Richardderus thread 19 of 2014

“It is a great thing to start life with a small number of really good books which are your very own.” ― Arthur Conan Doyle

I have a category called Orphans, which will still catch all the other reading I do.

My ORPHANED books ticker:




I want to treat the Short Story collection challenge as a ticker-to-itself thread, thinking 48 reviews as my goal. I'll keep the thread over in the Short Stories forum.

My SHORT STORY collections ticker:




I'm keeping a mystery-genre thread over in Crime, Thriller, and Mystery forum. Way way way too many of my reviews have been, in all forums, mysteries and thrillers, and while I love them, I don't want to get too rut-ified and read only those books while keeping up my self-made review writing census.

My MYSTERY & THRILLER books ticker:




THIS THREAD is the 75 challenge for 2014, which will be non-fiction and non-genre-fiction books published in 2013 and 2014, plus recommendations from other 75ers.

My last thread of 2012.
My last reviews of 2013 in this thread.

My 2014 NEW books ticker:




Books 1 & 2...thread 5.
Books 3 & 4...thread 10.
Books 5-7...thread 12.
Books 8 & 9...thread 13.
Books 10 & 11...thread 14.
Books 12-16...thread 15.
Book 17...thread 17.

Books are reviewed in post:

18. Raven Girl...#85.

19. Gifts Not Yet Given...#95.

Eventually, the things that are swollen will unswell and the things that hurt will stop hurting. not today, it seems. it's thunderstormy, so ow.

i can't believe the fundraiser total. y'all're amazing! when i'm capable, i'll start sending thank-yous.

xoxo

xoxo to you and Stella

Here's some decoration. Take care, sweets!

xoxo roberta !

katie, that's GORGEOUS! thanks.

*pillow*

xoxo

Coffee and a cinnamon roll

More Coffee

smoochings

Jack Daniels Pecan Pie

Happy new thread, BigDaddy! Sending you healing whammies and all of my love. *smooch*

I hope you feel better soon. *smooch* and maybe you can relax with a drink

This thread is lethal... now I want pecan pie. And a library with leather sofas...

*Smoochies*

RD...gorgeous photos, but don't tax yourself. Having taken a spill last week (don't ask) and landing flat, splat on palms of hands, I too am nursing very sore, very black/blue/purple/yellow thumbs, but NOTHING even close to your pain....although I'll see your toe and Raise you three contused ribs. I can kinda feel your pain, but know yours is zillions times worse than I'm doing right now, so please take care of yourself. Someday, the fates willing, the crick don't rise, and modren medicos do their job, this too shall pass.

OK....now that we've traded owies, it's time for smoochies and a tipple of Jamison's.

bump so I can find the darn thing

mmmmmmm pie !

Happy new thread, RD! Sorry to see the swelling and pain persists. Joining you in hoping both subside soon.

Thunderstorms..... I love and miss thunderstorms. They are so rare out here on the coast and when they do occur, they are nothing compared to the awe inspiring storms of my prairie childhood, the storms that would shake the entire house with the clap of thunder and a sky so black you would think the apocalypse was coming. Yes, I miss those kinds of thunderstorms. ;-)

>5 katiekrug: - Love that room!

I see everyone has taken care of pillow fluffing, drinks, snacks (I see PIE.... and cinnamon bun!) and a comfy place to relax, so I will just wish you a wonderful good night.

My dearest!!!! Much love and many smoochums to you! May your pain ease every day, my friend. Love you!

New thread hopefully means you are feeling a bit better! Hope each day just gets better and better. :)

Richard--No,no,no! Not more pain. So sorry. Having just had knee surgery this morning, I am sadly in the same club. At least this time it is for a new reason for me! Yay? As you know I have been hobbling though life and not a frequent visitor on LT. So I am a tad behind the times. This episode sounds bad. Fundraiser? I am off to read your old thread to see whats up. In the meantime, big smooch and lots of love. Hang in there. xoxo

Hello RD dearheart - pain is a bitch, so I wish you all the relief in the world. I have a very 'small potatoes' pain in my butt (literally - hamstring tendonitis) but am confident that a couple of sessions at the osteopath will sort me out. Have you ever considered acupuncture?

I can't go into Joe's cafe. Chrome keeps kicking me out and saying Danger Danger!. But I get yummy food here, now. Bad. Very. Are you feeling punk and ouchie again :(

Cut it out.

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

>11 Ameise1: Oooh...those kittehs may provoke an inflammatory response in Mr. Derus!

What we ought to have is a Read to Richard club, so he doesn't have to hold a book, or even focus his eye muscles.

>23 Morphidae: Wow, Morphy, that's great news. I'm very glad LTers rallied round; glad but not surprised.

A good morning to ya, Deario. Wishing and hoping for less pain for you.
xoxo

>24 laytonwoman3rd: Linda, I have never posted this picture. I've posted a cup of coffee with cinnamon roll and on my computer I can perfectly see this picture BUT on my smartphone I see the kittens, too. STRANGE, I don't know what's wrong.

Rdear, what can you see. If it's the kittens picture then I remove them.

*smooches and gentle hugs* to our RD.

I hope you are at least able to watch teebee or read on Kindle or a small mass market paperback.

Horrible

I see battling kittens. Richard may be too incapacitated to even answer the question. I hope not; but maybe.

Feel better, Richard, as soon as possible. All better. Good to go. Reading, and writing, that's the ticket!

Rdear, I'm VERY SORRY for this disaster. I never ever intended to post those animals. As I've written in >26 Ameise1:, I saw a wonderful cup of coffee with cinnamon roll. I hope you are not angry with me.

I hope, that this pic will be correct now.

Thanks to Berly we're now over the top. Great work, team!

Happy new thread RD!

WE DID IT!!!

We're at $4,510!

Let's not stop here though. The fundraiser runs through June. Let's make sure Richard has the funds to pay for lots of co-pays!

someone posted kittens and i didn't notice?? wow, i'm not well. lucky barbara i didn't or there would be an eye-surgery photo in her thread. evil grin

less swollen hand, so i'm on the mend. shoulder stiff and painful, but weather=knees are bad bad bad.

xoxo to all

>32 Morphidae: AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And that's in five days!

Morphi, you are a hero. Thanks a lot for setting this up.

Rdear, I blame the Internet for changing my pic.

Glad the hands are better, but boo hiss on the knees. Hopefully both the weather and the knees will improve! *smooch*

>36 Ameise1: Hey, no harm done, since he didn't see it!! And >29 Ameise1: is just what the doctor ordered, I'm sure.

>32 Morphidae: Wonderful!

>32 Morphidae: - That's awesome! Hooray!

