Morphy Meanders Through 2014 - Part 8

Morphy poses as Atari minion (Age 18-ish 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:



Accountability Thread:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/178093

Books Read in 2014: 205

My best books of 2014 are:

Quiet by Susan Cain
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Bloodchild by Octavia Butler

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

All other books I have rated a 9/10 or 10/10 stars since 2006:

84, Charing Cross Road by Hanff, Helene
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Smith, Betty
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie, Sherman
Alas, Babylon by Frank, Pat
All Together Dead by Harris, Charlaine
The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by Reid, Shauna
And Then There Were None by Christie, Agatha
The Color Purple by Walker, Alice
The Courage to Write by Keyes, Ralph
Crystal Singer by McCaffrey, Anne
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Haddon, Mark
Daughter of the Empire by Feist, Raymond & Wurts, Janny
Ender's Shadow by Card, Orson Scott
Essential Spirituality by Walsh, Roger
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Fadiman, Anne
Flowers for Algernon by Keyes, Daniel
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Shaffer, Mary And and Barrows, Annie
Heir to the Shadows by Bishop, Anne
The Help by Stockett, Kathryn
Hungry Planet by D'Aluisio, Faith and Menzel, Peter
I am the Messenger by Zusak, Markus
I Thought It Was Just Me by Brown, Brene
Katherine by Seton, Anya
Kushiel's Chosen by Carey, Jacqueline
Little Women by Alcott, Louisa May
The Lovely Bones by Sebold, Alice
Magician: Apprentice by Feist, Raymond
Magician: Master by Feist, Raymond
Making a Literary Life by See, Carolyn
Marley & Me by Grogan, John
Nine Parts of Desire by Brooks, Geraldine
Pride and Prejudice by Austen, Jane
Queen of the Darkness by Bishop, Anne
Slaughterhouse Five by Vonnegut, Kurt
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by See, Lisa
The Stand by King, Stephen
Stiff by Roach, Mary
Storm Warning by Lackey, Mercedes
Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein, Robert
Sweet Liar by Deveraux, Jude
To Light a Candle by Lackey, Mercedes and Mallory, James
Urban Shaman by Murphy, C. E.
When Food is Love by Roth, Geneen
White Oleander by Fitch, Janet
World War Z by Brooks, Max

Morphy's Mighty Monthly Reads for 2014 (Green Dragon Group Reads)

Average Rating: 7.33/10 stars

January (1001 Fantasy) - Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan - 8/10 stars
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 - 8/10
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 - 7/10
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 - 7/10
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/172825

June (111 Science Fiction) - Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - 7/10
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/175247
NO SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/174236

July (50 Mystery) - The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin - 7/10
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/177196
NO SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/176125

August (111 Nonfiction) - Collapse by Jared Diamond
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/177921

September (1001 Fantasy) - The Prestige by Christopher Priest
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/179914
NO SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/179599

October (111 Science Fiction) - Old Man's War by John Scalzi
SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/181221
NO SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/180577

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, September 20th at 2pm. We are discussing Bloodchild by Octavia Butler.

The WCC Daytime Book Club will be discussing Moloka'i by Alan Brennert on September 11th.

Current Challenges

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

Completed/Total in List (as of 8/24/2014)

Next book by favorite authors - 10/64 (+14) ("reset" when completed)
Next book in series by secondary authors - 12/47 (+1) ("reset" when completed)
TBR 2007 - 6/8 (+1)
To Read 2009 - 3/5
2009 TBR List (different one) - 7/17 (+1)
2011 TBR Code List - 81/81 DONE (read a book from all my best of lists each year)
2012 TBR Code List - 68/81 (+4)
2013 TBR Code List - 54/81 (+7)
TBR Next - 4/4 DONE
50 Books - 34/50
Misc Books - 11/11 DONE
1001 Fantasy (Green Dragon) - 153/462 (+5)
111 Nonfiction (Green Dragon) - 36/111
111 Science Fiction (Green Dragon) - 52/111 (+4)
50 Mystery (Green Dragon) - 27/74 (+2)
50 States - 92/150 (+3)
Around the World in 80 Sleuths - 18/80 (+3)
888 Challenge - 92/95 (+1)
12 in 12 Category Challenge - 169/207 (+11)
13 in 13 Category Challenge - 27/48 (+4)
Mercedes Lackey - 73/128 (+6)
Complete RAT - 4/4 DONE
Book Crossing Top 100 - 102/117 (+1)
Top 100 Fantasy - 121/209 (+3)

*Other challenges*
One book per month from the Green Dragon lists
One Stephen King per month (up to February 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 July 2014


visited 21 countries (9.33%)
Create your own visited map of The World


visited 39 states (78%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

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: The Second Chance Dog by Jon Katz
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: Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
Heard about online: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Hoffman, Beth
Best-selling book: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'Brien
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: (8/24/2014)

Book with female heroine:
Book set in a high school: Little Brother by Doctorow, Cory
Last of a trilogy: City of Glass by Clare, Cassandra
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: Storm Thief by Wooding, Chris
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: Liesl & Po by Oliver, Lauren
Book set in another world: Enna Burning by Hale, Shannon
Book with epic love story:
Book with music:

Because 1) I'm on my 10 day of pain and I need a break, physically and mentally and 2) I have items on my to do list back from January due to too much time on the computer, I'm going to take an Internet break for up to a week except for where it pertains to a to do item from 2).

Nothing to do with you all, I'm just tired and worn out. If you need to get in touch with me, send me a PM. I'll still be checking emails. Thanks everyone for your continual support and love. *hugs*

Do what you must, Morphy. I hope it helps.

**hug**

I think that is a good call!

Hope you feel better after your much-needed break, Morphy. We'll be thinking of you.

Well, fine. If that's the way you feel about us *flounces off*

;0)

Hugs. Hope you feel better soon. :)

Keeping you in my thoughts, Morphy.

Sending you healing and restful thoughts Morphy. (((hugs)))

Take all the time you need. We'll still be here...

{{{Morphy}}}

Enjoy your much-needed break. We all need those from time to time.

Enjoy your break.

Happy New thread, Morph! Hope the break helps.

I just got back from my break. And you are much nicer to warn everyone in advance. Mine just kinda happened. Hope it helps!!

Happy new thread Morphy, hope you have a good break from all this to get back from the pain and catch up on things.

Just a quick stop in to say this morning is the first where I didn't wake up in screaming pain. I mean, I still hurt, but not as badly. Maybe I'm finally getting better? A tentative whoo hoo? *knocks on wood*

Part of me says that is awesome news. Then I think about how you are still in pain and how very much more you were in pain for so long.

{{{Morphy}}}

May the improvement continue.

Just catching up on your thread, and sending hugs and healing thoughts to you.

woohoo

Just catching up and learning of your meningitis. Hope you are feeling much better soon!

Get well soon Morphy! We will be here when you return :)

Less pain is a very good thing. I'm celebrating for you. Don't get discouraged if recovery doesn't run on a clear straight path to the finish line. You WILL feel all better one of these days.

Keep taking that break and taking care of yourself, friend. You need to rest to recover.

We love you and will all be waiting when you are well. ((((Morph))))

I'll be back on Monday unless something comes up like... winning the lottery.

Hope you're feeling better soon Morphy!

woohoo!!! Less pain is going in the right direction! Have you started Bloodchild yet? I'm wondering what Butler would have done with your viral meningitis as a story starter.

I hope you are feeling better soon! Sending all kinds of good vibes your way!!

Hope that you are continuing to improve, Morphy!

Thinking of you!

My knee still hurts, but I am nowhere near the world of hurt you are living in! So, diverting some of my well wishers good mojo your way. You need it more! And I think in the end, we will both be healed. Hang in there. Hugs.

I'll be back on tomorrow morning. I'm not completely better but close!

!!! Light at the end of the tunnel!

>37 Morphidae: Woo Hoo!

{{{Morphy}}}

>8 laytonwoman3rd: >9 maggie1944: >10 DeltaQueen50: >12 Kassilem: >13 scaifea: >14 luvamystery65: >15 michigantrumpet: >16 thornton37814: >17 MickyFine: >18 msf59: >19 Berly: >20 johnsimpson: >23 MDGentleReader: >24 Sakerfalcon: >25 humouress: >26 tymfos: >27 ChelleBearss: >29 TinaV95: >31 SandDune: >33 connie53: >34 ronincats: >35 _Zoe_: >38 cammykitty: >39 MDGentleReader:
Thanks for your patience and support. I'm back and feeling much better. I'm still on Naproxen during the day but I'm not taking Norco before bed anymore, just OTC Tylenol. All that's left is the headache and it's bearable. I have my sparkle back!

>11 humouress: Harumph! ;)

>22 MDGentleReader: Cute! And small! I love small!

>28 laytonwoman3rd: I kept that in mind when I had one of my worst days right after one of my best days. I felt like I jinxed myself when I told everyone in >21 Morphidae: how good I was feeling. The next morning I woke up in agony!

>32 cammykitty: No, not yet. I typically read the book about a week ahead of the meeting.

>36 Berly: Healing is not a zero sum game! We can all have the healing we need. :D

***

I'm starting this day/month with a deep breath and a new can-do, positive attitude. I need to do some inspirational reading every day, preferable before I do anything else. I'm starting with Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind by Roger Walsh. I'm going to read it very slowly, just a few pages a day and really concentrate on the themes. Perhaps even journal a bit.

We're going to the in-laws for dinner. So it will be a nice but boring evening.

>11 humouress: >40 Morphidae: Oh! So that you heard.

>41 humouress: Ayep.

***

Now I'm about to blast with you with another month's of reviews. Yes, I said I wasn't going to it again, but I think I have a good excuse this time!

Instead of doing summaries myself, I used library descriptions and edited them for length. My Read Books db allows 255 characters in that field and I'm fine with that. I usually use only one sentence!

185. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Genre: Children's
Notes: TIOLI #9 ("The" plus)
Library Description: Two children sitting at home on a rainy day are visited by the Cat in the Hat who shows them some tricks and games.
Opinion: I think I was spoiled by the 1971 animated TV show. I was expecting something of a higher grade level. It was too simplistic and boring for me.
Rating: 6

186. Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
Genre: Children's
Notes: TIOLI #8 (amusing tag - out of control pasta)
Library Description: When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.
Opinion: The story made me smile. I don't think the illustrations are typical. Or at least they aren't in a style I've seen before. They gave a sense of place. I enjoyed them.
Rating: 8

187. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Genre: Children's
Notes: TIOLI #19 (told someone - mom)
Library Description: During a bedtime game, every time Little Nutbrown Hare demonstrates how much he loves his father, Big Nutbrown Hare gently shows him that the love is returned even more.
Opinion: Ten years ago or so, my mom got me one of the mini stuffed rabbits from this story in a bag with the book cover on it. I told her I would read the book one day so it had sentimental value. It touched my heart beyond that sentimentality.
Rating: 7

188. Sins of the Demon
189. Touch of the Demon
190. Fury of the Demon by Diana Rowland
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Notes: TIOLI #7 (author/two other books), next in series
Library Description:
(SINS) Detective Kara of the supernatural task force has the ability to summon demons aid and is pledged to a demonic lord. Now, people who've hurt Kara in the past are dropping dead for no reason. She must clear her name and save both demon and human worlds.
(TOUCH) Kara is the prisoner of the demonic lord, Mzatal, but quickly discovers she's far more than a mere hostage. He has his own plans to use Kara and keep her from Rhyzkahl -- the demonic lord she is sworn to serve.
(FURY) Returning to Earth to find a kidnapped summoner protege, Louisiana homicide detective and demon summoner Kara Gillian teams up with two FBI agents and a brilliant young computer expert to find the truth.
Opinion: To give you an idea of how much I like this series - when I got to the end of Fury of the Demon and realized that I had to wait until next year to read the next, I cursed like a sailor. Not because there is a major cliffhanger, but rather because the story isn't done. AND I WANT MORE NOW. GIMME. Kara, while she grows and becomes more powerful, is fallible and doesn't becomes uber-powerful. The secondary and even tertiary cast of characters add a great deal of detail and the world-building is delightful.
Rating: 8

191. The Kingdom of Gods by N. K. Jemisin
Genre: Fantasy
Notes: TIOLI #18 (suffix - "-dom"), next in series
Library Description: For two thousand years the Arameri family has ruled the world by enslaving the gods that created mortalkind. Now the gods are free, and the Arameri's ruthless grip is slipping. But they are all that stands between peace and world-spanning, unending war.
Opinion: All the books in Jemisin's Inheritance series have gotten 8/10 stars from me (unlike The Killing Moon, ugh). These aren't the typical fantasies I prefer. The language is thicker, the story is more twisted and remains dark through the end (not depressing, just dark), and there is little humor. Still, the plot pulls you in and doesn't let go, the characters are rich and detailed, and the world-building is top-notch. Recommended.
Rating: 8

192. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Genre: Nonfiction
Notes: TIOLI #8 (amusing tag - endearingly dundering protagonist)
Library Description: Collects autobiographical, illustrated essays and cartoons from the author's popular blog and related new material that humorously and candidly deals with her own idiosyncrasies and battles with depression.
Opinion: It was okay, I guess. It wasn't as laugh out loud funny as I was expecting. The author tried to present herself as being self-depreciating about not being a nice person inside, but it came across as "look at me and how good am I for not being as nasty as I want to be!" I'd never want to meet this author in person.
Rating: 6

193. The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Notes: TIOLI #10 (same title, different author - Stephen Jay Gould), next in series
Library Description: Historian/witch Diana and vampire scientist Matthew return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. The real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on more urgency.
Opinion: I was tickled pink reading this after not liking Shadow of Night quite as much as A Discovery of Witches. How tickled? I read it in just over one day. As I was writing this review, I looked over others in LT and was surprised at the venom. Were they reading the same book I was? Do they even like this genre? Anyway, I felt Harkness deepened our understanding of several of the characters and wrapped up almost all the loose ends. The only thing I didn't like was Baldwin's sudden turnaround. It seemed out of character.
Rating: 8

194. Gods Old and Dark by Holly Lisle
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Notes: TIOLI #7 (author/two other books), next in series
Library Description: Sisters Lauren and Molly hold the future of all in their hands--for Lauren's mission to magic back to Earth and other dying worlds has not gone unnoticed. Molly's power to protect her will not hold against the ancient evils that are closing in.
Opinion: Lisle's writes good "fall back" stories, Not the first thing I'll pick up; however, I know I'll enjoy her books. For some reason I couldn't quite connect emotionally to Lauren and Molly; however, I became absorbed in the story.
Rating: 7

195. Lamb by Christopher Moore
Genre: Fiction
Notes: TIOLI #3 (animal/not referred to), Green Dragon List (1001 Fantasy)
Library Description: A humorous, speculative novel fills in the lost years of Jesus' life, told from the perspective of Biff, his childhood best friend.
Opinion: It took me weeks to decide if Lamb got 7 or 8 stars. Finally I decided on 7 because of the waffling. If I'm that undecided about a rating, it gets the lower one. Humorous and touching by turns, Lamb needed just a little more depth and/or tightening of plot. If you like inane humor, don't mind language, and aren't dogmatic about the Christian faith, I think you'll enjoy this as much as I did.

