylvia for #9. Do we get partial credit?

I hope your book group enjoys The Beekeeper's Apprentice - it's a favorite of mine.

Congratulations on day #3!

I got them all but for #8!

ETA: I thought that the answer was "Mr. President." My husband and roommate both got them all :)

Morphy, did you see we have new foster kittens at http://new.livestream.com/FosterKittenCam/Mythbusters?

HI Morphy,
still trying to catch up with everyone. I very much enjoy your daily memes and very much enjoyed the puzzle.
Great to hear that Mr. Morphy enjoys his new job and a big *whoop, whoop* for you Morphy. Day 3 today if I am not mistaken *grin*.

>139 humouress: I imagine so, humouress!

>141 drneutron:/142 Jim and Nora, it doesn't last for long that way though...

>143 jnwelch: Joe, everyone gets as much credit as they like!

>144 Dejah_Thoris: Dejah, I did enjoy The Beekeeper's Apprentice as did the group.

>145 Esquiress: Es, I missed the same one and gave the same answer you did!

>146 ronincats: Yes! Roni, I've been checking in daily and love the names!

>147 drachenbraut23: Bianca, glad you enjoy stopping by my thread. I try to keep it entertaining!

***

Film Friday

This was just a lovely feel-good movie.

Field of Dreams



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9yrupye7B0

Mark: You're going to lose your farm, pal.

Ray Kinsella: Come on, it's so big - I mean, how can you lose something so big?

Annie Kinsella: He misplaced the house once.

Ray Kinsella: Yeah, but it turned up two days later, didn't it?

Calories: 2598 (Running higher than I'd like.)
But still... binge free



I've put up flyers at the local senior center and my church for the fundraiser for MrMorphy. The one at the senior center has been up for two weeks and not one person has taken a tab with the website much less made a donation. The one from my church got removed because someone didn't realize that it was a member's husband. So I'm sort of bummed. I'll be getting a new flyer up at the church today now that they know not to remove it. Not even Facebook friends have donated. Only LTers have come up to bat. Have I mentioned lately that you all are the greatest?

#138 by @Morphidae> Yes, we have a list of the decoys but it is out of date by several years. At last count, 235 or so, but we've bought quite a few since then. I'd guess more like 275 at present. including 6 full size swans.

>149 Morphidae:: You know, it's impossible to explain to a non-LTer just how great this community is. My mom was perplexed when I explained that I planned to go to Philly to meet up with all of these people from a book website.

I must admit, before I got in this group, I was surprised at all of the meet-up pictures I saw around. I remember some being featured by the site, and I was like, "These people actually *meet* each other?!" Shelfari isn't like that at all :)

>150 majkia: Jean, wow, where do you put them all?

>151 Esquiress: Es, I know. I've even got a real-life LT book club now!

***

Calories: 3398

There's a fine line between over-eating and going on a binge. I didn't quite go over it yesterday but it was close. Over-eating is more about food choices. Mine were poor yesterday. Going on a binge is more about the process of eating. Did I continue to eat after I full? Did I continuously eat all day rather than having 3 separate meals and 2 snacks. No, I didn't.

So...

Morning Morphy- Just checking in! I love Warren Zevon. He left us way to early. Have a good weekend.

Go, Morphy, go! You are the WOMAN!

Congrats on day 5, Morphy!

Regarding "sort of" collecting wine, we do have a locker at a wine shop in town but our wine collection is nothing like some of the others we see. We do have one bottle of a Brunello that was named Wine of the Year in 2006. We haven't found the right occasion to drink that one yet, but the wedding in August might rise to that level.

>153 msf59: Thanks for stopping by Mark!

>154 Esquiress: Es, thanks!

>155 EBT1002: Ellen, I've never heard of a wine locker at a shop! Tell me more?

***

Calories: 2311

Go, Morphy!

>157 humouress: Thanks, humouress.

***
Music Monday

The tune is bouncy, the words are fun and the video adorable...

These Words by Nastasha Bedingfield



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWako3_ENlk

Read some Byron, Shelly and Keats
Recited it over a Hip-Hop beat
I'm having trouble saying what I mean
With dead poets and drum machines
I know I had some studio time booked
But I couldn't find a killer hook
Now you've gone & raised the bar right up
Nothing I write is ever good enough

***

Calories: 2849
Binge Free
Weight Loss: 5 pounds

Way to go, Morphy!!!!!

Cheers!!! Still rooting for you :)

Go, Morphy! *tossing some glitter*

Thanks, Sylvia, Melissa, and Es.

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

Reach out with your left hand. What is the closest book? Are you currently reading it? Is it on your TBR pile? Why do you have it? Why are you reading it or not reading it?

The book closest to my left hand is Crafting Calm: Projects and Practices for Creativity and Contemplation. It's the ER book I won in March. It's on my TBR Soon pile. As soon as my library pile shortens enough, I'll be attacking my five deep ER pile. I've been avoiding requesting library books as much as possible and plan on hitting it in the next couple of weeks.

***

Calories: 2748 (I know I have been binge free but I really have to get my calories down by another 500 a day.)
Binge Free



***

Spent yesterday doing financial reports and billing for the nonprofit. Today I get to stuff envelopes. Whoo hoo! I also am so many book reviews behind it's rather scary. I'm not going to do my usual one book/one post thing including book cover. It would be too massive. Instead I'll just list with a quickie review (even by my standards) and a rating.

Woo ho, Morphidae! Keep it up!

My nearest book (right under my left hand, in fact) is Among Others, which I am currently reading, because it comes heavily recommended by LTers. I'm not reading it at this very moment because I'm on LT. *sigh* - always happens to me.

As for library books, I have about 6 out, already renewed to the max. Somehow, May has been a slow month for me, reading-wise. Probably because RL has been pretty hectic.

Our pantomime opened this weekend, but we have one more rehearsal, probably to tweak things after seeing how the audience reacted.

Go Morphy! Go Morphy!!

My nearest book is Plainsong by Ken Haruf. I am not currently reading it, but it is in my TBR pile. I have it because I checked it out from the library after a lot of Lters recommending it. Not reading it yet because I already have six books going - it will have to wait its turn!

The closest book to my left hand is The Chalet School in the Oberland which I was consulting for an LT conversation. The closest to my right hand is Good Evening, Mrs. Craven by Mollie Panter-Downes, which I finished reading last night. I enjoyed it very much.

The closest book to my left hand is The Complete Persepolis, with The Book of Mormon almost right under it.

I'm reading The Complete Persepolis slowly but surely, because it's highly recommended and it works for a TIOLI. I got it when Borders was going out of business here in the US. In fact, I think my husband bought it for me at one of the sales. I'm really liking it.

The Book of Mormon is on my end table b/c a friend gave it to me to read (I think I may have requested it while I was drunk...). I've read one chapter of the first book he told me to start at. Yeah... read that while drunk too. It didn't make any sense to me, obviously.

