Morphy Meanders Through 2014 - Part 5

Morphy Celebrates Her Lucky Birthday (Age 13 years)

This is my fourth 75 Books Challenge. I read about 300 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.

Pounds Lost:



Books Read in 2014: 118

My best book of 2014 is:

Quiet by Susan Cain

My best books of 2013 were:

Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

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 years before that were:

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 2014 (Green Dragon Group Reads)

January (1001 Fantasy) - Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/167618
NO SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/162247

February (111 Science Fiction) - The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/168681
NO SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/167598

March (50 Mystery) - A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/170968
NO SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/170086

April (111 Nonfiction) - Agatha Christie by Agatha Christie
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/171599

May (1001 Fantasy) - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'Brien
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/172825

June (111 Science Fiction) - Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
SPOILER: TBD
NO SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/174236

July (50 Mystery) - The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

August (111 Nonfiction) - Collapse by Jared Diamond

September (1001 Fantasy) - The Prestige by Christopher Priest

October (111 Science Fiction) - Old Man's War by John Scalzi

November (50 Mystery) - Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

December (111 Nonfiction) - An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks

Group Read Links: http://www.librarything.com/topic/161490

***

The LT Green Dragon Book Club's next meeting is at the Ridgedale Barnes & Noble on Saturday, April 19th at 2pm. We are discussin Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and Quiet by Susan Cain.

The WCC Daytime Book Club is discussing The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan in May.

Current Challenges

(And why I'm not doing a category challenge this year.)

Completed/Total in List (as of 3/31/2014)

Next book by favorite authors - 65/67 (+4 for year) ("reset" when completed)
Next book in series by secondary authors - 11/47 ("reset" when completed)
TBR 2007 - 5/8
To Read 2009 - 3/5
2009 TBR List (different one) - 6/17
2011 TBR Code List - 80/81 (+1) (read a book from all my best of lists each year)
2012 TBR Code List - 68/81 (+4)
2013 TBR Code List - 53/81 (+6)
TBR Next - 2/4
50 Books - 34/50
Misc Books - 10/11 (+2)
1001 Fantasy (Green Dragon) - 149/462 (+1)
111 Nonfiction (Green Dragon) - 36/111
111 Science Fiction (Green Dragon) - 50/111 (+2)
50 Mystery (Green Dragon) - 27/74 (+2)
50 States - 91/150 (+2)
Around the World in 80 Sleuths - 16/80 (+1)
888 Challenge - 91/95
12 in 12 Category Challenge - 164/207 (+6)
13 in 13 Category Challenge - 26/48 (+3)
Mercedes Lackey - 67/128
Complete RAT - 2/4
Book Crossing Top 100 - 101/117 (was 82/100)
Top 100 Fantasy - 118/209 (was 75/100)

*Other challenges*
One book per month from the Green Dragon lists
One Stephen King per month (up to March 2013)
American Authors
Read more books than in 2013
Book Bingo

*Possible other challenges because I'm nuts*
A to Z Titles
Catch up on years of published dates in the last 100 years

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.

As of March 2014


visited 18 states (8%)



visited 38 states (76%)

Post 6

Where did this come from? Argh! I hate don't like it* when this happens. Bleh.

*You're welcome, Amber. :D

And I went from no bingos to six!



For the moment, I'm using just YA books on the YA card. But later in the year if I'm not filling it up, I reserve the right to go back and do so with adult books.

Regular Bingo:

More than 500 pages: Princeps' Fury by Butcher, Jim
Forgotten Classic: Frederica by Heyer, Georgette
Book that became a movie: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai, Sijie
Published this year: Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop
Number in the title:
Written by someone under 30: Shadow Magic by Patricia Wrede
Book with non-human characters: The Golem and the Jinni by Wecker, Helene
Funny Book: The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
Female Author: The Darkest Kiss by Arthur, Keri
Book with a mystery: Dead Simple by James, Peter
One-Word Title: MaddAddam by Atwood, Margaret
Book of short stories: Elementary by Lackey, Mercedes (ed.)
Set on a different continent: Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch
Non-Fiction: Evernote for Dummies by Sarna, David E. Y.
First book by a favourite author:
Heard about online: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Hoffman, Beth
Best-selling book:
Based on a true story: My Own Country by Verghese, Abraham
Book at the bottom of TBR pile: To Touch a Wild Dolphin by Rachel Smolker
Book my friend loves: Furry Logic by Jane Seabrook
Book that scares me: A Heartbeat Away by Michael Palmer
More than 10 years old: Death Comes for the Archbishop by Cather, Willa
Second book in a series: The Novice by Canavan, Trudi
Blue cover: An Unforgettable Lady by Bird, Jessica (Ward, J. R.)

YA Bingo Card:

Book with female heroine:
Book set in a high school:
Last of a trilogy:
Book with 'color' in the title:
First book in series:
Book set in the future: Cress by Meyer, Marissa
Book with a break-up:
Book without a love triangle:
Book that became a movie:
Book set in Paris:
Book set in the past:
Book with magic:
Book set in summer:
Book with a dragon:
Book that made you cry:
Graphic novel: Cemetery Girl: The Pretenders by Harris, Charlaine
Book based on a myth:
Classic YA:
Book with a Lion, Witch or Wardrobe:
Book with an incredible fight scene: The Girl with the Iron Touch by Cross, Kady
Book heard about online:
Book set in another world:
Book with epic love story:
Book with music:

Happy New Thread!!!

Seems like Reading is the new activity for the spring. Yay!

Happy thread 5!

Happy New Thread, Morphy! Hope you are having a good weekend.

Stopping by your new thread to wish you and Mr. Morphy a Happy Easter!

Happy New Thread, lady!

Happy new thread, Morphy! Wishing for you a weekend full of fabulous!

Hi Morphy, nice new thread my dear, hope your having a lovely Easter weekend.

Happy new thread, Morphy!!

Great new thread here, Morphy! Happy Easter to you and Mr. Morphy.

Happy Easter and happy new thread, Morphy.

Happy new thread and Happy Easter too!

Happy Easter, Morphy.

*settles happily into corner of Morphy's new thread*

Happy new thread and Happy Easter, my friend!

>8 maggie1944: >9 drneutron: >10 msf59: >11 lkernagh: >12 scaifea: >13 Crazymamie: >14 johnsimpson: >15 connie53: >16 ronincats: >17 DeltaQueen50: >18 Storeetllr: >19 laytonwoman3rd: >20 MickyFine: >21 TinaV95:
Thanks for celebrating my new thread and Happy Easter to those that observe it!

I met @The_Hibernator and @eeblue to discuss Cloud Atlas (a re-read for me) and Quiet. Quiet is a life-changer and will be getting 9 stars from me. I picked up The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan for next month's church book group. Yay, 30% discount! (10% membership, 20% coupon) The waiting list was really long at the library. No way I'd get it in time.

Today is a quiet day at home. We don't celebrate Easter (except for indulging in the candy) but all the stores are closed. Gives us an excuse to cocoon. I haven't decided on a book to read next. I finished up Innocent in Death by Robb last night.

In the next day or two, I'll get my reviews all caught up... AGAIN. You'd think I'd learn and do these as I complete the books. But NOooOoooo.

I've been continuing my breathing exercises and they are making a real difference. I still get out of breath but it's not as severe. Of course, I'm the impatient sort and think, 'I've been doing these exercises two whole days, why aren't my vocal chords back to normal yet?"

Happy Easter, Morphy!

It takes some patience, Morphy. Here is loads of it

Quiet sounds really interesting! I'll be putting a hold on it at the library as soon as I get off LT.

Happy Easter to the Morphy's. Hope you had a wonderful day!

Happy Easter. Looking forward to your new thread.

Happy Easter to you! And belated congratulations (if that's the right word) on your diagnosis. I can only imagine how relieved you must be.

I have to thank you for recommending Written in red to me. I started reading it last night and it has grabbed hold of me and won't let go. The worldbuilding is intriguing and I want to know the characters better. It was hard for me to make myself switch out the light and go to sleep last night!

Happy new week!

>23 Crazymamie: >26 Carmenere: >27 Kassilem: Hope you had a great Easter holiday!

>24 connie53: Thank you. It's hard to be patient. And sometimes it's hard to believe that a simple breathing exercise will "cure" me. But I keep it up!

>25 Storeetllr: It really is excellent. Because of the book, yesterday, I didn't avoid "conflict" with MrMorphy and we had a discussion about a difference of opinion about something in the news. I shared with him how nauseous it made me to do it. But I wanted to stretch my boundaries.

>28 Sakerfalcon: Whoo hoo! Another convert!

>29 maggie1944: Thanks! You have a great one!

***

Good article: The genre debate: 'Literary fiction' is just clever marketing
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/apr/21/literary-fiction-clever-m...

My favorite part (okay, it's a significant part of the article, but still!):

"For me, in good fiction of whatever kind, the imagination of the writer speaks directly to the imagination of the reader. I want and expect to be entertained, enchanted, transported into the world of the writer, lost in a good book. I don't want to be lectured, have issues thrust down my throat or, dare I say it, be called upon to admire the beauty of the language. If a writer writes well in addition to being a great storyteller, I'm grateful and delighted. If they write well but there's no story, I don't want to read it.* For profound thoughts expressed in poetic language, I turn to poetry. For intellectual arguments and ideas that appeal to reason, I'll read non-fiction.

That may make me seem, to some people, to be that sad creature: the reader who can't rise to an intellectual challenge, who thinks plot matters, who doesn't like books that drift into purposeless endings.

Which brings me to the touchy subject of literary snobbery. Perhaps I should call it LitSnob. Lit fic: good. Popular, commercial, trash and pulp fiction: bad.

Remember that profundity has a dark twin called pretentiousness. Good fiction is good fiction, good writing is good writing and the old, old desire of the literati to cast readers with different tastes into pits labelled "middle-brow" and "low-brow" is judgmental and arrogant."

*(bolded) Took the words right out of my mouth

Excellent article, Morphy. I'm in complete agreement. There have been times when I've wondered, "Why should this book be considered more worthy than one that I actually enjoy reading?" There are some "literary fiction" books that I've enjoyed, but there are many more books from other genres that I've enjoyed, too.

Morphy congratulations on the official diagnosis and the exercises! Doesn't it feel good to be right! ;-)

I think you should write your primary and the cardiologist and let them know how they made you feel.

>31 SylviaC: People read for different reasons and enjoy different things. Don't tell me that my way is wrong or I will fold your book up into all sharp corners and...

:D

>32 luvamystery65: I plan on writing to the medical facility as a whole and CC the cardiologist and pulmonologist. My primary already knows how I feel.

>30 Morphidae: Congrats on confronting an issue, even though it made you feel uncomfortable. That's a big win! I know, because I'm like you were and will do pretty much anything to avoid "conflict." I've got the book on hold from two libraries (one in print; one on audio) and am looking forward even more now to reading it.

Also, on the issue of literary snobbery: Hear, hear!

Hi Morphy, catching up with you has been like reading a mystery with your medical self-diagnosis being the Best Ending Ever! Good for your tenaciousness and for finding the right kind of doctor. Sheesh! Now I know why I avoid going to the doctor. Lucky for me that I am in good health except for some old age aches and pains. I am SO HAPPY for you! Now we need to find the perfect job for Mr. Morphy.

I am all for people reading what they like to read. I'm glad that there are no sharp-cornered books being shoved anywhere on LT! I adore you and your mother's 'pointed' humor!

