Ireadthereforeiam: the party has started

The Lower Nile River, Buller region. Close to where we just had our family camping trip. If it weren't for the sandflies, it would really be heaven.

I am currently reading:


July's people by Nadine Gordimer, The End of Faith by Sam Harris, This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein

FEBRUARY:
6. The End of Faith by Sam Harris (227p, tally 1,616)
7. The Giver by Lois Lowry (197p, tally 1,813)
8. The Mermaid and the Drunks by Ben Richards (I read to page 171/247, tally 1,984)
9. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande (263p, tally 2,247)
10. July's People by Nadine Gordimer (160p, tally 2,407)
11. Children of the Poor: How Poverty Could Destroy New Zealand's Future by Mike Moore (220p, tally 2,627)

January:
1. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (303p)
2. The Frackers by Gregory Zuckerman (396p, tally 699)
3. The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout (320p, tally 719)
4. Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink (486p, tally 1,205)
5. To Sir with Love by E. R. Braithwaite (184p, tally 1,389)

Books purchased:
1. The Drunkard's Walk by Leonard Mlodinow (NF, pop psych) $1
2. Everything in this Country Must by Colum McCann $2
3. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe $1 (a 5 star read from 2014)
4. The Pearl by John Steinbeck $2
5. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline $2
6. Music for Torching by A.M. Homes $2
7. To Sir with Love by E R Braithwaite $2
8. Shame by Slaman Rushdie $3
9. The Mozart Question by Michael Morpurgo $5
10. The Kites are Flying by Michael Morpurgo $5
11. This Morning I met a Whale by Michael Morpurgo $5
12. My Antonia by Willa Cather $8

FEBRUARY
13. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli $1
14. Children of the Poor by Mike Moore (paperback swap)
15. Cathedral by Raymond Carver $2
16. Hotel World by Ali Smith $2
17. The Toughest Indian in the World by Sherman Alexie $2

....and from the last thread...

Oh. Woops. It looks like I forgot to mention that I was going away camping for 4 nights! Well, we went away camping. for 4 nights. It was hot every day even though the week before we left it was forecast to rain every single day! Talk about talking a chance and coming good. (in actual fact,we checked the forecast a lot before going and it was already looking like clearing up).
The weather was textbook summer holiday. Add to that the swimming hole at the river close by the camping ground, the covered swimming pool on the other side, the great coffee caravan my lovely other discovered hiding down a side street and the skate park, and there was something for all of us.

In short, I finished Five Days at Memorial and found it fantastic. My first 5 star read came early this year!! I can't stop thinking about it. I also bought (for $2) and completed To Sir With Love which was OK. Back soon to reply individually to you all!

...and still from the last thread...
#238 Hehehe, I'd noticed but didn't want to say anything.
you notice, Jenny? Noticed what? I don't see any spelling mistakes of my own name here on this thread.
*quickly goes to double check*
Nope. Nothing to see here :)

#239 hi Bekka, I can imagine the scene you paint well. Little Lenny (AKA Stinky Len, christened so by big bother of course) is master of running about it his little short undies. It is so cute. And so much easier than in winter when we have to light the fire before becoming in the least bit comfortable.

#240 Hi Valerie- glad I have a pal in my ineptitude brain short cuts ;) I am convinced that reading through spelling mistakes are a sign of intelligence, or something....*leaves room mumbling*

#241 Hi K, I thought you had spelled Megan wrong, which would have been another thing entirely.
Yes, another story indeed. A certain friend of mine who shall remain nameless (TIM) loves to remind me that Megan rearranged spells mange. And of course, I have actually had mange. As a kid I played with some neighbourhood dogs (not my neighbourhood, or even my country) and contracted the animal disease. I had to boil all my clothes and was very disappointed that my 'days of the week' underwear lost their days!

#242 hey Joe, well, no snow! That has to be the sliver lining there. Long may your temperatures soar to the lofty heights of into the 30sF.

#243 yes, Alex. The moving from one clime to another thing can mess with you. When I first moved to Perth, Australia, I walked straight out of the airport into a heatwave and then came down with laryngitis. I was an unhappy camper. The fan I had next to my bed felt like a hair dryer on me.

#244 Heidi, you mean to tell me you are facing temps of only slightly above 0degF?? That is like *does quick mental arithmetic* (yea right) -17.7777778degC!!! Yikes. This earth is a hostile place at times. Good luck with that ice, and definitely don't break a leg.

#245 hi Kim, I was not abbreviating my user name. I was putting letters in all the wrong order. I forgive myself for this, but not for taking over 2 weeks to notice :)
But now you have me wondering what my abbreviated user name would be....IRTIA (sounds too much like inertia), um...Iread (doesn't everyone?).....I think I will have to stick to the full thing.

#246 hi Mark- I was keeping cool in my absence from LT. Which is tricky whilst camping in temps close to 30degC / 85F. Our tent caught the sun at 9:00am, then had it full on until 6:30pm. We chose to camp on that side of the campground so that we would have no sun in the early morning to wake the kids too early, and also no sun in the evening which would have stopped them going to bed. It was a sacrifice that was worth it.

#247 hi John, I was AWOL from my own thread, terrible! Can't believe I neglected to mention I was away for a camping trip. I hope no one was worried ;)

BOOK 4
Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink (486p, tally 1205)

I took this book camping. I read it late into the night with my torch when I should have been asleep. I carried it to the river to try and read a few pages while the kids were splashing. I even carried it with me to the toilet so I could take advantage of the time it took to walk the length of the campground from our tent to the shared amenities block, and read. I felt uncomfortable if I was without this book. That is how I know that I loved it.

The book quite clearly has two sections, the first is the detailed description of what occurred at Memorial (AKA Baptist) Hospital in New Orleans just prior to, during, and immediately after hurricane Katrina struck in September 2005. The second is what took place from a legal standpoint regarding accusations that doctors euthanised several patients who were very ill, who had 'do not recussitate' orders, and who were not expected to live.

Both sections make shocking and compelling reading. The first was so for obvious reasons, it was a disaster. There was chaos, misinformation and confusion. It wasn't clear who, if anyone, was coming to rescue the patients, let alone the staff. The lack of a coordinated rescue effort is strikingly obvious. When help finally does arrive, the staff and volunteers trek up and down flights of stairs to reach the old helipad, and they have no idea where their patients are even being evacuated to. It seems their fears were justified, with some being dropped at the first price of dry land, or on highway sidings with many people and no assistance. The extreme heat, lack of running water and medical equipment in the hospital make it very difficult. But there are medications, bottled water and food. The last patients are the sickest, and it is they who are injected with a combination of drugs that is intended to give them a very final peace.

The second section deals with the ramifications of these events. Questions are asked about how this hospital has the highest death rate by far, and a case is built by investigators against a doctor and two nurses. Their colleagues rally behind them, and the question becomes one of whether it is right to 'attack' the medical heroes who stuck it out in such dire circumstances. I valued Fink's foray into the ethics, history and context of such actions. Without stating her side, a few well-placed facts and sentences suggest her stand point. By the end I was on her side. A wrong was done, and it was covered up. It is my take on it that society can't handle allowing these acts to have been committed, so they were whitewashed.

Your camping trip away sounds glorious, I'm glad you had such a good time! Those temperatures (30C) sound perfect to me but then I'm ALWAYS cold and only start to stay warm enough without a squillion layers on when it gets above 25C.

I already have Five Days at Memorial on my WL or you'd have got me with a BB.

Happy New thread, Megan! And Happy Weekend! 5 stars for Five Days! Hooray! It is a terrific book and she is a kick-butt writer.

Great review of Five Days at Memorial, Megan! I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

>7 LovingLit: Congrats on the new thread and excellent review of Five Days at Memorial, Megan. I've got that one staring at me from the TBR pile and I have no idea why I haven't read it yet!

I am not a camper, happy or otherwise, but your vacation sounds lovely. I'm glad the weather stayed nice for you.

Happy new thread, Megan!

Happy new thread, Megan! And a lovely review to get things started - I love when you just can't manage to be parted from the book. Always a good sign. The camping on the other hand...not much of a camper but Craig and our two oldest absolutely adore it. Glad you had a good time. And welcome home!

Happy New Thread, Megan!

>7 LovingLit: Great review! I started this on audio last year and wasn't in the mood at the time, but I do want to get back to it one of these days.

Looking forward to your thoughts on July's People, another that I want to get back to. I had a bad experience with The Conservationist, but then loved a short story of hers that I read in a class, so want to give her novels another chance.

>8 lunacat: well, although the weather and activities were great, the real success of the trip was that we didn't have to abandon it on account of the kids behaviour, like we did the last one. We had a three tick system, whereby upon collection of three ticks, we were going to pack up and go home. We only got to one tick. Hooray.

>9 msf59: hi Mark, I just snooped around in the internet for Anna Pou stuff and it looks like she has a whole website dedicated to hating on Sheri Fink. Wow, it looks like it has got nasty. I thought the Dr wasn't portrayed too badly in Five Days, actually. I guess the media machine got cranking pretty quickly after Fink's initial articles, and now it is a case of sticking to whatever story Pou's people told initially.

>10 kidzdoc: thanks Darryl. I have been thinking about it a lot since finishing it. I actually want to read the first section again now with the knowledge I have from the second section. I was quite sympathetic to the staff first read, apart from a few "what the?" shockers! I don't think I will get the chance for a re-read though, as I plan to lend the book to my dad. He is making the trip to the city tomorrow for foot surgery so might need a good book for his long recovery.

>11 rosalita: hi Julia! The weather was amazing. Here in my city we get a lot of wind, the hot nor'wester is gusty and discombobulating, but he cold easterly is just a pain. It was so nice to have hot days (day after day) with no wind to speak of.

>12 katiekrug: thanks Katie. I always find creating a new thread a bit of a chore (don't tell anyone I said that!). It is possible a combination of the time it takes, and the extra time it takes on my ancient computer. :)

>13 Crazymamie: hi Mamie. I was bred on camping. We used to go on summer camping missions to the most far away out of reach places. Dad found us an amazing camping spot that happened to be off the end of the road and over a river, so we all ferried our stuff over the river, wading up to our waists carrying stuff over our heads!

>14 scaifea: hi Amber, thanks. I was going to stick to a thread a month, but then I get bored of my thread toppers so once I am at 250 posts, move on.

>15 DorsVenabili: I wasn't that sold on The Conservationist either, actually. Although I like the depth of the picture she paints of Sth African rural life, the character didn't draw me in at all. I hope for more from July's People.
And, I must insist you get to Five Days at Memorial, it is so so compelling. And important.

Hi Megan, happy new thread my dear, hope you are having a good weekend.

BOOK 5
To Sir with Love by E.R. Braithwaite (184p, tally 1389)

Yikes, that cover is not cool :)
But the book itself was a quick read and simple in structure. The laudable message hits you over the head- we are all people no matter what we look like on the outside.

Rick Braithwaite (the 'Sir' of the title) gets a job as a teacher in a poor school after over a year of being turned away from jobs he is more than qualified for. He is in post-war London, and since leaving the air force has encountered many instances of racism, some overt, and the more typical covert racism which is almost more detrimental to his faith in humanity. Sir wins over a class of misfits and is able to coach them in matters of decorum and respect. It is a fairly plainly-stated moral message, but one suited for a younger audience no doubt.

>18 johnsimpson: thanks JS, will do! Just came back from a walk/bike with Little Lenny to the playground/cemetery. They are adjacent and the latter has a few little hills that the kids like riding their bikes down. It does open up the conversations about death, but I try to keep it as simple and true as possible.

>7 LovingLit: I read it last year, was more interested in the crisis than the legal case. I wonder whether any lessons were learned...
>19 LovingLit: Huh. I've seen the movie, didn't know it was based on a book.

