Scaifea's 2014 Challenge - Thread #33

Welcome to The Thirty-Third Thread!



Below you’ll find an explanation of my reading habits, which, I warn you, is a bit crazy. Usually I have about 10-12 books going at once, one each from the following groups (and occasionally other books slipped in there, too):

1. A book from the 100 Banned Books book (at least currently. As soon as I finish this list, I'll replace it with another, and oh, I've got tons of lists).

2. A children's book, for Charlie's library. I'm trying to collect books from various award lists, and I like reading them before reading them to Charlie or deciding to add them to Charlie's shelves. For this category, I’m currently working through three lists:
a. 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die
b. The CYOA books
c. The Newbery Honor books

3. A book from the Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List, in chronological order.

4. A book for the Presidential Challenge. Books for this category are read in chronological (presidentially) order.

5. An audio book, which I listen to as I knit/sew/otherwise craft/drive.

6. A list I'm working through together with my best friend, Rob: The Hugo/Nebula/WFA/Bram Stoker lists (combined, in chronological order)

7. For this category, I cycle through 7 different stacks:
a. A book from my shelves which I haven't yet read
b. Agatha Christie's bibliography (in chronological order)
c. Stephen King's bibliography (in chronological order)
d. Neil Gaiman's bibliography (in some order other than chronological (don't
ask)).
e. Christopher Moore's bibliography (in chronological order)
f. Stephen Fry's bibliography (in chronological order)
g. The NEH Timeless Classics list
h. The National Book Award list (in alpha order by title)
i. The Pulitzer list (in alpha order by author)

8. A read-aloud-to-Charlie-at-bedtime book.

9. A book from my Classics shelves.

10. A book on Buddhism or from the Dalai Lama's bibliography.

11. Book-a-year challenge: Last year at some point, along with a few others in this group (*cough* Paul *cough*), I made a year-by-year list to see how far I could go back with consecutive reads. I've decided, again, to follow Paul's lead and try to fill in some of those blanks, and so I'm adding an entry here to my lists.

12. This slot is reserved for books that just grab me and shout that they need to be read Right Now.

And on top of these, there will be a multitude of picture books, which Charlie and I read together. I only list picture books that I or we read for the first time - no repeat reads will be mentioned here (and they are legion).

So, now you've got a glimpse of just how neurotic I am.
Please feel free to post comments, recommendations, or whatever else strikes your fancy. And Happy Reading, everyone!

(I'm almost finished with my Summer Book Bingo Challenge! And it's only October! Ha!)


What I'm reading now:
-Sanctuary (Banned Books list)
-Cedric, the Forester (Newbery Honor Book list)
-Faust (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-William Henry Harrison (Presidential Challenge)
-Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy (audio book)
-Lord of Light (Hugo award list)
-Enemy of God (from the TBR shelves)
-Charlotte's Web (Charlie's bed-time book)
-The Cambridge Companion to Critical Theory (off of my classics shelves)
-Tantra in Tibet (buddhism list)
-Lady Windemere's Fan (year-by-year book list, 1893)
-Knit One, Kill Two (series that my mom wants me to read so we can chat about it)
-The Iliad (everyday audio book in the car)

In addition to these, I have some classics-related texts that I'm working through (quite slowly):
-Asinaria by Plautus (reading in Latin)
-Iliad by Homer (reading in Greek)
-Latin Literature by Gian Biagio Conte
-The Cambridge History of Classical Literature Volume 1 Part 1

The Reading Bingo is finished!:

More than 500 pages: The Sterkarm Handshake
Forgotten Classic: The Man in the High Castle
Book that became a movie: The World of Pooh
Published this year: Packaging Your Crafts
Number in the title: 45 & 47 Stella Street
Written by someone under 30: Cirque du Freak
Book with non-human characters: Odd and the Frost Giants
Funny Book: Diggers
Female Author: Flora & Ulysses
Book with a mystery: One Came Home
One-Word Title: Truckers
Book of short stories: M Is for Magic
Set on a different continent: Wings
Non-Fiction: Buddhism for Beginners
First book by a favorite author: Paddle Your Own Canoe
Heard about online: A Darkling Plain
Best-selling book: Still Foolin' Em
Based on a true story: John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life
Book at the bottom of TBR pile: Divine Misfortune
Book my friend loves: Stories I Only Tell My Friends
Book that scares me: The American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook
More than 10 years old: The Genie in the Bottle
Second book in a series: E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core!
Blue cover: The Life and Times of Paddington Bear

Also, here's the list of all categories for my local library's Summer Book Bingo Challenge (the ones specifically on my own Bingo card on in bold) - Finished!!:

Come to a library program: Mad Science of Iowa show
Find a something (plant, animal, mineral, planet, etc) and identify it with a library resource.
Find the secret phrase onfacebook.com/plattevillepubliclibrary or plattevillepubliclibrary.org/adults.
Listen to a music CD you haven’t heard before: Now That I've Found You - Alison Krauss
Listen to an audiobook: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Read a book about how to do something: The Unforgettable Photograph
Read a book about someone from a different culture: The Last Temptation of Christ
Read a book and watch the movie: Dune
Read a book by an author with the same last initial as you: Blood Tie
Read a book from the new book shelves: Packaging Your Crafts
Read a book from the children’s shelves: Should I Share My Ice Cream?
Read a book from the teen shelves: Predator's Gold
Read a book in a series: Infernal Devices
Read a book in large print: 1776
Read a book longer than 300 pages: Andrew Jackson His Life and Times
Read a book of poetry or a novel written in verse: Howl and Other Poems
Read a book set in the future: This Immortal
Read a book set in the past: Little House in the Big Woods
Read a book set in the present: Divine Misfortune
Read a book set outside the United States: Brave New World
Read a book shorter than 150 pages: The Life of the Buddha
Read a book that is not in a series: The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Read a book that is scientifically impossible: Journey to the West
Read a book that is scientifically possible: The Haunted Bookshop
Read a book that makes you laugh: Paddle Your Own Canoe
Read a book that mentions a place you want to visit: The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine
Read a book that says “by a bestselling author” on the cover: The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Read a book that won an award: Babel-17
Read a book where “sparks fly”: A Darkling Plain
Read a book with a battle against the elements: Blue Latitudes
Read a book with a color in the title Forever Amber
Read a book with a love story: Lady Chatterley's Lover
Read a book with a number in the title: Fahrenheit 451
Read a book with a one word title: Divergent
Read a book with an explosion: Great Disasters
Read a book with an investigation in it: Death in the Air
Read a book with pictures in it Horton Hatches the Egg
Read a book without a love triangle: Deity Yoga
Read a book you heard about in the media or online: Elle Minnow Pea
Read a book you keep “meaning to get around to.”: National Velvet
Read a cookbook and try a recipe: 500 Cupcakes (Lemon Cupcakes)
Read a folk tale or a book based on a folk tale: Instructions
Read a graphic novel: Hello Kitty: Here We Go!
Read a magazine from cover to cover: High Five - June 2014
Read a memoir or biography: Martin Van Buren and the Emergence of American Popular Politics
Read a newspaper that you don’t normally read: The Terre Haute Tribune
Read a nonfiction book: The Girl in the Leaves
Read a short story or essay: The Common Day by John Cheever
Read out loud for half an hour: (done)
Read outside for an hour (done)
Read the same book as someone else and discuss it: The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
Try something recommended by someone at the library: It's Always Something

Books Read (see previous threads for previous reads):

OCTOBER
556. (#86) Fahrenheit 451 (Banned Books list, Summer Book Bingo Challenge) - 10/10 = A+
557. (#87) Death in the Air (Christie bibliography, Summer Book Bingo Challenge) - 8/10 = B+
558. Hello Kitty's School Day (Charlie book) - 8/10
559. (#88) Ella Minnow Pea (Summer Book Bingo Challenge) - 7/10 = C
560. The Empty Pot (public library book) - 9/10 = A
561. (#89) One Summer (audiobook) - 8/10
562. Johnny Appleseed (Charlie book) - 8/10
563. (#90) National Velvet (NEH list, Summer Book Bingo Challenge) - 8/10 = B+
564. Instructions (Gaiman bibliography, Summer Book Bingo Challenge) - 10/10 = A+
565. Wake Up, Sun! (public library book) - 8/10 = B
566. Lola Loves Stories (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
567. The Hat (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B+
568. The Amazing Pig (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
569. Hello Kitty's Fun Fall Day (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
570. Four Good Friends (public library book) - 7/10 = C
571. What Do Teachers Do After You Leave School? (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
572. The Twelve Dancing Princesses (public library book) - 9/10 = A
573. I Love You, Little One (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
574. The Magic Horse of Han Gan (public library book) - 9/10 = A
575. (#91) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie's bedtime book) - 10/10 = A+
576. Room on the Broom (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A
577. Inside a House That Is Haunted (Charlie book) - 9/10 = A-
578. Splat the Cat: Good Night, Sleep Tight (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
579. Spooky Hayride (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
580. Gus Gets Scared (Charlie book) - 8/10 - B+
581. Grow a Pumpkin Pie (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B
582. The Shy Scarecrow (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+
583. (#92) The Einstein Intersection (Nebula award list) - 9/10 = A
584. (#93) Martin Van Buren and the Emergence of American Popular Politics (Presidential Challenge) - 6/10 = D
585. Happy Halloween, Mittens (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B

The Charlie Topper, taken yesterday afternoon:

And the Bonus Question (courtesy of Joe):

What had been your favorite of all of the jobs you've had?