>34 Storeetllr: It was a tiny issue. A kid got suspended for asking a pageant winner to prom after he was told not to. I think the suspension was appropriate, he didn't. MrMorphy didn't even consider it an argument! But I'm THAT sensitive to conflict. So it was a simple way for me to ease myself into pushing my boundaries.

It's funny though. Somethings don't push my conflict button. I have NO problem when I have a issue with a service - be it a dish prepared incorrectly, returning an item, pushing a doctor to find a diagnosis (ha!), etc. Nor do I have a problem when asking someone to stop doing something that bothers me noise-wise: loud music, clicking a pen, talking during a lecture. Even then, if the person reacts poorly, I can be upset for quite a bit.

But have an actual "discussion," argument, or debate with someone? Someone that I KNOW? No way in hell.

>35 Donna828: I have to admit I almost gave up. And if the ENT doctor hadn't found something, I probably would have. I was so grateful, I burst into tears twice during the appointment. At one point, I even asked her to repeat the diagnosis. I could hardly believe it.

I saw that headline on the news but didn't click on it, though my first knee jerk was "suspended for that?" Just goes to show that one should get all the facts before jumping to a conclusion. Anyway, yes, I can face conflict in some situations, but it's never really comfortable for me. I'd rather let it go and then stew about it later. :) Actually, that's not true ~ I'd rather let it go unless it's important and then just forget about it.

>37 Storeetllr: That was my first reaction, too. But then I read the article. The whole school was told to be respectful and to be on their best behavior. Someone got wind of what he was going to do and he was told ahead of time not to do it. And then he *climbed up on the stage*! You never do that with a "celebrity." So, no, I had no problem with them suspending him for three days. It's a slap on the wrist.

>37 Storeetllr: I find it is really important to go to a trusted source on anything reported in the news before I even think about sharing my opinion. The whole too hot coffee incident at McDonalds is a prime example. McDonalds won the public opinion on that, but legally, they were most definitely liable as was proven in court.

>33 Morphidae: Made me LOL - literally. I agree wholeheartedly with >30 Morphidae:, >31 SylviaC:, >34 Storeetllr:, & >35 Donna828: about literary snobbishness. You can tell that "literary fiction" is a pretty arbitrary distinction anyway when folks try to define it. There are a least as many different lists of literary fiction lists as there are people who have an opinion on what is and is not literary fiction. And for each person, that list seems to vary over time.

I also am someone who avoids conflict. Interestingly, the way that I have changed most recently is to offer up my opinion on FEWER issues. This comes from a position of "how do I want to spend my energy?". Do I want to express my opinion on everything that is discussed? No, I want to save my energy for the issues that matter to me. I try to make this one of my guides to speech and behavior: Is it necessary, truthful and kind? I actually struggle the most with necessary.

It sounds to me, Morphy that you've done a very good job of overcoming your aversion to conflict when it comes to being an advocate for yourself. I am not always as good as that as I should be. Come to think of it, in the last few days, my Sweetie advocated for me when I did not. Hmm. Need to work on that. I haven't been feeling well and I don't do as well with anything when that is the case.

>22 Morphidae: & >25 Storeetllr: Guess I'll have to bump Quiet up on Mt TBR. I have it on my Kindle.

Morphy, I've tried your breathing exercise and I get a completely different noise - sounds like the wind blowing through the trees. Glad that it is helping. I can't even imagine how many times a day you are doing it :-).

>24 connie53: That is awesome. I am totally snagging that for the next appropriate occasion.

Don't tell me that my way is wrong or I will fold your book up into all sharp corners and...
LOL, Morphy... you go girl! I'm so in your corner. I so detest literary snobs. Given how many people can't seem to spell or articulate properly these days, I would think we should all celebrate everyone who's even reading and not pick on them for what and how they read.

>33 Morphidae: "I will fold your book up into all sharp corners and..."

Make sure that book is literary fiction, as it is sure be a large trade paperback or hardcover.

>39 MDGentleReader: I'm working on offering up my opinion MORE often. Well, at least when it differs. I'm always willing to give my opinion on something. It's when I bump up against differing ones that I retreat.

I'm doing the exercises between 8 - 12 times a day. Any time I get out of breath, or even THINK I'm going to be out of breath, I do them. The intensity of shortness of breath has significantly improved. Now if the number of times would improve, I would be a happy camper.

>40 cameling: I don't care if people don't like certain genres. But if they blow off all genre writing, you know that s/he is just being snobbish.

>41 SylviaC: I don't know. Literary fiction doesn't tend to come in tomes. I want a LOT of paper to fold up. :D

Talk to Me Tuesday

I used to have a small monthly calendar that I would put the time and person's name in for appointments. But after the third or fourth time I couldn't remember what the appointment was for, I switched to a weekly calendar (Reading Woman!) with much bigger boxes. That way I can put the time, person, place and reason! I carry this with me everywhere.

For my to do list, I use CARROT for my "do next" list and Wunderlist for the master list (both on iPad.) I've used paper lists before, but I like being able to sort and re-sort as my priorities change with a computer list.

What do you use for appointment keeping and to do lists?

A pocket calendar/date book works best for me. Plus, all the appointment cards from doctors, hairdressers, etc., pinned to a bulletin board in the kitchen. To do lists are just paper lists. I try to leave them smack in the middle of my desk at work at the end of the day, so in the morning I see what's still pending first thing. At home, I don't make to-do lists.

>43 Morphidae: My husband and I recently invested in a white board we keep in the kitchen because both of us have extremely wacky work schedules. It does a pretty good job.

When it was just me I kept a moleskin and wrote everything in it. Mostly it was for college and kept track of all the things I had due.

Unfortunately, I mostly live my life by my Outlook calendar and tasks list. It's the only software supported by our IT people, and I have to have my meeting schedule integrated with all my other calendar and to-do things. And it works about as well as one might expect for a Microsoft product. :(

Hi Morphy, I am still relying on a monthly calendar but I notice as both my husband and I get older we seem to have more appointments that need to be kept track of, what with eye doctors, dentists, regular doctors etc., I can see that we will soon need a weekly calendar.

I do a weekly calender/planner. I doubt I would survive school without it. I'm such a list person anyways. I mostly use the planner for birthdays, appointments, school work, weekend work, etc.

Then I have a notes list on my phone with long term activities - things to do in the summer, things to do when I have nothing else to do.

And I have lots of lists online: my list of books here on Librarything.com. Pinterest.com. I even keep track of all the movies I've ever watched on an excel sheet. Lists are my life and how I stay sane with everything I do and want to do. :)

I use Pimlical on my computer and (much more) on my Android phone. It's fantastic for appointments - can handle all kinds of recurrences, alarms, long notes, everything you could need.

I'm still trying to find a good to-do list. I've got Smart ToDo on my computer, which is good in many ways - but it doesn't have a mobile version (yet). I tried Wunderlist but it just didn't work for me - can't remember why, at this point. I use Out of Milk quite a bit - it's technically supposed to be a shopping list, but it works pretty well for a to-do as well - except no recurrence, though I can check something off (and it drops to the bottom of the list) and then uncheck it to get it back into the active section. And it syncs to a webpage (though not to my computer, directly) and to other mobile gadgets. I'm using Regularly, which is fantastic for stuff that needs to happen about every so often - watering plants, changing filters, emptying the catbox - but not so well for things that need to happen on a particular day, because it only reminds you after a period. So if you set 7 days and do it on the day it's due, it reminds you on the same day each week - great! but if you miss by a day, it will then remind you 7 days later, one day after it should have been done... The other thing I love about Regularly is that you can put in notes on the logged entry, so I can say what I actually did for something like watering the garden. However, it's got no sync and only a basic export, so it _only_ exists on my phone, and there's no (easy) way of searching for stuff. Still fantastic for what it does, but missing abilities I want. And the other one I'm using right now is ToDoist; that syncs nicely and has recurrence, but I can't log things easily, or sort them, and they _have_ to have a due date or they sit at the bottom of the list and I have to scroll all the way down to get them, and if they don't have a due date, they don't have recurrence either - so I can't check them off or they go away entirely. No way to log when I did something.

So. Yeah. I have a vague image of the perfect todo list, but I haven't found it yet...

Happy new thread, Morphy!

Like Jim, I rely upon my work Outlook calendar to remind me of all appointments - even personal appointments like the dentist, etc, which can be flagged 'personal' so no one with access to my Outlook calendar can read the details, they just know I am booked as either 'busy' or 'out of office' for something. So long as I have a couple days notice, I can usually remember all of my appointments, although for things like birthdays and other yearly things, I use the calendar reminder on my personal cell phone.

Hi Morphy- The Eudora Welty thread is up. Sorry for the delay, my friend.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/173048

Hi, Morphy ~ After missing a lunch date with three friends a few years ago (one that I was really looking forward to, too, and thank goodness they are understanding friends), I live in dread of repeating that mistake, so I keep appointments on my my iPhone calendar and on Evernote (and did I ever thank you for turning me on to that app?) as well as in my own Reading Woman calendar (!) , plus my sis and I have a joint monthly calendar stuck on the wall where both of us keep our appointments and important dates (birthdays, etc.).

I keep my To Do List on Evernote too, as well as on a magnetic pad on the refrigerator.

OMG, I am the calendar nut of whom you never wanted to ask that question: I have my computer calendar which my iPhone and MacBook share (put the note on one and it shows on both); I have The Fly Lady's huge wall calendar on the wall near the door so I can see it as I leave; I also have a small Am Express pocket calendar for the purse so that when I'm talking on the phone and can't see the iPhone calendar I can look at a paper version; and finally, I have a couple of other paper versions floating around the house so if I want to spread out the week's activity in one place I can do it. For the To Do lists, I have Notes and Reminders in the iPhone and I have a To Do pad of paper I can fill out, and finally the large The Fly Lady calendar also works well for things to do on which day. The Fly Lady is helping me develop some routines for housekeeping. I've spent the years from 25 years old to now (nearly 70) being "terrorized" by the seemingly unending and ever repeating household tasks. I have just in the last year or two developed the habit of making my bed and I'm working now on developing the habit of cleaning up after myself in the bathroom. Eventually, I'll be habitually able to maintain a pleasant and inviting home space. What I'll do with myself after that, who knows? Check the To Do lists, I guess.

Happy Day Morphy

>44 laytonwoman3rd: I originally started with work to do lists. It crept into the home. Now, I can't imagine life without them and I don't work (yet.)

>45 RosyLibrarian: How do you get the white board in your purse? :D

If I tried to write everything I keep track of, my hand would fall off!

>46 drneutron: Outlook was my first to do list. You have my sympathies.

>47 DeltaQueen50: Yes, those little squares can only hold so much. Especially if you write big enough to be able to read what you wrote!

>48 Kassilem: Do you have a list of your lists? I need to do that one of these days. I have lists in so many places, I need an index of them.

>49 jjmcgaffey: I'm going to suggest you look at Toodledo. I believe it does everything you want it to. I used it for quite some time but eventually found it too feature heavy for me. It sounds right up your alley though. The basic account is free but the next step up is around $20 - $25/year and is very worth it.

Check out the splash page at https://www.toodledo.com/ for the huge list of features (scroll bar at bottom.)

>50 lkernagh: And how old are you? LOL. I used to be able to remember everything. Hit my late 40s and that went out the window. Well, either that or a medication I take now whose nickname is "Dope-omax."