^hi qebo :)
I think the legal case interested me so much because a university friend of mine is doing a phd on blame, and how it is apportioned. Also, the US legal system is so different to ours. And seemingly so much more complex...
I saw the book To Sir with Love and thought to myself....huh....isn't that a film starring Sidney Poitier. And I wondered if he had won an Oscar for his performance. Anyway, it was enough for me to buy the book :) Now I want to see the film!
ETA: just looked it up, and it was for Lillies of the Field, 1958 that he won an Oscar.

Camping sounds great, although sandflies are definitely not part of paradise.

Happy New Thread, Megan!

The topper picture is very beautiful! Be gone with those sandflies!
I'm glad you did not have to break of the trip according to bad behaviour. Good system!

Since I can't see any sandflies in the picture, the Lower Nile River looks like an absolutely blissful place to holiday by.

Your review of Five Days at Memorial had me not only adding it to my obese wish list, but then after second thoughts, I hurried over to my library's website and put myself down on the wait list for the book there as well.

HI Megan,
Great review #7 of Five Days at Memorial. I thought it was an amazing read too and think I gave it the big 5 stars as well. Don't think I'll ever forget it!

Happy new thread, Megan and have fun camping!

Megan, I reckon I am about to fld and read Five Days in Memorial very shortly. I had little chance last year after posing myself that task of reading one book released in the last 150 years but this year I am freer to choose.
Congratulations on your new thread. Gosh! The Nile is a long river if it gets all the way to NZ.

>23 nittnut: camping was great, but boy those sandflies are a pest. I have dotty ankles now, and they also must love new blood as poor Lenny is lumpy with spots.

>24 connie53: well, camping wasn't all wonderous. We were pretty much on the go all the live long 13 hour day. Those kids of mine are so full on. They do not stand for idleness ;) Sometimes I wish they could just sit still for 30 minutes at a time and to colouring in or something.

>25 cameling: woohoo! BB, direct hit. :)
You won't regret it and before you know it you will be warbling about it to everyone as well. I am about to pass it to my dad. He will need something riveting to read as is about to have a bunion operation, just like I had last year (and the year before). I hope your name comes up quickly on the library list, Caro.

>26 mdoris: I just loved reading Five Days at Memorial, it was riveting til the end. I still think about it too and reckon it would make a fantastic book club discussion.

>27 lkernagh: I did have a great time! We were actually supposed ot be camping right now, but had to split our long holiday into two holidays on account of Wilbur's name coming up for his ear surgery. Which is tomorrow now! I will sit by in hospital while has has the day surgery then he can recover at home in front of a few dvds I reckon.

>28 PaulCranswick: hi Paul, you did well with your year challenge last year! Even if it is just the fact that you didn't abandon it :)
My lovely other reckoned our camping holiday was a great success on account of the fact that we didn't have to abandon it for the kids bad behaviour, so you see, it is relative.
And, I get you about the Nile. I'm pretty sure the Egyptian Nile was named before the NZ one, we could have been more inventive!

Three new books! Cute little kids books, probably directed at 10+ but I will read them to Wilbur if they get through my first read). They seem to tackle quite mature subjects like concentration camps and refugees....so, they might have to wait a while before he gets to them. All are illustrated beautifully by a different person. $5 each, second hand.


The Mozart question, The Kites are Flying, and This Morning I met a Whale all by Michael Morpurgo

>29 LovingLit: Sandflies etc this is why I will continue to pass on "camping" - give me a bach/Hut any day

I never read the second half of Five Days at Memorial, mostly because I was out of time before my RL bookclub, but also I just couldn't see wading through the events from a litigation point of view. After reading your review, I might just have to pull it out and give it a second chance. Glad you had so much fun camping!!! We didn't go this past summer and I missed it.

>32 roundballnz: sandflies are a pain. But, they are manageable if you remember to apply repellent first and last thing. The irritating thing for me is trying to get my kiddos to stand still long enough to get the stuff on them!
*Cue mental image of me running around the camp ground chasing two fast boys, spray in hand.*

>33 Berly: I remember you saying the second half was all about the legal. I was hoping you'd come back to me about that, I was sort of wary about that part of it because of your comments, but I really did find it interesting. I suppose I took the first half as gospel (ie: that what was written is what really happened) and then it was interesting to see how events were described/reiterated when there was reputation and freedom at stake.

>34 LovingLit: methinks our experiences differ - funny thing midges on Skye weren't interested in my blood but here in NZ nothing deters

If you can't catch them now what will it be like in a year or 2 :P

>31 LovingLit: I love Morpurgo and he's never put a foot wrong yet.

>31 LovingLit: I just recently read Kensuke's Kingdom and loved it and want to seek out more of Morpurgo's stuff. I've read at least one more by him, although I can't remember what it was off-hand, and liked it, so I think I can safely say that I'm a fan. If you end up liking these for Wilbur, do check out Kensuke's Kingdom - It's wonderful!

Happy new thread, Megan!

Yay for a 5 star read in January. :)

I always have to flip my brain when I'm on your thread because I keep thinking..who the heck goes camping in the middle of winter?? Oh right, nobody because you are in the middle of summer. Brain short cuts again. ;)

Phew. Busy day.
Not much sleep.
Wilby due in hospital early for his grommet (ventilation tubes) surgery and adenoidectomy. 7:30am til 1:45pm we were there. He did well and came through with flying colours, and I didn't even cry this time when he went under! That is progress :) But, this being his 4th such operation, I am as used to it as he is.

Hot day here with forest fires (far) inland from here and the drought continuing, while in NY the snow and water are inundating people. Global warming still a myth anyone??! Oh, and I am reading This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein, about capitalism and climate change :)

^ Glad Wilby (and you) did so well. Is it a long recovery? Is there an end in sight or is this an ongoing thing? Sending best wishes.

Thanks Kim, it could be ongoing. But hopefully his ears will grow out of it :) He has had fluid and gunk build-up in his ears the last 6 moths which has affected his hearing, noticeably. I have a lot riding on this operation sorting out his noise levels!!! The surgeon said she removed a lot, so it would be practically impossible for his hearing not to improve. Yay!
he is back to his normal self this afternoon, already. And we are off tomorrow for a trip to Nelson for a wedding in the weekend. Talk about never stopping around here.

I'm sorry to hear that Wilbur has to go through surgeries, but glad to hear that he came through with no problems or crying!

My middle child had two sets of ear tubes to relieve constant ear infections. Hoping this one helps!!

Sorry to hear about Wilbur! Poor little guy! I am glad he has such a loving and caring Mom!

Yikes, forest fires! Be safe, my friend.

Sending you lots of healing vibes for the little guy. What a trooper!

Glad Wilbur did well. Hope his recovery is quick. My daughter had a tonsil and adeniodectomy the August before we moved to NZ. She was 9. She then had the most amazing growth spurt over the next year. She started in the 40th percentile and finished in the 75th.

I have a couple scars on my ankles from sand flies. They like me. I got smarter, now I carry repellent in the car.

Wow, you are busy! Sorry that Wilbur is having issues but hopefully this clears things up for a while!
Enjoy your wedding weekend away!

Glad that Wilbur came through the surgery so well. I hope he will not need further surgery in the future.

Great review of Five Days at Memotial. That book (and the whole Hurricaine Katrina mess) are very personal for me since I lived in NO for 18 years, and my three oldest children were born at Memorial. Last year in the Club Read group there was a thread devoted to discussion of the book. Very informative!

A similar book I highly, highly recommend is Nine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans by Dan Baum. It takes nine "typical" New Orleanians and takes them from Hurricaine Betsey (1965) through the Katrina aftermath. These included, for example, the coroner, Frank Minyard, and his tales of the bureaucratic nightmares regarding recovery of the bodies and id'ing them ( I don't know if you remember any of the horrifying pictures of bodies parked outside the Convention Center or alongside the road for seemingly days). Also, the chief of one of the Mardi Gras Indians, a streetcar repairman, owner of a transvestite bar, band director of a world-renowned high school marching band, etc. etc. To me it was a book that made clear why NO is such a unique city, while also providing a lot of information into what went on after Katrina. And then there's Zeitoun.

Hooray for Wilbur's successful surgery. I'm glad he's back to his normal self again and that mom survived the ordeal as well. :-)

Pleased to see that Wilbur is on the mend - you do realise of course that young boys listen/hear their mothers!
Have a lovely weekend in Nelson. xx

Hi:) Hope your weekend in Nelson is good!

I'm back! A long hot long-weekend. Wow, this summer has been stonkingly hot. We have barely had a cold day. A gorgeous wedding, fun with friends, a night at the seaside with my mum. 1000+kms of car travel and no vomit- yay!! :)

>42 scaifea: From the afternoon of his surgery, it has been unnoticeable. Kids huh- they bounce back quickly. They only issue for him is the twice daily ear drops and the not being able to swim in such hot weather. I get the latter issue, it has been so hot here.

>43 Berly: me too Kim! *fingers crossed* His hearing is certainly better a she has been commenting on things sounding loud.

>44 msf59: hi Mark. Driving yesterday we saw a whole hill that was black from fire. The whole thing! It looked like it was just a grass fire, as that what was on the surrounding hills. But there is a total fire ban and extreme fire hazard warning signs around. We don't get anything like the fires Australia gets, but still, it is odd for us to have so many local fires.

>45 jolerie: Not sure if it boys, or just my boys, Valerie, but they seem to be impervious to pain! I could have guessed Lenny was going to be like that when he first walked at 10.5 months old....by standing up, leaning forward and running. Into the wall. :) Wilbur seems to have a stoic, no-cry personal policy.

>46 nittnut: Do you think the surgery and the growth spurt are related? I'm mainly interested as Wilb is already very tall ;) (and I know the kind of hunger and bad moods that some with growth spurts, it can be challenging to be around).
Ack to sandflies. Are they around your place...where you live??W Yikes. They say they (the sandflies) get used to your smell and eventually pretty much leave you alone. Maybe you can confirm that in a few months!??

>47 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle, the long weekend (Wed- Sun) was busy and hot and fun and tiring and all sorts!
For 2/4 of the nights away I got less than 4 hours sleep. But I also got an amazing night out at a beautiful winery at an opulent wedding, so I can say it was worth it. :) I also really enjoyed the drive home on a road I have not driven in ages (we came home via a night at Kaikoura). It is amazing coastal and mountain scenery.

>48 arubabookwoman: I don't know if you remember any of the horrifying pictures of bodies parked outside the Convention Center or alongside the road for seemingly days
I didn't watch tv in 2005 (or the few years prior to that). I guess the pictures would have been all over the news here. And now that you say it, I can imagine it but thankfully not recall actual images. It must have been hideous.
The book sounds like a real social history kind of read. And really interesting. Thanks for the rec.

>49 cameling: poor mom ;)
After his first surgery at aged one, the nurse who led me out of the operating theatre was so lovely to me. I had tears in my eyes from the shock of seeing my baby go under! She gave me a cup of tea and promised me that they would look after my little one. Now after his fourth....I am a seasoned pro.

>50 PaulCranswick: it is hard for him to hear me, I am always harping on about something. Usually it gets to the third time of me asking him to do something, and I say "this will be the third time I have asked you to........, if I have to ask a fourth, I think I am going to start feeling frustrated". Either that or something less patient...

>51 Apolline: hi Bente! Nelson=great! It is a fantastic wee city. And with the coastline and beaches right there, a lovely place to be for a few days.

And today is monumental. Mr Wilbur goes back to school today for his 2nd full year at school. And summer holidays are over. *phew*
It was busy. Early starts. The kids were all over each other. Grandparental assistance was nowhere to be seen. There was scarcely a spare moment to think. There was surgery, camping, Chistmas, BBQs, biking, walking, sleepovers, pools, river sprinkler and ocean swimming. We did heaps of cool stuff and it was HOT. Crazy hot. I think we may have missed some cool days by going away to places where it was hot, so we managed to maintain a temperature just slightly above comfortable the whole time.
And now. School is back, and I have time to think, plan and organise my upcoming university stuff, my reading piles, the household. You get my drift.