I'm first! WoooP! And librarian - hands down :)

>2 scaifea: That looks like great fun!

>3 scaifea: Favorite of all my jobs was bedside nurse adult ICU. I did cardiovascular ICU and I have to say the my favorite time was when I went back to medical ICU after my stint in CV. It made me much better all around nurse and I loved dealing with multiple systems versus a focused system and recovering the same surgeries over and over.

Ha, I like the Charlie Topper. Great fun :-).
Happy new thread!

In the previous thread, the top (with the sausage) is indeed toad-in-the-hole. I have never heard of the second one that is being falsely claimed as such! According to wiki, the egg one is called 'egg in a basket'.

Also from wiki:

"Toad in the hole is a traditional British dish consisting of sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter, usually served with vegetables and onion gravy. The origin of the name "Toad-in-the-Hole" is often disputed. Many suggestions are that the dish's resemblance to a toad sticking its head out of a hole provides the dish with its somewhat unusual name. It is rumoured to have been called "Frog-in-the-Hole" in the past, although little evidence exists to support this theory. It has also been referred to as "sausage toad". "

>7 lunacat: Jenny: Ha! I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm afraid the impostor dish will remain "Toad in the Hole" here in Scaife Manor...

Happy new thread!! Charlie seems to have got the fall spirit down in spades. ; )

>4 BekkaJo: Bekka: WooHoo! Excellent answer, too!

>5 luvamystery65: Roberta: I'm still amazed at the jobs that nurses can do, and am so thankful for them - and you!

>6 Ameise1: Barbara: He *loved* jumping in the leaves.

>9 Berly: Kim: We know how to enjoy a good fall here at Scaife Manor. Ha!

Happy new thread!

For the bonus question: my current job, Children's Librarian, is probably my favorite.

My current job, genealogy librarian, is my favorite. It's my dream job.

Hi Amber, nice new thread my dear and I love the Charlie photo.

Happy New Thread, Amber.
Charlie is doing his thing again. He makes me smile.

>7 lunacat: >8 scaifea: I was confused by the 'toad in the hole' thing too. I thought it seemed a funny thing to make for breakfast, but we obviously thinking about completely different dishes!

Another great Charlie pic!

Bonus question:
I've had some great jobs - not sure I could pick a favorite. My internship in college was with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and it was pretty awesome. I worked at The White House for several years, and that was an amazing experience. And my current job lets me work with people all over the world, and I get to travel, so I like that. Thinking about it, I've been pretty lucky :)

Happy New thread, Amber! I love the Charlie action-shot! Cool!

>8 scaifea: I'm going to back you up here...when I was a kid I often spent a week of my summer with my mom's sister and her family. We were mostly a cereal or scrambled egg family at breakfast, but these people ate fried eggs more often than not. And I was frequently served "toad in the hole", which was definitely an egg fried in the middle of a slice of bread. As usual, Americans took a British staple and redefined it. Maybe we can't claim ultimate authenticity, but as upstarts, we make things our own as we see fit.

Happy New Thread!

It's much easier to say what was my least favorite job ever, which was lunchtime waitress in a tourist spot for $1 an hour. I hated it. My favorite would have to be my lifelong profession of school psychologist.

RE: b onus question---my favorite job has probably been church pianist, which I haven't done in 45 years. It paid diddly squat, but it was fun. I was fairly certain nobody listening to me at any given moment could have done a better job, even if I wasn't brilliant at it, and it was expressive, you know?

Hi Amber, jumping in to wish you a Happy New Thread!

Favourite job? Being a national magazine executive art director with relatively big budgets and the ability to choose the talent I wanted to work with was pretty well my dream job. Too bad I couldn't handle the pressure and the insanity in the long-run, but at least I had a good go at it and had a blast while it lasted. Now I have time for reading, which I didn't have back then, so there's always a silver lining.

>11 foggidawn: foggi: Yep, I think that's a pretty amazing dream job you've got there.

>12 casvelyn: casvelyn: Any profession with 'librarian' in the title somewhere is awesomesauce in my book!

>13 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! Good to see you!

>14 connie53: Connie: Thanks - he has that effect on me, too, for some reason...

>15 SandDune: Rhian: Potaydo/potahdo? Sort of? Ha!

>16 katiekrug: No wonder you're KAK - you've done some pretty amazing things!

>17 msf59: Mark: I know, right?! I'm pretty proud of that shot.

>18 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Aw, sing it, sister!

>19 ronincats: Roni: Waitress in a small-town diner is one of my least favorite past jobs, myself, so I can sympathize.

>20 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Oh, I had a church pianist gig, too, for a couple of years when I was in high school!

>21 Smiler69: Ilana: One of the things I love about this group is all of the impressive things the folks here have done/still do. In your case, I'm impressed both with the past *and* the present - your artistic abilities amaze me.

At our house we call the egg in a slice of bread "Blinkies" and we like them. :)

>2 scaifea: LOVE that photo of Charlie the blurrrr!

>3 scaifea: My favorite job... well it was more of a volunteer "job" but for a couple of years I volunteered at the Audubon Society in Portland, OR. My duty was to conduct tours of the old growth forest and teach about the birds, plants, animals found there. Loved it.

>20 laytonwoman3rd: Umm...yeah...I just realized I've admitted that my favorite job was one of my first, and I haven't done it since I was about 17 years old. Is that wrong? I used to love the job I have now, but I've worn it out, or it's worn me out, or something.

>23 nittnut: Jenn: Whatever it's called, it's pretty delicious, isn't it? And your Audubon touring job sound very cool! Also, I am inordinately proud of that photo - it really seems to capture how much we get caught up in the spirit of fall around here. All three of us love this time of year so much.

>24 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: No, I don't think that's wrong. Maybe it's your favorite because you didn't wear out its welcome? I think that, although I really enjoyed that gig, too, it would have become tiresome had I kept it up too long.
I know I've said this before - several times, in fact - but I feel so crazy ridiculous lucky that I've been able in my life to try out my dream job (teaching - and at a top notch liberal arts college, no less!), and have also then been able to say, "Yep, I've done this and I love it, but I'm ready for something else," namely, staying at home with Charlie. And now it feels like I'm entering yet another phase, getting a chance at yet another couple of my dream jobs (helping out at a library and sewing things for my shop), plus I'm dipping back into the teaching biz with occasional substitute gigs, which are a real hoot. I've chatted with the head librarian for the school district on her weekly rounds to Charlie's school, and she's essentially offered me a job if I want one, which is amazing and very cool and I may, some day, take her up on it, but for now I'm perfectly content to shelve books once a week, occasionally substitute for Pam (the librarian at Charlie's school) and other teachers there, and otherwise sew and craft and keep myself busy with things like running the school book fair and making Golden Tickets for my favorite Charlie Bucket. Another thing I've said over and over, but still holds happily true: I lead a charmed life. And I'm grateful for it every day.

On the agenda for today:

A bit of a busy day, really. After taking Charlie to school, I'll head straight back here for some treadmilling and house cleaning, then I'm heading back in to school to volunteer in Charlie's classroom for an hour or so. (In general I have avoided doing this, because I want to give Charlie his space and such and so don't want to crowd his style by being Right There in the classroom, but he asked me if I would come in to volunteer since other moms are doing it and he wants me there. So, here I go. (Although I'm still not going to do it more than once or twice a month, I think - he may think he wants me there a lot, but I'm not convinced that it's a fantastic idea. I *am* pretty excited, though, because I get to read to the kids today.)) Then, once I'm done volunteering, I'm going to hurry down to Dubuque for some quick shopping: I have a coupon for a certain store that essentially amounts to 50% off, so I don't want that to go to waste, plus I need more yellow yarn to make Tomm some Lego mittens. Also, I'm going to try to find some orange Chuck Taylors for Charlie's costume. Hopefully I can get all of that done and get back in time to pick up Charlie from school...
So, yeah, busy day. Thank goodness the fridge is filled with leftovers!

On the reading front: I slogged through a few more pages of the Van Buren bio. Ugh. My least favorite so far - the writing is pretty awful. Gah.

The calendar book today is a spy thriller by Ian McEwan: Sweet Tooth. I've never read anything by him, I don't think. Thoughts, anyone?

Morning Amber! It looks like it will be a nice fall day and a dry one. Yah! I have Sweet Tooth in the audio stacks and I NEED to read more McEwan. I think I have only read one.

>27 msf59: Mark: It's chilly but sunny here - hopefully it'll warm up a bit later.

Good morning, Amber. Congrats on the new thread!