The closest book to my left hand is Against the Tide, by Elizabeth Camden. It's there because I'm reading it. The closest book to my right hand is the audiobook The Well of Lost Plots, by Jasper Fforde. It's there because I need to burn it to my computer. Other than those two books, I might actually have to move my butt a few inches to reach another book. :)

Es: I've read the book of Mormon. There were some good parts surrounded by a lot of tedium. I left with the feeling that it's best to learn about LDS from missionaries, and read the Book of Mormon in short passages rather than cover-to-cover.

On the LEFT hand, Morph, the closest book is Restoree which is an old comfort favorite that I found a surplus copy of in the library sale bookshelf the other day, and brought home so I can give it away to someone.

On the right is a pile containing Heavy Time, which I finished a couple of days ago, The Bible: A Biography (ditto), and To Say Nothing of the Dog, which I also found on the library sale shelf and brought home to send to Anne (AMQS), who was looking for it. There are two more piles to the right of it, but I would have to stretch a couple of inches to lay hands on them.

One of my reading books is in the bathroom, the other on my nightstand.

Closest book to my left hand is Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman which came in the mail yesterday and I already finished last night. Closest to my right is The Hunger Games which my daughter is reading.

>163 humouress: humouress, "As for library books, I have about 6 out," - Amateur! :D
I have seventeen books out and that's low for me. I'm trying to get the numbers down since I have several books I own that I want to get read including some ERs.

>164 Crazymamie: Mamie, Plainsong is a good one. You should enjoy it.

>165 SylviaC: Sylvia, I don't recognize either of those titles!

>166 Esquiress: Es, better you than me. I challenged myself to read the Bible last year. I think it will be many years before I try reading another religious text. It was torture.

>167 The_Hibernator: Rachel said butt. Heh heh heh heh.

>168 The_Hibernator: Rachel said missionary. Heh heh heh heh.

>169 ronincats: Roni, McCaffrey is always good for comfort reads. I recently reread Crystal Singer for the same reason.

>170 UnrulySun: Kathy, Make Good Art sounds interesting. How did you get it?

***

Wacky Wednesday

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?

The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.

2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?

Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator?

Wrong Answer.

Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.

3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend... except one. Which animal does not attend?

Correct Answer: The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory. Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.

4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?

Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.

According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four-year-old.

***
I didn't realize it until this morning but I had a mini-binge yesterday. It wasn't much but it was enough to disqualify me from my streak. There is over-eating and there is eating something when you know you are full and have had plenty to eat. You are eating just for the sake of eating and no other reason. It's become such a habit that I didn't realize it while I was doing it. So I'll start over today. My maximum streak so far was eight days. Let's see if I can beat that!

ETA: I'm seeing my weight loss/eating disorder doctor this afternoon. We'll be discussing getting me into the binge eating disorder program and see if there is anything else we can do to help get me back on track meanwhile.

Closest to my left hand is a library book, A line in the sand: Britain, France and the struggle that shaped the Middle East by James Barr. It was a book I found when browsing the history section of my library and I've just read the prologue. What makes it interesting is that the author makes use of new documents recently declassified by the British and French archives. I probably won't read it because it's one of many books I have out at present, though I've noted it for a future read.
Also on my left is Between friends by Amos Oz which I finished reading yesterday and it's waiting for me to post comments on, The Yellow Wind by David Grossman which I read about halfway through a few years ago and I pulled off the shelf the other day to have a look at and Nell's Festival of Crisp Winter Glories by Glenda Millard, the last book (#7) in a lovely children's series that I've really enjoyed reading.

On my right is Hamas: from resistance to government by Paola Caridi which is a library book my son has been referring to for an assignment. I've read a few pages but again, not one that I'm going to be reading cover to cover.

You're doing well with your calorie counts.

I love that test! I'm going to share it with the kids when they come home from school.

Good luck with with your non-binge re-start. Reporting to us will help to keep you on the straight-and-narrow.

(Edited to remove a redundant "re".)

>165 SylviaC:: Chalet School books! They're very hard to find these days. I tried to read them all in order (though they weren't written in chronological order) many years ago, but I had to give up about half-way through. What was the conversation, if I may be so rude?

>171 Morphidae:: You haven't read Chalet School! (You 'amateur' me, I Chalet School you) ;0) They were set / written from around WWII and set variously in Austria, Wales and the Channel Isles, if I recall correctly. They form a nostalgic part of my childhood.

As for library books, I'm trying to reduce (but borrowing is an addiction) The majority of the books have now been renewed, and will have to be returned soon, will-I-nill-I, and I hate returning them unread. Plus, they're from two different library systems. Not two different libraries, mind, but from the libraries of two different shires. Between them, from at least four, possibly five, different libraries. Not counting the e-book I borrowed since.

You know, I've seen that Wacky Wednesday before, and still got it all wrong. I'm pretty sure Anderson Consulting have drawn the right conclusion - don't forget, I have a four-year-old. I bet he'd have got all the answers correct.

I know how it goes with mini-binges. Good for you for having the will power to start again.

Girls Gone By Publishing is reprinting all of the Chalet School books. They are using the hardback, Chambers book version versus the abridged paperback version of each book. The books they publish, however, are papaerback and include bonus material. They are also publishing the fill-ins folks have written to fill in gaps where Elinor Brent-Dyer skipped a term. I am late to the series, so I've decided to wait for the GGBP versions to build my collection. The later books, including Chalet school in the Oberland are set in Switzerland.

Oh, I hope you enjoy Among Others, Morphy. I did very much, and there are many fun allusions to books you'll be familiar with.

>164 Crazymamie: @humouress
I just completed my Chalet School series (62 books!), so I'm on a Chalet School high! That particular conversation was on my reading thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147269#4083107
If you search for "Chalet School" on the Green Dragon home page, you can find a few other recent conversations. The series also comes up frequently on the Tattered but Still Lovely group.

You have my support, Morph.

I hope the Chalet School reprints make their way across the big pond!

The way I see it, Morphy, is that was 7 days when you did NOT binge eat--wunnerful!!!

I agree with Roni.

>172 avatiakh: Kerry, thanks for stopping by. I've tried to read history books like yours but they just don't hold my interest. More power to you!

>173 SylviaC: Sylvia, how did your kids do on the test?

>174 humouress: That's because I can't find the Chalet School books in my library, humouress! Even in interlibrary loan! I was willing but no go.

>175 MDGentleReader: MD, I thought they weren't available in the US, looks like they just aren't available in my library system. Pretty unusual. I rarely come across books they don't have.

>176 jnwelch: Joe, it wasn't me but humouress who is about to read Among Others. I already read it and thought it was good but not exceptional.

>178 Esquiress: Thanks, Es.

>179 thornton37814: Lori, not to Minnesota yet it seems!

>180 ronincats:/181 Roni & Es, hey! It was EIGHT days! :D

***

Tunes Tuesday

Do I really need to explain the love for this one?

Love Shack by The B-52s



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leohcvmf8kM

Hop in my Chrysler,
it's as big as a whale and it's about to set sail!
I got me a car, it seats about 20
So come on up and bring your jukebox money.