So for today, it is coffee (check), and LT (check), empty the hot water cupboard and do inventory on towels/sheets (check), de-clutter the toys (partial check) and then it is mummy time off. I shall descend on the library's sunny corner and read. my. book. *hallelujah*

Well, I felt exhausted just reading that first paragraph! Although speaking of school, I think I'm supposed to be registering my 4-year old for school some time soon? Anyway, your planned day sounds lovely!

>55 evilmoose: hi Megan- my planned day went as planned apart from the reading in the library part. I actually ended up reading in the cafe, with a triple-shot latte as my companion. It was luscious. I also made a delicious potato bake with a cucumber and (home-grown) tomato salad. It was perfect for a hot day!

>53 LovingLit: Yes, the surgery and the growth spurt were related. We were told by the doctors to expect it. Maybe Wilbur will just put on weight, not shoot up more. :)

Nice to have the kids back at school isn't it? We had rain today in honor of the first day of school. I had plans to come home after taking the kids to school, clean up a bit, do the grocery shopping, then curl up on the couch and read. Instead I was hijacked by a lonely retired lady from church. She lured me to her house with promises of bookshelves to peruse and kept me there for three hours. It was enjoyable in some ways, but also a little frustrating since the only thing from my list that got done was the grocery shop. Sigh. Looking forward to tomorrow. I will try it all again. Lol.

Hope you had a fine weekend. Megan! We are dealing with a nasty snowstorm. Ugh!

Well done for surviving the holidays!

All caught up with you, Megan. Hooray for school starting back up and a few moments all to yourself for uninterrupted reading and a triple shot latte! My Birdy had those same ear problems, and it made a huge difference after we had her adenoids removed. She does have just a bit of permanent hearing damage, but it is very minimal. Happy Monday to you - is it Monday there or maybe it's early Tuesday now? Anyway, Happy Day!

Just catching up on your threads. Last year i made untold bacon & egg pies as it just hit the mark for my three sons for several weeks. I always add a generous handful of chopped chives rather than onion.

Sounds like the school year is off to a good start.

>57 nittnut: interesting (the growth after surgery). It could happen here too, even though this is his 4th such surgery (and second 'removal' of adenoids). He doesn't have a gutsy appetite so maybe he will seek out more food now?

I totally get your timetable change frustration, it is so nice to feel free for a few hours and the pull to use that time effectively is hard!

>58 msf59: yup, Mark. Fine indeed. I wish I could get my act together and get some pics on our holiday(s). It is just such a complex process with this old computer!

>59 lunacat: thank you. Really, thank you. There were times when I thought I might not ;) And now that I have, I can give up alcohol and see if I can't regenerate some brain cells in time for when university starts back.

>60 Crazymamie: a large triple shot latte is my new drink. It has just the right amount of volume vs intensity. And, luckily for me (us) it goes well with a pumpkin choc chip mufffin.
When you posted that it was 9:54am Tuesday morning :)

>61 avatiakh: Tonight I am making a smoked chicken creamy pasta with capers. I have prepped already and its only 11am! I have space in my head for thinking now that the kids are separated....and dispatched of to their various educational settings :)
Chives would be great in a bacon and egg pie!

Okay, good to know about the time - I thought that it was probably Tuesday morning for you- it was 3:54pm in Georgia. Your dinner plans sound yummy.

The last time I ordered my last latte with extra shots of espresso, the young lady waiting on me asked if I wanted extra syrup as well. Extra?! NO. No syrup - there is no syrup in a latte, I explained. And so you don't want any extra, she asked me. *blink* Um...no. Please no syrup. Now tell me, will you be making the drink? Oh, no, she said, they don't let me do that yet. *huge sigh of relief* Sadly, that establishment has not yet discovered the joys of a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin, so I had the blueberry scone. And large triple shot latte. With no syrup.

Huzzah for vomit-free trips and a new school year beginning. I hope everything went swimmingly!

Busy, busy summer you'd had, Megan! Sounds like loads of fun though. Now it's back to the busyness that comes with school and such. Glad to hear about the no vomit. NO vomit is always a good thing..ha!

>63 Crazymamie: syrup. As in something like a hazelnut flavour syrup? What is this, Starbucks? ;) Before I knew to ask for a triple shot latte, I used to ask for a latte with an extra shot. And I would get an extra sugar. Extra on top of the none that I wanted equals too much sugar. I prefer my sugar in its cake form, thank you very much :)

>64 London_StJ: Hi Luxx, thanks! Mr Wilbur was very excited about going back to school (yay!). He was nattering away a mile a minute while we walked there about how "........sometimes at the end of the year you are getting a bit tired of school but then when you have had a wee break (like 6 weeks) you really can't wait to get back". He spoke it like it was the truism that, for him, it was. Sweet.

>65 jolerie: No vomit is excellent. Now, to work on the scrapping! ;) I still have my lovely other home from work so today (being a kindy and a school day) we got to go out together for cheap eats for lunch and hang about home reading together! It was lovely.

Lenny last month, having just learned to ride his bike with no training wheels. This is me: "watch where you're going!"


Where we parked up on hot days at home this summer. The back garden, two little paddling pools, sun umbrella and picnic table.

So hot and the glare! Camping...the river was a few meters behind the tall trees.


Me reading at the swimming hole behind the campsite. Five Days at memorial, it was, and a great read too.


The boys contemplating hitting the cold river water on a hot day.

Love the photos. :)

>66 LovingLit: Yes. Flavored syrup. I just want the espresso and the steamed milk - NOTHING more. It wasn't Starbucks - a little coffee shop called Elements, which makes excellent coffee. Now if they would just stop asking me about the syrup every time - if I wanted syrup, wouldn't I ask for it when I placed the order?

Love the summer photos! Looks like you had loads of fun. I cannot believe how big your boys are getting.

Great photos of your vacation, Megan. It does me good to see all that sun and heat and green as I sit here in the midst of a foot of snow. Well, not literally in the midst of it, as I am indoors and the snow (thankfully) is outdoors, but you get the idea. :-)

>69 nittnut: me too. I had so many good photo ops but don't generally carry my camera about so had to make do with 'about home/campsite' ones.

>70 Crazymamie: Is it that the syrup is an add-on in terms of cost? I stopped going to a certain petrol station as every time I went there they tried to up sell me a lolly pop or random plastic keyring or something. I would look up incredulously at them when they asked me and say "No, I do not want to buy that" (reading between the lines you would also hear the add on in my tone- "you really think I am that susceptible to your ridiculous question???")

>71 rosalita: Glad to be of service.
That picture of the tent has so much glare on it, it was taken around the middle of the day and it was so bright. It really looked that bright.....just thinking about it makes me want to grab my sunglasses

There was an amusing sketch on a comedy show I was vaguely watching the other night that dealt with the same issue - being asked if you want an additional item to your order.

He used the example that when you go in to the doctors, you don't get asked if you'd like an additional medication for a chest infection if you've gone in for your blood pressure!

He then pointed out that a proper reply could be 'No, I don't want a muffin that I didn't order with my coffee that I did, now would you like an extra punch in the face to go with your inane question?'

While I wouldn't go so far as to suggest the punching in the face, it did make me smile.

Oh, wonderful photos of your boys! Thanks for sharing!

I'm imagining myself visiting you... nice to meet you and the boys, an get warm all at the same time.
:)

>72 LovingLit: Yep, an add on. But I also think that a lot of people put sweet stuff in their coffee.

*edited to indicate that I was replying to post 72, not post 712!

Dropping a star. What a wonderful holiday you had! Your boys are really growing up! With us in the Northern Hemisphere, it's difficult to imagine that your summer is just about over. But that means that our winter is nearly over. Lots of great books on your thread!

Great photos, Megan. Those are a lucky couple of boys.

Hi busy mama. Love the holiday photos. Sounds like you had a very busy summer. Hopefully you'll have a bit of time for yourself now?

>73 lunacat: I think that skit was an accurate description of what I would be thinking. To say I find it inane is an understatement. I know it is all about the power of suggestion, though. And that the counter-person is told they must try to up-sell. So I try not to let it bother me.

>74 scaifea: It has been a while, Amber. I tried to take a digi image of a ball dress for your thread, but could not find one worthy of an eternity on the internet ;)

>75 mckait: you are welcome any time Kath! It is forecast to be hot again today, but then we have long awaited (from the farmers pov) rain until after the weekend.

>76 Crazymamie: hm, 712 posts on one thread? *thread collapses*
It was better that you directed your arrow appropriately ;)
I can't do sweet coffee either. I'll save the sugar for on the side (in its cakey form).

>77 vancouverdeb: it's difficult to imagine that your summer is just about over
I know! I can scarcely imagine all the cold you guys are getting when it is so hot here. I am slowly learning that when packing for holidays I need to imagine all kinds of weather instead of just what I am experiencing at the time of packing :) Sometimes it is hard to get out of your situation.....I put the jumpers and rain coats in for our last trip whilst shaking my head incredulously. And then, we all wore t shirts and shorts the whole time! Murphy's Law it would have been cold if I hadnt....

>78 jnwelch: hi Joe- I think they are lucky too. I certainly was as a kid. We had lots of grass and bush to roam around on, plus the fields around our house. And we got to go away on the coolest camping expeditions ever. One of them was a whole year long!!! And my folks aren't even hippies ;)

>79 Smiler69: hi Ilana- I do like the holidays, but my lot are at an age when fighting is top priority and it has been trying. Even just to have one or the other home with me is so much more pleasant....but yes. Time to myself is here, just a few hours a few times a week is all I ask, and I use it well :)

>80 LovingLit: A year of family camping! How great. How did that come about? Where did you go? What were the best parts? That seems like a dream of many experienced by few. Luck runs in your family!

BOOK 6
The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason by Sam Harris (227p, tally 1616)

*disclaimer: this review may offend those with religious beliefs, as may this book*

Wow. This book does not hold back on making its stance blindingly obvious. Its whole premise is that religious faith, even of a moderate nature, is an antiquated and baseless notion that must be challenged to see reason. Until this happens, the author says, the world is headed for not only increased political and social instability, but death by our own making through religious-based war.

Islam is presently seen to be the biggest threat to world peace. This, he says, is because it's book advocates for either contempt towards or conversion of non-Muslims. That it promises a place in heaven for those who die in the act of either is the deal-breaker. Many are willing to die a 'martyr' for their belief that they are enacting the literal word of god. The author stresses that Muslim extremists are extreme in their religious faith in these situations. He refutes the oft-quoted 'Islam is a religion of peace' statement by arguing that there is just too much in the holy books that proves otherwise.

Judaism and Christianity are also critiqued for relying heavily on a book of fiction that has no bearing on or relevance to modern life. Each faith's superiority in its claim to know the truth, he says, is as meaningless as a school yard squabble. He states unequivocally that people of faith are delusional and that it is a travesty that so much weight is given to religion in political decision-making that affects all our lives.

What I liked about this book is that the author is unafraid to make bold statements about what is essentially a taboo subject. He challenges the notion that religion or faith is not to be questioned. He looks past religion to ethics, morals and the larger philosophy of human interaction which gives a broader framework within which to assess how we all might just get along. Although I agree wholeheartedly with the Hitchens quote he endorses: "what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence" (p176), this author took me to a place that was too far from my comfort zone in terms of respect for other people and their way of living. And this, I think, was his intention. 4 stars.