Nice bonus question. :-)

Running bookstores in Chicago and Oak Park, and helping to run one in NYC, were my fave jobs. Living among books was great, as was the employee discount. Plus I met my wife at the Oak Park one (she was the resident storyteller).

>29 jnwelch: Joe: Ooooh, I have job envy, now. And I *love* that you found love among the bookshelves!

>30 scaifea: :-)

>26 scaifea: I've read Atonement and The Innocent by McEwan. I liked Atonement, which led to reading The Innocent, which I didn't like so much. There sure are a lot of books by him, so I don't know that two is a representative sample. :)

Favorite job? That would be a 6 sigma black belt.

I didn't know it at the time because I was a teen and stupid. (Is that redundant?) But I had so much fun working at a bookstore. One of my favorite parts? Taking home paperbacks to read that were stripped of their front covers. Bwhahaha. That plus... well, books.

*waving* at Amber

>32 nittnut: Jenn: I'll get round to trying him eventually - I'll keep in mind that Atonement is good, though. Thanks!

>33 jjvors: Jeff: Are you a fan of 30 Rock? Tomm and I love that show, and since fairly recently he's started working for a company that is involved in 6 Sigma, I've been fascinated to learn that it's a Real Thing! Ha! Shows how much I know about the business world, eh?

>34 Morphidae: Morphy: Oh, those stripped books make me so sad. I'm glad you were able to take some home and give them a little love.

>35 alcottacre: Hi, Stasia!! Good to see you!

Wow, it's been a bit of a trying evening here at Scaife Manor; Charlie is in one of his (thankfully *very*) rare fussy-pants moods and has done some hard time in the time-out chair. A book and bed is sounding really good right now...

Sorry it's been a rough night, but thank your lucky stars he's still little enough to do his "hard time" in the time out chair. ;)

Ha. Sneaking in at under 40 posts.

Sorry to hear that the otherwise usually most charming Charlie has been in fussy meltdown mode. I'm glad it's a rare occurrence.

I want to work in a bookstore!

>38 nittnut: Jenn: They're so rare, I feel that I really shouldn't complain, but because they're so rare, I'm out of practice! If this morning is anything like the Morning After last time, he'll wake up and say, "Mommy, I'm sorry about yesterday - I was just having a bad day." Ha!

>39 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen! Me, too. And me, too! Although I'd likely never bring home much of a paycheck.

On the agenda for today:

A bit of cleaning, some treadmilling, and then off to get a haircut, after which I'll come back home and knit, knit, knit. I may try to squeeze in a trip to the library before picking up Charlie from school, too. Baked potatoes and steamed broccoli for dinner.

On the reading front: I'm a few more pages along in The Einstein Intersection and I'm beginning to suspect that things aren't as I suppose they are in there... So, so good. I hope that after Halloween and the book fair madness that I can pick up the pace again with my reading - these two books are taking me forever and it likely seems to the casual reader of this thread that they're both hefty tomes when the sad reality is that neither of them are over 250 pages! Sheesh.

The calendar book today sounds pretty good, although I'll have to back up and start with the first of the trilogy (The Passage): The Twelve by Justin Cronin. Anybody reading this apocalyptic thriller series? Thoughts?

Morning Amber! I am enjoying a day off today. It will be the coolest day of the week, so I hit a good one. I LOVED The Passage! The Twelve...not so much. Still deciding if I'll continue, when the next one comes out.

>42 msf59: Mark: Oh, dang. I don't like to hear that the first one was good but the second wasn't. Hmm....

I know others have liked it, including our very own Dr. Neutron, so maybe it just rubbed me the wrong way. It happens.

>44 msf59: True. I'm still pondering adding it to the wishlist...

I gave them both 7/10 stars.

The Passage:
Average story. Interesting enough that I'll continue the series. Felt a little distant from characters. Had a hard time connecting to them.

The Twelve:
This tries really hard to be The Stand and doesn't quite make the grade though it's still a good read. I like stories told through several different viewpoints though you don't connect to the characters as well as you do with King's especially when it comes to Amy. Those chapters seemed too whoo whoo and confusing. Perhaps the final book will clear things up.

>46 Morphidae: Thanks, Morphy! Maybe I'll wait and see what the verdict is on the third one?

Hmm, your bonus question has me pondering. I really like my current job working in a public library but I also really loved my work when I was a research and assessment librarian.

Hope all your plans for the day come to fruition.

Hmm, jobs... I'd have to say it's still ahead of me. I've had a lot of jobs in my life, and a lot of them were horrible but necessary to make a living. Some of them have been enjoyable but mainly because of the co-workers - the jobs I could take of leave.

>48 MickyFine: Micky: Yep, librarian is one of my dream jobs, too. And thanks - so far so good!

>49 nittnut: Jenn: *SNORK!* Love it!

>50 PawsforThought: Paws: Well, then, you've got something to which you can look forward, eh? Silver linings and all that.

I loved working as a librarian too - and I love my volunteer 'job' at our local library - which includes sorting the books that come in! First dibs!

Hi Amber, I remember loving my high-school job of working in a local department store. I especially liked it when I was assigned to the record department. First I got to play music of my choosing all day and secondly, I had a stool behind the counter and so was able to spend some time sitting instead of standing all day.

I was very lucky with all my jobs over the years, mostly in the secretarial line, but looking back it's always the people that I worked with that made the job special.

Bonus question: I have to say my current job of area biologist for the Maine Dept of Marine Resources in the shellfish management program is pretty darn great! I have been so lucky to be able to work in the environmental field in my community for the past twenty years. Life is good!

>52 sibylline: Lucy: Oh, wow. So jealous of your first dibs!

>53 DeltaQueen50: Judy: For some reason your department store comment made me remember another dream job for me - working in a fabric shop. I'd love to do that. I agree, too, that the people one works with are what can really make or ruin a job.

>54 Cobscook: Heidi: Wow! How did I not know that that's what you do!? Very cool!!

>55 scaifea: I spent many weekends in the fabric department while working at the Department store, Amber, and as I was a sewer, I loved it. The downside was that a part of the department was also curtains, drapes and blinds and believe me as a 17 year old, I knew zip about how to measure up for those!

Oh, if I worked in a bookstore I would not even pretend to bring home a paycheck. I'd just bring home the books. It would be a problem. You know, groceries and mortgage and all that boring stuff.

My closest to the leave-your-money-with-your-employer scenario was when I worked at an ice cream parlor. But we were actually encouraged to taste all 31 flavors at no charge, the idea being that we could then interact intelligently with a customer about any flavor -- "well, the lemon chiffon is a bit intense for me, but if you like lemon then I do recommend it." It worked out well enough.

Good morning Amber, hope this finds you ok and that Charlie is in a better mood after his spell on the time-out chair. Love and hugs to you and the family my dear.

>56 DeltaQueen50: Judy: My mom worked in the fabric department of a department store for a few years and loved it, too. The only thing she says she didn't like was that when she'd sew up an outfit based on the pattern (she'd get the pattern and the fabric for free, if she agreed to then display the finished product in the store for a couple of weeks), she'd get ladies coming in wanting to buy the *exact* fabric so that they could make the *exact* dress. Ha! Some people have no imagination, eh?

>57 EBT1002: Ellen: Ooooh, ice cream! I'd take *something* home each night, but I'm afraid it would be round the waist...
For some reason that reminds me that I saw a police car parked at the local Dunkin Donuts the other day, and the immature/childish part of me made me giggle for at least 5 minutes about it. Why is that a stereotype, I wonder, and why is it so funny?

>58 johnsimpson: Morning, John! Charlie seems to be better, now. We all have our bad days, I suppose. Sending hugs right to over the pond - give one to that cutie granddaughter, please!

On the agenda for today:

I'll be staying on at the school for a bit this morning for a book fair PTO meeting - we need to photocopy and sort the announcement letters and the flyers, and get them to the teachers' mailboxes. Then back home for treadmilling, cookie-baking (Cinnamon Raisin Rounds) and then as much knitting as I can muster before picking Charlie up after school. From school we'll head to the clinic for Charlie's 6-year check-up and flu shots for both of us, after which there will be milkshakes to console us for the shots. Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner tonight.

On the reading front: I've made it past the halfway point in the Van Buren biography! WooHoo! *sigh*

The calendar book for today doesn't sound too appealing to me, mostly, I think, because I don't fly and have no interest in flying whatsoever: Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, Crew Drama, and Crazy Passengers at 35,000 Feet by Heather Poole.

>59 scaifea: Hi Amber, I will give Hannah banana a hug from you on Friday when we have her, I will log on and show her your photo so she knows who the hug is from. I am glad Charlie is better and you are right, we all have bad days. I sometimes think I should go to the naughty chair when I get that way, ha ha.

>60 scaifea: John: Aw, excellent! You should show her Charlie's photo, too, as I'm certain he'd give her a big hug, were they ever to meet (he's a hugger when it comes to other little kids)!