I use Evernote for lists, reference material, recipes, medical history, etc rather than to do lists.

>51 msf59: Thanks. I was panicking! How can I decide what to read without knowing what everyone else is reading?

>52 Storeetllr: I'm glad Evernote has been such a help to you. Isn't the Reading Woman calendar lovely?

>53 maggie1944: A sister of my heart! :D

>54 Whisper1: Have a lovely day!

***

Wacky Wednesday

Unshelved is great!

I hope you're having a good day, Morphy. Is it spring there yet? We had a lovely, warm day on Sunday, then BOOM! The temperature dropped. At least the daytime temperature is above freezing. And my daffodils are almost flowering.

>55 Morphidae: I have Unshelved delivered to my inbox every day. I set it up years ago for e-mail delivery!

I tried the app approach to remembering appointments, but what works best for me is a big wall calendar so it's in my face.

I'm late to the party, but celebrating the fact that you finally have a diagnosis and something you can do about it!!! :)

I use a Google calendar for my personal stuff (although my shifts at work go in there too), an Outlook Calendar for work stuff, and then paper to do lists at home and work to keep me on track for tasks. :)

I also totally adore Unshelved, Morphy. Nice pick!

>56 SylviaC: Early Spring maybe. Rainy and cold. We're supposed to be in the 60s but instead we're getting 40s and 50s. We are getting )((*^@$*(^ snow again on Monday and Tuesday.

>57 thornton37814: >59 MickyFine: I'm going to have to keep in mind that many of you read Unshelved and not post them for future Wacky Wednesdays!

>58 tymfos: My only problem with a wall calendar is that it's no help to me when I'm at a doctor's or something like that and need to make a new appointment!

***

MrMorphy has an interview for a contract to hire today at 1:30pm. It's a longer commute than we'd like (45-60 minutes), but the rest of the job sounds like a good fit. If the wage is high enough, it should cover the gas money. Keep your fingers crossed!

ok, fingers crossed.

>60 Morphidae: Everything crossable crossed.

* Oooh, got a cramp. *

How about crossed metaphorically and adding my good thoughts and prayers?

{{{Morphy}}}

My fingers are crossed.

Fingers crossed!

Good luck to MrMorphy!

Thinking of you both right now! 11:28 am here is 1:28 there I think. Go Mr. M.!!!!!

>55 Morphidae: Bahahaha!

Good luck to MrMorphy!

Picturing you *breathing* as you await word on the interview. Hoping it all turns out as you would like.

Everything crossed here Morphy!

>60 Morphidae: Don't let our reading of Unshelved stop you from posting for others enjoyment.

>60 Morphidae:, >70 thornton37814: Yes, please! I hadn't even known you can get it in your inbox, though I probably won't be subscribing anytime soon because I tend to not open most of my subscribed-to email, I get too too much of it!

Fingers, toes, eyes. (Crossed.)

My fingers are crossed.

{{{Morphy}}} You both continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

And??? Do we know anything more about Mr Morphy appointment?

Crossing fingers with the rest of the club!

Ditto what they all said!

Hi, Morphy! Fingers crossed for the Mr.!

>61 maggie1944: >62 MDGentleReader: >63 Crazymamie: >64 _Zoe_: >65 SylviaC: >66 maggie1944: >67 RosyLibrarian: >68 michigantrumpet: >69 luvamystery65: >71 Storeetllr: >72 Thebookdiva: >73 MDGentleReader: >74 connie53: >75 tymfos: >76 scaifea:

The interview went well but he knew that he wouldn't get the job within about 15 minutes. He didn't have the skill level for it and let them know. However, they were really impressed with him and said that if something came up that fit him better they would give him a call. Also, the staffing agency that sent him to the company was impressed with his honesty and put him "at the top of the list" to find a job for. It all ended up as positive as it could be without an actual job offer.

>70 thornton37814: It seems many of you already read it! It's okay. There's plenty of material out there for Wacky Wednesdays!

***

Okay, I said I wouldn't do this anymore. So what happened? I have 18 or 19 reviews to post. Le sigh.

All I can say is I will once again TRY REALLY HARD to post reviews as I finish books.

Sounds like Mr. M is doing everything right - getting out there and getting himself known. Hopefully you guys will see results soon.

56. Bringing God Home by Forrest Church

Genre: Spirituality

Notes: TIOLI #13 (genre not read in 2014 - spirituality)

Summary: A Spiritual Guidebook for the Journey of Your Life

Opinion: I keep trying to find decent books on non-denominational spirituality and I keep getting the same dull frou-frou. I want common sense steps and straight-forward talk. The best, and only, book I've found like this is Essential Spirituality by Roger Walsh which got one of my extremely rare 10 of 10 stars. I wish I could find more like it.

Rating: 5

57. The King by J. R. Ward

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #22 (family home)

Summary: Twelfth book of Black Dagger Brotherhood - so many stories, I couldn't tell even try to summarize.

Opinion: It's Ward. It's BDB. It gets 7 stars just for those. But no more because it merits none. Too many points of view, too many stories. I couldn't get as emotionally involved in any of them because as soon as I got started, the next chapter would start with a new POV. She didn't need THREE new romances plus a flashback plus current politics plus a married couple issue. Yikes!

Rating: 7

58. The Returned by Jason Mott

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: TIOLI #10 (matching tag - relationships)

Summary: People's loved ones are returned from the dead - at the same age as when they died

Opinion: While I mostly found the story engrossing, I finished the book wanting more. You never find out why they are returning only the effects. The effects of having ones beloved return from the dead - or not - are the real point to this story. Especially when the "true" people start to suffer lack of resources due to the sheer number of returned. It's also a study of humanity's "us vs them" mentality.

Rating: 7

59. Origin in Death by J. D. Robb

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #3 (multiples on TBR - backlog: Creation in Death)

Summary: 21st book in series

Opinion: I start with 7 stars with these and move a star up or down depending on how much I enjoyed it compared to others. This one was average.

Rating: 7

60. Memory in Death by J. D. Robb

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #14 (LT Recommendations)

Summary: 22nd book in series

Opinion: Liked this one more than average because it showed Eve's vulnerability, Roarke's protectiveness, and relationship growth.

Rating: 8

61. Born in Death by J. D. Robb

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #3 (multiples on TBR - backlog: Creation in Death)

Summary: 23rd book in series

Opinion: Average Eve Dallas book.

Rating: 7

Hi Morphy- Sorry your husband didn't get the job! Let's hope for better luck next time. Nice little burst of book reviews! We felt very similar about the Returned. Have you watched the TV show? I decided to take a pass.

>80 Morphidae:. Oh no. I have that book on audio to listen to as soon as I finish with my current one. :( But I'm glad that MrMorphy's chances are looking up on getting a job.

>78 DeltaQueen50: One can only hope. We're down to just over 2 months of unemployment left. This is getting scary.

>85 msf59: I may eventually watch it. Not in the near future though. And there are many more reviews to come. Hold on to your hat!

>86 Kassilem: It's still a Ward and it's the Black Dagger Brotherhood. It's not ALL bad!

62. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Genre: Classics

Notes: TIOLI #3 (multiples on TBR - author: Persuasion), TIOLI (12 in 12)

Summary: Two sisters have differing methods of living and loving

Opinion: Not as delicious as Pride and Prejudice but still a lovely and fun book. It was made especially interesting by the tutored thread with lyzard and Smiler69. I wish though that she hadn't waited until the very last pages to wrap everything up.

Rating: 8

Hat holding in awe of the flurry of reviews posted already!

63. Lover Reborn
64. Lover at Last by J. R. Ward

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #3 (multiples on TBR - author: The Rebel), reread

Rating: 7

65. Courting Darkness by Yasmine Galenorn

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #6 (something bad title)

Summary: Camille's father-in-law kidnaps and tortures her to get back at his estranged son

Opinion: Meh. Nothing here forwarded the story line. It's the 10th book in the series, folks. SOMETHING important ought to have happened. Story movement, character growth, something, anything. I like Galenorn's writing and world-building, so that got her something. But still...

Rating: 6

66. The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #3 (multiples on TBR - author: Early to Death, Early to Rise)

Summary: Something is causing magic to go haywire in Cincinnati and Rachel has to discover why

Opinion: After the slightly disappointing Ever After, Harrison is back in full form with the twelfth book in the series. I thought she didn't have any more story in her, but this one was very good. I read through it in one sitting. Yummy. Fast paced, yet there was character growth, a few twists, a few endings (or set ups for endings), and a finale that sets up the final book without being a cliff hanger. (Not out until next year, wah!)

Rating: 8

Can I say the cover is ridiculous though? Rachel NEVER dresses like that. EVER.

67. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Genre: Fiction

Notes: TILOI #23 (British author), reread

Summary: Six interwoven tales from different times and different genres

Opinion: I liked it just as much, if not more, the second time around. I caught more of how each tale was interwoven with the rest - a name here, a theme there. Delightful.

Rating: 8

68. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Genre: Fiction

Notes: TIOLI #5 (four word title)

Summary: Four Chinese immigrant mothers and their grown daughters share their stories

Opinion: Read this over a decade ago and didn't remember much of it other than what it was about. It was great story telling but I felt there was something missing. Many times the ending of a story was implied rather than stated, some you never found out. You are left scratching your head going, "Well, how did it end?" I've seen the movie so didn't feel too left out of the loop, but it could have been clarified more.

Rating: 7

69. Quiet by Susan Cain

Genre: Non-fiction

Notes: TIOLI #16 (one word Summary: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Opinion: What a splendid book. Best one this year. I went to my book club with highlighted and Post-it filled book in hand. My fellow clubbers laughed gaily at my enthusiasm for the book as I chattered like a bird. It's a life changer for me. I've found more acceptance for myself and have changed how I approach certain situations. Everything from allowing myself to be quieter in large social groups - focusing on just one person at a time - to challenging myself to engage in small "conflicts" such as differing opinions about news items. It even helps me understand why my mom and I have problems communicating at times (she is an ultra-extrovert.)

If you are or know an introvert (which means everyone since 1/3 to 1/2 of the population is an introvert), you should read this book!

Rating: 9

70. The Forbidden Tower by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: A Darkover novel - two couples decide to challenge the taboo of using matrices outside of a tower

Summary: A Darkover novel - two couples decide to challenge the taboo of using matrices outside of a tower

Opinion: It has been decades since I read these books but as I've decided to read (or re-read) MZB's bibliography, I'm slowly making my way through them all. I sometimes forget what a great storyteller Bradley can be. She has some weaknesses in plot and characterizations, but her storytelling is first rate. Another book I recently read through in close to one sitting.

Rating: 8

71. Innocent in Death by J. D. Robb

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #14 (LT Recommendations)

Summary: 24th book in series

Opinion: Usually these get 7 out of 10 stars as an average but one star was taken off for something Eve did that was if not out of character, was certainly out of line, and Roarke thick-headedness. Not one of my favorites.

Rating: 6

72. The Bloody Sun by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Genre: Science Fiction

Notes: TIOLI #3 (multiples on TBR - author: The Planet Savers)

Summary: A Terran comes back to Darkover to find out about his heritage and gets more than he bargained for

Opinion: This is one of her earlier novels and it shows. Characters are flat, story is boring, and the plot is jarring. I kept reading because I thought it would get better. This is MZB! Nope, didn't happen. Meh. At least is was an easy read.