Even this dog I found on the internet is happy, Richard!

puppy!! baaaaaawwwwwwww

go look at these http://www.danoah.com/2014/05/306-new-wrong-numbers.html/5

Smooches!

xoxo

>32 Morphidae: Yes!

Hope you're feeling some improved, Richard. Looking forward to some snarly or enthused reviews.

And please tell Jodi Taylor to get a move on with the next one.

Yes--if you have any pull with her, give her a nudge! I raced through the first two: Just One Damned Thing After Another and A Symphony of Echoes. xoxo

Hi, Richard. I have been swamped with work and haven't been around LT much lately, but my summer break has finally begun! How have you been? (Sorry, haven't scrolled back through all the posts.)

One reason I'm posting is that I haven't been able to find the short story thread, and I wanted to share this link with you and everyone else who enjoys them It was sent to me by Powells and lists what they consider "The Best Short Story Collections of the 21st Century (So Far)." I've added a half dozen to my wish list--there's something there for everyone!

Hope you are enjoying sunny weather, kittens and puppies, and good times.

Just stopping by to say hello and drop off some more "painbegone" vibes.

So glad to hear that the hands at least are getting a bit better - sorry about the knees.

Morphy, how wonderful that the target was achieved, and in such a short time! Well done everyone, and thank you Morphy for setting it up. My mind boggles whenever I think about how much people in some parts of the world have to pay for health care, or how much they have to suffer because they can't afford it.

Richard, it must be frustrating to have the pain move around like you're playing a cosmic game of whack-a-mole. I hope it all hits the road soon. *smooch*

>40 richardderus: - Love that! What a fun blog. I'm going to follow him on FB...

Hi Richard, I have finally gotten around to posting the book shelf photo's on my thread, please excuse the quality of some of them. Hope you are starting to feel a bit better my friend and have a really good weekend if you can. Love and hugs from the both of us.

Morphy, you are such a good hearted person. Kudos to you for getting this rolling. And now we know that Richard has at least a year of support. Maybe we should post the link again, just to keep it going?

ETA: for those who might have missed it on the previous thread, here is the link to the fundraiser for Richard to help him with his med situation:

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

i'm going to spend some of the money on new glasses, these are 10yrs old and don't work well.

i just finished RAVEN GIRL, a modern fairy tale by AUDREY NIFFENEGGER. Cryptodaughter, aka luxx, told me about it, and she was right about me liking it a lot. 4* of five.

i hope i can get my right hand back so i can review it soon. lovely!

Go Luxx!! And new glasses would be wonderful...just think how much faster you will read if you can SEE! Watch out world.

Heartwarming to see the total passing the original target dear fellow and still over a month to go. I reckon the target can be doubled in that time and add to your comfort. Congratulations on your new thread and hopefully a pain reduced weekend. Hani specifically asked me to send her own best wishes to you too.

Glasses!!! Hooray! How about shoes. I think you need to have some shoes made, so that you can actually have your feet covered..

Seconding all well-wishers above. Marvelous news about the glasses, and do please get some shoes.

Just think of how wonderful the world will look when you can actually see it.

xo

New glasses!! Yes! And I agree with Kathleen and Gail about the shoes! Stopping in to wish you a weekend full of fabulous, BigDaddy.

Gentle bear hugs to you, and a scratch behind the ears for Stella. Now I'm off to check out Raven Girl!

Have a restful but fun holiday, Richard.

memorial day! forgot about that, thanks deborah there are some errands must be done today.

right side is better today than in weeks! yay!!

xoxo to all

So glad to hear you're feeling better! I hope it continues!

Rdear, I'm very happy that you feel better. I wish you a relaxing weekend.

>62 Ameise1: HA!!! love that one, barbara!!

>63 richardderus: :-) smooches

Yay for the right side being better! How did Barbara manage to find that RD-perfect pic?

New glasses sound like a great idea. Hope you've got a good, pain-reduced weekend going.

I love new glasses. It is so nice to be able to see easily and accurately. I know the opposite, and it is no fun. I am glad The Fund will give you the resources to get new, and perfect, glasses! Yay. Readers, and Writers, should not have difficulty seeing.

xoxoxoxo back at you, dear man.

Hi Richard, I just can't keep up with you but I like to say that I am glad you are able to type again. XXXX

BWHAHAHAHAHA! Now Richard has to be nice to me FOREVER!!!!!!!!

*runs away cackling madly*

>68 Morphidae:

logistics are going to be fun for glasses...can't get up when i've sat down...but the thought of sharper vision motivates me!

xoxo connie and karen44

i hope you're vastly better soon. Casey is vraiment désolé and will only mope. Also, he worries about Stella.

sending oodles of cossetting even though perhaps a bit belated.

*smoochles*

Check and see if your insurance will pay for an ophthalmologist, instead of going to an an optometrist. An ophthalmologist typically takes medical instead of whichever eye care insurance. It might be a bit more expensive, but it will be thorough and they always have a nice selection of less expensive frames, too. And don't be afraid to ask for a further discount on those.

And shoes.

Not to nag, but shoes. The kind you need, Now is a good time...

xo

Smooches, Padre.

We have a shoe specialty place in small town Ontario which spedialises in fitting feet with problems. Surely NY would have a place like this?
And I agree, Kath, this would be a good time to have a thorough eye exam along with the glasses.

#62. I didn't think I was THAT innocent, but I swear, that combination NEVER, EVER crossed my mind. Ever. Oh my.

*smile*

Happy Sunday, dearest Richard! Happy typing, happy Stella-ing, happy reading, happy TVing, happy...... everything.

New shoes and new glasses will be awesome. So happy for you Richard. :D

if shoes are covered, i'll do that. otherwise, it's over $1000 with doc visits, measurements, transport each way/SUV rental, fittings, and custom shoes. WELL over $1000. And that doesn't count the fact that the foot problem changes rapidly, rendering shoes ill-fitting in a year or less.

Far more practical to wait until I've had surgery to remove the lumps of tophus, healed, and then get some shoes. Cheap shoes (under $500) have created some of the problems I'm having now.

Medicare will kick in, and that process can start in 2015.

To add to >72 mckait: you can always get your eye exam from an ophthalmologist, which should be covered by your insurance. Get the prescription, then, if the actual glass aren't covered, purchase them somewhere less expensive. That's what I always do.

As for the shoes, if they are recommended by your doc, they should be covered, as were my custom orthotics. But do check on how often you can replace them. If you are planning foot surgery soon, you're right, it might be better to wait.

Popping to wish you a lovely Decoration/Memorial Day. Glad to hear the hand is starting to feel better.

>62 Ameise1: Wow. Just ... Wow.

>62 Ameise1:: it isn't often I'm left speechless but I confess this one did it.

>62 Ameise1: How did you find that one!

Richardmydear, I hope you are feeling better. You certainly deserve it. Love and hugs for you (ever so gently).

