scaifea's 2015 challenge - thread #7

Welcome to thread VII!



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. A book from my Classics shelves.

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

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

12. The American Author Challenge.

13. The British Author Challenge.

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

And on top of these, there will be a multitude of picture books and easy readers, which Charlie and I read together. I've decided this year also to list our re-reads, but I'll just list them each day and not number them.

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



What I'm reading now:
-Johnny Got His Gun (Banned Books list)
-Pran of Albania (Newbery Honor list)
-Faust (The Green Dragon 1001 Fantasy List)
-John Tyler (Presidential Challenge)
-Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy (audio book)
-Stand on Zanzibar (Hugo & BFSA award lists)
-Excalibur (from the TBR shelves)
-Mary Poppins (Charlie's bed-time book)
-Cicero (off of my classics shelves)
-Essential Tibetan Buddhism (Buddhism list)
-Pierre and Jean (year-by-year book list, 1888)
-Needled to Death (series that my mom wants me to read so we can chat about it)
-The Iliad (everyday audio book in the car)
-The American (American Author Challenge, NEH list)
-The Night Watch (British Author Challenge, 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read list)
-Brideshead Revisited (British Author Challenge, NEH list)
-Joss Whedon: The Biography (Christmas present!)
-Below Stairs (library Blind Date with a Book book)

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

Books Read:
(For previous reads, see previous threads.)

FEBRUARY
70. (#20) Secret of the Pyramids (CYOA list) - 8/10 = B
71. Little Elliot, Big City (public library book) - 9/10 = A
72. The Iridescence of Birds (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
73. Plants Feed Me (public library book) - 9/10 = A-
74. Baby Cats (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
75. Thank You Day (public library book) - 8/10 = B
76. Baby Dogs (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
77. Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! (public library book) - 9/10 = A
78. A Mouthful of Onomatopoeia (public library book) - 7/10 = C
79. Little Green Peas (public library book) - 9/10 = A
80. Baby Horses (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
81. Starry, Starry Night (public library book) - 8/10 = B-
82. Around Town (public library book) - 8/10 = B
83. We Both Read: My Day (public library book) - 8/10 = B
84. (#21) Clearing Weather (Newbery Honor list) - 9/10 = A-
85. (#22) Crossover (Newbery Winner) - 9/10 = A-
86. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Alvin and the Substitute Teacher (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
87. Sam & Dave Dig a Hole (Caldecott Honor book) - 10/10 = A+
88. (#23) This One Summer (Cadecott Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
89. (#24) El Deafo (Newbery Honor book) - 9/10 = A
90. Brimsby's Hats (public library book) - 9/10 = A
91. It's Spring! (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
92. Good Night, Sleep Tight (public library book) - 8/10 = B
93. Down by the Barn (public library book) - 8/10 = B
94. Zephyr Takes Flight (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
95. We Both Read: My Car Trip (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
96. Brownie Groundhog and the Wintry Surprise (public library book) - 8/10 = B+
97. Big Snow (public library book) - 8/10 = B
98. Nana in the City (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
99. (#25) Below Stairs (Blind Date with a Book) - 7/10 = C
100. (#26) Something's Fishy, Hazel Green (1001 Children's Books list) - 8/10 = B-
101. Viva Frida (Caldecott Honor book) - 8/10 = B+
102. Mini Encyclopedia: Weather (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
103. Scholastic First Discovery: The Universe (public library book) - 8/10 = B
104. Globes (Charlie's school library book) - 8/10 = B
105. Once Upon an Alphabet (public library book) - 9/10 = A
106. How to Start a Dragon Academy (Charlie book) - 8/10 = B+

The Charlie (and Amber) Topper(s):

Charlie, last week:



And me, 38 years or so ago (and, yep, my mom made both the dress and the doll):

And the Bonus Question (thanks to Marie!):

What has been your very best day at work?

Bonus question: Many years ago, when I was young and nervous, I stayed home from work on a very snowy Friday. The bosses ultimately told everyone who did come in to go home around 10:30 a.m., and paid them for a full day. I had said when I called in that I would come in on Saturday morning, to make up my time. So I did that, knowing that people had been sent home early, but not what the arrangements were. When payday came, I got paid for the 4 hours I worked Saturday; everyone else got a full day's pay. I protested this to my boss, who hemmed and hawed, and said, well, I guess we thought people who made the effort to come in...yada, yada, yada, but eventually consulted with the senior partner at the time (a crusty old-world fella), who immediately took my side, took out his wallet and paid me the difference in cash. Those were the days!

Oh Amber, both you and Charlie are just darlings! I was just reading on Valerie's thread about your never napper! Those days are long behind me, but our eldest, who was the colicky one was also not a napper. No morning nap, and just about a 1 hour nap in the afternoon until he was about 18 months old. I could not believe it when our second son actually had a 2 - 2 1/2 hour afternoon nap til he was nearly 2 years old!!! What a blessing that was.

Okay, I've not worked in many years, but I suppose my best day at work was the day my now husband asked me out to go skiing -and things went from there! :)

I'm afraid I'm a one at a time reader. So simple minded, I can only follow one book at a time. You are not neurotic at all.

>4 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Oh, good for you for standing up for yourself and getting the pay!

>5 vancouverdeb: Deb: My mom just laughed and told me that I was the same way when I was little - a never napper. What goes around, eh?
And I like the sound of your Best Day at Work!
And that's nice of you to day, but my stack of Current Reads is getting so tall that it's difficult to fit them all into the picture! That's a little nuts.

I've been trying to think of an answer to your bonus question, but I can't think of a particular day. I've had many good days (and a few spectacularly bad ones that I try to forget), but I can't think of a specific great day.

I never did get caught up with your last thread, Amber so I thought I would jump into to the new thread while I still have a chance.

Bonus question answer: I think my very best day at work occurred in a previous job a number of years ago. During a meeting that involved both of my bosses, HR and the president and ceo of the company, my bosses explained that I was the one who researched and compiled all of the information in the monthly reports the company president relied on for the company's business development and partnering activities. The president had thought that it was my bosses who were on top of all this information gathering. Suffice to say, the big boss was duly impressed. I received a title change, pay raise and I received personal kudos from him on a regular basis going forward during the remainder of his time with the company. I had such great bosses!

Happy new thread, Amber! You're question is a bit of a stumper for me. I've had good days at work but nothing so stellar it's burned into my memory.

I love both those topper pictures, but yours may just edge out Charlie's for cuteness this time :)

Bonus Question:
Part of my job is the care and feeding of our Board of Directors - 29 individuals who are smart, accomplished, and can be very difficult to deal with (mostly engineers; I can say this because I'm married to an engineer!). They meet three times a year, including once in the fall right before our big annual conference. Anyway, it was the last day of the meetings, but before the conference was due to start, and I was exhausted and cranky and stressed out. I was also away from home and getting married in two weeks, so had that added stress. Anyway, at the last meeting, which is the full Board and a bunch of staff, and very formal, the President of the Board who was a wonderful guy (still my favorite of all the ones I've worked with), began the last part of the agenda by talking about good things that go unnoticed and unappreciated, "hidden gems" he called them, blah blah blah. I am sitting taking notes, wondering when he'll shut up so we can wrap things up and I can go get a drink and put my feet up. And then I hear my name... And Leo, the President, says I am their hidden gem, and I'm about to get married, and they are all so happy for me and would I come up and accept this small token from the Board. I am bright red and embarrassed as I walk up there, and they are all clapping, and Leo gives me a big hug and hands me a card. So then I'm a little teary-eyed and tongue-tied so I just say thank you and go back to my seat, and the meeting ends shortly after. When I'm finally alone in my hotel room, I open the card and they've all written me lovely messages and contributed to a gift - over $1000 in cash which was much appreciated because we were paying for our wedding ourselves. But it was just really nice to be recognized for doing a job that is intended to be behind the scenes and unobtrusive.

So that's my happy work story. I have lots of unhappy work stories :)

Happy new thread, Amber. So wonderful photos of you and Charlie.

What a great set of photos, Amber! Charlie looks like a serious young man there while you look like a bundle of mischief! I'm just floored that your mom sewed your pretty dress and your doll. When my mom sewed my clothes when I was younger, I always looked really dorky. Of course, given that I can't sew anything more than hems and buttons, I really shouldn't criticize her efforts. ... no wait, I can... I didn't like wearing dresses !

>3 scaifea: Damn, I asked the question and now I can't think of an answer. I think one of my most "fun" days of work was the first day I worked at a science museum. As a sort of orientation they let me wander the exhibits and see most of the shows for my entire first day. I remember sitting in the planetarium thinking, wow, I'm getting paid for this!

Just now, my memories of work are not good ones, so I will refrain from answering :)

Love the new Charlie topper! (and the one of you too, of course, Amber)

Happy new thread Amber and the photo's are super especially yours my dear, love and hugs.

>7 foggidawn: Well, I have a terrible memory, and I can't think of one just off hand, either. I'll have to keep thinking...

>8 lkernagh: Lori: Wow, that *was* a good day!

>9 MickyFine: Micky: I know, I'm the same way. *shrug*

>10 katiekrug: Oh, how excellent is that, Katie?! It must have felt pretty great to have been recognized for your work!

>11 Ameise1: Hi, Barbara!

>12 cameling: Caro: My mom is an amazing seamstress and made a lot of my dresses by just eyeballing a dress she liked in a shop then going home, sketching and sewing it up! Amazing.

>13 rosylibrarian: Marie: That *does* sound like a great day!

>14 alcottacre: I don't blame you, Stasia. Here's hoping you find a job soon that gives you the Best Day at Work every day!

>15 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! Hugs right back!