Morphy-

I found a couple Chalet School fill-in books in e-books, that's how I got hooked. You can buy some of the Armada titles in the US fairly cheaply, particularly those that are now available from GGBP. I've also bought GGBP titles from US sources. I've only read Chalet School books that I have bought. My library system is fantastic - except that they have no Chalet School books and fewer and fewer D. E. Stevenson and Elizabeth Cadell titles.

>182 Morphidae: Oops, sorry about the mix-up, Morphy. I remember you were somewhat meh about Among Others.

I loves that B-52s song. I miss their sense of humor.

>182 Morphidae:

One got #3 right, and one got #4 right. Both of them wanted to slice up the giraffe and the elephant—children are so bloodthirsty.

My son tested a couple of his friends at school. One got them all wrong, and the other got three right. I found that interesting because the boy who got three right is a very independent thinker, who hates school, while the other boy is very outgoing and popular.

Okay, I'm terribly behind in my book reviews so I'm doing a shortened version to get caught up else I'd be doing a wall of posts.

End of April

107. Fat is a Family Affair by Judi Hollis - 6 out of 10 stars
-A Guide for People with Eating Disorders and Those Who Love Them
-I've read too many books about eating issues and too many books about addiction. This is just another one. Nothing stands out here.

108. Paradise Lost by J. A. Jance - 7 out of 10 stars
-Joanna Brady must balance just being wed, being the mother of a pre-teen and being the sheriff
-Enjoy this series very much. As usual with this type, much more for the characters than the mystery.

109. Reunion in Death by J. D. Robb - 8 out of 10 stars
-An old enemy wants to go head to head with Eve for putting her away
-Enjoy this series very much, too! And, again, much more for the characters than the mystery though this one was very interesting.

110. Purity in Death by J. D. Robb - 7 out of 10 stars
- A terrorist group goes after criminals who have slipped through the system with horrific results
- Ditto

111. Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost - 7 out of 10 stars
- An old, unremembered, flame comes back from the past to cause trouble
-Solid entry in the series

112. This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - 6 out of 10 stars
-Bad guy is spreading the rumor that Cat wants to take over by using ghouls
-This one not so much. A little tedious, same ol', same ol'.

113. Iron Druid Short Stories by Kevin Hearne - 5 out of 10 stars
-Clan Rathstalker, A Test of Mettle, Two Ravens and One Crow
-Too much of author self-stimulation here and too little substance

114. Robin's Country by Monica Furlong - 6 out of 10 stars
-Young boy runs away and finds him caught up with Robin Hood and his band
-Furlong is a good author but the story was trite - abused and disabled boy, put in with a heroic group, loses a friend, mistaken identity. Too many cliches.

115. Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood - 7 out of 10 stars
- Fictionalized account of a servant in mid-1800s Canada is accused of murder
- Atwood is a good writer with a great sense of character and place. She keeps my interest when the characters are intriguing and the plot is moving. But when she philosophizes and describes too much, she loses it. I was hesitant about reading this because of the open ending, but by the time I was finished, I was fine with it. I have my own opinion about it.

116. Finding Destiny by Jean Johnson - 7 out of 10 stars
- Four short stories in the Sons of Destiny world
- Enjoyable fluff fantasy romance erotica

117. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman - 7 out of 10 stars
- A court musician gets involved in human versus dragon politics much to her regret
- I liked the world building and writing yet the characters were cold and the plot plodding at times. Interesting enough I'll try the next in the series though.

118. Wonder by R. J. Palacio - 9 out of 10 stars
- A disfigured boy goes to a public school for the first time
- Wonderful. Heartwarming. Made me laugh and cry. My definition of a favorite book is one where I hug it when I'm done and this one got a big ol' bear hug when I was finished. Highly recommended for both adults and children.

119. Undead and Underwater by MaryJanice Davidson - 6 out of 10 stars
- Three contemporary fantasy novellas - one Betsy, one Wyndham, and a super heronine.
- Short stories don't do much for me and this is a fluff author. Entertaining couple of hours anyway.

120. A Cast of Corbies by Mercedes Lackey - 6 out of 10 stars
121. Exile's Valor by Mercedes Lackey - 7 out of 10 stars
122. The Ship Who Searched by Mercedes Lackey and Anne McCaffrey - 6 out of 10 stars
123. If I Pay Thee Not in Gold by Mercedes Lackey and Piers Anthony - 6 out of 10 stars
124. Bedlam Boyz by Ellen Guon - 6 out of 10 stars
- Rereads

May so far

125. Lover at Last by J. R. Ward - 7 out of 10 stars
-TIOLI #21 (SFF), next in series
-Next in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series - Quinn and Blay finally get their romance
-I wasn't sure how I'd feel reading about a m/m romance. Not that I have any issues with them, but rather, I simply have no interest. But this was well done. Otherwise this felt like a transition novel where Ward is setting up new characters and new stories.

126. Kitty Rocks the House by Carrie Vaughn - 7 out of 10 stars
- TIOLI #21 (SFF), next in series
- Next in the Kitty series, conflicts closer to home
- As I saw in another review, the Kitty books are a comfort read. Nothing earth shattering and the characters are normal-type people. Okay, they are werewolves and such. But they have relationship problems and family conflicts and friendship issues. It doesn't all have to be world-ending, paranormal "dicks on the table" politics crap. Kitty is just this regular person. And, okay, she's also a werewolf dj.

127. Mountain Echoes by C. E. Murphy - 6 out of 10 stars
- TIOLI #21 (SFF), next in series
- Walker gets called back to her home town when her dad disappears
- I'm glad Murphy is wrapping this series up in the next book. This is the eighth book in the series and she's stretching things out. She could have tightened it all up better into six or fewer books. And Joanne grated on me in this one for some reason. Too whiny, maybe? And a flying car? Really?!?

128. Whispers Underground by Ben Aaronovitch - 6 out of 10 stars
-TIOLI #21 (SFF), next in series
-Murder leads constable and magician's apprentice, Peter, into London's subway system
-I like the characters and world-building but Aaronovitch really needs to work on plot and story clarity. The main character has leaps in logic that leave me scratching my head in confusion. I do not like this in mysteries.

129. Portrait in Death by J. D. Robb - 7 out of 10 stars
- TIOLI #8 (life or death), next in series
- A killer takes posed pictures of his victims and sends them to the media
- I would have liked this one more if Roarke hadn't acted like a bit of a jerk. And then the author wrapped the conflict between Roarke and Eve up too quickly. It felt a little tacked on. Otherwise, a solid entry into the series.

130. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King - 7 out of 10 stars
- TIOLI #5 (should have - book club), LT Recommended (12 in 12), LTMP, Ultimate Reading List, GD 50 Mysteries, WCC Book Club
- A teen girl meets up with a retired Sherlock Holmes and he takes her under his wing
- I'm sure it was true to the Sherlock style mysteries but I found it a little annoying that there was no way to solve the mysteries myself. Only the characters could figure them out because of their special knowledge and intellect. Otherwise an enjoyable story.

131. Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris - 7 out of 10 stars
-TIOLI #21 (SFF), next in series
-Sookie is accused of murder and all her friends and family come to her defense
-While I always enjoy the Sookie books, this definitely felt like a wrap up book. It seems like everyone has a bit part and some felt shoved in every which way. People walked in and then walked back out. I wasn't especially thrilled with one of the romantic resolutions and while I kind of figured out who she ended up with, it wasn't exactly an exciting happily ever after. But still, it's a Sookie and an enjoyable fluff read.

132. Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly - 5 out of 10 stars
-TIOLI #10 (participle), WCC Book Club
- The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever
-Meh. I don't care for history anyway. And the first third of the book was more about the Civil War and battles. Boring. The author had an annoying habit of ending the chapters with, "Six days until Lincoln would be dead," "Five days until Lincoln would be dead," etc. Easy read though.

133. Life after Life by Kate Atkinson - 6 out of 10 stars
- TIOLI #8 (life or death)
- Ursula lives life after life. Sometimes dying very young, other times much later. Sometimes she has choices, other times not.
- While I think Atkinson is a very good writer with excellent characterization, plotting and sense of place, I found the book to be too bleak and depressing for my taste.

134. Fortune's Fool by Mercedes Lackey - 6 out of 10 stars
135. One Good Knight by Mercedes Lackey - 6 out of 10 stars
136. Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey - 8 out of 10 stars
137. Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux - 8 out of 10 stars
138. The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey - 8 out of 10 stars
- Rereads
- The bottom three are particular favorite comfort reads. I'm about to have to replace The Fire Rose for the second time, I've read it so much.

Morphy - I can't keep up with you! You read too fast. Comfort reads are always a good thing.

>183 MDGentleReader: MD, I really can't afford to buy books but I'm a heavy library user.

>184 jnwelch: Joe, yeah. I love Rock Lobster, too.

>185 SylviaC: Sylvia, that the kids wanted to slice and dice the animals made me chuckle.

>188 thornton37814: Lori, well, that is about a month's worth!

139. Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #17 (lesser known book), GD Lists (13 in 13), 1001 Fantasy

Summary: Retelling of the Psyche and Cupid myth from the elder sister's point of view

Opinion: Only vaguely interesting story about unlikable characters who mostly have unpleasant lives then you get hammered with a moralistic ending. Yuck.

Rating: 4

140. The Outstretched Shadow
141. To Light a Candle by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #14 (M A Y author), TIOLI #9 (series rolling - 2), rereads

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh (pg 142)
Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer
The Great Influenza by John Barry
Elemental Magic edited by Mercedes Lackey

On Deck:
Blood Wyne by Yasmine Galenorn
California Girl by T. Jefferson Parker
The Dark Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Morphy, I'm with you on Till We Have Faces.

Morphy, I like how you got caught up with your short reviews. Reminds me of my monthly summaries. I am guilty of writing too much about the books I've read. All we really need is a brief description and a sentence or two about our feelings about the book. Old habits are hard to break.

Speaking of old habits, I understand how binge eating is tied up in our emotions. I appreciate your honesty with yourself and wish you all the best with your plan for getting back on track. You seem to be doing all the right things. Have patience with yourself. This too shall pass.

>193 SylviaC: Sylvia, and I'm sort of nervous about next month's read. It's a SF 600 page door stop.

>194 Donna828: Donna, well, I kept putting them off and the list kept getting bigger! I didn't have the time or energy to do more than a sentence or two. Not that I do much more than that anyway.

***

Speaking of binge eating, I'm three days binge free and working my way up to my previous record of eight days binge free. My calories are also more in line with what I'd like except for yesterday. Who knew that a pretzel could have so many calories? Sheesh!

>195 Morphidae:

I'm skipping next month's book. For now, I'm sticking to what I have at home, so it looks like my next one will probably be in October.

***

Now you tell us there are lots of calories in a pretzel! If I had known that yesterday I might have made a different decision at the farmers market.

Hmmm. I thought pretzels were relatively light. That explains some things... :)

What is the 600 page sf doorstop?

>196 SylviaC:/197 Sylvia & Jim, it depends on the type of pretzel. The dry snack type pretzel isn't bad. However, that's not the type I had. I had a soft spinach feta cheese pretzel. Yikes! Almost 400 calories!

>198 ronincats: Roni, we are reading A Fire Upon the Deep by Victor Vinge.

***

Music Monday

As I fall asleep each night, I fantasize about what I'd do about my lottery winnings. It's my sleepy-time meditation. This is my theme song. Okay, not really. I wouldn't not eat, I'd hire a personal chef. But the song and video are fun anyway. Love the cameos.

Rockstar by Nickelback



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmeUuoxyt_E (explicit version)

I want a brand new house
On an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub big enough
For ten plus me

***
Four binge free days (previously had eight)

Yesterday I had a lot of fun at the Taiko drumming yesterday. They had a demonstration at the library. The drummers had an amazing amount of energy, dancing and calling out. My cheeks still hurt from smiling. I loved how you could *feel* the drum beats in your body, they were so loud and deep.

142. Elemental Magic by Mercedes Lackey (ed.)

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #21 (SF/F)

Summary: Short stories by various authors in Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters world

Opinion: I didn't know this was short stories or I might not have reserved it. I simply ask for each new Lackey as it comes out. I do not care for short stories. I like becoming absorbed in stories and I can't do that with shorts. There is no build up of character and only the best authors can make a short story plot interesting or clever. Only a few of the stories here met that goal.

Rating: 5

My husband, roommate, and I were talking about fantasy cars for lottery winnings. I didn't do very well at designing mine on the Mini website. I kept saying, "No, I don't need that. It'll just cost more." They said I didn't get the idea of fantasy car-building :)

I do want a Mini for my next car, though...

>201 Esquiress: Es, yeah, you are sort of missing the idea. With me in a wheelchair, a car doesn't come to mind for lottery winnings, however, an accessible mansion does. LOL!

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

What was the last book you didn't finish. Why did you stop?

My last book was Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I really wanted to like it as I usually like high buzz books. But fifty pages in I was bored and I had no interest in the unlikable characters. From what I heard, the characters got more and more nasty and I don't like feeling yucky after finishing a book. So I sent it back to the library.

What about you?

143. Blood Wyne by Jasmine Galenorn

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #14 (M A Y author), Paranormal Creatures (13 in 13 - fey), next in series

Summary: Menolly, the vampire sister, has to track down a vampire serial killer

Opinion: Ninth book in the series. The bloom is off the rose and it's starting to feel like the author is just pumping them out. There's no character growth or plot development in this one. We'll see how the next book or two go.

Rating: 6

Caught up finally Morphy. On course to beat last year's 300 total - as Sean said :"Never Say Never Again"
Glad to see you didn't exactly hate Alias Grace, a relief indeed. x
Not fair at all about the pretzels.

Hmmm, I think the last book I didn't finish was Seraphina because I couldn't keep the audio book long enough. It was just okay anyway, so no great loss for me.