Just for you!

What >78 Cariola: said. Thankfully, I don't need glasses (yet, touch wood), but it's like getting a prescription for meds that you can also buy over the counter. You take the cheaper path.
Re shoes -- Can you find an inexpensive pair of loose-fitting cloth/soft sandals for summer?

I've not been able to contribute my mite to the pile and won't until I can see what's in my mailbox for the month. Right now, the cupboard is utterly bare after the Toronto trip. Fingers & toes crossed.

No Louise Penny or Three Pines book at BookExpo this year, as far as I can tell, I'm sorry to say. I've scanned the lists, and can't see any signs. It's due out in August, but...

oh Suz, please don't give it another thought, this isn't club dues! I'm already HUGELY better off than I was two weeks ago, with insurance from 1 June to 31 December. I'll soon know all of what is covered when I get my packet of bumf in the mail. I know already the co-pays are steep, but they're a LOT cheaper than the uninsured rates.

I'm pleased to say that my caution has been rewarded with a much less painful hand and a slightly less painful shoulder on the right side. I'm hesitant to over-use them for fear of reirritating the tophuses. Still, I can type with all the left hand and two fingers of the right without planet-rocking pain, and that's HUGE.

No Penny at BEA, eh? Well, she's just gone public with her husband's dementia diagnosis, so I suppose it makes sense. That car accident a year or so ago (which she blogged about) made me think he was probably traveling down that road, too many details reminded me of Vicki.

Now that I can type again (!!), be expecting your heartfelt, grateful, and obsequious thank-you emails. Y'all's gifts to me have changed a bad situation into a difficult passage, and that means everything to me.

Review: 18 of seventy-five

Title: RAVEN GIRL

Author: AUDREY NIFFENEGGER

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: Once there was a Postman who fell in love with a Raven.

So begins the tale of a postman who encounters a fledgling raven while on the edge of his route and decides to bring her home. The unlikely couple falls in love and conceives a child — an extraordinary raven girl trapped in a human body. The raven girl feels imprisoned by her arms and legs and covets wings and the ability to fly. Betwixt and between, she reluctantly grows into a young woman, until one day she meets an unorthodox doctor who is willing to change her.

One of the world’s most beloved storytellers has crafted a dark fairy tale full of wonderment and longing. Complete with Audrey Niffenegger’s bewitching etchings and paintings, Raven Girl explores the bounds of transformation and possibility.

My Review: Thank you, Luxx, for the glowing review that made me want to read this short book with illustrations in it. (NO, it's not a comic book, there is nary a speech bubble to be found and no one is running around in a silly costume!)

Like every good fairy tale, Raven Girl starts out with an impossible premise...man and bird fall in love and have a child...that leads to the complicated, painful life of a character we can all see little shards of our own shells in. The Raven Girl speaks Raven like her mother, has a human body like her father, and cannot be human or raven. In her struggles to manage her mixed identity, she is isolated; can't everyone understand that feeling of "no one gets it" from the inside? "I can't talk to you," aka the Wail of the Adolescent Angstbeast, "you have no idea what it feels like to be me!" Only this time she's right. No one else is like her, not her parents who love her, not anyone in the whole world.

In the end, she chooses a radical, risky, permanent solution to her identity crisis, and faces down the anger and the fear of others; but this story's major point is one I am so pleased to see in fiction aimed at the under-20 set: Yes, you're weird, unique, maybe even scary to some people, but BE YOURSELF and never stop remaking and remodeling yourself until you get it right!

It's a message that I'd like to drum into the heads of my contemporaries, preventing them from doing more damage than is strictly necessary to their grandchildren and the world by holding on to the disproved certainties and the discredited verities that stifle, warp, and kill so very many people even yet.

The book, as an object, is lovely! The paper, a heavy creamy-white matte coated stock, has three edges printed (I suppose) with a metallic, gunmetal-colored ink; it makes the book block shimmer like a raven's wing when the book is closed. The jacket, a grimmish affair of gray stippled fogginess with a silver stamp of Gothic lettering on the front (a choice I don't think works that well), is matte laminated; the case-cover is printed red and black, with a flight of ravens on the front, and the jacket's same poorly chosen Gothic lettering on the spine. Contrasted to the extraordinary edge-printing, it's arrestingly lovely. The printed endsheets are a benday of the jacket's bleccchhhy gloomy gray, a pattern of ravens in motion all over them. It works as endsheets far better than as a jacket.

But the matte-coated paper with Niffenegger's Schiele-influenced people, the designer's wonderfully chosen type, and the generous but not overwhelming amounts of negative space make the reading experience so comfortable, so easy and still so visually stimulating, that the book rises above its simplicity into elegance. I'll be keeping this one because it's such a satisfying marriage of message and medium.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

What a gift is a lovely book! Thanks for writing about this one, and I can understand why you'll hang on to it.

I am glad your latest bout with pain is becoming quieter. Hope your week continues to see improvements.

Oh, I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it as much as I!

^Thinking of you...

>84 richardderus: I know what you're saying about co-pays vs uninsured... I'm still uninsured -- can't make the economics work, since I'd only be able to afford the policy with the whacking great deductible so I'd STILL be paying out of pocket for all the stuff that I have to pay, which adds up to about $5k a year (in addition to the premiums) and the combination of the premiums and those expenses is just too much. I can't get a neurologist who takes the insurance that I can buy through the exchanges (the only variant on offer is Blue Cross; all that the RI or NYC neurologists take is the expensive Aetna or other employer provided policies OR the heavily subsidized stuff/Medicare/Medicaid plans). So that's $2k a year for those appointments right there. The medication expenses would go down a bit, but the meds are still tier 4 or whatever the priciest kind is. Even as generics, with insurance, $200 a month. Right now, both together are $325. So, I'd spend $450 a month to save $125. When money is so tight, it just can't be done. And then the family gives me grief for not visiting more often, when I've been saving for months to afford that plane ticket... and now I have to start saving again to pay for a ticket for my mother to visit me in the fall. I just don't know. At least I got to see some good friends.

Sorry. I'm anxious and ranting, clearly. The good news is that I did manage to pick up that free mattress from Amazon Vine, and it does seem to be helping a lot with my increasingly annoying back problems.

Didn't know that Niffenegger had written anything new since Her Fearful Symmetry. She gets full marks for imaginative prowess from me, and for atmospheric writing, but ironically preferred that just-cited novel to the acclaimed debut, which left me so busy trying to figure out the dynamics of the time-travel that I never really emotionally connected. It also felt like too much of a stunt; the time travel, instead of being a nexus around which the relationships between characters developed, overtook everything else in the 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

Raven Girl sounds gorgeous!! I will have to give it some consideration. I like Niffenegger well enough...