Happy New Thread, Amber! I love the darling Amber photo, with your cuddly Raggedy Ann doll! Hope the day went well.

Love the Amber topper to go with the regular Charlie topper. You were certainly much more animated than the doll!

Best day at work? Possibly when I managed to get my clients off a $22 million delay damages claim against the national utilities company after three other "claims consultants" had washed their hands of it as a hopeless cause. They had made a $4 million provision in their accounts for the charges and I got them all the money back plus nearly $2 million in late payment awards.

Happy New Thread, Amber. Love the Amber/Charlie photos.

>17 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I still have the doll, of course.

>18 PaulCranswick: Paul: Whelp, that clinches it - if I ever need help out of a tight spot, I know who will get the first phone call...

>19 BLBera: Thanks, Beth!

>20 rosalita: It's nice that you had an outlet for that shock and grief, Julia.

Happy New Thread, Amber!

You and Charlie are both stinking cute. I see it runs in the family. ;)

My favourite day of work had actually nothing to do with my actual work. It was my birthday surprise where my husband actually contacted my boss and organized a day off for me and we headed out of town for some celebrating. We work for the same company where he worked in IT and I was in the administrative department so that made it easier for him to work out the details. It was fun going into work that day and being told I was to immediately go home...haha!

>22 jolerie: Valerie: Oh, how sweet! Love it!

85. (22nd non-picture book) Crossover by Kwame Alexander (Newbery Winner, 237 pages) - 9/10 = A-
A novel in verse, some of it in the style of a poetry slam, this year’s Newbery winner is a home run. I admit that I was skeptical at first, since I generally don’t like poetry of the non-ancient kind and I also don’t like or understand basketball (see what I did up there with the mixed sports metaphor? See?). But I liked it very much, despite it being in verse and about basketball. And that’s because it wasn’t really about basketball, I think. It’s about family and love and friendship and how all of that comes into question when a loved one is ill and when two brothers feel each others’ growing pains. This is a good story and well written. It’s not my favorite Newbery of all time, but I did enjoy it a great deal.

86. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Alvin and the Substitute Teacher by Jodi Huelin (Charlie's school library book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
I'm not sure why Charlie checked this one out at school today, since he's never seen any of the Alvin movies... *shrug*

87. Sam & Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett (Caldecott Honor book, picture book) - 10/10 = A+
Sam and Dave decide to dig a hole and not stop until they find something spectacular. I won't say anything else about this amazingly funny and clever and awesomely-illustrated book, for fear of giving away the best part. Charlie and I both were shouting with delight at the turn of each page and then giggling hysterically for a good long while before turning the next. Highly, *highly* recommended. And, yeah, I've already ordered a copy for Charlie's shelves (this one is the library's copy).

Also Read Today:
-Sam & Dave Dig a Hole (because Charlie immediately clamored for an encore performance)
-ABC A Tale of a Sale
-Duck & Goose Go to the Beach

>24 scaifea: re: Sam and Dave Dig A Hole -- So, what's your theory on the ending? Did they tunnel to the other side of the world? Land in an alternate dimension? The possibilities are endless!

>25 foggidawn: Okay, I'm going to PM you on this because I can't make those spoiler things work...

Best day at work? I'm not sure. Probably one where I was answering a genealogy research question that came through the mail and kept me in the genealogy resources and archives all day.

>27 thornton37814: Lori: Oooh, yes! Nothing quite like a good old bit of research!

Best day at work? Probably the day my boss told me I'd been given one of the very rare bonuses. They were only $2,000, but at the WSJ only about six or seven reporters ever got them each year. I got one the year I ended up writing three separate market columns (simultaneously) while covering a big breaking news story over several months. It nearly killed me, but I ended up getting a promotion as well. Those were good, if stressful years. I don't think it really counts as "work" or a "day", but I ended up signing my book contract and winning one of the biggest business journalism prizes in the same week -- I was walking on air for a while.

>2 scaifea: Love the photos. I had a Raggedy Anne doll too - the smaller version - that my mom made for me. Happy memories.

>29 Chatterbox: Whoa, Suzanne, that *was* a good week for you! I am still in awe at those of you who write for a living and work with deadlines. For me, the absolute worst part of my job as a faculty member was the writing and the pressure to publish. Teaching I loved, and I really enjoyed research, too, but that writing business...gah. (Says the woman who recently agreed to co-write a book...)

>30 nittnut: Jenn: My mom mad me a smaller Raggedy Ann *and* Andy later, too, and they had hand-embroidered faces, even.

On the agenda for today:

It's Winterfest at Charlie's school today, which means all sorts of snowy activities, I guess (I've not been to one before), and I've agreed to help out at the HoCho and Cookies table, which means, I think, that I'll be there most of the morning. And then it's an early release day, which means that Charlie gets out at 12:30 today, and I've scheduled a hair cut for him just after that. Not sure what we'll be doing for the rest of the afternoon, but I could definitely go for a quiet one...

On the reading front:

I started - and finished! - a book yesterday (see >24 scaifea: above) and then started This One Summer, which seems pretty good so far.

The calendar book for today definitely already has my stamp of love and approval: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. If you haven't yet, go thee to a bookshop and pick this one up!

After >29 Chatterbox: I feel a bit embarrassed to say mine... Wow.

At one of the ngos I worked at I was sent a huge bunch of lilies as a thank you. I had tramped across London picking up visas for a traveling group. Main reason I remember it though was how funny seeing everyone on the tube (who normally of course are very British and completely ignore each other) reacting to me trying to manage the bulky, strong-smelling flowers in a small space. :-)

>33 charl08: I love how so many of these Best Days are about being recognized for one's hard work - clearly people need to say Thank You much more often, in every respect, as it does indeed make someone's day when we do...

Morning Amber! I loved This One Summer and of course I loved the Gaiman. Enjoy the day.

Thanks, Mark! It's been a little while since I've read a GN, so it's taking me a bit to get into it. I'm sure I'll end up loving it, though.

It was definitely one of the best GNs I read last year. It looks like another arctic blast is moving in later today. Really??

Wow Winterfest, that sounds wonderful. I hope you'll report a lot when coming back home. Wishing you a most lovely day.

Happy (relatively) new thread Amber ;-)

Love the photos of you and Charlie up top! I'm so glad you still have the doll.

My very best day at work was the day I quit the job I had prior to my current job. I said goodbye to middle management forever and found a job where I work with data and not people and I was only responsible for myself at work. That career change restored so much balance to my life.

I also had a Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy made for me. My grandmother (father's mother) was a seamstress and made clothes for me as well. The faces were embroidered and their outfits were pink and lime green to match my bedroom.

I had a best week rather than a best day. When I started as a volunteer at the Minnesota Zoo, the first week was training. We learned all about the animals, zoo-keeping and zookeepers, and went backstage behind just about every animal and building. It was like those two hour backstage tours you pay $25 for but it was all week and free!

>40 Morphidae: I'd take one of those weeks!

>37 msf59: Mark: That wind is nuts today over here - I hope it's calmer over your way...

>38 Ameise1: Barbara: Oh, the kids had an absolute blast today! They have a great hill for sledding out behind the school and since we got a little bit of ice last night on top of the snow, it was, apparently, very fast sledding. I was on Hot Chocolate, Cookies and Story Time Duty inside, so I didn't have to be out in the cold, but Charlie says that it was super fun. They also made drawings in the snow with colored water in squirt bottles, and had snowball fights. And this is all organized by the teachers - what a nice thing for them to do for the kids!

>39 SuziQoregon: Juli: I gave a school-year's notice to my last workplace (in academia, you really kind of need a year to hire a replacement), and I have to say that that last year was the best for me: I could just focus on teaching, not worry about trying to publish and not giving a rat's patoot what my insane department chair thought of what I was doing in the classroom (we had *very* different theories on how to teach).

>40 Morphidae: Morphy: Yep, my mom made a whole set of matching outfits for my smaller set of dolls; she had made me a dress to match the big one, too, and there's a photo of that somewhere or other...

>41 nittnut: Jenn: Not me, I'm afraid. Reptiles. Yeesh.

Amber, that is really great fun. Charlie is a lucky boy to be at a such wonderful school. How many and which story were you telling?

>44 Ameise1: Barbara: I wasn't reading the stories - I was on duty with the school librarian, so she was doing the reading. She had a stack of different snow-related, wintery stories, although I didn't know any of them and can't remember the titles now. (I was busy refilling cups and wiping up spills! Ha!)

>31 scaifea: Oh, that's exciting that you're co-writing a book! What's the topic?

I love eveyones cool work day stories!
As usual I can recall my bad days more easily. One cool work day for me was when I aced (in my mind anyway) a presentation to a group of about 40 people. I am a former socially anxious shy girl, so for me it was so cool to succeed in that particular area.

Best work day ever was probably either the day I dressed up as Lady Lepidoptera, the Butterfly Faerie, and told folk tales to children or the "Bug-a-Bration" day when I brought in a collection of living insects of several varieties, including some eager-to-hatch monarch butterflies who were polite enough to sit on the hands of the eager attendees (preschool age and up). That was during my public library days.

Here at Ancilla...probably graduation days when students are getting their (unofficial) diplomas and all the hard work seems worth it! Oh, or Friday last week when I was officially able to say that I am going to have an article published in a peer-reviewed library journal (Catholic Library World, March issue, if you're interested and can find a copy).

>46 _Zoe_: Zoe: I've been asked to write a beginning Latin textbook.

>47 LovingLit: I can't imagine you being anxious and shy, Megan! At any rate, I'm very glad you're not so here...

>48 CassieBash: Cassie: Congrats on the article! And the story time stuff sounds so fun.