Rating: 5

73. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Genre: Classic

Notes: TIOLI #3 (multiples on TBR - author: Song of Solomon)

Summary: A sad and brutal story of a little black girl and a Mid-Western town in the 1930s

Opinion: I started off giving this book 7 out of 10 stars but as a day or two went by, I realized how much it had affected me emotionally and I bumped it up a star. There isn't much of a plot here, the book is more of a mosaic of characters and stories. It is sad and deeply affecting yet I have to say I really enjoyed it. I'm surprised after feeling so bleh after reading Beloved.

Rating: 8

74. Half-Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #6 (something bad title)

Summary: Alex's basilisk breeding program is interrupted when something begins to turn people to stone

Opinion: I think McGuire is becoming one of my "must have" authors. Her books really are a lot of fun. I would have given her third book 8 out of 10 stars, but this one was light on plot. The usual humor, world-building and interesting characters - human or not - were here though.

Rating: 7

Glad you liked Quiet. My friend Di got it as an ER book, so I read it right after her. Interesting. & I should read more MZB. I remember liking her a lot when I was in highschool, but I read The Mists of Avalon last year and kept writing "Gwen is a twit" on my thread. I'm not sure I've recovered from hating Gwen yet. ;)

>101 cammykitty: It's been many years since I've read The Mists of Avalon. When I get to it, I may feel the same way!

75. Games Creatures Play by Charlaine Harris (ed.)

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #6 (something bad title)

Summary: Short story collection with the themes of games and paranormal creatures

Opinion: I don't typically enjoy short stories. I find them simplistic and unsatisfying. I often say to myself after finishing one, "That's it?" That was not the case for fourteen of the fifteen stories in this collection. They were rich with detail, intricate enough in plot and language to keep my interest, and filled with non-cardboard characters. For many of them I wanted to read more about the characters, but I wasn't left wanting more of the *story*. I was satisfied with what I got. Many were an absolute delight.

I'm sad to say, however, that Lackey won't ever get another dime of my money. She's totally lost her touch. I've been slowly getting to this point with her last few novels but her story has put the last nail in the coffin. It was booooooring and pointless and no. Just no. You need to retire Mercedes. It's like with Eddings and the last few books he and Leigh wrote. They were awful. Lackey needed to stop after the first few Five Hundred Kingdom novels back in 2008. Those were the last good books she wrote.

Rating: 8

Aaaand, I'm all caught up. Whew!

Congratulations!

Thanks for making the effort to share your thoughts with us.

Wow, Morphy, such great reviews!

Sorry to hear Mr. M. did not get the job, but he did well on profiling himself. I hope something will turn up soon.

Adding my 'sorry' to the pile, but it does sound like it could really turn out for the better, if it leads to him getting an offer closer to home... Still hoping and finger-crossing...

Yeah, me too on the "sorry" pile. Still, I like it that some folks responded well to his honesty. That gives me hope... :)

>105 MDGentleReader: I just wish they weren't all at once. I REALLY want to do them as I finish the book but it never seems to happen that way.

>106 connie53: I do, too. I'm getting very worried.

>107 scaifea: The commute was our main concern with that job, for sure.

>108 drneutron: Yes, both the company and the agency really liked his honesty. Especially the agency as it makes them look bad if someone accepts the job and then can't do it!

***

Today I'm training a new dispatcher for WeCab. One of my FAVORITE responsibilities as the new dispatch coordinator. (NOT!) Especially when the person tells me they are familiar with computers but doesn't know how to use favorites or how to put a URL into the correct box (only knows how to look it up in Google?) WTH? Ah, well. Pleasant enough person. That helps.

Interesting article on "optimistic" fantasy. Some I love (Riftwar, Curse of Chalion), some I don't (Little Big, Shannara). Of the ones I haven't read, some I've heard of, some not. I'm certainly going to be trying a few of them. I'll all for hope in my fantasy, or any other reading.

http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/04/looking-for-a-light-at-the-end-of-grimdark-chec...

I totally forgot to do this last week:

Paul:
Starting: 218
4/21: 215
Loss/Gain: -3
Total: -3
Percentage: -1.4%

Mamie:
Starting: 177.9
4/21: 176.1
Loss/Gain: -1.8
Total: -1.8
Percentage: -1.0%

Morphy:
Starting: 443
4/21: 449
Loss/Gain: +6
Total: +6
Percentage: +1.4%

Go, go, Paul & Mamie!

For this week, I stayed the same, 449.

Sorry to hear that Mr. M didn't get the job, but very happy to hear how much both parties liked him. I'm sure something will come up soon.

I am in awe of all your speedy reviews. You whipped those puppy's out and they are very very good.

I stole your link to the optimistic fantasy to place on my Dutch bookclub website!

OK, I'm caught up with your catching up~ Yay!

Ooh, another flurry of book reviews. Glad to hear your reread Cloud Atlas and loved it as much or even more. I'll have to do the same at some point. Actually, I have several of his I should read first.
Also glad you liked the Morrison.

Good reviews, Morphy. Going to add some of them to my never-ending TBR list based on your recommendations.

I find I just can't reread MZB, though I loved the Darkover series when I read it back in the 70s/80s. I guess I've moved on because the one I am trying to read (for the LT Early Reviewers program) is leaving me cold. Also totally agree with you about Lackey. Sad.

While Mr. M's interview didn't go as planned, am hoping his can-do attitude leads to something else. Around here, an hour commute each way isn't unusual. I can do anything up to 1 hour 10 minutes. Beyond that and it gets tiring after a few weeks. Audiobooks and podcasts help.

Congrats on reaching the magic number, Morphy! :D

The optimistic fantasy list definitely has some new possibilities, as well as a few old favorites, Morphy. Thanks for the link!

>79 Morphidae: I understand about looking for generally spiritual books. One of the next books I need to read is A Religion of One's Own by Thomas Moore. It's an ER book that I've had sitting on Planet TBR for almost six months now. (How did that happen? How does it always happen? Sigh). I really enjoyed his book Dark Nights of the Soul when I read it a few years ago. I've added a few of his other titles to Planet TBR over the years, but they remain unread. I'll let you know about AROOO.

Ooooh and many congrats on the 75!

>111 Thebookdiva: Actually, they took me several days. I just posted them all at once!

>112 connie53: >118 ronincats: I'm glad you liked the article. I thought some of you might!

>113 maggie1944: Yay! *smooches*

>114 msf59: Me, too. I'm surprised that I want to read more of her. I was dreading to read her this month. Nice turn around.

>115 Storeetllr: Which MZB are you reading? And, yes, it's sad about Lackey. She used to be my favorite author. Now her best is far, far behind her.

>116 michigantrumpet: The usual compute around here is about 30 minutes and 45 minutes is considered a long commute. So an hour is REALLY long.

>117 MickyFine: Thanks! But I'm 25 books and one month behind my usual speed. Yikes!

>118 ronincats: I want to tell these authors to get their heads out of the clouds and give me something REAL. Spirituality can be down to earth, you know. I'd love to know about that book, thanks.

Talk to Me Tuesday

Two books that have been life changing for me are Quiet by Susan Cain and I Thought It Was Just Me by Brene Brown. I talked about Quiet in >95 Morphidae: above. I Thought It Was Just Me is about shame and perfectionism. Both of which I have a lot of difficulty with. In fact, a strong sense of worthlessness is one of the main drivers of my food issues. It's aimed mostly at women but men can get a lot out of it, too. Brene Brown is also an excellent speaker and you can find her videos on YouTube. Here is one of her more popular talks at TED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0.

What book(s) have been life changing for you and why?

>120 Morphidae: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl was eye opening for me. I grew up in a family where the belief system was always "It happened to me. I can't help it." etc... Reading this book I realized that, yes, things happen beyond our control but how we react is often in our control. (I say often because he is talking about normal circumstances. People with organic brain disease etc., cannot control how they react.) Now there are times when I do something I don't like or want to do but fully with realization that it is my choice to do it. Also, You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh. It is a very simplistic explanation of mindfulness but sometimes simple is very, very good. I have a bad case of monkey brain so any reminder to live in the here and now is welcome. It was the first book I read by TNH but not the last.

Congrats on 75, even though I know you are going to triple that number by the end of the year!

>120 Morphidae: I've had the good fortune to have several life changing books come my way, but I think a few stand out. The Golden Compass set me up to become a reader. The Secret Garden was read at a time when I needed it most.

I think I'm going to kick up Quiet higher on the TBR pile after hearing so many good things.

>110 Morphidae: Not good news for me this week as a result of too many family dinners I am back where I started at 218. Came back though determined to make an effort to reduce sustainably.

Books that changed my life?

Thomas Hardy's better novels
JRR Tolkeins Lord of the Rings
and the novels of Christie, MacLean and Innes

because they inspired me as a teenager to hit the reading bug and never stop.

The Chatto Book of Modern Verse
because I used to pore over the thing every day in the school library so much so that they gifted it to me. Influenced me to write and read poetry henceforward.

I don't think I've read any live changing books. At least I can't remember any.

Nice to see all the in Death reads you've been enjoying, Morphy. Me, too. Great series.

My sister, an introvert, loved Quiet, too. I'm putting it on my tbr.

Quiet has been on my list to read for a while; I've just been waiting for the number of holds on the book to decrease.

I also don't know if there has been a book that has been life changing for me. There are certainly books out there that have made me think hard about life in general, but there's no book that pops out in my mind screaming that it changed me. Maybe it'll come to me later. There are many books I've read that I want my friends and family to read to get the interesting or good lesson. Perhaps those could be considered.

Wow, good job on getting all of your review posted! I have my fingers crossed that a new job opportunity for MrMorphy comes his way.

Sadly, if I have read any life changing books, they weren't memorable enough to stick in my mind.... although I will admit that I am positive some books have had an effect on how i live my life.

I also can't pinpoint just one book, but I do think many of my childhood reads like Anne of Green Gables, Little Women and Chronicles of Narnia are responsible for my life-long love of books and reading.

In December last year I acame up with a list of 17 books that have changed my life:

Oh, What a Busy Day! - Gyo Fujikawa
Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C. S. Lewis
Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
Mythology - Edith Hamilton
The Sandman series - Neil Gaiman
Passing the Time in Ballymenone - Henry Glassie
Dubliners - James Joyce
The Agamemnon - Aeschylus
The Aeneid - Vergil
Cicero’s speeches
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
Discipline and Punish - Michel Foucault
Blindness - José Saramago
Knitting for Dummies
Orlando Furioso - Ariosto
The Art of Happiness - H.H. the Dalai Lama

See here (posts 34 & 38) for explanations for each choice (they're lengthy, so I won't re-post them here): http://www.librarything.com/topic/161699

Hey Morphy! I'm sorry about MrM's interview, but it sounds like his honesty with them was a big plus.

I honestly can't think of any life changing books, but like someone else mentioned up above, my early love affair with the Laura Ingalls Wilder & Nancy Drew series set me up for a life long passion for reading, so I'd have to say those series I guess.

Oh! And hear, hear on the literary snobbery article! :)

At risk of confirming your suspicions that I am weird, my life changing book was Ken Wilber's A Brief History of Everything. He also wrote a kind of autobiography of his experience with meeting and marrying the great love of his life, and then having to deal with her death due to cancer. He wrote what I thought was a most wonderful tribute to his love; and a very moving account of living a spiritual life even when shit is thrown at you by the bucket full. His was for me an example of someone who really did "walk his talk".