>81 jnwelch: hi Joe. I guess it was lucky that my parents could pull off a year of camping :) Dad arranged for a friend to operate his photography business (a wedding and portrait operation, and photo processing shop) for a year, and we took off to Chile with a backpack each and dads camera gear. He was going to produce a book of images upon our return. Upon our return we had exactly zero dollars left though, so what he actually did was work 14 hours a day 6-7 days a week for the next few years while we just got by! I was successfully sheltered from this by being only 8 years old thank goodness.
I remember a lot actually. There were a few camping spots we went back to regularly, and I recall those. I remember losing my Wonder Woman shoe in the surf and being really upset (it was my first and only pair of new shoes in the year), I remember a family vacating their one-room house for us when we visited a mountain village, and then the town taking turns looking in the one (non-glassed) window at us the whole time. I remember my sister getting typhoid (yikes) and getting smuggled in under dads coat to visit her, and I remember our car breaking down on a logging road and sleeping in it while dad and my sister hitch-hiked for help.
I also remember people in our home town thinking my parents daft and irresponsible for taking us kids out of school for a year to a country that was in the midst of a violent military dictatorship. As we got older more stories came out about close calls and the like. But, we all did well in spite of missing out on a years formal education. The school of life is good too, right?!

That is a huge adventure! You should probably write a book. :)

^ hm....I know how it would start! Where the journey did, at our local hardly used railway station. For some reason we started our long journey with a long train/ferry/train ride all the way to Auckland. And I was most excited about the fact that I had a box of Nan's homemade baking at my feet (as did my siblings) and it was all for me!

Jenn's got a good idea, Megan. That is a huge adventure. Definitely worth missing school. What brave parents you had. I can imagine the villagers taking turns to look at the exotic foreigners. :-) Some scary stuff there, too, especially the typhoid. Do you own another pair of Wonder Woman shoes now?

I can understand your remembering so much. After my dad's father died, Dad pulled us out of school and took us traveling around Mexico for a month - an unheard of amount of time for our family. I was six years old and remember lots of it vividly - it was all so different and unexpected.

>86 jnwelch: I remember a lot more as well. It became increasingly life-changing as I got older, and then when I had kids I really started to respect what a wild thing my parents did for us! When I went back to Chile travelling as an adult, I went to stay with a woman we had befriended when we stopped for a month at Puerto Montt. She was in hear early 20s then, and second time round she and her husband owned a hotel! I was very lucky to have a hotel room to stay in and to dine in the restaurant with the hoteliers.
I like the idea of talking kids on adventures. You can always catch up on school work! (and, no. Sadly I do not own a pair of Wonder Woman sneakers now).

I'm living vicariously through your summer pics. Your boys are adorable. We were trying to teach C to ride his bike last year with training wheels and it ended up being more of us pushing him and him coasting! This year, I think a more hands free approach might be needed.

Hooray for the lovely photos. Given that each time I look up and out the window I see giant icicles, giant snow piles, slush on the street where the plows have been through and powdered trees, those summer pics make me feel a little warmer.

>87 LovingLit: How great is that, Megan. I bet that was a special reunion. I like the kids on adventures idea, too. We took our kids on as many as possible. Our last hurrah with all of us together, as they got into their 20s, was a trip to Australia a couple of years ago.

For your virtual reality pleasure:

Summer looks good where you are. Just delurking to note that I am also reading July's People so keen to find out what you think

(I have got stuck half way through, distracted by shinier books).

>88 jolerie: we had a 'balance bike' for the littlies learning to ride. They are so good! AKA running bikes, I think. They have no pedals and the kids just use leg power and learn to coast (hence the balance part). Once they have that down, it is just a case of learning to pedal. They are a great invention (possibly what the first ever bikes looked like too).

>89 cameling: I am getting strong sense that is os very cold in some parts of North America right now. I am very perceptive like that. And here we have warmth, and Lenny walking about with his junior (clean) toilet seat on his head, 3D glasses and no underwear. I think I need to act.

>90 jnwelch: wow, I love those! Mine were more red and more 80s, what with it being the 80s and all. I loved them *boo hoo* It's all coming back now.

>91 charl08: hello C! Nice to meet you :)
I have also got sidetracked by shinier (both NF) books. I just finished one, (that I reviewed up there) and am still going with This Changes Everything, which happens to be a chunkster. I will try to restart July's People soon.

Well, as long as Lenny isn't going to school with his current get up, I'd say all is well in the very perceptive Megan household. How on earth did you gather that there are a few chilly spots in North America now? *stunned and impressed....... with a smirk*

Wow! Lenny on a bike, huh? I am not surprised he is already riding. The little daredevil. Love your camping photos, which gets me yearning for warmer temps.

>93 cameling: he did look very hilarious :)
And we just spent some lovely time together at the library with me laying on the flat low spongy table (how else would you describe a large couch with no back?), and Lenny laying on top of me. I was reading The Giver which grabbed me on the way past and made me read it. It is great so far. And I get to get it out on the kids library cards which means no fine if I am accidentally late!

>94 msf59: the warmth is lovely, and today it comes with hairdryer style fast wind today. Not so calm and summery, more blustery and discombobulating. But, I no complain.
In true Lenny style, he stated one morning that he would like to try that bike, so he did. And he was successful. And now he rides to kindy. It is great!

I love the photos!!! And the Giver. I think there are four related books, not necessarily a series, and I have read the second, but not the rest. Enjoy!

Hooray for reading The Giver horizontally at the library.

Love the photos of the boys at the river. There's something really appealing about swimming in rivers I think. I remember when J was four we were on holiday in France and had stopped for our picnic on the banks of a fairly shallow river. By the time we turned round after sorting out the picnic J was completely naked, preparatory to going paddling.

For some reason the authorities in the UK are fairly paranoid about swimming in any inland water: they seem to regard them as death traps in any and all circumstances. I love swimming in other countries who take a more pragmatic view.

>96 Berly: I didn't know there were four books. I had seen talk here about The Giver and the shiny golden medal on the front wooed me. I also hadn't realised it was 20 years old!
Anyway, I read it at the expense of This Changes Everything and July's People last night. I figure I would just book horn it in ;)

>97 nittnut: I know! It was one of those "this is what I thought parenting would be like" moments.
It was odd too though, as we heard/saw a fire engine go past and soon after smelled smoke! It was concerning, but later I heard on the radio that there were grass/scrub fires to the west of the city and that the wind had carried the smoke. You might have heard on the news that a few houses were burned, it looked pretty full on. I could even smell the smoke into the evening from home.

>98 SandDune: authorities in the UK are fairly paranoid about swimming in any inland water: they seem to regard them as death traps in any and all circumstances.
Here the only reason rivers are regarded as death traps is for all the agricultural pollution in them. Dairy dairy dairy. First off many of the large rivers are much reduced in flow on account of farmers syphoning water off to irrigate (in some cases very dry and very unsuitable to start with land), and secondly, the chemicals and nitrates that are leached off into the rivers then make what water is left pretty toxic. It is a huge problem here. Many NZers grew up being able to swim in any river, and now it is increasingly difficult to find safe ones.
Aside from that, there is the drowning issue. Although, I think our coasts generally have a worse record for drownings. I suppose because we are a land of much and much ultilised coastline.

Oh, I love your Chile story! A year on the road is worth so much in terms of learning compared to a year in school, I'm hoping we manage to do the same thing with our son once he's a little bit older. I think the best part of it now might be having so much time together as a family, without the distraction of electronic devices.

And another vote for balance bikes, it seems like most of the kids around here learn to ride with them, and skip training wheels all together.

Right on Megan :)
A year out of school did none of us harm. I am not sure if me being the youngest has any bearing on me being the only one to go on to complete university education, my older siblings have both gone on to operate their own successful businesses, so that tells me that life and communication skills did them well. Perhaps I was more sheltered as a kid and more introverted naturally ;)

So, the class that I was going to start in a few weeks is not offered in semester one this year (has been other years). So I have had to (a) disregard all my preparatory summer reading (consisting of The Noble Lie and some of The End of Faith) and (b) scrabble around for another suitable course in school hours. The good news is- I found a cool one! Environmental Studies (ERST) Advanced Theory in Resource Management. Exactly what that is I am unsure ;) But I aim to find out!
*phew*
And kindergarten can accommodate the change in hours so I am now all set for 2 x 2 hour classes a week and a whole lotta assessment! Now I just need to get my brain kick-started again......

I'm jealous that you will be able to get out the house and have adult interaction and challenge your brain all at the same time. I don't think I'm at the point where I would want to do assignments for a grade or anything so that part, I'll just live vicariously through you. :D

>103 jolerie: I could not have thought of it til the time was right, Valerie. It takes a while I think, to get back into a semblance of normal sleep patterns not to mention brain patterns. And hey, you are running! So that is where I can live vicariously through you :)

Oh man, that last-minute child/school/schedule scramble is never fun - I feel your pain. But huzzah for making things work!

^heh. I never understand why the classes/times can't be settled earlier than the week before. Maybe it is a case of the lecturers coming off summer break and taking their time. Or it could be that it is just me who is so uber-organised that I have things settled months in advance!

>104 LovingLit: >103 jolerie: (And Hi Luxx.) Huzzah! Brains in use! And legs too. I will live vicariously through both of you and maximize my existence. : )

^bah!
Well, as it turns out, I crowed too soon :(
Apparently the ERST (Envt Studies) course is too close in content to the SOCI(ology) one I did last year so I am not eligible to enrol. What!!??? Say it ain't so! This is the only one that interests me....I thought it was just a formality to run it by the head of Dept, but she said no. Boo hoo.
I am going to make the case that since the SOCI course I did last year was practically all self directed learning on the topic of my choosing, I can still do the ERST one and learn stuff I hadn't before plus choose a different topic to study.
*sigh*
Wish me luck!

Good luck!!

Good luck! It's weird that those two classes are considered to similar in content...

Hi Megan - waving hello **at last** from up here. Sounds like a lovely day yesterday with school back. I hope you get the courses sorted out soon.

Am back at school and happy but buried in work - no reading happening! I have neglected my own thread shockingly but am trying to catch up on everyone else's this weekend.

Good luck, I hope the courses work out for you.

Sending boat-loads of luck to NZ...

I love the idea of The Beer Library! It is exactly how I imagined heaven.

Good luck!

(And hi, Berly!)

Hoping it all works out for you with school. Beautiful boys, getting so big!

I'm sending good class-choosing vibes your way, Megan! I know you've persuaded ME that the two courses are completely different, not that it does you any good whatsoever. :-)

Glad to hear of the successful surgery and the lovely vacation (evidence provided)! Hope you get the classes you want!

>82 LovingLit: This sounds like something my husband would appreciate, so I'll recommend it to him. I tend to be a bit more live and let live, as long as you're not physically, psychologically, or politically harming other people.

...this author took me to a place that was too far from my comfort zone in terms of respect for other people and their way of living.
I'm not a religious person, by any stretch, but this is how I tend to feel too when confronted with this sort of thing, although I do recognize the logic in the argument.

Fingers crossed!

>109 Berly: yes! That is what I need :0 Lotsa fingers crossing. Thanks. I will go see the people about it on Tuesday, hopefully.

>110 nittnut: that is what threw me, the different course titles and schools ;)
They have apparently discontinued one course and revamped it in another department.

>111 cushlareads: sometimes when you haven't visited your own thread in a while, others are much more fun ;) I have experienced this anyway. Shame you are out of time for books from now on...what an all encompassing role teaching is!

>112 lunacat: me too. Worst case scenario is that I do no course this semester *panic* and then have to fund the second semester course myself as no student loans are available to one-course-wonders. If I ind up doing this I may just call it a certificate instead of a diploma and call it a day with study for now.

>113 msf59: Mrk, I looked further into the Beer Library, and discovered it was started by a Chicagoan guy! Apparently he moved here and found a distinct lack of craft beer (*hmph* I don't think he looked hard enough). But I am glad that he is pairing his beer with books. I hope to check it out as soon as it opens.

>114 London_StJ: thanks Luxx, just when I thought it was safe to feel settled. The rug was pulled out. I suppose this is what you get when you study arts at a land-based university!

>115 mckait: Hi Kath, they are getting big. Len still has the cutest chunky thighs and Wilby is tall and lean. They both like their food, that is for sure.