As for the lottery! I usually get funny looks when discussing this because I don't want overly fancy things. Yes, maybe a new house without repair issues, but certainly not big. Well okay, a small house with a HUGE library with a ladder... A personal chef... Maybe adopt a bunch of older kids... But what I really want is to travel everywhere. :)

Meanwhile, I'm on day five of my binge free streak and my calories are staying within my range. I lost two pounds this week.

#206 by @Morphidae> Yay!

Yay Morph!!
When you get to day 10 this time we're throwing a thread party!

Well, speak of stopping a book and there it is. I just had to put Summer and Bird away. Its too... clever. So I picked up The Rithmatist instead. :)

My memory is so bad--I don't know if I can recall the last book I stalled out on and put aside. However, a couple that are in that condition include Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner, Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher, and Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson, all waiting for a better time for me to get back into them.

Congratulations on the binge-free days and calorie counting. After doing weigh-in and food log for one day, I've slipped for the following 3 days, and need to get back on track and regain some long-lost habits.

Hi Morphy- Gone girl grabbed me in the opening pages and never let me go. I love Flynn's writing and for pure style and nifty hijinks, I think this is her best.
I see you are getting ready to read California Girl. I haven't read Parker in many years but that was easily one of my favorites.

Hi Morphy!

Congratulations on Day Five binge free!

The last book I started and put down almost immediately was the most recent book in Jeffrey Archer's Clifton Chronicles series. I just didn't care.

Catching up!

Congratulations on being binge free.

I had to return Steampunk! to the library, because Among Others was also due, and I wanted to read it because of all the LT recommendations. But I've borrowed it as an e-book; which reminds me, it's due again, soon - better read it.

>204 PaulCranswick: Paul, Paul, Paul. How many times do I have to say it? Do I need to get SWMBO involved? I said that I would never make it a GOAL to read 300 books again. If it happens naturally, so be it.

>205 UnrulySun: Kathy, oh, when I dream lottery, I dream BIG. Three digit million lottery. Big accessible house on lots of acreage. A stable for the horses. A hyacinth macaw and aviary. Dogs. Huge library. Massive book shopping trips. Personal chef. Personal assistant. Housekeeper. Handicapped van and chauffeur. Trusts for my family, especially my mom. College for my niece and nephew. Money to my local senior center and church. Money back to the generous people here at LT. Blah blah blah.

>207 majkia: Thanks, Jean. The encouragement here helps.

>208 UnrulySun:/209 Kathy, oh dear. I better get the digs for a new thread ready! And I didn't curse you. Really!

>210 ronincats: Roni, what happened with Furies? I found journaling is THE key to my weight loss and being binge free.

>211 msf59: Mark, I liked Silent Joe a bit more but California Girl was a solid good read.

>212 Dejah_Thoris: Dejah, thanks! I've never read anything by Archer. Is he normally good?

>213 humouress: Do you think you'll take Steampunk! back out, humouress? Or is it a lost cause?

***

Wacky Wednesday

Ten Pet Peeves That Your Dog Has About You

1. Blaming your farts on me... not funny... not funny at all!!!

2. Yelling at me for barking... I'M A FRIGGIN' DOG, YOU IDIOT!

3. Taking me for a walk, then not letting me check stuff out. Exactly whose walk is this anyway?

4. Any trick that involves balancing food on my nose... stop it!

5. Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now you know why we chew your stuff up when you're not home.

6. The sleight of hand, fake fetch throw. You fooled a dog! Whoooo hoooooooo! What a proud moment for the top of the food chain.

7. Taking me to the vet for "the big snip", then acting surprised when I freak out every time we go back!

8. Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your guests. Sorry, but I haven't quite mastered that handshake thing yet.

9. Dog sweaters. Hello??? Haven't you noticed the fur?

10. Acting disgusted when I lick myself. Look, we both know the truth. You're just jealous.

Now lay off me on some of these things! We both know who's boss here! You don't see me picking up your poop do you???

144. California Girl by T. Jefferson Parker

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #12 (for fun), Code List (13 in 13 - EDGR)

Summary: Three brothers, a cop, a journalist and a minister, are affected by a young woman's murder in 1960s Orange County California

Opinion: It wasn't much of a mystery but rather more about the brothers and the personal interactions. I read this because I really liked Silent Joe by the same author. I didn't like this one as much but it was still enjoyable. I liked the brothers, good people but less than perfect.

Rating: 7

145. The Dark-Hunters, Vol. 1 by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Genre: Graphic Novel

Notes: TIOLI #17 (lesser known work), Graphic Novel (13 in 13)

Summary: Retelling of the Night Pleasures novel in Manga form

Opinion: I'm not much into manga. I think the graphics are too childish and unrealistic but I do like Kenyon's stories. So it was an enjoyable enough hour or so.

Rating: 6

I'm off to the senior center today for chatting and crafting. I'm going to have one of the ladies teach me to knit. There are so many knitters there it won't be a issue of finding someone to teach me but deciding which of them will! Most likely Susie who came here from Japan thirty or forty years ago. We'll be having lasagne for lunch.

As of Monday, I'm officially a college graduate. Only took me until I was 47 years old!

And after all my bitching and moaning about how horrible that last class was, after she removed the lowest quizzes and added the extra credits I ended up with a 99%!

61 posts later, I finally get around to answering your question about wine lockers.
One (probably more) of the wine shops here in Seattle has a warehouse in back in which they have constructed lockers. The lockers are made of 2X4s and plywood and have secure doors (you bring your own padlock). The warehouse is temperature- and humidity-controlled to be good for storing wine long-term. The lockers come in various sizes from quite small (holds 9 cases but only if you are a very good packer) up to huge (picture a very nice walk-in closet). We have one that is, I think, one size up from the smallest and we store some of our wine that needs to be held for a few years. It's fun to go pull out a box that I've marked "open in 2013" to find inside it bottles I purchased in, say, 2004 and let sit for those years. It can seem a bit pretentious, but it's a nice way to enjoy a few special bottles of good Bordeaux or Brunello.

Wacky Wednesday is very funny!

I read California Girl eons ago and remember enjoying it about the same as you.

Congratulations, Morphy! Woohoo! That is something to celebrate!

Rock Lobster! Yes!

And I'm glad Wonder won your heart. Beautiful book.

>217 Morphidae:

Awesome accomplishment, Morphy! 99% is an amazing grade. I've certainly never done that well on any course.

214 - I got a kick out of the 'Ten Pet Peeves That Your Dog Has About You'. :) Thanks for sharing. And congrats on the class and graduating!

A book I put down recently without finishing was Edward Rutherford's latest Paris: the novel. I read 3 pages then read Suzanne's 1.5 star review and decided not to continue. It was a library book so I made someone's day by returning it early.

Also enjoyed the doggie pet peeves.

And congratulations on graduating college.

Go, Morphy, go! Huzzah on your academic achievements!

Congratulations on graduating, Morphy! That's excellent.

Congratulations on graduating!

Please add my kudos to the rest of your LT friends who admire your accomplishment!