>49 scaifea: That sounds like fun! What kind of textbook? (I mean, Wheelock-ish, or more like the Cambridge Latin Course, or something different like Reading Greek?)

>50 _Zoe_: Something different from all of those, which is sort of the point of writing a new one... *smiles*

>51 scaifea: So intriguing and exciting :)

>52 _Zoe_: Ha! Thanks! The guy I'm co-writing with is a classicist and a linguist, who specializes in how languages are learned, so this should be fun.

My best day on the job was giving notice at my previous job. Prior to landing a library gig, I waited tables at a retirement home. I absolutely loved the residents, but 10-hour days coupled with lazy coworkers and a spectacularly insane boss (she tried to write me up for "going out of the way to be nice to residents"--her words, not mine!) were just getting to be too much. Plus I got to quit just in time to have two weeks off right at Christmas before my next job started.

>53 scaifea: That sounds like a great person to work with. I'll look forward to reading the book one day :)

>54 casvelyn: Wow, that's crazy - those were her exact words?! Crazy.

>55 _Zoe_: We also happen to be really good friends - we went to grad school together. I think it's going to be a hoot!

88. (23rd non-picture book (sort of)) This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki (Cadecott Honor book, 318 pages) - 8/10 = B+
A Caldecott Honor book, this graphic novel about one summer for two friends out of a tradition of summers at the lake. It’s about growing pains and families going through ‘things,’ girls figuring out love and life, young crushes and being crushed by them and moving on. The artwork is great, but I found the characters a little flat. A good read but not one that really extra-impressed me.

89. (24th non-picture book (again, sort of)) El Deafo by Cece Bell (Newbery Honor book, 233 pages) - 9/10 = A
Another graphic novel (this time a Newbery Honor book), but this one did very much wow me. It’s autobiographical, about a girl who, as a result of a childhood illness, becomes deaf at age four and her struggle to become comfortable with this, herself and those around her, especially at school. It’s funny, touching and just wonderful. Highly recommended!

90. Brimsby's Hats by Andrew Prahin (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A
Brimsby is a hat maker who suddenly faces the prospect of crippling loneliness when his best and only friend moves away. But instead, he decides to make new friends, and does so in the most endearing way possible.
This book is beautiful on lots of levels, and Charlie and I both loved it. I'll be buying a copy for his shelves, I think.

91. It's Spring! by Samantha Berger and Pamela Chanko (Charlie's school library book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
An easy reader about all the forest animals spreading the news about the change in seasons. Meh.

92. Good Night, Sleep Tight by Mem Fox (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
We normally love Mem Fox lots, but this was essentially just a collection of nursery rhymes. *shrug*

Also Read Today:
-B Is for Books!
-Toy Story: Teamwork
-Fun at the County Fair

On the agenda for today:

Treadmilling, book fair business, possibly a bit of work on a Charlie costume (details below), then back to school to volunteer in the library. Oh, I also need to stop by the businesses that have donation buckets out for the book fair, to see how those are going. Not sure what's for dinner tonight - spaghetti, maybe?

*The Charlie costume: Next month some time at school they're having a Dress Up Day, the theme of which is Dress Up As a Favorite Character in a Book. Charlie decided that he wants to be the Red Crayon from The Day the Crayons Quit (I told him that he could make it easy on my and choose the Peach one, but apparently that was too shocking an idea. Ha!). So, I have a red sweatsuit that I'm going to outfit with the crayola logo down the front and the squiggly/wavy bars at the top and bottom (if I can figure that all out), using my new Cricut! I also need to figure out how to make a hat. We'll see how it goes...

On the reading front: See >57 scaifea: above for detail on the books I finished yesterday. I also read a bit more in Below Stairs. It's still meh for me.

The calendar book today is a presidential biography: A. Lincoln: A Biography by Ronald C. White, Jr.. I haven't made it to Lincoln yet in the Presidential Challenge - anyone read this one? Thoughts?

Morning, Amber! Hodor! Sorry, no Sweet Thursday from me. Grouchy face. My first presidential bio, was Lincoln and remains one of my favorites. I NEED to squeeze in a president or 2, this year. I've been bad.

>59 msf59: Mark: I'll keep that Lincoln biography in mind for when I get there. I'm ridiculously slow with this challenge (she says as if she's not also crazy slow with all of her other challenges).
Also, sorry for the grouchy Thursday. Hodor?

I have read about 20 presidential bios, but since joining LT, I think I've read 2 or 3. What?? Or should I say, Hodor?

>61 msf59: HODOR?! *mumbles*hodorhodorhodor*mumbles*

>49 scaifea: scaifea: Excellent, let us know when it's published. Our library could use a new Latin textbook.

>54 casvelyn: casvelyn: What?!? I mean....what?!? Why?!? Really????? (This is my typical reaction to the sort of crazy your former boss showed in spades. How in the world can being nice to people--whether you go out of your way to do it or not--be a character flaw worthy of a write-up??)

WAY BEHIND Amber but I thought I would pop in and say howdy.

Happy new thread, Amber!

>63 CassieBash: Will do, Cassie!

>64 luvamystery65: Howdy, lady!

>65 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie!

I have no doubt that you will figure out an awesomesauce costume for Charlie and he will look absolutely adorable in it. But, of course, I will require picture evidence to make sure. ;)

Hodor is a character in Game of Thrones. It seems to have become something of a thing to yell out "Hodor" for various and unexplained reasons.

>68 Morphidae: It's because the only word Hodor can say is "Hodor", so that's his answer whenever someone talks to him or asks him anything. The intonation varies, but the answer is always "Hodor". So "Hodor" is a perfectly acceptible answer so matter what one was asked.

>67 jolerie: Aw, thanks, Valerie! And you just *know* that there will be photos...

>68 Morphidae: Morphy: *snork!* To whom are you explaining this...?

>69 PawsforThought: And you get a *snork!* too - I think Morphy knows...?

*sigh* Hodor...

>69 PawsforThought: So it's like, "I am Groot."

>70 scaifea: You asked. You said, "Hodor?"

And, no, I had to go look it up.

Loving the pictures( Raggedy Ann), the mention of kids books/reading (it was the love of my life way back when) and loving the "best" work day stories.
Here's mine.
I worked as an SLP (Speech Language Pathologist) and one day many years ago I was working in a a General Hospital on the prairies and this young man came in for an assessment as he had severe stuttering. He no longer talked but only wrote and of course I made him talk. A while later after hard working therapy, when he was fluent, there was this BIG personality that emerged and he loved talking to EVERYONE i.e bus stops while waiting. etc. Now that was a good day for me hearing about that!

>71 Morphidae: Yes, it's a similar thing.

>63 CassieBash: I don't claim to understand... What makes it worse, to my mind, is that these were all elderly dementia patients. I treated them all like they were my grandpas and grandmas. There was no real "out of my way niceness" about it, it was all just the Golden Rule for me.

>71 Morphidae: Well, hey, I was completely confused so I for one am very glad you looked it up & explained ;)

Amber, I'm racking my brain for an answer to your question. I'm afraid I can't come up with one particular day, but the days where I can:
-talk with patrons about books and recommend ones that they're really excited to read,
-show someone a resource that perfectly answers what they're asking,
and/or
-get a lot done on my to-do list (and maybe tomorrow's list too!) and feel accomplished at the end of a day

are generally my favorites.

Best day at work: I was a med tech in a hospital lab and snuck in a quick pregnancy test on myself (before home-pregnancy tests were available). My first born was on the way!

>71 Morphidae: Morphy: You're clearly not fluent in Hodor, because that's not what "Hodor?" meant there. *snork!*

>72 mdoris: Hi, Mary! Wow - how rewarding that must have been!

>74 casvelyn: I'm still shaking my head over that one...

>75 bell7: Mary: Those all sounds like amazing days to me, too!

>76 streamsong: WOW! Yes, that must have been an excellent work day, although I don't think I would have gotten much else done that day...

93. Down by the Barn by Will Hillenbrand (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
The farm dog and the scarecrow round up all the baby animals for a story time.
Meh. Not much substance here, but the illustrations are nice.

94. Zephyr Takes Flight by Steve Light (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
A girl gets into some trouble for jumping off the couch and breaking some dishes while pretending to fly her toy plane, so she gets sent to her room, where she discovers a secret door behind her dresser...
Where the Wild Things Are, but not quite so good. It's okay, just not fantastic. The illustrations are great, though.

Also Read Today:
-Peter Rabbit: A Lucky Escape
-A Teeny Tiny Tale
-Alien Al

On the agenda for today:

Busy day: After taking Charlie to school (making sure I remember to bring along the kettle corn for his class party today), I'll head straight for the grocery shops, then rush home to put everything away and prep the chip dip that I signed up to bring for the PTO-sponsored 'feed the teachers' today for a Valentine's treat for them, get changed into something that doesn't make me look like a hobo, load the car with the chips and dip and stuff and head to school, where I've agreed to substitute for the librarian for a couple of hours while she has a doctor's appointment. When she gets back, I'll do my regular Friday afternoon volunteering for Charlie's teacher. Then home, after picking up the Girl Scout Cookies that I ordered (YES!!), get everything sorted and put away and Charlie's after-school snack fixed, and then start on dinner, whatever that might be... Whew! Tomm gets home late tonight, though, so I'm looking forward to a full house for the weekend - and the next whole week before he has to leave again for another trip!

On the reading front: I read a bit of Something's Fishy, Hazel Green and another small chapter in Below Stairs last night. I need to finish the latter this weekend and get it back to the library - longest blind date ever. Ha!

The calendar book for today is one that I've not heard of: Entwined with You: A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day. Anyone? Thoughts?