"Compassion is the same way said Josh. That's what the yeti knew. He loved constantly, instantly, spontaneously, without thought or words. That's what he taught me. Love is not something you think about, it is a state in which you dwell. That was his gift."
Rating: 7

196. Storm Thief by Chris Wooding
Genre: Fantasy
Notes: TIOLI #12 (title word/final chapter - storm)
Library Description: With the help of a golem, two teenaged thieves try to survive on the city island of Orokos, where unpredictable probability storms continually change both the landscape and the inhabitants.
Opinion: Hmm. I thought this was a first time effort by the author, but it looks like he's written many others. I rated it a 7/10 at first based on it being his first book and forgiving some things like looseness of plot, barely likeable characters and a mostly unresolved ending with no sequel in sight. I found it interesting enough to read through in a couple of hours but not enough to read anything else by the author.
Rating: 6

197. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Genre: Fantasy
Notes: TIOLI #12 (title word/final chapter - city), next in series
Library Description: Pursuing a cure for her mother's enchantment, Clary uses her powers and ingenuity to get into Idris, the forbidden country’s capital of the Shadowhunters, where with the help of a newfound friend she uncovers important truths about her family's past.
Opinion: I was surprised by how much I liked this book after feeling meh (7/10 stars) about the first in the series and unimpressed with the second (6/10.) There was more character growth, the action slowed down from a frantic pace, and the plot was more complex. And most of all there was next to no whining or OMG THE DRAMA THE ANGST OMG!!!1! I think I might actually read more by Clare.
Rating: 8

198. Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews
Genre: Fantasy
Notes: TIOLI #7 (author/two other books), next in series
Library Description: Former mercenary and (Beast Lord) Curran’s mate, Kate, is struggling to keep her investigative business afloat and deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from the ancient Roland, a being with god-like powers.
Opinion: Until this point I have not given any book in the series less than 8/10 stars, and Magic Breaks is no different. I don't know what it is with this series but I love it. Partially, I think it's how Kate and Curran's relationship sort of reminds me of Eve Dallas and Roarke's. There is an imbalance of power, but they make it work. Also, the relationship grows, it isn't stagnant. It's different from the In Death books in that there are little to no sex scenes though! I am starting to get a little irritated with the unending situation with Roland though. I'm ready for the finale. It's been going on for seven books now! If I don't get it in the next one, it may very well get 7/10 stars.
Rating: 8

199. Fictitious Dishes by Dinah Fried
Genre: Nonfiction
Notes: TIOLI #19 (told someone - library book that can't be renewed)
Library Description: An assortment of photographic interpretations of culinary moments from contemporary and classic literature. Fried pairs each place setting with the text from that book that inspired its creation.
Opinion: Fun. I wish there had been more food oriented books like A Moveable Feast or Like Water for Chocolate. Also, that there had been a section on her thoughts on how she put the photographs together - where she got the props, food decisions, etc. If it had those two things, this book would have gotten 9 or 10 stars. I love the idea, the photographs were well done if a little simplistic in places, and the tidbits of food and author trivia were interesting. I'm a visual person and as I read a "movie" runs in my mind. Things like this help.
Rating: 7

200. Free for All by Don Borchert
Genre: Nonfiction
Notes: TIOLI #10 (title/different author - Peter Jensen, Wendy Kaminer, Peter Wayner, Joseph Newhouse, Janet Poppendieck, Kenneth Turan, Tim Condor)
Library Description: Experiences working as an assistant librarian in a public library in suburban Los Angeles, as he encounters patrons who range from bored latchkey kids left there for the afternoon, to rowdy teenagers, to Internet-obsessed adults, to drug-dealers.
Opinion: I enjoyed the stories in this book and would have rated it higher if the author wasn't a bit of an "-ist". It seems like every person was a stereotype and he pointed out race/class/religion/etc. all the time. Maybe I was being too sensitive, he wasn't putting anyone down. However, did he have to pigeon-hole everyone? Did he have to say the family went back to Korea as a punchline? Why not just that they went back to their home country? Did he really need to point out that a woman in a story was black or latino? Why not just say she was a woman? Is the author simply a product of white male privilege or is he as much of an "-ist" as he appears to me? He doesn't seem to dislike or hate anyone. He just seems to go out of the way to point out differences.

That being said, I DID like the book, don't get me wrong. I found it both amusing and heart-breaking. It's not a "big story" but rather human-interest little stories. I love looking into the backgrounds of professions and companies and this was a great look into the average daily life of librarians and libraries.
Rating: 7

201. Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke
Genre: Inspirational
Notes: TIOLI #19 (told someone I would - ER), Early Reviewer
Library Description: In the early 20th century, new schoolteacher Beth Thatcher is assigned a post in a remote mining community in Western Canada. There her courage and her heart will be tested in unexpected ways.
Opinion: I requested this book because I read another inspirational novel by Janette Oke, Love Comes Softly and didn't feel beaten over the head with the ***Christian Message***. I'm bloodied and battered this time. Not more than four or five pages went by without some mention of God, Jesus, or the Bible. I tried to enjoy the story despite this but the main character has things happen TO her rather than BECAUSE of her. Plus she was too much of the "oh, woe is me" type. It's a shame because I liked the premise and in another author's hands it could have been a good book.
Rating: 3

202. The House of Four Winds by Mercedes Lackey
Genre: Fantasy
Notes: TIOLI #20 (12 other books/author - 106), to complete bibliography
Library Description: The rulers of tiny Swansgaard have twelve daughters and one son. While the prince's future is assured, his twelve sisters must find their own fortunes. Disguising herself as a sailor, Princess Clarice intends to work her way to the New World.
Opinion: While not quite up to par with her old standards, I was surprisingly pleased with Lackey's latest, an enjoyable piece of romantic fantasy fluff.
Rating: 7

203. The Circus Fire by Stewart O'Nan
Genre: Nonfiction
Notes: TIOLI #15 (bottom of TBR pile - from oldest TBR list), 50 State Challenge, 12 in 12 (50 State)
Library Description: Chronicles the disastrous Hartford circus fire of 1944, a tragedy that claimed 167 lives and changed the history of Hartford, Connecticut.
Opinion: While difficult reading, it made me nauseous and heart-sick at times, this is a well-written and fascinating book not only about the fire, but about circus history and the 1940s. I liked how the photos were spread throughout the book with the text they were related to rather than all smooshed together in the middle. I only wish they had done more of a wrap up of the main survivors. There were so many people mentioned, even I got confused.
Rating: 8

204. The Rebel by J. R. Ward
Genre: Romance
Notes: TIOLI #9 ("The" plus), to complete bibliography
Library Description: Nate left behind his family's wealth and nothing was going to stop him from opening his own five-star restaurant. His car broke down in the Adirondacks, leading him right to White Caps Inn and Frankie.
Opinion: One of Ward's earlier works and not up to her usual standards. Frankie is nearly unlikeable - a bad thing in a heroine. It made me wonder why he loved her, much less let go of his dream to stay with her. Plus he barely explained himself to his partner - which made me think less of him. The story itself was good and I liked some of the secondary characters.
Rating: 6

205. Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Genre: Romance
Notes: TIOLI #20 (12 other books/author - 36), to complete bibliography
Library Description: Command Assassin Nykyrian once turned his back on the League and has been hunted by them ever since. No one can kill him or stop him from completing his current mission: to protect Kiara, a woman whose father's political alliance has made her a target.
Opinion: Typical Kenyon - Violent, alpha male who has been abused, has an iron shell but a good heart, resists falling in love with a warm and mushy female. Good for an afternoon comfort read.
Rating: 7

Welcome back, Morphy! So happy to hear you have gotten your "sparkle" back! :)

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Collapse by Jared Diamond
Agatha Christie Autobiography by Agatha Christie
Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King

On Deck:
Essential Spirituality by Roger Walsh
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool
The Dragon and the George by Gordon Dickson

Hi Morphy, nice to see you back here my dear and you've got your Sparkle back, yay.

Welcome back, Morphy! You've read lots while you've been away.

Glad to see you are starting to feel better!

Hi Morphy. Phew that's a lot of reviews!! Glad to hear you are on the upswing.

>43 Morphidae: 185: you've never read The Cat in the Hat before?
187: for some reason, I can never read Guess How Much I Love You without a tear and a sniff (which is a bit embarrassing when I'm reading it to the kids). It may be a conditioned reflex by now.
188-190: sound intriguing.

>47 Morphidae: Might join you with The Dragon and the George

Good reading, there. Glad you could manage some fun between the pages, and it's good to hear you're able to sleep without the narcotics. Strega Nona always makes me smile.

Fictitious Dishes sounds like an interesting concept. Maybe one to look for at the library.

Not like sparkly vampire sparkle though I hope. ;)

Glad to see you like Cassandra Clare. I've had City of Bones on my shelves since my Borders days and I'm thinking I've got a mental block against reading it, like it's going to be too girly girl or something. The guys I know who have read it got into an argument about the clothes. One said their was too much attention to describing clothes in it and the other said "Your not a teenage girl. They like that stuff." So perhaps I'm afraid it's a fashion piece with elements of fantasy.

It's so good to see you back here, Morphy! And I'm with Nina: I can *not* read the McBratney without tearing up at the end. I've become quite good at hiding it from Charlie, though (the tearing up, not the book).

Hi, Morph! Glad to see you feeling better. And getting those pesky reviews posted. You've been so busy. Wow! Congratulations.

I hope the week holds even more recovery and healing for you.

>40 Morphidae: Morphy with her sparkle back! Awesome.

{{{Morphy}}}

It'll be great when this virus is behind you.

Glad to have you back, Morphy!

Glad to see you are back posting, feeling better and have your sparkle back, Morphy!

*smoochiesmoochsmooch*

>46 DeltaQueen50: I lost the sparkle for a few hours while learning why doctors tell you to rest when you have a virus. I was pretty active during the day and paid for it that evening with a raging headache! I took it easy yesterday and felt much better. Lesson learned!

>48 johnsimpson: >50 ChelleBearss: >59 Sakerfalcon: >60 lkernagh: Thank you! Hope you had a good weekend.

>49 thornton37814: >51 Berly: Well, it's an entire monthful again. I am hoping September is a quiet month so I can do it weekly instead.

>52 humouress: Nope, first time reading Cat! Don't start with those Rowland's, I think they are 4 - 6 in the series. The first is Mark of the Demon. Have you read The Dragon and the George before? It's my first time.

>53 laytonwoman3rd: Had to have a Norco the night before last after learning why doctors say to rest when you have a virus. Symptom flare! But other than that, I've been good!

>54 SylviaC: Yes, I got it from the library myself. It's not something I would buy. Too short, for one. Took me less than an hour to go through.

>55 cammykitty: NO! NO SPARKLY VAMPIRE HERE! *shudders* Clare's Mortal Instruments series is rather uneven. I gave City of Bones 7/10 stars, City of Ashes 6/10, and City of Glass 8/10.

>56 scaifea: I didn't quite tear up. But it was close!

>57 maggie1944: It is. As long as I take it slow and easy!

>58 MDGentleReader: No kidding! Tomorrow it will be four weeks I've been dealing with this. Enough already!

>61 richardderus: *hugglessmoochesnoogies*

***

I'm going to the Gillespie Senior Center for socializing and lunch today (their AWESOME meatloaf). It's only about two hours and I'll take it slow. Then I'll sit my butt on the couch this afternoon. I don't want a headache flare again!

I have so many books I'm reading or need to read - a couple with library due dates coming up. Yikes!

Library due dates - that's what the renew button is for!!! Don't stress over that. Just have a second helping of meatloaf. Glad you're feeling well enough to get out for a little bit.

Hmmm, as for Clare, perhaps I'll blow the City series off. The series is too long to put up with uneven writing. We all have wishlists long enough that we can insist on 4 star or better ratings on our books.

>63 cammykitty: Yeah, but I'm allowed just three renewals. Ahem. And there's a wait list on one.

If it's any consideration, Bones/Ashes/Glass is a complete trilogy and I'm a very strict rater.

***

The outing yesterday was good but I learned I'm not quite ready for full activities. I got home and went right to bed for a nap. I was exhausted. When I got up, I called my sub for the church reception desk on Friday to ask her to cover for me. If a 2 hour outing knocked me out, I'm not ready for a 4+ hour outing. I'll try again next week!

MrMorphy and I have started watching Star Trek from the beginning. We're going to watch every TV episode except for Enterprise. Yes, all of the Original Series, Next Gen, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager. That'll keep us busy for a few years. Wheee!

***

MrMorphy saw this on his Tumblr feed. I have no idea what this person is talking about. Do you?

• me:*owns 264 unread books*
• me:*buys 17 new books*
• me:*rereads harry potter*

One little itty bitty step at a time, eh? Well, do what it takes is the rule I guess. I am finding my pain in the leg is much the same. I woke up this morning at 2:30 with so much pain that I had to get up. So I took a warm bath (helps), walked around picking up (helps), sat at the computer for a few minutes (neutral), and then.... ta da, I took a nap on the sofa, and the pain which had gone away, is back a little bit. Hey! I need to learn what I can and what I can't do, right? So, now I am thinking that sleeping is the culprit. No more sleeping for me....

I hope you stay in the rest mode for all the time you need for a full recovery.

Nook porn!

Oh, yum. Thumbs up!

Agree!

Books I read preparatory to my 8th Thingaversary coming up next month.

Year 1. YA Novel - Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
Year 2. Murder Mystery - Water-Blue Eyes by Domingo Villar
Year 3. Historical Fiction - The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Year 4. Supernatural - Blood of the Demon by Diana Rowland
Year 5. Classic Literature - Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley
Year 6. Comic Book/Graphic Novel/Illustrated Book - Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Year 7. NonFiction - Marriage, A History by Stephanie Coontz

For my 8th anniversary year I will read one book a month in that year's theme which is Contemporary Literary Fiction. I'm assuming this means Book Club type choices.

Oh, I like your thingaversary idea. I'm just about to have my 7th.
Kudos to watching all the Startrek episodes, wow. I'm meant to be watching Dr Who from the beginning but sort of stalled at the missing episodes very early on.

Re: Chris Wooding - I loved The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray & Poison, haven't read Storm Thief. I have his Tales of the Ketty Jay series & Braided Path trilogy on my to-read list.

>64 Morphidae: Oooh, Tomm and I started a full-on, from-the-beginning Star Trek marathon once! But something distracted us and we've never got back to it...hmmm, what happened to distract us...oh, right - Charlie arrived on the scene. Ha!
Also, only 264 unread books? Amateur. *snork!*

Waving hello, Morphy, and hope you continue to be on the mend!

I join Mary in waving and hoping, Morphy. Looks like you're well-positioned for your Thingaversary.

>70 avatiakh: Let me know what you think of Storm Thief. If it's typical of his writing, I won't read anything else by him.

>71 scaifea: Also, only 264 unread books? Amateur. I know! But still, the sentiment is still appropriate.

>72 bell7: I am! I also looked at the calender and it's been three weeks not four. It just SEEMS like it's been longer. Heh.

>73 jnwelch: Now I just need to make my list...

***

Why is it that no matter how much or how little you plan your day there is NEVER ENOUGH TIME?

***

Oh, and I am now totally addicted to HabitRPG (http://www.habitrpg.com/). It's a habit/to do website where you earn experience and gold for doing tasks and performing habits (or not doing bad habits.) You can purchase armor and weapons with your gold. Join in quests and challenges. You get "drops" of special gifts like pets and special treasures. It's a LOT of fun. I'm now level 4 and when I hit level 10, I'll be able to choose a profession and learn "skills." I'll probably be a wizard so I can cast a spell that makes me earn experience faster so I can level up faster. Bwhahahaha. There's a social aspect that I haven't looked into yet but will in the next few days. Check it out!

ETA: Oh, and it's free! There's a premium version for $5 a month to be ad free (they aren't obnoxious), to buy "gems" to purchase special things, a free monthly gift, double daily "drops," and a few other bennies - but it's not required to enjoy the site.

I've had the HabitRPG homepage open in a tab on my iPad for a couple of days now since I saw it mentioned on another thread. I've been trying to decide whether it would actually be helpful to me, or just prove to be another time sink.

>74 Morphidae: Oh, I completely agree with the sentiment! And I hear you on the never enough time business. Sheesh.

>75 SylviaC: I found it was a time sink for a couple of days while setting up and dinking around with it. Now that I've gotten used to using it, it doesn't take much of my time. But then I haven't clicked on that Social tab either! ;)

>76 scaifea: I actually got my to do list done by about 3pm and I might get caught up with LT for the first time in a week!

>77 Morphidae: Go, Morphy! Go, Morphy!

My sister is hooked on HabitRPG - I tried it and dropped it (dying too fast), and am now trying it again. Mostly, I need to be careful about what I put into Dailies - I've got some stuff that I should do daily, but don't, so I should make those ToDos or Habits. Habits, I think, at least for exercising.

So HabitRPG is a way to bribe yourself to do what you *should* do??? I don't know if I need that, more discipline, or more hours in the day?

>78 scaifea: I did! I did get caught up. And I wasn't a week behind, I was twelve days behind! Whoop whoop!

>79 jjmcgaffey: You could also make them for certain days of the week rather than daily. I've done that for some items. I'm rather compulsive, so I haven't missed any daily things yet!