Congratulations!!!!

Congratulations on your graduation Morphy!

oh yes, congrats on graduating!!!!

>218 EBT1002: Ellen, the wine locker sounds cool. I've never really gotten into drinking wine or any other alcohol. It upsets my stomach. This is perhaps a good thing considering my addictive tendencies.

>219 Dejah_Thoris:, 221-229 Dejah, Sylvia, Melissa, Kerry, Es, Jill, humouress, Linda, Rhian, Jean thank you!

>220 jnwelch: Joe, last year was a killer with only one book I rated a 9 or higher. This year I've had two already with Wonder being one of them. What a relief! I thought it was me but it was just a dry year.

***

Tunes Thursday

A popular remake by the 80s pop girl band. It's fun and danceable. In the 1980s, Bananarama were listed in the Guinness World Records as the all-female group with the most chart entries in the world, a record which they still hold.

Venus by Bananarama



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH3WvI_S6-k

Goddess on the mountain top
Burning like a silver flame
The summit of beauty and love
And Venus was her name

146. Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #12 (for fun)

Summary: Mr Matekoni is pressured into adopting two orphans while Mma Ramotswe looks into a ten year old missing person mystery

Opinion: A gentle, delightful read. I love the characters, culture and setting. A huggable book.

Rating: 8

I also want to congratulate you on attaining your degree, Morphy!! Way to go!

Today I'm off to the doctor for a routine visit for meds and to jump through some Medicare hoops. I had to send my CPAP in for repair and it may need to be replaced. If so, I'm required to visit my doctor, so I'm going to be ahead of the game. Also, I'm having problems with my hand/arm. If I write more than a sentence or two, my hand cramps. If I continue, the pain radiates into my arm. Since I write pen pal letters and journal (or at least try to), this is a real obstacle. I also want to learn to draw. I need to get this fixed! Additionally, I have two fingers that have been numb for years.

I hope the doctor's visit goes well to day, Morphy.

I'm going to have _Venus_ in my head all day today....

Congratulations on your graduation, Morphy! That is awesome!

Congratulations from me, too, Morphy. It's got to be sweet to have gotten that degree.

A belated congrats, Morphy!
And "Venus" -- a great song!

>232 ronincats:, 235-237 Roni, Lori, Joe, Ellen, thanks! Yes, it is sweet. And a relief.

>234 Dejah_Thoris: Dejah, my blood pressure is good, hoops for Medicare were jumped through and I have an appointment in JULY (!) with a hand doctor for the issues with my hand. So it goes.

***

Film Friday

Bolt



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIN-QGBWHAI

Mittens: How do you say "No way I'm doing this" in crazy?

>231 Morphidae: I love the Mma Ramotswe books too, she's such a great character. I'd also recommend his Isabel Dalhousie series if you're interested, Isabel is a philosopher who lives in Scotland and the books have the same sort of meandering but comforting plot as the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

Congrats on your graduation!!! Bolt is one of the few Disney animated movies I haven't seen... but my summer project is to watch all of Disney's animated film catalogue in order, starting with Snow White. I have a looooong way to go to get to Bolt, but... it'll happen! I'm determined!

Hi Morphy, loved the pet peeves from a dog's perspective. Lucky and I definitely have different ideas about walks. I don't know how many times I've told him, "it's a walk, not a sniff!" I stay home on Sundays and let my husband and dog meander as much as they like.

That's awesome about your official graduation. It's an accomplishment to be proud of no matter what age you are when it happens.

Congratulations on the good blood pressure report Morphy - but I'm sorry it'll take so long to get your hand seen to!

>239 LibraryLover23: LibraryLover, I have over 200 series started, I don't need another one. I can't hear you! La la la la la.

>240 dk_phoenix: Faith, I have that challenge ongoing. I only have Winnie the Pooh and Wreck-It Ralph to watch.

>241 Donna828: Donna, I can't wait to lose enough weight to walk my dog. It's one of my major goals. And she's little enough and I'll be slow enough, she'll have plenty of time to sniff.

>242 Dejah_Thoris: Dejah, it's okay. It's been troubling me for years, another month isn't any skin off my nose.

***

Music Monday

Come Away With Me by Norah Jones

Real music. Real voice. Just a piano.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtm9jfUqHXY

And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof
While I'm safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you
To come away with me in the night
Come away with me

*sneaks in* Eleven binge free days. Three more pounds down. *sneaks out*

Yah, for 3 more pounds!! Morning Morphy. Just checking in. Hope you are enjoying a pleasant weekend and getting plenty of R & R in.

Woo Hoo! Start the party!

* Sets off the confetti cannon *

Congratulations, Morphy, you are an inspiration.

HOORAY!!! Way to go , Morphy!!!

147. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Genre: Fantasy (Steampunk)

Notes: TIOLI #9 (series rolling)

Summary: Teen gets sent off to an unusual finishing school

Opinion: A cute and amusing YA version of the Soulless series - a more simplistic plot, less earthy humor, etc. I sort of felt like the adults were treated like they were stupid or clueless. I don't know. I guess I'll give the next one a shot. And can I say there is no way the woman on the cover looks like a thirteen year old - more like twice that age?

Rating: 6

148. Gulp by Mary Roach

Genre: Nonfiction

Notes: TIOLI #12 (for fun)

Summary: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

Opinion: I kept waiting for the next chapter to be funnier or more interesting - all the way to the end. It was okay. I just kept expecting it to be more. I was left with the impression of "that's it?" There was a listlessness and dryness about the information that was unexpected. I mean, come on - we are talking about poop and farts! There ought to have been more than a chuckle or two!

Rating: 6

149. Foundation by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #14 (M A Y author), reread

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh (pg 142)
Parasite Rex by Carl Zimmer
The Great Influenza by John Barry
When Darkness Falls by Mercedes Lackey

On Deck:
Rose Madder by Stephen King
Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding
Help Thanks Wow by Anne Lamott

Congratulations on the 11 binge free days, Morphy! And the three pounds! Woohoo!

E&E was a bit of a disappointment - I wish it hadn't been YA.

Go, Morphy!

Oh, and I really like Mercedes Lackey!

YAY!! Congrats Morphy! Let's get the party started!



Hopefully there's enough catnip left for the rest of us!

Come Away with Me by Norah Jones. Another wonder of the universe.

Congrats on 11 days, Morphy!

>252 Dejah_Thoris: Dejah, yeah, it wasn't real exciting.

>253 Esquiress:-255 Es, Kathy, Ellen, you guys are a trip. LOL.

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

What do you do all day? Do you work? Are you retired? Are you a home-maker? Stay-at-home parent?

I'm disabled though I recently got my two-year degree and am working toward getting a bookkeeping job eventually. I need to lose enough weight (another 100 pounds) to have my "apron" removed so I can be more physically mobile, first.