Sorry I cannot help with the calendar book for today, Amber, as I have not heard of that one!

>80 alcottacre: S'okay, Stasia - from the (as-always-pretty-awful) description, it sounds like it may be a romance, which isn't really my cuppa.

Happy Friday, Amber! Glad you have a pleasant weekend waiting for you. I work again tomorrow but then I am off 2 days. Yah!

>79 scaifea: Girl Scout Cookies?

Won't the parents object to you making biscuits out of their children?!

Have a lovely weekend, my dear.

>82 msf59: Thanks, Mark - and Happy Two Days Off!

>83 PaulCranswick: Paul: Oh, wicked, you are.

>84 scaifea: *Lop-sided grin*

Girl Scout: Is this made from real lemons?

Wednesday: Yes.

Girl Scout: I only like all-natural foods and beverages, organically grown, with no preservatives. Are you sure they're real lemons?

Pugsley: Yes.

Girl Scout: Well, I'll tell you what. I'll buy a cup if you buy a box of my delicious Girl Scout cookies. Do we have a deal?

Wednesday: Are they made from real Girl Scouts?

>85 PaulCranswick: Paul: I bet that lop-sided grin has made more than one gal swoon in its time...

>86 Morphidae: Morphy: I *love* Wednesday!

I like FRIDAY more!!! All caught up again. Have fun with the Latin book (You are a first class nerd, you know that right?!) and Charlie's outfit sounds adorable. Hodor!

My most fun day at work was probably opening night for the new NBA franchise the MN Timberwolves in their new stadium, the Target Center. I was in charge of the decorations for the evening and the VIP lounges. It was a mad dash all day long but so worth it! Everyone was so excited!! I was the Community Relations Manager (read player appearances and granting signed paraphernalia requests!) as well as the 501-C-3 Foundation Manager. That was a fun job!

Okay, so, Charlie News:

He has his first loose tooth! He bit into his breakfast this morning and then shouted out because his tooth hurt. I checked it, and sure enough, he's got a wiggly bottom front tooth! He's totally excited (he's pretty much the last kid in his class to lose a tooth, which isn't surprising, even though he's the oldest, because he was super late getting teeth in the first place)!

Now, some of you may recall that at some point last year I got a little obsessed with figuring out how to play the tooth fairy. I want her to be magical and a bit mysterious and kind of a big deal. And I don't like the idea of just leaving money. Bleh, boring, and not nearly magical and cool enough. I work pretty hard to make sure that Charlie is growing up in a house that seems to dwell in the Land of Magical Realism - magic is real, it exists, and if you look hard enough, you can see it in even everyday things. So it's both kind of matter-of-fact and special at the same time, if that makes sense. And it's most definitely not cutesy.

Anyway, so I searched for weeks for the proper idea and the best props, and landed on buying this little 'treasure chest' from etsy:



It had to look old and kind of worn, like it has a long and mysterious history all its own. Now that he has a loose tooth, the Tooth Fairy will leave this in his room tonight for him to find tomorrow. I thought about calligraphy-ing up a note to go with it, explaining that he should leave the tooth in the box overnight once it comes out, but I decided against that, mostly because I'm not a good enough writer and it would seem too, um, something. Now, if I could write like Neil Gaiman, I'd totally leave a super-amazing note from the Tooth Fairy, but, alas, not the case. I'll, uh, *she'll* just leave the box with no note and Charlie and I will have to puzzle it out on our own in the morning. When the tooth does come out, she'll trade the tooth for a silver dollar along with a handful of old and foreign coins - again, it needs to be at least a little special, a little out of the ordinary. Not just a dollar - that's too, well, what's the word? Common? Ordinary? Un-special?

I know, I over-think and over-do. I know. Welcome to Scaife Manor.

Also: The silver dollar will come from a substantial collection of them, along with buffalo nickels and silver dimes (I'll likely add a couple of those, too), which my brother had collected all of his life. My mom wanted Charlie to have them after Steve died and I've been wondering how long to save them back before giving them to him. I think this is a nice way to start trickling them out to him and then later on, once the true nature of the Tooth Fairy is revealed *sob*, it might be a nice thing to explain from just where some of those coins came...

>88 Berly: Kim: *snork!* I wave my Nerd Flag with pride, sister!
Also, how cool does that job sound?! Awesome!

>89 scaifea: Lady, you are such a supercool mom. *I* am excited for Charlie finding that chest, sorting it out, and then discovering a nifty little pile of coins of assorted mysteriousness. You rock.

>89 scaifea: I love it! What fun!

LOVE the chest - most excellent idea!

>86 Morphidae: Morphidae: And don't you just love the expression on Pugsley's face during this exchange?

Hi Amber, I love the treasure chest and how it's going to play out. Lucky Charlie!

>89 scaifea: Yeah, what >91 lycomayflower: said. That chest is beyond cool. But thanks for making me look like a bit of a dud in TF department with my own kid!

>96 laytonwoman3rd: *pats you* You were supercool other ways.

>97 lycomayflower: I was, wasn't I? *sniff*
Wait...."was"???? What's with "was"???

Tread number 7???? You must be joking!! Really!!!???





Good luck on thread 7!

Love the pictures on top. Love the dress and the doll!

Best day on the job: All my days on the job are good ones. But not one that really jumps out.

Love, love, love the tooth fairy ideas, and how exciting for Charlie to have his first loose tooth! I'm pretty sure I lost my first at 6, pretty well after most of my friends had lost 2 or 3 (but I was reallllyyy late with a lot of them, my last came out when I was 15, just before I got braces!).

Congratulations to Charlie on the tooth! And here's my advise to the parents: Don't keep the tooth. When Banjo, jr lost her first, I kept it, because I thought "how can I throw away something that was part of my precious baby?" So pretty soon I had a little pile of teeth in a special part of a jewelry box, and I didn't know what to do with them, but it felt too late to throw them away. (Also, Banjo jr later told us that she figured out the tooth fairy secret by poking around and finding the old teeth. )

What a fun and creative idea to celebrate the occasion!
Are you going to let the tooth fall out by itself or pull it out??

Hi Amber, hope you have had a good day my dear, congratulations to Charlie on the tooth. I hope you all have a lovely weekend my dear, love and hugs.

>91 lycomayflower: Laura: Aw, shucks. I just hope he loves it.

>92 foggidawn: >93 Crazymamie: >95 DeltaQueen50: foggi, Mamie & Judy: Thanks!

>96 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Thanks! And, um, sorry?

>97 lycomayflower: >98 laytonwoman3rd: *awkward cough*

>99 connie53: Thanks, Connie! And how wonderful that you have a job that makes every day a great day!

>100 bell7: Mary: Yep, I'm not shocked that he's late with his teeth because he was late getting them in the first place.

>101 banjo123: Rhonda: Huh. I hadn't thought about Charlie maybe finding the teeth later... Honestly, I hadn't given much thought to keeping them, either...

>102 jolerie: Valerie: Pull it out? O-ho no. Charlie is one of those "DON'TTOUCHIT!!!" kinds of kids when he gets a cut or a bruise or anything else. I'm pretty surprised that he let me wiggle the tooth this morning.

>103 johnsimpson: Thanks, John! I hope you have a great weekend, too!

>101 banjo123: As a corollary to this advice, if you do throw it away make sure that you bury it decently deep in the trash. Our resident tooth fairy (not me!) kind of botched this. A little bit harder to keep the myth alive.

>105 Oberon: *note to self...*

Ooh - the textbook project sounds challenging yet fun!

I haven't read A. Lincoln: A Biography by Ronald C. White, Jr. but I did read his Lincoln's Greatest Speech : The Second Inaugural which I own and love. It's a short book about an even shorter speech but it's fascinating.

I adore your Tooth Fairy Treasure Chest!! I lost my first tooth mid plane ride between Oregon and Connecticut.

>107 SuziQoregon: Juli: Ooh, I'll have to keep an eye out for the Speech book - it sounds great!
And that's exciting that you lost your tooth on a plane! Did the airplane people (I can't think of what they're called...) make a fun fuss about it?

I think I need a condensed version of your threads to keep up... The tooth fairy chest is way cool.

Awwwwe, loose tooth! You're little guy is growing up fast! Love the Tooth Fairy box. A wonderful item to pass on to his children!
Have a wonderful weekend!

>109 qebo: I know, right? I'm excited to see what Charlie thinks of it in the morning!

>110 Carmenere: Lynda: Oh, I know. So fast. But each new phase is so much fun!

95. We Both Read: My Car Trip by Sindy McKay (Charlie's school library book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
Another in the We Both Read series that Charlie is so into right now.

96. Brownie Groundhog and the Wintry Surprise by Susan Blackaby (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
A groundhog gets pestered during her winter-long nap by her best friends, Fox and Bunny, to have a wintry picnic.
Cute story, cute illustrations. Nothing spectacular, but it's still a fun book.

97. Big Snow by Jonathan Bean (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
A little boy is so eager for a big snow that he can hardly wait for the flakes to fall, despite all the suggestions his mother makes to help him keep his mind off of it while waiting.
Again, cute, but nothing amazing. Nice illustrations.

ALso Read Today:
-Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

On the agenda for today:
Bills, weekly sorting of photos from the camera, some baking (a heart-shaped chocolate cake, and possibly some bread), and at some point we'll be watching How to Train Your Dragon 2, since that's Charlie's valentine present. Goulash for dinner tonight.

On the reading front: I read a few more chapters in Below Stairs. At this point I think I'm going to try to power through it til the end sometime this weekend. *sigh*

The weekend book calendar quote: "Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead." Which author said this? Any guesses?