There are many other books that I adored but none comes to mind when someone asks me for the most important ones.

All the best to you and MrM, Morphy.

I believe that my reading experiences as a whole affect me in many ways, both major and minor, but can't think of any individual books that I would consider life-changing. Books that I read as a child and a young adult helped to form my worldview, values and beliefs. There are many books that I learn something new from, or that have a strong emotional impact, but it all fits together into an ever-changing, complex jigsaw puzzle.

And here I was, just a bit ashamed by not being able to name a live-chancing book. But I thought: "hé, it's the truth so just write it down". And now I'm not alone anymore! Thanks!

>115 Storeetllr:, >120 Morphidae: It's Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover by Marion Zimmer Bradley, a short story collection that includes stories about the Free Amazons, Hilary Castamir (The Keeper's Price, which I read a long time ago, is one), Rohana Aillard, and Dyan Ardais (Oathbreaker, another I read a long time ago, is one).

The book that always pops into my mind when someone asks about life changing books is The Sparrow, because it brought up issues that made me take a good long and hard look at my own life and spirituality. I was also changed by a book (long out of print) titled The Story of San Michele by Alex Munthe. It was given to me by the head of the English Department of Southwest Community College when I was a senior in high school working part time in the dean's office. When he gave it to me, he said it was his favorite book of all time. The idea that such an intelligent professor thought I was smart enough (and good enough) to read and comprehend something he thought was wonderful changed my attitude about myself (at least for a short time). Also, it instilled in me a lifelong love of and interest in Italy.

Life changing? Fun with Dick and Jane -- that magical moment when those squiggly lines met up into a magical world of meaning.

Morphy? Hello? Everything okay?

Yeah. It's okay. I'll get to responding in the next day or two. Been struggling with isolation, depression and binge eating. I'm gaining weight like crazy. *sigh* I "pinkie promised" MrMorphy I'd get back on track on Monday the 5th. It's easier when I have someone to be accountable to when I need to get started again. I did get out today to do the reception desk at church for the first time in two months and while extremely tired, I was able to make it through the entire shift. MrMorphy has another interview today. It's a long term temp job rather than a permanent position but it's good money.

Take care of yourself first Morphy. Good luck Mr. Morphy! A temporary job still brings in money and can lead to a permanent position. Fingers crossed.

Hi Morphy! I'm just getting back into the LT world and am sorry to hear you haven't been feeling the best. Will be thinking of you and Mr. Morphy this weekend in my prayers that you will comforted through everything!

Hugs to you, Morphy, and good wishes to MrMorphy.

I'm sorry, Morphy. Thinking of you and keeping my fingers crossed for the Mr.

Sorry about the tough going, Morphy. A break will come, I'm sure of it. So much positive energy beaming your way...

Life-changing books...well, there have been a number of very significant books in my life. I don't know that they "changed" me, but they certainly influenced and impressed me. The first one I would say was Thoreau's Walden, which I read first when I was 14 or 15 years old. It gave shape and substance to a lot of my inner thoughts and feelings as a freedom-loving child of the woods and streams. The next revelation was The Hamlet, as reading it opened the door to Faulkner's world and his work, which I've been reading and re-reading now for over 40 years, and also started me on a life-long love affair with Southern literature in general.

Hugs to you, Morphy.

Sorry to see that you have been down, dear lady. Fingers crossed for Mr. Morphy.

Try to have a good weekend, my dear and I am sure things will improve as soons as Mr. Morphy's luck changes a little.

I'm not looking forward to my weigh-in on Monday morning either, although I stopped drinking on Sunday and haven't touched a drop this entire week as I think that has been helping accummulate the pounds.

A May bookroom for your delectation.

Hugs for you, Morphy, hang in there!

I hope your down spell makes an about turn this weekend. And I wish Mr Morphy all the best in his interview.

Sorry to read that you have been feeling isolated and depressed, Morphy. Sending you hugs.

Hi, Morphy! So sorry you're struggling emotionally and with the weight thing. (Right now I'm upset with myself for gaining back weight I worked so hard to lose.)

Hard to say a book that really changed my life. Other than the Bible, I tend to be briefly influenced by things I read but then the influence fades. Best I can point to is a sermon, "You Are Accepted," in a collection of sermons by Paul Tillich called The Shaking of the Foundations.

Why? All I can say is it was an experience of grace for this self-critical perfectionist.

Hugs to you and best wishes to Mr. Morphy in his job hunt.

{{{Morphy}}}

{{{Morphy}}}

You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Be gentle with yourself, my friend, you've been through a lot. This weekend is the first time you've not had to fight just to do the basic things in life for a while now. Of course you are having a reaction, now that you can "afford" it. It'll pass. Then maybe when you get all of your energy back, you'll have a more minor one. Guess what, it'll pass, too. In the long run, just little bumps in the road in reaction to the world-jarring bumps you've had recently.

Extra thoughts and prayers for MrMorphy's job interview. Good money is a good thing.

{{{Morphy}}}

(what can I say, hugs are the bestest thing I know, just wish I could give 'em in person). I looked 1096.13 miles from your "town" to mine. If only my arms could stretch that far...

You're in my thoughts Morphy. Stay strong

Hugs, Morphy! What MD said--this too will pass. Here's some flowers to hopefully brighten your day.

(((((Morphy))))))

Ditto all the great things MDGR said. She really summed it all up well. Please just be kind to yourself! Y'all are going through a LOT right now.

Please know that we all love you dearly and are here for you when you are ready.

((((((Morphy & MrM))))))))))

Good luck with the interview!

>121 luvamystery65: I read The Miracle of Mindfulness among other meditation and Buddhist books and I find I can't understand a word of them. After the fourth or fifth book, I realized it was me and have stopped beating my head against the wall!

>122 RosyLibrarian: I had to go look at when The Golden Compass was written. Longer ago than I thought! I was thinking to myself, "What is she then, sixteen?" LOL

>123 PaulCranswick: Ah, well, don't feel too bad. I've gained 9 pounds over the last few weeks. Food and I have had our difficulties recently. I couldn't find The Chatto Book of Modern Verse on LT. Do you not have it anymore?

>124 connie53: >126 Kassilem: Not a one? Something that got you started on a new hobby? Changed an opinion? Helped you get out of rut? Got you reading? Made you change your mind about a genre?

>125 jnwelch: I had to stop before I gulped all the In Death books down! I think there are 10 or so left. I hope you like it. I can't remember if you read much non-fiction. I typically don't if that gives you any help.

>127 lkernagh: We are hoping to hear he got something tomorrow. He interviewed Friday morning for a job that fits all our parameters except for being a little earlier than we'd like. But the pay is excellent, the commute doable and the work is right up his alley. Keep all digits crossed!

>128 DeltaQueen50: I read so many back then I don't think I could pick a specific childhood book that sticks out. I've read all the ones you've mentioned but only Little Women as a child. The rest were as an adult.

>129 scaifea: Now that I think on it, the Little House books were treasured reading as I child. I re-read them seven or so years ago and was surprised at how well most of them held up.

>130 TinaV95: >131 TinaV95: I remember reading twenty or thirty Nancy Drew books in a row for a reading challenge in middle school. I'm quite sure I read more than everyone else! HA!

There's quite a bit of snobbery here on LT, too. Not in the 75ers group thankfully!

>132 maggie1944: I remember you telling me about that book before. It really made an impression on you. And, no, that doesn't make you weird at all. However, lots of other stuff does. *snickers*

Ha! Morph.... you should go borrow the book from the library and read just a page or two and you'll see..... it does definitely illustrate that I'm a bit weird. Great book though. Philosophy... reconciling science and spirituality. Just knowing there are people who "get it" they way I do, makes me happy, if weird.

Vancouver was lovely today. Cool, and gray skies for a good part of the day, and then! sunshine! Whoo hoo. We are having a great time.

>133 SylviaC: Lovely way to put it. You a writer?

>134 connie53: No need to be ashamed! Even if I did push the question. Not like I asked if you beat your spouse. Ha!

>135 Storeetllr: I really don't care for short story collections. I requested that one, too, so it's just as well I didn't get it. Do you keep a copy of The Story of San Michele?

>136 michigantrumpet: Oh, nice answer! I don't remember my first books much except for a Golden book about a puppy. The name escapes me at the moment.

>139 luvamystery65: It's a long term temp job. One person has been there 16 months. I'm doing a lot of praying and visualization today. MrMorphy was extremely depressed yesterday. I don't know how he'll do if he doesn't get this one.

>140 jolerie: >141 SylviaC: >142 scaifea: >144 wilkiec: >147 connie53: >148 cameling: >149 lkernagh: >152 Kassilem: >154 TinaV95: Thank you. Your support is greatly appreciated.

>143 laytonwoman3rd: Wow, heavy books for a teen. I don't think I was reading anything like that! Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Little Women, Nancy Drew and Childhood's End were more my speed as a pre-teen. I read a lot of romance as a teen including, yes, Harlequins. Probably had to do with an absolutely awful English/Lit teacher I had in 6th grade. It wasn't until six or seven years ago that I started reading classics again.

>145 PaulCranswick: One of my rules is to not drink my calories. Soda, specialty coffees, juices and alcohol can add calories without giving any nutrition or satiety.

>146 richardderus: Sunshine and white - lovely!

>150 tymfos: "self-critical perfectionist" - You might like the one I mentioned, I Thought It Was Just Me.

>151 MDGentleReader: I wish your arms reached that far as well! I also have the suspicion that after MrMorphy gets a job I might "let go" somewhat emotionally. I hope not with the food again though. Yesterday was quite a bit better but not where I want to be yet.

>153 ronincats: Love the daffodils. Thanks!

>156 maggie1944: I've read over the summary and reviews a couple of times after your recommendations and it's not something I'd be interested in. But I'm glad you like it so much!

Oh, I read LOTS of Nancy Drew as a pre-teen, and Little Women and Cherry Ames, and Trixie Belden. Loved it all. I had a remarkable English teacher in 11th and 12th grade (I was 14 when I started my Junior year in high school), and I took a college-level composition course as a Senior at a nearby State university, in which we used Walden as both an example and a topic for writing. The course was part of a program called "Saturday Seminars for Able and Ambitious Students". It always makes me laugh to remember that title.

>157 Morphidae: You a writer?

Only what you see on LT. I like words, but not wordiness, so I try to find the most concise way to get my ideas across.

I hope you are getting back on track, and things start looking up for you and MrMorphy. Love and good wishes!

>133 SylviaC: >157 Morphidae: >159 SylviaC: @SylviaC nearly always puts into well-written words what I would like to say.

I cannot think of any particular life-changing books, either. I was, however, completely changed by my habit of reading anything and everything available. The availability growing up was huge - a dozen or so weekly and monthly magazines from Time to British History Illustrated to National Geographic to Science News. We also had a home library that beat the school library and any individual public library when doing school projects. There were National Geographics back to the 1930s, lots of TimeLife series, the complete works of Shakespeare, plenty of novels, mysteries, historical fiction, classics. My brother and I belonged to a children's book of the month club. We also had magazine subscriptions - Highlights, National Geographic World and Cricket. I learned a lot about cultures other than mine whether from current times or from history. I learned about how things work, and don't, whether through the workings of science or politics. I learned about language and the many different ways of describing things using language including languages other than my own. I learned how different experiences lead to different perceptions of the world and thus, to different behaviors.