577. Inside a House That Is Haunted by Alyssa Satin Capucilli (Charlie book, easy reader) - 9/10 = A-
This one came yesterday as part of our monthly Scholastic class order, along with a bunch of other Halloween/fall-themed books. Charlie loved this one, which is based on the classic House-That-Jack-Built scheme and illustrated by his beloved Tedd Arnold (the Fly Guy guy).

>62 scaifea:: I am certain he would, he's a nice kid and they would get on like wildfire as long as he did as she wanted, ha ha. I keep hoping for that nice lottery win so that we can come over and see you and then get around to others as well. Oh well, got to keep hoping.

Oh! And how did I forget to mention this?!:

Okay, so you remember how Charlie was reading those little, extremely easy books that his teacher sent home with him last year? They were filled with 2-3-word sentences, super-large print, and mind-numbingly simple statements? Well, last night Charlie chose as his book to read (he always picks a bedtime book and I always pick one or two; he either pretends to read his, making up his own story, or asks me to read his, too) - The Very Hungry Caterpillar. And he *read* it. And I mean he READ it! Word by word, moving his little finger along the sentence, thinking hard about some words, asking for a little nudge on a couple of them, but honest-to-goodness reading the entire thing himself! Now, of course he knows the story by heart - it's one of his favorite books - but that kid was reading that book on his own! This is a big moment for Mommy! Loved it!

>64 johnsimpson: John: Ha! Well, Charlie can be pretty stubborn sometimes, but hardly ever with the little ladies - he's a perfect gentlemen and usually seems to go right along with whatever the girls want to do. It's pretty funny, really.
I'll keep hoping, too, because it would be lovely to host you and yours.

>65 scaifea:: >66 scaifea:: Good for Charlie to read a book by himself, one to note down in early life of Charlie. These are steps that we sometimes forget but are major life points, please pass on my congratulations to this clever boy of yours.

>67 johnsimpson: I don't think he'll soon forget it - he was beaming when he finished and so proud. And I know *I* won't forget it!

>68 scaifea:: I am sure you won't forget it my dear.

Morning Amber! Yah, for Charlie! How cool! Yes, a chilly start to the day, but I keep thinking of those warm temps coming up, at the end of the week. Grins...

>65 scaifea: Good going Charlie!!! Soon you will have your own LT thread!

BTW: even us older folks can't resist jumping into a pile of leaves!!

>65 scaifea: WTG Charlie! Such a great book too.

>57 EBT1002: When I worked at a donut shop, I thought they were insane for letting us have all the donuts we wanted. When I started there, my favorite donut was a raised donut with chocolate icing covered in nuts and coconut and sprinkles and whatever else I could get to stick. By the end, I was eating one plain cake donut, if that. When you are around the sweet smell of donuts for hours, you soon get sick of them. They were pretty smart after all.

>65 scaifea: Write that puppy down! Yes, you might remember it. But twenty years from now? Who knows. And that's a real milestone for a reading family. I wish my mom could have told me my "first book read."

I seem to recall that's what Cadbury does with the chocolate in their factory as well. Or perhaps it was another chocolate factory I went round as a teenager. The workers were allowed to eat what they liked but not take any home, and after the first gorge of chocolate it soon put them off eating very much at all.

Seems sensible, rather than restricting intake and therefore making it sort after, and an exciting moment if you were able to sneak a piece.

Alas, I seem able to eat vast quantities of chocolate and not get sick of it, but perhaps if I were around the smell all day as well, that would dissuade me somewhat.

>74 lunacat: Yes, it's not the eating of it. It's the smell of sugar for hours. It really puts you off.

Congratulations to Charlie and his mother!

>69 johnsimpson: John: Well, I *am* pretty forgetful, but not so much when it comes to Charlie.

>70 msf59: Mark: And that sun is glorious today! Another gorgeous, fall day.

>71 Carmenere: Lynda: I know, right?! I love jumping in the leaves!

>72 lauralkeet: Laura: It *is* a great book, and has been a staple on his shelves from the beginning.

>73 Morphidae: Morphy: Interesting! And it *is* written down - here! Ha! Also, mmmm, doughnuts...

>74 lunacat: Jenny: I think I'd maybe go through phases of glutting myself until I was sick, swear off the stuff for a spell, forget how miserable it made me and do it again...

>75 Morphidae: Morphy: Smells are powerful things, no?

>76 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl! We'll make those milkshake this afternoon both consolation and celebration, I think.

While I don't rate it as my best job, I did work in quality control at a brewery a long while ago. I was part of management so didn't go to the workers' bar on the premises which had pool tables and was quite a social area after work. Management had their own smaller bar with wines & spirits as well as beer. My favourite part of each week was setting up a blind tasting test for the production managers. While I enjoyed the work I felt a little uncomfortable as they had never hired a female to work in the production area before and I was made to feel a bit of a novelty at times.
Not sure of my favourite job, possibly the volunteer work I did for the national children's literature group which ended up being fairly full on for a few years. I did get paid for a couple of years when I took on the role of admin officer, though I have to say that doing admin was not fun, endlessly applying for funding grants. One highlight was sourcing the first edition cover images for the New Zealand books featured in 1001 children's books you must read before you grow up. I refer to the book fairly often and it feels good to know I had some input. Another highlight was putting together Joy Cowley's nomination for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.

Congrats to another thread! You are moving too fast Amber :)

The Bonus Question: My fave job was when I did palliative care. Once when I worked with children who had cancer and once in adults with Aids. However, I always liked being in acute/and or palliative care settings.

>73 Morphidae: & >74 lunacat: I've worked in a baking factory and you were allowed to bring whatever "non-perfect" items you wanted. (If the plastic wrapping machine had a fit and wrapped them wrong or if the baking machines had fits and made them the wrong size or shape.) I got sick of the stuff within the first week but my family and relatives were very grateful for the amount of muffins and things I brought home.

Hooray Charlie!! The day the squiggles meshed together as letters and words is one of my earliest "BIG" memories. He'll be off and running now!

Bonus Question: I spent several college years working as an historical interpreter at Greenfield Village. Henry Ford 'rescued' historic buildings -- Edison's Menlo Park Laboratory, Noah Webster's home, Wright Brother's bicycle shop, etc. -- and moved them to Dearborn Michigan. Got paid to stand around and talk about history, architecture, furniture, cooking science and all sorts of other wonderful things -- and get paid for it!!

http://www.thehenryford.org/village/index.aspx

Digging my way back from the rock I've crawled under. Reading through all your old threads was just too overwhelming, so just hopping back in here.

Hope all's well!

Hi Amber! And Charlie! :-)

I've been fortunate in my jobs, that while I've had a few clunkers they were all part-time, get-me-through-college types and I always had library work to fall back on. I started in high school as a page shelving books, moved up to a part-time reference librarian, and am now full-time where my job consists of reference, programming for adults, and local history. I've loved all of them, and wouldn't even mind being a page again after retirement.

>59 scaifea: Fabric. Way back when I was a newbie on Etsy, I tried listing pictures of fabric along with pictures of nightgowns. Didn't work at all. People couldn't visualize "this nightgown, but in this fabric" at all. Kind of weird, but true. Or maybe not weird. Just true.

>65 scaifea: Hooray! Big day for Charlie! It's always been one of my favorite moments with my kids. That moment when they realize they are reading on their own and they get that smile...

>78 avatiakh: Kerry: Really?! You had a hand in the 1001 Children's Books book?!?! How. Cool. Is. That?!

>79 drachenbraut23: Bianca: Again I have to say that I'm amazed at the strong people who can be nurses and caregivers in those kinds of settings. Wonderful people, you are!

>80 PawsforThought: Paws: Oh, yeah, I bet the family was really happy with that!

>81 michigantrumpet: Marianne: Interesting! That Ford was something else, eh? I just learned more than I really cared to know about him in One Summer. Fordlandia? Really, Henry? And I also had no idea what a not-very-nice-guy he was, either.
And me? Overwhelming? Never! *snork!*

>82 AuntieClio: Hi, Stephanie!!

>83 bell7: Mary: Yep, I'm happy just re-shelving books. So calming and comforting.

>84 nittnut: Jenn: Yeah, I guess it takes a particular kind of person to be able to visualize in that way, eh?

This is a great milestone for Charlie. Even though he is very familiar with the book, to see him use his fingers to point out the separate words and sound them out shows he is reading on his own! Must have been a very happy moment for you, Amber. As someone up above said - "now, he's off and running".

>85 scaifea: Isn't it just, though? Same with shelfreading (for any non-library people, that's just making sure the books are neat and in order)... so soothing just putting them in order while my brain goes in whichever direction it so desires.

By the way, I meant to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Charlie - how exciting to be able to read a book on his very own!

Yay, Charlie! And excellent choice for a first "real" book, too.

>86 DeltaQueen50: Judy: It was a happy moment for us both!

>87 bell7: Mary: Oh, agreed! I love shelfreading, too. And thanks - he's so proud and excited!

>88 foggidawn: foggi: I know, right?! Boy's got good taste in literature. Ha!