Hope the weekend is good...

Great Raven Girl review. A message to be shouted from the mountain tops if you ask me.

Hope you are enjoying some good weather and pleasant reading, friend.

Hey, RD! Don't have Raven Girl, but do have Her Fearful Symmetry and since I just finished a book, will start it soonest.

Hugs and smooches from your own Horrible

*schngurb*

*whmmmf*

sleep is good on a warm sunny afternoon

finished another book and will review soon

still sleepy so later xoxo

Review: 19 of seventy-five

Title: GIFTS NOT YET GIVEN

Author: KERGAN EDWARDS-STOUT

Rating: 2.5* of five

An Early Reviewers win that I've tried and tried to find a way into, this collection isn't bad...but it's not good either. The sentences are direct and convey meaning without muss, fuss, or bother, but they never--not one time--rise above that basic function. Art is not the missing element, nor is the author inept. It is simply that the book is, in some curious way, uninspired and therefore uninspiring.

Not my happiest ER experience.

Hi Snoogums! Raven Girl sounds very good. Thanks for the book bullet! I am off oxy and down to just morphine, so making progress! Hope yours continues to head in the right direction too. xoxo

Oh, sorry that the ER book was a dud. If a book can't be great, the least it can do is be awful. It's the in-between that are the real joy killers, at least for me.

Glad you're feeling a bit better, Richard, and I hope your pampering your hand and shoulder a bit pay off with even less pain in the near future. Sweet thoughts to you and Stella!

>62 Ameise1: bah! My skin is crawling. eeeeew, tentacle suckers...

>95 richardderus: shame. Ah well, can't win 'em all I guess.

xoxo to you and Stella

*smooch* for you and *schmoozle* for the Devilles!

Oh, I see you have re-visited the world of capital letters and fancy punctuation. Congratulations. May your visit in this land be long and pleasant!

Really, I hope you are feeling much less pain, and will continue to improve every hour....

Give Stella a really good back scrubbing, paying particular attention to that sweet spot just in front of her tail! Greta Garbo especially loves that spot for scratching from her human buddies.

Raven Girl sounds good. I've got a clunker (so far) ER that I'm struggling to finish. Sorry yours wasn't better.

((Hugs)) Richard! I am terribly behind but poking in to say hello. :)

>101 maggie1944: Stella resists being scratched anywhere but her eyes and inside her ears, for some reason, unless she's got something under her collar. Weird dog. But she gave me a slurp when I kissed her nose from you.

A great deal better indeed! I am amazed at how good it feels.

>102 jnwelch: It was good, and I suspect you and Debbi and Becca would like it. Sorry about that clunker ER book, doesn't that just rot on ice?

>103 leperdbunny: Hi Tamara! *smooch*

Just a quick peek in to see how you're doing. And it looks like things are getting better all the time, so yay! Except for not-so-great ER books, but if that's the worst you've got going on right now, yay again!

Hearing y'all talk about insurance premium/co-pay/out-of-pocket woes, I never thought I'd be glad to reach the age when Medicare kicks in, but I am. Seriously!

Thanks, Mary! I'm looking forward to Medicare in 2015, too.

'Morning, RD! Happy Tuesday to you and Stella.

xo rd

Morning, Richard! I'm starting the slow process of catching up on all threads, and I'm happy to see that you seem to be on the road to feeling a bit better, at least.

Yay! Two Richard reviews since my last visit. So, so happy to read that you are feeling a bit better and can spend time with us on LT again. And Raven Girl sounds fab, both the story and as an object. I will keep an eye out for this one at my library. *smooch*

>107 karenmarie: Hiya Horrible!

>108 mckait: xoxo

>109 scaifea: Hi Amber, I am indeed much improved. The problem for me now is not overdoing it and going right back to the problem that's been plaguing me.

>110 Cobscook: I hope you'll like it, too, Heidi. It's a lovely story.

Excellent reviews, Richard. You got me with Raven Girl since I do like Niffenegger. Glad to see you are well enough to be posting again...wahhooooo! :)

>112 jolerie: Thank you, Valerie, I so wanted the ER book to be a better read than it was...

Hi Rdear, I hope you feel much better.

>114 Ameise1: Thank Barbara, it's been a good day for my owwies.

Hi Richard, hoping that things are continually on the upswing.

>116 lindapanzo: Thank you, Linda, to you as well!

Adding Raven Girl to my wish list! I hope it gets translated soon! I will keep an eye open for that one.

I'm so glad you are feeling better, RmD!

Haven't tried Audrey Niffenegger but clearly I oughta.

Glad you are better.

Sending you all my love, Richard! I hope you see how much you are truly cherished here!!!

Going now to give a huge thumbs up to your review of Raven Girl...and to add it to my wish list! Superb review, dearest...

>118 connie53: I hope it will be translated soon, too, since I think you'd really enjoy the fable. Happy Wednesday!

>119 sibylline: Try this one...I think The Time Traveler's Wife would prob'ly not work very well for you. More romantic and less time-travely.

xoxo

>120 TinaV95: Good morning, smoochling, and thank you for the compliment! Give Mrs. Tina a hug from me.

Haha...I only saw the first half the message first and was going to say What???....How could you say that?? And here of all places??? Then, I saw the second half. Thank goodness and yes Amen to that. :) Off to brew myself a cuppa!

Yeah, the first part was "above the fold" for me, too. The second half - now it all makes sense. *quaffs delicious coffee*

>123 jolerie:, >124 jnwelch: *clink* from my mug to y'all's.

I left the image full-sized to give that effect on purpose. *evil grin*

Slinking through to check on ya'. Seems things are SLOOOWLY improving. Any positive movement, right?

>126 michigantrumpet: Amen! I like progress, no matter how slow. xoxo

W00T-A-BOOGIE!! I won Music of the Swamp, the latest Lewis Nordan book, from ER! Ever since Wolf Whistle passed before my eyes, I've loved the new ones he's (too seldom) put out.

Cograts! I hope you love it.

Good for you, Richard! Guess what I won.

Ah, yes, now I won't have to wait for the library copy of Shattered!

hiya snookums. wanted to be sure you saw one of my fave shots of Casey sent whilst you were sorely languishing. it arrived in a flurry of others. i do so hope you're better.

>130 ronincats: Oh MAAAAN. I didn't win one this month and that's the one I requested.

Congrats on your ER win, Richard!

Congrats indeed! I myownself got an ER book too - Henry Clay and the War of 1812. First one requested in years. Yay me. Of course I'll have to actually read it and write a review..... :)

*smooches*

Quickly stopping by to wave hello and check in.

*smooches*

Glad you won something, Richardmydear, you deserve some good news!