What I haven't yet learned is how to be concise :-). Working on it.

{{{Morphy}}}

...And MDGentleReader excels at writing a more complete version of what I want to say!

>161 SylviaC: I like reading your versions better :-).

Hi Morphy, I think it would be the first book that started me reading when I was about 5 or 6. And I would not know which book that was.
I remember going to the library on friday night with my father when I was about 7 or 8. And that was not an ordinary library like we used to know now. It was in a house a few doors down from where we lived. There were two (in my eyes) elderly ladies living in that house who gave me a book to read (no choosign your own book). We would walk back home again. It was friday night and my parents were playing cards with friends and I was on my belly in front of the coal stove reading my book. Before I had to go to bed, the book was finished and I re-read the book every day until it was friday again.

Hi Morphy just passing by to say hello and hoping that you and Mr Morphy are ok.

>155 Morphidae: Ha ha, thank God I am not sixteen anymore! Man, looking at those books now they are getting up there in age... I feel like I've been waiting for The Book of Dust to come out forever.

>157 Morphidae: Bet your Golden Book about a puppy was The Poky Little Puppy - that's one that's stayed with me for years. I actually reread it recently and it was still fun!

I don't have any particular books that changed me - it's like asking a fish what water was important to her. Like MDGentleReader, I read a _lot_ growing up, anything and everything, and that formed a big part of my world and my worldview. I owned, personally, more than 1000 books when I was 9 years old (had to count them for an inventory, though I actually counted two different shelf-feet of books, averaged them, and multiplied by the number of shelf-feet I had). And I believe I had read all of those. Haven't read nearly all of what I own now...

>158 laytonwoman3rd: Trixie Belden! I remember her. Or the Bobbsey Twins?

>159 SylviaC: See below!

>160 MDGentleReader: We didn't have much of a library at home but mom did bring me to the library every week. She allowed me full run of the place and I was allowed to bring as many books home as I could carry in my arms!

>161 SylviaC: >162 MDGentleReader: :D

>163 connie53: That's a neat story. Were you scared of the ladies or did you like them?

>164 johnsimpson: Thank you for swinging by!

>165 RosyLibrarian: I have sort of suspicion it won't. There are a few series like that where I've been waiting ten years or more.

>166 jjmcgaffey: You're right! That was it! I re-read it about six years ago. I was worried the suck fairy got at it, but it was still good.

***

MrMorphy got a call today, and, if everything goes well with the pre-employment tests tomorrow (*knocks on wood*), we should have some good news on the job front on Friday or Monday. Keep those fingers and toes crossed real tight!

Hurrah for Mr. Morphy! Everything is crossed very tightly, Morphy.

I'm crossing everything as tight as I can! Makes it really hard to type.

Got all the crossables crossed and the holding of thumbs begun, too!

You are both in my thoughts and prayers.

{{{Morphy}}}

What Roni said! Sending all my positive energy your way!

Such great news already, Morphy!

Crossing all possible things on this side of the ocean.

And to your question in >167 Morphidae:. No not really, but is was a revelation, when we moved to another town, that there were actually libraries where you could choose your own books ;-)

Crossing the crossables and sending you and Mr. Morphy lots of positive thoughts, Morphy.

Crossing all the crossables for you and Mr. Morphy!

I'm hoping things will happen so that Mr Morphy will get the job. You both deserve good news.

I left a pm for you, Morphy.

>168 ronincats: >169 SylviaC: >170 maggie1944: >171 MDGentleReader: >172 Crazymamie: >173 connie53: >174 jnwelch: >175 jolerie: We're still waiting to hear. But MrMorphy bought new jeans and work shirts today, so he's acting as if he's got it. I'm the only one still worrying. Not like he's ever failed a background check or drug test. But I'm a worrier.

>176 Matke: I got the PM. I haven't had the time or energy to get it started. I will within the week though and announce it here and other places. I've also sent you a PM.

***

I don't know if you can see it if you aren't part of SparkPeople, but I got selected as Today's Featured Motivator because of all the weight I've lost:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_home.asp

>177 Morphidae: I was able to see. Congrats on being the Featured Motivator!

> I was able to see it too. Congrats on the weightloss! Very good job, Morphy.

How great, Morphy! I can see it. Congratulations!

xoxo

That is so excellent! Way to go, young lady.

You are an inspiration Morphy! :)

Morphy congratulations on being a featured motivator! You are very courageous and I take inspiration from your journey. I'll be checking in to see about Mr. Morphy's job. Fingers still crossed.

Oh, very cool!

You deserve to be a featured motivator, Morphy! What you have accomplished so far is staggering. Keep it up!

And I'm glad MrMorphy is feeling positive again. I'm hoping for the best.

>177 Morphidae: Wow, that's awesome, Morphy!!

All crossables crossed for Mr.Morphy!

Congratulations to you Morphy! And I hope to be able to add some for MrMorphy when he gets confirmation of the job *stops typing to hold thumbs*

>177 Morphidae: How Wonderful! Way to go Morphy. My fingers are crossed for Mr. Morphy!

Any news about the job thing yet?

>177 Morphidae: Not surprised in the least Morphy - you have been an inspiration to me for a goodly while already as you know.

The Chatto Book of Modern Poetry edited by Cecil Day Lewis is the proper title of the book that so inspired me. It was taken by an ex-girlfriend and she never returned it (she kept my heart for a while there too but at east I got that back).

Have a great Sunday. xx

Reckon I will be below 218 pounds by tomorrows weigh-in.

Looks like you've done quite a bit of interesting reading lately.

You are both in my thoughts and prayers.

{{{Morphy}}}

>177 Morphidae: Congratulations! I can see the page even though I am not a member, but missed your well-deserved day of honor. Went to a wedding that morning and then spent the rest of the day driving. I am so very glad that they recognized your accomplishment - way to go!

I'll answer posts tomorrow. I just wanted to let everyone know that MrMorphy starts work tomorrow!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

Triple: Yay! Yay!! Yay!!!

Hooray! That is the best news I've heard all day!

Let the celebrations begin! :)

Hurrah!!!!! Congrats to you both!

>195 Morphidae: Super big yay!

Hooray!!! Yippee!!! Yahoo!!! Yay!!!

That's awesome news, Morphy! Congratulations!!

Whoopie!!

WOOHOO!!!

Whoop!!!

>195 Morphidae: Hooray for good news!

Yippee skippee!!!

Morphy - Nothing to add to the comments above - Go Mr. Morphy!

217 pounds yesterday at weigh-in for more small good news.

Woo hoo!

Hugs all 'round.

>195 Morphidae: what >209 msf59: said!!

So delighted for you both on the job news! (People are staring at me in the office because I have such an ear-to-ear grin). And congrats on being the featured motivator - you are an inspiration to all of us, beautiful lady!

Morphy I'm behind here but congrats on Mr Morphy's job!

Woohoo! Fantastic news!

Congratulations Morphy and Mr Morphy on this wonderful news!

>178 RosyLibrarian: >179 connie53: >180 jnwelch: >182 maggie1944: >183 jolerie: >184 luvamystery65: >185 drneutron: >186 SylviaC: >187 scaifea: >189 Sakerfalcon: >190 Thebookdiva: >194 MDGentleReader:
Thanks! I saved a screen shot of it for posterity.

>181 richardderus: *smooches right back at ya*

>188 msf59: It worked!

>191 connie53: Yes!

>192 PaulCranswick: >208 PaulCranswick: All I've been doing is gaining weight. A large amount at that. Ugh.

>193 thornton37814: I'm way behind on reviews again. But most of the books I've read are re-reads so I won't have to write many. Yay!

>196 maggie1944: >197 Sakerfalcon: >198 jolerie: >199 Kassilem: >200 RosyLibrarian: >201 SylviaC: >202 connie53: >203 ronincats: >204 scaifea: >205 luvamystery65: >206 inge87: >207 drneutron: >209 msf59: >210 MDGentleReader: >211 richardderus: >212 PrueGallagher: >213 SandDune: >214 _Zoe_: >215 wilkiec:
He's at work now. Yay! And I get time alone again. Hah!

***

Yesterday we went to what was supposed to be a routine annual vet exam. Instead we found out that Maia has a level three heart murmur. There are six levels and three is the first one that is considered serious. The vet said we shouldn't worry yet. She wants us to come back in two weeks so she can re-examine Maia. She said she's had dogs with heart murmurs/issues last to a ripe old age. But it also can be life-threatening. Maia might need to have heart tests (ECG/echocardiogram) that can be expensive. I did research when we got home. Prognosis can be anywhere from "excellent to dire." Lovely.

Can we catch a break for just a little while. Please?

Anyone have experience with this?

All I have is that Greta Garbo, turning 10 on Sunday, also was diagnosed with a heart murmur. I've had one for years, too. But I have no Level numbers.

Great news about Mr. Morphy, Morphy!

Our daughter's little poodle Sherlock has a heart murmur, I'll have to ask her what level. My understanding is they expect him to be fine for many years, but she does have to save up for that annual ECG. He's a rescue dog, and the expense may have been part of what led to him being abandoned on the streets. He was neglected, too, poor little guy. He's a happy camper now.

I think there's a site that helps people raise funds for expensive vet procedures...vague, I know - I'll have to dig and see what I can find, if someone else doesn't know what I'm talking about already...

ETA: A quick search brought up these:

http://www.thepetfund.com/

https://www.warreneckstein.com/g/Groups-Providing-Financial-Assistance-For-Veter...

http://www.leashanimalrescue.org/vetbillassistance.htm

I think the first link is the one of which I was originally thinking.

Woot! for Mr. Morphy's new job. Here's hoping he settles in well and makes himself indispensable in no time. I have no experience with canine heart murmurs, but my 93-year old uncle has had one almost all his life. He just this month had a pacemaker implanted; up til now he's functioned just fine.

Hooray for Mr. Morphy! I can imagine how great you both feel to have him back at work.

I am sorry to hear about Maia, I know nothing about heart murmurs, but I will keep my fingers crossed that she is on the positive side of this.

Mamie:
Starting: 177.9
5/12: 174
Loss/Gain: -2.1
Total: -3.9
Percentage: -2.2%

Paul:
Starting: 218
5/12: 217
Loss/Gain: -1
Total: -1
Percentage: -0.5%

Morphy:
Starting: 443
5/12: 462
Loss/Gain: 10
Total: +19
Percentage: +4.3%

As I said, I've been having a bad problem with my binge eating. But today is my first day back on the wagon and have had no binges.

Days Binge Free: 1

Good luck with the binge wagon Morphy! It's a tough road but you are strong. Your transparency is courageous and inspirational.

>195 Morphidae: Oh yay, hooray, phew, and congratulations to MrMorphy!

>195 Morphidae: YAY! So very happy to hear it, on BOTH of your behalves. :)

>222 Morphidae: Good luck with getting those new pounds off my dear. I am hopefully back on track too. Mamie is whupping the two of us so far. xx

I have fallen off my path of healthier eating, too, but started again this morning tracking the pounds. That is a good way for me to start paying more attention. Good luck to us all!

>217 maggie1944: How long ago was she diagnosed?

>218 jnwelch: Do you know how much the ECG costs? The vet just said it was expensive.

>219 scaifea: Thanks for the links. I'll look into them.

>220 laytonwoman3rd: His first day went well. His only complaint was that he couldn't have coffee on the floor!