In the morning, I spend a couple hours on the computer visiting various websites (mostly LT and Facebook but also some blogs, etc.). I do a lot of volunteer work. First for WeCAB, a local transportation nonprofit. I do dispatch twice a week in four hour shifts, bookkeeping and am the treasurer. Friday mornings I am the receptionist at my church. Once a week I go to the local senior center for lunch and to do various crafty tasks, usually for the second hand shop, while chatting with the ladies.

I'm not able to do a lot of housework but I am able to do dishes, so I do all of those. Usually a few loads a day since we don't have a dishwasher. I'm also responsible for bills and our personal business like calling doctors and insurance companies. In the afternoons when I get the best light, I'll craft - cross-stitch, usually - and read. In the evenings, MrMorphy and I will have dinner together and watch something on a DVD (Stargate, Big Bang, Eureka, CSI) or read. In the evening, I'll mostly just read.

Starting next month, I'll have a lot of medical appointments for the binge eating program. I'll have weekly visits with the therapist and nutritionist, at least for awhile. And once a new group begins, I'll have weekly group which is three hours long. Ouch.

What about you?

I mostly go to meetings. Today was a staff meeting with all the lead engineers working on spacecraft subsystems, a meeting with a few people to plan some purchases of electronics for the flight computer, and a couple of teleconferences with science investigation teams to go over mass-risk trade studies.

Then when I got home, help get dinner together and clean up kitchen.

Jim, that made me chuckle! Rocket science and housework, all in one day. ♥

Morphy, you seem to stay busy! That sounds like a lot of responsibilities to keep track of.

As for me, I work full time as a restaurant manager. Which really just means I do everything myself, lol. Baking, serving, cashier-ing, cleaning, scheduling, training, accounting... On my odd day off I (try to) catch up on housework and my tv shows. But lately a "day off" means "more time to do stuff for other people".

I have a lot of appointments during the week - therapies, training sessions, massage for chiropractic reasons...

I am unemployed at the moment, but I used to be a teacher. I am trying desperately to get myself some work, but so far it hasn't been easy.

I try to do housework, but because I am down a lot it's hard for me to motivate myself to do it. It's easier if I have a morning appointment and then stay awake to get stuff done. Otherwise, I'd sleep all day.

I am fortunate enough to have lots of free time for a good part of the year. Then I get frantically busy during planting and harvest seasons, when I take over barn chores and run errands while my husband is on the land.

Mostly I do volunteer work at our local school. I help primary students learn to read three or four mornings a week, and I'm treasurer of the parent council. Since I'm at the school so much, they tend to pull me in to help with a lot of other things, too. Our school is being closed forever in a month, so I'm going to have assess my options.

I hate housework, and only do the bare minimum.

An ex-boyfriend said that I cuddled the routers and switches I monitored and made sure they were doing okay and took care of anything that might be troubling them. Not a bad description of my job.

I also do the bare minimum of housework.

Besides reading, I play "Euro" board games. (See boardgamegeek.com). I just came back from a week long vacation: a house on a beautiful beach, 24 lovely people, lots of yummy food and hundreds (literally) of board games to choose from. I learned 4 new games over the course of the week.

Right now I spend a lot of time on e-mail and on the phone with family and friends discussing my father's health. Hopefully that will calm down in the coming weeks, but it is likely to be a hot issue off and on for months to come.

I get up when I wake up, usually between 7 and 9, and make a pot of coffee and put a kettle of water on the stove for brewing ice tea. I clean up the kitchen from the night before, go outside to pick flowers and check the tomatoes for hornworms. Then I get my cup of coffee and a breakfast bar or oatmeal and go in to my computer, where I read LT threads and update Farmville 2, Chefville, and CastleVille. I run my bath and soak for about 45 minutes reading, then get dressed and we either go out on errands or do some serious gardening or work on my jewelry or occasionally dust, sweep and vacuum through the house. Then it's back to the computer to reprise my earlier tasks, think about supper, sit out on the deck a bit, eat, watch the afternoon news, back to the computer, watch my shows, then to bed to watch the news and read another hour.

I'm a student currently, working to finish my bachelors in Anthropology in another year. I was tutoring cultural anthropology but am not working now and most likely won't hold another job for a while. I just planned out the rest of my classes and I'll be way busy this next semester. But now that the past semester is over I'm sort of stuck in limbo - mostly doing cross-stitch while listening to A Memory of Light and trying to finish writing my Fanfiction story while I have time. A lot of time seems to be just disappearing somewhere.
Any day now my internship will start at the Coroner's office from 8-12. And then in two weeks my summer class starts - Biology - which will take up most of the afternoons into the evenings. I'm looking forward to it just for the sheer fact that it'll put some structure back into my life. :)

Good luck Morphy with all your appointments. I'm sure they will all be worth it :)

I get up when Charlie wakes me up (anywhere between 5:00 & 6:30am), fix breakfast, get us both dressed and ready for the day. If I happen to get up before Charlie, then I get some LT-ing done (he's still sleeping this morning! Mirabile dictu!!). After we're both habited, I call my parents and chat for 30 minutes to an hour, even though we almost always start the conversation with, "Well, not much has happened, so I don't have much to say." Ha! Then, if it's a pre-school day, we get ready (lunch made, packback backed,...), I take Charlie to school and return home to work on the online course I'm teaching until time to pick him up at 12:30. On non-school days, we clean 1 room of the house (on a rotating schedule - and yes, Charlie helps, not because I make him but because he insists), bake something or other (cookies, cakes, bread, some sort of breakfast food for the next few days,...) and then either run errands (library, groceries, bank,...) or play together until lunchtime. After lunch, or after I've picked him up from school, we read a story or two together and then either go outside to play for awhile or, if it's not outside-type weather, we head to my sewing room where I, well, sew and Charlie plays with the sewing-room-only toys, or, more often, pretends to sew with me. After an hour or two of that, we play together a bit more and have a snack until time to start working on dinner (which he also insists on helping with - I've got a fantastic little helper). After Tomm gets home, we have dinner, Charlie gets a bath, I get a shower (if I'm lucky), and then it's a little bit of Mario game time with Daddy (and sometimes me too), 30 minutes of some sort of Charlie-friendly TV, then Charlie's bedtime routine begins: We read one Charlie-picked book and one Mommy-chosen book, then it's sit-on-the-toilet time (yep, his innards work like clockwork), then a couple pages of the current Paddington book (which I still label as the bathroom read, but I've just not changed that on my thread), and then starts about 15-20 minutes of excuses why he needs to get back out of bed. Once he's asleep, Tomm does the dishes and I work on the course some more. Then, if I'm not completely knackered (rare, these days), I try to read a couple of pages before falling asleep.

I'm a SAHM. Today was a lazy day, once the kids went to school (my youngest is at preschool for part of the week). Right now, I'm avoiding doing the ironing. Tomorrow, while one is at school, I'll ferry the other to classes, and in the evening, I've got a tennis class while they each have theirs. A couple of days a week, I volunteer in the school library, mainly reshelving books - which (it's a primary school) takes forever, especially the picture books, which are always out of order. I dread it if a class comes in when I'm halfway through, because I'll invariably turn around and find the shelves I've tidied beautifully not two minutes ago in disarray once again. Sorry - just venting. Kids! - who needs them? ;0) And so on and so forth. Thus goes my week, more or less.