>116 rosalita: Awesome! If I can persuade you, then I am sure I can persuade them. :) I reckon I have a good case, but there is likely to be the dreaded *red tape*.

>117 DorsVenabili: yes, I am similar to you in that regard I think. Although I saw his argument, I still think so long as someone is doing their thing and not trying to make me, then that is all good. He actually even made that case with regards to sexuality and previously outlawed sexual acts....his take was that religion had no business to dictate what people did in the consenting comfort of their own homes.

>118 Crazymamie: thanks Mamie. I see them about it next week. Maybe I will just become a lady of leisure if no course can be sorted for me in semester 1!!

>82 LovingLit: Nice review, Read some Sam Harris before, one of those writers who will make you think even if you don't agree with him ... being taken out of your comfort zone is always a good thing, it lets you redefine it it if you so choose.

" and discovered it was started by a Chicagoan guy!" I am not surprised. Grins...

>121 roundballnz: I hadn't heard of him before a friend forced this book on me last weekend. Ok, heartily recommended it anyway. He (the friend) is a big fan of Christopher Hitchens and watches YouTube videos of him running rings around other smart talkers in religious debates.

>122 msf59: I am not surprised either! Apparently there are few beer loving bookish types in that neck of the woods. I mainly love it when they come to my town and start bars with good beer and books ;)

2014 Book Buying Stats (better late than never)

Books Bought: 103

Of those bought in 2014 that I read in 2014: 26

Second Hand: 76

Average cost (second hand): $2.79

New: 15

Average cost (new): $15.69

Average cost of new/second hand purchases: $5.26

Free/gift: 8

Male/Female authors: 66/37

At the Movies:
Wild
The Theory of Everything
Annie

Brief explanation of events........I went to see Wild with my sister last night. We had both read the book and were dying to see the movie version. It was wonderful! As we were leaving she suggested that we see The Theory of Everything, seeing as it was to be starting in ten minutes anyway, and we were already there. I was a little shocked as was still at the beginning of my post-Wild buzz. She's the impulsive one :) Needless to say it was relatively easy for her to talk me into it, so we refueled with a hot chocolate and went straight back in to see a second movie in one evening. It was a good decision.

Back to back movies sounds like an awesome time and bonus points for doing it on the fly! :)

Books and beer... now if they'd add some cupcakes or donuts as well, that place is going to be swamped!

>125 LovingLit: I preferred Wild (grrr, touchstones) the movie to the book. I want to see The Theory of Everything but it's at an inconvenient location at an inconvenient time so probably not happening; I have the book it's based on but haven't read it.

What are you studying towards? We don't really have that form of study in the UK, where you have credits towards a certain goal. At least, that's how I assume it works for you?

>126 jolerie: woohoo bonus points!!! As the less impulsive sister, I am often roped into awesome situations by the more impulsive of us. It is a situation that works well.

>127 cameling: It is at a place that has a tiny fancy food court....they have a macaroon shop in that, and gooood coffee. Oooh oh oh, and a dumpling stand! So that is a great start. I'll come back and edit in a link to The Colombo- where its all at.

>128 qebo: I hadn't heard of the book that The Theory of Everything is based on, I had only read A Brief History of Time, which I loved back in the day. I recently bought my dad a revised copy of it called An Even Briefer History of Time on account of my stealing his original copy as a teen.

>129 lunacat: I am working on a Post-Graduate Diploma in Social Science. It requires 6 post-grad level papers, which can be done full time in one year (3 papers each semester), but I am only doing one paper each semester. A bit of a worry that I can't even find one that tickles my fancy! I am not doing research so the Quantitative Research Methods paper (statistics) which "they" are angling me towards, is of no interest to me. I am required to take the Qualitative one (which deals with research via interviews and the like), but that is in semester two, just like the other 3 I am interested in.
Something will work itself out. I am sure.

>130 LovingLit: The movie is based on Travelling to Infinity by Jane Hawking, which I gather is a revision of an earlier memoir.

>130 LovingLit: Not sure I get it still (blame my confused brain), but I hope you can figure something out so you don't end up financially screwed or not doing anything this term!

^ah! That would make sense seeing as the film is so much about their relationship as well as his accomplishments.

>132 lunacat: Maybe I have no idea what I am doing, is the problem :)
Not doing anything this term would mean I would be able to become a lady of leisure, which would not seem so bad. But i would not be able to get a student loan for my second term course....so. We will see. Needless to say, I will keep you posted!

>134 LovingLit: At least you have something worthwhile to keep people posted about! A lady of leisure doesn't sound so bad but yeah, the no student loan does. Hope it gets figured out :)

^ hehe, I am sure everyone in the LT-iverse is on the edge of their seats ;) I have always been less "make it happen make it happen" and more "let happen what will happen" kind of person anyway, so I will see how it pans out.

What a great movie doubleheader, Megan. My MBH and I want to see both of those.

>137 jnwelch: I have been thinking about both the movies a lot since last night. They are both great. Wild had redemption themes, I loved her personal and actual journey. And the Stephen Hawking one (he's 72 now!) was utterly clever and so well-acted. And less about him and his intellectual prowess and more about relationships and life. Fantastic.

And, oops. How did I forget about my yesterday's fitness-freak moment! Some of you may remember last year that I partook in a swimming relay race as a fundraiser for my niece and nephew's school. Well, I did it again. Last year we were placed 4th and were determined to train hard for this year and get a place….and we did get a place! 3rd! No training took place, but we swam hard and more to the point we had a 4th team member who could also swim :) So we won a bottle of wine and a box of chocs each. Yes! Bronze.

Yay swimming! Yay Bronze!

^yay! We are clawing our way to the top :) Determined to get our name on that shield. Perhaps if the only laps we ever swam were not those of the actual race….we might get there!?

We watched The Theory of Everything last night, and I agree with you it was a wonderful film and quite the tear-jerker. The lead actor was terrific. Probably my favorite male performance of last year.

Sadly, I have never read A Brief History of Time. What??

Yaaaay... congratulations on the bronze swim medal .. and for bringing on a 4th member who could swim. haha...

Megan, I haven't seen Wild: From Lost to Found, but you're making me think I should make a point of going to see it, if it's still playing in cinemas. I read the book and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

I'm glad someone wrote The End of Faith. I don't know that I'll read it myself, but something like that needs to be out there I think, to bring balance somehow, even though I can see how it could all too easily be offensive. But extremism in any form isn't helpful toward bringing world peace. Thanks for that review, you get a thumb from me.

>142 msf59: I had a wee cry when he did…..he was a fantastic lead, don't you think!? I saw and liked him in Marilyn a few years back, but it was when I saw him interviewed on the Graham Norton show that I thought he was a really cool guy. Funny, humble, smart. What's not to like!??!

>143 cameling: well, the medal was metaphorical, but the place stands. And the chocolates, of course, are gone :)

>144 Smiler69: yay, my first thumb in about a year! Thank you :P Not many people had commented on the review, I thought maybe that the confrontational religious aspect of it had scared people off. Controversy and all. Thanks for reading it, and for the thumb.
I had heard on good authority (Mark) that the film was good, so I didn't go in nervous that they were going to stuff it up. I often have that foreboding feeling going into the movie of a good book. It was a clever take on her journeys. (edited for spelling)

Getting caught up, Megan and love the vacation photos. Congrats on the bronze for the swimming relay race!

Okay see? I can never swim that long. I take my hat off to you. And bronze on top of that?!? Way to go. :)

Quite fancy getting to see "Wild" ..... does seem like my kinda thing

>124 LovingLit: Impressed by those stats, Megan. I have blanco-ed completely how much I spent on books in 2011/2/3/4 as I'll only increase my own blood pressure.

Hope you get the course sorted so that you can study what you want to - helps you to enjoy the course for sure.

Your weekend may be all but over but I'll wish you a great last couple of hours of it anyways. xx

>145 LovingLit: I thought maybe that the confrontational religious aspect of it had scared people off.
Nah. I’m not offended by Sam Harris, and agree with him to a fair extent, but think that he and Dawkins and their ilk emphasize Religion to the exclusion of a variety of human flaws. And I think it’s overstepping to tell other people what has “no bearing on or relevance to modern life”, though some interpretations of scripture are more problematic than others.

>146 lkernagh: Congrats on the bronze for the swimming relay race!
Well, when you say it like that...it sounds very fancy! I would like to make it clear that there were no medals in the actual race. There was a shield though, and our name still isn't on it :)

>147 jolerie: It wasn't a long lap, but doing it 5 times, and getting cold between laps was annoying. However, I was wearing a wetsuit, so had the upper hand in that dept. Last year was a lot harder as I had to watch Lenny, who was only 2.5 then, all the time around the water. He has a bit more fear of it now, so could be at more of a distance while I watched him.

>148 roundballnz: Yup, it was great. And a bit racy in places too, which adds to the fun.

>149 PaulCranswick: Thanks for perusing the stats, Paul. I know you have an interest in them. I was interested to see what I generally pay for my 2nd hand books, and now I know. It is the few expensive ones that I get that skew the cost to a higher figure.

Course wise? I have had a lead (as I had hoped I would). The person in the know has said she will try to get me on the course I want, and another option would be to do some assessed research for her- which I would consider a major honor. So I will be chatting to her soon about all that. Yay! It could work out really well either way.

>150 qebo: oh good, I didn't scare everyone away then :)
I wonder if the heavy promotion at Atheism these days is a little bit overdone in the name of getting discussion kick-started. It feels like sometimes when things have been one way for so long, in order to reach a balance, they need to swing wildly the other way before righting themselves somewhere near the middle.

3rd place means bronze to me.... medal or no medal. ;-)

^ in that case, I'll take it! Just like someone took all my third-place-getting chocolates. But that is another story. ;)

And here is another, another story. This one to file under "Sometimes I love it that Christchurch is so small and that musicians are so under-appreciated and under-paid here".

Yesterday at an outdoor music event in the botanic gardens, young Wilbur was attempting to climb the trunk of a 100+ year old tree, by running up its sloped base and grabbing on to the thick ridges of bark however far up he got. Next thing I know I see a man showing him a photo he had taken of the tree climber, and I recognise him as being a member of one of my favourite bands, THE Bats. I step in at the point where he is looking for the mother....and he introduces himself to me as a council worker there to see that the event is running smoothly. This I already know, as he works with my lovely other and I inform him of the same (*flutter flutter* goes my heart because, he is like, in THE BATS!) So he asks can he put Wilbur's photo up on the council's fb site. I consider telling that I love him, but decide to play it cool and just give permission for Wilbur's photo to go up :) As he can get the details he needs from my lovely other, we call our conversation (I like to call it a soiree....) to a close, and go our merry ways.
*sigh*
I will be going to see them play on March 7 wit my lovely other, so will hopefully get introduced to him again, for the third time- I can't believe he forgot that we had been introduced already nearly 9 years ago!!??! What's with that?? ;)
*sigh the 2nd*

Interesting comments re Sam Harris -- I think you're right about his intent in his books. Like you, I become uncomfortable at the rigid atheism -- I find it just as troubling, in its way, as dogmatic insistence on any particular religious creed. In fact, at times it sometimes feels to me as if atheism IS a religious belief -- requiring the same level of absolute fidelity, utter conviction/certainty. Regardless of what we think we know, and what we feel is by far the most probable, the only truth is that we do not know. Which is why I describe myself as an agnostic. I don't personally have a religious faith, but I can become equally annoyed by the way that atheists are willing to offend people who do and who simply want to lead their own lives without cramming their personal beliefs down others' throats. It's proselytizing, and violence and other evils in the name of religion, that are the problem -- and I know enough people who are good at heart and who are believers and enough unpleasant, manipulative, atheists to suggest that religious faith isn't a direct cause of all human evil, or even a necessary correlation.