>221 DeltaQueen50: What's nerve-wracking is that the prognosis is so uncertain at this point. She could last for a decade or we could lose her in months.

>223 luvamystery65: That means a lot to me, thanks.

>224 qebo: >225 Storeetllr: Thanks!

>226 PaulCranswick: You are both whipping my butt. I'm speeding in the wrong direction!

>227 maggie1944: I weigh only once a week at the same time during the day. You can swing four to six pounds during the day. It would drive me crazy to weigh in more than that!

Wacky Wednesday

From notalwaysromantic.com:

Reading Too Much Into It

(I am an avid reader and have an excessively large book collection. I live in a small apartment with not much space for book shelves and furniture so a lot of my books are stacked on the floor in various places. My girlfriend has just tripped over a stack.)

Girlfriend: “That’s the sixth time I’ve tripped over your stupid books. You have to get rid of some of this clutter.”

Me: “Yeah, I can clearly see this isn’t going to work out.”

Girlfriend: “I meant like the kitchen table or that god-awful sofa in the living room. We can get a low book shelf and put some cushions on it.”

Me: *interrupting her* “Never mind. Let’s get married.”

Morphy, I don't remember precisely when a vet heard the murmur but it has been months ago. She seems just fine if a little "heavy". I think I need to put the dogs back on the Obesity Maintenance Diet from the vet. Benny seems to be really itchy again with the new food I'm feeding him. His vet has me giving him some antihistamines. Luckily they only cost $5 at the Target store, in the human med dept. I appreciate the Vet telling me I could get it there.

Above joke - silly me, took me a few re-looks at it to "get" it. Duh. I am a little stupid in the morning.

WAAHOO about MrMorphy! How wonderful!

Love the above joke, too funny.

>228 Morphidae: Morphy, my daughter says the ECG has been about $400. That's in Chicago - I'm hoping it may be lower where you are.

>228 Morphidae: That is a little reminiscent of the old lottery joke:

Guy runs into the house and exclaims to his wife of 20 years:

"Quick love pack your bags, I have won the lottery, pack your bags"

The wife replies equally excited:

"Okay love, what do you want me to pack; something light, something heavy, where are we going?"

"Just pack 'em", he said "and bugger off".

WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!! Big yay for Mr. Morphy's new job! I know you are both so very happy! I'm thrilled for you!

Heart murmur: My story is about a kitty, but it will translate. The sweetest cat who ever lived was Salem. He was my heart... I called him my "kitty soulmate". Lol

I found out when he was about 7 years old that he had a heart murmur that he had had since birth and had been missed by my previous vets. I paid the money for diagnostics and gave him beta blockers for the rest of his life. He loved & lived until the age of 14 when I lost him to an unrelated illness (kidney failure). He was worth every penny I ever spent on him. Care Credit + other cards are a wonderful thing. ;)

Love you Morph!

So thrilled to her about the job for Mr. Morphy!!! Congratulations!!

Concerning heart murmurs in dogs - our Bailey was diagnosed earlier this year with a significant heart murmur. We did the testing and he was placed on two drugs which he takes every day twice a day - Lasix and Enacard. That sounds like a lot, but he is a small dog, like your Maia. He weighs only a bit over six pounds, so he just takes 1/4 of a tablet of each drug twice daily - the vet cuts the pills for us. We put the medicine in peanut butter, and Bailey is thrilled to be given a treat twice a day. We have had no further problems, and he is doing very well.

Hugs to you, dear Morphy!

Days Binge Free: 2

Got a call from the vet yesterday with Maia's blood test results. Both her electrolytes and potassium are "perfect." This means there aren't any heart problems at the moment other than the murmur. I'm hoping this means that we won't have to do the ekg/echocardiogram for awhile.

>229 maggie1944: Maia has been at a great weight, 11 pounds, her entire adult life. Thankfully, she's never had a weight problem. We weigh her weekly (when MrMorphy and I weigh in) and MrMorphy always says, "Eleven pounds!" in a humorously chagrined voice.

>230 Thebookdiva: Thanks! He's on day three and doing well except for a little soreness. He's gotten out of shape!

>231 jnwelch: I need to make a follow up appointment for Maia in a couple of weeks but I'm hoping with the test results that we just need to monitor at this point.

>232 PaulCranswick: HA! Good one.

>233 TinaV95: Our vet is really accommodating and we can make payments. However, the heart tests are done by an outside canine cardiologist. We have no credit at the moment, so it will be all out of pocket.

>234 Crazymamie: We use Pill Pockets to give Maia pills. She swallows them right down!

>235 Morphidae: Oh, Morphy...all good news today!

Congrats on day 2 binge free Morphy. One day at a time.

Glad Maia's blood work came back good.

When it comes to my dogs prescriptions, if it is going to be a long term medication, I always ask if there is a human formulary equivalent. If there is one I look it up on the $4/30days $10/90days plan. If it is available I ask for a 90 day prescription from the vet. The medication is usually cheaper than the vets prices.

Good news all around, Morphy! Yay!

Hi, Morphy! I'm glad things are looking positive. Hopefully Maia's murmur (it sounds so innocuous) proves to be easy to deal with. Hugs!

Good news all around. So glad!

>228 Morphidae: Ha! Love this joke. Also loved the mind picture of Mr. Morphy proclaiming "Eleven pounds..." So thrilled with ALL you good news. Hope it carries over to the weekend.

Days Binge Free: 4

>236 laytonwoman3rd: >237 luvamystery65: I have to say it's been nice in a way to have the house to myself again! We use human benedryl because it's much cheaper that way. We split it in half and put it in a pill pocket.

>238 ronincats: >240 Storeetllr: Thanks!

>239 SylviaC: That's my hope, too. The tech who called seemed happy about it.

>241 michigantrumpet: It is rather amusing. He uses the same chipper tone every time.

***

Yesterday was the non-profit board meeting and it went rather well. Funny how that works when the trouble maker doesn't show up. There's talk of having him resigning from the board since this is the second one he's missed. Took MetroMobility for the first time in four months. It added a bit of time, but not too bad.

Today I'm going to the LT Book Club. We'll be discussing Austenland by Shannon Hale. It was a fun little book. Anyone in the Minneapolis area is welcome to join. I have to admit though that it's more social that book oriented!

That reminds me. It's my "turn" to come up with selections for next month. I know what I'm doing this morning!

Oh, I'm probably one of the few males out there who read and enjoyed Austenland, Morphy. Wish I could be there to join you.

Austenland is pure entertainment, isn't it, morphy? Congratulations on Day 4!!

Have a great weekend, Morphy. I reckon your Monday weigh-in will yield good news.

Good start to your non-bingeing, Morphy.

I hope you have a good time at your book club. Sometimes the social part is the most important aspect. Austenland looks entertaining.

>242 Morphidae: Austenland the book was cute, but I actually thought the movie was HILARIOUS and awkward. Jennifer Coolidge makes that movie.

Days Binge Free: 5

>243 jnwelch: We didn't talk about the book much, to be honest. I complained about one of the characters. We all agreed the ending was cheesy. And we all enjoyed it as the fluff it is.

>244 ronincats: Pure fluff, indeed!

>245 PaulCranswick: I hope so. My calories aren't totally where I want them yet but no binging.

>246 SylviaC: We had a great time. It was funny because we discussed what next month's book was going to be (Liesl & Po) longer than this month's book. We also talked about what we were reading, about our families, mental, harassed each other and MrMorphy who was sitting at a separate table.

>247 RosyLibrarian: *perks* Movie?!?

Below is the medical fundraiser for RD. Before I go site-wide (with Tim's permission), I'd like to beef up the fundraiser details. Anyone a better writer than I (basically anyone) who is willing to write a few paragraphs? If so, please PM me. If there are several PMs, I'll combine them into something nice.

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/for-our-beloved-curmudgeon/179809

Celebrate every day, Morph. You're doing great!

And you are amazing for starting this fundraiser for RD. Really & truly amazing!

Lovely news about the MrMorphy's job. I'm a bit late reading your thread so excuse lateness. Good to read so many posts supporting your weight loss journey.

My son has asked me to name any iconic swords from fantasy fiction apart from Excalibur. I came up with Frodo's Sting but am stuck for anymore well known ones. Any ideas?

Gandalf's Glamdring, Aragorn's - but I can't remember its name, either before or after it was reforged, just The Sword that was Broken. Ah, its new name was Andúril - originally Narsil. Thorin had a sword to match Gandalf's, didn't he? Yeah, Orcrist. Those and Sting all came from the same place, the trolls' cave.

Elric of Melnibone's Stormbringer.

The whole series - 24 swords, I think - by Fred Saberhagen. The Complete Book of Swords is at least part of it. But I don't know if that counts as "well-known".

Hi morphy, great news about Mr M's job and your weight loss journey. Hope all is well and you have a good week my dear.

Arya's Needle in Game of Thrones.

Several swords, including Excalibur feature prominently in Michael Scott's Nicolas Flamel series.

>248 Morphidae: "Days Binge Free: 5" Woo Hoo! Congratulations. Don't worry if you "go off the wagon" a couple of times in the next few weeks - you've had a lot of stress be relieved lately. You are quite capable of getting back on track - you're an old hand at this. And, you know - the featured SparkPeople motivator. *Preens in reflected glory*

>249 Morphidae: Great idea. Been and donated. The only words that come to mind right now are uncomplimentary to health care in the US...

>216 Morphidae: Heart murmurs are weird things. My grandfather was bitter right up to his death at 86 that the AAF wouldn't take him because a doctor heard a heart murmor. I am so sorry that you are dealing with this with your beloved Maia.

> 219 awesome set of websites, duly Favorited.

>251 avatiakh: Neverending Story, Bastian's magic sword Sikanda.

>228 Morphidae: Me: *interrupting her* “Never mind. Let’s get married.” - This invoked a slight smile from me at the recognition of his good sense. Stress has been driving my sense of humor into hiding on occasion lately... Joke, what joke?

{{{Morphy}}}

>251 avatiakh: My surrogate daughter, Holly Wendt would never forgive me if I didn't mention Hrunting, Beowulf's sword. Then there is the eponymous Sword of Shannara, and the sword of Gryffyndor.

>251 avatiakh: the Forgotten Realms world (pretty heavily Tolkein based) has tons of named swords. Most prominent two I can come up with is Icingdeath and Twinkle.

Also Durendal from the Song of Roland.

A real world "magic" sword is grass cutter (or grass cutting sword), Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, one of the three imperial treasures of Japan said to have been given to the imperial line by Amaterasu.

The Sword of Gryffindor from Harry Potter.

Morphy - LTer of the year award in the bag for you already my dear. xxxx

Belated but public thanks for helping with the Richard fund. You are a princess.

Iron Druid Chronicles feature Fragarach a sword of truth that belongs to Mannanan mac Lir of the Tuatha Dé Danann. It seems it has been featured in many fantasy novels and games.

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

Morphy you are so amazing to think of others when you are going through so much yourself. Blessings to you and thank you for starting this fund raiser for our beloved Richard.

I thanked you somewhere for leading us on the Beloved Curmudgeon fund drive, Morphy, but it must not have been here. Thank you!

>248 Morphidae: "We all enjoyed Austenland as the fluff it is." Yup, exactly. A good fluff book is just what the doctor ordered sometimes.

Good news on the eating; good news on Mr. M.'s new job.

Many, many thanks for helping Richard. I'm sure it's deeply appreciated by him--and also by many of us.