Also, Charlie found the box before Tomm and I were even up, of course. I could hear him opening and closing the lid and just generally turning it round and inspecting it (it's tin, so it's a little creaky/clanky). So, I got up and went to ask him what he was doing and he was so funny, just quietly pondering what the box was and whence it might have come. Together we finally puzzled out that it might be from the tooth fairy and so he's up for trying to put his tooth in it and leaving it overnight once the thing falls out... He also said that he should probably leave the box where he found it every night, just in case it isn't the tooth fairy and somebody else wants it back. Adorable. Also, he *loves* it - thinks it's the most beautiful box he's ever seen. This is one of those rare days when I feel like I might be doing okay at this mom thing...

I just knew your box would be a hit but the description of Charlie's discovery made my heart melt.

My heart's in the puddle with Laura's.

Big ol' heart puddle on Amber's thread is growing bigger by the moment...

>114 lauralkeet: - >116 Morphidae: Laura, Linda & Morph: I know, right? This kid...

>89 scaifea: very sweet Amber and I love the childhood photo of you also.

Johnny Got His Gun was one of those books that seriously affected me when I was young. Some years after when I was working for social security Trumbo's widow's claim came across my desk. I think I had to recalculate her benefits to include credit for his later residual earnings that had come in. It was an odd feeling to hold his file with bits of his life in it.

>118 RBeffa: Ron: Oh, what a neat - and interesting - brush with fame!

>119 scaifea: it doesn't exactly meet your "best day" of work criteria but it was an interesting one! and tied in with your book read. What I found so odd was that "famous people" files were supposed to be marked to be kept away from casual prying eyes. To me "Trumbo" was famous. I asked around and no one near me had a clue who he was. When I was done taking care of the case I sent it to the famous people files with a note explaining why. Don't know if they kept it. They probably went "huh?"

>120 RBeffa: Ron: I have to admit that until very recently, I wouldn't have known who he was, either...

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Have a piece of cake:

Yummy! I will certainly have a piece, Thanks Amber.

Mmm, chocolate cake! Yes, please!

Such a lovely tooth fairy idea, Amber! I wish I'd thought of something half as magical. Instead, Meg just used to put hers under her pillow, and in the morning there'd be a dollar. When I was little, the tooth fairy would leave a penny, a nickel, a dime and a quarter for my tooth. BTW, when I was packing for my move to Colorado in 2013, I found a couple of Meg's baby teeth. I admit, that goes beyond normal sentimentality.

Love the Charlie/Amber thread toppers! One thing I noticed was how serious Charlie looks in his picture, and how bubbly you look in yours. Was that just a momentary thing, or were you always full of laughter like that?

Oh, yes, the bonus question: best day of work for me was the last day at the office before I retired and left the place for good and forever. Not that I'm bitter or anything, but especially the last few years were so unpleasant that it has colored my thoughts on work for my entire life.

Edited to fix typo.

>122 scaifea: Yummie, I help myself thanks so much. Happy weekend, Amber.

98. Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo (Caldecott Honor book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
A little boy goes to the city to visit his Nana, but is frightened by all the bustle and noise and crowds, until Nana shows him that the city isn't always scary but can be wonderful, too.
A nice little story with lovely illustrations, of course.

Also Read Today:
-Doctor Mickey
-Raggedy Ann's Cooking School

>123 connie53: Help yourself, Connie! It did turn our pretty good, if I do say so.

>124 Storeetllr: Mary: I still haven't decided if I'll keep the teeth or not. Still pondering that one.
Also, yes, in general I was apparently a very happy baby/toddler. Charlie was (and still is), too, but he's only bubbly about it at home around family; otherwise he's usually on the shy side and very reserved, which I think comes from Tomm, who is not terribly social and very quiet in public and was apparently very shy as a kid.

>125 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

>127 scaifea: It turned out beautiful! I like the way the chocolate is arranged in waves.

Happy Sunday, Amber! Catching up after a busy week...

>89 scaifea: You are such a wonderful mum! Not that I don't love my own Mama, but next time I'm born I'd love to grow up with a mum like you who makes childhood that special magical place. *sigh* and hugs.

Btw. I liked looking at my teeth later and counting them and trying to remember which one had been where and how exactly I'd got rid of it. But we didn't have the tooth fairy story, so I gave my teeth to my mum to collect as soon as I'd lost them.

I'd keep them if I were you and hide them well enough that he won't accidentally find them as long as he believes in the fairy. He might ask later what you did with them.

>122 scaifea: What a beautiful cake!

Otherwise: I don't remember a best day at work, so I hope that day is still to come. :)

I loved reading about Charlie and his adventures with the tooth fairy and treasure box!

Have a wonderful Sunday, Amber!

Morning, Amber! So sweet that Charlie put the box back where he found it in case whoever had left it wanted it back. Thoughtful. And endearing.

That chocolate cake looks delicious!

Happy Sunday, Amber! I hope you have an R & R day planned. I liked Below Stairs but it didn't stick with me. I liked Longbourn much more.

>128 connie53: Thanks, Connie! The waves are super easy - just a little twist of the wrist and the back of a spoon...

>129 Deern: Aw, thanks, Natalie! My mom did her best to give me a wonderful childhood and so I just want the same for Charlie. And I'm leaning toward keeping the teeth.
Also, I love your idea about the best day at work is still to come!

>130 alcottacre: Thanks, Stasia! Happy Sunday!

>131 Crazymamie: Mamie: I know, right? He's some kind of special.

>132 msf59: Morning, Mark! I'm just about finished with Below Stairs and I'm still not very impressed with it. *shrugs* I need to give Longbourn a try.

On the agenda for today:

Well, I'm a little late to the party this morning, because I woke up with a nasty old headache that seems to be settling in for the day. Gah. I'm hoping for some rocking chair reading time later on, but first I've got a bit more laundry to finish up and a few odds and ends around the house. A mid-afternoon nap may be necessary if this headache doesn't leave before then. Peanut Chicken over rice for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front: As I mentioned to Mark, I'm hoping to finish Below Stairs today, as I read a good chunk of it yesterday. And I need to get cracking on the BAC and AAC challenges!

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Hope that headache goes away, Amber, and you have some good post-chore reading in the rocking chair, and maybe that nap. Happy Sunday!

Get well soon, Amber. ♥

I woke up with a headache, too. Hope yours dissipates quickly!

I hope the headache did go away, Amber!

Happy Sunday, Amber, and hope the headache is already history.

Not wanting to hijack your thread as I did Val's, I'm leaving you a PM about the issue of judgmental people.

Happy Sunday Amber! I hope your headache went away quickly!

>135 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. I did take it easy today and did take a nap, but the headache is still here...

>136 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara!

>137 katiekrug: I hope your headache is better, Katie!

>138 connie53: Connie: No such luck just yet. I'm hoping a good night's sleep will help.

>139 Storeetllr: Mary: Thanks, Mary. And thanks for the PM - I think we pretty much agree on that front (and a lot of other fronts, too!).

>140 The_Hibernator: Thanks, Rachel!

99. (25th non-picture book) Below Stairs by Margaret Powell (Blind Date with a Book, 212 pages) - 7/10 = C
The memoir of a woman who was a domestic servant in some of the very prominent houses in London in the early 1900s.
It was readable, but I didn't really enjoy it. I didn't learn much that I didn't already know about the subject, and Powell's tone throughout really bugged me. She's one of those who can't decide between "we had it so much harder in our time" or "things were so much better back in my day." Gah. Nothing's any better or any worse than it ever was; there are still good, honorable people in the world and there have always been mean and nasty people. Yes, things cost more now; I'm pretty sure that's called 'inflation' or something similar. But no, 'the younger generation' isn't more disrespectful than they used to be; they're just naughty in different ways than older generations were (and in many cases naughty in exactly the same ways) and there are still young people today who are taught to be respectful and kind.
Sorry, but that particular line of bullshit drives me batty.

100. (26th non-picture book read) Something's Fishy, Hazel Green by Odo Hirsch (1001 Children's Books list, 207 pages) - 8/10 = B-
This one's about a young girl who sets out to solve a neighborhood mystery involving a fishmonger who can't read and his stolen prize lobsters.
The story was okay, but the main character was annoying. A smart-ass, essentially, whom the narrator seems to think is clever.

101. Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales (Caldecott Honor book, picture book) - 8/10 = B+
Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous illustrations, but not much to the story.

Also Read Today:
-Dizzy's Bird Watch

NB: My headache is clearly making me crabby. Apologies for the crotchety reviews. I can say, though, that I started in on my February AAC pick today and despite many 75ers not having a good time with James this month, I'm 50 pages into The American and absolutely loving it.

>142 scaifea: "It was readable..." Oh well, I think I have that one on my kindle, where it will stay, probably, unread. Too bad, but that stuff would drive me batty, too.

Love your Charlie and Amber topper! You certainly look alike.

>142 scaifea: The occasional crotchety review is good for the soul :) And I don't think I commented on it already, but I love the cheeky wee-Amber photo at the top.

>143 Copperskye: Joanne: I always worry when I grouse about a book that it's just me and that the book is really okay and I don't want to turn people off of it if they'd really like it. But, yeah, I don't think I'm imagining the batty stuff with this one...
And thanks - I do think that Charlie looked a lot like me as a baby, but then again, he looked a lot like Tomm's baby pictures, too.

>144 evilmoose: Thanks, Megan! I try not ot be too negative, but sometimes I just can't help myself, you know? Bad Amber...
And 'cheeky' is the perfect word - I had *very* chubby cheeks - and so did Charlie!