Tre Farmer on Pinterest posted this photo of Lovers' Bridge in Paris. After locking the love padlock onto the fence, the lovers tossed the keys into the river, a sign of their eternal love.

...and swoon...

Nice, isn't it, Richardmydear? Very romantic.

>129 maggie1944: Thanks, Karen44! *smooch*

>130 ronincats: Ohhh soooo jealous of you...but glad you'll be able to keep the flag flying!

>131 mirrordrum: I saw Casey, indeed, and what a lovely wooffenbarker! Am improving day by day, and being extra-cautious of how I use my hands until I am 1) cured 2) able to get to the doc's office on 19 June.

>132 Morphidae: Jealousy-inducing, ain't it?

>133 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! *smooch*

>134 karenmarie: Hiya Horrible! That sounds like an intriguing view of the little-discussed war, one that defined the USA as a valid, independent actor on the world stage.

>135 lkernagh: Hi Lori, glad to see you, and thanks for checking in.

>136 connie53: I'm awash in good news most of the time, Connie, and so really should learn not to whinge so much when I'm not. *smooch*

Such a beautiful day! Sunshine galore, a good breeze, and only 66° (19C)! I love spring, even when it arrives almost in June.

XO

>142 AuntieClio: xoxo

Glad it's beautiful where you are, Richard. Here, too - finally! That's loverly in >137 richardderus:.

Hey Richard checking to make sure you are doing okay hoping you improve even more. I am wishing you a lovely weekend and sending you my love.

>144 jnwelch: Beautiful in Chicagoland at last! Bout damned time ain't it. Pity about y'all's Hawks.

I now learn that the Long-Face Puritans' League has a branch in France. There's a move afoot to make this behavior illegal!! *sulphrous mutters*

>145 GeezLouise: Hello there Rae, and thanks for checking in on me! I hope it's a beautiful weekend for all (though I don't see how, since it's supposed to be hot and humid). Sending hugs and love back!

>137 richardderus: NYC doesn't care for this practice on the Brooklyn Bridge....says it's unsafe, damages the bridge, costs 'em money. *sigh* I had never heard of this until just this morning when there was a piece about it on the Today show. Dang blast it, now I'm sad about something I didn't even know about in time for it to make me happy!

>147 laytonwoman3rd: Never knew about the Brooklyn Bridge either! What the hell's unsafe about it, and why should it cost them money? What a crock.

>147 laytonwoman3rd: & >148 richardderus: I know this one! There was a story on NPR a few days ago about the bridge in Paris where this happens. The weight from the locks often breaks the fence, sending pieces of it into the river. Which means the fence has to be replaced regularly. There's also a problem with public safety as foot traffic can cause crowding and vendors set up on the bridge to sell locks and trinkets.

>148 richardderus:, >149 AuntieClio: Also, they fear for the safety of people while they're attaching or removing the locks, they're afraid of stuff falling on motorists or pedestrians on the lower levels, and it's asspensive to cut them off. The Brooklyn Bridge is also a historical structure, and there are rules about what can be done, how it has to be restored and maintained, yada, yada, yada.

>147 laytonwoman3rd: and >148 richardderus: The weight of the locks is such that it actually weakens the bridge. (A footbridge, which wasn't designed for this.) They keep replacing the panels to try to 'lighten' the load. Plus -- it looks lousy. Beats carving one's initials into a live tree, I suppose.

Looked into it some more. >137 richardderus: is a bridge over a canal in Paris. it was done in response to >151 michigantrumpet: which is the Pont Des Arts.

>137 richardderus: was contructed so that the locks can be removed more easily by taking down the metal horizontal pieces.

Ah, the course of true love never did run smooth, or some such thing like that..... I wouldn't know.

I do like the Parisian attitude though, cope with it, do not make it illegal.

Looks like a waste of good locks to me.

But then, what do I know?

*smooches*, RD

xo rd :)

>149 AuntieClio:, >150 laytonwoman3rd:, >151 michigantrumpet:, >152 michigantrumpet:

Good heavens, no one can tell me that there is no solution to such a problem. Making a space for people to do this makes a lot of sense...how about selling the locks before you walk onto the bridge as a city-run profit center? All kinds, all colors. With names put on Wile-U-Wait.

Nightly clean-ups make a few jobs. Nothin' about this is bad, so far as I can see.

>153 maggie1944: True love *snort* doesn't run a course, it sprints.

>154 karenmarie: Considering the level of food-waste in the modern world, locks aren't something I feel too strongly about wasting. *smooch*

>155 mckait: Sweetness! *smooch* Have fun at Amy's!

But Richard, if you can easily take the locks down, it defeats the image of eternal vow. :-)

>156 richardderus: >158 mldavis2: And people are throwing fits that the locks are being removed.

I love the thought of the lover's bridge! I don't care if it is wasting locks and maybe doesn't look so nice, the thought is deeply romantic. I think that all those symbols of love are uplifting. Isn't it nice to know that so many people took the time to declare their love in such a way? Call me a romantic, but I just think that it's wonderful to see a small portion of the love that everyone craves in such a way.

>160 Thebookdiva: of course, that brings to mind the ex-lover franticly searching through the locks, wielding a bolt-cutter!

Fitful sleep, too-early wake up, and many bad dreams = it must be my mother's birthday. Calendar check: 30 May...why yes it is. No wonder I feel like run-over cowshit, it's the way she made me feel almost every day of my life.

When I went to Florence in 2011 we saw the locks on the Ponte Vecchio. It is romantic but you could also see the damage that the locks were causing. That is a shame for some of these beautiful historical bridges.

>162 richardderus: Yes!

I hope you have a lovely weekend Richard. xoxo to you and Stella!

>85 richardderus: Agh! Book bullet to the heart...

*smoochies*

>162 richardderus: Cracked me up! So true, so true. My family has learned to make sure there's coffee available at all times.

Forget that lousy mother, to the extent you can, and go have some Irish coffee, or whatever your favorite loaded version is.

Rdear, everybody is talking about coffee and non can be seen. What's wrong here. I wish you a relaxing weekend full of reading.

>158 mldavis2:, >159 Morphidae:, >160 Thebookdiva:, >161 ffortsa: I agree with Abby, Mike and Morphy.

It seems to me one of those lovely gestures that can, like all human activity, be ground down to fine powder with the millstones of mundanity. Don't like the way it looks? So what. I don't like the way most things look. I particularly hate "skinny jeans" and women with "thigh gap." They're out in public! I should have a say in whether or not I have to look at them!

>163 luvamystery65: I expect to, Roberta, since the Gruesome Twosome aren't here, and that means it will be possible for me to move freely about the place. Yay!

Stella sends slurps.