>80 cammykitty: As I said, I'm rather compulsive and MUST NOT LOSE ANY HEALTH. So it's really helping me get things done.

***

Quiet day. Yay! I can get more stuff done off my to do list and click click click on HabitRPG! I'll level again today most likely. Whoo hoo!

Naaaaah, not obsessive. Not me. Nuh uh.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

Howdy Morphy. I'm glad you are feeling better. I hope you feel great soon.

Thanks for the info on Mercy Thompson. I finished book 4 and I've really enjoyed the series so far. I'm going to take a break to save some for later.

I wanted you to know that my mom got a few book bullets from you. I'd read your review and go to the library and pick something up and tell her "I think you'll like it. My friend did and she likes a lot of what you do." Sure enough, she did like it.

Ok. I started up my little guy on HabitRPG again. I had to annihilate him to start over because he was dead so long. :-)

I've started with 2 straightforward habits and 2 3 dailies. I keep making it more and more complicated for myself and then abandon it altogether.

Uh oh, I'm doing it already.

I **am** glad to hear you're starting to feel better. Even though it's easy to overdo, I'm glad you are feeling well enough to have the desire to overdo, if that makes any sense. At the worst of it, the wanting to get out and do was completely gone.

I've bookmarked HabitRPG and will try it when I get back into routine in the latter part of the month.

>82 luvamystery65: You can't just leave it at " a few book bullets" you know! You have to tell me at least a couple titles. ;)

>83 streamsong: Yeah, my get up and go had gotten up and gone! For HabitRPG, I have three habits (water, dishes, 1 productive hour), eight to ten dailies (depends on day of week), and any number of to-dos - usually three to five but can be more.

>84 ronincats: A convert! Yay! *does wild Kermit dance*

***

Today is quiet so it should be a productive, check lots of stuff off the to do list day. I also need to get lots of reading done. I need to finish Hearts in Atlantis by King (about a hundred pages left) so I can get The Dragon and the George read by tomorrow as the latter is due at the library. There is only one copy in the system and someone else wants to read it.

I started with HabitRPG yesterday. We'll see how it goes. I really wish it had a "weekly" category. There are a lot of housekeeping tasks that need to be done every week, but not necessarily on the same day every week. I'm putting some of those jobs under "habits" or "to do", but the timeline on habits is too open-ended, and "to do" isn't great for tasks that need to be repeated.

>86 SylviaC: There are some workarounds. Put it in Daily. Click on Edit. Click on the days of the week you don't want to do it (I think.) If it comes up on a day you don't want to do it, simply change the day. Or put it in the "last day" of your week. It will be grayed out but you can still see it. When you do it, change the day to the day you did it and click it as done.

From Richard's thread:

What was the last sf/f/h book you finished reading?
The House of Four Winds by Mercedes Lackey

What was the last sf/f/h book you did not finish reading and why?
Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh - Read about 100 pages. Thick, unaccessible language, uninteresting characters, plodding plot, bleak storyline. (Tried to read for six months +)

What was the last sf/f/h book you read that you liked but most people didn’t?
Rose Madder by Stephen King - I had to go back a bit (5/2013) before I could find a 8, 9, or 10 star book that got less than 3.5 stars at LT. This one received 3.46.

What was the last sf/f/h book you read that you disliked but most people did?
The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula LeGuin - I did not like this at all. Gave it 4/10 stars.

How long do your 1-sitting reading sessions usually last?
On a daily basis, usually 30-60 minutes. If I'm having a Do Nothing But Read Day? About 2 hours at a time.

What are you currently reading?
Collapse by Jared Diamond. Agatha Christie Autobiography by Agatha Christie. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King. Essential Spirituality by Roger Walsh. And, sorry, Richard, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. No wonder I haven't gotten anything completed so far this month!

Do you like it so far?
Yes, to all of them.

How long ago did you buy the book you are currently reading (or the last book you read)?
Two are library books. The Agatha Christie was a gift. I purchased Essential Spirituality so many years ago that I can't remember. It was published in 1999 and I think I got it when it was relatively new.

What was the last physical sf/f/h book you bought?
At a library sale last October, I got:
The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
The Green Hills of Earth by Robert Heinlein
Revolt in 2100 by Robert Heinlein
The Door into Summer by Robert Heinlein
The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein
Dreamcatcher by Stephen King
Hideaway by Dean Koontz
The Voice of the Night by Dean Koontz
Darkfall by Dean Koontz
Midnight by Dean Koontz
Lightning by Dean Koontz
Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis

What is the sf/f/h sub-genre you like the most and why?
Urban Contemporary Fantasy - usually because of a kick-butt heroine, but even if a male protagonist, I love the theme of fantasy in "our world".

What is the sf/f/h sub-genre you dislike the most and why?
Hard Science Fiction - over my head too thick to get through.

What is your favorite electronic reading device?
Only have one - Nook.

What was the last sf/f/h eBook you bought?
A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor

Do you read books exclusively in 1 format (physical/electronic)?
No

Do you read eBooks exclusively on a single device (eBook reader/ smartphone / tablet)?
Only have one - Nook.

*gaaaak* There's a miasma in here...something foul and reeking...oh, it's a mention of *shudder* Chuckles the Dick. Never mind, History will blow it away.

I didn't remember that you didn't like The Lathe of Heaven. It wasn't my favorite of her books, but I liked the conceit of power-dreaming.

I also never knew that Rose Madder was so unpopular. Again not my favorite of his, but still not awful or even ~meh~, just pretty darn good instead of excellent.

>89 richardderus: I don't think I was posting in your thread or you in mine when I read Lathe (Feb 2013.) My mini-review: "As I've said before, if I don't like any of the characters, I don't like the book. George's, the main character's, only interesting quality is his ability to dream reality into being. Otherwise, he's a boring milquetoast of a man. Heather is a one-dimensional ball-buster. Huber, the bad guy, is a slimy, egomaniac with delusions of grandeur. Add in some psychobabble, a meandering plot, and some deus ex machina aliens. I have to say I really didn't like this book at all. Thankfully it was short or I wouldn't have been able to finish it. I'm done with LeGuin. I've read several of her books and the only ones I thought were any good were her Earthsea series."

Yes, I was pretty surprised myself. That and that I had to go back to May 2013 before I found a book that I liked and others didn't.

I'm so glad you are back & feeling better, Morph. I'm sure sitting still while you recovered was very difficult for you. But I'm glad you *mostly* listened to the doctor's orders. ;)

I love your plethora of reviews! So much food for thought in this thread! I think I'm going to mark it as a favorite so I can find it later if I'm in need of something new to read!

Wow, even Catwings? I don't remember aliens in Lathe of Heaven. I was probably 13 when I read it though. Hope you never get to see the movie! The main character is still milquetoast, and nothing makes sense.

>91 TinaV95: I am thrilled to be feeling better, for sure. I'm glad I'm posting books that are interesting to you.

>92 cammykitty: I haven't read Catwings and from the LT reviews it doesn't seem like something I would have interest in.

***

I went to enter read books into my database so I could post them... and I hadn't finished one so far this month! That's crazy! It's most likely because I'm reading so many at once. Normally I read one at a time but I have three non-fiction books plus a long classic I'm slowly working through. Yikes!

I did get one finished last night. Finally! It was a door stopper - Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King coming in at 672 pages.

In order to get more in touch with my spirituality, I'm reading Essential Spirituality by Roger Walsh in a rather lectio divina fashion. I read a paragraph. Then read over each sentence slowly, concentrating on meaning and how it makes me feel or what it makes me think about. Yesterday, I copied down this particular quote:

(re: progress along a spiritual path)

"Gradually the heart begins to open, fear and anger melt, greed and jealousy dwindle, happiness and joy grow, love flowers, peace replaces agitation, concern for others blossoms, wisdom matures, and both psychological and physical health improve."

I'm also starting a 21 day "fast" on complaining. I've made it 24 hours. Whoo hoo!

Sounds like a very healthy fast, Murphy.

What Roni said! I should do it too.

I always learn a lot from visiting your thread, Morphy. Usually about books, but sometimes about other things. This time, it's that HabitRPG website. I was on your thread earlier this afternoon, then clicked on the link, and it's taken me until now to get back to you because I started an account and have been organizing my lists and, believe it or not, started working them too! Crossing my fingers that I won't fall by the wayside, because I definitely need the structure.

>95 ronincats: Thanks! I'm trying to be a more positive person.

>96 Storeetllr: Bwhahahaha. My work here is done.

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

So my no complaining fast is doing well. I'm still working on the "rules." For instance, it is not a complaint if you are talking directly to the person who can change the situation as long as you do it in a constructive fashion or if you give a next step on how you will fix it.

For instance, if my food is wrong at a restaurant, I can matter-of-factly tell the wait-person that I would like it replaced and why, but not complain to MrMorphy about how AWFUL it all is. Or I can say I am tired so I need to go to bed earlier tonight but not complain all day about how poorly I feel.

And my rule is if I curse like a sailor over something unimportant, it counts as a complaint. Whereas if I quietly give a "shoot" or "darn," that's within reason and not a complaint.

I'm struggling with a few things though. #1 Book reviews. Where is the line between complaint and negative opinion?

And this morning MrMorphy said he didn't sleep well. I said I didn't either - had to get up to go pee and had a cramp. Was that complaining? Sharing woes? Giving information?

How do you handle someone asking how you are feeling and you aren't feeling well without complaining or lying?

---

Are you a complainer? Do you have complainer in your life? Have you worked to complain less?

Book reviews should be totally exempt from this exercise. If you can't speak the truth, there's no point in doing a review. And stating what's wrong with a book isn't a complaint, unless you're whiny about it. To me, complaining means grumbling for the sake of it...not to render positive constructive criticism that might actually change things for the better. My mom has become something of a complainer in recent years since she's been alone, and her health has taken a few downturns. She knows she does it, and says she shouldn't, but I understand it's a struggle to count your blessings when you've lost the love of your life and you can't easily do all the things you used to do. (And your kids don't call you as often as they should and all the people you know are getting OLD and dying off...)

I tend to keep quiet about the big stuff, but moan and groan about minor little aches and pains—but only to my family. I have a couple of friends with kids the same age as mine who I'll sound off to about school issues, and they will do the same with me. On the whole, I really don't have a lot to complain about, and if I do, I generally figure most people won't care. Or, as in the case of the two biggest sources of stress in my life now, they are issues primarily affecting other people, and I don't feel that I have a right to share their problems publicly.

My husband has to be the ultimate non-complainer. He is a strong believer that complaining isn't going to help anything. He does insist that any mechanical problems with his farm machinery are dealt with promptly, but that falls more into the category of good management than routine complaining.

I have sometimes resented the whole "no whining allowed movement" because it can be used to sweep under the rug real problems which cannot be solved by one person.

I like it that one can complain as long as a solution is proposed. Whining to me is an attitude of "poor me, no body understands how hard my life is and I don't know what to do."

I am typing on my iPhone so I will save the remaining opinions until I get back to my computer.

I hope you day is a good day!

I have been a major whiner/complainer but it has tapered off considerably since I retired from the job that was the major source of my discontent. Now, I tend to keep my problems to myself, unless it is something that needs to be handled. So I'll call my doctor to complain about allergy symptoms, but I won't sit around whining to my sister about how bad I feel, things like that.

One thing I've noticed about my own (and many others') complaints: many of them are what I think have been called First World Problems, like "my iPhone dropped my call" or "our wireless service sucks" or "my house is so big it's hard to keep clean." When I find myself doing that, I stop and remember that there are so many others in the world who don't have a house to live in, or even enough food to eat and safe water to drink, much less an iPhone or laptop or wireless. Usually that works to snap me out of my b*tch-fest.

A negative book review is not a complaint. You should also be allowed to say you don't like something (food) but not complain about it as you said. The same goes for people. You don't have to like everyone but you don't have to go on and on about it. I think what you are doing takes a lot of work and I respect you for taking it one moment at a time and examining your course of action from different perspectives.

Cheering you on Morphy!

Interesting question!
I feel like I would have to ask my friends & family if I'm a complainer in general, but I think I'm not usually. I certainly can be, especially if I feel helpless to change a situation, in which case I would unload on someone I trust (usually my mother) and get over it. I can think of a handful of times that I have complained multiple times to multiple people, but generally I can move on or describe something without the "whine" factor. I have worked off and on to complain less, because I know that when I become intentional about it, focusing on the good stuff leaves me in a happier place and complaining just makes me focus on the negative.

As far as book reviews go, when I'm writing a mixed or negative review, I tend to think of it as proving my star rating - I'm telling you why I rated a book the way I did, and hoping that I make it clear enough that you can decide for yourself if my issues will bother you or not.

Book reviews are critiques! If you whine about how you suffered through this horrible book and will never get those hours back in your life, you're complaining/whining. If you are stating why a certain book did/didn't work for you, you are not complaining. As for the "got to pee" issue, my dad always answered "how are you?" with "Shitty. And you?" because he had a German friend who said in his culture, if you answered "I'm fine" three times in a row, it meant you were lying and not a true friend because you didn't trust that person with an honest answer. I think you can say "the headache is bad today, but not as bad as it was a week ago" without complaining. It's giving information. I think the no complaining goal is a good one, and it definitely encourages finding solutions to problems rather than ranting about them. That's something I try to remember at work. One person was telling me "that wasn't the smartest way to do it," and was a little shocked when I answered, if you can think of a better way, tell her. I'm sure she'd like to know. I wasn't trying to be snotty. I was just pointing out that at that particular job, all of our processes are a work in progress. But I'm guilty too. I'll rant about something stupid the owner said or an idea that I know won't work when really I should blow it off or keep cool.

>97 Morphidae: - I tend to be a complainer to my other half if I have had a bad day at work but other than that, I am pretty laid back about the c**p that goes on around me. ;-)

Funny that this is you Tuesday topic. I was in a consignment shop on Monday. A customer at the till was making noises to the staff about the lack of air in the shop - no she wasn't collapsing or appeared to be in any form of distress. The store clerks opened the front door (it had been closed at the time) and went to make sure that the air circulation system was turned on (it was). They suggested a couple of times that the woman might want to step outside for some fresh air if she was feeling uncomfortable but she kept declining their offers and choose instead to stand at the till for another five minutes complaining about the air quality/flow in the small shop. Best recent example I have seen of what started out as probably a valid criticism/comment that moved on into complaining mode. ;-)

>98 laytonwoman3rd: That helps, thanks. I understand about older people complaining. My friend, Betty, used to complain a bit each time we were on the phone. But what I liked is she put a bit of a time limit on it. After a few minutes, she would say, "Well, enough of THAT," then would go on to talk about happy things.

>99 SylviaC: I need to be more like your husband. Anyone who asks how I'm doing gets the entire litany of woes. That needs to stop.

>100 maggie1944: I'm working on the attitude of every day is a good day!

>101 Storeetllr: I understand the First World Problems. I tend to whine about computer slowness. Oh wah. Be grateful you have a roof over your head and food to eat, Morphy.

>102 luvamystery65: Thanks for the support. On HabitRPG, I was only giving myself negatives for each time I complained, but I added a positive too for each time I catch myself about to complain and don't. I'll also give myself a plus for getting through a day without complaining.

>103 bell7: That's a good way to think about reviews, thanks. Another reason I'm focusing on this is because I didn't use to complain this much. However, MrMorphy is Mr. Complaint himself. He's a pro and it's rubbed off on me. Not that it's an excuse, just a reason.

>104 cammykitty: Yes, I'm thinking that a simple sentence of fact is fine when asked. It's when I go on and on about something that it turns into complaining.

>105 lkernagh: That is something that is annoying to me - a person complaining about something that they are perfectly able to fix on their own.

***

Wacky Wednesday

In Memory of

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart. The funeral was held at 3.50 for about 20 minutes.

If this made you smile for even a brief second, please rise to the occasion and take time to pass it on and share that smile with someone else who may be having a crumby day and kneads a lift.

Very cute, definitely made me smile!

LOVE the Doughboy story! :)

Glad to see you are feeling a little bit better and back to your "Wacky Wednesday" ways!

I love the "Doughboy Eulogy" and have copied it and will pass it on to my brother.