On the agenda for today:

No volunteering at school today, for once (ha!), so maybe, just maybe, I can get some stuff done here at home! I've a bit of Book Fair business to get to, and then either some cleaning or some work on Charlie's crayon costume. And a break in there somewhere to put the crock pot together for Campfire Sausage and Potato Soup for tonight. After I get the crayon costume sorted, I may be making some Roman costumes: Charlie's teacher has asked if I would come in and do a little presentation on ancient Rome for their social studies lesson at some point, and I thought it might be fun to show them what the Romans wore. It would be fairly simple to put together a young girl's outfit and a boy's outfit (they pretty much just wore tunics), and then I talked with the principle the other day and he's game to help me out if I cobble together an actual toga. I think the kids would *love* to see Mr. Brown get draped with a toga (he's a hoot and all the kids just love him)! So, that's the next sewing project, if I can get it all done in time...
Oh, and after school today Charlie and I will be taking down the Valentine decorations and putting up the "shamrock stuff" as he calls it.

On the reading front: The headache (which is gone this morning - can I get a "halleluiah"?!) did mean that I got a fair amount of Rocking Chair Reading Time yesterday and finished up a couple of books (see crabby reviews in >142 scaifea: above) and I made good progress on The American for Mark's February AAC pick, and I am still absolutely loving it! After all the nay-saying that James has been getting this month, I was worried (I have already read The Spoils of Poynton and didn't love it, but didn't hate it, and also The Turn of the Screw and pretty much liked it although I'm not sure I understood it very well), but the worrying was for naught - this book is great so far! Thanks, Mark!!

The calendar book for today is American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic by Joseph J. Ellis. I don't think I'll be adding it to my wishlist, as I'm a bit burned out at this point on the early days of the States, and also because I read Ellis' biography of Washington and nearly choked on all of his smug snooty academic self-love. I endured enough of that kind of writing when I was in academia myself, thanksverymuch. (Whelp, the headache's gone, but the grousiness isn't quite - apologies, folks. I'm having Girl Scout Cookies for breakfast with my tea, so that should help. Just give it a few more minutes to kick in...)

Hallelujah!! (5X)

>147 connie53: Ha! Thanks, Connie!

Morning Amber! Glad the headache is behind you. Let's hope it stays that way. Glad you are enjoying The American. James has always worked for me, so far, but I still have several of his books to get to.

Hope the day goes well. I know mine will...grins.

>149 msf59: Morning, Mark! James Fan Club - yay!

>142 scaifea: thumbs up! I too sometimes try to avoid bashing a book I didn't like, particularly when it is something I recognize as likely bugging me more that it might others. That is the way it is though and maybe having a headache or a cranky day lets us be a little more honest! The last couple years I've loosened up a little and more often discuss when a book disappoints or fails me in some way(s).

>151 RBeffa: Thanks, Ron! I always have grumbler's remorse after grousing about a book, but you're right that it's good to be honest, no? And it's not as if I'm making it up or being mean - I'm just giving my candid and honest response to what I read. *nods head in a decisive way*

I think if you explain why a book didn't work for you, you're doing other readers a favor, because then they can say..."yeah, I HATE that kind of thing too", or "Nah, that probably wouldn't bother me", and proceed accordingly.

>153 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: True. I still feel bad, though. Even if it bugs me or a really *really* don't like a book, it's still a result of someone's hard work. I have guilt issues.

>153 laytonwoman3rd: >154 scaifea: Yes to both. That was and is one of my mental issues. Not wanting to bash or dismiss someone's hard work. The other side tho is that I really appreciate a reader's perspective and reading a book is a commitment and a piece of our lives also. As Linda notes, we proceed accordingly. One of my things is when I have a hard time identifying with or "rooting" so to speak for any characters in a book. That isn't a killswitch but if the book is failing me in other ways it isn't redemption either. Carson McCullers' The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter which many of us recently read is like that. I observed the characters, and a number of them I couldn't sympathize or identify with at all - BUT - I still liked the book a lot. I did manage to have small hopes for the characters however even if they were never realized. Still, I never bonded to anyone in that book. There was so much insight into the human condition it still was a great read.

>89 scaifea: Love it! It would be great if you could somehow incorporate a dry ice fog machine into the project (for some reason I'm picturing fog and dancing chipmunks around the magic box). But seriously, you are a truly rad mom!

>142 scaifea: I'm going to skip Below Stairs.

>155 RBeffa: Ron: Well said! And I agree about the McCullers book - an excellent read, despite me not connecting with any particular character.

>156 DorsVenabili: Kerri: *snork!* Have I told the story of how my physicist husband wooed me with flowers dipped in dry ice...? Yeah, so that happened.
I do have this idea that I'd love to try to pull off for Charlie's birthday - it doesn't involve dry ice or anything, but I think it would be pretty spectacular and funny - which I saw online somewhere: you blow up a bunch of balloons and somehow get them between the bedroom door and a bunch of saran wrap, so that when he opens the door in the morning, all the balloons fall on and around him! Happy Birthday!! Ha! I don't know how I would get it to work, though, because I'm certain to ruin the surprise by waking him up with my hysterical giggling as I'm making a complete mess of the whole thing trying to get the balloons and the saran wrap to work out right...

Hi Amber, glad you are feeling better after your headache my dear, I wish I could say the same. Love and hugs to all at Scaife manor.

>113 scaifea:/122 scaifea: The box idea is so great! I would have loved a fairy pen pal when I was little who would leave notes or trinkets in a box like that! Which reminds me that I have to mail a letter from my RenFaire character, Lady Lepidoptera the butterfly faerie, to a trio of kids down south whose mom has been having a harder time convincing them that the notes she's leaving for them are really from a faerie--she fears that they'll catch on sooner or later to her handwriting. Thus the reason for having their "real" faerie friend that tells them stories at the Renaissance Festival write them a letter.

Thanks for the virtual chocolate cake. Virtual cakes never go stale, so it tastes as good as it did two days ago! :)

>155 RBeffa: RBeffa: I also don't like to bash a book, for pretty much the same reasons. I think my reviews are generally pretty neutral and are more summaries than reviews--though for transparency I do try to alert readers to controversial issues and plot points. I'm not bothered by a lot, but I recognize that others are. I've met some pretty conservative readers who wouldn't want to read the book I just finished because of the issues of incest and homosexuality, and that's OK because I don't tell people what to read (and expect the same courtesy, of course). So I like to give "fair warning". And I've read some books where, in my opinion, it wasn't worth finishing the book because I just couldn't get into the characters, plot, etc. One horror book I started to read had characters so whiny and obnoxious I found myself hoping the monster would eat them all, and that was before I was past the third or fourth chapter. Needless to say, I didn't finish that one....

<158 I'm so sorry that you're not feeling well, John!

>159 CassieBash: Cassie: That's partly why I opted for not leaving a note at all, plus I think it's more mysterious that way...

So I stopped by the Goodwill today...

>161 scaifea: So funny and I bet some mighty fine reading

>162 RBeffa: Ron: I'm very lucky to live in a town that has a Goodwill with an amazing book selection. I always find great stuff there - the Atwood looks brand-spankin' new.

>161 scaifea: The Penelopiad is great. I say as a total non-classicist. :)

>157 scaifea: I have not heard the rose story, but it sounds wonderfully Scaife! :-)

>146 scaifea: I'm a big fan of James so HOORAY! for enjoying The American. I've got Wings of the Dove waiting for my pick.

>157 scaifea: Or, Charlie could come home from school and open his door to find his room full of balloons that fall out around him. We did that for a friend's birthday once. It's loads of fun.

Glad your headache is gone!

Saran Wrap sounds like a recipe for trouble (I never can get it to not stick to itself) but maybe you could use a couple of clear trash bags, cut apart, instead? It does sound like fun.

>164 MickyFine: Micky: Yeah, the classicist in me is worried about it, but then again it's Atwood, so what could go wrong...?

>165 DorsVenabili: Kerri: Yep, it's pretty much fits in with our life round here. *grins*

>166 nittnut: Jenn: Yay for James!!
But, um, yeah, that would take a *lot* of balloons. Ha!

>167 foggidawn: Thanks! And I like the clear trash bag idea - thanks!

Loose teeth are always fun. Tori just lost one of her front ones. My granddaughter punched it out. I wasn't too impressed by the Penelopiad. I read it for the LT big read.

>169 xymon81: Ha! You've got one tough granddaughter, eh?
And have your read any other Atwood? If so, what did you think?

On the agenda for today:
Treadmilling, a bit of book fair stuff, lunch with a friend, back home for either a bit more book fair work or maybe some work on Charlie's crayon costume before a quick stop at the post office and then heading back to school to pick him up. After school we'll head to the library for a bit, I think. Brown Rice and Lentils for dinner tonight. Or maybe spaghetti. Or maybe fried rice...

On the reading front: Nothin' yesterday. Not a page. Gah.

The calendar book for today: Ariel: The Restored Edition by Sylvia Plath. I admit that I've never read her stuff. You all know how I feel about post-Donne poetry...

Morning Amber! It looks like we will be freezing our tails off all week. How fun! Well, they keep saying spring is just around the corner.

Have a good day, my friend.

>172 msf59: Mark: I know, right? It doesn't feel like mid-February at all. *sigh*

At least, we are not getting Boston's weather. Whew!

>174 msf59: Mark: Don't jinx it!! Ha!

*hands Mark and Amber more blankets*

>170 scaifea: I read the handmaids tale a few years back. I really enjoyed that one even if it is a very depressing view of the future. I don't know who it would be harder on the maid or the wife if that really happened.

>176 jnwelch: Ha! Thanks, Joe!

>177 xymon81: I enjoyed it, too, but agree that it's pretty dark. She's generally not a writer of happy, lightweight stuff, I'd say...