I'm happy to report that the 6-year check-up went really well; I have a *very* healthy little guy, still, of course, in the 95%+ for height and weight, with a textbook-perfect BMI. And most importantly - in his estimation, at least - he didn't get a shot; we opted for the nasal spray flu vaccine for him, since the doctor told me that recent studies are out that say the spray is more effective for kids. He was *thrilled* that he didn't have to get a shot, and more than a little tickled, I think, that Mommy still had to get one! Ha! We both got the milkshakes, anyway (well, he got a chocolate milkshake and I got a frozen HoCho, which I *highly* recommend - delicious!).

stopping by and waving hi. What great news regarding Charlie's health!

I had a job in a fabric store once. They also let you have the fabric and pattern for free if you displayed your creation. I worked there in the middle of winter in Calgary. Handling fabric was murder on the hands and the job didn't pay enough to keep me in hand cream. My favourite job was an internship I did in the last few years. It was for a heritage society and the supervisor kind of disappeared for most of the time so I got to figure out what I thought I should be doing. I got to research and interview people and write what I wanted. It was fabulous.

Great to hear that Charlie is well on his way an LTer.

>91 Whisper1: Good to see you, Linda!

>92 Familyhistorian: Meg: Well, I handle fabric all winter long anyway, and don't get paid for it (well, beyond selling what I make, I guess) and I love it! And I bet it paid more than the internship - ha! Research I like. Interviewing people? No thanks. And writing - yeesh! I'm glad that you loved it, though!

On the agenda today:

Take Charlie to school, then back home for treadmilling, menu-planning and grocery listing for the week, packing up an etsy order, then a quick trip to the post office before heading back to school for my library volunteering. I suspect I'll be up late knitting tonight; I need to finish the last mitten today because tomorrow I need to work on attaching the velcro to the back of Charlie's vest and the back of the Piece of Resistance. When did Halloween turn stressful?! Sheesh.

Nothing to report on the reading front as no reading was accomplished yesterday. Again I say, Sheesh.

The calendar book today is a time-travelling romance? Huh. Overseas by Beatriz Williams.

Sweet Thursday, Amber! Good luck with your day. Have not heard of the Williams book. It doesn't sound like my cuppa anyway.

>95 msf59: Thanks, Mark! It doesn't sound like my cuppa, either.

578. Splat the Cat: Good Night, Sleep Tight by Natalie Engel (Charlie book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
579. Spooky Hayride by Brian James (Charlie book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B

Two more Halloween reads from the October Scholastic book order.

Howdy Amber!

>94 scaifea: "overseas" was an ER selection a few years back, I think.

Hooray for Charlie and no shot! Hooray for Amber and HoCho!

Great to hear thst everythong is top after the checkup. It's always a relief.

Hi Amber, so glad Charlie's six year check went ok, a very happy mummy no doubt. I have replied to your private message and have passed my info on. I will try and get a family shot of us all at the wedding we are going to on Saturday and will post on to you. Hope you are having a good day my dear, love and hugs.

>98 luvamystery65: Hi, Roberta!

>99 michigantrumpet: Marianne: Hoorays all round!

>100 Ameise1: Barbara: It sure is. I'm so thankful that I've got such a healthy little boy.

>101 johnsimpson: John: Oh, excellent! I'm excited!

Hey, everybody, look what I got to create at the library today!:



So much fun.

Clever you!!

You did have fun!

>103 lauralkeet: >104 thornton37814: Laura & Lori: *snork!* I'm inordinately proud of myself, even though it's a little wonky. It was a hoot, and the kids seem to be pretty nuts about it.

>102 scaifea: That's great!

>102 scaifea: cool :)

Wow..What a great art work that you developed for the library! Your creativity never ceases to amaze me.

#65: Go, Charlie, go! Is he ready for LT yet? :)

>106 Familyhistorian: >107 nittnut: >108 Whisper1: Meg, Jenn & Linda: Thanks! I wouldn't exactly call it a work of art, but I'm pretty proud of how my free-handed drawing came out (I drew the shapes for the body onto thick paper, cut them out and wrapped them in crepe paper). The best part was learning how to use the die cutter for the letters - I need one of those for myself! Ha!

>109 alcottacre: Stasia: I think the real question is "Is LT ready for Charlie?" Ha!

On the agenda for today:

Grocery shopping this morning, then a frantic push to get the costumes finished and ready for tomorrow's trick or treating - tomorrow morning is when the downtown businesses open their doors for Sweet Treats on Main and welcome little trick-or-treaters. We've gone every year that we've lived here and Charlie always has a great time. It's much nicer than going out for the 'regular' trick or treating on Halloween evening, because it's geared toward younger kids, so there are very few older, scarier costumes (Charlie's pretty shy of those). Pizza Soup for dinner.

Nothing to report, still, on the reading front. Sad. I'm hoping to get back on track after the costume madness is over.

The calendar book today is one in a police procedural series, I think, which I don't think is really my cuppa, although to be fair I haven't really tried them: The Impossible Dead by Ian Rankin.

Happy Friday, Amber! Looks like a lovely weekend ahead. I have not read Rankin either. I know he has fans.

>112 msf59: Mark: I'm certainly hoping that the predicted good weather for tomorrow is the truth - it's no fun trick-or-treating with heavy coats on...

I missed this thread altogether; quick catch-up.

>65 scaifea: Yay for Charlie's reading! I taught both boys to read early, but I find with 2 to juggle instead of one, my younger one gets less attention than his brother did at the same age. But I knew he was a reader when we were out shopping and I'd plonked him in the stroller, so I was distracted by my own thing, and he (without any prompting from me) read 'EXIT' (though I did feel a bit guilty).

>94 scaifea: When did Halloween turn stressful? When you decide to make exotic Lego costumes for everyone, instead of (5 minutes before you leave for your Halloween do) thinking 'What costume? This old sheet will have to do duty for a ghost.' Which is what I'd do ;0)
>102 scaifea: So much fun!

Hmm - dream job? Couldn't say; it tends to be the people who make it or break it for me. Recently joined RDA, and it's so gorgeous seeing kids smile and enjoy themselves. I missed the first 3 weeks of term, but hearing how much they've gained in confidence, from being scared of the horses is so great.

OK - dinner time ...

>102 scaifea:. Love that, Amber. You're a talented lady (no surprise there).

How great that the anti-flu nasal spray is better for kids than the shot. I can just imagine how happy Charlie was.

Hope you have a good one today.

Great sign, and hopefully it will get the kids inspired about reading.

I think I'd take a shot over a nasal spray - I do NOT like things going up my nose!

Pizza Soup? More details, please!

What a great library pic. Congrats!!!

There was a time I read every Rankin book but the last two years I read none. If you are in the mood for Scotish crime than are Rankin's book wonderful.

>102 scaifea: Well done, Amber!

>114 humouress: Nina: I've never really actively tried to *teach* Charlie to read; I've just read to him always, every day from Day One (well, really, before that, since I read aloud to him when I was pregnant, even), and the played games and such with letters and all of that, but only when he wanted. I just thrilled that he loves books and reading.

>115 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe - I'm no artist, for certain, but the kids seem to like it, and that's certainly the point. Charlie was over the moon about the nasal spray, and I'm pretty happy about it, too, since it apparently works better.

>116 lunacat: Jenny: The kids at Charlie's school have a fantastic librarian, who is already excellent at getting them excited about books and reading, so they don't really need my help! I had fun making it, though.

>117 michigantrumpet: Marianne: New recipe, so I'll have to report back on the results, but it sounds good, and it's pretty easy, too: brown some ground beef, add a couple of cans of tomato soup, a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce and some Italian seasoning and bring to a boil. The simmer for 15 minutes. Add some shredded cheese, and stir until melted and you're done. I suspect that pepperoni would be good in there, too. We'll see how it goes...

>118 Ameise1: Barbara: I don't think I'm much of a crime reader, but I'll give anything a go at least once. I may have to add Rankin to the list.

>119 kidzdoc: Ha! Thanks, Darryl!

The Piece of Resistance (and, in fact, Charlie's entire outfit, not all of which is shown here) is finished!

WOW!!!! I'm impressed! Gorgeous!!!

Amber, what a fab outfit my dear, you are a really talented lady.

My book list is on my thread.

Love the costume and can't wait to see a picture of Charlie in it!

>122 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

>123 johnsimpson: John: Ooh, I'll be right over there!

> 124 Thanks, Rhonda - me, too!

I am so far behind with your fast moving threads!

The Bonus Question: That is tough. All of the jobs I have had, including my current one, have great pluses about them. I sure I would answer the question differently if you asked me next year but right now I would have to say my fave job was also my first job. I was a page for the English department during my last year of high school. Yes, it was a paid position and I was able to do my job during my free periods so no working after school, evenings or weekends for my pocket money. The job came with some great perks that suddenly made me very popular, even with the 'in crowd': I had the power to walk into any classroom during textbook inventory time and select who I wanted to be excused from class to assist with the inventory counting. Heady times for a mere 17 year old, let me tell you! ;-)

When do we get to see Charlie all dressed up in his awesome new costume?