Glad you had such a fab "summer". We, needless to say, are trapped in endless winter...

Hope you get the class stuff sorted out. Is there really nothing else that appeals?

Oh, and I echo the recommendation for Dan Baum's Nine Lives. Perhaps not just while you're recovering from one Katrina book, but one day. It casts a wider net, but I loved it when I read it. Unputdownable.

>155 Chatterbox: Hi Suz,
I am in agreeance with most of your atheism/religiousness discussion. I would forgive atheism for its fervor (not to the point of extremism) at the moment on account of its agenda being to swing the balance back from hard core religosity (is that even a word?) that has so much to answer for. But it can't go on forever.....and it may not even will not moderate anyone from any extreme beliefs. Humans huh? We are a wayward bunch.

Hope you get the class stuff sorted out. Is there really nothing else that appeals?
I am attending an agricultural university which in the last few decades has broadened to include sports, tourism and viticulture focuses as well. The social sciences are usually integrated within these areas. There is basically one dedicated philosophy lecturer, one psychology and 3 sociology lecturers. Straight out arts papers are thin on the ground. BUT...searching within areas I wouldn't consider in my realm like business and economics there will probably be more stuff I can squeak in to. It is just heavily disguised as boring... ;) However, I have emailed back and forth with the post-grad advisor and I can report that she presented a few options that were available to me. All of them awesome and two of them very flattering.
1. see if she can get me on the course I want
2. see if she can get a staff member to supervise an individual mini-mini-thesis, which she thought possible on account of my good grades (YAY!)
3. do some assessed research-assistance for her own current research (flattering!)
So I would be really happy with options 1 an 3 and it is great to know there are more options than what is available on the printed documents.

>7 LovingLit: Five Days at Memorial was a 5 star read for me too, Megan. I am glad to see you appreciated the book too!

>67 LovingLit: >68 LovingLit: Love the pictures! Thanks for sharing!

^ Hi Stasia, thanks for dropping by. I still think about Five Days at memorial, it is a powerful book.

BOOK 8
the Mermaid and the Drunks by Ben Richards (247p of which I read 171, page tally 1,984)

It is rare that I admit to not finishing a book. I always have hope that something good might happen, like that a story will develop. In this case I just cannot read on. I picked this book from my shelves while down on the floor picking something up, I grabbed if on a whim and just started reading it there on the floor. Once I was committed, I just kept reading but it did not impress me.

Flavia, Fuscia (*goes to look up the main characters name*) Fresia is a young Chilean woman, brought up in England after her father was exiled during the Pinochet years. She is returning to her homeland and on the way meets a Scottish academic returning to Chile for research. They like each other, but then she likes this other rich guy they meet, and also has fumbling dalliances with a near-stranger (while worried that her non-rebuttal of his advances equates to consent). Meanwhile the love struck academic is pining over her and taking every opportunity to educate Chileans of their history- here I can't help but feel the author had an extended knowledge of the country and could not help but write a book to show it off.
Ack, this book was a waste of my time.

Ooohhh.... definitely a book to avoid, me thinks. ;-)

Woah, thanks for the heads up, Megan. I'm keeping away from this one. I hope your next read is a better one.

I'll be skipping The Mermaid and The Drunks . Sounds dreadful! Thanks for taking one for the team. As for Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins , my dad was an avowed atheist, so I am plenty familiar with the books! :) Perhaps more than I wished to be! :) But no offence at all, I quite respected my dad's beliefs.

Sigh. Now I have to give the second half of Five Days at Memorial another chance....At least I don't have to read The Mermaid and The Drunks!

>160 lkernagh: yes, well. I think that is a good idea :) I would have picked it up to purchase (2nd hand) because of the time I spent in Chile.

>161 cameling: next read? you mean July's People: can't get into it. 30 pages has taken me 4 sittings! This Changes Everything is great, but not really escapism, more like fire-me-up-ism. There is still The Rime of the Ancient Mariner I could kick-start...other than that, I am lining up Being Mortal which is bound to be great....maybe I should just skip straight to that!!

>162 vancouverdeb: My dad is an unavaowed atheist. He has never said a word about it either way, but I know he is not a believer. My mum was (still is?) a Catholic. I guess their marriage was doomed from the start! At least they got 3 awesome kids out of it ;)

>163 Berly: Well, for me I saw it as the section that told me about ow the public got to see /hear about the events there. Me being here/in Australia with no TV and no interest in the news, I heard nothing about any of it. I found it fascinating. :) And I will be saying as much tomorrow night at bookclub. Maybe just take a 2nd peek!?

Fine. A 2nd peek...But only because I like you! I'd love to hear more of your bookclub's comments, too. : )

>164 LovingLit: Your comments on July's People making me feel less guilty about leaving it for shinier things! Thanks!

Catching up, catching up - how did I get so behind! Wah!

Love the pics, fingers crossed for Wilbur's ears, good luck with school and phew, for a second I thought that the 2014 books bought were a Jan tot up and that you were going Cranswickian this year!

Howdy, Megan! Just popping in! It looks like I can avoid the "Mermaid" book. Yah!

>165 Berly: oh yay, you have just reminded me that I have bookclub tonight. It is as 'the other Megan's' house (no, not Evilmoose) and her husband has the same name as my lovely other. I want us to get together for dinner one time just so we can all have the same names together! (OK, and because they are both really nice).
See how you go with Part II of Five Days at Memorial, you can always ditch it again a la my last read!

>166 charl08: ooh, goodie! A partner in crime :0
You would think we could just read the thing, it is hardly even very long. But....it is what it is, and both of us aren't keen, so it must be the book, right?

>167 BekkaJo: Woah! That would have been a Cranswickian monthly haul! :) And I am pretty sure that that word is in common enough useage now to be included in the next edition of the OED.
I thought I was quite restrained, all things considered, with my book buying last year. I still have stacks of un-shelved books, but I like to admire them.

>168 msf59: Hi Mark! Definitely avoid the Mermaid book....and, did you miss my story about meeting that guy from The Bats? (>154 LovingLit:) I have yet to find the photo he took of Wilbur, it is possibly in transit to the internet as it was run by my lovely other for the details yesterday at work. I am such a wannabe groupie!

I started Being Mortal last night, it is fab!

>170 LovingLit: I was going to suggest you skip to Being Mortal and what do you know ... you did. :-) I've heard great things about this book and it's on my OWL.

^I have read his other three books, and when this one came out I resigned myself to having to wait, but then a friend bought a copy and asked if I wanted to read it. I almost leapt out of my skin saying yes ;) So last night I went to bed at 8:30pm and read for 2 hours straight.
*happiness*

Sweeeet! Now that's what I call a good night. :-)

Reading for 2 hours straight is heavenly!
Sorry to hear about your recent dud. I'm in the middle of one right now. Probably not as bad as 1.5 stars but I wish I wasn't so anal about completing things because I would abandon the book in an instant....gah!

>169 LovingLit: I really want to like her books, but...

Yes, I missed Wilbur & The Bats story! Very cool. Hope you can post the photo.

I am so glad you are enjoying Being Mortal. It is terrific beginning to end.

>173 cameling: I know, me too. I had fantasies about finishing it in time to review at bookclub tonight, but then I remembered that today I had back to back activities and no chance of reading. *sad face*

>174 jolerie: I am anal about completing things too, Valerie. I surprised even myself in ditching this one so far through. Usually I just press on and resent the whole process ;)

>175 charl08: haha, you sound like me. I didn't mind The Conservationist, but I cant say I loved it either.

>176 msf59: I know! (on both applicable counts). I have yet to find hte right facebook page where the photo is posted. But will check it out and then link to it. I am dying (see what I did there?) to read Being Mortal, but todays RL stuff is totally getting in my way. Grrr. Tomorrow maybe.

Today:
3:00am- Lenny totters in and gets put back to bed
3:45am- as above
4:30am- as above
5:10am- Wilbur comes in as has had a bad dream, and snuggles down with me and falls asleep
6:10am- Lenny comes in and wakes us both up just after we have fallen asleep

It has been a while since I had a corker like this one, so now that they are at school/kindy, I am off to read in bed!!! I need my energy as tonight I am taking W out for a special late night treat, to the Cricket World Cup opening ceremony. It will be busy, loud and fun, so I need to prepare by reading quietly in bed. :)

>159 LovingLit: Avoiding that one like the plague!

>178 LovingLit: Reading quietly in bed sounds like a good plan to me :)

Ouch! Sorry about the rough night but good thing you were able to get some quiet time the next day. Hopefully I'll be in your shoes this coming fall when my eldest starts kindy! Right now, rough nights means intense caffeine therapy the next day because well, ya know, boys dont' come with and OFF switch. ;)

>179 alcottacre: you know it, Stasia!

>180 jolerie: true, I had a lot or R&R today. I even went out to meet a friend for a coffee, made dinner, read Being Mortal (Wow, I love this read), prepped my logistics for tonight (car/bus/bus/car), and sorted out our home insurance to a monthly payment instead of an ever-increasing lump sum. I am pretty happy with that.

>178 LovingLit: Ooof, I'm sorry for the rough night, Megan. But the opening ceremony sounds like fun (as does the reading in bed)!

Oh, how I remember those days, Megan! Reading in bed while the kids are in school sounds like just the ticket. I'll bet the opening ceremony was a blast!

The Cricket World Cup opening ceremony was so much fun! Lots of mini-stages with cultural dance acts from the countries with teams in the World Cup, a fantastic Maori group with their challenge and haka and folk songs, choirs, bands, dancers and fireworks. Wilbur had a great time - it was a real treat to see him so excited about everything.

I'm glad you're liking Being Mortal, Megan. Did you see The Imitation Game? That's the one our neighborhood theater has right now, and we're probably going to go this weekend.

>182 scaifea: the funny thing about late nights is that you can recover from them quickly if you have a decent block of sleep the next night, and even though I had a late night out, I then got 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep so am now a box of birds again ;)

>183 Crazymamie: you know, I had low hopes for the opening ceremony. How bad not to have faith that my town could pull off a spectacular event!! I think because it was billed as a party/event rather than a ceremony, and that it was free to attend contributed to my low expectations. But it was a really slick and clever show.

>185 jnwelch: I am itching to read it to completion, Joe. I now have 2 hours til I need to go get Lenny from Kindy, but I will probably use that up tidying and prepping dinner. Boo hoo, the book will have to wait. I have not heard of The Imitation Game, but I am always on the lookout for a great film so will see what it is about.

So glad that it was well done and loads of fun. And what a great memory for Wilbur!

^ true, i think he will remember this one :) Some things stick out as a kid, and getting to stay up really late is one of those.

I'm sure he is going to look back on this day and talk about it for years to come. What a fun time you must have had together. :)

>189 jolerie: and isn't it funny that as a parent, your greatest happiness comes from seeing your kids happy :)

That opening ceremony looks like buckets of fun, Megan! So glad to hear that after a good night's sleep you are once again a box of birds (still one of my fave new slang expressions that you've taught me).

>191 rosalita: oh yea! I remember the expression 'box of birds' needing explaining :)
Buckets of fun was indeed had. And tonight I had a small crying episode on my hands from him wanting to go to a rugby game tonight: "I will probably have to wait 200 years to go to a match, and I don't want to wait 200 years!!". Oooooo-kay ;)

>178 LovingLit: I had one of those nights this week as well. I turned out my light and went to sleep sometime after 11. My (almost 11 year old) daughter woke up at midnight with a bad dream. I took her back to bed. Then the 8 year old came in at 2 or 3 with a bad dream. Put him back to bed. He came back half an hour later, and I let him stay as he got in on his dad's side. At 4:30 the daughter came back. At this point, I gave up and got up for the day. After they went to school, I went back to bed. :)

Cricket opening ceremonies look way fun.

Stopping by and waving!

I'm running like mad to read al these enormous threads! But I'm hopelessly behind.