The "Doughboy Eulogy" brought a smile to my face. Sad the family lost such a happy member of their family. ;-)

Goodness! A bun in the oven, even at 71!

>107 maggie1944: >108 TinaV95: >109 TinaV95: >110 DeltaQueen50: >111 lkernagh: >112 humouress:
I'm glad you enjoyed it. It made me smile yesterday.

***

Yesterday I wrote a letter to a friend who is in prison. The poor guy has had the most awful time. When he was 18, he took "naughty" pictures of his 17 year old girlfriend on his phone. Yes, he was stupid but this isn't criminal. Several years later, his computer got hacked and the pictures got out. He was arrested as a sexual offender. He got out on parole but had a terrible parole officer who seemed to be determined to put my friend in jail. For instance, requiring him to go to group therapy with rapists and such then reporting him when he couldn't afford to go to the group because he couldn't find work... because he was a sexual offender. So my friend would end up in jail for a couple of weeks or months and more time would be added to parole. It was a vicious circle.

The last straw a few months ago was him being arrested for breaking some technicality. From what I remember it was about an address change. An address change he has been trying to report but couldn't because he left voice mails and wasn't getting a response back. The judge told him it was "his responsibility to get in touch with the parole officer" not the parole officer's responsibility to get in touch with him and that my friend should have kept calling until the parole officer answered the phone. This was in a rural county not the county I live in thankfully.

The judge said he had two options: a sexual offender half-way house group therapy program where they would decide after two years IF he was ready to be released OR an 18 month sentence which could be as short as 10 months with good behavior. He took the second choice as he doesn't trust the system anymore to release him at the end of two years. Can you really blame him?

I didn't really know what to write to him about. We've had a rough few months as you all know and I didn't want to write anything to worry him. So mostly I wrote to him about books. He's a reader as well and wanted to know when the next Honor Harrington book was coming out. Things like that. Then I had MrMorphy write a few sentences at the end. He told about the story he is writing (Victorian vampire) and being a moderator on a Star Trek Facebook page. We both tried to keep it very light.

I know a nice young man who is similarly entangled with the justice system. It is kind of you and MrMorphy to take the time to write to your friend. Your letter will be a little bright spot for him.

Morphy your friend is very blessed to have you and Mr. Morphy in his life.

Have you read Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs?

There are some many things that are just so, so wrong about out justice system. I'm sorry for your friend and I'll keep him in my thoughts.

>114 SylviaC: I hope so. That's why I did it. I'm not normally a letter writer but it's the only thing I can do for him. Not like I can send a care package.

>115 luvamystery65: I've read everything by Briggs!

>116 scaifea: Including being classist. He's poor. If he had had the money to get a good lawyer, none of this would have happened. But he had a POS public defender. And when things started going wrong with the parole officer, he couldn't afford to hire a lawyer to help extricate him.

So sorry to hear about your friend's troubles. I agree ~ if you have money, you can get out of murder charges. No money, you're toast.

>118 Storeetllr: It's really quite sad.

***

Since I've started my "no complaining" challenge, I've only gotten through one day without complaining. This is harder than I thought! It's not like I'm complaining a *lot.* I've been "caught" just once per day and usually it's something silly and unimportant. Like yesterday it was about a "McMansion" - both a specific one and about them in general. The amusing thing is the after-conversation we have every time...

Me: I was complaining, wasn't I?
MrMorphy: Just a bit.

Are you sure it wasn't a criticism? I've seen plenty of McMansions and they tend to be ugly displays of more wealth than taste. Valid criticism. But perhaps it's complaining if you say "Why on earth did my brother have to buy a McMansion. He was raised better than that. Now I'm embarrassed to admit I was born in the same country let alone the same family with him. I don't believe my Sister-in-law when she says it is a rebeautification project. They intend to knock it down and build something quaint and properly proportioned on the property. Yeah, right."

I wonder if the difference might be something like - One time comment that the "mansions" seem very out of place in the suburb and the architecture seems to say a good deal about the owners desire to be important, and less about delightful graceful buildings; compared to a Constant repetition of how ugly they are, and how they ruin the neighborhood, and how they are just symbols of decaying American values, etc. etc. etc.

I think it is a complaint when it is repetitious, and not based on any objective elements for judgment. Criticism, on the other hand, uses criteria to judge the worthiness of the architecture just like our criticism of novels has to do with judging the worthiness of the writing.

Just some thoughts off the top of my head.

I used to be very exhausted of my mother's constant criticisms of things she saw as we drove. What I found tiresome was the constancy of it. She seldom found things to comment on in a positive way.

>120 cammykitty: Oh, it was more than criticism. Yes, it started out as "That house looks out of place." But then it slid into a mini-rant between the two of us. MrMorphy called them "trophy houses." I had to laugh.

It falls into the "I'm not complaining to the person who can fix it and I'm not coming up with a solution" bucket.

If I had left it with the first sentence, an opinion, it would have been fine.

>121 maggie1944: Exactly. Basically, the house was too big for the plot, width-wise. Other homes in the area are large mansions, yes. But they are on equally large properties. This house was crammed into a narrow plot with barely six feet to either side of it, if that. It looked out of place.

206. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King (1999)

Genre: Fiction

Notes: TIOLI #5 (didn't buy - library), to complete bibliography

Summary: Novellas and short stories about the 60s and the Vietnam era in the US

Opinion: One of King's less impressive books - I kept wondering how many pages I had left to read. While the characterizations, as always, were wonderful, the stories, such as they were, were tedious and depressing. Not my cup of tea. Onwards to the next!

Rating: 5

207, The Dragon and the George by Gordon Dickson (1976)

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #7 (didn't know series), If You Like (13 in 13), GD List (1001 Fantasy, LTMP

Summary: Through no fault of his own, the human Jim Eckert became a dragon and his beloved Angie remained human. To make matter worse, Angie had been taken by an evil dragon and was held captive in the Loathly Tower. So Jim Eckert had a big, strange problem.

Opinion: While showing its age - "clichéd" plot (is it clichéd if it is older than other stories?), most females needing to be rescued, simplistic solutions, it was a fun little story that I read in an afternoon. The dragons are a stitch.

Rating: 7

208. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert (2003)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Notes: TIOLI #6 (physical disability - leprosy), reread

Summary: Seven-year-old Rachel is forcibly removed from her family's 1890s Honolulu home when she contracts leprosy and is placed in a settlement, where she loses a series of new friends before new medical discoveries enable her to reenter the world.

Opinion: This is an amazing book and if you like any type of historical fiction or stories of bravery, hope and love, read this book. Go, now.

I recommended this for my book club because I love it so much. Yes, terrible things happen to Rachel from a very young age. She has many losses - freedom, health, loved ones. But this is not a depressing book. It is filled with as much courage and hope and warmth and determination as struggles and despair. This is Rachel's personal saga from age five to, well, a ripe old age let's say.

Rating: 9

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Collapse by Jared Diamond
Agatha Christie by Agatha Christie
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool
Essential Spirituality by Roger Walsh

On Deck:
Stitch in Snow by Anne McCaffrey
Relic by Douglas Preston
Son of No One by Sherrilyn Kenyon

I just discovered that I missed adding Stitch in Snow to LT. There I thought I was being so careful. It's a nice book, but don't expect it to be anything at all like her SF books.

>113 Morphidae: My heart goes out to your friend and it is amazing in life how meeting and being under the control of the wrong people (in this case the spiteful Parole Officer) can so harm one's existence. It is a shame that there is probably little redress against the petty asshole but I hope that your friend endures - is there no way to request a change in Parole Officer?

I have not been about much as RL has remained hectic and I have had problems with a weepy right eye curtailing my time on line but I just managed to spare the time to send a friendly wish or two in your esteemed direction. Hope you like Charlie D's Great Expectations.

Wow, a 9/10 from you is saying something, Morphy! I'm intrigued...

>125 Morphidae: Guess I'll be adding that one to my wishlist!

Come see me when you can. We just started a huge lifestyle change and I just posted details on my thread. It's been a weepy kind of day for me.

>127 SylviaC: Yes, I'm familiar with her non-SF books. I'm working my way through her bibliography and have already read a couple of them.

>128 PaulCranswick: Trying to change parole officers is what got him put in jail. They moved to a different county to get away from the nasty parole officer. That PO was having nothing of it, I guess, and didn't answer Mike's voice mail messages about his change of address. Mike didn't know that leaving voice mail messages didn't "count" as contacting his PO.

>129 scaifea: I know! And to get a 9 on the re-read, too?

>130 TinaV95: I've sent you a PM, hon.

***

I had a lovely Do Nothing But Read Day yesterday. I finished six books. Okay, one I was almost done with and two were children's books, but still! :D

>131 Morphidae: That sounds divine! Six books, wow!

>132 RosyLibrarian: It was. It was!

***

Morphy's Mighty Monthly Read for the Green Dragon in October is...

October (111 Science Fiction) - Old Man's War by John Scalzi
SPOILER: TBA
NO SPOILER: http://www.librarything.com/topic/180577

>106 Morphidae: Loved your Wacky Wednesday! My co-worker's husband loves puns, so I printed it out to give her a copy, and a couple of other people at the library happened to see it as a result. They all had quite a good laugh over it! :D

Hiya Morphy!

Your Do Nothing But Read Day sounds amazing!

How did the Do Nothing But Read Day go? Get lots finished? Have a great feeling of relaxation? I need one of these days, too. I recognized I was over stressed when I was wandering about looking for a kitchen thing (big, compost collector) all around, and almost hit tears in my eyes until I saw it: Right In Front Of My Face! Holy Moley. I went on line and told Instacart I was taking next week off. Seeing the Neurosurgeon today! Hopefully I will get some excellent plans for getting this pain in my butt fixed.

Take good care of yourself, Morphy. I am recognizing how important that is to do!

>134 bell7: Well, I hope you enjoy today's joke!

>135 luvamystery65: *waves energetically* Hello! Hello!

>136 scaifea: It was! And now I'm busy busy with to do lists again.

>137 maggie1944: See post >131 Morphidae:! Yes, the more stressed I get the more forgetful I get and the more little things upset me. Sounds like you certainly need the break. Good for you!

***

Wacky Wednesday

Oh man, that's baaaaad...

Hee hee. Funny!

Speaking of robots, did you see someone's developing a robot for families? It doesn't move around, or (as far as I know) slap people who lie, but I am not sure I really want a bot in my house, friendly or not. (Shades of HAL!) Here's a link to the site that describes it.

ETA link: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jibo-the-world-s-first-family-robot

>139 drneutron: I know, I know. But I laughed so hard.

>140 Storeetllr: Cool.

***

I got the go ahead from my friend in prison. If you would like to write to him, let me know and I'll PM you the details. As you can imagine, he'd be delighted with any contact.

>138 Morphidae: - That Wacky Wednesday is awesome!

I have to share that Wacky Wednesday with my husband!

>142 lkernagh: >143 SylviaC: Glad you enjoyed them!

***

I'm so happy to be back online! Our Internet still isn't working but a neighbor's wifi is strong enough for us to pick up and he gave us the password. The tech person will be here tomorrow.

You don't realize how much of your life is online until you can't get there. "I'll search for (neighbor's) home phone, er..." "I'll email the...er..." "Oh! I work on this project! That.needs.info.from.a.website." "Oooh! Oooh! I'll go take a language lesson - that's on an Internet app on my iPad." My word!

And for fun - figure out the first line of the book from the emojis. The first one is, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …" - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities. I'll give you the rest of the answers tomorrow. Maybe. :D

On a quick go-through, the only one I got was #7 (I think). Tolstoy's "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Oh! And #12 too. "Call me Ishmael." Very clever.

These could end up being addictive, so I think I'll stop now. Wait! I think I got #11, the first line from Beckett's Murphy. AmIright?AmIright?

ETA Ack! Also #2. Maybe. Is it Kafka's Metamorphosis.?

Stopping now. Really.

I think #8 is Pride and Prejudice - a man wanting a wife

And #9 must be the beginning to The Old Man and the Sea though I'm not sure of the exact beginning.

12. Call me Ishmael. Moby Dick
9. He was an old man who fished alone, and he had gone.....without catching a fish (some number of days, I forget) The Old Man and the Sea
5. It was a pleasure to burn. Fahrenheit 451
6. Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.
7. Happy families are all alike; unhappy families are unhappy each in their own way (that's not quite right, but close) Anna Karenina

>145 Storeetllr: >146 lunacat: >147 laytonwoman3rd: You are all correct!

Can anyone figure out 3, 4, or 10?

***

WeCab board meeting today though I'll be doing it by phone for various reasons. I've been getting so much done because of HabitRPG that I'm starting to feel frazzled. I need to schedule some downtime! Tomorrow I'll be having lunch with a friend at Pei Wei's and I'm really looking forward to it.

I half think #3 is Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins - but I'm not sure why an aubergine is being used as the loin?!

>149 lunacat: LOL, you are right. The only thing I can think of is shape? Sort of? Maybe they should have used a banana...

Ah...I've been trying to make #3 Lolita, but I guess I was being too literal. And I agree, they picked the wrong symbol at the end. So, following the same logic of approximation, I think 4 is "A screaming comes across the sky" from Gravity's rainbow.

Is No. 10 from Tracks? I don't "get" it, if so, but I see a couple of the elements of the first line there, so...

>151 laytonwoman3rd: #4 is correct.

***

Hint for #10 - first published in Spanish

Hehe, well at least I was right, even if I couldn't make it fit ...... no wonder I couldn't come up with a well known first line that ended with aubergine ;)

>153 lunacat: Eggplant. ;)

Or, apparently, garden egg and guinea squash! Think I'll stick with aubergine, being a Brit :)

Guinea squash? *goes Googling*

>152 Morphidae: OK, then it's 100 years of Solitude. "Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aurienda remembered that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice." A bit tricky, that one. I still think "We started dying before the snow, and like the snow, we continued to fall" works almost as well.

>157 laytonwoman3rd: *ding ding ding ding ding*

Down time is good! I had some guilty down time myself today, but i'll say that something I won't complain about made me feel a bit teenagery and out of sorts today. Lots of lying in bed with the dogs, that is when the dogs weren't arguing over the nylabone, never mind that there was another nylabone nearby. And that's a valid observation, not a complaint!

>159 cammykitty: MrMorphy and I watched a CSI episode last night that was very good but sad.

Yes, that was an observation not a complaint!

Just like, "I'm tired and my head hurts and I need a hug," is a request to get my needs met, not a complaint!

{/lurk}

Hiya Morphy! Happy Weekend!

{lurk}

Yup! We totally understand each other. Glad you got some tv time!

>161 richardderus: *SMOOOOOOCHES*

>162 cammykitty: And last night we watched two more! We were only going to watch one but it was a cliff-hanger(s) season finale so MrMorphy found the first one from the next season, put it on DVD and we watched it right away!

209. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parrish

Genre: Children's

Notes: TIOLI #14 (series/author name 5 or 6 letters - both), LTMP, 1001 Children's Books

Summary: A literal-minded housekeeper causes a ruckus in the household when she attempts to make sense of some instructions.

Opinion: I read this long ago and it was still fun. Especially like the ending where they keep her anyway because they like her pie.

Rating: 7

210. Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman

Genre: Children's

Notes: TIOLI #19 (noun in title), NEA Teachers' Top 100, 1001 Children's

Summary: Never having seen his mother, a baby bird makes humorous mistakes trying to find her.

Opinion: It was okay. A little too simplistic and annoying for me but it got bumped up a notch because I thought something bad was going to happen near the end but instead the monster machine saved the day!

Rating: 6

211. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Genre: Classics

Notes: TIOLI #10 (country never set foot - England), lots of lists

Summary: An absorbing mystery as well as a morality tale, the story of Pip, a poor village lad, and his expectations of wealth is Dickens at his most readable. Character include kindly Joe, the loyal convict Magwitch and the haunting Miss Havisham.

Opinion: I read this in 6th grade and hated it. This is the book that put me off reading classics for decades. But after reading a few Dickens' over the last several years, I thought I'd give it another try. It wasn't so bad, especially as I did it in daily installments via DailyLit. I didn't like it as much as David Copperfield but the story was good enough to make me grab more than one installment more than a couple times.