>262 ronincats:: Roni, how on earth do you read in the bath? Mind you, I have a shower, and am still working on getting it down to 4 minutes, so it would be impossible for me.

>257 drneutron: Jim, what's your latest space project?

>258 UnrulySun: Kathy, and I still feel like I don't do "enough." Do you work for a chain or a mom-and-pop?

>259 Esquiress: Es, it certainly helps to have a schedule when depressed, I've found.

>260 SylviaC: Sylvia, oh no! Why are they closing the school? Where are all the students going?

>261 MDGentleReader: MD, do you have an absolute favorite game?

>262 ronincats: Roni, I have to stay far away from the Facebook games. Even reading your post makes me twitchy. They are so addictive!

>263 Kassilem: Melissa, I'm certainly hoping my appointments will put a big kick start into the next part of my weight loss journey. You certainly sound like you will be very busy!

>264 scaifea: Amber, I love how you have your little helper throughout the day. Enjoy it while you can. Ten years from now it will only be a memory...

>265 humouress: I'd love volunteering at the library, humouress. Once I'm mobile again and my term at WeCAN is over, I'll probably sign up.

***

Wacky Wednesday

1. Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.

2. A jumper cable walked into a bar. The bartender said, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

3. Two peanuts walked into a bar, and one was a salted.

4. A dyslexic man walked into a bra.

5. A man walked into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and said: "A beer please, and one for the road."

6. Two cannibals are eating a clown. One said to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"

7. "Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home.'" "That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome." "Is it common?" Well, "It's Not Unusual."

8. Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy said to Dolly, "I was artificially inseminated this morning." "I don't believe you," said Dolly. "It's true, no bull!" exclaimed Daisy.

9. An invisible man married an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.

10. Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

11. I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any.

12. A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted, "Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!" The doctor replied, "I know you can't - I've cut off your arms!"

13. I went to a seafood disco last week...and pulled a mussel.

14. What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh

15. Two fish swam into a concrete wall. The one turned to the other and said "Dam!"

16. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

17. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why," they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."

18. A woman had twins and gave them up for adoption. One of them went to a family in Egypt and was named "Ahmal." The other went to a family in Spain; they named him "Juan." Years later, Juan sent a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she told her husband that she wished she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responded, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal."

19. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him. (Oh, man, this is so bad, it's good. . .) A super calloused, fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

20. And, finally, there was the person who sent twenty different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

And, yes, I know I'm past the legal limit of posts. I got distracted yesterday by a really good book and didn't get a chance to dig for a picture of four-year-old me. I'll find one today but MrMorphy probably won't have a chance to scan it tonight as we are having friends over for dinner. So it will be a day or two before I get another thread started. So the thread police will just have to take a chill pill!

This is me pissing and moaning about sleeping wrong on my shoulder and now it hurts when I raise it. *mumbles and grumbles* I took some ibuprofen and with any luck that will take care of it. Nothing major, just enough to make me cranky about getting older.

OH MAN that Ghandi one is too good. I can't stop laughing.

I'm with you on the getting older bit. I think about it every time I have to pick something up off the floor.

Our school is closing for financial reasons. Basically, enrolment is down everywhere, so the school board is closing the rural schools so they can send those kids to fill the empty spaces in the town schools. But then they have to add on to the town schools to make room for all the rural kids. The kids (a little over 100) from our school will be split up among four different schools. The parents and community all fought the closing, but the cards were stacked against us. So all we can do now is put the best spin on it for the sake of the kids. My daughter is sad about it, but also curious about her new school. My son is in the last graduating grade 8 class, so I've warned him to expect a lot of teary-eyed parents at his ceremony.

>266 Morphidae:: *GROAN*

>270 SylviaC:: That is so sad. Hope everything goes well, anyway.

Love your Wacky Wednesdays :)

>271 humouress: humouress

Thanks!

re: aging, I've decided that one way to fight it is to become more flexible each decade. By the time I'm in my 90s, I should be able to put my foot beind my ear. The more I stretch, the less sore I get and the faster I recover from an injury. I still don't recover as fast as when I was in my teens and 20s, though even though I AM getting more flexible. So many things I had that I just didn't appreciate when I was younger...

re: my favorite game, 261, 266. Tough choice. My favorite party game is Telestrations, even though I've loathed drawing since grade school. Favorite card game is Tichu. Favorite strategy gameis probably Princes of Florence, although Tzolk'in is up there, need to play it some more. Favorite filler for varying numbers of people - 7 Wonders. Favorite 2 player filler - Jaipur. Tichu I can enjoy even when I am totally sleep deprived, it is one of the few I will play even after I SHOULD be sleeping.

Morphy- I really enjoy Wacky Wednesday. This one is really punny. I am still grinning. Thank you.

Sylvia- will all the children have long bus rides now, or will parents be expected to transport the children? A school is the heart of a community, it seems really sad to me when one is closed.

>274 MDGentleReader: The kids will be bused, which they're already used to. We won't know the routes until September. The school is especially important in a rural community like ours, which doesn't really have any other focal point.

I'm geeking out over the games, MD!

150. Sonnets by Williams Shakespeare

Genre: Poetry

Notes: TIOLI #12 (for fun)

Summary: 154 sonnets about the fair youth and dark lady

Opinion: This is one of those things, like reading your religious text or one of the classics, that you should just do once in your lifetime. While I wouldn't say they were terribly enjoyable, I'm glad I did it and the tutored threads with rosalita and Cynara made them bearable.

Rating: 5

151. Rose Madder by Stephen King

Genre: Horror

Notes: TIOLI #5 (should have - challenge), to complete bibliography

Summary: Rosie runs away from an abusive husband to make a new life but he eventually finds her

Opinion: I don't typically rate something this horrific and violent as highly as I did. It was stomach churning at times. But, dang, I left tasks undone last night because I became so absorbed in the story telling I could NOT put this book down. I saw some reviews that said they enjoyed the book except for the supernatural aspects. That makes about as much sense to me as someone saying they like Nora Roberts except for the romance or Agatha Christie except for the mystery. This is Stephen King we are talking about!

Rating: 8

152. The Dark Hunters, Vol. 2 by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Genre: Graphic Novel

Notes: TIOLI #21 (SF/F), to complete bibliography

Summary: Part 2 of the paranormal romance of the dark hunter, Kyrian, and Amanda

Opinion: Again, I like Kenyon but don't like manga. So, a hour of amusement and that's about it. Finished the story line but doubt I'll read anymore in this series.

Rating: 6

153. When Darkness Falls by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #21 (SF/F), reread

Rating: 6

>266 Morphidae: - Solar Probe Plus, where we're going to fly a spacecraft through the Sun's corona 24 times. The idea is to find out how the corona is heated and the solar wind is accelerated as it leaves the Sun. We're in preliminary design phase and have a big review coming up in January.

Finally moved on!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/154802