I love all those happy pictures

Happy Weekend, Megan.

>193 nittnut: it can be disheartening to hear that those nights can carry on into near (and post) teenagehood! I guess that is what parenting is all about though, being there :)

>194 connie53: hi Connie. I was planning to go and see a band tonight, but they play notoriously late, and last night I was late to bed, and then still awake at midnight with a runny nose and an ominous swallowing problem. I hope I am not getting sick! I might need to forego seeing one of my fave bands *sad face*

>195 LovingLit: That really is frustrating, Megan. I hope you feel good enough to go AND feel better in a few hours.

Great win by the Black Caps today Megan. We played predictably too to run the Aussies close hahaha.

Have a wonderful weekend. xx

Happy Weekend, Megan! Hope you are getting some reading in. We are freezing our collective butts off here, in the Midwest. Send some warm vibes, will ya!

Sending germ killing vibes your way. It's NOT time for a head cold. I'll let you know when it's time. Lol.

Hi Megan. I hope you are fine and could attend the concert!

>184 LovingLit: I love those pictures! Some great memories for you and Wilbur, for sure.

>196 connie53: >200 connie53: well, I didn't go. I found myself getting into my JJs at about 9:30pm, and realised I was not going to be leaving the house :) Never mind, an early night did me good. And it was just as well as Little Lenny came in to start the day off at 5:45am.

>197 PaulCranswick: I watched it on telly Paul, it was great. My lovely other was working there, as the/a city council representative, so he got to see some too. I even axed the kids TV in the afternoon to make sure I saw the final out. They weren't impressed, but they'll get over it.

>198 msf59: reading!?? Not yet :(
Went to a family friend's farm and the kids loved helping the "farmer do some jobs". We sawed some willow branches off to feed the sheep as grass is brown and crunchy on account of there being a drought and all. And wandered about on the fallen tree trunks, there are still a lot down from a storm last year.

>199 nittnut: last night was better, at least I wasn't a snot factory! (sorry, too much information?). I got a good block of sleep and am feeling OK today, I will try to avoid eating the lemon coconut brownie I made yesterday as I am convinced sugar is an immunity-killer.

>201 alcottacre: they are cool pics, aren't they. Just to be clear, I didn't take those ones, they were from the main newspaper website. They represent well what we saw though!

And for today? In keeping with our proven "divide and conquer" parenting technique....I am taking W out for a walk then a movie (Annie) and then to see a music duo at a cool cafe that has loads of sci-fi and space stuff all over the walls. The lovely other is taking L to the miniature trains with his dad in tow.
Happiness is kids who don't fight ;)

>202 LovingLit:. Sorry you could not go, but instead you got a good night's sleep. That's worth something too.

>154 LovingLit: Ha! Great story! I admire you for keeping your cool. :-)

>184 LovingLit: Nice photos!

Sad to read about your reaction to July's People, because I started it a while back and couldn't get into it either. And I really want to like her! I hate when that happens.

>204 connie53: true! And I am feeling a tad better now, even if I still cancelled my blood donating appointment. As usual. I did the same most of last winter from colds!

>205 DorsVenabili: :) I was proud of myself for acting normal in the face of greatness. It's hard enough as it is!!!
I have decided to pull on my big-girls pants and get reading July's People. It is a really short novel and I must be able to read it by bare fact of reading, one word after the other, til it's done. But, yeah. It isn't exactly easy reading....

>206 LovingLit: Good luck! I finished the Gordimer, and returned it to the library with a considerable sense of relief (not exactly a great recommendation there).

^ha! OK. I will proceed with trepidation :)

#203 Divide and conquer = sometimes the only way forward! Sounds like they would both have had a great day as well :)

Hope you are feeling better and they are letting you get some sleep!

Glad you're feeling better. Lemon coconut brownies? Yum!

I don't remember liking July's People too much either, Megan in truth.

>209 BekkaJo: that is not to say that parenting is like a war, or anything ;) It just seems like it sometimes.

>210 nittnut: I am on to the berocca now to ensure any health ground gained is retained :) And last night I went to bed early to read, and started falling asleep! So I didn't fight it and just got into my PJs and let it happen. This was 9:00pm. I think I needed a catch up sleep!

>211 PaulCranswick: it's that pesky Nobel Prize, it wooed me. Ha. I made some headway before falling asleep, so am going to finish it today, if I get off this computer and on to actually reading. This is my last week of freedoms while kids have school/kindy and I have no university commitments. I aim to use it wisely.

BOOK 9
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande (263p, tally 2,247)

This account of mortality from the perspective of a physician/surgeon is the perfect mix of information and anecdote. He implores us to pay more attention to death, as it will happen to us all no matter how much we avoid the difficult discussions around it.

Gawande shares with us the deaths of two aged family members and what he has learned from being there. It seems that no matter how prepared they are, it is always a profound shock to loved-ones and the dying that they will actually die. This is perhaps obvious seeing as we spend our whole lives devoted to living and only the final part of it, however short or long, to dying. He is really advocating for thought about the quality of the life we have left, and encourages us to at least think about what medical intervention in the late stages of life is actually giving us. Comparisons between his native India and the modern medicalisation of death in the US reveal that the more intervention a dying person has, the more isolated and unhappier they are. I want to give this book to each member of my family so that we all might be better prepared for life, as well as death.

BOOK 10
July's People by Nadine Gordimer (160p, tally 2,407)

Well, at least I finished it. In this scatter-shot story, July and the family he works as a servant for are back in July's village so that the family may shelter from social unrest in Johannesburg. The white family is a school of fish out of water and their relationship with July becomes strained now that they are living as equals. Unrest visits the village. The end. Moving on.

>213 LovingLit: That looks like a BB. I agree totally that the modern medicalization of death just separates families from the dying loved one and isolates the dying person unfairly.

Excellent review of Being Mortal. It captured my feelings about it too. It is a Must Read!

>215 nittnut: >216 msf59: yay. I have kidzdoc/Darryl to thanks for that particular rec, and Barack Obama.

>214 LovingLit: :-) I'm hiding her other unread books on my shelf.

>213 LovingLit: I had the same reaction of wanting to give Being Mortal to every member of my family, Megan. One sister has promised me she'll read it, and I'm hoping the other does. My wife is reading it, too.

Divide and conquer is totally the saving grace in our family. When you go from 1 to 2, it's like you each get a kid for yourself..ha. Like boats passing in the night sometimes. ;)

>218 charl08: I have given her a fair go now, I think I can leave it at that :) Of course, it helps that I have no more books of hers on the shelves!

>218 charl08: Fancy being that talented, as the author so obviously is. Medicine, surgery, writing, philosophising.......he is wonderful. I would love to lend it to most people I know, but the owner of the book wants to re-read it first and then lend it to everyone she knows! The mark of a fantastic book :)

>219 jnwelch: Two kids two parents. It is an obvious solution. One each! And that is one of the reasons we are a 4 person family, what on earth would you do with a third child? Who would be in charge of it? All hell could break loose. ;)

>221 LovingLit: As one of three siblings, I can confirm that's exactly what happens.

^ as the third of a three sibling family, I concur. I developed a technique of stealthy silence which was perceived by my parents as good behaviour. Mwa ha haaaa ;)

I have started a group read page for The Gift of Rain. We are so far a small and select group, of 2x Megans and 1x Ilana ;) Please join in if you feel like it!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/188011

>223 LovingLit: LOL! Wish I'd thought of that! Actually, I was the youngest, and our parents were pretty worn out by the time I showed up, so I got away with a lot.

Or you could do what my parents did, and wait 16 years between your first and your third. For all intents and purposes, i grew up in a two-kid family. :-)

SO, not to totally burst your parent bubble, but when the kids get older there are other sleep problems. I am now at the stage where I am waiting up for kids to get home before curfew, which on the weekends is 1am. But I always wake up on my own, whether I want to or not, by about 6 or 7am. Can you say Sleep-Deprived?! LOL

>225 jnwelch: yea, my mum was probably the same, seeing as I showed up when my sister was only 18 months old. Yikes. I never appreciated what the small age gap meant til I started having my own kids. Since dad worked all the hours of the day and into the evening, she pretty much did it on her own.

>226 rosalita: That is a huge gap! My BiL has that gap between him and his eldest siblings, they seem like pensioners now, and their mother is still going strong well into her 80s.

>227 Berly: well, that was not what I wanted to hear. :)
I remember when I was 15 or 16 staying out all night one night. Not through shenanigans, just that the thing we went to finished late so I decided to stay at the friends place who was giving us a ride. Of course, my parents were up half the night worried silly. I had no idea! I just thought I would wander in or out, no point in waking them with a phone call. I soon learned that a phone call is a good thing.

Squeaky bum time yesterday as you "cruised" past Scotland by three wickets - still a win is a win is a win as they say.

>214 LovingLit: Same cover as the one I read; same view of the book - it stunk.

>228 LovingLit:
I remember my son staying out all night. He had been living on his own while studying in another town but he came to live with us again when he got his degree. One weekend night he was out with friends and I always left a light on in his room and the door open. When I went to the bathroom at 7 a.m. the light was still on and the door still open. So I panicked and saw him lying in a hospital (and worse: the morgue). I even phoned the police station and the hospital to ask if there had been a boy (man really, he must have been 27 or 28) brought in. And I started a search through Facebook.
It turned out there was a girl that got assaulted by her ex boyfriend and he stepped in to rescue her and took her to her house. She was very afraid that the guy would follow her since her apartment was near to the bar where this all happened. So he stayed with her to keep her safe. His mobile phone was empty and he used her phone to send a sms to me. He thought he knew my number by heart but he swapped some of the numbers (so somebody else got his sms) and I never knew of course. I was in tears and so angry when he finally turned up. But that was really relief disguised.

I'm happy to say the girl he rescued is now his girlfriend.

>229 PaulCranswick: do you mean it was luck that got us the win? I didn't see any but the first 4 wickets, as it was on pay TV instead of free-to-air. But I heard we trounced them, fairly anyway.
I watched a bit of Bangladesh v Afghanistan last night while babysitting a friends' kids. Afghanistan were getting out ball after ball, even though they limited Bangladesh to 267 runs.

>230 connie53: woah, that is nice of your son. And he did try, after all. Chivalry is not dead!

I must be prepping for busy times ahead, yesterday I baked Sticky Lemon Muffins and today Spiced Maple Sponge Kisses. Yum on both counts, and kids' lunch boxes ready for stuffing tomorrow. But it is too hot for baking today, so I shall prepare BBQ items for dinner, so far I have courgette (zucchini) and haloumi kebabs, and chicken tenderloins currently mashing in a harissa marinade.
*proud*
(please note that on days I do not announce my baking and dinner plans, it is because it was not nearly as interesting as today!)

Hope you enjoy The Gift of Rain. Can't take on a GR right now, but that's one for the list, I think. Garden of Evening Mists was beautiful.

>232 LovingLit: WOW to cooking, baking, and dinner plans. please note that on days I do not announce my baking and dinner plans, it is because it was not nearly as interesting as today! … That would be every day at this ranch, LOL!

^ you'll also note that my what's for dinner announcements are few and far between :) Normality at this ranch is boring easy stuff like casseroles, savoury mince, meatballs, pr pasta.

BOOK HAUL
15. Cathedral by Raymond Carver $2
16. Hotel World by Ali Smith $2
17. The toughest Indian in the World by Sherman Alexie $2

(all nice looking books too, woohoo)

what on earth would you do with a third child? Who would be in charge of it? All hell could break loose. ;)

Well, as a parent of three children, I can honesty say that all hell pretty much broke loose. It doesn't help that I basically have two "oldest" children. My son, who is legit the oldest and my daughter who KNOWS what is best.

>227 Berly: So, so, so true. I planned so badly, that I have a teenager coming home in the wee hours and a youngster who still wakes at the crack of dawn. My prime sleep hours are between 1 and 5 am. Just as bad as when they were infants, but without the benefits...