Rating: 6

212. Son of No One by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Genre: Romance, Paranormal

Notes: TIOLI #14 (series, author name 5 or 6 letters), next in series

Summary: Down on her luck, Josette takes a photography/camera job with a local paranormal group. Centuries ago, Cadegan was viciously betrayed into an immortal prison by the only person he'd ever trusted. HEA ensues.

Opinion: The lowest rating I've given one of Kenyon's and the only time I've given one this low for the Dark Hunter series. It seemed called in. There was no richness to the story, they seemed to be cardboard characters and there was no emotional depth. It got a five for ease of reading, the good world-building (and the dragon.)

Rating: 5

213. Treachery in Death by J. D. Robb

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #5 (didn't buy - library), next in series

Summary: Peabody, Eve, and her husband Roarke are trying to get the hard evidence they need to bring two dirty cops down -- knowing all the while that the two are willing to kill to keep their secret.

Opinion: It's an Eve Dallas story. It's the 32nd one. I don't have much else to say that I haven't before. LOL. Well, other than it's the 32nd one and I'm still reading!

Rating: 7

214. The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

Genre: Children's

Notes: TIOLI #7 (didn't know was part of a series)

Summary: The adventures of the worst trainee witch in Miss Cackle's Academy.

Opinion: The story was cute but I could see myself getting very irritated with the main character. I doubt I'll read more in the series. Although I did particularly like the illustrations. They really make the book.

Rating: 6

215. Stitch in Snow by Anne McCaffrey

Genre: Romance

Notes: TIOLI #19 (noun in title - snow), to complete bibliography

Summary: On a United States tour to promote her books, children's book author Dana Jane Lovell finds herself attracted to Dan Lowell, a fellow traveler stranded in a Denver blizzard, who is abruptly arrested for the brutal murder of his ex-wife.

Opinion: There wasn't a lot of emotional tension here but the story was interesting enough as were the characters and sense of place, especially in Ireland. Average romance story from the 80s.

Rating: 6

216. Elvenblood
217. Elvenborn by Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #18 (more than one author), to complete re-read

Summary: Re-read

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
Collapse by Jared Diamond
Agatha Christie by Agatha Christie
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool
Essential Spirituality by Roger Walsh
Indigo Blue by A. M. Dellamonica

On Deck:
Bloodchild by Octavia Butler
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
Relic by Douglas Preston

I hadn't heard of Bloodchild, but I love Butler so...

I hope you enjoy Relic as much as I did. (The Touchstone links to some other book titled Relic.)

I'm on my sixth Mercy Thompson, River Marked. I just can't get enough of that series. You're right; it's a really intelligent urban fantasy series with a likeable three-dimensional kickass heroine, other great characters that are not cutouts, and good worldbuilding. Thank you so much for recommending it!

Anne McCaffrey wrote romances too? Without any dragons?

I've got one story left in Bloodchild. I'm enjoying her comments at the end of each piece.

>170 Morphidae: You're right on with your assessment of Stitch in Snow. Good enough, but nothing special.

Hi, Morphy. Did you see that there is a party brewing over in The Green Dragon? Something about thousands of people having joined. Can you imagine that? I've been looking for the keys to the closets so I can get out the marshmallow guns. Can your roombas handle marshmallows?

>173 Storeetllr: I'm so happy you are enjoying the series. It gives me a warm fuzzy when I can connect someone with a book/series that works for them.

>174 cammykitty: Yes, she's written several. Of the ones I've read, I haven't give any more than 6/10 stars. I'm reading her full biography so need to take the good with the bad.

>175 SylviaC: Seems like that's the case with all her romances.

>176 maggie1944: No, I haven't and I daren't look. I haven't gotten caught up with LT in ages. I'm getting lots of non-LT stuff done though!

Congrats on finishing Great Expectations! I have only read a limited selection of Dickens' books and so far, Great Expectations is my favorite read. I see you prefer David Copperfield which is good to know as I haven't read that one yet.

The only Dickens book I've made it through is A Christmas Carol. I've tried often enough, but I just can't get into them.

>178 lkernagh: Great Expectations seemed a bit more, hmm, internal? Philosophical? David Copperfield is more of a plotted story. If you get what I mean?

>179 SylviaC: He's by no means a favorite. But I don't hate Dickens like I used to. *mutters, "Sorry," to RD*

***

Talk to Me Tuesday

I think we've gone over bedtime habits before, but what are your actual sleep habits?

MrMorphy and I go to bed together around 9:00pm. When he's working, it might be earlier. I sleep on my right side with my knees bent or on my stomach (almost) with legs straight or one knee cocked. I used to be able to go right to sleep - within minutes. But nowadays it can take me up to 30 to 45 minutes. Or at least I'll doze and wake up several times during that period.

I have one pillow and a small towel (bigger than hand towel, smaller than bath towel) that is loosely rolled up under it. For sleep I need a CPAP, a fan (except in winter), Kleenex, a water bottle, and Vaseline (lip balm). All get used at some point during the night (or all night!) I like lots of layers. Even in summer I like a sheet and comforter. In winter, it's a sheet, two comforters, and a blanket. If I get too warm, I stick my feet out. The warmer I am the higher the exposure is up to my hip. My shoulders are always cold and I usually have my head under the covers.

During the night, I'll wake up three to four times but I'm able to fall right back to sleep. I didn't need to get up during the night until the last couple of weeks when I've almost doubled my water intake. I do wish my body would get used to it! Thankfully, it only takes me about 5 minutes to get back to sleep.

I wake up naturally around 6:00am to 6:30am. Or rather, my bladder wakes me up! MrMorphy comes in and we do morning snuggles for as long as I can hold back the waterworks, then I get up. I'm a morning person, so when I'm up, I'm awake. No grogginess.

What about you?

Just a quick pop in to tell you something!

My right foot went to sleep on me -- BAD -- and I had to hop around my office like an insane person trying to get it to wake up. At one point, I grabbed a hammer and bent over and started banging it (gently, just to awaken the muscles). As I was doing this and bending over, what do you think I saw on the bottom shelf of my bookcase that I had NO idea I had even purchased??????

Mark of the Demon!!!!!!!!! I **GASPED**, jumped straight up, and hopped on back to my work computer to make sure that was the first in the series and I hadn't accidentally purchased #2 or #3.

I had bought that Lord knows how many years ago before you recommended it and I started reading the White Trash Zombie series. And now??? I want to skip over finishing my current library books and go straight to it!!!!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....

It doesn't take a lot to make me happy, huh? :)

Sleep habits:

Night time routine - I go to bed with a hot water bottle unless it's really warm (above 20C night time temperature) as I always have cold feet but don't like wearing socks in bed. I also always have a thick duvet on. I have a double bed with four pillows, all of which I use - hugging one, having one over my head, one at my back and sleeping on one. I doze off either on my back with my arms and pillow over my eyes or lying on one side with one leg drawn right up and the other stretched completely out. Sometimes its difficult to find room because four of our five cats like to sleep on my bed.

I'm a terrible night time sleeper. I am extremely active when I'm asleep, often talking and doing a lot of moving around the bed. I'm almost entirely unaffected by external stimuli and can sleep through thunderstorms, people coming in and out of my room, cats jumping on the bed and me, but I usually wake a few times in the night out of very long, vivid dreams that stick with me for a while. I often turn my duvet completely round while asleep, or end up sleeping across the bed or with my feet at the pillow end.

However, I can go to sleep anywhere else completely fine. Coaches, buses, planes, cars, trains all not a problem for me to sleep in. Lots of noise doesn't bother me. I also sleep far far better during daylight hours than I do at night. I am probably a vampire really. My ideal sleep times are 1-2am till 12pm. I don't naturally wake myself up very easily and can sleep for 16+ hours if left to my own devices but I'll end up with a splitting headache if I do that.

I'd love to have a 'quieter' and more normal sleep routine but I've tried all sorts of things and nothing has been successful.

I've got a twin loft bed (for the last several years - I switch it up now and then, the last one was a double futon). I have a memory foam topper on a foam mattress, and one of those shaped memory foam pillows (the rolled-up towel never worked for me, but I love having the neck support). I always sleep on my side, but switch from side to side. And I always sleep with a mask (actually, a bandanna blindfold, after I destroyed the fourth or fifth expensive shaped sleep mask) and a white noise machine - this is a hangover from when I was working varied shifts and needed to be able to sleep during the day, now it's my trigger for sleep.

I have a thin quilt (that my grandmother made for me - nothing fancy, but nice) for summer, often supplemented with a fleece blanket, and a down comforter for winter. Oh, and about a third of the time I sleep in sleepsocks - thick tube socks with a double sole that I knit. I use them for slippers around the house, too, but most of the time I don't need them in bed, or I start out with them on and take them off during the night.

I don't get enough sleep - I need to wake up around 7, but I'm really bad at getting to sleep early enough. I only need 7 hours, but I'm regularly getting about 5 and occasionally 3-4. Which means I hit the snooze button too often in the morning (need is my opinion, not a work requirement - I run my own home business, and seldom schedule clients for early hours). So I usually don't get to bed until I can't keep my eyes open, and I drop right off.

I either sleep straight through, or, if I'm trying to up my intake of water, get up once or twice during the night. Once I'm properly hydrated I'm fine, but when my intake has dropped and I'm consciously drinking extra I spend a lot of time in the bathroom (arrgh). This is a regular cycle (I could just _keep_ drinking enough, that would be good...). I often wake from a vivid dream, and if I tell it over to myself while holding still I can remember it for a while - long enough to write it down. But if I turn over or sit up, I can feel the dream ebbing away with the change in blood flow (at least, that's my theory).

My alarm clock these days is Gentle Alarm on my phone. It's a great app - first, it makes a soft noise half an hour before the alarm you set, on the theory that if you're in shallow sleep at that point it will wake you easily. Almost never does (see: not enough sleep) for me, but it's worked a few times. Then the real alarm comes on - you can set it to be just about any sound on your phone; I've got mine set to be a random song from my favorite genre of music, which lets me hear a lot of songs I otherwise wouldn't (I don't really listen to music much, because I like the words which means I can't listen while I'm reading or otherwise trying to focus on words/data). It plays for 10 minutes, then starts with a horrible beep - very softly at first and rapidly rising to intolerable. I hear that a lot... I can snooze it for a settable length of time at any point, in music or beep, and do far too often. It does require me to sit up (my phone is at my feet, on a built-in shelf) and interact with the phone (a couple swipes and a couple taps), so it's not something I can do while staying mostly asleep...but that doesn't stop me going back to sleep.

I can (and have, several times recently) slept for 12-14 hours; it usually means I'm fighting off a cold or something. And what usually wakes me, aside from my bladder, is sore ribs - I can sleep 8 hours fine, but 10 or more and my ribs start aching. And yeah, the headache from oversleeping too - but that fades faster than the ribs.

I track my sleep on Fitbit - it shows when I was restless and awake during the night. This is the last week:



The light blue lines are "restless", the red ones are "awake". I slept past noon twice this last week - sheesh. Yesterday and Friday night were just about perfect - that's what they should _all_ look like.

It is rather fascinating to see the different ways people sleep.

It takes me forever to fall asleep. It always has. I would say 30 min - 1 hour is normal. I combat this by listening to audio books or podcasts. It's even worse when I have nothing to listen to. My brain just has a hard time shutting down.

I sleep on my side. I like cute night gowns and I can't wear socks to bed. I usually have water on my night stand.

I guess I get about 8-6 hours a night of sleep. I'm usually awake by 7. I like the room almost too cold with a big comfy blanket. (My dog does not like this temperature so he wears sweaters and goes under the covers with us.) We just recently switched to satin sheets... I'm not sure about them yet.

Forgot a few things (which I find interesting, though others might not).

I hardly ever need to get up because I am a) a camel who hardly drinks anything and b) have extremely good bladder control/large bladder. It's a blessing.

I fall asleep to the sound of talking - either a radio programme (bbc radio Iplayer has been a blessing), a TV show (a documentary usually) or an audiobook. At the moment it's a dramatisation of Samuel Pepys' diary. I need it in order to stop me over thinking - if I have silence then I start thinking and stressing and getting anxious whereas when I have someone else talking, it gives me a different focus. I can very very rarely sleep in complete silence but white noise doesn't work as it doesn't take over my brain enough.

Ah! Sleeping. I turn on the radio, turn off the light, and listen until I fall to sleep. Might be 5 minutes might be 90 minutes. Sometimes I have to hit the Sleep button a second time. So generally the first half of the night is pretty light sleep. Then, up to hit the bathroom, back to sleep. And that's when I do the deep sleep.

Sleep on my side with a pillow between my legs to relieve the pressure on my dysfunctional back. One dog sleeps with her back against mine, the other dog sleep on the other side of me, or at the foot of the bed. When it gets chilly, Greta Garbo dives under the covers. Benny may also come up to my head and ask permission to dive under the covers. They always stay on opposite sides of me. I don't think they like each other all that much. Although sometimes I find them sleeping together on the sofa.

I go to sleep, so to speak at about 8 am, and wake at about 4 am. Even going to bed later does not make me sleep later in the morning. So, I also take naps.

I very seldom, if ever remember dreaming. I do remember getting up and going to the potty at least 2X every night.

I like sleeping.

I am a night-owl, and mostly don't go to bed until 12:30 - 1:00 am. My husband goes much earlier and usually is asleep by 11. He's a sound sleeper which is good as when I go to bed I turn on my night light and read for 30 mins. or until I get tired. Once asleep I usually sleep through to about 6:30 am. I then get up and use the washroom, go back to bed and this is often when I fall into my deepest sleep. I get up to stay usually around 8:00 am. Lately I've been indugling in an afternoon nap that last anywhere from 40 mins to an hour. We have adjustable beds and hubby likes to sleep flat, whereas I have the upper part of the bed slightly raised.

I go to bed about 11:30. The last thing I do is make sure my glasses are always placed in the same spot, so I'll be able to find them. My husband is almost always in bed before me, and I rarely read in bed because I don't want to disturb him.

I've never been an instant sleeper, and I help put myself to sleep by mentally listing book titles, characters, or authors in alphabetical order. Sometimes I only get in three or four, and other times I get all the way through the alphabet.

If it is cool, I start off with a couple of comforters, and maybe some fuzzy socks or slippers if it is really cold. Then as the night goes on, I shed layers. At this point in my life, sometimes those layers get discarded quite abruptly. My husband and I often have a tug-of-war with the blankets over the course of the night.

I'm most comfortable sleeping on my side, and try to alternate sides to keep it even. I have one of those fancy memory foam pillows (it was thrown in as a bonus when we bought the bed). I never, ever sleep on my stomach.

Left to myself, I would probably sleep until about 8:30 or so, but on school days I have to get up shortly before 7:00 to wake the kids up.

Once Charlie is asleep, I head for bed with a book, and Tomm either joins me with his laptop or heads into his home office for a couple of hours of work. I read for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how heavy my eyes are, then get up to go check on Charlie (to give him one final little peck on the cheek while he's asleep and to close his door) and then I'm usually asleep very nearly before my head hits the pillow, which is usually around 9:30 or 10pm. I'm up with my alarm at 5am.

I don't really have a problem sleeping in general, it is only when my back is playing up that I struggle to get to sleep. Unfortunately it is Karen who has problems when I am sleeping as I tend to sleep on my back and snore, she is forever prodding me or telling me to turn over. Karen has been known in the past to dry her hair or hoover the bedroom whilst I have been asleep when I was on the night shift. We tend to go to bed between 10 to 10.30 pm and will both read for an hour or so although I can turn my light off and Karen will continue to read and it doesn't disturb me but sometimes Karen will decide to go to sleep and tells me to carry on if I want but after about ten minutes she is then telling me to turn the light off as she can't sleep.

>181 TinaV95: Read it! Read it! Read it! Read it!

>182 lunacat: Maia is in her kennel near the foot of the bed. She normally quiet unless I get up to use the restroom. If it's early morning, she'll yelp and whine. We've tried to let her sleep with us but after walking all over us for 30 minutes, back into the kennel she went.

I'm normally a quiet sleeper and need quiet to sleep unless I'm really exhausted.