>178 scaifea: And yet, in the non-fiction work I just read, Negotiating With the Dead, she displayed a wry, sometimes wicked sense of humor.

>179 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: But I suspect you still wouldn't describe her as 'bubbly'...

Popping in to say Hi!

>181 Berly: Hi, Kim!

Just checking in, Amber.

That cake looks heavenly! I've only tried making a cake once and I was overly ambitious. It was supposed to be 3 tiered and the end product was indeed 3 tiered but it was like leaning tower of cake, threatening to toppled anytime I moved it. ;)

>180 scaifea: No, but I'll bet she's fun at a dinner party, and I wish she'd drop in to one of mine. Oh...wait. I don't give dinner parties. Well...you know.

>183 jolerie: Valerie: Ha! Well, those looks-like-it's-gonna-topple-over cakes are in style right now, aren't they?

>184 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Agreed! Even the don't-give-dinner-parties part!

Hi Amber, I agree that Heart shaped cake looks delicious! My grandson who is a chocoholic was here last night so I made a chocolate cake. Tonight my granddaughter comes but she isn't quite as taken with chocolate so I have to come up with something for her to enjoy. I can't risk my Grandmothering reputation by not serving a delicious dessert!

>186 DeltaQueen50: Judy: Ha! Let us know what you decide to make!

That's easy, Amber. When in doubt I whip up vanilla cupcakes with a lemon curd filling - call them butterfly cakes and they should look like this:



ETA: Now I better get going on the baking of them!

>188 DeltaQueen50: Judy: !! .... I'll be right over...

>142 scaifea: Oh, too bad you didn't like Below Stairs more, though now that I reread my review from the time I read it, I liked-but-didn't-love it. I liked her sense of humor, and it was the first servant-memoir I'd read so I did find it interesting. But she is crotchety (you'd barely think any of her employers were nice!) and very meandering in style, and I can definitely see it not being for everyone. :)

>153 laytonwoman3rd: Totally agree! This is always what I try to aim for: let me explain why I liked it or didn't, and you can decide if that will work for you.

>190 bell7: Mary: Nonono - I said *I* was being crotchety; *she* is just annoying. *snork!*

102. Mini Encyclopedia: Weather by Sarah Phillips (Charlie's school library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
A small introduction to weather. I even learned something I didn't know (although I've already forgotten what it was...)

103. Scholastic First Discovery: The Universe by Jean-Pierre Verdet (public library book, picture book) - 8/10 = B
A nice little introduction to the universe and our solar system.

Also Read Today:
-The Sesame Street Library Volume 9
-Bill's Service Station

>171 scaifea: I wasn't on LT much yesterday due to my flu but I have been making dents in the 900 page long Morgan's Run which I reckon will be done tomorrow.

Great idea for tooth-fairy props. Belly had her last mik tooth removed by the dentist on Saturday as it was causing her problems and the dentist looked at me askance when I insisted upon recovering the grubbily offending item. Commercially astute Ysabelle was, of course, pleased at my insistence.

Way back up:

>86 Morphidae: Hahaha Morphy

>87 scaifea: Modesty forbids a full reply. xx

Just stopping by! I'm a chocoholic and know no other flavours worth eating. Not even bacon. I believe it is a genetic issue that runs in my family . Love the chocolate cake!

>193 PaulCranswick: Paul: So how much is the going rate for teeth in your neck of the world woods?

>194 vancouverdeb: Deb: Tomm can't have this cake, because it's not the gluten-free variety, so Charlie and I have tackled it all by ourselves and nearly have the thing gone at this point - last night we discovered that we're out of vanilla ice cream (!!) and had to resort to chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream. I know, it was touch and go for a bit, but we made it through okay...

>193 PaulCranswick: Belle got more for the tooth than I had to pay for its extraction. I paid the equivalent of $10 to the dentist and about $16 to the previous owner.

On the agenda for today:
Treadmilling, possibly some work on the crayon costume, then back to school for some volunteering. Leftovers for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front: I read another chapter in The Americans, which is just getting better and better - now there's an element of the mysterious developing. I'm loving this novel!

The calendar book for today: Cooked: A natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan. I've never read any of his stuff, but this sounds interesting. Thoughts?

>196 PaulCranswick: Paul: !! I find both halves of that statement barely believable! Ha!

Morning Amber! I don't wanna go out there! Wah! We better have a gorgeous spring waiting for us, on the other side.

I have read The Botany of Desire, which I really enjoyed. I would like to read more of his work.

>197 scaifea: I read The Omnivore's Dilemma, which was pretty interesting. Like Mark, I have good intentions about reading more of his work but there's so many shiny books crying out for my attention ...

>199 msf59: Mark: I think you have the right idea: Think Spring!

>200 lauralkeet: Laura: I'm glad to hear that you and Mark like his stuff - my best friend is in cooking school right now, and I was considering getting him this one...

Sorry, Amber, I must have missed something. What for are you making a crayon costume?

>202 Ameise1: Barbara: Charlie has a dress-up day at school sometime in March and the theme is Dress as Favorite Character in a Book. He's decided that he wants to be the Red Crayon from The Day the Crayons Quit.

Catching up after a few days - loved the story of Charie discovering the Tooth Fairy box. So sweet.

>203 scaifea: Oh that sounds fantastic. Did you get some sewing time yet. I hope you post some photos?

>195 scaifea: When I was little, my mom let us kids choose our birthday dinner menus. I always chose roast beef and mashed potatoes with green beans and chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate ice cream.

Inasmuch as we lived in Chicago, and my birthday was at the end of July, and my mom was the one who did the cooking and baking in a non-air-conditioned house, it couldn't have been fun for her. She might not have been the best mother in the world in general, but much can be forgiven her for this one thing.

Hi Amber, hope you are having a good day my dear.

>204 SuziQoregon: Thanks, Juli!

>205 Ameise1: Barbara: I'll definitely post photos, and yes, I got a bit of time to work on it today, although most of that time was spent fighting my computer, trying to make it recognize my cricut machine...

>206 Storeetllr: Mary: Oh, I love the sound of that birthday dinner! My mom does the same thing (let's us pick our dinner) and I do that for Charlie, too. He usually picks spaghetti, but this last year he chose pizza delivery, which is pretty easy on me!

>207 johnsimpson: Hi, John! It's been an okay day, except for the headache that's creeping up on me this afternoon...

104. Globes by Robin Nelson (Charlie's school library book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B
A non-fiction easy reader about, um, globes.

105. Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jeffers (public library book, picture book) - 9/10 = A
An alphabet book, Jeffers style. Which is to say that it's hilarious and clever and amazing. Well most definitely be buying a copy, since Charlie is certain to want to read it over and over.

We are also huge Jeffers fans. My favorite is Lost and Found. No, How to Catch a Star. No, The Way Back Home... Well, you know. All of them.

>210 nittnut: Jenn: Lost and Found is for certain my favorite.

On the agenda for today:

Treadmilling, working on the crayon costume, and then back to school this afternoon for my volunteering in the library. Leftovers for dinner because by the time Tomm called to say that he was on his way home, my headache was bad enough that without me saying anything about it, he offered to bring home something for dinner (apparently he could hear it in my voice). Such a sweet husband. (Also, headache is gone now, thank goodness!)

On the reading front: The American is moving along nicely and it's still fantastic. *Shakes head at all you James haters out there...* Ha!

The calendar book for today sounds interesting: Building Stories by Chris Ware. It's apparently a graphic novel - Mark? Joe? Have either of you read this one?

>109 qebo: Love Oliver Jeffers' illustrations. Am always tempted when I buy his picture books to keep them rather than the give them to the intended small recipient...

>213 charl08: That's the beauty of having one's own 'small recipient' - ha!

Morning Amber! Yes, it is a repeat of yesterday. I WANT to STAY HOME!

I have Building Stories on shelf but have not read it. It is a big project, where you build your own story. I am pretty sure Joe loved it.

>215 msf59: Mark: It does sound fun, though!

Hi Amber. So glad the headache went away. I hate them. I hope they stay away too. Good luck on the crayon costume. I like to see some pictures when you have finished them.

>203 scaifea:. I'm glad Barb asked about the costume. I had no clue about what to expect.

>217 connie53: Connie: Thanks for the headache sympathy. Starting when I was about 5 years old, I used to have them nearly every day, but then a few years ago they dropped off almost completely and now I only get them occasionally, thank goodness. I haven't had a Real Doozy in a long time *knocks on wood*.

As for the costume, I hope you're not expecting too much - I'm not going all out on this one, mostly because he'll have to wear it all day at school, so I don't want to hinder his movement too much. I bought matching red sweat pants and a sweat shirt, and I'm using my cricut cutter to make the crayola logo and squiggles to sew on. I'm going to try to make a hat, too, but we'll see how that goes...

I won't expect much, Amber. I just like to see what Charlie looks like in his costume.

>219 connie53: Connie: Well, he'd look adorable no matter what, eh? Ha!

106. How to Start a Dragon Academy by Erica David (Charlie book, easy reader) - 8/10 = B+
One of Charlie's Valentine gifts - an easy reader based on what I suspect must be one of the tv shows based on the books and movies, although we've not seen the series, just the two movies. That Toothless is *adorable.*

Also Read Today:
-Allie and Ollie

>212 scaifea: I had that on request at the library since it came out, but I think they rethought their purchase of it on account of it having so many components to keep track of. It looks like a real "get involved" story where you can lay out the pieces and figure out the order and everything. Which reminds me, my friend owns it and I have been meaning to borrow it. He stipulated that the kids weren't to 'play' with it, as he is a collector of cool curios.

eta: I'm talking about Building Stories here :)

>222 LovingLit: Megan: Yeah, the more I hear about it, the more I like the sound of it, but also the most I think I really don't have time for it right now... *sigh*

On the agenda for today:
Grocery shopping this morning, home to put away groceries and squeeze in some crayon costume time, then back to school for afternoon volunteering. Italian burgers for dinner tonight, I think.