Once again, you come shining through! What a wonderful costume. I remember long ago, I made a cat costume for my daughter. I was most proud of the mittens/gloves. I wonder what ever happened to that outfit. I think I lent it to a friend and did not get it back...drat.

>127 lkernagh: Lori: Wow, that *does* sound like a great school-time job!

>128 alcottacre: Stasia: Today! Our local downtown businesses host a Sweet Treats on Main event this morning/afternoon, when the shops on main street open their doors to trick-or-treaters and have treats and such. So soon I shall have photos of Emmet, Benny (me) and possibly even President Business (if he'll let me)!

>129 Whisper1: Linda: Thanks! I'm sorry that you didn't get your daughter's costume back. I don't think I could ever let anyone borrow Charlie's old costumes - I've put too much effort into them! Ha!

On the agenda for today: Trick-or-Treating! And, honestly, I'm not sure what else. Maybe some baking. Hopefully some reading. My sewing room could use a good cleaning at this point, too. We'll see.
On the reading front: I did manage a few pages of both The Einstein Intersection and the Van Buren biography yesterday. Soon maybe I'll have them both finished!

The book calendar weekend quote: "It was a wrong number that started it, the telephone ringing three times in the dead of night, and the voice on the other end asking for someone he was not."
Any guesses from which book this came?

Amber, I wish you a fantastic weekend.

>131 scaifea: I had to check it out on Google because it sounded cool, but it's a book and author I haven't heard of.

I KNOW! Can you imagine!!?

Meanwhile, I can't wait to see a picture of Charlie and you in your costumes!

(Still want you to be my mom.)

(We won't talk about how I'm probably old enough to be yours.)

>133 Morphidae: Morphy: I've heard of the book, but I know nothing about it - it does sound interesting from the quote, doesn't it?
Also, I can't wait to see Charlie in the costume, either (he's not had it all on yet, although he's tried various pieces on for fittings during the sewing process, and last night he had the vest on so he could see how the Piece of Resistance sticks on with the velcro)!

(How about cool sisters? Does that work? Also, I think I may be older than you think I am...(I'm pretty immature for my age - ha!))

Well, maybe *technically* old enough.

If you are immature, what am I? At least you have an excuse to listen to Disney music...

Sisters it is!

>135 Morphidae: Morphy: WooHoo!! SISTERS!! (Am I too excited?) Also, I listened to Disney music BC, too...

Oooh, that makes Charlie my nephew!

Trick-or-treating today? Isn't it a bit early?

>137 Morphidae: Morphy: Which means Charlie just gained an awesomesauce Aunt Morphy!

>138 michigantrumpet: Marianne: It's always the weekend before Halloween, which happens to fall nearly a full week before this time.

Oooh, now I have a kid to send fun stuff, too. *ponders what to do for Halloween*

>140 Morphidae: Sweet!

Happy Saturday, Amber! It is already nice out here. Yes, I am working but the mail is light and I have my books. Grins...

Enjoy the Day!

>142 msf59: Mark: That sounds pretty great, Mark, and from your photos, your route looks gorgeous.

580. Gus Gets Scared by Frank Remkiewicz (Charlie book, easy reader) - 8/10 - B+
581. Grow a Pumpkin Pie by Jane E. Gerver (Charlie book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
Two more Halloween-themed reads from the Scholastic order. And Charlie read both of them on his own, with minimal help! WooHoo!

Help from US people who have this Halloween thing down! I have a couple of Cassie's friends coming round for dinner before trick or treating next Friday - I'm doing a buffet/nibbley dinner for them. Now whilst I have the sweet stuff down (I LOVE baking) I'm sketchy on appropriately Halloween themed savoury nibbles.

Now why did I figure this would be the place to get some brilliant ideas ;)

>145 BekkaJo: Bekka: Oh, oh! I've got a recipe for you (I'll be making some later this week):

Goblin Gorp:

1 package (3.3oz) microwave popcorn, popped
1 cup salted pumpkin seeds
1 cup corn chips
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon taco sauce
1 teaspoon Mexican seasoning

In a large bowl, combine the popcorn, pumpkin seeds and corn chips. Combine butter, taco sauce and Mexican seasoning; drizzle over popcorn mixture and toss to coat. Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in baking pan. Bake at 275F for 10 minutes, stirring once.

Sounds amazing... but... not sure I can source salted pumpkin seeds (though I guess regular plus pinch of salt would do?) or corn chips (???) before Friday :/

But I may have to make myself some for another time!

>147 BekkaJo: Bekka: You could substitute pretzels for corn chips and your favorite salted nuts for the seeds.

I give you Emmet and his friend, Benny (President Business doesn't allow his photos on the interwebs, sadly):

Oh, so luvely. It's fabulous.

Okay, that's a riot.

>145 BekkaJo: One time, I made string cheese fingers. (I think the kids mostly picked off the pepper "fingernails" and just ate the cheese, but they looked neat!)

ETA: Love the costumes! Very fun.

>149 scaifea: Wonderful! :0)

>150 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

>151 Morphidae: Morphy: I wish Tomm would let me post a photo of him, too; he looked great!

>152 foggidawn: foggi: Cool idea with the string cheese!

>153 humouress: Nina: Thanks!

>149 scaifea: Could we get a picture of President Business from the shoulders down?

>155 casvelyn: casvelyn: *snork!* And miss his handsome face? What's the point, then? Honestly, he just worn a suit and tie and his lego mittens, but he looks gooooood in a suit.

>156 scaifea: Curiosity? :)

Fabulous costumes! Hope Charlie has fun trick-or-treating tonight :)

>145 BekkaJo: Popcorn served in cheap, clear, disposable plastic gloves with candy corn for fingernails. It looks like dismembered hands. Back to lurking

Love the costumes, Amber! I cannot believe how big Charlie is getting!

>157 casvelyn: casvelyn: Sorry. You'll just have to remain curious. He's stubborn.

>158 bell7: Thanks, Mary! We went this afternoon, but we may go out again on Friday.

>159 BonnieJune54: Hi, Bonnie! Great idea!

>160 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! I know, right?! He's growing up so fast.

The costumes turned out great!

>162 lauralkeet: Laura: Thanks!

On the agenda for today:

Laundry, bills, organize the week's worth of photos from the camera, some baking (Bread Pudding), cleaning the sewing room up (it's a bit of a shitstorm down there right now), and then Charlie has a board game tournament planned for all of us this afternoon. Good thing there's a ton of leftovers in the fridge...

On the reading front: I'm nearly finished with the Van Buren book - whew! Maybe I'll get that done today...

We called my two craft tables the "tables from hell" - until yesterday.

Now they are all cleaned off and I don't know what I'll do with all the space!

>165 Morphidae: Morphy: Awesome! Isn't that a great feeling?

Thanks for the creepy ideas :) will post pics if anything looks interesting!

And #149 thumbs up for amazing costumery from family Scaife!

>167 BekkaJo: Ha! Thanks, Bekka! And good luck with the snacks!

>165 Morphidae: Generally, what happens to me is when I'm tidying some other space up and come across an item I can't work out a logical place to put, I'll dump it on that oh-so-handy empty space while I think about it. And pretty soon - voila! No empty space problem any more (and we're back to where we started!).

:0D

Morning Amber! Love Charlie's costume. Enjoy your Sunday, my friend.

Hi Amber - I love the costume. Scout's going to be a dog.

>169 humouress: Nina: *snork!*

>170 msf59: Morning, Mark! Wait, what, no comment on Benny?! Sheesh.

>171 BLBera: Beth: Cute! Will there be pictures?

582. The Shy Scarecrow by Mary Packard (Charlie book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B+
Another from the fall Scholastic order. Cute, but not a lot of substance.

>169 humouress: Well, yeah. That's what happened in the first place!

>174 Morphidae: *sigh* Don't I know it.

Hi Amber, Just checking in and waving!

Hi Amber, that's what happens if you skipp. I completely overlooked the part that Charlie started to read. How wonderful is that. I remember when Alex was in primary school he just refused to learn to read as he couldn't "see the point". His teacher and I had to work very closely together to get him to read. He finally, started reading by the end of year one. His argument was that I read to him anyway, that I would read really good and why should he read really badly if I am doing so well. Aaargh, that was such a fight. In the end I got him to read with Dr Seuss books :). Today, he is a brilliant reader, also he still doesn't read fiction, but he loves his GN's and non-fiction, which is fine as well.

Love the costumes, you look absolutely wonderful together.

What a lovely pair of trick or treaters

Sorry! I didn't know who Benny is! LOL. I guess I've been out of the "kid" loop for far to long.

>174 Morphidae: >175 humouress: Don't I know it!

>176 connie53: Hi, Connie!

>177 drachenbraut23: Bianca: Ha! How do you argue with that?! Charlie's enough of a "I want to do it myself!" sort of kid - and very stubborn about it, I might add - that getting him to want to read on his own has not been an issue; I'm just thankful that he still seems interested in letting me read to him!

>178 Whisper1: Linda: Well, one of us is lovely... Ha!