>183 jjmcgaffey: We've got a king-size. Considering my size, I doubt queen would work, much less something smaller. The CPAP works great as a white noise maker. You are like my husband. He's lucky to get 6 hours and it's usually broken sleep. How does that FitBit work? Is it like a watch that you wear?

>184 RosyLibrarian: I sleep au naturel. I feel restricted in any type of sleepwear. When I wore jewelry, I'd even strip that. The only exception is a few times during the winter when it's so cold that I just can't get warm enough with just covers.

>185 lunacat: I'm the opposite! Any type of talking keeps me up. Sometimes MrMorphy is twitchy and the least little movement will prevent me getting to sleep. I have to ask him to stay still for a couple minutes so I can get to sleep. Once I'm asleep, it doesn't bother me.

>186 maggie1944: I'm not looking forward to getting older and having to potty more than once! I'm annoyed enough at getting up once.

>187 DeltaQueen50: I only nap when I can't keep my eyes open. It's usually around 2pm to 3pm.

>188 SylviaC: I tried that last night and it worked! I didn't think it would. I thought it would be too intellectual. But while I was struggling to come up with a "Y" or "Z" author, I fell asleep!

I never used to sleep on my stomach either but when I started having back problems early this year, it was the only position that didn't hurt.

>189 scaifea: I'm jealous. If I start reading in bed, I will stay up for hours. That's why I keep them out of the bedroom. Well, except on the rare occasion I have just a couple more chapters in an ebook.

>190 johnsimpson: MrMorphy can fall asleep with me reading the Nook, but I can't have any noise. His reader "clicks" and it wouldn't keep me awake. Heck, if he brought a book in the pages turning would keep me awake.

I'm glad my alphabet game worked for you! It has the added bonus that if you are worrying about something, you can occupy your mind with low stress thoughts about books.

>192 SylviaC: I'm going to do fruits and veggies tonight. It's a game that my ex-step-sister and I played when we were kids as we were in bed before sleep.

Is that alphabetical, too?

>191 Morphidae: There's different kinds of Fitbits - mine (Fitbit One) is a little pod a bit smaller than my little finger. During the day it goes into a silicon pocket with a clip, and hangs on my jeans pocket; at night it goes into a cloth wristband. I press on the (one and only) button until it goes into timer mode, then press it again after I've woken up, and it records it as sleep time and notices movement and sustained movement. It sometimes misses when I get up (how it manages that, when I have to climb down from the loft and back up...) and just says I was restless when I know I got up and went to the bathroom.

My dad has a Fitbit Force - that one is a wristband. It's the one that some people had allergic reactions to, but it hasn't bothered him (it was only about 2% of users, but bad enough that they did a recall). There's another wristband one, the Flex, but that one doesn't record sleep, I don't think. I know it doesn't record stairs - mine and the Force notice when I walk up stairs (not down, though).

I really like my Fitbit, and how it notices and informs me when I've done a lot of walking - or none at all. Today was not a good day for activity, I had less than 1500 steps at midnight. Ugh. I managed 5000 (which is my goal) yesterday (Tuesday), though.

Re: bed size - there's also the fact that I only share with my cats. So a double was indulgent and a twin works fine. Two people in a double is pretty darn crowded, no matter what size they are (well, what size adults) - queen or larger is much more comfortable.

I use a UP24 - it is a wrist bracelet I leave on almost 100% of the time. Take it off when I am hand washing dishes, and when I take a bath. I did dip it into bath water once and it survived. It tracks my steps all day long, and then if I remember to hit the button once it tracks my sleep. It can track a nap, mid-day, and also a bunch of other stuff on my iPhone. I think you have to have an iPhone or an Android for it to work. I love it because it does gently encourage me to move during the day. I have it set to give me a little buzz if I have sat still for 30 minutes or more. That is helping me cope with the sciatica. I have much less leg pain when I get up and more around every 30 minutes.

You might want to do a survey of LTers and see how many people have some sort of tracker and compare them all. There are at least 4-6 of them, I think.

Hope your week is going well!

This FitzBit look really insteresting. I may have to look into it. I don't think I caught everything in the last dozons of posts but I think I got enough to participate.

I can usually fall alseep pretty fast, usually within ten minutes, but I have a very hard time getting up no matter how many hours of sleep I've gotten. I don't ever hadly wake up in the middle of the night. I sleep on two pillows. The time I go to bed varies too much to find an average. I've been alseep by 10:30 every day this week but I've also been fighting sickness (which failed - the fighting part) but usually it's closer to 11:30. When I have a lot of homework like last semester it could be anywhere after that. Sometimes if I'm watching a TV show or reading an intense book I'll stay up really late, like 3:00 or 4:00. I suppose 11:30 is the time most often occuring.

I'm trying to make my sleeping habits more consistent, since they haven't been for years. It's still a work in progess. :)

Happy reading!

To be honest, I have embarrassingly horrible sleep habits. But once I get into bed, I can usually fall asleep straight away.

Hugs.

I found Eleanor and Park sitting on the shelf at the library. I think it was a mistake and when I go to check it out, it will say it is on hold. For all I know, it may be on hold for me.

Hello Morphy, just stopping bye to say Hello. Trying to ease my way back into LT life by just starting to post again.
I am very much looking forward to following your reading again ;).

Well, I have had sleeping problems for a few years now and I got into the habbit of listening to an audiobook when going to bed and usually set the timer for 1 hour, in the hope that I will be asleep by then.

Well, heck, I just typed a long dissertation on my sleep patterns and *pffft* it all just disappeared. I hate when that happens. Well, I'm not going to retype it. Suffice it to say that I basically have no normal sleep patterns, but that I'm cranky when I don't get a solid 7 hours of sleep, preferably 8, and that I love taking naps in the afternoon!

Hope your weekend was wonderful!

I'm not quite up to responding to posts yet but had to post this. Because... dayum...

^ Matthew Lewis (i.e. Neville Longbottom)

He cleaned up nice, didn't he?

I always thought it was so fortunate for the Harry Potter casting people that he grew up to be this big hefty dude rather than some slight, small guy.

Hugs.

Hubba hubba!

>203 Morphidae: & >204 Morphidae: Oh, that makes me feel like a dirty old woman...

Morning Morph! Just waving through! Hope you are doing well.

I hope today is a better day for you.

Hope all is going well. That Neville, who knew?

I firmly believe that that sort of Neville lives in all of us who are slightly fluffy, bespectacled, and rather bookish.

Feel better soon, Morph!

>203 Morphidae: Well he grew up nicely didn't he?! Hiya Murphy. : ) Loving your Wacky Wednesday again and the Book Emoji Guessing Game. Good luck with the sleep--I am having trouble getting more then 6 and that is NOT enough for me! Just call me cranky. Not that I am complaining mind you. ; )

>194 SylviaC: Of course! Now I'm working on books I've read.

>195 jjmcgaffey: So, it's a wearable. Wouldn't work for me!

>196 maggie1944: It would be interesting for sure to wear one, especially at night. Too bad I can't stand wearing anything to bed!

>197 Kassilem: I'm sorry you weren't feeling well and hope you are better now.

>198 humouress: Lucky, lucky. I wish I could do that again.

>199 MDGentleReader: >206 MDGentleReader: Thanks, hon.

>200 cammykitty: So was it on hold for you? Mine's in transit.

>201 drachenbraut23: Good to see you posting again. We've missed you!

>202 Storeetllr: I don't care too much for taking naps as I'm groggy afterwards. But sometimes I just can't keep my eyes open and I nod off on the couch. My neck also doesn't like me much as my chin rests on my chest.

>205 ronincats: >207 RosyLibrarian: >211 jnwelch: Yeah. Who knew he'd end up such a looker?

>208 scaifea: Shhhhh. We are only as old as the men we feel. Ooops, did I say that?

>209 msf59: Thanks for swinging by, dude!

>210 maggie1944: It is. Pain is at the lowest it has been in the last week.

>212 streamsong: That's one of my favorites. "I'm not fat. I'm fluffy!"

>213 Berly: Ha! I'm doing pretty well on the complaining thing. I can go a few days without a complaint. No real long streaks though.

Glad to read your pain has retreated somewhat. Mine too seems to be taking some breaks from irritating me.

My UP24 is a great help with naps. I just hit "start power nap" on my phone's screen for the app, and it lets me sleep about 30 minutes, and then gently vibrates and wakes me. I do not feel groggy if I keep my maps under an hour. If I sleep an hour or more, then I know I'm really in need of some good nights of sleep.

>214 Morphidae: Now I'm working on books I've read.

I'm doing nonfiction books that I own.

>215 maggie1944: The problem is that I never know how long it's going to take me to fall asleep so an alarm doesn't do me any good. Sometimes I fall right to sleep, other times it can take me thirty minutes.

>216 SylviaC: *ponders* I think I'll do movies I've watched tonight. I don't think I can do non-fiction books. I haven't read enough of them.

ETA: Ha! I did a quick check and I don't have a "V' or "X" non-fiction book that I've read in my database.

218. Indigo Springs by A. M. Dellamonica

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #2 (younger author)

Summary: After accessing the magical power of the "vitagua" that leaks into her grandfather's house, Astrid and her friends unwittingly embark on a journey fraught with power, change, and a future too devastating to contemplate.

Opinion: Before I even finished this book, I got online to request the sequel from my library. Yes, it's the Mary-Sue to end all Mary-Sue stories, but the premise intrigued me and the female pro/antagonist do have their weaknesses including major issues with denial. The writing pushed the edges of lyrical without turning me off (bravo!) Well-written story and interesting world building. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel (which is already in hand!)

Rating: 8

219. Bloodchild by Octavia Butler

Genre: Science Fiction/Fiction/Essay

Notes: TIOLI #5 (didn't buy - library), LT Book Club

Summary: A short collection of chilling fiction, including Hugo and Nebula Award-winning stories, from Octavia E Butler. (A couple of essays, too.)

Opinion: Why, Oh, Why have I not read any Butler?!? I do NOT like short stories. The only authors who I feel could write decent ones were Heinlein, Asimov, and Spider Robinson. I have to add Butler to this list. Other short stories leave me wanting more - there is something lacking. I feel as if there is more to the story or I need to find out more about the characters. Others lack clarity or focus. You read it and think, "What the heck did I just read? What was the point?" The above writers never did that, including Butler in this delightful collection of (social) science fiction, speculative fiction, and a couple of fun essays, including one on the love of books and reading. Highly Recommended.

Rating: 9

ETA: I was so excited about how much I loved her work that I was determined to write to her. I don't normally write to authors but I thought it important for her to know how special I thought she was. Where has she been all my life? I went to look up her address and found out she had died. I was sad.

220. A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #10 (never set foot in country - Portugal), Around the World in 80 Sleuths (12 in 12 - Portugal)

Summary: While investigating the murder of a young girl with a disturbing sexual past, Inspector Ze Coelho unearths a thirty-year-old mystery that is linked to Portugal's fascist past.

Opinion: Meh. Overall, it was a quick, interesting read that ultimately left me unsatisfied.

MAJOR SPOILERS: While I enjoyed the story, the plot was too convoluted (two timelines, many people involved/guilty), the motivation of the person ultimately responsible for the murder is murky (and I don't feel all that strong), and that person gets away with it all to go on their merry way. Other major details such as if the love interest is or is not involved are also left unclear.

Rating: 6

221. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines

Genre: Classics

Notes: TIOLI #11 (published after 1950/film), 2011 TBR Codes (13 in 13)

Summary: Grant Wiggins, a college-educated man returns to 1940s Cajun, he visits and forms an unlikely bond with Jefferson, a young Black man convicted of murder and sentenced to death, for a crime he didn't commit.

Opinion: I'm not quite sure how I feel about this nor how to rate it. I found it both moving and annoying. It was upsetting and uplifting. I wanted to rate it highly because it was written so well about an important subject and had emotional impact. I didn't rate it highly because I also rate books for the enjoyment factor and I felt like crap after I finished. I am glad I read it though.

Rating: 7

222. Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Genre: Thriller

Notes: TIOLI #18 (more than one author), Ultimate Reading List (13 in 13)

Summary: Days before a massive exhibition at the New York Museum of Natural History, visitors are being murdered. Autopsies indicate that the killer cannot be human. The museum's directors decide to go ahead with the bash in spite of the murders.

Opinion: While I enjoyed the thriller aspects of it, every single character made classic monster movie mistakes: going off alone, searching the basement (caves), checking out noises when they know there's something bad around, disbelieving the guy who knows what's going on, underestimating the bad guy, etc. Dummies.

Rating: 6

223. Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Notes: TIOLI #5 (didn't buy - library), next in series

Summary: A collection of all-new and previously published short stories featuring Mercy Thompson and the characters she calls friends…

Opinion: As I've said before, I don't care for short stories but knowing the characters and the world made this collection a delight. I've read a couple of these before but most of them were totally new to me. Only one story was about Mercy, the rest were friends or from her world. Good stuff. Highly recommended for Mercy Thompson lovers who are caught up with the series (spoilers abound). Not recommended for those unfamiliar with the series. You will be totally lost.

Rating: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/P/0425265005.01._SX140_SY224_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

>222 Morphidae: "every single character made classic monster movie mistakes" Don't you hate that? It happens in detective fiction, too, and it's the author who's the dummy. Too bad, really.

>219 Morphidae: "What the heck did I just read? What was the point?" I often have the same issue with short fiction, but then again, there is some terrific stuff out there. I don't read a lot of sci-fi, but I'm happy to see you putting Octavia Butler in such good company (although I am not familiar with Spider Robinson). It's always a matter of wading through the not-so-good to find the great stuff, no matter what the genre, isn't it? That's one of the reasons I value LT'ers and their opinions so much. Saves me a lot of wading.

224. 3rd Degree by James Patterson and Andrew Gross

Genre: Mystery

Notes: TIOLI #18 (more than one author), next in series

Summary: A townhouse explodes into flames. The Women's Murder Club identifies a pattern of political terrorism that leads to August Spies. An upcoming meeting of G-7 nations that will provide the perfect stage for another attack.

Opinion: Women's Murder Club books are cotton candy, suck-them-up thriller/mysteries perfect for a rainy afternoon.