>164 BekkaJo: Heh. #sorrynotsorry

*smooch*

>165 jnwelch: I'd love to forget the old sow. Too many hurts and horriblenesses passed between us, I'm afraid. Forgiveness doesn't ensure forgetfulness, alack and welladay.

>166 Ameise1: Ooo! Barbara, how beautiful the coffee art is. Thank you! Have a lovely weekend.

Have a good weekend, Richardmydear!

>169 connie53: Many thanks, Connie, and same back to you!

Have a restful and healing weekend Richard! :)

I missed the "a". I should really read what I write before I post...haha

>171 jolerie: It is my firm purpose, Valerie, and thanks for coming by with such lovely wishes!

Friday evening greetings, my friend. Not much to say except, "Ow, my jaw hurts and where's my hydrocodone?" Hope to be in more social form tomorrow.

*smooch*

>162 richardderus: Ahahahaha! Truth.

About the lovers' locks on the bridge in Paris, my niece just got back from there and only last night gave us a slideshow of her pics, a number of which were of that bridge and the locks. At the time, I thought it was kind of silly, but I guess it's also romantic in a way. Certainly wishful thinking in most of the cases, I'm sure.

Just some love.

>173 katiekrug: Oh yes, familiar with post-op go-away-ya-botha-mes. xoxoxo

>174 Storeetllr: What part of romantic luuuuuv isn't wishful thinking? Still, better to wish for that than for some apocalyptic rapture-style zombiefest.

>175 Matke: Headed back with interest, sweetiepunkin.

Have a great weekend Richard and I hope you are feeling much better my friend.

Hope you are having a great weekend Richard. I was so pleased to see that you were up to starting the weekly what you are reading thread.

*smooches and scritches* to you and Stella

Hi RD- Just checking in. Feeling any better? Have you read Finn or do you have a copy on MT. TBR? This is a Must Read and one that should hit you smack in the wheelhouse! Have a good weekend.

Breaking my lurking habit to say hi. Havejust had some tiramisu I made last night and it is a great batch this time, new recipe.
I saw the locks on the Paris bridge earlier this year and was happy to read a few weeks later that they'd been taken down. They added no charm to the bridge, just a massive bunch of thousands and thousands of padlocks. I'm sorry but I can't find anything romantic about linking a cheap metal padlock to the concept of love. There were padlocks for sale at nearby kiosks etc and it just seemed like another gimmicky, touristy thing to do. It reminds me of all the graffiti in Verona at the Casa di Giulietta - sentimental notes left by lovers ruining the structure of the building.

And I think RD misunderstood me. I don't think the locks belong there either. They damage the structure and are an eyesore. It's littering for romance.

So: Saturday and the run of the house!

I can't remember whether you like strawberries or not, but the Talenti strawberry gelato is quite wonderful. As is the dark, slightly tart raspberry sorbet.

So leave the lock leavers alone and let the damn bridge fall down. All of life is good/bad.

I wish people were born with an ability to worry about problems which are real - homelessness, hunger, war. A messy bridge is really not too big a problem.

>177 johnsimpson: Thank you, John, and the same for you and Karen! Send a hug to adorable little Hannah, too.

>178 calm: Thanks, calm! I'm better day by day, and I'm still using caution with how much and how long I type. I hope to keep the flare from coming back!

>179 msf59: Hi Mark, Finn isn't one I've put on the TBR. You say it's one I should? It sounds like a grim little read...I'm in!

>182 Matke: Hiya Danvers! Just finished my yogurt, swirled with Bonne Maman cherry preserves. Scrummy and perfect for a day like today.

The Lock Debate:

Whether or not we like it, people want to express their (transitory, delusional) love in a public way. Letters to a fictional teenybopper who killed herself for a boy? Okay, that's one. Milagros left at shrines begging a "saint" for goodies? Okay. Men (only!) wearing dopey hats and having convulsions in front of a blank rock wall with caper bushes sprouting out of it? Okay.

Locks on a bridge? Why not?

I am offended and annoyed by judgments passed on strangers' emotional needs. I think religious people shouldn't be allowed to wear the iconography of their delusions, manifestly harmful and divisive to society as a whole. I don't think their eyesore worship spots should be allowed to pump caterwauling into the body politic. And when I'm Empress of the Universe, it'll stop.

Until then, too bad for me. I'll worry about homelessness, hunger, and poverty, rail about war and its casualties being ignored by the comfortable beneficiaries of the trauma, and generally about things that make a positive contribution to the world's many discussions.

Some days it's tougher than others.

^ agreed

>183 maggie1944: Dear lord, having an opinion about something doesn't mean I worry about it. To be honest, to me it's a trivial issue.

Glad you are feeling better day by day, Richard.

Morphidae, my comment was not directed at any of the participants in this discussion here. More at the civic authorities who all too often get all wrapped around the axle about trivial matters while continuing to ignore the truly critical problems.

I am sorry you found offense. None intended.

I always know I will find a lively discussion on your thread, Richard, but not always what the lively discussion will be about! Thank you for providing a space for us to gather, dear. xoxo

>184 richardderus:, Hi Richard, already sent a hug to Hannah.

XO dear Richard, thank you for contacting Jodi Taylor about the next St. Mary's book.

>184 richardderus: *knocks Richard on the head* READ Finn. Here's why.

>193 AuntieClio: What? Where? When?

>195 Morphidae: Morphy, Richard mentioned it in someone's thread. Can't remember whose at the moment. (sorry) She is working on book 4 now.

Have a great rest of the weekend, sending gentle hugs and a kiss for Stella.

>193 AuntieClio:, >195 Morphidae:, >196 AuntieClio: Did he really contact her and is she really working on it now because of Richard?

Okay, I need info here Richard!

Oh I don't think she's working on it because of Richard, but how cool would that be?

>189 ronincats: Thanks, Roni, me too.

>191 rosalita: Heck Julia, *I* don't know exactly what I'll find when I open my thread! I'm sure it won't bore me, though.

>192 johnsimpson: Thanks, John.

>193 AuntieClio:, >195 Morphidae:, >196 AuntieClio:, >198 TinaV95:, >199 AuntieClio: Nonono! Not in any way down to me! KATH went and asked Taylor what was what and then came and reported her findings. I merely repeat what Kath found out.

>194 laytonwoman3rd: Well! When you put it that way...

Brunch, darlink? And with a view, no less!

Also, I want this:



Also, I want The Wayne to wake up and take me out to breakfast :)

I'm so glad you're feeling better, Rdear and I'm doing the happy dance that you have insurance coverage for the rest of this year. Join the club of high co-pays .. I'm a member too and avoid seeing the doctor unless I'm breaking out in purple spots or see triple. The only good thing about the insurance we have is that there is on co-pay for annual physicals, otherwise I doubt I'd visit my doctor at all in a year.

>202 katiekrug: Yum!