On the reading front: Another day of not a page turned. Just too busy and then too tuckered at the end of it. It doesn't look good for me to get these February AAC and BAC books finished in time...

The calendar book is one that I've already read and groused about before, so I'll not say any more here: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. (*shudders* Yeesh.)

Morning Amber! I have had Building Stories for at least a year. A wonderful LTer, gave it to me for a gift. I keep waiting for the right time to pull it down, (it is huge). I should have done it on while vacation. Drat!!

I loved Wuthering Heights! Ducks...

>225 msf59: Mark: Hey, you're perfectly welcome to like that tripe, if that's your thing...No judgments... *snork*

Tripe, you say?? The nerve...stalks away, in a haughty manner.

Wuthering Heights...snivelling Edgar...that is all.

Morning, Amber! Abby and I also love Wuthering Heights. I am thinking what you need for Charlie's hat is a soccer cone covered in red felt - mind you, I have no actual crafting abilities. None. Zip. Zero...

Hi Amber. What are Italian burger?

>227 msf59: Oh, c'mon, Mark, don't be that way. Come on back...

>228 laytonwoman3rd: Linda: Amen, sister friend!

>229 Crazymamie: Mamie: You're close! Cardstock instead of a soccer cone.

>230 Ameise1: Barbara: You add pasta sauce and Italian spices (basil, oregano) to the ground beef before making the patties, and then top with provolone or mozzarella cheese. They're pretty tasty and super easy.

Happy Friday, Amber!

I've never been able to get myself to read Wuthering Heights, even though I loved her sister's Jane Eyre. I know the WH story too well, maybe.

Thanks, Amber, now I've an idea. Sounds delicious.

>232 jnwelch: Joe: I loved Jane Eyre, too. But who know, you may like WH...

>233 Ameise1: You're welcome, Barbara!

I loved Jane Eyre, too, but somehow could never bring myself to read Wuthering Heights. Too melodramatic a story for even my taste. (Obviously I know the story too well too.)

Hi Amber, the Italian burgers sound delicious and making me feel hungry. Hope you have had a good day my dear and Karen and I send love and hugs.

>235 Storeetllr: Mary: I can't remember now exactly why I loathed it so much, but, oh, did I ever loath it. *shudders*

>236 johnsimpson: Thanks, John!

Hi Amber, #197. I think Michael Pollan is a wonder! I have read all his books and they are terrific. They have so much information. He has such a clever way of looking at things and he is such a good writer. In a recent New Yorker (Feb. 9th) he has a very interesting article about psychotropic drugs and current related research.

>238 mdoris: Thanks for that, Mary! I'll definitely move him up the list, then!

On the agenda for today:

Laundry, bills, organizing the week's photos, some baking (granola bars, maybe some bread). Charlie and I need to head to the library, too, since some of his things are due today. And he seems to be setting up some art project for all three of us right now, so clearly that's happening today, too. Tomm leaves tomorrow morning for another week-long business trip, so there will be some hanging out with him today, too, of course. Carrot Soup for dinner tonight.

On the reading front: I'm slowly making progress on The American and savoring every page. I'm really enjoying this one, folks!

The book calendar weekend quote (hint: Yes, he's an author, but he's more famous for being something else): "Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence."

Happy Saturday, Amber! You reminded me that I had meant to make carrot and ginger soup a couple of weeks ago, but didn't. I may make it today if I have all of the ingredients I need, otherwise I'll probably prepare it sometime next week.

ETA: No, I forgot that it's a New Orleans style recipe that calls for shrimp, which I don't have. I'll make it sometime next week. Here's a link to the recipe from GoNOLA.com if you're interested: Carrot Ginger Soup

ETA (2): I'm wrong; I do have frozen shrimp in my refrigerator, and I bought coconut milk last week. Yay! I'll make this today.

Happy weekend, Amber.

>241 kidzdoc: Darryl: Ha! Such a roller coaster of emotions and changes of culinary circumstances in that post!
Also, although I'm certain that your soup is very tasty, I don't touch raw shrimp (*shudders*) so I'll stick with my carrot carrot soup, I think.

>242 Ameise1: Thanks, Barbara! You, too!

Happy weekend Amber!

>243 scaifea: The carrot ginger soup turned out great! I posted a photo and the recipe on my thread.

>244 connie53: Thanks, Connie!

>245 kidzdoc: Darryl: I'll try to stop by later - right now I'm just peeking in here quickly before heading back to bed for a second nap today. Another nasty old headache has taken over today.

Oh no, Amber! Not a headache again! I hope it will go away while napping!

Sorry to hear about your headache. I've got one myself too. Couldn't sleep and the pills still won't work. Get well soon, Amber.

Hi Amber, sorry to hear that you have got a headache again, I have to say that Karen has been troubled by a regular headache and weirdly it seems to start at 4pm each day. Apart from the dratted headache I hope you have a lovely Sunday my dear, love and hugs dear friend.

>247 connie53: Thanks, Connie. It didn't go away until sometime in the night, but at least this morning I'm feeling better!

>248 Ameise1: I'm sorry that you've had a headache, too, Barbara - I hope yours is gone this morning, too!

>249 johnsimpson: Thanks, John. Sending my sympathies to Karen.

Morning Amber! Glad the headache is behind you. Let's keep it that way. I am glad you are enjoying The American. I was very pleased with it too.

Enjoy your Sunday!

On the agenda for today:
All the things that didn't get done yesterday (laundry, photos, bills, baking). Tomm leaves in an hour or so for his trip, so it'll be just Charlie and I for the week. I'm hoping to get some good reading time in today, too, but we'll see what sort of plans Charlie has for the afternoon...

On the reading front: I did manage a bit more of The American yesterday between naps, at least.

No guesses on the weekend book quote (>240 scaifea: above), eh?

It's George Washington

>251 msf59: Morning, Mark! Yep, I'm loving this James!

Morning, Amber!

Happy Sunday, Amber.

I'm sorry to hear that your Saturday was affected by your headache, Amber. I'm glad that you're feeling better today, and I hope that it doesn't come back.

Glad to hear that your a headache is gone, Amber. Mine is better too.

>254 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie!w

>255 katiekrug: Right back atcha, Katie!

>256 kidzdoc: Thanks, Darryl - I feel it trying to creep back up on me, but I'm off to take some more medicine here soon...

>257 Ameise1: I'm so glad that your headache is gone, Barbara!

Happy Sunday to you and Charlie, Amber! And a safe trip for Tomm of course!

>259 Deern: Thanks, Natalie! I've been lurking over on your thread today and I'm so glad to hear that you're home again!

The new thread is up!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/188180

My best day? Probably in 2007 when I got my last promotion.

I was looking at your current reading list and these items I've read. I'll put my short review under each:

-Johnny Got His Gun (Banned Books list) - Rather gruesome, but very realistic depiction of WW I. I can see why it got banned, but it needs to be read by everyone, especially each President of the US. Probably 4 stars.

-Stand on Zanzibar (Hugo & BFSA award lists) Somewhat of a dystopia, it portrays an overpopulation crisis. I haven't read it for about 40 years, so I think it is somewhat dated. I don't recall it being especially interesting. About a C or 3 star book.

-Mary Poppins (Charlie's bed-time book) Amazingly fascinating, especially since it is still interesting 60 years after it has been written. The other 5 books in the series are also good. Mary Poppins in the book is slightly more interesting than the movie, in my opinion. She's a little more vinegary and realistic, as realistic as a magical character can be. 5 stars

-The Iliad (everyday audio book in the car) I enjoyed it more than I expected. Very much an action adventure type saga, with a lot of blood and guts. I really got the impression Homer was mocking the Greek gods and godesses. 5 stars

Hodor is mentally disabled, but of gigantic strength. All he can say is "Hodor". I just read the first three books in the series; I stopped because it was too depressing. I've not seen the TV series and don't want to.

>262 jjvors: Jeff: Responses to your thoughts on the books:
1) I haven't really even cracked the Trumbo yet, but I'm expecting it to be a bit harsh, honestly.
2) Zanzibar (I'm about 50 pages in) is *weeeiirrd* but I'm not yet convinced that that's a bad thing...
3) I love all of the Mary Poppins books, and I agree that she's quite a bit more interesting in the books (although I dearly love the movie, too).
4)Homer isn't mocking the gods (you have to understand that the Greeks had a very different relationship to their gods than modern folks do to theirs); what he *is* mocking is war - it's brutality and it's pointlessness.

>263 jjvors: I've read all of the books so far and enjoyed them very much - masterful storytelling. But, yeah, it's not a cakewalk. And I do recommend that you stay away from the tv show - I watched the first episode and had to quit. Apparently I'm better at reading dark stuff than I am at watching it.

I loved Jane Eyre but hated Wuthering Heights--those characters were too stupid for my taste!

Ironically, I read Jane Eyre at 14 in the library, without knowing it was a famous book. It was probably my first real romance book I read. Later, when I was assigned her sister's book, Wuthering Heights, I was so disappointed it was so much worse. Very similar to "Return of the Native" by Tom Hardy, where the characters were so inept they caused their own conflicts. I eventually learned, when there is no character I like, don't read the book.

>266 jjvors: Oh, I agree about Jane Eyre vs. Wuthering Heights!