Rating: 7

~~~~~

Currently Reading:
Collapse by Jared Diamond
Agatha Christie by Agatha Christie
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool
Essential Spirituality by Roger Walsh
Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov

On Deck:
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

>219 Morphidae: Your thoughts about reading short stories rang a bell with me as I often have the same reaction. I haven't read Octavia Butler yet, must give her a try.

I felt exactly the same after reading A Lesson Before Dying. Bereft and heartbroken, but very glad I had read it.

I think I'll push everything else down the list and pick up Mark of the Demon next. Just for you ~~~ even though I said I was going to read all the zombie books first... I may just break my own rule!!! :)

I can't believe that is NEVILLE in >203 Morphidae:. Holy crap he is good looking!

Also, I'm going to have to add the Mercy short stories to my wish list... although I think I'm at least one novel behind so I will need to catch up first. Although, I love her so much that won't be a sacrifice AT all!

For some reason, this make me think of you and that you might enjoy it (I know I certainly did):

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/news/a29900/super-hot-disney-princes/

>230 scaifea: OH.MY.GOD.

You must love me.

Eric is my favorite because of his expression. But Hans, man, even though he's a bad guy, that butt is adorable. I have to agree with the article though - those "packages" are a bit much.

>230 scaifea: I'm guessing NSFW on this one, so I'm not agonna click right now!

>230 scaifea: I nearly snorted my tea out! Yes, their luggage is a little over the top but it's quite a cool take on the stereotypes.

>231 Morphidae: I thought the person writing the article was protesting a bit much, really. I myself have bookmarked the page for future, *ahem* browsing... Aladdin, David, Kocoum and Peter Pan (that last one makes me feel a little wrong, but, well...) are my favorites.

I think I need to wash my eyes now.

>234 scaifea: Tarzan is certainly revealing rather too much but I'll happily take Kocoum or John Smith home with me please :)

The Morphy household is down with a particularly nasty cold. Usually one of us gives it to the other so there is some type of delay. That way the healthy one can take care of the sick one - but not this time. We both came down with it yesterday. So I won't be posting for a few days unless something catches my attention. Like, oh, pinup Disney hunks.

Well, dang, Morphy. We're all just getting over it here - I hope you and the Mr. get over it quickly. Maybe I should send Nurse Eric over...?

Sorry to hear about the cold! Hope you're both feeling better soon.

Hugs. Hope you both feel better soon.

>219 Morphidae: Hello Morphy, glad to hear that you are feeling better. Here another one, who actually doesn't like short stories. I mostly think they are lacking something. However, I have read quite a few of Octavia Butler ss and novels and I always enjoyed her quite a bit.

I'm devastated. Absolutely devastated. MrMorphy went to get his annual check up for his eye and the damn thing has grown. We thought it was going to be no change again. But he definitely has eye cancer. He has to go in for surgery to put in radioactive seeds November 3rd. This is a financial disaster for us. His unemployment runs out next week. He can't even start a job, any type of job because of two full days of tests then four days down in Rochester for the surgery and then a week for recovery. We need money for him to stay down there and for someone to help me while he's gone. Our truck is over fifteen years old and needs work. Three hours there and back to Rochester - I don't know if it will keep doing it. Plus he's having to drive himself with no company. All we'll have is my disability income which pays the mortgage and some of the utilities - nothing else.

He's already been in a deep depression. This is going to put him over the edge and I've just been sobbing. I have no idea where to go or what to do. I can't even go down with him because of my weight and I HATE myself for it. Disgusting f*ing pig who can't even take care of herself.

I don't know what to do. Gods, I don't know what to do. *sobs*

Oh, Morphy....dear heart, pick up the phone and call somebody, please...There must be someone who can at least listen and let you cry. I'm so so sorry about these developments.

Oh Morphy, how awful. I am so, so sorry for your devastating news. Please be gentle with yourself. I wish I could help.

Oh, Morphy. I don't know what to say, except I really believe that people will come through for you with the money and other help. Just tell us where the donation page is!

Also, I've been following your accountability thread and I've seen that you have your daily calorie count fully under control. Losing weight is never an easy process, but your progress is really inspiring. I know you want to be there with him right now, but I hope you can take at least some consolation from the fact that you're making amazing progress so that you can be there in the future.

>245 _Zoe_: Well said and I agree with every word.

{{{{Morphy}}}}

Morphy you and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs xx

What Zoe said, Morphy. So sorry this has happened to you and Mr. Morphy. People, like all of us, will want to help. The main thing is to take care of that eye.

I'm too ashamed to ask LTers to help again. You helped so much the year before last.

Oh Morphy, I am so sorry that this is happen to you and you and your husbands are in my thoughts. However, I thought the funding a couple of years back was a good thing and why not re-introduce it. I am sure if everyone can give a little that will at least help you in a small way. Please, don't be ashamed to ask for help. There is nothing wrong with that.

Hi Morphy, I am so sorry to hear the bad news about Mr Morphy and his eyes, just as things seem to be on track something comes along to drag you back down, you do not deserve this run of bad health and my heart goes out to you and Mr Morphy at this time. I cannot begin to imagine what thoughts are going through your mind at this time my dear and obviously coming from the UK with free health care I do not know how people in the states go on when you have a disability or are unfortunate to be out of work, I am both but I would not be worrying as much as you are because of the UK health system. Please do not be ashamed to ask LT ers for help, those that sympathise and can help will, those that don't or won't, that is up to them, if I can contribute I will even though our finances are a bit tight at the moment. I wish I was near to you so that I could pop round and give you a hug and be a sounding board for you so you could vent off and release some pressure. Please, please ask for some help if you can even if you decide not to involve Lt, because Mr Morphy needs you strong and we need you fit and healthy. Love and hugs from this side of the pond my dear, you will both be in our prayers.

MrMorphy got home a bit ago. I've never seen him like this. He is considering not doing anything as an option even though he knows eye cancer metastasizes. He's totally shut down and says if he doesn't stay shut down he'll "do something stupid" (i.e. suicide.) I asked him if he is safe and if I needed to call 911. He said as long as he stays shut down he'll be safe. But how long can he do that and it's certainly not healthy. I'm scared for him and this is breaking my heart.

GD, it! I feel like throwing things. How totally unfair. I'm so so so sorry.

I agree with whoever said it above that you must focus on how well you have been doing in taking care of yourself, do not beat up on yourself because you are unable to help your husband as much as you wish you could. This is one of those situations when no matter how much help you could provide it might still feel like not enough.

Please, be sure both you and your husband let everyone know that you have some needs.

**hugs**

I think I can understand the need to shut down, at least for a bit. It's like the denial stage of grief. But for his well-being, of course, it must not last too long. Quite likely his survival instincts will kick in and bring him to action. You're there. He knows that.

>245 _Zoe_: Ah, jeez, Zoe. You didn't wait for me to make up my mind what to do, eh? Thank you.

>255 Morphidae: Oh, good! I was hoping that would still get through even though the campaign was technically closed. Muahahaha.

Can you give me the link?

>256 _Zoe_: Yea, @_Zoe!

Shutting down for a bit will probably help him. And, as @laytonwoman3rd pointed out, he knows you are there and values your presence. You two have been through a lot together and you will get through this, too. Please accept help from whereever you can, for you and MrMorphy and for those who want so much to be able to ease the way for people the care about.

{{{Morphy}}}

{{{MrMorphy}}} (to be delivered when he is ready)

Okay. For MrMorphy...

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/ken-lundquist-s-mrmorphy-s-medical-b...

***

MrMorphy (Ken) was diagnosed with a possible choroidal melanoma (retinal cancer) early in 2013. On-going checkups showed no growth until October 8th, 2014 when it doubled in area. Immediate treatment is required.

The preferred treatment is seed radiation which would take place at Mayo in Rochester around November 3rd. This would require a four to five day visit either in the hospital or in a hotel room depending on what insurance will cover. MrMorphy will need to go down without me, most likely alone unless we can find someone to go with him, and we will need to pay for a personal care assistant to come in twice a day to help me.

The second option is for them to remove the eye entirely. This would be taken care of at our local medical facility.

Either way he will eventually lose sight in that eye. It's just a matter of when.

MrMorphy's last unemployment check will arrive next Wednesday, October 15th, then all we will have for income is my disability. This is enough to cover the mortgage and some utilities. That is all.

I've called my church, requested applications for food and energy assistance, and MrMorphy's in-laws said they would help. But it is still all overwhelming, emotionally and financially.

The goal amount is the amount of his current insurance's medical deductible. We may get assistance with that from Mayo or our local medical center depending on which treatment MrMorphy decides on.

If we get that assistance, the monies would go toward paying for a personal care assistant and living expenses. A first goal could be $3500 - the equivalent of three months of unemployment. MrMorphy would not be able to look for work until after he recovers from treatment. Most likely around mid-November.

MrMorphy is devastated. He has dealt with depression for years but this has been soul-despairing for him. He has felt the world has been against him and now he feels "(even) my body hates me."

This is the second fundraiser in a little over a year. Please do not feel obligated to donate a second time unless you wish to. I wouldn't have asked again if had been just for me but MrMorphy needs some spark of hope. He needs to see some good in the world. Because he needs that and I love him, I will humble myself and ask. Know that every donation - no matter the amount - will be appreciated beyond measure.

With hope,
Morphidae

Oh my gosh, Morphy. I am at a total loss for words. I just cannot even imagine what Mr.M is feeling.

I think the shock / shut down will wear off, but you are going to have to be his rock. So you know what? Let us be yours! OK?

Let me do what I can that's small right now & then see what else I can muster once I get home & look at my finances with Lisa.

You spearheaded a campaign for Richard's health. Now it's time to save Mr.M and you.

We all love you Morph. ((((Both Morphys))))

Oh Morphy, I so wish I could help right now. I will ask the universe to provide for you. I am so sorry to hear this news.

Oh Morphy, so sorry!!! Keeping my fingers crossed for both of you and hope Mr. Morphy finds his strength again.

I am so sorry to read about this latest disaster, Morphy. My thoughts are with with the both of you.

Oh, my, so sorry to hear about MrMorphy's diagnosis and your understandable reactions. I think it's great to have a fundraiser and, though it isn't a lot, have contributed what I can. In the meantime, you and MrMorphy are both in my thoughts and prayers.

I've shared this with my FB friends and hope something good comes of it.

I tweeted the fundraiser - I don't have a lot of followers, but I hope it'll help.

Oh, Morphy, dear friend. Big, big, BIG hugs. We're all here for you, lady, and for your Mr.

>249 Morphidae: It's a privilege, an honor, and a joy to be able to assist you, Morphy.

I'm praying for you, both.

Glad we can help, Nora

Morphy, I was here last night, and I thought I had posted, but I must not have. I am so sorry to hear your latest news, but so very thankful that you asked for help. I am always amazed by your lovely spirit and generous heart; it is my privilege to give something back to you. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers and, always, in our hearts.

Adding my post to let you know that you and MrMorphy are in my thoughts.

Sending lots of positive thoughts, Morphy. I hope Mr. Morphy's spirits are improving. That was tough news to get.

Wow. I've been away for a few days, so missed this thread as it happened. I'm so sorry this is happening to the two of you. We'll be praying for you. *Heads over to give*

We are blown away by everyone's generosity. Just blown away. With this being a second fundraiser, we were not expecting this type of response. Thank you so much.

Morphy, I'm sorry to hear about MrMorphy's diagnosis and hope that we can give him the spark of hope that he needs. My prayers for the both of you.

Others have so elegantly stated what I cannot, but please know that you are in my thoughts. It's not as much as I would like to give, but I did donate to your medical expenses. Stay strong!

I'm so sorry to hear the news about MrMorphy. You are both in my prayers.

So sorry to hear about the problems you're facing. I wish there was more I could do but I've done what I can. Know that you have tons of people on LT who care about you and are hoping for the best.

{{{{{{Morphy}}}}}} {{{{{Mr. Morphy}}}}}

So very sorry to hear what you are both going through - but I'm glad you've given us an opportunity to help a bit with the finances.

It could so easily happen to any of us. Glad to help, Morphy. xo

I am so sorry to hear about the news Morphy, I want you to know that you are both in my thoughts and prayers. I hope things improve for you guys and things get better soon. Sending love and hugs to you.

Oh, I'm so sorry. For both of you. There are good and wonderful people in the world, especially in this place. You know we will happily pitch in to do whatever we can. Wish we all lived closer together and we could help each other out in person!

Sorry, to hear the news about Mr. Morphy. How sad. You are both in our thoughts and in our prayers.

~throwing you both some hugs and kisses~

Very sad news. Prayers for both of you.

So sorry to hear your news. Hoping for a strong recovery.

Dear, dear Morphy - will add my own little words of comfort and can only state that I (as I am sure many of your friends here) will do all we can to help you both in this difficult time - I'll go and see if I can get my credit card to play ball.

I can't offer much, not having much to give at this point in my life, except me condolensces and hope that things will get better. :( You and MrMorphy are in my thoughts.

I'm so sorry, Morphy. You're both in my thoughts and prayers.

Morphy - I've very, very sorry to hear about MrMorphy's sad news. Keeping you in my thoughts.

{{{Morphy}}}

{{{MrMorphy}}} (when he's ready for them)

You are both in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for letting us help a little. It is so hard to watch a friend suffer and not be able to do anything at all.

Cancer zapping whammies, job finding whammies and heart healing whammies headed to your household.

Oh, Dear One

I am so, so sorry.

Thank you for spreading so much joy and light in LT all the time. I hope you and Mr. Morphy can feel that light reflecting back to you now when you need it. Best wishes to both of you.

I've upped the goal but it's not aimed at you all. We've forwarded the link to my church, the group I volunteer for, some friends, and a Facebook group MrMorphy is involved with.

Yay! Good for you, Morphy, it is great that you can let as many people as possible what the need really looks like.

I really hope that people who are able can help you out. Unfortunately things are incredibly tight at the moment and I'm not sure how I'm going to manage over the next month but if things work out, I'll try and come back to give a little.

It makes me so furious at your health system though. How can it be acceptable that you are having to try and find this money for treatment? In a country that touts itself as the best in the world, it's utterly abhorrent.

Morphy, you both are in my thoughts.

I hope Mr. Morphy's spirits are better today. I also hope that seeing that people do care will help to shore him up for the challenges ahead.

How are Mr. Morphy's spirits? How are you?

We are all here holding you up with love and prayers and good wishes, dear friend.

(((Morphys)))

Hugs to you and Mr. Morphy. You are a joy to have around LT and I'm glad you have given us the opportunity to help out. You help so many others.

I'll add myself to the chorus of "do not berate yourself." Not everyone can take care of themselves at all points in their lives and some folks will always need help. When you give others the opportunity to help you then you are on journey together. You are allowing us to dig deep and help you and Mr. Morphy even though we may be in tight circumstances it helps us count our blessings as we bless you. When you hire a caregiver you may be putting food on their table that they desperately need, etc. Please be kind to yourself Morphy. You are a true inspiration to many of us.

I'm so sorry that life is throwing lemons at you and Mr. Morphy these days. That is a scary situation with the diagnosed cancer in his eye. He has good doctors and, hopefully, his outlook will improve with the outpouring of help from different communities of friends. I am happy to add my support both financially and spiritually. I will be praying for both of you, Morphy.

I'm so sorry to hear this terrible thing! I hope the fund-raising will help. I donated some of course!

I'm so glad the fundraising is going well. It makes me very hopeful for him, and I'm sure it has helped his spirits.

{{{{Morphy}}}}

{{{{MrMorphy}}}}

How are you doing through all this, Morphy?

Are the headaches better?

Just doing a fly-by to let everyone know I'm here. The headaches aren't better. Unfortunately, stress makes them worse.

MrMorphy's blood tests came back dead average. So, that's good news.

He has CT scans tomorrow. He is SO looking forward to drinking all that barium tomorrow morning. Yuck!

Meeting with the county social worker this morning was a waste of time. With just my disability we make too much to qualify for any food, medical, or personal care attendant assistance. MrMorphy was really pissed and it made me sad.

And just found out the person we thought could give him a ride down to Mayo in Rochester isn't available. Back to the drawing board.

People from LT, the non-profit I volunteer for, and a Star Trek group MrMorphy is involved in have been amazingly generous.

Lots of ups and downs.

Still thinking of you, and wishing you and MrM the best.

Morphy, take step by step and take care of yourself otherwise you get ill too. I know that this is very difficult task to do so but it works best. Hugs xx

Fingers crossed everything comes back as well as possible from the CT scan and that things fall into place.

>306 Morphidae: Keeping my fingers crossed.

I give some positive thoughts and wishes every day. Hope you're going to be catching some good luck!

Love, thoughts, & prayers for you both. ((((Morphy))))

Praying for you.

Morphy, I send you positive vibes and love.