>179 msf59: Mark: *snork!* Wait, now you're telling me that you think I always dress like that?! Wow.

Well, it has been a little cool in the mornings. LOL.

>181 msf59: *SNORK!*

583. (92nd non-picture book read this year) The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany (Nebula award list, 135 pages) - 9/10 = A
I don't even know how to summarize this one in a way that won't give even a little bit away. Not that I *could* give much away - I'm not too sure that I understand even a tiny percentage of the substance of this slim novel. Delany takes our long history of mythology and lore and runs all sorts of amok with it on a future Earth peopled without us, with others, who try to fit into those stories but can't quite manage it. I'm not too troubled by my confusion, though, as it seems to be a big part of the point; the main character, who is on an Orphic quest for his own version of Eurydice (and he knows he's in the part of Orpheus, but that doesn't help him - or us - understand it all any better), is completely lost most of the way. And so are we. And so is Delany, or so he'd have us believe, with his insertion of excerpts from his journal during the time he was writing the story. Delany turns us all into wandering, lost Orpheuses, makes us lose our way, and makes us love the lost journey.
Highly, *highly* recommend this one. In fact, had I known about it, I would most certainly have made all of my mythology students read it as required coursework. Fantastic messing with mythology - I'm not at all surprised that Gaiman has written the foreword for my edition, praising the novel and Delany to the heavens.

Love the photo's of you and Charlie my dear.

>184 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

584. (93rd non-picture book read this year) Martin Van Buren and the Emergence of American Popular Politics by Joel H. Silbey (Presidential Challenge, 220 pages) - 6/10 = D
Wow. Okay, so I've now read 8 presidential biographies and this was the first time that I was so slog-weary that I got a little angry. If it were just that the writing was a little dry, fine, I can deal with that (I *am* a classicist by trade, after all, and thus am used to wading through not-exactly-riveting scholarly prose), but this was also poorly written, as in it reads like a (very) rough and slightly amateurish draft of a second-rate History PhD candidate's dissertation (and I've read a few of those, so I know). I mean 'poorly written' both in the sense that the language is awkward and clunky in the way that undergrad-trying-to-wear-big-boy-academic-pants writing can be, and also, sadly, in the content of the argument. Silbey clearly wants his reader to like Van Buren, but I'm not convinced that even *he's* convinced that Van Buren is worth liking. At any rate, his arguments in favor of his subject being a good president are as forced and clumsy as his language. Blech.

>183 scaifea: I've read a fair number of Delany's books, although it's been a while, and still have four of them, but you just hit me with a book bullet for The Einstein Intersection, Amber!

>187 ronincats: Roni: I've only read two of his books now, but I'm a fully-fledged fan. He's amazing, and he wrote this one when he was only 21!

>149 scaifea: Fabulous!!

>189 nittnut: Thanks, Jenn!

On the agenda for today:

After taking Charlie to school I'll be treadmilling, cleaning a bit, dealing with a bit a of book fair business and then working in the sewing room. Unless, that is, I can get an appointment with a dentist today; I have a filling that's coming loose, I think, and I need to find a new dentist. Gah. Not my favorite thing it the world. Then this evening there's a Family Game Night at Charlie's school, so we'll all be going to that.
On the reading front: I started Lord of Light last night, but only got a few pages in before zonking out. Too early to tell, really, but so far it seems like it may be pretty good.

The calendar book today, according to the blurb, is about "a home organizing expert who takes on a job that's almost too big for her. Lucy Bloom is at a personal crossroads when she agreed to clear out the house of Marva Meier Rios, an artists who fights her every step of the way." Objects of My Affection by Jill Smolinski - anyone read this one?

Morning Amber! Hope you can find some time to sit outside and read, it looks like a beauty. Not many more of these left.

Glad to hear you finished the Van Buren bio. I read one several years ago, that I enjoyed. I did have a plan on reading all the presidents but it stalled out, after I joined LT. I wonder why? I have read at least 20 though.

>192 msf59: Mark: There's a group for that, you know... https://www.librarything.com/groups/uspresidentschalleng

I thought Cruising Attitude looked familiar. I got it as an ER and gave it 7/10 stars.

"I smiled and rolled my eyes at the goings-on of the crew and passengers. The insights into the "backstage" of flight attendants were fascinating. While a breezy read, it was a bit too episodic for me, perhaps because the author was a blogger first. Also, it is obvious this is a new author as the book needed tightening up. There were a lot of tangents. Recommended for those that like reading behind the scenes memoirs."

>194 Morphidae: Thanks for that, Morphy!

585. Happy Halloween, Mittens by Lola M. Schaefer (Charlie book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
Another from the Scholastic order.

>149 scaifea: More huzzahs for the costumes, Amber! We finally watched the Lego movie, and thought it was a hoot.

>197 jnwelch: Joe: It's pretty great, isn't it? I love Will Arnett at Batman.

What a great costume. So creative!

Our Trick-or-Treaters always come through on Halloween night itself unless a snow storm/nor'easter is predicted.

What does one do if one isn't in town on the day of Halloween trick-or-treating?

>199 michigantrumpet: Marianne: Oh, there's still trick-or-treating on Halloween night here; this was just the businesses on main street hosting a trick-or-treat afternoon.

On the agenda for today:

I'm off to the dentist this morning after taking Charlie to school, and the rest of the day depends on what happens there, really. Either I'll come home and get some sewing done or sit in the rocking chair and indulge in some my-mouth-is-totally-numb self-pitying. The latter will likely involve a milkshake of some kind. Baked potatoes for dinner, I think.

On the reading front: I started Sanctuary yesterday and it is amazing. Intense and dark, definitely, but the writing is knock-me-over fantastic.

The book calendar today offers up one of it's random mid-week quotes: "Books are a uniquely portable magic." Any guesses?

Have fun at the dentist! ;)

I had potatoes a couple day ago, but in typical fat guy fasion I sliced and fried them.

>292 Stephen: Um, thanks, I think. *sigh* Not my favorite thing in the world to do, but, well, yeah.
We have baked potatoes for dinner (usually with steamed broccoli) pretty frequently because it's a cheap, super-easy dinner and we all love them. I do love fried potatoes, though, too...

Morning Amber! Thanks for the link, for the presidential group. I am a member but haven't been over there in a couple years. Bad Mark. Maybe, that will be a challenge for me in 2015.

Is Sanctuary, the Faulkner book?

>204 msf59: Yep, Faulkner. If you haven't read it, you should - I think you'd *love* it!

Cool! I'll have to find a copy. Thanks! Good luck with the dentist.

Good morning Amber, hope you have a lovely day today my dear.

>201 scaifea:, >205 scaifea: Amber, I officially deputize you to Yoknapatawpha County's Special Unit for the Promotion of Its Esteemed Proprietor! Carry on.

I've been hungrily eyeing our Delany collection for quite some time..... uh oh..... I read these so long ago they are a jumble of bits and pieces in my head now.. and I think some of them went right over my head as a teen when I read them and I'd get more out of them now.

Costume is lovely!

Ugh! Dentist! Although I LOOVE that feeling just when my teeth have been cleaned!

I hope you have a gentle, pain-free dental experience today. *hugs*

>206 msf59: Mark: Soonish, you should, so you can thank me sooner. *grins*

>207 johnsimpson: Thanks, John. Now that the dentist visit is over, things are looking up for the rest of the day.

>208 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Excellent! Thanks!

>209 sibylline: Lucy: I've only read two of his books, but I'm already in love with his stuff, even though he makes me feel like a dumb-dumb.

>210 michigantrumpet: Marianne: I don't even have that feeling; they fixed two fillings that were falling out today - I have to go back later to get two more fixed, and *then* I 'get' to have my teeth cleaned. Yay. *sigh*

>211 Morphidae: Morphy: Meh. It wasn't the best dental visit I've had, but it wasn't the worst, by a long shot. The good thing is that it's over, for now. I'll take the hugs anyways, though. Ha!

Time for a milkshake and some rocking-chair-reading-time...

Poor dear, dentist isn't my favourite visit.

Glad to hear the dentist visit wasn't the worst ever! I absolutely hate the dentist but unfortunately have very bad teeth, thanks mostly to me being a premature baby which apparently can have lasting effects, even on adult teeth.

So I usually need work done, which leads to me putting it off, which then leads to even more work required..........stupid vicious circle which is almost entirely my own fault.

Anyway, rocking-chair-reading-time is a good reward :)

>213 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara. I'm feeling much better now, though, and I think I'm going to like this new dentist - super-friendly and they seem quite capable.

Hi Amber, glad the dentist visit wasn't too bad, I have to admit my dentist is a nice chap and we always have a natter about books, this may be because I always have a book with me when I go into his room.

>216 johnsimpson: John: Ha! I had a book with me, too, of course, and was reading it while waiting for my mouth to get all benumbed. When the dentist came back in to check if I was ready, she was of course asking if I were numb yet, but I responded, "Just a moment, please - I'd like to finish this page."

>217 scaifea:, Amber, you have to finish the page, you can't just leave it mid page, it's just not cricket as we say over here.