Bacon and egg pizza looks fabOO!



My kinda brunch view.

>203 cameling: Isn't that the bee's knees? The insurance racket has gone on long enough, time to nationalize the whole thing.

>204 kidzdoc: Agreed!

>205 richardderus: *blinks* Wow, he's certainly packing, isn't he?

Hell takes too long.

>207 Morphidae: *happy sigh*

>205 richardderus: That is a large......can of Beck's.

>162 richardderus:: hahahahahahahaha

>210 RosyLibrarian: And so hairy, too! Oh wait...you mean the BEER...oh. Yes. Heh.

>211 tiffin: I love that one, too, Tui!

Agree with #208, ruined many a good book with impetuous removal of sticker.

>213 avatiakh: Death is too good for these Limbs of Satan.

My blog about Jay Lake's death.

Connie was here! Hi!

>215 connie53: *smooch* Thank you for visiting!

Richard, when I click your link, it takes me to a page on your blog where it says "this page does not exist". Of course, I clicked "home" and got to the article on Jay Lake anyway, but thought you might like to know.

*smooches*

Okay sorry for the confusion over who contacted Jodi Tyler. Reading comprehension ...

Smooch-reciprocating drive-by...

>217 ronincats: My link grammar was bad. Fixed now, thanks!

>218 AuntieClio: *tsk* and this on a BOOK-related site, the shame...

xo

>219 scaifea: *smooch* again

>185 richardderus: well said .....

as for why Authorities are in a a lather about it - because if structural damage is done they will need to pay for it & if they don't, but someone gets hurt, ....etc etc etc

if we didn't live in a world we we all have to find someone to blame for everything maybe, just maybe the authorities wouldn't be in a lather ....

Smooches. My daughter was in France last fall and loved the bridge with the locks! She sent me a photo. Glad you are feeling better.

》208 yes yes yes yes yes

>221 richardderus: but ... but ... *flutters eyelids* (poorly I might add)

xo

Good morning, RD! Happy Monday.

*smooches* from Horrible

We've reached goal plus more at $4,905. 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

>222 roundballnz: The Authorities, then, need to design a solution that works for the bridge and then implement it. People want to do this, so they're going to, and how can that be made to work with the bridge?

This isn't rocket science.

>223 Berly: Thank you, Kimmers, and happy to see you here!

>224 mckait: xoxoxoxo

I hope you're having a wonderful time!

>225 AuntieClio: *wipes mascara from face* Geez, you're lethal with them things!

>226 karenmarie: *smooch* for dear Horrible

>227 Morphidae: Morphy, you're a treasure, and I thank you and all the contributors so so very much.

xoxoxo

Good Morning, dear!

Spent the night in this house in Montreal - the home of my bil's sister - used to run a wonderful antique store here. This is her library. Alas she doesn't spend much time here anymore, is mostly out in the country (she lives in 3 pines basically) so the house is a bit musty and unloved, but still amazing. It's not a large house at all, it's what she has done with it.

>229 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie dear, have some coffee.



>230 sibylline: Ooo! OOO! What a pretty pickcher! (Add height=400 to the OUTSIDE terminal quote before the bracket)

Don't mind if I do! Thank you, BigDaddy!!

Good morning, Rdear. I wish you a fabulous new week. waves

>230 sibylline:: Incroyable!

Richard, just read your Mudge tribute to Jay Lake. Well said.

Good morning, Richard! I hope your Monday is off to a good start.

I'm not familiar with Jay Lake's work but I love that you did a pre-death thing for him and that he knew about it and seemed to enjoy it (just checked out your blog and I know there is a better way to describe it than as a "pre-death thing," but it's early on a Monday and my brain is barely working; clearly I need more coffee).

*smooches* for you and Stella!!

Drive by hugs! :)

The bridge/locks story made national news the night before last, and all I could think was I heard about it here first. It said, btw, that some cities had erected metal trees specifically for the locks--that sounds like a nice alternative.

>232 Crazymamie: *smooch* Now it's time for cocktails:

Perkins will open something for you.

>233 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

>234 tiffin: Thank you, Tui. It was so gloomy to learn that his fight was over.

>235 EBT1002: Hiya Ellen! It struck me how very often I see someone organizing a post-mortem readathon, but never a pre-mortem one. Jay's sense of humor was such that it struck me he'd like it. Luckily he did!

>236 jolerie: Thanks Valerie! *smooch*

>237 ronincats: Heh, heard it here first, how funny! I've never thought of myself as a journalist. xoxo

>238 richardderus: - *Stares in awe at the room in the picture. Blinks. Continues staring in awe*

That picture/place is amazing!

It is awe-inspiring, isn't it? *happy sigh*

>238 richardderus: Um...YES! Oh, Perkins! *rubs hands together gleefully*

I'll have to go thank Kath now for checking with the grand Ms. Taylor, but thank YOU for reporting on the findings, Mr. Derus!! Maybe I can look forward to #4 sooner rather than later??? ;)

Wonder if she has ANY clue how much her readership has jumped since you read her books????

Hiya Richard Dear! I was very sorry to read of Jay Lake's passing, an author I never would have heard about if not for you. Thanks for always bringing interesting stuff to my attention!

Hey, compadre. Hope it's a good one for you today. Here's something for your coffee.

I'll take mine to go, please...

Good morning, BigDaddy! Happy Tuesday!

Today one of our directors took one look at me when I came in to work and went out to the coffee shop and brought me a triple shot long Americano (black of course). That sort of day. I thought of you :)

Sorry I haven't been by in a while - hope you are feeling better and have plenty coffee, books and Stella snuggles.

Hi Rdear, I hope you feel much better and the weather is fine.

Hi Richard, I hope this finds you feeling well my friend, love and hugs from Karen and I.

Thanks for passing along the wonderful news via Kath from LA Baker. Jonesing for book 4!

Richard - just think ..... a week in that room and you'll be dancing a jig while writing your novel and not feel a twinge!

What an annoying day it's been. I'll be back tomorrow.

Xo

Hey Richard hope tomorrow is better for you, I had a lovely day here.

I MISS you!!

I second Richard's assessment of the day. Here's to tomorrow!

Boo... a no Richard kind of day sucks.

Missing you here!

What Tina said!

xoxo

My yesterday was good; it is today which promises to hold annoyance for me! Boo hiss! I hope your today is much, much better than I expect mine to be.

Hoping that today surprised you and becomes one of the Best Days Ever!

For the house band in R'lyeh.

I sure hope Wednesday is a less frustrating day than Tuesday was. Back later.

XO rdear

Greetings Richard! I do hope today is better for you than yesterday. Come join me for Wednesday service.

http://www.holytacochurch.com/welcome-to-the-holy-taco-church/

xoxo to you and Stella

Here, I brought you coffee.