I've gone from being three weeks behind on the threads to two days behind on the threads. I'm slowly getting back to posting on other people's threads and by tomorrow should be back here responding to all the lovely posts you have made.

MrMorphy will be leaving about 6:30am tomorrow for his Oncology appointment at Mayo and I'll be alone all day. It will be a busy day though with lots of phone calls again! The most important one being on the speaker phone with MrMorphy at his appointment.

Two more weeks until surgery. MrMorphy is a very angry person right now. Most days I don't have a problem with it, it's very understandable. But some days I'm just as emotional as him (I'm a crier) and it's a mess.

Angry is better than despondent. It should help him fight. And naturally you're going to get emotional from time to time... I wish there was someone to be there with you today, though. I take it you did find someone to drive him to Rochester.

Whoops, should have made it clear that it was tomorrow. And I'll be okay. I'll be so busy I won't be much company. He's driving himself tomorrow for the oncology appointment. But, yes, we have found someone to take him for the surgery. It's the ideal situation in fact. MrMorphy will be able to drive himself down in his own truck and smoke as he likes. The fellow will drive our truck back to the cities then go pick him up in MrMorphy's truck. I feel this will give him more of a sense of control. This fellow is MrMorphy's age and not much of a talker - a much better fit than the woman who was a chatterer, was going to bring him in her car, and was a little grumpy about him smoking.

I am very happy you have found someone who can provide transportation for MrM (-:

Keep on keeping on, young lady. One day at a time, one day at a time.

(OK, I'm out of cliché sentiments) I wish you both the very best of good fortune through this journey.

>317 Morphidae: Hugs. I'll be thinking of you both today.

I hope MrMorphy's appointment goes as well as possible. At least you will be able to join in on the speaker phone. Good wishes to you both.

I'm hoping that today's appointment has a good outcome for both you and MrM.

Thinking of you both today, and hoping you are feeling much better.

Hopefully today has gone/is going as well as can be expected. Fingers crossed.

Just nipping in to tell you you're in my thoughts.

Sending my best thoughts for you and Mr. Morphy today.

Good luck today, Morphy.

We've had good news today. All his scans and tests came back clean. I was terrified because he's smoked for over 40 years. But he's good.

I want to get a fall clean up of our yard to save MrMorphy some stress but haven't had much luck. Lawn companies either haven't been calling me back or they won't do "one offs." I called one neighbor who I've seen supervising/working with neighborhood kids. But it seems they or their parents did something and he doesn't work with them anymore. And he's not in good enough shape to do it himself. I called a different neighbor and offered him the same deal - the amount I would have paid the lawn company if he would clean up our yard. He said don't worry about it. He'd do it for free. What an awesome guy! We'll still get him a gift certificate for something in appreciation, but it won't cost us as much.

And it might be one more day before I can answer posts. I was on speaker phone with MrMorphy for his appointment and I've had to make a ton of calls. The day has slipped away from me. I also need to get a new thread started!

So good that you've gotten some good news from a couple of places today! Yay!

Hi Morphy, so glad that you have got some good news for a change my dear and what a good neighbour you have got, people like these are sometimes few and far between. He will love the gift certificate I am sure.

So thrilled that today was good news! And your neighbor - fabulous! WahHOO for you!

Dear Morphy, I've been away from LT for a couple of weeks and am so sorry to see your bad news. I will keep you and MrMorphy in my thoughts and prayers over the coming days and weeks, and hope that all goes as well as it possibly can for you both.

I'm glad to hear there was encouraging news today, Morphy. And good neighbors are invaluable, aren't they? Both my mother and my MIL have people in their neighborhoods who do kind and helpful things for them all the time; I appreciate it so much, as I don't live close enough to be a daily help to either of them. So the day "slipped away", did it? It sounds to me like you were pretty busy, and accomplished some important stuff.

*waving* at Morphy

Oh, yay for good news!!

Glad all the tests were good, and yay for the neighbor! Sometimes it is amazing how much good there is in the world, isn't it?

I'm not on LT much at the moment, but I manage to get a bit of lurking done now and then. Yay for good news!

Very happy to hear some good news. I'll keep hoping for more.

Morning Morph! That is great news on Mr. Morph's scans! I hope the positives continue...

Morphy --I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are coming your way. Glad the scans went well!

I'm glad things are picking up for you, Morphy. And it will be lovely to be able to look out your window at a nice clean lawn.

I'm glad to read that Ken's tests came through "clean". Good news too about the helpful neighbour. I hope that you continue to get good news as things progress. Keep your spirits up, Morphy!

Wonderful news, Morphy. I'm glad for both of you.

Encouraging news, Morphy. High five for that neighbor.

Hi Morphy, I've been absent from LT for a bit as well. Excellent news about Mr.M scans, that must be such a huge relief for the two of you. Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold!

Stopping by and happy to see the good news about MrMorphy's tests!

Definitely good news! I hope things are getting better around the Morphy house. :)

Hello Morphy,

glad to hear that despite all the stress you are presently going through, you received at least some good news. You are both in my thoughts and I do hope that life will pick up again for you soon. Great to hear that there are still neighbours who are fantastic and who are able to help out.

Okay. I'm caught up with LT threads and now I'm going to try to get caught up with my own.

>227 DeltaQueen50: I ordered Kindred from the library and should be getting to it soon.

>228 TinaV95: So have you read Mark of the Demon yet?

>229 TinaV95: I think I'm going to run a Mercy Thompson re-read next year. One a month from the beginning of the series.

>232 laytonwoman3rd: Ah, well, sort of NSFW. Depends on where you work and how straight-laced they are I guess!

>233 lunacat: I just sat there with my chin on my chest thinking, "OH MY GOD. Buy one for me, mommy?"

>234 scaifea: Yeah, the Peter Pan squicked me out a bit.

>235 SylviaC: You can't ever wash it out of your brain.

>236 lunacat: Awww, what's a little fuzz between friends? LOL.

>238 scaifea: As long as MrMorphy gets Jasmine or Pocahontas. He likes them a little exotic.

>239 SandDune: >240 MDGentleReader: Thanks, we were both over it pretty quickly.

>241 drachenbraut23: Agreed. Much of the time they are lacking something.

>243 laytonwoman3rd: My mom has been a blessing. She's been through cancer with her mom and my sister-in-law. She knows all the ins-and-outs.

>244 AMQS: I think I'm indulging myself a little too much and I'm gaining far too much weight. I haven't has much energy to care though.

>245 _Zoe_: They certainly have come through, especially yourself, Zoe. Thank you never seems quite enough.

>246 MDGentleReader: >247 Ameise1: Thank you. We appreciate all the positive thoughts and prayers.

>248 jnwelch: We're doing our best to do just that.

>250 drachenbraut23: I'm still working through the shame but my husband is my priority. If I have to ask, I have to ask. And I've been asking for help all over.

>251 johnsimpson: LTers have been a blessing. Both as people I can vent to and as people who have generously added to the fundraiser. I don't know how we could have done this without you.

>253 maggie1944: Oh, I have been. I've been on the phone three to four hours a day - insurance, county, doctors, medical offices, social workers, food shelf, assistance organizations, etc. It's exhausting.

>254 laytonwoman3rd: He's not as bad as he was the first day or two, but he's still very down and depressed. I can usually get him laughing about something, but there are days when I can't even do that lately.

>256 _Zoe_: I don't think it came through the old fundraiser because it's technically closed. I can't even get into it. But it did get through to PayPal.

>258 MDGentleReader: MrMorphy sang this song to me (along with the radio) today and it brought me to tears. So, yes, I feel very valued.

(The bolded parts are where he put special emphasis.)

You know I need your love, you got that hold over me
Long as I got your love, you know that I'll never leave
When I wanted you to share my life, I had no doubt in my mind
And it's been you, woman, right down the line

I know how much I lean on you, only you can see
Changes that I've been through have left their mark on me
You've been as constant as a northern star, the brightest light that shines
It's been you, woman, right down the line

Chorus:
I just wanna say this is my way
Of telling you everything I could never say before
Yeah, this is my way
Of telling you that every day I'm loving you so much more

'Cause you believed in me through my darkest night
Put something better inside of me, you brought me into the light
Threw away all those crazy dreams, I put them all behind
And it was you, woman, right down the line

Chorus

If I should doubt myself, if I'm losing ground
I won't turn to someone else, they'd only let me down
When I wanted you to share my life, I had no doubt in my mind
And it's been you, woman, right down the line

Give that man a big ole hug and a kiss from me!

>260 TinaV95: >261 AuntieClio: >262 cammykitty: >263 DeltaQueen50: >264 Storeetllr: >265 jjmcgaffey: >266 scaifea: >267 fuzzi: >268 magicians_nephew: >269 Crazymamie: >270 lkernagh: >271 jnwelch: >272 drneutron: >274 lindapanzo: >275 RosyLibrarian: >276 cbl_tn: >277 PawsforThought: >278 ronincats: >279 gennyt: >280 tiffin: >281 GeezLouise: >282 LauraBrook: >283 msf59: >284 maggie1944: >285 thornton37814: >286 LoisB: >287 PaulCranswick: >288 Kassilem: >289 bell7: >290 SandDune: >291 MDGentleReader: >292 Whisper1: >293 Berly: >297 Ameise1: >298 tiffin: >301 Donna828: >302 connie53: >303 cammykitty: >304 MDGentleReader: >307 SylviaC: >308 Ameise1: >309 lunacat: >310 RosyLibrarian: >311 maggie1944: >312 TinaV95: >313 Thebookdiva: >314 Ameise1: >319 MDGentleReader: >321 catarina1: >322 ronincats: >323 lunacat: >324 laytonwoman3rd: >325 luvamystery65: >326 jnwelch: >331 Sakerfalcon: >333 alcottacre: >334 scaifea: >339 michigantrumpet:
Thank you. You are all a treasure to me.

>295 maggie1944: Yes, we are getting donations from all over. Including people who are total strangers.

>296 lunacat: I don't want anyone who is having problems themselves to try and stretch to give themselves. As they say in airplanes, put your own mask on first!

>299 TinaV95: I'll post updates on the new thread which will go up tonight or in the morning.

>300 luvamystery65: I'll try. It's hard.

>305 streamsong: The headaches are slightly better. Instead of taking one Naproxen in the morning and one at dinner. I am taking 1/2 at dinner. Next week I'll try to reduce to 1/2 in the morning as well.

>318 maggie1944: It's okay. I'm out of ways to say "thank you." Heh.

>320 SylviaC: The speaker phone worked out well and I was able to ask the questions I wanted to. The doctor asked MrMorphy how long we'd been married. When he said twenty-four years, the doctor replied we sounded like newlyweds!

>328 maggie1944: >329 johnsimpson: >330 Crazymamie: >332 laytonwoman3rd: >335 ronincats: >336 humouress: >337 RosyLibrarian: >338 msf59: >340 norabelle414: >341 tiffin: >342 Ameise1: >343 jnwelch: >344 DeltaQueen50: >345 lkernagh: >346 drneutron: >347 drachenbraut23: Yes, it's very nice to get some good medical news for a change. And the lawn is almost done!

>350 maggie1944: Done!

We're at $5,942. We met our first goal of $3,000 (three months of unemployment), and our second goal of $5,750 (insurance deductible). The next goal was to be able to pay the 20% copay for his surgery and radiation treatment but it seems Mayo is out of network and we'll be paying 60% instead of 20%.* However, it's still a good goal to shoot for. Not only LTers but also friends, family, people with the volunteer organization I work with, people in a Facebook group MrMorphy is an admin for and even strangers have donated.

*We've been told we "should" be able to get assistance from Mayo after the treatment and to "not worry about it." Because MrMorphy has insurance, we can't get "pre-approved" for financial assistance from Charity Care. It seems really stupid to me because what if we can't arrange financial assistance? Then what do we do? The treatment's already been done!

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/ken-lundquist-s-mrmorphy-s-medical-b...

I'm going to re-post the updates from the fundraiser. So some of it may be duplicate information.

10/10/2014
I've been doing a lot of phone calls (Mayo, insurance, our general physician, radiology, family, etc.) and research over the last few days. I'm to the point where I have to stop myself at 5pm or I'll work through the day until bedtime.

I'm bumped up our goal by $6,000. The treatment costs around $30,000 and insurance pays 80%. So, if we reach the new goal, all our medical expenses should be covered. Mayo is being a bit persnickety about financial assistance because MrMorphy/Ken has insurance but I'm still plugging along.

He had blood work done this morning and next Tuesday he will have chest and abdomen CT scans. On Monday the 20th, he heads back to Rochester to see Onocology to get the results and get set up for the surgery. I have to try and find someone to go with him. He needs an advocate to be there.

10/15/2014

MrMorphy's blood tests came back dead average. This is a good thing! He had his chest and abdomen CT scans yesterday. He just LOVED drinking all that barium. (Not.) He'll get those results when he goes back to Mayo on Monday the 20th for an appointment with Oncology.

He'll also be meeting with a social worker at Mayo about what resources we might be able to tap into. Also, we need that social worker to fill out an application for the Angel Foundation which gives financial assistance to people with cancer.

We met with our county social worker which was a waste of time. It's one of those situations where we make too much with my disability to qualify for help but don't make enough to pay the bills.

I've been battling the medical and insurance systems to get our bills at Mayo paid at the in-network rate since Mayo and the University of Minnesota are the only places in Minnesota that do plaque radiation therapy and both are out-of-network.

One success is that I've gotten Meals on Wheels to agree to give me two meals a week at a reduced rate. Yay!

I think that's it for an update. I'm working at least a few hours every weekday on phone calls and research. I'm finding that I'm having to call places two and three times, if not more, for them to return calls. MrMorphy said if he had to do it, he would have given up days ago and wouldn't have had any treatment. He's still in the angry/numb stage. I'm happy to be able to do this for him.

10/22/2014
MrMorphy (Ken) had an appointment with Oncology at Mayo on Monday. It went well. We're especially happy as all his blood tests and CT scans came back negative - no metastasis! I have to admit I was really scared about his lungs as he's been smoking for over forty years.

We're going forward as if he's going to have the radiation therapy but day to day (sometimes hour to hour) he waffles on whether he wants to do the radiation or have them just remove the eye (enucleation.) He said to me, "I have bad days - where I think I'll do the radiation. I have really bad days - where I think I'll have them remove the eye. And I have the worst days - where I think to hell with it and won't have them treat it at all."

We have his ride set up, we are close to getting a PCA set up for me, and we've been filling out forms for what financial assistance we can get (local food shelf, Angel Foundation.) The social worker at Mayo "was about as useful as a trained gerbil" per MrMorphy.

Ask the doctor what he would advise his son to do? I am sorry the social worker had on a gerbil costume; must be because it is October? Would Mr Morphy talk with the pastor of your church to help him come to a decision?

I know you most likely have thought of these ideas before I'm chiming in but I can't help but try to help.

hugs to you both.

Karen

And I appreciate that you have given us the opportunity to help, Morphy. There isn't much I can physically do for you from this distance, but at least I can feel that I'm still doing something useful.

What a shame about the social worker...a person who should be a source of competent assistance. When I was managing my uncle's medical care from a great distance (he was in an auto accident in NC, and I live in PA) a couple years ago, I could not have done it without two wonderful social workers who helped me navigate all the unfamiliar waters, even to getting transportation to bring him home when the time was right. I'm really sorry Mr. M didn't get one of that breed.

>354 SylviaC: As usual, @SylviaC put into words more eloquently than I can what I feel.

>352 Morphidae: you are an amazing woman. All those phone calls.

>349 Morphidae: That's so wonderful that he could come out of his depression long enough to sing that song to you - with emphasis. Newlyweds, indeed. I just love how persistent he was when he was wooing you. That story just puts a big old grin on my face when I think of it.

Don't forget to take good care of yourself through this, too.

{{{Morphy}}} - you live waay too far away.

Morphy, that song is just great! I'm glad that all your effort is getting SOME results. I can identify because, not only did my dad have an eye removed because of cancer (and survived another 15 years even though they said it could come back in a year), but my brother has just been diagnosed with a golf ball sized tumor in his lung, following removal of a melanoma on his neck last year, and goes into surgery on Tuesday. Let's exchange hugs and positive thoughts, yes?

I second MDGentleReader; you're an amazing woman. Things will work out, and you and MrMorphy come out of this stronger. You're both still in my thoughts.

>356 MDGentleReader: All you LTers live too far away. I know if even a dozen of you lived close, I would have not one thing to worry about!

>357 ronincats: The doctor said it had a 10 to 15% chance of metastasizing. So there is a very good chance that there won't be any more issues with it. I do hope so. I plan on keeping MrMorphy busy for at least another 30 years.

I'm so sorry about your brother. Cancer sucks SO F'ING MUCH! I don't know anyone who hasn't been touched by it in some fashion. Yes, very big hugs and wondrous positive thoughts on the way.

>358 Kassilem: MrMorphy is easily angered lately and each time he says he just won't get anything done. MrMorphy had just left for Mayo. I was wondering if the CT scan results got from radiology up here in the Twin Cities down to Rochester so I called radiology. Sure enough, they didn't have them. However, they were down in Rochester, but they were in the eye doctor's office. So I arranged to get them to radiology right quick.

If MrMorphy had gotten there and the scans weren't available, he would have flipped!

I called my mom afterward and said, "I am AWESOME!"

>359 Morphidae: Yes, you are.

'Course, we KNEW that.

>349 Morphidae: Well, as long as you eventually got the money sent through the old fundraiser, the precise route doesn't matter. But if it somehow got lost in Paypal limbo, let me know and I'll follow up with them.

>360 MDGentleReader: >361 laytonwoman3rd: *struts*

>362 _Zoe_: Yep, I got it!

***

New thread (finally). If I only would start up new threads on time, I'd probably have three more by now!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/182116