Group read sounds fun, but I'd better not. Sigh. I think I will try the courgette and haloumi kebabs. I bet my kids would eat that. It would make a change from bread, pasta and rice. Which are THE food groups. In case you thought there were more food groups.

>235 nittnut: sigh, it looks like THEY were right when they announced upon hearing of my pregnancy that that was then end of my sleep. And I thought they were just raining on my parade. Heh.
Actually, ironically, I was never more well rested than when Lenny was aged between 3 weeks and 6 months old. He was such a placid baby never once crying for any length at night (I kid you not). I had my "I've got a newborn to look after" card to play, so my lovely other looked after Wilbur and I had the easy baby. This made a change from the first and definitely not easy baby we had, so. I was OK with the arrangement. And now, it is definitely good compared to other periods where 4 hours sleep in one block was a highly sought after thing.

If only we had eyes in the back of our heads and can sprout another arm or two? Heck, all hell would still break loose in my opinion. ;)

We just purchased a bunk bed for the boys in anticipation of transitioning them to one room together this coming summer. I predict a loss of sleep as they learn to sleep together, but it will be fun spying on them through the baby cam..ha!

Ohh, halloumi. One of my favourite cheeses. No BBQ can be considered complete without it.

>237 jolerie: baby-cam. Genius. I knew someone who had one and they used to flick the TV to that babycam to see what junior was up to. It was classic entertainment, just watching the baby sleep! But I see my kids meddling with the camera...inquisitive tykes ;)

>238 lunacat: I splashed out and just got it. It was delicious. Courgette/haloumi on a stick repeat. Crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, so so good. And the harissa marinaded chicken was fantastic too- buttermilk, lemon juice, garlic and onion (pressed through a mincer), harissa paste and pepper. Dunk the meat in the marinade and let it sit an hour or 3, then BBQ. Yum. I must do that again, it was great.

Hey Megan! Yum to your BBQ and I already caught a couple of BBs from you. I think my bank balance is going to regret a more active return to this group. Ah well. Glad to see your young-uns are still a source of pride and amusement. I read a Sherman Alexie last year The lone ranger and tonto fistfight in heaven and it was fantastic. Such a unique voice. I also have a new definition of happiness that I am sure you can relate to - that moment in an Opp shop (Goodwill to our state-side pals) when you find a book for $2 that has been on your Book Depository wishlist for ages at $15. Yayy!! Happened to me this week with The Bottoms.

^ ah, the thrill of the chase huh? I love finding a great op-shop bargain. I get a huge buzz from the delayed gratification paying of :) I am so different to my siblings in this trait, they see want buy in quick succession. I guess they got that from my dad who had little as a kid so as an adult was able to get things he wanted, and so did. I am frugal by nature (coffee out is of course exempt from this).

^get outa town, I am not falling for that :)

Hi Megan?! Just checking in. Nice book haul. How is The Gift of Rain coming? Sadly, I can't squeeze it in, at this point but if I hear enough warbling, I will move it way, way up!

>244 msf59: hi Mark, I am trying to take it slow with The Gift of Rain because the other Megan and Ilana have not started it yet. Even though on balance they will eclipse me once they get started....but I am loving what I have read so far which is about 70 pages.
I intend to warble away if it is warranted ;)

I've been meaning to get back to Raymond Carver for ages. I NEED to yank one of his collections down and add it to the queue.

Darn, I'd love to join you with The Gift of Rain but I'm a little swamped right now. I'll just have to read your review to see if I should move it up the reading ladder.

>234 LovingLit: I got my copy of this Alexie from the library, but for $2! Great book :-)

Happy Friday, Megan!

>246 msf59: This is the copy I found, Mark. It was just so classy and sparse that I decided I needed to read Carver ;)

I am not sure I would have grabbed this cover.


>247 cameling: Aaaah, a little swamped right now. The catch cry of 75er :) I understand, Caro. But you might want to WL it anyway, as it is lovely. Did you read The Garden of Evening Mists??

>248 charl08: I have his other one too (The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time indian) and have yet to read it. But I recognised the styling on the cover as similar to it, and seeing it was brand new looking I had to grab it.

>249 jnwelch: Friday? Yes, it was great (if not rushed) in the early AM, then it was great (and not rushed as kids were dropped off) and I went out to university to sort out more course stuff. I am waiting on official course approval before I can enrol and get my ID card. I read The Gift of Rain and finished Children of the Poor: How Poverty Could Destroy New Zealand's Future which is written by an ex-politician and former leader of the WTO. It was an odd mixture of left and right, but overall a big old baseless rant.

>250 LovingLit: All sounds good, Megan, although I'm sorry Children of the Poor turned out to be a big old baseless rant. How did you like The Gift of Rain? I loved The Garden of Evening Mists.

I'm a big Sherman Alexie fan; The Absolutely True Diary was the first one of his I read, and I thought it was great.

Hi Megan, your boys gave England a bit of a whipping and I think they are well deserved of their billing as joint favourites to win the World Cup. Hope everything is well with you and the family my dear, love and hugs.

Oh dear... it would appear I have been a bit of a lurker on your thread lately, Megan. That is what comes from grabbing snatches of LT time and skim reading posts.

I did pay attention enough to see a discussion about families with three (or more) children as opposed to just two. Coming from a family of five kids - I am the second youngest - it is truly amazing what one can get away with in a family of that size. Just sayin' ;-)

>251 jnwelch: Hi Joe, I am still reading The Gift of Rain, only 100 pages in (out of nearly 500). I am going to try to read it hard this week before university starts up. After which I will be snowed under (metaphorically of course).
I started one of the short stories from the Sherman Alexie collection and I like the style so far. Not that I should be admitting here to starting yet another book. *sigh*

>252 johnsimpson: oh boy, John, did England get a hiding! Yikes. Finally NZ seems to be coming good in the cricket. We had a long few years of struggling a lot with...um...competence ;)

>253 lkernagh: lurk away :)
My friend is the youngest of 5 kids, she got to tag along a lot with her siblings I think just so mum could get a break! I would also be keen to hear exactly what kind of amazing things you got away with!!

Inspired by your haloumi kebabs, I picked up some haloumi and courgettes and marinated them in a little lemon juice and chipotle chile powder. We grilled them and YUM!

Hi Megan, hope you and the family have had a good weekend and are looking forward to the black caps next match in the World Cup, I think you have a really good chance of winning it my dear.

Just popping in to say hello :) And of course to try to catch up. Clearly you are busy as usual :)

I am off to look up that book up there.. Cathedral. That cover does entice me!

Take care.

eta

oh, short stories...

:(

The only Carver I have read is Short Cuts, which is the movie tie-in, to the film Short Cuts. The stories are great and the film is pretty great too. Have you ever seen it?

Hope you had a lovely weekend.

I daren't post some of my antics, but I can at least state that none of them were crime-worthy. ;-)

Yesterday was the 4th anniversary of the 22/2 earthquake that killed 184 people in Christchurch. I thought about it a lot and we had 2 minute silence at my friends birthday lunch (at 12.51). I tried not to cry, but is is so easy to. All I have to do is think about that day, and all that we didn't know was happening around town at the time, with death, and people trapped in rubble overnight, and fear.
My lovely other told me last night (for the first time) that he wished he had gone to the funeral of his work colleague who was one of the first deaths recorded on that day. He was just too overwhelmed by everything and the thought that we would know more names on what was to become a long list announcing the dead (we didn't, thank goodness). What a crazy time that was. I was pregnant with Lenny, and little Wilbur was nearly two and a half years old. Thank goodness we came through OK!

Back soon :)

What powerful memories, Megan after such a devastating disaster and loss. I'm glad you and your family came through okay, too.

I'm also glad that you and your family weren't harmed in that tragic earthquake, Megan. What's going to happen to the famous church that was nearly destroyed as a result?

#260 *hugs* I have no words :/

That must have been wrenching, Megan. Adding my gladness that you and your family survived it.

*HUGS*. That must have been such a scary time for everyone in Christchurch. Glad to know you and yours were ok though.

>255 nittnut: ooh, that sounds like a great combo. I was reading about lemongrass and peanut oil today in The Gift of Rain, it was used to douse chicken skewers with and sounded delicious. I might have to re-boot the BBQ before the end of summer.

>256 johnsimpson: Don't say the W word!! (winning) It will be a bad omen. We are really good at getting nearly there and then stuffing it up. Although, we are looking good so far....

>257 mckait: Such a pretty cover ay! Sorry you are not into short stories, how do novellas sit with you. I like them better than shorts, which can take too long to get into and then just when you do they end.

>258 msf59: I have not seen, read or heard of Short Cuts. But I think the short stories that Kath is not so fond of could be good for me starting tomorrow (when my classes start for this semester).I have an unprecedented amount of written assessment for this course so am, of course, terrified. Again.

>259 lkernagh: oooh, the plot thickens, I am glad to be NOT in the know lest I be implicated somehow :)

(((Hugs))) for 22/2. Humans are resilient, but some things leave a permanent mark.

Also, and rather frivolously, (((Hugs))) for the Bacon and Egg Pie recipe. I made it (finally) last night and my kids (picky-picky) ATE IT ALL. Joyously and ravenously. So thanks. :)

ETA - Ooh! cross posting!

Nancy, Darryl, Bekka, Joe, and Valerie: thanks! I appreciate your words :)
>262 kidzdoc: Darryl the Cathedral is still in limbo. It sits there half-ruined, a great hulking monument to indecision and red-tape. Its heralded 'replacement' (the Cardboard Cathedral), meanwhile, is used a lot for both church and non-church activities, and is a real draw-card.

>267 nittnut: :)
Great news on the Bacon and Egg pie! Serve it with some greens and it could even pass as healthy! You know, my experience of the earthquakes was relatively benign, but the memories linger. I just note them and move on, but still feel so sad for our collective losses.

>231 LovingLit: A three wicket win over Scotland was not overly impressive to be honest Megan, but boy did you give England a pasting. One of the most embarrasingly one-sided games I have seen.

>260 LovingLit: It is important to remember, Megan, isn't it? One thing that struck me as a visitor there fairly soon after the problems was how well the community had pulled together and how knowledgeable everyone had become about seismic issues. In a difficult time your city stood tall and its revitalisation has been a credit to your collective civic pride. Your Container Mall was an indicator of the determination to have business almost as usual and it was a country that I fell in love with and would happily retire to as I have stated severally.

^oh, the NZ v Scotland game I did not see. I just heard we won and that was enough for me, but I heard more about the NZ v England one, where it was a whitewash. That was the one I was *not mentioning* on your thread ;)
Yes to not forgetting. I think the rest of NZ has earthquake talk fatigue....it is still topical on account of many insurance claims still not being settled 4 years later. Old ladies living in houses with the sky visible through cracks in the walls etc. Not good. One of the lecturers in my department at university was the only survivor on a bus that was crushed by falling masonry on 22/2/11. It is that kind of stuff that I dwell on, perhaps more than I should. So, thank you for your such-well-worded comments. You have a gift for words!! Maybe your second (or third, after poetry) calling could be a Hallmark writer. ;)

>106 LovingLit: Megan, at the university I once worked for, getting faculty contracts together and schedules confirmed was a tortuous process. Often, one faculty thought they were teaching a number of classes more than one but found they were scheduled for less than they expected. This caused some to pull out completely because they needed that number of classes to make it worth their while. It just sometimes takes a while to get everything in place. Which is nerve-wracking for the students, and the staff.

In the US, the majority of college professors are adjunct, which means they only teach one or two classes and are not considered full-time, which means they cannot put themselves on the tenure track. It's an obnoxious way to staff for classes.

Huh. Interesting. My lecturer is teaching only this course, and of course the job insecurity means she has a long commute (she'd move if she knew she had a long term job). It is all designed to suit the profitability of the employers. Of course.