>218 johnsimpson: Agreed!

Look what came in the mail today!! It's as if Neil knew that I had to go to the dentist today and sent it just to cheer me up (hush, now; you and I both know that I pre-ordered it, but let me daydream a little, eh?):

>217 scaifea: You didn't! LOL!

I have the nicest, gentlest dentist. Unfortunately we can't afford for me to go to him that often.

>220 scaifea: I got a Neil book in the mail today too! It's as if he knew I'd be needing it after the frankly horrid day I've had.

>221 Morphidae: Morphy: I DID! And she let me finish, so I think I'll keep her. We'll see how expensive this will be for us - I haven't been in a long while because we didn't have any dental insurance until Tomm switched jobs recently.

>222 PawsforThought: Paws: He's such a thoughtful fellow, isn't he? I love him.

On the agenda for today:
Laundry, some book fair business, some baking, possibly some sewing, and a whole lot of Box Top counting (for the PTO). Tomm has an overnight trip, so after school Charlie and I will head down to Dubuque to a fast food place with an indoor playground for a special treat.

On the reading front: Nearly finished with Sanctuary - I'm tearing right through this one and ignoring my normal daily rotation through all of the books I'm reading because, yeah, it's that good. It's amazing. I'm hoping to finish it today, Box Tops be damned!

The calendar book for today was a finalist for the Man Book Prize in 2011, so I'm certainly that at least some of you are familiar with it, although I've not read it (yet - it sounds pretty great): Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan, about the members of a jazz band "caught in Berlin at the start of World War II." Thoughts on this one?

>223 scaifea: Me, too. Always so in tune with his readers' needs.

>225 PawsforThought: *grins*

Morning Amber! Looks like a chilly one. I am off today but I have outside yard "stuff" to do. Ugh! Looking forward to your thoughts on the new Gaiman.

Half-Blood Blues got some buzz a couple years ago but I never read it.

>227 msf59: Morning, Mark! I suspect that you'd like the new Gaiman - it's graphic novel-ly...

^You know I LOVE " graphic novel-ly"!

>229 msf59: Ha! I sure do.

Just wondering -- Have you devoured Stephen Fry's latest autobiographical More Fool Me yet?

>231 michigantrumpet: Marianne: Not yet. I'm reading his stuff in chronological order, but I'll get there eventually. Totally excited about it, though.

Warning: Big Mommy Brags Ahead (feel free to skip if not interested in Charlie's latest amazing feats).

So, I picked up a new little notebook for Charlie yesterday when I was in the drugstore, because it was on clearance and he loves these things - he doesn't go for normal coloring books - he wants to draw and color his own pictures. I was floored this morning when he showed me what he had done on the first few pages - he's written (and illustrated) his first short story! Ha! With no help from me, by the way; all words he figured out on his own:

>220 scaifea: Oh, thanks, Amber. I didn't know about Hansel and Gretel. I'm #4 at the library for it now, so I'm optimistic.

ETA: >233 scaifea: Nice!

Awww, that's so awesome! You should laminate it or put it in a scrap book so it doesn't accidentally get lost.

>234 jnwelch: Joe: I've only just flipped through it, but it looks amazing (the Gaiman book, I mean).

>235 lunacat: Jenny: It's in a notebook, and Charlie's notebooks are sacrosanct, so I don't think it'll get lost. Ha!

Nice writing, composition & drawing! My 5 year old, unfortunately, runs to cars and guns; I'm assuming it's a consequence of having and older brother already in 'big' school to influence him.

Thanks for sharing your budding author's work! I read Half Blood Blues; which I thought was just OK.

>220 scaifea: A book I feel I have to have.

And, what a creative young man. How wonderful to be able to enjoy his childhood. These days slip by so quickly. I am glad you are able to treasure the special moments and hold them fast in your heart.

Happy Wednesday.

>237 humouress: Nina: I've talked with the moms of some of Charlie's friends, and those who have other, older children say the same - the younger ones do the 'big kid' stuff more quickly because they want to be like they're older siblings.

>238 banjo123: Rhonda: Huh. What didn't you like about it, if you don't mind my asking?

>239 Whisper1: Linda: Oh, yes, I bet you'd love the new Gaiman, too (and I'm saying this not having really looked much at it yet - I love him that much!). And don't I know it that time goes so fast. I love watching Charlie grow and change, but it's bittersweet, of course.

Howdy Amber!

#233 Love it!

By the way I made the mistake of googling for Halloween food (I'm still torn on what to do). I'm now contemplating trying to find the time to carve a watermelon brain! It just looks SO cool. Will post if I do and it comes off...

>243 BekkaJo: Wow. You need to make the watermelon brain, because I'd love to see it!

Amber, you don't actually need to read the new Gaiman to know that it's good. You only need to know that it exists. It's pure logic: it's Gaiman, therefore it is good.

One of very few authors I'd buy a book by without knowing anything about it at all.

>233 scaifea: I love it. I hope you keep it. Those notes are priceless later.

>245 PawsforThought: Paws: Agreed. Especially this one, as it doesn't have many words at all. Ha!

>246 Ameise1: Barbara: I know, right? So sweet.

Just in time for before you start a new thread. :)

I know I've missed cute pics of Charlie and all the wonderful cooking/art and crafts that you do. Will have to scroll back when I have a few mins to check out the gems I've missed these last few months!

Amber, I will say it again, what a clever little boy you have. But then again, with a mum like you, why am I not surprised. Hope you are having a lovely day my dear.

>233 scaifea: Oh, a budding author growing up in our midst! Congratulations, Charlie!

>248 jolerie: Valerie!! So good to see you round these here parts! What are the kiddos dressing up as for Halloween?

>249 johnsimpson: Aw, thanks, John!

>250 DeltaQueen50: Judy: Thanks! I asked him if he wanted to be an author, but he's adamant that he wants to be a teacher. Ha!

The big monkey will be..well...a monkey..haha! And the little one will be a robot. Love how I can recycle costumes once Caleb outgrows them and Josh is too young to know the difference. The question now is what will you be making?? Can't wait to see pics. ;)

>233 scaifea: good for Charlie! Someone I know wrote and ilustrated a story called "A Very Young Lightning Bug" in first grade. Her teacher made copies and had them bound and laminated. The author will receive her BA in English / Creative Writing from Kenyon in May.

You never know where those early projects might lead them ...

>252 jolerie: Valerie: Check out post >149 scaifea: above for the Emmet (and Benny) costumes I made (from the Lego Movie)...

>253 lauralkeet: Laura: Aw, adorable!

Hooray for Charlie! And it seems like only yesterday he was just learning to put words together and read! :-)

>233 scaifea: Clever Charlie. :) My favorite is "My dog hugs."

>255 michigantrumpet: Marianne: *snork!*

>256 nittnut: Jenn: Cute, no? Last night he was working on "Chapter 2"...

On the agenda for today:
More book fair business and then counting box tops until I keel over, uh, I mean until time to head to school for my weekly library volunteering. Somewhere in there I need to do the menu planning for next week and write up a grocery list for tomorrow, and I need to get a new thread started at some point, too... It's gonna be a hectic one, I think, today.

On the reading front: I finished Sanctuary yesterday (more on that later) and read about 2 pages of Faust before nodding right off last night.

The calendar book for today: Black Diamond: A Mystery of the French Countryside by Martin Walker. Anyone read this one? Thoughts?

Morning Amber! Yah, for the Faulkner! I will look for a copy of that one. I have not heard of the Walker^^.

>259 msf59: Mark: Oh, do try to get one soon; I just *know* you'll love it.

The New Thread is up!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/182361

No Amber, I haven't watched 30 Rock. I have to recommend anything that gets 6 Sigma to the public, or any math and science whatsoever.

I'll probably read it. In the 70s I read his book Nova, which I enjoyed quite a bit and remember to this day.

It sounds a little like Phillip Jose Farmer, who would have wild and wacky environments for his characters.

Wow. Just about every history I've read said Van Buren was a clunker. I can't even imagine trying to make him sound good! Only Polk was a good President between Jackson and Lincoln; some even argued he was one of the best Presidents, since he accomplished everything in one term.

>261 jjvors: Jeff: 30 Rock is one of the funniest shows ever to come out of NBC, I think.

>262 jjvors: I have a feeling that I'll be getting round to Farmer's work soonish; I definitely want to, at least, as I've heard good things about him.

>263 jjvors: Yep, it was strange, but then again, academia can do that to a (certain kind of) person: make him so tunnel-visioned and obsessed with one subject and one opinion that all reason flies right out the window.

skimming through quickly.

>240 scaifea: At least he gets creative with it. I went in for my 5 y.o. parent-teacher conference on Thursday and his teacher showed me something the class had done on 'bonding' which she'd put up on the wall. She'd told the class to do an octopus, with 8 thingies (sorry - in a rush, can't remember quite what it was), but he was the only one who didn't; he used a car instead. But it achieved the objective, and I'm glad he's thinking outside the box, because I tend to be a bit hide-bound.

Will move onto your new thread.