Smooches.

Just a quick visit to blow you a kiss and send you a wish that today turns out better than yesterday but only half as good as tomorrow! *smooches*

Hope today was better for you Richard, miss you.

Oh, wow, I *love* that ukulele!

Wow. I had no idea I was that tired out from the petty annoyances of a day spent with bureaucrats, canceling and remaking appointments and so on. I slept from 4p until just now! Stella's last walk shortly.

Capsule version: Medicare not earlier than March 2015, current insurance as wraparound status unknown because of time insured, rheumatologist appointment canceled and re-made for 27 June (them, not me). A few other irks were minor, some fool shipped me coffee packaged in a too-small box that also had a book in it and the coffee exploded ruining the book; the minions are staying in the city, hence the order. Thankfully the order went out before I urgently needed the coffee so the replacement will get here before I am out.

A darn good thing, may I add. Me - caffeine = Trouble.

>242 Crazymamie: I trust Perkins assisted you with some lovely Saint-Emilion or a split of Veuve Clicquot, dearest.

>243 TinaV95: My mailbox is notably bereft of commission checks, Mrs. Lisa, so I'm thinkin' not. Pity, that.

>244 Cobscook: Heidi! *smooch* I hope some of Jay's stories or novels will appeal to you. I myownself am fondest of the Mainspring series.

>245 jnwelch: Oh WOW! That's a real beauty, Joe. Love the colors, too! Wonder if it's on Etsy...*potters off to investigate*

>246 laytonwoman3rd: COOL! Thank you, Linda3rd, that's a coffee shop I'll travel to find so I can support them.

>247 Crazymamie: Thank you, sweetiedarling. I spent it being nibbled to death by ducks. C'est la guerre.

>248 BekkaJo: HA!! A smart and thoughtful director. Clearly deduced the cost of coffee

>249 Ameise1: Hi Barbara, that capuccino looks life-savingly good even now.

>250 johnsimpson: Hi John! The wonderful thing is that I continue to have less and less hand-pain day by day. Clearly the hugs are working, thanks awfully! I send them back with gratitude.

>251 michigantrumpet: Oh me too, Marianne. The Chronicles of St Mary's are addictive as cocktail peanuts.

>252 cameling: Your mouth to gawd's ears, my dear Caro, and may it happen soon. xoxoxo

>254 AuntieClio: Hi Stephanie! *smooch* Much better now, thank goodness.

>255 GeezLouise: It's always a relief to me when my bad day is over, Rae. I'm very happy that you were not having a bad day as well. I prefer my friends to have better days than I have!

>256 Crazymamie: *smooch* Back among the living after a day of sleeping the irritation off. Had no idea I was that knackered.

>257 Berly: Oh dear! I hate to hear that. After I walk Stella, I'll visit your thread to see what was up.

>258 TinaV95:, >259 katiekrug: *baaaaaawwwwwwwww* Y'all're such sweet little liars! *smoochings*

>260 maggie1944: UGH Knowing in advance that a day is likely to be annoying might just be worse than being surprised by irksomeness. I'll visit post-walk and see what transpired.

>261 scaifea: It surprised me by being full of sleep! Not on my Best Days Ever list, but not entered on the EW ICK Rolls is more than good enough for me. *smooch* for dear Amber

>263 mckait: *smooch* Happy to see on FB that y'all had such a great meet-up!

>264 luvamystery65: Oh yes indeed, Roberta, tacos all around!! *smooch* for thinking of me, and extra schmoozles for the Devilles.

>265 katiekrug: Oh my heck, yes!! I need it. I still need it, even after my Epic Sleep. Thanks Katie.

>266 Berly: Heartily returned, Kimmers, hoping for a good-day report when I get to your thread.

>267 Storeetllr: Ooo I like the last bit especially well. Thanks Mary!

>268 GeezLouise: It was better indeed, Rae, and thank you for stopping in to say hello. It makes my day brighter every time you do!

>269 drneutron: Cthulukulele, as someone said on Goodreads. Makes me giggle every time I see it. And so appropriate that a ukulele is in Hell's house band, eh what?

Love the uke and happy you were able to catch some rejuvenating shut-eye after all that aggravation, Richard Dear.

I stopped by to report that the Board Meeting went smoothly. The chronically interrupting, carping, complainers stayed quiet as we had specially requested LEGAL ADVICE that no, regular homeowners do not have standing to make motions for a Board of Directors Meeting. Duh. It is very irritating that the HOA has to pay real dollars for legal advice that truly any person who could read would have known without the legal advice. It also irritates me that I spend my time responding to these stupid little upsets rather than spending my time doing the creative, and important work supporting a preschool to whom we rent space; and researching ways to make our place a better place to live.

Good news: none of this crap has to bother me for a day or three. Reading!!!

>278 ronincats: Thanks Roni! *smooch*

>279 maggie1944: That's a relief, Karen44, it means smaller headaches for the time being and that's about as good as it gets. Now, of course, comes the change-the-bylaws putsch.

Sufficient unto the day, howsomever. xo

Sleep always helps. Glad you got some!

Richard, you have a good grasp on the possible future for me. Good news is that I will not "run" to be returned to the Board next term, so I have 7 meetings to go and I will be complete.

Now, today I am going to start a big Paint The Back Porch project. Much more fun..... :-o

>282 maggie1944: *whew*

Naptime! A rather humid though not hot day = worn-out puppydaddy after a four-boulevard-island walk.

>273 richardderus:, Hi Richard, glad to hear the hugs are doing some good, so more love and hugs from over here and a special hug from Hannah.

>270 richardderus: ugh on the irritating bureaucracies of the health care system. Glad you got some much needed rest however.

>276 richardderus: It was more like a get together again, than it was a meet up. Totally felt as if we had been together a million times :)

Not caught up..

Sad about the empty envelope :(

Very sad

Nuthin' useful to say. xo

Oh. That ukelele! Octopuses are showing up on everything; I keep seeing them everywhere these days.

Speaking of octopi, I collect the Penguin Drop Caps editions. I haven't gotten to "S" yet, but this is the cover:



Handsome, non?

>284 johnsimpson: Cheers John! Smooches for little Hannah.

>285 Cobscook: *sigh* Nothing is easy, because if it was easy, it would have to be unaffordable so no one could "take advantage" of it.

>286 mckait: "...caught...up..." individually I recognize the words, but together they convey no meaning to me.

Ain't that a pisser, re: envelope. *sigh*

>287 AuntieClio: *smooch*

>288 tiffin: Tentacled Americans are indeed everywhere! Kinda cool, secondo mi.

>289 katiekrug: Katie: Ooooh, Penguin Drop Caps! *drools a little*

Morning, Richard!