So glad to hear the positive news about Maia; I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she has many happy years ahead.

Hi Morphy, I just want to take a minute and add my appreciation for setting up Richard's fundraiser. He is truly our "beloved curmudgeon" and greatly missed when not around.

Great news on your own home front, glad that things are starting to turn around for you, after all the strain and stress you have been under, it's lovely to see good things happening.

Hey Morphy - glad to see things are looking up still - and how amazing you are that through all your troubles recently, you found time to think and act on behalf of our cuddly curmudgeon. You are amazing!

Days Binge Free: 7

>250 TinaV95: >262 jnwelch: >263 Matke: >265 DeltaQueen50: I felt that it's something I could do in honor of everyone who helped us last year.

>251 avatiakh: >252 jjmcgaffey: >254 maggie1944: >255 drneutron: >257 laytonwoman3rd: >258 Oberon: Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_swords

>253 johnsimpson: Thanks!

>256 MDGentleReader: Well, the idea is not to go "off the wagon" as one binge leads to another. It's much easier to not binge at all than to stop a binge in progress. I made it this last time from June 2013 to April 2014.

>259 PaulCranswick: That's sweet. Thanks.

>260 tututhefirst: Hey, that's Queen to you! :D

>261 luvamystery65: > 266 It's been said that when you are down, one thing you can do is help someone else. The fundraiser isn't all altruistic. It's helping me feel better, too!

>264 Sakerfalcon: She has a follow up appointment a week from Thursday. We'll see what Doc Jackie has to say. I'm more hopeful than I was before.

***

Today I'll be doing a 4 hour shift of dispatch for WeCab and pulling together reports for a meeting tomorrow with our grantors. As the bookkeeper, it's important for me to be there with financial information.

Sunday we had about 12 to 13 Girl Scouts and adults here to rake our yard. It was arranged through Meals on Wheels. It's amazing how much can be done very quickly when you have many hands! Not only do we have a neat yard, we got a goodie bag with Girl Scout cookies including Thin Mints. Yum yum yum.

Hi Morphy! I have a feeling I'm checking in on your thread just as you are about to start another. Oh well. In any case, I'm catching up. Congrats on several binge-free days and I really resonate with and appreciate this sentiment: "The fundraiser isn't all altruistic. It's helping me feel better, too!" It doesn't always work for me, but getting my mind off my own internal strife and focused on helping someone else does often chase away the blues.

And thank you for setting up the fund-raiser to help our dear Richard. I am on my way that direction now.

Have a good Tuesday!!

Hello Morphy! I'm getting caught up as well, I've been pretty absent from the threads the last couple of days. I'm also wishing you a great Tuesday!

*waving hi*

>267 Morphidae: Your post reminded me that I never saw the Girl Scouts this Spring. Noooo! I need tag a longs!

>267 Morphidae: Hope the meeting tomorrow doesn't take too much out of you.

Is the VCD mostly in your rearview mirror now? I imagine that it'll still take a bit to regain your strength even when you're through with it.

How about the back pain? Is that a thing of the past, too, I hope?

I can understand being unhappy about breaking your long streak of binge free days and the ease of slipping back into that behavior more easily once you have succumbed once. I count myself fortunate that I have never been able to eat much at a time or we'd be struggling through this particular challenge together, I am sure. I am doing a lot of stress eating right now. I look forward to celebrating with you when your binge free days become binge free years.

Glad you are feeling better about Maia now.

"The fundraiser isn't all altruistic. It's helping me feel better, too!" - yeah, that's one thing that sent me straight over to the website. At least I can make a difference somewhere... And you know, it's Richard. Thanks again for organizing this.

Just stopping by with a long round of applause for your efforts on Richard's behalf. I've been to the giving site and it was a breeze to go through. Couldn't have been easier. You rock, girl!

>268 EBT1002: It will be tomorrow at the earliest before I start a new thread, so you are safe!

"...helping someone else does often chase away the blues." Exactly! And seeing how we are almost to goal so soon lightens my heart as well.

>269 Thebookdiva: No worries. I've been behind in my LT duties as well!

>270 maggie1944: You're going to laugh at me. I saw your post and thought it was Monday and that I had forgotten our chat. I panicked for a minute, planning to send you an apology PM until I realized it was Tuesday and we had chatted the day before. What a maroon!

>271 RosyLibrarian: How do you think *I* felt? I had my dealer friend call me and I had to decline because MrMorphy was out of work and we couldn't afford them!

>272 MDGentleReader: The meeting and WeCab in general has kept me pretty busy lately. VCD is considerably better but not gone. I can go a day without having to do a breathing exercise but my endurance isn't back and I have to be careful with how much I do. My focus is to start exercising so I can increase it. The back pain is also better but not gone. I don't have to take pain medication anymore but I still have to sleep on my stomach 75% of the time to avoid the pain. It's not the most comfortable position when you have a CPAP.

>273 michigantrumpet: Thank you! It's been a blessing to watch the generosity of others.

***

Today I have the meeting at the WeCab office with the grantors and the program director. The meeting is at 1:30pm. I asked MetroMobility to get me there by 1:00pm. I need to ask them to get me places early in case they show up late. The WeCab office is about 5 minutes from my home. So guess what time they are picking me up? 11:45!!! Guess it will be a good time to get some reading done. At least the meeting will run late enough that MrMorphy can pick me up afterward.

After this meeting, I shouldn't have as much WeCab stuff to do for a couple of weeks so I'm hoping to get caught up on somethings including stuff here at LT like a new thread and posting on others!

All caught up with you, Morphy! I LOVE what you are doing for Richard - what a lovely idea! And hooray for getting your yard all cleaned up AND scoring some Girl Scout cookies!! I am hoping that today is kind to you. Sending you hugs and good thoughts, dear!

Hope the meeting goes well and that your extended wait time produces some good reading, Morphy.

>275 Crazymamie: We are within a couple hundred dollars of goal for Richard. LTers are amazing!

>276 ronincats: Actually it ended up being a big waste of time. They were there only one hour instead of two and I wasn't necessary at all. I didn't get much reading in because the program manager and admin wanted to chit chat. Bleh.

***

Today's a quiet day at home. I need to get a new thread started and about 30 books posted. Sheesh. I'm reading Jack and Jill by James Patterson. Man, no matter what people say, this man can write a book that sucks you in.

Tomorrow I'll be at the church reception desk in the morning. I'll be able to read for a few hours or listen to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix while I do stuffing (usually service handouts.)

Makes me smile...

>248 Morphidae: I'll be sure to show that to my daughter. She's a sucker for cute animal pictures.

>278 Morphidae: *snerk*

>279 SylviaC: >280 drneutron: Glad you both enjoyed it!

***

We need just $140 more to reach goal for the Richard Derus fundraiser. If you can help out with just a little, it would be awesome!

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/for-our-beloved-curmudgeon/179809

>281 Morphidae: OVER THE TOP!!!

This group is amazing! Restores one's faith...

Thanks for getting it all started, Morphy. It is encouraging to see the love the support in this group!

This is a very good thing, Morphy! Thank you for setting it up!

Karen O.

Every time I think I've seen the best of LT, something else happens that shows me JUST how lucky I am to be a part of such an amazing group of loving & caring people! Again, Morphy... you rock my socks off!!!!

I hope MrM loves his new job. And I hope you are treating yourself like the rock star that you are!

>282 laytonwoman3rd: >283 Matke: >283 Matke: >285 klobrien2: >286 TinaV95: Aw shucks, guys. While I love the praise, it really didn't take all that long to set up.

xoxo

>287 Morphidae: It's not the effort put forth, it's that you thought of it at all that's worthy of notice (and emulation!).

I followed the link!

I've been away from LT for a bit getting folks settled into our house, so haven't kept up. How is MrM's job going?

Hooray on the rousing success of the fundraising effort. Joining all the others in the applause. I love this group.

Hope all is well there with you and you've enjoyed a great long weekend full of lovely reading.

>288 richardderus: *smooches and huggles*

>289 jjmcgaffey: >290 connie53: I'm going to bump it once a week. He still needs to be able to afford co-pays. Donations died off after we reached goal.

>291 drneutron: It's going well. We're settling into a routine again but he hasn't yet gotten used to it physically. He made the mistake of sitting on his butt for four months. Now he's all tuckered out at the end of the day!

>292 michigantrumpet: Oh, yes. Lots of reading. I've been scarfing down the St. Mary's series by Jodi Taylor and now am impatiently waiting for the next book!

We've reached goal plus more at $4,785. Richard has purchased medical insurance through the rest of the year and next year sometime he's eligible for Medicare. However, he still needs our help to pay for co-pays and prescriptions. The fundraiser runs through the end of June, so give when and where you can!

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/for-our-beloved-curmudgeon/179809

I have two more "pay days" before the fundraiser closes officially so I will surely be able to give a bit more. I am so glad to be able to lend help to our friend. His presence here makes the place so lovely and entertaining. I don't know if I'd be as addicted as I am to the 75ers without Richard.

Hope the long weekend has been restful for you and yours.

>294 Morphidae: It isn't much, but I stopped by. Anything for LT. :)

>296 RosyLibrarian: I've got one more pay day and will be doing the same.

>296 RosyLibrarian: Every little bit helps. Thank you so much!

Morphy, I'm late in catching up but wanted to say a big CONGRATULATIONS on MrMorphy's job. I hope it continues to go well - and you're right, that change in routine can be really tiring (even little things like days I'm used to working until 5 and have to stay until 8 throw me off), so I hope that evens out soon.

>294 Morphidae: Same thing with me waiting for next payday and had to get my mom a root canal and new crown out of pocket. OUCH!!!

>298 bell7: Good to see you posting. Thanks for stopping by!

>299 luvamystery65: I can sympathize. MrMorphy and I both struggle with bad teeth. Dentistry is so expensive!

Hoping routine is returning to normal and MrM is doing well in his endeavors. Just cxhecked on the RD site -- amazing! What a great group this is.

Just checking in...

Are you going to pre-plan your Bingo reading, or are you going to seat-of-the-pants it?

Hi, Morphy! I hope all is well, and the sun is shining, and the birds are singing, and Maia and MrMorphy are cuddly. Read any good books lately?

>301 michigantrumpet: It is amazing how fast we reached goal, isn't it? LTers are fabulous!

>302 scaifea: Seat-of-the-pants through June and most of July. Then plan fill ins in August.

>303 SylviaC: Yes! The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is getting one of my rare 9 out of 10 stars.

***

I'm hoping to get my new thread up today along with a shortened version of book updates (almost a month's full!)

Morphy have a lovely weekend!

Have a great weekend, Morphy. I loved The Rosie Project, too.

Happy Friday, Morphy! Hope it's the beginning of a lovely weekend! (I loved The Rosie Project too!)

The Rosie Project goes onto my ridiculous library list. :)

Just chiming in to say that I too loved The Rosie Project :)

Happy weekend, Morphy!

Stopping by to wish you a happy weekend, Morphy!

~~~waving "hi" and hoping your weekend is relaxing and renewing.

>305 luvamystery65: >306 jnwelch: >307 Storeetllr: >309 _Zoe_: >310 connie53: >311 lkernagh: >312 maggie1944: You all have a fab weekend, too! Love all the Rosie love!

>308 jolerie: You won't be sorry.

***

Come join me at my spanking new thread. Sorry it took so long. I was getting concerned that the thread police were going to nab me!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/175157